=== Algeria ===

## Introduction
Background: Algeria has known many empires and dynasties, including the ancient Numidians (3rd century B.C.), Phoenicians, Carthaginians, Romans, Vandals, Byzantines, over a dozen different Arab and Amazigh dynasties, Spaniards, and Ottoman Turks. Under the Turks, the Barbary pirates operated from North Africa and preyed on shipping, from about 1500 until the French captured Algiers in 1830. The French southward conquest of Algeria proceeded throughout the 19th century and was marked by many atrocities. A bloody eight-year struggle culminated in Algerian independence in 1962. Algeria's long-dominant political party, the National Liberation Front (FLN), was established in 1954 as part of the struggle for independence and has since played a large role in politics, though it is falling out of favor with the youth and current President Abdelmadjid TEBBOUNE. The Government of Algeria in 1988 instituted a multi-party system in response to public unrest, but the surprising first-round success of the Islamic Salvation Front (FIS) in the 1991 legislative election led the Algerian military to intervene and postpone the second round of elections to prevent what the secular elite feared would be an extremist-led government from assuming power. An army crackdown on the FIS escalated into an FIS insurgency and intense violence from 1992-98 that resulted in over 100,000 deaths, many of which were attributed to extremist groups massacring villagers. The government gained the upper hand by the late 1990s, and FIS’s armed wing, the Islamic Salvation Army, disbanded in 2000. FIS membership is now illegal. In 1999, Abdelaziz BOUTEFLIKA won the presidency with the backing of the military, in an election that was boycotted by several candidates protesting alleged fraud. He won subsequent elections in 2004, 2009, and 2014. Widespread protests against his decision to seek a fifth term broke out in early 2019. BOUTEFLIKA resigned in April 2019, and in December 2019, Algerians elected former Prime Minister Abdelmadjid TEBBOUNE as the country’s new president. A longtime FLN member, TEBBOUNE ran for president as an independent. In 2020, Algeria held a constitutional referendum on governmental reforms, which TEBBOUNE enacted in 2021. Subsequent reforms to the national electoral law introduced open-list voting to curb corruption. The new law also eliminated gender quotas in Parliament, and the 2021 legislative elections saw female representation plummet. The referendum, parliamentary elections, and local elections saw record-low voter turnout.

## Geography
Location: Northern Africa, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Morocco and Tunisia
Geographic coordinates: 28 00 N, 3 00 E
Map references: Africa
Area / total: 2,381,740 sq km
Area / land: 2,381,740 sq km
Area / water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly less than 3.5 times the size of Texas
Land boundaries / total: 6,734 km
Land boundaries / border countries: Libya 989 km; Mali 1,359 km; Mauritania 460 km; Morocco 1,941 km; Niger 951 km; Tunisia 1,034 km
Coastline: 998 km
Maritime claims / territorial sea: 12 nm
Maritime claims / contiguous zone: 24 nm
Maritime claims / exclusive fishing zone: 32-52 nm
Climate: arid to semiarid; mild, wet winters with hot, dry summers along coast; drier with cold winters and hot summers on high plateau; sirocco is a hot, dust/sand-laden wind especially common in summer
Terrain: mostly high plateau and desert; Atlas Mountains in the far north and Hoggar Mountains in the south; narrow, discontinuous coastal plain
Elevation / highest point: Tahat 2,908 m
Elevation / lowest point: Chott Melrhir -40 m
Elevation / mean elevation: 800 m
Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, phosphates, uranium, lead, zinc
Land use / agricultural land: 17.4% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 3.2% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 0.4% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 13.8% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 0.7% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 81.9% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land: 13,819 sq km (2019)
Major watersheds (area sq km) / Atlantic Ocean drainage: Niger (2,261,741 sq km)
Major watersheds (area sq km) / Internal (endorheic basin) drainage: Lake Chad (2,497,738 sq km)
Major aquifers: Lullemeden-Irhazer Aquifer System, Murzuk-Djado Basin, North Western Sahara Aquifer, Taoudeni-Tanezrouft Basin
Population distribution: the vast majority of the populace is found in the extreme northern part of the country along the Mediterranean Coast
Natural hazards: mountainous areas subject to severe earthquakes; mudslides and floods in rainy season; droughts
Geography - note: largest country in Africa but 80% desert; canyons and caves in the southern Hoggar Mountains and in the barren Tassili n'Ajjer area in the southeast of the country contain numerous examples of prehistoric art -- rock paintings and carvings depicting human activities and wild and domestic animals (elephants, giraffes, cattle) -- that date to the African Humid Period, roughly 5,000 to 11,000 years ago, when the region was completely vegetated

## People and Society
Population / total: 47,735,685 (2025 est.)
Population / male: 24,219,668
Population / female: 23,516,017
Nationality / noun: Algerian(s)
Nationality / adjective: Algerian
Ethnic groups: Arab-Amazigh 99%, European less than 1%
Languages / Languages: Arabic (official), French (lingua franca), Tamazight (official) (dialects include Kabyle (Taqbaylit), Shawiya (Tacawit), Mzab, Tuareg (Tamahaq))
Languages / major-language sample(s): كتاب حقائق العالم، المصدر الذي لا يمكن الاستغناء عنه للمعلومات الأساسية (Arabic) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
Religions: Muslim (official; predominantly Sunni) 99%, other (includes Christian, Jewish, Ahmadi Muslim, Shia Muslim, Ibadi Muslim) <1% (2012 est.)
Age structure / 0-14 years: 30.8% (male 7,411,337/female 7,062,794)
Age structure / 15-64 years: 62.3% (male 14,846,102/female 14,441,034)
Age structure / 65 years and over: 6.9% (2024 est.) (male 1,597,382/female 1,663,824)
Dependency ratios / total dependency ratio: 60.5 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / youth dependency ratio: 48.9 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / elderly dependency ratio: 11.5 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / potential support ratio: 8.7 (2025 est.)
Median age / total: 29.3 years (2025 est.)
Median age / male: 28.8 years
Median age / female: 29.4 years
Population growth rate: 1.47% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 19.62 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 4.39 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: -0.52 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution: the vast majority of the populace is found in the extreme northern part of the country along the Mediterranean Coast
Urbanization / urban population: 75.3% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 1.99% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 2.902 million ALGIERS (capital), 936,000 Oran (2022)
Sex ratio / at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 65 years and over: 0.96 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio: 62 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Infant mortality rate / total: 18.6 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Infant mortality rate / male: 19.8 deaths/1,000 live births
Infant mortality rate / female: 17.5 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth / total population: 77.9 years (2024 est.)
Life expectancy at birth / male: 77.2 years
Life expectancy at birth / female: 78.7 years
Total fertility rate: 2.91 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 1.42 (2025 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: urban: urban: 96.1% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: rural: rural: 90.4% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: total: total: 94.7% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: urban: urban: 3.9% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: rural: rural: 9.6% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: total: total: 5.3% of population (2022 est.)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 5.5% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 5.4% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density: 1.66 physicians/1,000 population (2022)
Hospital bed density: 1.6 beds/1,000 population (2017 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: urban: urban: 98.3% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: rural: rural: 91.7% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: total: total: 96.6% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: urban: urban: 1.7% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: rural: rural: 8.3% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: total: total: 3.4% of population (2022 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 27.4% (2016)
Alcohol consumption per capita / total: 0.59 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / beer: 0.31 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / wine: 0.2 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / spirits: 0.08 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / other alcohols: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Tobacco use / total: 21.4% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / male: 41.6% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / female: 0.6% (2025 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 2.7% (2019 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49): 55.5% (2019 est.)
Child marriage / women married by age 15: 0% (2019)
Child marriage / women married by age 18: 3.8% (2019)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% GDP): 5.6% of GDP (2023 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% national budget): 15.5% national budget (2025 est.)
Literacy / female: 74.2% (2019 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / total: 15 years (2023 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / male: 15 years (2023 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / female: 16 years (2023 est.)

## Environment
Environmental issues: air pollution in major cities; soil erosion from overgrazing and other poor farming practices; desertification; river and coastal pollution from dumping of raw sewage, petroleum refining wastes, and other industrial effluents; pollution in Mediterranean Sea from oil wastes, soil erosion, and fertilizer runoff; inadequate potable water
International environmental agreements / party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
International environmental agreements / signed, but not ratified: Nuclear Test Ban
Climate: arid to semiarid; mild, wet winters with hot, dry summers along coast; drier with cold winters and hot summers on high plateau; sirocco is a hot, dust/sand-laden wind especially common in summer
Land use / agricultural land: 17.4% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 3.2% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 0.4% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 13.8% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 0.7% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 81.9% (2023 est.)
Urbanization / urban population: 75.3% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 1.99% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / total emissions: 163.661 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from coal and metallurgical coke: 741,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from petroleum and other liquids: 57.795 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from consumed natural gas: 105.125 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Particulate matter emissions: 22.4 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Methane emissions / energy: 2,561.1 kt (2022-2024 est.)
Methane emissions / agriculture: 256 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Methane emissions / waste: 486.4 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Methane emissions / other: 7.6 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Waste and recycling / municipal solid waste generated annually: 12.379 million tons (2024 est.)
Waste and recycling / percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 11% (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / municipal: 3.389 billion cubic meters (2022)
Total water withdrawal / industrial: 181 million cubic meters (2022)
Total water withdrawal / agricultural: 7.391 billion cubic meters (2022)
Total renewable water resources: 11.667 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: People's Democratic Republic of Algeria
Country name / conventional short form: Algeria
Country name / local long form: Al Jumhuriyah al Jaza'iriyah ad Dimuqratiyah ash Sha'biyah
Country name / local short form: Al Jaza'ir
Country name / etymology: the country name derives from the capital city of Algiers
Government type: presidential republic
Capital / name: Algiers
Capital / geographic coordinates: 36 45 N, 3 03 E
Capital / time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Capital / etymology: name derives from the Arabic al-jazair , meaning "the islands," and refers to the four islands formerly off the coast of the capital but joined to the mainland since 1525
Administrative divisions: 58 provinces ( wilayas , singular - wilaya ); Adrar, Ain Defla, Ain Temouchent, Alger (Algiers), Annaba, Batna, Bechar, Bejaia, Beni Abbes, Biskra, Blida, Bordj Badji Mokhtar, Bordj Bou Arreridj, Bouira, Boumerdes, Chlef, Constantine, Djanet, Djelfa, El Bayadh, El Meghaier, El Meniaa, El Oued, El Tarf, Ghardaia, Guelma, Illizi, In Guezzam, In Salah, Jijel, Khenchela, Laghouat, Mascara, Medea, Mila, Mostaganem, M'Sila, Naama, Oran, Ouargla, Ouled Djellal, Oum el Bouaghi, Relizane, Saida, Setif, Sidi Bel Abbes, Skikda, Souk Ahras, Tamanrasset, Tebessa, Tiaret, Timimoun, Tindouf, Tipaza, Tissemsilt, Tizi Ouzou, Tlemcen, Touggourt
Legal system: mixed system of French civil law and Islamic law; judicial review of legislative acts in ad hoc Constitutional Council composed of various public officials including several Supreme Court justices
Constitution / history: several previous; latest approved by referendum 1 November 2020
Constitution / amendment process: proposed by the president of the republic or through the president with the support of three fourths of the members of both houses of Parliament in joint session; passage requires approval by both houses, approval by referendum, and promulgation by the president; the president can forego a referendum if the Constitutional Council determines the proposed amendment does not conflict with basic constitutional principles; articles including the republican form of government, the integrity and unity of the country, and fundamental citizens&rsquo; liberties and rights cannot be amended
International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt
Citizenship / citizenship by birth: no
Citizenship / citizenship by descent only: the mother must be a citizen of Algeria
Citizenship / dual citizenship recognized: no
Citizenship / residency requirement for naturalization: 7 years
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch / chief of state: President Abdelmadjid TEBBOUNE (since 12 December 2019)
Executive branch / head of government: Prime Minister Sifi GHRIEB (since 28 August 2025)
Executive branch / cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the president
Executive branch / election/appointment process: president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in two rounds if needed for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); prime minister nominated by the president after consultation with the majority party in Parliament
Executive branch / most recent election date: 7 September 2024
Executive branch / election results: 2024: Abdelmadjid TEBBOUNE (NLF) 94.7%, Abdelaali Hassani CHERIF (MSP) 3.2%, Youcef AOUCHICHE (FFS) 2.2% 2019: (FLN) 58.1%, Abdelkader BENGRINA (El-Bina) 17.4%, Ali BENFLIS (Talaie El Hurriyet) 10.6%, Azzedine MIHOUBI (RND) 7.3%, Abdelaziz BELAID (Future Front) 6.7%
Executive branch / expected date of next election: 2029
Legislative branch / legislature name: Parliament (Barlaman)
Legislative branch / legislative structure: bicameral
Legislative branch - lower chamber / chamber name: National People's Assembly (Al-Majlis Al-Chaabi Al-Watani)
Legislative branch - lower chamber / number of seats: 407 (all directly elected)
Legislative branch - lower chamber / electoral system: proportional representation
Legislative branch - lower chamber / scope of elections: full renewal
Legislative branch - lower chamber / term in office: 5 years
Legislative branch - lower chamber / most recent election date: 6/12/2021
Legislative branch - lower chamber / parties elected and seats per party: National Liberation Front (FLN) (98); Movement of Society for Peace (MSP) (65); National Democratic Rally (RND) (58); El-Moustakbel Front (Future", FM) (48); El Binaa Movement (39); Independents (84); Other (15)
Legislative branch - lower chamber / percentage of women in chamber: 7.9%
Legislative branch - lower chamber / expected date of next election: June 2026
Legislative branch - upper chamber / chamber name: Council of the Nation (Majlis al-Oumma)
Legislative branch - upper chamber / number of seats: 174 (116 indirectly elected; 58 appointed)
Legislative branch - upper chamber / electoral system: plurality/majority
Legislative branch - upper chamber / scope of elections: partial renewal
Legislative branch - upper chamber / term in office: 6 years
Legislative branch - upper chamber / most recent election date: 3/9/2025
Legislative branch - upper chamber / percentage of women in chamber: 2.5%
Legislative branch - upper chamber / expected date of next election: January 2028
Judicial branch / highest court(s): Supreme Court or Le Cour Supr&ecirc;me, (consists of 150 judges organized into 8 chambers: Civil, Commercial and Maritime, Criminal, House of Offenses and Contraventions, House of Petitions, Land, Personal Status, and Social; Constitutional Council (consists of 12 members including the court chairman and deputy chairman)
Judicial branch / judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court judges appointed by the High Council of Magistracy, an administrative body presided over by the president of the republic, and includes the republic vice-president and several members; judges appointed for life; Constitutional Council members - 4 appointed by the president of the republic, 2 each by the 2 houses of Parliament, 2 by the Supreme Court, and 2 by the Council of State; Council president and members appointed for single 6-year terms with half the membership renewed every 3 years
Judicial branch / subordinate courts: appellate or wilaya courts; first instance or daira tribunals
Political parties: Algerian National Front or FNA Algerian Popular Movement or MPA Algeria's Hope Rally or TAJ Dignity or El Karama El-Infitah El Mostakbal (Future Front) Ennour El Djazairi Party (Algerian Radiance Party) or PED Equity and Proclamation Party or PEP Islamic Renaissance Movement or Ennahda Movement Justice and Development Front or FJD Movement for National Reform or El Islah Movement of Society for Peace or MSP National Construction Movement or El-Bina (Harakat El-Binaa El-Watani) National Democratic Rally (Rassemblement National Democratique) or RND National Front for Social Justice or FNJS National Liberation Front or FLN National Militancy Front or FMN National Party for Solidarity and Development or PNSD National Republican Alliance or ANR New Dawn Party (El-Fajr El-Jadid) New Generation (Jil Jadid) Oath of 1954 or Ahd 54 Party of Justice and Liberty or PLJ Rally for Culture and Democracy or RCD Socialist Forces Front or FFS Union for Change and Progress or UCP Union of Democratic and Social Forces or UFDS Vanguard of Liberties (Talaie El Hurriyet) Workers Party or PT Youth Party or PJ
Diplomatic representation in the US / chief of mission: Ambassador Sabri BOUKADOUM (since 27 February 2024)
Diplomatic representation in the US / chancery: 2118 Kalorama Road NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation in the US / telephone: [1] (202) 265-2800
Diplomatic representation in the US / FAX: [1] (202) 986-5906
Diplomatic representation in the US / email address and website: mail@algerianembassy.org https://www.algerianembassy.org/
Diplomatic representation in the US / consulate(s) general: New York
Diplomatic representation from the US / chief of mission: Ambassador Elizabeth Moore AUBIN (since 9 February 2022)
Diplomatic representation from the US / embassy: 05 Chemin Cheikh Bachir, Ibrahimi, El-Biar 16030, Alger
Diplomatic representation from the US / mailing address: 6030 Algiers Place, Washington DC 20521-6030
Diplomatic representation from the US / telephone: [213] (0) 770-08-2000
Diplomatic representation from the US / FAX: [213] (0) 770-08-2299
Diplomatic representation from the US / email address and website: algierspd@state.gov https://dz.usembassy.gov/
International organization participation: ABEDA, AfDB, AFESD, AMF, AMU, AU, BIS, CAEU, CD, FAO, G-15, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAS, MIGA, MONUSCO, NAM, OAPEC, OAS (observer), OIC, OPCW, OPEC, OSCE (partner), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNOOSA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)
Independence: 5 July 1962 (from France)
National holiday: Independence Day, 5 July (1962); Revolution Day, 1 November (1954)
Flag: description: two equal vertical bands of green (left) and white; a red, five-pointed star inside a red crescent, centered over the two-color boundary meaning: the colors represent Islam (green), purity and peace (white), and liberty (red); the crescent and star are also Islamic symbols, but the crescent is more closed than those of other Muslim countries because Algerians believe the long crescent horns bring happiness
National symbol(s): five-pointed star between the extended horns of a crescent moon; fennec fox
National color(s): green, white, red
National anthem(s) / title: "Kassaman" (We Pledge)
National anthem(s) / lyrics/music: Mufdi ZAKARIAH/Mohamed FAWZI
National anthem(s) / history: adopted 1962; ZAKARIAH wrote "Kassaman" as a poem while imprisoned in Algiers by French colonial forces
National heritage / total World Heritage Sites: 7 (6 cultural, 1 mixed)
National heritage / selected World Heritage Site locales: Beni Hammad Fort (c); Djémila (c); Casbah of Algiers (c); M'zab Valley (c); Tassili n'Ajjer (m); Timgad (c); Tipasa (c)

## Economy
Economic overview: suffering oil and gas economy; lack of sector and market diversification; political instability chilling domestic consumption; poor credit access and declines in business confidence; COVID-19 austerity policies; delayed promised socio-economic reforms
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $722.912 billion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $699.818 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $672.256 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2024: 3.3% (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2023: 4.1% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2022: 3.6% (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2024: $15,400 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2023: $15,200 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2022: $14,800 (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $263.62 billion (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024: 4% (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023: 9.3% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 9.3% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / agriculture: 13.1% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / industry: 37.8% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / services: 45.6% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / household consumption: 40.8% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / government consumption: 17.9% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in fixed capital: 32.8% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in inventories: 4.9% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / exports of goods and services: 23.6% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / imports of goods and services: -20.1% (2023 est.)
Agricultural products: potatoes, watermelons, wheat, milk, onions, tomatoes, vegetables, oranges, dates, barley (2023)
Industries: petroleum, natural gas, light industries, mining, electrical, petrochemical, food processing
Industrial production growth rate: 3.9% (2023 est.)
Labor force: 13.294 million (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2024: 11.5% (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2023: 11.8% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2022: 12.4% (2022 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / total: 29.8% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / male: 26.8% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / female: 45.8% (2024 est.)
Average household expenditures / on food: 37.2% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Average household expenditures / on alcohol and tobacco: 1% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2023: 0.8% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2022: 0.8% of GDP (2022 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2021: 1% of GDP (2021 est.)
Budget / revenues: $55.185 billion (2019 est.)
Budget / expenditures: $64.728 billion (2019 est.)
Public debt / Public debt 2017: 27.5% of GDP (2017 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2023: $6.359 billion (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2022: $19.433 billion (2022 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2021: -$4.513 billion (2021 est.)
Exports / Exports 2023: $59.426 billion (2023 est.)
Exports / Exports 2022: $69.226 billion (2022 est.)
Exports / Exports 2021: $41.846 billion (2021 est.)
Exports - partners: Italy 29%, France 14%, Spain 13%, USA 6%, Netherlands 4% (2023)
Exports - commodities: natural gas, crude petroleum, refined petroleum, fertilizers, iron bars (2023)
Imports / Imports 2023: $51.131 billion (2023 est.)
Imports / Imports 2022: $46.613 billion (2022 est.)
Imports / Imports 2021: $44.287 billion (2021 est.)
Imports - partners: China 24%, France 12%, Italy 8%, Turkey 7%, Brazil 6% (2023)
Imports - commodities: wheat, plastics, cars, milk, corn (2023)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024: $83.007 billion (2024 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023: $81.217 billion (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $71.852 billion (2022 est.)
Debt - external / Debt - external 2023: $4.764 billion (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Currency: Algerian dinars (DZD) per US dollar -
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2024: 134.053 (2024 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2023: 135.843 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2022: 141.995 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2021: 135.064 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2020: 126.777 (2020 est.)

## Energy
Electricity access / electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)
Electricity access / electrification - urban areas: 100%
Electricity access / electrification - rural areas: 99.3%
Electricity / installed generating capacity: 22.591 million kW (2023 est.)
Electricity / consumption: 85.687 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / exports: 2.753 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / imports: 475.8 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / transmission/distribution losses: 9.237 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / fossil fuels: 98.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / solar: 0.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / hydroelectricity: 0.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Coal / consumption: 3,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / imports: 241,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / proven reserves: 223 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum / total petroleum production: 1.443 million bbl/day (2023 est.)
Petroleum / refined petroleum consumption: 446,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Petroleum / crude oil estimated reserves: 12.2 billion barrels (2021 est.)
Natural gas / production: 104.896 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / consumption: 52.831 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / exports: 51.566 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / proven reserves: 4.504 trillion cubic meters (2021 est.)
Energy consumption per capita / Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 61.843 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

## Communications
Telephones - fixed lines / total subscriptions: 6.93 million (2024 est.)
Telephones - fixed lines / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 15 (2024 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / total subscriptions: 54.1 million (2024 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 115 (2024 est.)
Broadcast media: Radio Alg&eacute;rienne is the state-run radio broadcast; the National Company of Television (Entreprise Nationale de T&eacute;l&eacute;vision (ENTV)) is the primary state-run public TV station (2024)
Internet country code: .dz
Internet users / percent of population: 77% (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / total: 5.54 million (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 12 (2023 est.)

## Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: 7T
Airports: 95 (2025)
Heliports: 11 (2025)
Railways / total: 4,020 km (2019)
Merchant marine / total: 119 (2022)
Merchant marine / by type: bulk carrier 1, container ship 4, general cargo 11, oil tanker 14, other 89
Ports / total ports: 17 (2024)
Ports / large: 2
Ports / medium: 1
Ports / small: 6
Ports / very small: 8
Ports / ports with oil terminals: 3
Ports / key ports: Alger, Annaba, Arzew, Arzew El Djedid, Bejaia, Mers El Kebir, Oran, Port Methanier, Skikda

## Military and Security
Military and security forces: Algerian People's National Army (ANP): Land Forces, Naval Forces (includes Coast Guard), Air Forces, Territorial Air Defense Forces, Republican Guard, National Gendarmerie Ministry of Interior: General Directorate of National Security (national police) (2025)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2024: 8% of GDP (2024 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2023: 8% of GDP (2023 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2022: 4.8% of GDP (2022 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2021: 5.6% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2020: 6.7% of GDP (2020 est.)
Military and security service personnel strengths: information varies; estimated 200,000 active ANP, including the National Gendarmerie (2025)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the Algerian military has traditionally been armed mostly with Russian and Soviet-era weapons systems and equipment; over the past decade, it has made investments in acquiring more modern armored vehicles, air defense systems, fighter aircraft, missiles, unmanned aerial vehicles, and warships, largely from Russia, its traditional supplier, but also China and Western European suppliers such as Germany (2025)
Military service age and obligation: 18 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women; 19 years of age for mandatory national service for men (all Algerian men must register at age 17); 12 months national service obligation (2025)
Military - note: the ANP is responsible for external defense but also has some internal security responsibilities; key areas of concern include border and maritime security, terrorism, regional instability, and tensions with Morocco; Algeria supports the pro-independence Polisario Front in Western Sahara and accuses Morocco of supporting the Algerian separatist Movement for the Autonomy of Kabylie (MAK); border security and counterterrorism have received additional focus since the Arab Spring events of 2011 and the rise of terrorist threats emanating from Libya and the Sahel; the Army and Ministry of Defense (MND) paramilitary forces of the Gendarmerie and the border guards have beefed up their presence along the frontiers with Tunisia, Libya, Niger, and Mali to interdict and deter cross-border attacks by Islamist militant groups; the ANP and MND paramilitary forces have also increased counterterrorism cooperation with some neighboring countries, particularly Tunisia, including joint operations the ANP has also played a large role in the country’s politics since independence in 1962, including coups in 1965 and 1991; it was a key backer of BOUTEFLIKA’s election in 1999 and remained a center of power during his 20-year rule; the military was instrumental in BOUTEFLIKA’s resignation in 2019, when it withdrew support and called for him to be removed from office (2024)

## Space
Space agency/agencies: Algerian Space Agency (Agence Spatiale Alg&eacute;rienne, ASAL; established 2002) (2025)
Space launch site(s): none; note - in 1947, Algeria began hosting a French military rocket test site known as the Centre Interarm&eacute;es d&rsquo;Essais d&rsquo;Engins Sp&eacute;ciaux (CIEES or Interarmy Special Vehicles Test Center); it was the continent of Africa's first rocket launch site and was in service until 1967
Space program overview: has a national space policy and space research program with stated goals of supporting internal development, managing resources, mastering space technology, and reinforcing national sovereignty; builds and operates communications and remote sensing (RS) satellites; researching and developing a range of space-related capabilities, including satellites and satellite payloads, communications, RS, instrumentation, image processing, and geo-spatial information; works with a variety of foreign space agencies and industries, including Argentina, China, France, Germany, India, Russia, Slovenia, Ukraine, the UK, and other African countries; member of the African Space Agency and the Arab Space Coordination Group (2025)
Key space-program milestones: 2002 - first remote sensing (RS) satellite (Alsat-1A) built jointly with the UK and launched by Russia 2006 - announced a national space program 2010 and 2016 - first Algerian-designed and -built RS satellites (Alsat-2A and 2B) launched by India 2017 - first communications satellite (Alcomsat-1) built jointly with and launched by China; announced a 2040 national space plan 2026 - RS satellite (AlSat-3A) launched by China

## Terrorism
Terrorist group(s): al-Qa'ida in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM); Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS) – Algeria; al-Mulathamun Battalion (al-Mourabitoun)

## Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons / refugees: 188,206 (2024 est.)
Refugees and internally displaced persons / IDPs: 25 (2024 est.)
Trafficking in persons / tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List — Algeria did not demonstrate overall increasing efforts to eliminate trafficking compared with the previous reporting period, therefore Algeria remained on Tier 2 Watch List for the second consecutive year; for more details, go to: https://www.state.gov/reports/2025-trafficking-in-persons-report/algeria/

=== Angola ===

## Introduction
Background: Bantu-speaking people settled in the area now called Angola in 6th century A.D.; by the 10th century various Bantu groups had established kingdoms, of which Kongo became the most powerful. From the late-14th to the mid-19th century, a Kingdom of Kongo stretched across central Africa from present-day northern Angola into the current Congo republics. It traded heavily with the Portuguese who, beginning in the 16th century, established coastal colonies and trading posts and introduced Christianity. Angola became a major hub of the transatlantic slave trade conducted by the Portuguese and other European powers -- often in collaboration with local kingdoms, including the Kongo. The Angola area is estimated to have lost as many as 4 million people as a result of the slave trade. The Kingdom of Kongo’s main rival was the Kingdom of Ndongo to its south, whose most famous leader was Nzingha Mbande, the 17th century diplomat to the Portuguese and later Queen, who successfully fought off Portuguese encroachment during her nearly 40-year reign. Smaller kingdoms, such as the Matamba and Ngoyo, often came under the control of the Kongo or Ndongo Kingdoms. During the Berlin Conference of 1884-85, Portugal and other European powers set Angola’s modern borders, but the Portuguese did not fully control large portions of the territory. Portugal gained control of the Kingdom of Kongo in 1888 when Kongo’s King Pedro V sought Portuguese military assistance in exchange for becoming a vassal. After a revolt in 1914, Portugal imposed direct rule over the colony and abolished the Kongo Kingdom. The Angolan National Revolution began in 1961, and in 1975, Angola won its independence when Portugal’s dictatorship fell, a collapse that occurred in part because of growing discontent over conflict in Angola and other colonies. Angola’s multiple independence movements soon clashed, with the Popular Movement for Liberation of Angola (MPLA), led by Agostinho NETO, taking power and the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA), led by Jonas SAVIMBI, emerging as its main competitor. After NETO’s death in 1979, Jose Eduardo DOS SANTOS, also of the MPLA, became president. Over time, the Angolan civil war escalated and became a major Cold War conflict, with the Soviet Union and Cuba supporting the MPLA and the US and South Africa supporting UNITA. Up to 1.5 million lives may have been lost -- and 4 million people displaced -- during the more than a quarter-century of fighting. SAVIMBI's death in 2002 ended UNITA's insurgency and cemented the MPLA's hold on power. DOS SANTOS did not seek reelection in 2017 and supported Joao LOURENCO’s successful bid to become president. LOURENCO was reelected in 2022. Angola scores low on human development indexes despite using its large oil reserves to rebuild since 2002.

## Geography
Location: Southern Africa, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, between Namibia and Democratic Republic of the Congo
Geographic coordinates: 12 30 S, 18 30 E
Map references: Africa
Area / total: 1,246,700 sq km
Area / land: 1,246,700 sq km
Area / water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative: about eight times the size of Georgia; slightly less than twice the size of Texas
Land boundaries / total: 5,369 km
Land boundaries / border countries: Democratic Republic of the Congo 2,646 km (of which 225 km is the boundary of discontiguous Cabinda Province); Republic of the Congo 231 km; Namibia 1,427 km; Zambia 1,065 km
Coastline: 1,600 km
Maritime claims / territorial sea: 12 nm
Maritime claims / contiguous zone: 24 nm
Maritime claims / exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate: semiarid in south and along coast to Luanda; north has cool, dry season (May to October) and hot, rainy season (November to April)
Terrain: narrow coastal plain rises abruptly to vast interior plateau
Elevation / highest point: Moco 2,620 m
Elevation / lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
Elevation / mean elevation: 1,112 m
Natural resources: petroleum, diamonds, iron ore, phosphates, copper, feldspar, gold, bauxite, uranium
Land use / agricultural land: 36.9% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 4.3% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 0.3% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 32.4% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 51.6% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 11.5% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land: 860 sq km (2014)
Major rivers (by length in km): Rio Zambeze (Zambezi) (shared with Zambia [s], Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique [m]) - 2,740 km; Rio Cubango (Okavango) river source (shared with Namibia and Botswana [m]) - 1,600 km note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Major watersheds (area sq km) / Atlantic Ocean drainage: Congo (3,730,881 sq km)
Major watersheds (area sq km) / Indian Ocean drainage: Zambezi (1,332,412 sq km)
Major watersheds (area sq km) / Internal (endorheic basin) drainage: Okavango Basin (863,866 sq km)
Major aquifers: Congo Basin, Upper Kalahari-Cuvelai-Upper Zambezi Basin
Population distribution: most people live in the western half of the country; urban areas account for the highest concentrations of people, particularly the capital of Luanda
Natural hazards: locally heavy rainfall causes periodic flooding on the plateau
Geography - note: the province of Cabinda is an exclave, separated from the rest of the country by the Democratic Republic of the Congo

## People and Society
Population / total: 38,984,796 (2025 est.)
Population / male: 19,115,781
Population / female: 19,869,015
Nationality / noun: Angolan(s)
Nationality / adjective: Angolan
Ethnic groups: Ovimbundu 37%, Kimbundu 25%, Bakongo 13%, Mestico (mixed European and native African) 2%, European 1%, other 22%
Languages: Portuguese 71.2% (official), Umbundu 23%, Kikongo 8.2%, Kimbundu 7.8%, Chokwe 6.5%, Nhaneca 3.4%, Nganguela 3.1%, Fiote 2.4%, Kwanhama 2.3%, Muhumbi 2.1%, Luvale 1%, other 3.6% (2014 est.)
Religions: Roman Catholic 41.1%, Protestant 38.1%, other 8.6%, none 12.3% (2014 est.)
Age structure / 0-14 years: 46.9% (male 8,752,419/female 8,701,422)
Age structure / 15-64 years: 50.7% (male 9,076,080/female 9,795,035)
Age structure / 65 years and over: 2.4% (2024 est.) (male 367,559/female 509,546)
Dependency ratios / total dependency ratio: 95.1 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / youth dependency ratio: 90 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / elderly dependency ratio: 5.1 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / potential support ratio: 19.6 (2025 est.)
Median age / total: 16.6 years (2025 est.)
Median age / male: 15.8 years
Median age / female: 16.8 years
Population growth rate: 3.32% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 39.75 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 6.73 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: 0.14 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution: most people live in the western half of the country; urban areas account for the highest concentrations of people, particularly the capital of Luanda
Urbanization / urban population: 68.7% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 4.04% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 9.292 million LUANDA (capital), 959,000 Lubango, 905,000 Cabinda, 809,000 Benguela, 783,000 Malanje (2023)
Sex ratio / at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 0-14 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 15-64 years: 0.93 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 65 years and over: 0.72 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth: 19.4 years (2015/16 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio: 183 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Infant mortality rate / total: 46.1 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Infant mortality rate / male: 60.7 deaths/1,000 live births
Infant mortality rate / female: 50.3 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth / total population: 62.9 years (2024 est.)
Life expectancy at birth / male: 60.8 years
Life expectancy at birth / female: 65.1 years
Total fertility rate: 5.45 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 2.68 (2025 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: urban: urban: 71.7% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: rural: rural: 27.8% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: total: total: 57.7% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: urban: urban: 28.3% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: rural: rural: 72.2% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: total: total: 42.3% of population (2022 est.)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 3% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 6.7% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density: 0.24 physicians/1,000 population (2022)
Hospital bed density: 0.8 beds/1,000 population (2019 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: urban: urban: 93.7% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: rural: rural: 30.3% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: total: total: 73.5% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: urban: urban: 6.3% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: rural: rural: 69.7% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: total: total: 26.5% of population (2022 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 8.2% (2016)
Alcohol consumption per capita / total: 5.84 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / beer: 3.78 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / wine: 0.72 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / spirits: 1.27 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / other alcohols: 0.08 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49): 57.2% (2016 est.)
Child marriage / women married by age 15: 7.9% (2016)
Child marriage / women married by age 18: 30.3% (2016)
Child marriage / men married by age 18: 6% (2016)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% GDP): 2.5% of GDP (2023 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% national budget): 6.5% national budget (2025 est.)
Literacy / total population: 66.2% (2015 est.)
Literacy / male: 83.8% (2015 est.)
Literacy / female: 51.9% (2015 est.)

## Environment
Environmental issues: overuse of pastures and subsequent soil erosion; desertification; deforestation of tropical rainforest from international demand for timber and domestic use as fuel; loss of biodiversity; soil erosion contributing to water pollution and siltation of rivers and dams; inadequate supplies of potable water
International environmental agreements / party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution
International environmental agreements / signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Climate: semiarid in south and along coast to Luanda; north has cool, dry season (May to October) and hot, rainy season (November to April)
Land use / agricultural land: 36.9% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 4.3% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 0.3% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 32.4% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 51.6% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 11.5% (2023 est.)
Urbanization / urban population: 68.7% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 4.04% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / total emissions: 19.66 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from coal and metallurgical coke: 9,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from petroleum and other liquids: 17.21 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from consumed natural gas: 2.441 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Particulate matter emissions: 27.2 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Methane emissions / energy: 1,009.1 kt (2022-2024 est.)
Methane emissions / agriculture: 374.5 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Methane emissions / waste: 123 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Methane emissions / other: 78.5 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Waste and recycling / municipal solid waste generated annually: 4.214 million tons (2024 est.)
Waste and recycling / percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 19% (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / municipal: 319.5 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / industrial: 239.6 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / agricultural: 146.7 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total renewable water resources: 148.4 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: Republic of Angola
Country name / conventional short form: Angola
Country name / local long form: Republica de Angola
Country name / local short form: Angola
Country name / former: People's Republic of Angola
Country name / etymology: in the 15th century, Portuguese explorers derived the name from the title "N'gola," which was held by kings of the Ndongo
Government type: presidential republic
Capital / name: Luanda
Capital / geographic coordinates: 8 50 S, 13 13 E
Capital / time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Capital / daylight saving time: does not observe daylight savings time
Capital / etymology: the Portuguese named the city S&atilde;o Paulo da Assun&ccedil;&atilde;o de Loanda (Saint Paul of the Assumption of Loanda); over time, it was shortened to "Luanda," which may derive from a Bantu word meaning "tax" or "duty," in reference to local people paying their dues to the king of the Congo
Administrative divisions: 21 provinces ( provincias , singular - provincia ); Bengo, Benguela, Bie, Cabinda, Cuando, Cubango, Cuanza-Norte, Cuanza-Sul, Cunene, Huambo, Huila, Icolo e Bengo, Luanda, Lunda-Norte, Lunda-Sul, Malanje, Moxico, Moxico Leste, Namibe, Uige, Zaire
Legal system: civil legal system based on Portuguese civil law; no judicial review of legislation
Constitution / history: previous 1975, 1992; latest passed by National Assembly 21 January 2010, adopted 5 February 2010
Constitution / amendment process: proposed by the president of the republic or supported by at least one third of the National Assembly membership; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote of the Assembly subject to prior Constitutional Court review if requested by the president of the republic
International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt
Citizenship / citizenship by birth: no
Citizenship / citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Angola
Citizenship / dual citizenship recognized: no
Citizenship / residency requirement for naturalization: 10 years
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch / chief of state: President Joao Manuel Goncalves LOURENCO (since 26 September 2017)
Executive branch / head of government: President Joao Manuel Goncalves LOURENCO (since 26 September 2017)
Executive branch / cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
Executive branch / election/appointment process: the candidate of the winning party or coalition in the last legislative election becomes the president; president serves a 5-year term (eligible for a second consecutive or discontinuous term)
Executive branch / most recent election date: 24 August 2022
Executive branch / election results: Joao Manuel Goncalves LOURENCO (MPLA) elected president by then winning party following the 24 August 2022 general election
Executive branch / expected date of next election: 2027
Legislative branch / legislature name: National Assembly (Assembleia nacional)
Legislative branch / legislative structure: unicameral
Legislative branch / number of seats: 220 (all directly elected)
Legislative branch / electoral system: proportional representation
Legislative branch / scope of elections: full renewal
Legislative branch / term in office: 5 years
Legislative branch / most recent election date: 8/24/2022
Legislative branch / parties elected and seats per party: Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA) (124); National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA) (90); Other (6)
Legislative branch / percentage of women in chamber: 39.1%
Legislative branch / expected date of next election: August 2027
Judicial branch / highest court(s): Supreme Court or Tribunal Supremo (consists of the court president, vice president, and a minimum of 16 judges); Constitutional Court or Tribunal Constitucional (consists of 11 judges)
Judicial branch / judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court judges appointed by the president on recommendation of the Supreme Judicial Council, an 18-member body chaired by the president; judge tenure NA; Constitutional Court judges - 4 nominated by the president, 4 elected by National Assembly, 2 elected by Supreme National Council, 1 elected by competitive submission of curricula; judges serve single 7-year terms
Judicial branch / subordinate courts: provincial and municipal courts
Political parties: Broad Convergence for the Salvation of Angola Electoral Coalition or CASA-CE Humanist Party of Angola or PHI National Front for the Liberation of Angola or FNLA; note - party has two factions National Union for the Total Independence of Angola or UNITA (largest opposition party) Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola or MPLA; note- ruling party in power since 1975 Social Renewal Party or PRS
Diplomatic representation in the US / chief of mission: Ambassador Agostinho de Carvalho dos Santos VAN-D&Uacute;NEM (since 30 June 2023)
Diplomatic representation in the US / chancery: 2108 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
Diplomatic representation in the US / telephone: [1] (202) 785-1156
Diplomatic representation in the US / FAX: [1] (202) 822-9049
Diplomatic representation in the US / email address and website: info@angola.org https://angola.org/
Diplomatic representation in the US / consulate(s) general: Houston, New York
Diplomatic representation from the US / chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charg&eacute; d&rsquo;Affaires Shannon Nagy CAZEAU (since 2 October 2025)
Diplomatic representation from the US / embassy: Rua Houari Boumedienne, #32, Luanda
Diplomatic representation from the US / mailing address: 2550 Luanda Place, Washington, DC 20521-2550
Diplomatic representation from the US / telephone: [244] (222) 64-1000
Diplomatic representation from the US / FAX: [244] (222) 64-1000
Diplomatic representation from the US / email address and website: Consularluanda@state.gov https://ao.usembassy.gov/
International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, AU, CEMAC, CPLP, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NAM, OAS (observer), SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMISS, Union Latina, UNOOSA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Independence: 11 November 1975 (from Portugal)
National holiday: Independence Day, 11 November (1975)
Flag: description: two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and black with a centered yellow emblem of a five-pointed star inside half a cogwheel, crossed by a machete (in the style of a hammer and sickle) meaning: red stands for liberty and black for the African continent; the emblem symbolizes workers and peasants
National symbol(s): giant black sable antelope ( Palanca negra gigante )
National color(s): red, black, yellow
National anthem(s) / title: "Angola Avante" (Forward Angola)
National anthem(s) / lyrics/music: Manuel Rui Alves MONTEIRO/Rui Alberto Vieira Dias MINGAO
National anthem(s) / history: adopted 1975
National heritage / total World Heritage Sites: 1 (cultural)
National heritage / selected World Heritage Site locales: Mbanza-Kongo

## Economy
Economic overview: middle-income, oil-dependent African economy; widespread poverty; rising inflation and currency depreciation; seeking diversification through agricultural production; significant corruption in public institutions; major infrastructure investments from China and US; exited OPEC in 2023
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $278.239 billion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $266.452 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $263.61 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2024: 4.4% (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2023: 1.1% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2022: 3% (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2024: $7,300 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2023: $7,300 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2022: $7,400 (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $80.397 billion (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024: 28.2% (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023: 13.6% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 21.4% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / agriculture: 16.4% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / industry: 44.2% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / services: 39.3% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / household consumption: 55.3% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / government consumption: 6.3% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in fixed capital: 25% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in inventories: 0% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / exports of goods and services: 37.9% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / imports of goods and services: -24.4% (2024 est.)
Agricultural products: cassava, bananas, maize, sweet potatoes, sugarcane, tomatoes, pineapples, onions, potatoes, citrus fruits (2023)
Industries: petroleum; diamonds, iron ore, phosphates, feldspar, bauxite, uranium, and gold; cement; basic metal products; fish processing; food processing, brewing, tobacco products, sugar; textiles; ship repair
Industrial production growth rate: 5% (2024 est.)
Labor force: 15.961 million (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2024: 14.5% (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2023: 14.6% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2022: 14.7% (2022 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / total: 27.9% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / male: 30.2% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / female: 25.7% (2024 est.)
Population below poverty line: 32.3% (2018 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income / Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2018: 51.3 (2018 est.)
Average household expenditures / on food: 50% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Average household expenditures / on alcohol and tobacco: 1.4% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / lowest 10%: 1.3% (2018 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / highest 10%: 39.6% (2018 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2024: 0% of GDP (2024 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2023: 0% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2022: 0% of GDP (2022 est.)
Budget / revenues: $18.117 billion (2019 est.)
Budget / expenditures: $13.871 billion (2019 est.)
Public debt / Public debt 2016: 75.3% of GDP (2016 est.)
Taxes and other revenues: 10.1% (of GDP) (2019 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2024: $6.31 billion (2024 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2023: $4.185 billion (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2022: $11.763 billion (2022 est.)
Exports / Exports 2024: $36.924 billion (2024 est.)
Exports / Exports 2023: $36.961 billion (2023 est.)
Exports / Exports 2022: $50.12 billion (2022 est.)
Exports - partners: China 40%, India 9%, UAE 6%, Spain 6%, Netherlands 5% (2023)
Exports - commodities: crude petroleum, diamonds, natural gas, ships, refined petroleum (2023)
Imports / Imports 2024: $22.683 billion (2024 est.)
Imports / Imports 2023: $23.688 billion (2023 est.)
Imports / Imports 2022: $28.564 billion (2022 est.)
Imports - partners: China 19%, Portugal 10%, UAE 7%, India 6%, USA 5% (2023)
Imports - commodities: refined petroleum, wheat, ships, cars, trucks (2023)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024: $14.243 billion (2024 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023: $13.942 billion (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $13.655 billion (2022 est.)
Debt - external / Debt - external 2023: $45.299 billion (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Currency: kwanza (AOA) per US dollar -
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2024: 869.846 (2024 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2023: 685.02 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2022: 460.568 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2021: 631.442 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2020: 578.259 (2020 est.)

## Energy
Electricity access / electrification - total population: 48.5% (2022 est.)
Electricity access / electrification - urban areas: 76.2%
Electricity access / electrification - rural areas: 7.3% (2018 est.)
Electricity / installed generating capacity: 7.6 million kW (2023 est.)
Electricity / consumption: 16.214 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / transmission/distribution losses: 1.725 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / fossil fuels: 23.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / solar: 2.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / hydroelectricity: 74% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / biomass and waste: 0.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Coal / imports: 3,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum / total petroleum production: 1.175 million bbl/day (2023 est.)
Petroleum / refined petroleum consumption: 121,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Petroleum / crude oil estimated reserves: 7.783 billion barrels (2021 est.)
Natural gas / production: 5.984 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / consumption: 1.244 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / exports: 4.928 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / proven reserves: 343.002 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)
Energy consumption per capita / Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 9.146 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

## Communications
Telephones - fixed lines / total subscriptions: 80,300 (2024 est.)
Telephones - fixed lines / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2024 est.) less than 1
Telephones - mobile cellular / total subscriptions: 26.4 million (2024 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 70 (2024 est.)
Broadcast media: state-owned media dominate; only four privately owned newspapers still exist in print form; state-run Radio Nacional de Angola (RNA) is the only outlet to offer programs in local languages such as Bantu; private stations operate in cities, including Catholic Radio Ecclesia, but RNA is the only radio broadcaster with near-national coverage (2023)
Internet country code: .ao
Internet users / percent of population: 45% (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / total: 137,000 (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2023 est.) less than 1

## Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: D2
Airports: 107 (2025)
Heliports: 2 (2025)
Railways / total: 2,761 km (2022)
Railways / narrow gauge: 2,638 km (2022) 1.067-m gauge
Merchant marine / total: 64 (2023)
Merchant marine / by type: general cargo 13, oil tanker 8, other 43
Ports / total ports: 21 (2024)
Ports / large: 0
Ports / medium: 0
Ports / small: 8
Ports / very small: 13
Ports / ports with oil terminals: 17
Ports / key ports: Cabinda, Estrela Oil Field, Lobito, Luanda, Malongo Oil Terminal, Namibe, Palanca Terminal, Takula Terminal

## Military and Security
Military and security forces: Angolan Armed Forces (Forcas Armadas Angolanas, FAA): Army, Navy (Marinha de Guerra Angola, MGA), Angolan National Air Force (Forca Aerea Nacional Angolana, FANA) Ministry of Interior: National Police, Border Guard Police (2025)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2024: 1% of GDP (2024 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2023: 1.2% of GDP (2023 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2022: 1.2% of GDP (2022 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2021: 1.4% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2020: 1.5% of GDP (2020 est.)
Military and security service personnel strengths: approximately 100,000 active duty Armed Forces (2025)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: most Angolan military weapons and equipment are of Russian or Soviet-era origin; there are smaller quantities of items originating from such suppliers as China, Brazil, Israel, Italy, South Africa, and the UAE (2025)
Military service age and obligation: 20-45 years of age for compulsory and 18-45 years for voluntary military service for men; 20-45 years of age for voluntary service for women; 24-month conscript service obligation; the Navy is entirely staffed with volunteers (2025)
Military - note: the Angolan Armed Forces were created in 1991 under the Bicesse Accords signed between the Angolan Government and the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA); the current force is responsible for country&rsquo;s external defense but also has some domestic security responsibilities, such as border protection; it participates in multinational exercises, as well as regional peacekeeping operations, including the deployment of several hundred troops to the Democratic Republic of the Congo in 2023; in recent years, the military has placed additional emphasis on maritime security and protecting offshore resources (2025)

## Space
Space agency/agencies: National Space Program Office (Gabinete de Gest&atilde;o do Programa Espacial Nacional, GGPEN; established 2013) (2025)
Space program overview: has a national space strategy with a focus on capacity-building, developing space infrastructure, investing in domestic space sector, supporting socioeconomic growth, and establishing cooperation agreements with foreign technical and scientific institutions in the space industry; contracts with foreign companies to build and launch satellites; operates satellites; cooperates with a variety of foreign space agencies and industries, including those of France, Portugal, Russia, the US, and other African countries; member of the African Space Agency (2025)
Key space-program milestones: 2017 - first communications satellite (AngoSat-1) built, launched, and operated by Russia (satellite failed in 2018) 2022 - second communications satellite (AngoSat-2) with French-built payload, integrated and launched by Russia 2023 - signed US-led Artemis Accords outlining best practices for space exploration 2024 - inaugurated a national maritime coordination and surveillance center and country's first satellite mission control center 2025 - signed financial agreement with France for construction of country’s first high-resolution remote sensing satellite (ANGEO-1)

## Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons / refugees: 55,542 (2024 est.)
Refugees and internally displaced persons / IDPs: 75,308 (2024 est.)

=== Botswana ===

## Introduction
Background: In the early 1800s, multiple political entities in what is now Botswana were destabilized or destroyed by a series of conflicts and population movements in southern Africa. By the end of this period, the Tswana ethnic group, who also live across the border in South Africa, had become the most prominent group in the area. In 1852, Tswana forces halted the expansion of white Afrikaner settlers who were seeking to expand their territory northwards into what is now Botswana. In 1885, Great Britain claimed territory that roughly corresponds with modern day Botswana as a protectorate called Bechuanaland. Upon independence in 1966, the British protectorate of Bechuanaland adopted the new name of Botswana, which means "land of the Tswana." More than five decades of uninterrupted civilian leadership, progressive social policies, and significant capital investment have created an enduring democracy and upper-middle-income economy. The ruling Botswana Democratic Party has won every national election since independence; President Mokgweetsi Eric Keabetswe MASISI assumed the presidency in 2018 after the retirement of former President Ian KHAMA due to constitutional term limits. MASISI won his first election as president in 2019, and he is Botswana’s fifth president since independence. Mineral extraction, principally diamond mining, dominates economic activity, though tourism is a growing sector due to the country's conservation practices and extensive nature preserves. Botswana has one of the world's highest rates of HIV/AIDS infection but also one of Africa's most progressive and comprehensive programs for dealing with the disease.

## Geography
Location: Southern Africa, north of South Africa
Geographic coordinates: 22 00 S, 24 00 E
Map references: Africa
Area / total: 581,730 sq km
Area / land: 566,730 sq km
Area / water: 15,000 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly smaller than Texas; almost four times the size of Illinois
Land boundaries / total: 4,347.15 km
Land boundaries / border countries: Namibia 1,544 km; South Africa 1,969 km; Zambia 0.15 km; Zimbabwe 834 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
Climate: semiarid; warm winters and hot summers
Terrain: predominantly flat to gently rolling tableland; Kalahari Desert in southwest
Elevation / highest point: Manyelanong Hill 1,495 m
Elevation / lowest point: junction of the Limpopo and Shashe Rivers 513 m
Elevation / mean elevation: 1,013 m
Natural resources: diamonds, copper, nickel, salt, soda ash, potash, coal, iron ore, silver
Land use / agricultural land: 45.6% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 0.5% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 0% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 45.2% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 27.8% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 26.6% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land: 25 sq km (2014)
Major rivers (by length in km): Zambezi (shared with Zambia [s]), Angola, Namibia, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique [m]) - 2,740 km; Limpopo (shared with South Africa [s], Zimbabwe, and Mozambique [m]) - 1,800 km; Okavango river mouth (shared with Angola [s], and Namibia) - 1,600 km note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Major watersheds (area sq km) / Atlantic Ocean drainage: Orange (941,351 sq km)
Major watersheds (area sq km) / Indian Ocean drainage: Zambezi (1,332,412 sq km)
Major watersheds (area sq km) / Internal (endorheic basin) drainage: Okavango Basin (863,866 sq km)
Major aquifers: Lower Kalahari-Stampriet Basin, Upper Kalahari-Cuvelai-Upper Zambezi Basin
Population distribution: the population is primarily concentrated in the east, with a focus in and around the capital of Gaborone and the eastern city of Francistown; population density remains low in other areas in the country, especially in the Kalahari Desert to the west.
Natural hazards: periodic droughts; seasonal August winds blow from the west, carrying sand and dust across the country, which can obscure visibility
Geography - note: landlocked; sparsely populated with most settlement concentrated in the southern and eastern parts of the country; geography dominated by the Kalahari Desert, which covers about 70% of the country, although the Okavango Delta brings considerable biodiversity as one of the largest inland deltas in the World

## People and Society
Population / total: 2,521,534 (2025 est.)
Population / male: 1,234,898
Population / female: 1,286,636
Nationality / noun: Motswana (singular), Batswana (plural)
Nationality / adjective: Motswana (singular), Batswana (plural)
Ethnic groups: Tswana (or Setswana) 79%, Kalanga 11%, Basarwa 3%, other, including Kgalagadi and people of European ancestry 7%
Languages: Setswana 77.3%, Sekalanga 7.4%, Shekgalagadi 3.4%, English (official) 2.8%, Zezuru/Shona 2%, Sesarwa 1.7%, Sembukushu 1.6%, Ndebele 1%, other 2.8% (2011 est.)
Religions: Christian 79.1%, Badimo 4.1%, other 1.4% (includes Baha'i, Hindu, Muslim, Rastafarian), none 15.2%, unspecified 0.3% (2011 est.)
Age structure / 0-14 years: 28.7% (male 355,583/female 348,863)
Age structure / 15-64 years: 65.2% (male 759,210/female 837,752)
Age structure / 65 years and over: 6.1% (2024 est.) (male 59,513/female 89,747)
Dependency ratios / total dependency ratio: 60.9 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / youth dependency ratio: 52.1 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / elderly dependency ratio: 8.8 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / potential support ratio: 11.4 (2025 est.)
Median age / total: 25.8 years (2025 est.)
Median age / male: 26 years
Median age / female: 28.3 years
Population growth rate: 1.32% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 21.16 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 6.8 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: -1.14 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution: the population is primarily concentrated in the east, with a focus in and around the capital of Gaborone and the eastern city of Francistown; population density remains low in other areas in the country, especially in the Kalahari Desert to the west.
Urbanization / urban population: 72.9% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 2.47% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 269,000 GABORONE (capital) (2018)
Sex ratio / at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 0-14 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 15-64 years: 0.91 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 65 years and over: 0.66 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / total population: 0.92 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio: 155 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Infant mortality rate / total: 27.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Infant mortality rate / male: 25.9 deaths/1,000 live births
Infant mortality rate / female: 21.4 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth / total population: 66.4 years (2024 est.)
Life expectancy at birth / male: 64.4 years
Life expectancy at birth / female: 68.6 years
Total fertility rate: 2.73 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 1.34 (2025 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: urban: urban: 97.5% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: rural: rural: 79.6% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: total: total: 92.6% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: urban: urban: 2.5% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: rural: rural: 20.4% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: total: total: 7.4% of population (2022 est.)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 6.3% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 14.6% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density: 0.38 physicians/1,000 population (2023)
Hospital bed density: 2.2 beds/1,000 population (2021 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: urban: urban: 94.9% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: rural: rural: 63% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: total: total: 86% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: urban: urban: 5.1% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: rural: rural: 37% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: total: total: 14% of population (2022 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 18.9% (2016)
Alcohol consumption per capita / total: 5.98 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / beer: 2.93 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / wine: 0.46 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / spirits: 0.96 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / other alcohols: 1.64 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Tobacco use / total: 17.1% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / male: 29.2% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / female: 5.5% (2025 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49): 41.5% (2017 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% GDP): 8.1% of GDP (2020 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% national budget): 21.5% national budget (2020 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / total: 12 years (2021 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / male: 12 years (2021 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / female: 13 years (2021 est.)

## Environment
Environmental issues: overgrazing; desertification; limited freshwater resources; air pollution
International environmental agreements / party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
International environmental agreements / signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Climate: semiarid; warm winters and hot summers
Land use / agricultural land: 45.6% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 0.5% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 0% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 45.2% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 27.8% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 26.6% (2023 est.)
Urbanization / urban population: 72.9% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 2.47% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / total emissions: 5.897 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from coal and metallurgical coke: 2.818 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from petroleum and other liquids: 3.079 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Particulate matter emissions: 12.5 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Methane emissions / energy: 26 kt (2022-2024 est.)
Methane emissions / agriculture: 144 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Methane emissions / waste: 841.4 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Methane emissions / other: 1.7 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Waste and recycling / municipal solid waste generated annually: 210,900 tons (2024 est.)
Waste and recycling / percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 21% (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / municipal: 129.327 million cubic meters (2022)
Total water withdrawal / industrial: 24.295 million cubic meters (2022)
Total water withdrawal / agricultural: 59.661 million cubic meters (2022)
Total renewable water resources: 12.24 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: Republic of Botswana
Country name / conventional short form: Botswana
Country name / local long form: Republic of Botswana
Country name / local short form: Botswana
Country name / former: Bechuanaland
Country name / etymology: the name Botswana means "Land of the Tswana," referring to the country's largest ethnic group
Government type: parliamentary republic
Capital / name: Gaborone
Capital / geographic coordinates: 24 38 S, 25 54 E
Capital / time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Capital / etymology: named after GABORONE (ca. 1825-1931), a chief of the Tlokwa tribe, whose name means "it is not unbecoming"
Administrative divisions: 10 districts and 6 town councils*; Central, Chobe, Francistown*, Gaborone*, Ghanzi, Jwaneng*, Kgalagadi, Kgatleng, Kweneng, Lobatse*, North East, North West, Selebi-Phikwe*, South East, Southern, Sowa Town*
Legal system: mixed legal system of civil law influenced by the Roman-Dutch model, including customary and common law
Constitution / history: previous 1960 (pre-independence); latest adopted March 1965, effective 30 September 1966
Constitution / amendment process: proposed by the National Assembly; passage requires approval in two successive Assembly votes with at least two-thirds majority in the final vote; proposals to amend constitutional provisions on fundamental rights and freedoms, the structure and branches of government, and public services also requires approval by majority vote in a referendum and assent by the president of the republic
International law organization participation: accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Citizenship / citizenship by birth: no
Citizenship / citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Botswana
Citizenship / dual citizenship recognized: no
Citizenship / residency requirement for naturalization: 10 years
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch / chief of state: President Duma BOKO (since 1 November 2024)
Executive branch / head of government: President Duma BOKO (since 1 November 2024)
Executive branch / cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president
Executive branch / election/appointment process: president indirectly elected by the National Assembly for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); vice president appointed by the president
Executive branch / most recent election date: 31 October 2024
Executive branch / election results: BOKO's UDC won 35 seats in the National Assembly, which then selected BOKO as president
Executive branch / expected date of next election: October 2029
Legislative branch / legislature name: Parliament
Legislative branch / legislative structure: unicameral
Legislative branch / chamber name: National Assembly
Legislative branch / number of seats: 69 (61 directly elected; 6 indirectly elected)
Legislative branch / electoral system: plurality/majority
Legislative branch / scope of elections: full renewal
Legislative branch / term in office: 5 years
Legislative branch / most recent election date: 10/30/2024
Legislative branch / parties elected and seats per party: Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) (36); Botswana Congress Party (BCP) (15); Botswana Patriotic Front (BPF) (5); Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) (4); Other (1)
Legislative branch / percentage of women in chamber: 9%
Legislative branch / expected date of next election: October 2029
Judicial branch / highest court(s): Court of Appeal, High Court (each consists of a chief justice and a number of other judges as prescribed by the Parliament)
Judicial branch / judge selection and term of office: Court of Appeal and High Court chief justices appointed by the president and other judges appointed by the president upon the advice of the Judicial Service Commission; all judges appointed to serve until age 70
Judicial branch / subordinate courts: Industrial Court (with circuits scheduled monthly in the capital city and in 3 districts); Magistrates Courts (1 in each district); Customary Court of Appeal; Paramount Chief's Court/Urban Customary Court; Senior Chief's Representative Court; Chief's Representative’s Court; Headman's Court
Political parties: Alliance of Progressives or AP Botswana Congress Party or BCP Botswana Democratic Party or BDP Botswana National Front or BNF [Duma BOKO]Botswana Patriotic Front or BPF Botswana Peoples Party or BPP Botswana Republic Party or BRP Umbrella for Democratic Change or UDC (various times the coalition has included the BPP, BCP, BNF and other parties)
Diplomatic representation in the US / chief of mission: Ambassador Mpho Churchill MOPHUTING (since 18 September 2024)
Diplomatic representation in the US / chancery: 1531-1533 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036
Diplomatic representation in the US / telephone: [1] (202) 244-4990
Diplomatic representation in the US / FAX: [1] (202) 244-4164
Diplomatic representation in the US / email address and website: info@botswanaembassy.org http://www.botswanaembassy.org/
Diplomatic representation from the US / chief of mission: Ambassador Howard A. VAN VRANKEN (since 24 May 2023)
Diplomatic representation from the US / embassy: Embassy Drive, Government Enclave (off Khama Crescent), Gaborone
Diplomatic representation from the US / mailing address: 2170 Gaborone Place, Washington DC 20521-2170
Diplomatic representation from the US / telephone: [267] 395-3982
Diplomatic representation from the US / FAX: [267] 318-0232
Diplomatic representation from the US / email address and website: ConsularGaborone@state.gov https://bw.usembassy.gov/
International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, AU, C, CD, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MONUSCO, NAM, OPCW, SACU, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Independence: 30 September 1966 (from the UK)
National holiday: Independence Day (Botswana Day), 30 September (1966)
Flag: description: light blue with a horizontal white-edged black stripe across the middle meaning: the blue symbolizes rainwater, and the black and white bands represent racial harmony
National symbol(s): zebra
National color(s): light blue, white, black
National coat of arms: the two zebras, the country’s national symbol, support an elephant tusk that represents the country's fauna and a head of sorghum that signifies agriculture; the three wavy blue bands stand for the country’s reliance on water, the cog wheels for industry, and the bull’s head for the cattle industry; the coat of arms also features the national colors of light blue, white, and black; the motto reflects the scarcity of rain in the country: pula means “let there be rain” in Setswana, the national language
National anthem(s) / title: "Fatshe leno la rona" (Our Land)
National anthem(s) / lyrics/music: Kgalemang Tumedisco MOTSETE
National anthem(s) / history: adopted 1966
National heritage / total World Heritage Sites: 2 (1 cultural, 1 natural)
National heritage / selected World Heritage Site locales: Tsodilo Hills (c); Okavango Delta (n)

## Economy
Economic overview: good economic governance and financial management; diamond-driven growth model declining; rapid poverty reductions; high unemployment, particularly among youth; COVID-19 sharply contracted the economy and recovery is slow; public sector wages have posed fiscal challenges
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $45.553 billion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $46.957 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $45.498 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2024: -3% (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2023: 3.2% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2022: 5.5% (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2024: $18,100 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2023: $18,900 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2022: $18,600 (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $19.401 billion (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024: 2.8% (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023: 5.1% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 11.7% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / agriculture: 1.7% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / industry: 29.4% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / services: 63.5% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / household consumption: 45.3% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / government consumption: 32.1% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in fixed capital: 28.5% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in inventories: 7.7% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / exports of goods and services: 26% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / imports of goods and services: -40.9% (2024 est.)
Agricultural products: root vegetables, beef, vegetables, sorghum, maize, game meat, milk, watermelons, goat milk, sunflower seeds (2023)
Industries: diamonds, copper, nickel, salt, soda ash, potash, coal, iron ore, silver; beef processing; textiles
Industrial production growth rate: -13.5% (2024 est.)
Labor force: 1.173 million (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2024: 23.2% (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2023: 23.4% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2022: 23.7% (2022 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / total: 43.9% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / male: 39.8% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / female: 48.6% (2024 est.)
Population below poverty line: 16.1% (2015 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income / Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2015: 54.9 (2015 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / lowest 10%: 1.4% (2015 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / highest 10%: 42.9% (2015 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2023: 0.4% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2022: 0.3% of GDP (2022 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2021: 0.3% of GDP (2021 est.)
Budget / revenues: $5.474 billion (2024 est.)
Budget / expenditures: $6.296 billion (2024 est.)
Public debt / Public debt 2020: 19.6% of GDP (2020 est.)
Taxes and other revenues: 19.6% (of GDP) (2022 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2023: -$116.727 million (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2022: -$232.122 million (2022 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2021: -$314.583 million (2021 est.)
Exports / Exports 2023: $6.398 billion (2023 est.)
Exports / Exports 2022: $8.914 billion (2022 est.)
Exports / Exports 2021: $7.861 billion (2021 est.)
Exports - partners: UAE 27%, India 17%, Belgium 16%, South Africa 8%, USA 7% (2023)
Exports - commodities: diamonds, copper ore, insulated wire, carbonates, cattle (2023)
Imports / Imports 2023: $7.228 billion (2023 est.)
Imports / Imports 2022: $8.826 billion (2022 est.)
Imports / Imports 2021: $9.25 billion (2021 est.)
Imports - partners: South Africa 65%, Namibia 8%, Canada 5%, China 3%, India 3% (2023)
Imports - commodities: refined petroleum, diamonds, cars, flavored water, electricity (2023)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024: $3.456 billion (2024 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023: $4.756 billion (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $4.279 billion (2022 est.)
Debt - external / Debt - external 2023: $1.761 billion (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Currency: pulas (BWP) per US dollar -
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2024: 13.563 (2024 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2023: 13.596 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2022: 12.369 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2021: 11.087 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2020: 11.456 (2020 est.)

## Energy
Electricity access / electrification - total population: 75.9% (2022 est.)
Electricity access / electrification - urban areas: 95.5%
Electricity access / electrification - rural areas: 25%
Electricity / installed generating capacity: 758,000 kW (2023 est.)
Electricity / consumption: 3.879 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / exports: 2 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / imports: 1.923 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / transmission/distribution losses: 625.694 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / fossil fuels: 99.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / solar: 0.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Coal / production: 2.242 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / consumption: 1.351 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / exports: 891,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / imports: 300 metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / proven reserves: 1.66 billion metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum / refined petroleum consumption: 22,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Energy consumption per capita / Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 32.443 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

## Communications
Telephones - fixed lines / total subscriptions: 83,200 (2024 est.)
Telephones - fixed lines / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 3 (2024 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / total subscriptions: 4.13 million (2024 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 164 (2024 est.)
Broadcast media: 2 TV stations, 1 state-owned and 1 privately owned; privately owned satellite TV subscription service is available; 2 state-owned national radio stations; 4 privately owned radio stations broadcast locally (2019)
Internet country code: .bw
Internet users / percent of population: 81% (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / total: 85,000 (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 3 (2023 est.)

## Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: A2
Airports: 122 (2025)
Railways / total: 888 km (2014)
Railways / narrow gauge: 888 km (2014) 1.067-m gauge

## Military and Security
Military and security forces: Botswana Defense Force (BDF): Ground Forces Command, Air Arm Command, Defense Logistics Command (2025)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2024: 3% of GDP (2024 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2023: 2.6% of GDP (2023 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2022: 2.8% of GDP (2022 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2021: 3% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2020: 3% of GDP (2020 est.)
Military and security service personnel strengths: estimated 10,000 active Botswana Defense Force (2025)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the BDF has a mix of mostly older weapons and equipment, largely of Western/European origin; in recent years, it has received limited amounts of newer armaments from several European countries and the US (2025)
Military service age and obligation: 18-24 years of age (men and women) for general recruits and officer candidates; 18-40 for special entrant officers; no conscription (2025)
Military - note: the key responsibilities of the Botswana Defense Force (BDF) are defending the country's sovereignty and territorial integrity on land and in the air, ensuring national security and stability, and aiding civil authorities in support of domestic missions such as disaster relief and anti-poaching; the BDF also participates in regional and international security operations Bechuanaland/Botswana did not have a permanent military during colonial times, with the British colonial administrators relying instead on small, lightly armed constabularies such as the Bechuanaland Mounted Police, the Bechuanaland Border Police, and by the early 1960s, the Police Mobile Unit (PMU); after independence in 1966, Botswana militarized the PMU and gave it responsibility for the country’s defense rather than create a conventional military force; however, turmoil in neighboring countries and numerous cross-border incursions by Rhodesian and South African security forces in the 1960s and 1970s demonstrated that the PMU was inadequate for defending the country and led to the establishment of the BDF in 1977 (2025)

## Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons / refugees: 823 (2024 est.)
Refugees and internally displaced persons / IDPs: 99 (2023 est.)

=== Benin ===

## Introduction
Background: Present-day Benin is comprised of about 42 ethnic groups, including the Yoruba in the southeast, who migrated from what is now Nigeria in the 12th century; the Dendi in the north-central area, who came from Mali in the 16th century; the Bariba and the Fula in the northeast; the Ottamari in the Atakora mountains; the Fon in the area around Abomey in the south-central area; and the Mina, Xueda, and Aja, who came from Togo, on the coast. The Kingdom of Dahomey emerged on the Abomey plateau in the 17th century and was a regional power for much of the 18th and 19th centuries. The growth of Dahomey coincided with the growth of the Atlantic slave trade, and it became known as a major source of enslaved people. France began to control the coastal areas of Dahomey in the second half of the 19th century; the entire kingdom was conquered by 1894. French Dahomey achieved independence in 1960, and it changed its name to the Republic of Benin in 1975. A succession of military governments ended in 1972 with the rise to power of Mathieu KEREKOU and a Marxist-Leninist government. A move to representative government began in 1989. Two years later, free elections ushered in former Prime Minister Nicephore SOGLO as president, marking the first successful transfer of power in Africa from a dictatorship to a democracy. KEREKOU returned to power after elections in 1996 and 2001. He stepped down in 2006 and was succeeded by Thomas YAYI Boni, a political outsider and independent, who won a second term in 2011. Patrice TALON, a wealthy businessman, took office in 2016; the space for pluralism, dissent, and free expression has narrowed under his administration. TALON won a second term in 2021.

## Geography
Location: Western Africa, bordering the Bight of Benin, between Nigeria and Togo
Geographic coordinates: 9 30 N, 2 15 E
Map references: Africa
Area / total: 112,622 sq km
Area / land: 110,622 sq km
Area / water: 2,000 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly smaller than Pennsylvania
Land boundaries / total: 2,123 km
Land boundaries / border countries: Burkina Faso 386 km; Niger 277 km; Nigeria 809 km; Togo 651 km
Coastline: 121 km
Maritime claims / territorial sea: 200 nm; note: the US does not recognize this claim
Maritime claims / continental shelf: 200 nm
Maritime claims / exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
Climate: tropical; hot, humid in south; semiarid in north
Terrain: mostly flat to undulating plain; some hills and low mountains
Elevation / highest point: unnamed elevation 675 m; located 2.5 km southeast of the town of Kotopounga
Elevation / lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
Elevation / mean elevation: 273 m
Natural resources: small offshore oil deposits, limestone, marble, timber
Land use / agricultural land: 41.8% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 31.4% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 5.5% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 4.9% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 28.5% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 29.7% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land: 530 sq km (2019)
Major watersheds (area sq km) / Atlantic Ocean drainage: Niger (2,261,741 sq km), Volta (410,991 sq km)
Population distribution: the population is primarily located in the south, with the highest concentration of people residing in and around the cities on the Atlantic coast; most of the north remains sparsely populated with higher concentrations of residents in the west, as shown in this population distribution map
Natural hazards: hot, dry, dusty harmattan wind may affect north from December to March
Geography - note: sandbanks create difficult access to a coast with no natural harbors, river mouths, or islands

## People and Society
Population / total: 15,186,090 (2025 est.)
Population / male: 7,500,771
Population / female: 7,685,319
Nationality / noun: Beninese (singular and plural)
Nationality / adjective: Beninese
Ethnic groups: Fon and related 38.4%, Adja and related 15.1%, Yoruba and related 12%, Bariba and related 9.6%, Fulani and related 8.6%, Ottamari and related 6.1%, Yoa-Lokpa and related 4.3%, Dendi and related 2.9%, other 0.9%, foreigner 1.9% (2013 est.)
Languages: 55 languages; French (official); Fon (a Gbe language), Yom (a Gur language) and Yoruba are the most important indigenous languages in the south; half a dozen regionally important languages in the north, including Bariba and Fulfulde
Religions: Muslim 27.7%, Roman Catholic 25.5%, Protestant 13.5% (Celestial 6.7%, Methodist 3.4%, other Protestant 3.4%), Vodoun 11.6%, other Christian 9.5%, other traditional religions 2.6%, other 2.6%, none 5.8% (2013 est.)
Age structure / 0-14 years: 45.3% (male 3,360,027/female 3,294,201)
Age structure / 15-64 years: 52.2% (male 3,727,040/female 3,951,786)
Age structure / 65 years and over: 2.5% (2024 est.) (male 166,191/female 197,807)
Dependency ratios / total dependency ratio: 91.1 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / youth dependency ratio: 86.3 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / elderly dependency ratio: 4.8 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / potential support ratio: 21 (2025 est.)
Median age / total: 17.2 years (2025 est.)
Median age / male: 16.6 years
Median age / female: 17.7 years
Population growth rate: 3.26% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 39.82 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 7.45 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: 0.22 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution: the population is primarily located in the south, with the highest concentration of people residing in and around the cities on the Atlantic coast; most of the north remains sparsely populated with higher concentrations of residents in the west, as shown in this population distribution map
Urbanization / urban population: 50.1% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 3.74% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 285,000 PORTO-NOVO (capital) (2018); 1.253 million Abomey-Calavi, 722,000 COTONOU (seat of government) (2022)
Sex ratio / at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 0-14 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 15-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 65 years and over: 0.84 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth: 20.5 years (2017/18 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio: 518 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Infant mortality rate / total: 51.6 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Infant mortality rate / male: 57.8 deaths/1,000 live births
Infant mortality rate / female: 47.8 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth / total population: 63 years (2024 est.)
Life expectancy at birth / male: 61.1 years
Life expectancy at birth / female: 65 years
Total fertility rate: 5.3 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 2.59 (2025 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: urban: urban: 74.1% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: rural: rural: 60.8% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: total: total: 67.4% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: urban: urban: 25.9% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: rural: rural: 39.2% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: total: total: 32.6% of population (2022 est.)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 2.6% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 2.6% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density: 0.22 physicians/1,000 population (2023)
Hospital bed density: 0.4 beds/1,000 population (2021 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: urban: urban: 58.5% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: rural: rural: 20.8% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: total: total: 39.5% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: urban: urban: 41.5% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: rural: rural: 79.2% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: total: total: 60.5% of population (2022 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 9.6% (2016)
Alcohol consumption per capita / total: 1.25 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / beer: 0.81 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / wine: 0.02 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / spirits: 0.2 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / other alcohols: 0.22 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Tobacco use / total: 4.8% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / male: 8.3% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / female: 1.5% (2025 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 19.6% (2021 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49): 65.7% (2022 est.)
Child marriage / women married by age 15: 5.9% (2022)
Child marriage / women married by age 18: 27.5% (2022)
Child marriage / men married by age 18: 4.6% (2022)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% GDP): 3.2% of GDP (2023 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% national budget): 18% national budget (2025 est.)
Literacy / total population: 51.4% (2022 est.)
Literacy / male: 62.6% (2022 est.)
Literacy / female: 41.5% (2022 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / total: 10 years (2022 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / male: 11 years (2022 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / female: 9 years (2022 est.)

## Environment
Environmental issues: inadequate supplies of potable water; water pollution; poaching; deforestation; desertification; droughts
International environmental agreements / party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling
International environmental agreements / signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Climate: tropical; hot, humid in south; semiarid in north
Land use / agricultural land: 41.8% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 31.4% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 5.5% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 4.9% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 28.5% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 29.7% (2023 est.)
Urbanization / urban population: 50.1% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 3.74% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / total emissions: 5.948 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from coal and metallurgical coke: 379,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from petroleum and other liquids: 5.263 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from consumed natural gas: 306,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Particulate matter emissions: 32.6 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Methane emissions / energy: 63.4 kt (2022-2024 est.)
Methane emissions / agriculture: 106.1 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Methane emissions / waste: 34.3 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Methane emissions / other: 43.5 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Waste and recycling / municipal solid waste generated annually: 685,900 tons (2024 est.)
Waste and recycling / percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 56.9% (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / municipal: 145 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / industrial: 30 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / agricultural: 59 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total renewable water resources: 26.39 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: Republic of Benin
Country name / conventional short form: Benin
Country name / local long form: R&eacute;publique du Benin
Country name / local short form: Benin
Country name / former: Dahomey, People's Republic of Benin
Country name / etymology: the current name comes from a local ethnic group, the Bini, whose name may be related to the Arabic word bani , meaning "sons;" the former name, Dahomey, comes from a previous kingdom in the area called Dan Homé
Government type: presidential republic
Capital / name: Porto-Novo (constitutional capital); Cotonou (seat of government)
Capital / geographic coordinates: 6 29 N, 2 37 E
Capital / time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Capital / etymology: the name Porto-Novo is Portuguese for "new port"; Cotonou means "mouth of the river of death" in the native Fon language
Administrative divisions: 12 departments; Alibori, Atacora, Atlantique, Borgou, Collines, Couffo, Donga, Littoral, Mono, Oueme, Plateau, Zou
Legal system: civil law system modeled largely on the French system and some customary law
Constitution / history: previous 1946, 1958 (pre-independence); latest adopted by referendum 2 December 1990, promulgated 11 December 1990
Constitution / amendment process: proposed concurrently by the president of the republic (after a decision in the Council of Ministers) and the National Assembly; consideration of drafts or proposals requires at least three-fourths majority vote of the Assembly membership; passage requires approval in a referendum unless approved by at least four-fifths majority vote of the Assembly membership; constitutional articles affecting territorial sovereignty, the republican form of government, and secularity of Benin cannot be amended
International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Citizenship / citizenship by birth: no
Citizenship / citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Benin
Citizenship / dual citizenship recognized: yes
Citizenship / residency requirement for naturalization: 10 years
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch / chief of state: President Patrice TALON (since 6 April 2016)
Executive branch / head of government: President Patrice TALON (since 6 April 2016)
Executive branch / cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
Executive branch / election/appointment process: president directly elected by absolute-majority popular vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term)
Executive branch / most recent election date: 11 April 2021
Executive branch / election results: 2021: Patrice TALON reelected president in the ; percent of vote - Patrice TALON (independent) 86.3%, Alassane SOUMANOU (FCBE) 11.4%, Corentin KOHOUE (The Democrats) 2.3% 2016: Patrice TALON elected president in second round; percent of vote in first round - Lionel ZINSOU (FCBE) 28.4%, Patrice TALON (independent) 24.8%, Sebastien AJAVON (independent) 23%, Abdoulaye Bio TCHANE (ABT) 8.8%, Pascal KOUPAKI (NC) 5.9%, other 9.1%; percent of vote in second round - Patrice TALON 65.4%, Lionel ZINSOU 34.6%
Executive branch / expected date of next election: 12 April 2026
Legislative branch / legislature name: National Assembly (Assemblée nationale)
Legislative branch / legislative structure: unicameral
Legislative branch / number of seats: 109 (all directly elected)
Legislative branch / electoral system: proportional representation
Legislative branch / scope of elections: full renewal
Legislative branch / term in office: 4 years
Legislative branch / most recent election date: 1/8/2023
Legislative branch / parties elected and seats per party: Progressive Union for Renewal (53); Republican Block (BR) (28); Democrats (28)
Legislative branch / percentage of women in chamber: 26.6%
Legislative branch / expected date of next election: January 2026
Judicial branch / highest court(s): Supreme Court or Cour Supreme (consists of the chief justice and 16 justices organized into an administrative division, judicial chamber, and chamber of accounts); Constitutional Court or Cour Constitutionnelle (consists of 7 members, including the court president); High Court of Justice (consists of the Constitutional Court members, 6 members appointed by the National Assembly, and the Supreme Court president)
Judicial branch / judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court president and judges appointed by the president of the republic on the advice of the National Assembly; judges appointed for single renewable 5-year terms; Constitutional Court members - 4 appointed by the National Assembly and 3 by the president of the republic; members appointed for single renewable 5-year terms; other members of the High Court of Justice elected by the National Assembly; member tenure NA
Judicial branch / subordinate courts: Court of Appeal or Cour d'Appel; Court for the Repression of Economic and Terrorism Infractions (CRIET) or Cour de R&eacute;pression des Infractions Economiques et du Terrorisme; district courts; village courts; Assize courts
Political parties: African Movement for Development and Progress or MADEP Benin Renaissance or RB Cowrie Force for an Emerging Benin or FCBE Democratic Renewal Party or PRD Progressive Union for Renewal Republican Bloc Sun Alliance or AS The Democrats Union Makes the Nation or UN (includes PRD, MADEP)
Diplomatic representation in the US / chief of mission: Ambassador Agniola AHOUANMENOU (since 24 July 2025)
Diplomatic representation in the US / chancery: 2124 Kalorama Road NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation in the US / telephone: [1] (202) 232-6656
Diplomatic representation in the US / FAX: [1] (202) 265-1996
Diplomatic representation in the US / email address and website: ambassade.washington@gouv.bj https://beninembassy.us/
Diplomatic representation from the US / chief of mission: Ambassador Brian SHUKAN (since 5 May 2022)
Diplomatic representation from the US / embassy: 01BP 2012, Cotonou
Diplomatic representation from the US / mailing address: 2120 Cotonou Place, Washington DC 20521-2120
Diplomatic representation from the US / telephone: [229] 21-36-75-00
Diplomatic representation from the US / FAX: [229] 21-30-03-84
Diplomatic representation from the US / email address and website: ACSCotonou@state.gov https://bj.usembassy.gov/
International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, AU, CD, ECOWAS, Entente, FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MNJTF, MONUSCO, NAM, OAS (observer), OIC, OIF, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNHRC, UNIDO, UNISFA, UNMIL, UNMISS, UNOCI, UNOOSA, UNWTO, UPU, WADB (regional), WAEMU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Independence: 1 August 1960 (from France)
National holiday: Independence Day, 1 August (1960)
Flag: description: two equal horizontal bands of yellow (top) and red (bottom) to the right, with a vertical green band on the left side meaning: green stands for hope and revival, yellow for wealth, and red for courage history: uses the colors of the Pan-African movement
National symbol(s): leopard
National color(s): green, yellow, red
National anthem(s) / title: "L'Aube Nouvelle" (The Dawn of a New Day)
National anthem(s) / lyrics/music: Gilbert Jean DAGNON
National anthem(s) / history: adopted 1960
National heritage / total World Heritage Sites: 3 (2 cultural, 1 natural)
National heritage / selected World Heritage Site locales: Royal Palaces of Abomey (c); W-Arly-Pendjari Complex (n); Koutammakou, the Land of the Batammariba (c)

## Economy
Economic overview: robust economic growth; slightly declining but still widespread poverty; strong trade relations with Nigeria; cotton exporter; COVID-19 has led to capital outflows and border closures; WAEMU member with currency pegged to the euro; recent fiscal deficit and debt reductions
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $56.424 billion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $52.51 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $49.374 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2024: 7.5% (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2023: 6.4% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2022: 6.3% (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2024: $3,900 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2023: $3,700 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2022: $3,600 (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $21.483 billion (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024: 1.2% (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023: 2.7% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 1.4% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / agriculture: 24.2% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / industry: 17.4% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / services: 48.9% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / household consumption: 58.9% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / government consumption: 9% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in fixed capital: 34.7% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in inventories: 0.4% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / exports of goods and services: 18.8% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / imports of goods and services: -21.8% (2024 est.)
Agricultural products: cassava, yams, maize, oil palm fruit, cotton, soybeans, rice, pineapples, tomatoes, chillies/peppers (2023)
Industries: textiles, food processing, construction materials, cement
Industrial production growth rate: 9.7% (2024 est.)
Labor force: 6.397 million (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2024: 1.8% (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2023: 1.7% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2022: 1.7% (2022 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / total: 3.3% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / male: 3.6% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / female: 2.9% (2024 est.)
Population below poverty line: 38.5% (2018 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income / Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2021: 34.4 (2021 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / lowest 10%: 3.1% (2021 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / highest 10%: 27.2% (2021 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2023: 1.7% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2022: 1.4% of GDP (2022 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2021: 1.3% of GDP (2021 est.)
Budget / revenues: $2.024 billion (2019 est.)
Budget / expenditures: $2.101 billion (2019 est.)
Public debt / Public debt 2016: 49.7% of GDP (2016 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2023: -$1.609 billion (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2022: -$991.005 million (2022 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2021: -$734.659 million (2021 est.)
Exports / Exports 2023: $4.511 billion (2023 est.)
Exports / Exports 2022: $4.271 billion (2022 est.)
Exports / Exports 2021: $4.154 billion (2021 est.)
Exports - partners: UAE 42%, Bangladesh 20%, India 11%, China 5%, Togo 3% (2023)
Exports - commodities: gold, cotton, coconuts/brazil nuts/cashews, soybeans, wood (2023)
Imports / Imports 2023: $6.189 billion (2023 est.)
Imports / Imports 2022: $5.296 billion (2022 est.)
Imports / Imports 2021: $4.925 billion (2021 est.)
Imports - partners: China 21%, India 15%, USA 6%, France 6%, Nigeria 4% (2023)
Imports - commodities: rice, refined petroleum, palm oil, poultry, cars (2023)
Debt - external / Debt - external 2023: $6.309 billion (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Currency: Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar -
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2024: 606.345 (2024 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2023: 606.655 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2022: 622.912 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2021: 554.608 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2020: 574.295 (2020 est.)

## Energy
Electricity access / electrification - total population: 56.5% (2022 est.)
Electricity access / electrification - urban areas: 71.1%
Electricity access / electrification - rural areas: 45.5%
Electricity / installed generating capacity: 505,000 kW (2023 est.)
Electricity / consumption: 1.459 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / exports: 2 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / imports: 844.888 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / transmission/distribution losses: 385 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / fossil fuels: 96.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / solar: 3.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Coal / consumption: 164,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / imports: 164,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum / refined petroleum consumption: 40,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Petroleum / crude oil estimated reserves: 8 million barrels (2021 est.)
Natural gas / consumption: 157.25 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / imports: 157.25 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / proven reserves: 1.133 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)
Energy consumption per capita / Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 6.472 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

## Communications
Telephones - fixed lines / total subscriptions: 1,350 (2024 est.)
Telephones - fixed lines / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2024 est.) less than 1
Telephones - mobile cellular / total subscriptions: 18.2 million (2024 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 126 (2024 est.)
Broadcast media: state-run Office de Radiodiffusion et de T&eacute;l&eacute;vision du Benin (ORTB) operates a TV station with a wide broadcast reach; several privately owned TV stations broadcast from Cotonou; satellite TV subscription service is available; state-owned radio, under ORTB control, includes a national station supplemented by a number of regional stations; substantial number of privately owned radio stations; transmissions of a few international broadcasters are available on FM in Cotonou (2019)
Internet country code: .bj
Internet users / percent of population: 32% (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / total: 24,000 (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2023 est.) less than 1

## Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: TY
Airports: 10 (2025)
Railways / total: 438 km (2014)
Railways / narrow gauge: 438 km (2014) 1.000-m gauge
Merchant marine / total: 6 (2023)
Merchant marine / by type: other 6
Ports / total ports: 1 (2024)
Ports / large: 0
Ports / medium: 1
Ports / small: 0
Ports / very small: 0
Ports / ports with oil terminals: 1
Ports / key ports: Cotonou

## Military and Security
Military and security forces: Beninese Armed Forces (Forces Armees Beninoises, FAB; aka Benin Defense Forces): Army, Air Force, National Navy, National Guard (aka Republican Guard) Ministry of Interior and Public Security: Republican Police (Police Republicaine, DGPR) (2025)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2024: 0.7% of GDP (2024 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2023: 0.5% of GDP (2023 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2022: 0.7% of GDP (2022 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2021: 0.7% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2020: 0.5% of GDP (2020 est.)
Military and security service personnel strengths: estimated 10-12,000 active duty Armed Forces (including National Guard) (2025)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the military is equipped with a mix of older, secondhand, and limited amounts of newer equipment from a variety of suppliers, including China, France, Germany, South Africa, the former Soviet Union, Spain, and the US (2025)
Military service age and obligation: 18-30 years of age for voluntary and selective compulsory military service for men and women; compulsory service is 18 months (2025)
Military - note: the Beninese Armed Forces (FAB) are responsible for defense against external aggression and may be required to assist in maintaining public order and internal security under conditions defined by the country's president; it may also participate in economic development projects a key focus for the security forces of Benin is countering infiltrations into the country by terrorist groups tied to al-Qa'ida and the Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS) operating just over the border from northern Benin in Burkina Faso and Niger; in 2022, the Benin Government said it was "at war" after suffering a series of attacks from these groups; later that same year, President TALON pledged to increase the size of the military, modernize military equipment, and establish forward operating bases; the military since 2022 has also deployed thousands of additional troops to the north of the country to better secure the border region; in addition, the FAB participates in the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) against Boko Haram and ISIS-West Africa in the general area of the Lake Chad Basin and along Nigeria's northeastern border (2025)

## Terrorism
Terrorist group(s): Jama’at Nusrat al Islam wal Muslimeen (JNIM); Islamic State in the Greater Sahara (ISIS-GS); Boko Haram

## Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons / refugees: 23,225 (2024 est.)
Refugees and internally displaced persons / IDPs: 12,501 (2024 est.)

=== Burundi ===

## Introduction
Background: Established in the 1600s, the Burundi Kingdom has had borders similar to those of modern Burundi since the 1800s. Burundi’s two major ethnic groups, the majority Hutu and minority Tutsi, share a common language and culture and largely lived in peaceful cohabitation under Tutsi monarchs in pre-colonial Burundi. Regional, class, and clan distinctions contributed to social status in the Burundi Kingdom, yielding a complex class structure. German colonial rule in the late 19th and early 20th centuries and Belgian rule after World War I preserved Burundi’s monarchy. Seeking to simplify administration, Belgian colonial officials reduced the number of chiefdoms and eliminated most Hutu chiefs from positions of power. In 1961, the Burundian Tutsi king’s oldest son, Louis RWAGASORE, was murdered by a competing political faction shortly before he was set to become prime minister, triggering increased political competition that contributed to later instability. Burundi gained its independence from Belgium in 1962 as the Kingdom of Burundi. Revolution in neighboring Rwanda stoked ethnic polarization as the Tutsi increasingly feared violence and loss of political power. A failed Hutu-led coup in 1965 triggered a purge of Hutu officials and set the stage for Tutsi officers to overthrow the monarchy in 1966 and establish a Tutsi-dominated republic. A Hutu rebellion in 1972 resulted in the deaths of several thousand Tutsi civilians and sparked brutal Tutsi-led military reprisals against Hutu civilians which ultimately killed 100,000-200,000 people. International pressure led to a new constitution in 1992 and democratic elections in 1993. Tutsi military officers feared Hutu domination and assassinated Burundi's first democratically elected president, Hutu Melchior NDADAYE, in 1993 after only 100 days in office, sparking a civil war. In 1994, his successor, Cyprien NTARYAMIRA, died when the Rwandan president’s plane he was traveling on was shot down, which triggered the Rwandan genocide and further entrenched ethnic conflict in Burundi. The internationally brokered Arusha Agreement, signed in 2000, and subsequent cease-fire agreements with armed movements ended the 1993-2005 civil war. Burundi’s second democratic elections were held in 2005, resulting in the election of Pierre NKURUNZIZA as president. He was reelected in 2010 and again in 2015 after a controversial court decision allowed him to circumvent a term limit. President Evariste NDAYISHIMIYE -- from NKURUNZIZA’s ruling party -- was elected in 2020.

## Geography
Location: Central Africa, east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, west of Tanzania
Geographic coordinates: 3 30 S, 30 00 E
Map references: Africa
Area / total: 27,830 sq km
Area / land: 25,680 sq km
Area / water: 2,150 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly smaller than Maryland
Land boundaries / total: 1,140 km
Land boundaries / border countries: Democratic Republic of the Congo 236 km; Rwanda 315 km; Tanzania 589 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
Climate: equatorial; high plateau with considerable altitude variation (772 m to 2,670 m above sea level); average annual temperature varies with altitude from 23 to 17 degrees Celsius but is generally moderate; average annual rainfall is about 150 cm with two wet seasons (February to May and September to November) and two dry seasons (June to August and December to January)
Terrain: hilly and mountainous, dropping to a plateau in east, some plains
Elevation / highest point: unnamed elevation on Mukike Range 2,685 m
Elevation / lowest point: Lake Tanganyika 772 m
Elevation / mean elevation: 1,504 m
Natural resources: nickel, uranium, rare earth oxides, peat, cobalt, copper, platinum, vanadium, arable land, hydropower, niobium, tantalum, gold, tin, tungsten, kaolin, limestone
Land use / agricultural land: 83.9% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 51.4% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 13.6% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 18.8% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 10.9% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 5.2% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land: 230 sq km (2012)
Major lakes (area sq km) / fresh water lake(s): Lake Tanganyika (shared with Democratic Republic of Congo, Tanzania, and Zambia) - 32,000 sq km
Major watersheds (area sq km) / Atlantic Ocean drainage: Congo (3,730,881 sq km), (Mediterranean Sea) Nile (3,254,853 sq km)
Population distribution: one of Africa's most densely populated countries; concentrations tend to be in the north and along the northern shore of Lake Tanganyika in the west; most people live on farms near areas of fertile volcanic soil, as shown in this population distribution map
Natural hazards: flooding; landslides; drought
Geography - note: landlocked; straddles crest of the Nile-Congo watershed; the Kagera, which drains into Lake Victoria, is the most remote headstream of the White Nile

## People and Society
Population / total: 13,590,102 (2024 est.)
Population / male: 6,755,456
Population / female: 6,834,646
Nationality / noun: Burundian(s)
Nationality / adjective: Burundian
Ethnic groups: Hutu, Tutsi, Twa, South Asian
Languages / Languages: Kirundi (official), French (official), English (official, least spoken), Swahili (2008 est.)
Languages / major-language sample(s): Igitabo Mpuzamakungu c'ibimenyetso bifatika, isoko ntabanduka ku nkuru z'urufatiro. (Kirundi) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
Religions: Christian 93.9% (Roman Catholic 58.6%, Protestant 35.3% [includes Adventist 2.7% and other Protestant religions 32.6%]), Muslim 3.4%, other 1.3%, none 1.3% (2016-17 est.)
Age structure / 0-14 years: 42.3% (male 2,895,275/female 2,848,286)
Age structure / 15-64 years: 54.4% (male 3,662,688/female 3,727,022)
Age structure / 65 years and over: 3.4% (2024 est.) (male 197,493/female 259,338)
Dependency ratios / total dependency ratio: 83.9 (2024 est.)
Dependency ratios / youth dependency ratio: 77.7 (2024 est.)
Dependency ratios / elderly dependency ratio: 6.2 (2024 est.)
Dependency ratios / potential support ratio: 16.2 (2024 est.)
Median age / total: 17.6 years (2025 est.)
Median age / male: 18 years
Median age / female: 18.7 years
Population growth rate: 2.96% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 35.91 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 5.51 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: -0.81 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution: one of Africa's most densely populated countries; concentrations tend to be in the north and along the northern shore of Lake Tanganyika in the west; most people live on farms near areas of fertile volcanic soil, as shown in this population distribution map
Urbanization / urban population: 14.8% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 5.43% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 1.207 million BUJUMBURA (capital) (2023)
Sex ratio / at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 0-14 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 65 years and over: 0.76 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth: 21.5 years (2016/17 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio: 392 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Infant mortality rate / total: 35.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Infant mortality rate / male: 39.7 deaths/1,000 live births
Infant mortality rate / female: 31.5 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth / total population: 68.1 years (2024 est.)
Life expectancy at birth / male: 66 years
Life expectancy at birth / female: 70.3 years
Total fertility rate: 4.94 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 2.43 (2025 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: urban: urban: 90.7% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: rural: rural: 57.7% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: total: total: 62.4% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: urban: urban: 9.3% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: rural: rural: 42.3% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: total: total: 37.6% of population (2022 est.)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 9.1% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 4.7% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density: 0.08 physicians/1,000 population (2022)
Sanitation facility access / improved: urban: urban: 87.4% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: rural: rural: 53.7% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: total: total: 58.6% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: urban: urban: 12.6% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: rural: rural: 46.3% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: total: total: 41.4% of population (2022 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 5.4% (2016)
Alcohol consumption per capita / total: 4.07 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / beer: 1.84 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / wine: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / spirits: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / other alcohols: 2.23 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Tobacco use / total: 9.1% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / male: 14% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / female: 4.3% (2025 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 28.3% (2024 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49): 58.2% (2017 est.)
Child marriage / women married by age 15: 2.8% (2017)
Child marriage / women married by age 18: 19% (2017)
Child marriage / men married by age 18: 1.4% (2017)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% GDP): 4.9% of GDP (2021 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% national budget): 14.4% national budget (2025 est.)
Literacy / total population: 71.4% (2020 est.)
Literacy / male: 78.2% (2020 est.)
Literacy / female: 66.2% (2020 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / total: 10 years (2018 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / male: 10 years (2018 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / female: 10 years (2018 est.)

## Environment
Environmental issues: soil erosion from overgrazing and agricultural expansion; deforestation; wildlife habitat loss
International environmental agreements / party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
International environmental agreements / signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban
Climate: equatorial; high plateau with considerable altitude variation (772 m to 2,670 m above sea level); average annual temperature varies with altitude from 23 to 17 degrees Celsius but is generally moderate; average annual rainfall is about 150 cm with two wet seasons (February to May and September to November) and two dry seasons (June to August and December to January)
Land use / agricultural land: 83.9% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 51.4% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 13.6% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 18.8% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 10.9% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 5.2% (2023 est.)
Urbanization / urban population: 14.8% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 5.43% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / total emissions: 838,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from coal and metallurgical coke: 32,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from petroleum and other liquids: 806,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Particulate matter emissions: 26.3 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Waste and recycling / municipal solid waste generated annually: 1.872 million tons (2024 est.)
Waste and recycling / percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 7.1% (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / municipal: 43.1 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / industrial: 15 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / agricultural: 222 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total renewable water resources: 12.536 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: Republic of Burundi
Country name / conventional short form: Burundi
Country name / local long form: R&eacute;publique du Burundi (French)/ Republika y'u Burundi (Kirundi)
Country name / local short form: Burundi
Country name / former: Urundi, German East Africa, Ruanda-Urundi, Kingdom of Burundi
Country name / etymology: name dates from 1966 and is derived from the name of the local Bantu people, the Rundi or Barundi; ba - is the prefix for the people, and bu - is the prefix for the country; the former name, Urundi, is the Swahili version
Government type: presidential republic
Capital / name: Gitega (political capital), Bujumbura (commercial capital)
Capital / geographic coordinates: 3 25 S, 29 55 E
Capital / time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Capital / etymology: the origin of the name Bujumbura is unclear, but "bu-" is a Bantu prefix meaning "place"
Administrative divisions: 5 provinces: Buhumuza, Bujumbura, Burunga, Butanyerera, Gitega
Legal system: mixed legal system of Belgian civil law and customary law
Constitution / history: several previous, ratified by referendum 28 February 2005
Constitution / amendment process: proposed by the president of the republic after consultation with the government or by absolute majority support of the membership in both houses of Parliament; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote by the Senate membership and at least four-fifths majority vote by the National Assembly; the president can opt to submit amendment bills to a referendum; constitutional articles including those on national unity, the secularity of Burundi, its democratic form of government, and its sovereignty cannot be amended
International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; withdrew from ICCt in October 2017
Citizenship / citizenship by birth: no
Citizenship / citizenship by descent only: the father must be a citizen of Burundi
Citizenship / dual citizenship recognized: no
Citizenship / residency requirement for naturalization: 10 years
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch / chief of state: President Evariste NDAYISHIMIYE (since 18 June 2020)
Executive branch / head of government: Prime Minister Nestor NTAHONTUYE (since 5 August 2025)
Executive branch / cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by president
Executive branch / election/appointment process: president directly elected by absolute-majority popular vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a 7-year term (eligible for a second term); vice presidents nominated by the president, endorsed by Parliament
Executive branch / most recent election date: 20 May 2020
Executive branch / election results: 2020: Evariste NDAYISHIMIYE elected president; percent of vote - Evariste NDAYISHIMIYE (CNDD-FDD) 71.5%, Agathon RWASA (CNL) 25.2%, Gaston SINDIMWO (UPRONA) 1.7%, other 1.6% 2015: Pierre NKURUNZIZA reelected president; percent of vote - Pierre NKURUNZIZA (CNDD-FDD) 69.4%, Agathon RWASA (Hope of Burundians - Amizerio y'ABARUNDI) 19%, other 11.6%
Executive branch / expected date of next election: May 2027
Legislative branch / legislature name: Parliament (Parlement)
Legislative branch / legislative structure: bicameral
Legislative branch - lower chamber / chamber name: National Assembly (Inama Nshingamateka)
Legislative branch - lower chamber / number of seats: 111 (all directly elected)
Legislative branch - lower chamber / electoral system: proportional representation
Legislative branch - lower chamber / scope of elections: full renewal
Legislative branch - lower chamber / term in office: 5 years
Legislative branch - lower chamber / most recent election date: 6/5/2025
Legislative branch - lower chamber / parties elected and seats per party: National Council for the Defense of Democracy - Front for the Defense of Democracy (CNDD-FDD) (108); Other (3)
Legislative branch - lower chamber / percentage of women in chamber: 39.6%
Legislative branch - lower chamber / expected date of next election: June 2030
Legislative branch - upper chamber / chamber name: Senate (Inama Nkenguzamateka)
Legislative branch - upper chamber / number of seats: 13 (all indirectly elected)
Legislative branch - upper chamber / scope of elections: full renewal
Legislative branch - upper chamber / term in office: 5 years
Legislative branch - upper chamber / most recent election date: 7/23/2025
Legislative branch - upper chamber / parties elected and seats per party: National Council for the Defense of Democracy - Front for the Defense of Democracy (CNDD-FDD) (10)
Legislative branch - upper chamber / percentage of women in chamber: 46.2%
Legislative branch - upper chamber / expected date of next election: July 2030
Judicial branch / highest court(s): Supreme Court (consists of 9 judges and organized into judicial, administrative, and cassation chambers); Constitutional Court (consists of 7 members)
Judicial branch / judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court judges nominated by the Judicial Service Commission, a 15-member body of judicial and legal profession officials), appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate; judge tenure NA; Constitutional Court judges appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate and serve 6-year nonrenewable terms
Judicial branch / subordinate courts: Courts of Appeal; County Courts; Courts of Residence; Martial Court; Commercial Court
Political parties: Council for Democracy and the Sustainable Development of Burundi or CODEBU Front for Democracy in Burundi-Sahwanya or FRODEBU-Sahwanya National Council for the Defense of Democracy - Front for the Defense of Democracy or CNDD-FDD National Congress for Liberty or CNL National Liberation Forces or FNL Union for National Progress (Union pour le Progress Nationale) or UPRONA
Diplomatic representation in the US / chief of mission: Ambassador Jean Bosco BAREGE (since 27 February 2024)
Diplomatic representation in the US / chancery: 2233 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007
Diplomatic representation in the US / telephone: [1] (202) 342-2574
Diplomatic representation in the US / FAX: [1] (202) 342-2578
Diplomatic representation in the US / email address and website: burundiembusadc@gmail.com Burundi Embassy Washington D.C. (burundiembassy-usa.com)
Diplomatic representation from the US / chief of mission: Ambassador Lisa PETERSON (since 27 June 2024)
Diplomatic representation from the US / embassy: No 50 Avenue Des Etats-Unis, 110-01-02, Bujumbura
Diplomatic representation from the US / mailing address: 2100 Bujumbura Place, Washington DC 20521-2100
Diplomatic representation from the US / telephone: [257] 22-207-000
Diplomatic representation from the US / FAX: [257] 22-222-926
Diplomatic representation from the US / email address and website: BujumburaC@state.gov https://bi.usembassy.gov/
International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, ATMIS, AU, CEMAC, CEPGL, CICA, COMESA, EAC, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICGLR, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NAM, OIF, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHRC, UNIDO, UNISFA, UNMISS, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Independence: 1 July 1962 (from UN trusteeship under Belgian administration)
National holiday: Independence Day, 1 July (1962)
Flag: description: divided by a white diagonal cross into red triangles (top and bottom) and green triangles (on each side) with a white disk at the center bearing three six-pointed red stars outlined in green and arranged in a triangular design meaning: green stands for hope and optimism, white for purity and peace, and red for the blood shed in the struggle for independence; the three stars represent the major ethnic groups (Hutu, Twa, Tutsi), as well as unity, work, and progress
National symbol(s): lion
National color(s): red, white, green
National anthem(s) / title: "Burundi Bwacu" (Our Beloved Burundi)
National anthem(s) / lyrics/music: Jean-Baptiste NTAHOKAJA/Marc BARENGAYABO
National anthem(s) / history: adopted 1962

## Economy
Economic overview: highly agrarian, low-income Sub-Saharan economy; declining foreign assistance; increasing fiscal insolvencies; dense and still growing population; COVID-19 weakened economic recovery and flipped two years of deflation
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $11.739 billion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $11.343 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $11.048 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2024: 3.5% (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2023: 2.7% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2022: 1.8% (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2024: $800 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2023: $800 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2022: $800 (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $2.162 billion (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024: 20.2% (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023: 26.9% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 18.8% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / agriculture: 25.3% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / industry: 9.6% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / services: 49% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / household consumption: 75.9% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / government consumption: 30.7% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in fixed capital: 13.1% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in inventories: 0% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / exports of goods and services: 5.3% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / imports of goods and services: -24.4% (2023 est.)
Agricultural products: cassava, bananas, sweet potatoes, beans, maize, vegetables, potatoes, rice, sugarcane, fruits (2023)
Industries: light consumer goods (sugar, shoes, soap, beer); cement, assembly of imported components; public works construction; food processing (fruits)
Industrial production growth rate: -0.2% (2024 est.)
Labor force: 6.107 million (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2024: 1% (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2023: 1% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2022: 1% (2022 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / total: 1.6% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / male: 2.1% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / female: 1.2% (2024 est.)
Population below poverty line: 51% (2020 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income / Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2020: 37.5 (2020 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / lowest 10%: 2.9% (2020 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / highest 10%: 29.9% (2020 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2023: 7.5% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2022: 4.9% of GDP (2022 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2021: 6.1% of GDP (2021 est.)
Budget / revenues: $713.694 million (2021 est.)
Budget / expenditures: $737.898 million (2021 est.)
Public debt / Public debt 2016: 48.4% of GDP (2016 est.)
Taxes and other revenues: 15.6% (of GDP) (2021 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2023: -$625.597 million (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2022: -$621.969 million (2022 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2021: -$393.88 million (2021 est.)
Exports / Exports 2023: $378.229 million (2023 est.)
Exports / Exports 2022: $333.637 million (2022 est.)
Exports / Exports 2021: $302.752 million (2021 est.)
Exports - partners: UAE 59%, Uganda 8%, China 5%, Germany 5%, USA 3% (2023)
Exports - commodities: gold, coffee, tea, tin ores, iron bars (2023)
Imports / Imports 2023: $1.433 billion (2023 est.)
Imports / Imports 2022: $1.42 billion (2022 est.)
Imports / Imports 2021: $1.166 billion (2021 est.)
Imports - partners: Tanzania 26%, China 15%, Uganda 10%, Kenya 10%, India 6% (2023)
Imports - commodities: fertilizers, cement, packaged medicine, plastic products, cars (2023)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023: $90.35 million (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $158.53 million (2022 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2021: $266.164 million (2021 est.)
Debt - external / Debt - external 2023: $805.174 million (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Currency: Burundi francs (BIF) per US dollar -
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2023: 2,574.052 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2022: 2,034.307 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2021: 1,975.951 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2020: 1,915.046 (2020 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2019: 1,845.623 (2019 est.)

## Energy
Electricity access / electrification - total population: 10.3% (2022 est.)
Electricity access / electrification - urban areas: 64%
Electricity access / electrification - rural areas: 1.7%
Electricity / installed generating capacity: 131,000 kW (2023 est.)
Electricity / consumption: 444.018 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / imports: 100 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / transmission/distribution losses: 39.994 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / fossil fuels: 31.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / solar: 0.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / hydroelectricity: 66.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / biomass and waste: 1.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Coal / consumption: 1,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / imports: 10,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum / refined petroleum consumption: 6,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Energy consumption per capita / Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 946,000 Btu/person (2023 est.)

## Communications
Telephones - fixed lines / total subscriptions: 14,000 (2023 est.)
Telephones - fixed lines / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2023 est.) less than 1
Telephones - mobile cellular / total subscriptions: 8,646,690 (2023 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 63 (2023 est.)
Broadcast media: state-controlled Radio Television Nationale de Burundi (RTNB) operates a TV station and a national radio network; 3 private TV stations and about 10 privately owned radio stations; transmissions of several international broadcasters are available in Bujumbura (2019)
Internet country code: .bi
Internet users / percent of population: 11% (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / total: 3,000 (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2023 est.) less than 1

## Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: 9U
Airports: 6 (2025)

## Military and Security
Military and security forces: Burundi National Defense Force (BNDF; Force de Defense Nationale du Burundi, FDNB): Land Force (Army), Naval Force, Air Force, Specialized Units Ministry of Interior, Community Development, and Public Security: Burundi National Police (Police Nationale du Burundi, PNB) (2024)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2024: 3.5% of GDP (2024 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2023: 3% of GDP (2023 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2022: 2.6% of GDP (2022 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2021: 2% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2020: 2.1% of GDP (2020 est.)
Military and security service personnel strengths: limited available information; estimated 25-30,000 active-duty Defense Force troops (2025)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the military has a mix of mostly older armaments typically of French, Russian, and Soviet origin, and a smaller selection of more modern equipment from such countries as China, Egypt, South Africa, and the US (2025)
Military service age and obligation: 18 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women (2025)
Military deployments: 770 Central African Republic (MINUSCA); up to 10,000 Democratic Republic of the Congo (2025)
Military - note: the National Defense Force (FDNB) is responsible for defending Burundi’s territorial integrity and protecting its sovereignty; it has an internal security role, including maintaining and restoring public order if required; the FDNB also participates in providing humanitarian/disaster assistance, countering terrorism, narcotics trafficking, piracy, and illegal arms trade, and protecting the country’s environment; the FDNB conducts limited training with foreign partners such as Russia and participates in regional peacekeeping missions, most recently in the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), and Somalia; in recent years the FDNB has conducted operations against anti-government rebel groups based in the neighboring DRC that have carried out sporadic attacks in Burundi, such as the such as National Forces of Liberation (FNL), the Resistance for the Rule of Law-Tabara (aka RED Tabara), and Popular Forces of Burundi (FPB or FOREBU); Burundi has accused Rwanda of supporting the RED-Tabara the Arusha Accords that ended the 1993-2005 civil war created a unified military by balancing the predominantly Tutsi ex-Burundi Armed Forces (ex-FAB) and the largely Hutu dominated armed movements and requiring the military to have a 50/50 ethnic mix of Tutsis and Hutus (2025)

## Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons / refugees: 91,164 (2024 est.)
Refugees and internally displaced persons / IDPs: 92,174 (2024 est.)
Refugees and internally displaced persons / stateless persons: 791 (2024 est.)

=== Chad ===

## Introduction
Background: Chad emerged from a collection of powerful states that controlled the Sahelian belt starting around the 9th century. These states focused on controlling trans-Saharan trade routes and profited mostly from the slave trade. The Kanem-Bornu Empire, centered around the Lake Chad Basin, existed between the 9th and 19th centuries, and at its peak, the empire controlled territory stretching from southern Chad to southern Libya and included portions of modern-day Algeria, Cameroon, Niger, Nigeria, and Sudan. The Sudanese warlord Rabih AZ-ZUBAYR used an army comprised largely of slaves to conquer the Kanem-Bornu Empire in the late 19th century. In southeastern Chad, the Bagirmi and Ouaddai (Wadai) kingdoms emerged in the 15th and 16th centuries and lasted until the arrival of the French in the 19th and 20th centuries. France began moving into the region in the late 1880s and defeated the Bagirmi kingdom in 1897, Rabih AZ-ZUBAYR in 1900, and the Ouddai kingdom in 1909. In the arid regions of northern Chad and southern Libya, an Islamic order called the Sanusiyya (Sanusi) relied heavily on the trans-Saharan slave trade and had upwards of 3 million followers by the 1880s. The French defeated the Sanusiyya in 1910 after years of intermittent war. By 1910, France had incorporated the northern arid region, the Lake Chad Basin, and southeastern Chad into French Equatorial Africa. Chad achieved its independence in 1960 and then saw three decades of instability, oppressive rule, civil war, and a Libyan invasion. With the help of the French military and several African countries, Chadian leaders expelled Libyan forces during the 1987 "Toyota War," so named for the use of Toyota pickup trucks as fighting vehicles. In 1990, Chadian general Idriss DEBY led a rebellion against President Hissene HABRE. Under DEBY, Chad approved a constitution and held elections in 1996. Shortly after DEBY was killed during a rebel incursion in 2021, a group of military officials -- led by DEBY’s son, Mahamat Idriss DEBY -- took control of the government. The military officials dismissed the National Assembly, suspended the Constitution, and formed a Transitional Military Council (TMC), while pledging to hold democratic elections by October 2022. A national dialogue in August-October 2022 culminated in decisions to extend the transition for up to two years, dissolve the TMC, and appoint Mahamat DEBY as Transitional President; the transitional authorities held a constitutional referendum in December 2023 and claimed 86 percent of votes were in favor of the new constitution. The transitional authorities have announced plans to hold elections by October 2024. Chad has faced widespread poverty, an economy severely weakened by volatile international oil prices, terrorist-led insurgencies in the Lake Chad Basin, and several waves of rebellions in northern and eastern Chad. In 2015, the government imposed a state of emergency in the Lake Chad Basin following multiple attacks by the terrorist group Boko Haram, now known as ISIS-West Africa. The same year, Boko Haram conducted bombings in N'Djamena. In 2019, the Chadian government also declared a state of emergency in the Sila and Ouaddai regions bordering Sudan and in the Tibesti region bordering Niger, where rival ethnic groups are still fighting. The army has suffered heavy losses to Islamic terror groups in the Lake Chad Basin.

## Geography
Location: Central Africa, south of Libya
Geographic coordinates: 15 00 N, 19 00 E
Map references: Africa
Area / total: 1.284 million sq km
Area / land: 1,259,200 sq km
Area / water: 24,800 sq km
Area - comparative: almost nine times the size of New York state; slightly more than three times the size of California
Land boundaries / total: 6,406 km
Land boundaries / border countries: Cameroon 1,116 km; Central African Republic 1,556 km; Libya 1,050 km; Niger 1,196 km; Nigeria 85 km; Sudan 1,403 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
Climate: tropical in south, desert in north
Terrain: broad, arid plains in center, desert in north, mountains in northwest, lowlands in south
Elevation / highest point: Emi Koussi 3,445 m
Elevation / lowest point: Djourab 160 m
Elevation / mean elevation: 543 m
Natural resources: petroleum, uranium, natron, kaolin, fish (Lake Chad), gold, limestone, sand and gravel, salt
Land use / agricultural land: 40% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 4.2% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 0% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 35.7% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 3.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 57% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land: 300 sq km (2012)
Major lakes (area sq km) / fresh water lake(s): Lake Chad (endorheic lake shared with Niger, Nigeria, and Cameroon) - 10,360-25,900 sq km note - area varies by season and year to year
Major watersheds (area sq km) / Atlantic Ocean drainage: Niger (2,261,741 sq km)
Major watersheds (area sq km) / Internal (endorheic basin) drainage: Lake Chad (2,497,738 sq km)
Major aquifers: Lake Chad Basin, Nubian Aquifer System
Population distribution: the population is unevenly distributed due to contrasts in climate and physical geography; the highest density is found in the southwest, particularly around Lake Chad and points south; the dry Saharan zone to the north is the least densely populated, as shown in this population distribution map
Natural hazards: hot, dry, dusty harmattan winds occur in north; periodic droughts; locust plagues
Geography - note: note 1: Chad is the largest of Africa's 16 landlocked countries note 2: a wide variety of animals lived in modern-day Chad during the African Humid Period, including elephants, giraffes, hippos, and antelope; the last remnant of this "Green Sahara" exists in the Lakes of Ounianga in northern Chad, a series of 18 interconnected freshwater, saline, and hypersaline lakes note 3: Lake Chad, the most significant water body in the Sahel, is a remnant of a former inland sea, paleolake Mega-Chad; at its greatest extent, sometime before 5000 B.C., Lake Mega-Chad was the largest of four Saharan paleolakes that existed during the African Humid Period; it covered an area of about 400,000 sq km (150,000 sq mi), roughly the size of today's Caspian Sea

## People and Society
Population / total: 19,674,004 (2025 est.)
Population / male: 9,756,129
Population / female: 9,917,875
Nationality / noun: Chadian(s)
Nationality / adjective: Chadian
Ethnic groups: Sara (Ngambaye/Sara/Madjingaye/Mbaye) 30.5%, Kanembu/Bornu/Buduma 9.8%, Arab 9.7%, Wadai/Maba/Masalit/Mimi 7%, Gorane 5.8%, Masa/Musseye/Musgum 4.9%, Bulala/Medogo/Kuka 3.7%, Marba/Lele/Mesme 3.5%, Mundang 2.7%, Bidiyo/Migaama/Kenga/Dangleat 2.5%, Dadjo/Kibet/Muro 2.4%, Tupuri/Kera 2%, Gabri/Kabalaye/Nanchere/Somrai 2%, Fulani/Fulbe/Bodore 1.8%, Karo/Zime/Peve 1.3%, Baguirmi/Barma 1.2%, Zaghawa/Bideyat/Kobe 1.1%, Tama/Assongori/Mararit 1.1%, Mesmedje/Massalat/Kadjakse 0.8%, other 4.6%, unspecified 1.7% (2014-15 est.)
Languages / Languages: French (official), Arabic (official), Sara (in south), more than 120 languages and dialects
Languages / major-language sample(s): The World Factbook, une source indispensable d'informations de base. (French) كتاب حقائق العالم، المصدر الذي لا يمكن الاستغناء عنه للمعلومات الأساسية (Arabic) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
Religions: Muslim 52.1%, Protestant 23.9%, Roman Catholic 20%, animist 0.3%, other Christian 0.2%, none 2.8%, unspecified 0.7% (2014-15 est.)
Age structure / 0-14 years: 45.8% (male 4,428,132/female 4,323,398)
Age structure / 15-64 years: 51.7% (male 4,831,744/female 5,031,383)
Age structure / 65 years and over: 2.5% (2024 est.) (male 204,823/female 274,115)
Dependency ratios / total dependency ratio: 92.1 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / youth dependency ratio: 87.2 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / elderly dependency ratio: 4.9 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / potential support ratio: 20.6 (2025 est.)
Median age / total: 16.9 years (2025 est.)
Median age / male: 16.3 years
Median age / female: 17.2 years
Population growth rate: 2.98% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 38.62 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 8.75 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: -0.12 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution: the population is unevenly distributed due to contrasts in climate and physical geography; the highest density is found in the southwest, particularly around Lake Chad and points south; the dry Saharan zone to the north is the least densely populated, as shown in this population distribution map
Urbanization / urban population: 24.4% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 4.1% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 1.592 million N'DJAMENA (capital) (2023)
Sex ratio / at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 0-14 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 65 years and over: 0.75 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth: 18.1 years (2014/15 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio: 748 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Infant mortality rate / total: 61.1 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Infant mortality rate / male: 68.1 deaths/1,000 live births
Infant mortality rate / female: 56.7 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth / total population: 60 years (2024 est.)
Life expectancy at birth / male: 58.1 years
Life expectancy at birth / female: 62 years
Total fertility rate: 5.13 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 2.51 (2025 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: urban: urban: 77.9% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: rural: rural: 43.8% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: total: total: 52% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: urban: urban: 22.1% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: rural: rural: 56.2% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: total: total: 48% of population (2022 est.)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 5.2% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 7.3% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density: 0.09 physicians/1,000 population (2023)
Hospital bed density: 0.4 beds/1,000 population (2017 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: urban: urban: 56.4% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: rural: rural: 6.3% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: total: total: 18.4% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: urban: urban: 43.6% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: rural: rural: 93.7% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: total: total: 81.6% of population (2022 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 6.1% (2016)
Alcohol consumption per capita / total: 0.55 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / beer: 0.37 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / wine: 0.01 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / spirits: 0.01 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / other alcohols: 0.16 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Tobacco use / total: 6.5% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / male: 11.8% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / female: 1.3% (2025 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 18.2% (2022 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49): 72.6% (2019 est.)
Child marriage / women married by age 15: 24.2% (2019)
Child marriage / women married by age 18: 60.6% (2019)
Child marriage / men married by age 18: 8.1% (2019)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% GDP): 3.2% of GDP (2023 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% national budget): 16.5% national budget (2023 est.)
Literacy / total population: 30.6% (2019 est.)
Literacy / male: 44.5% (2019 est.)
Literacy / female: 18.6% (2019 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / total: 7 years (2015 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / male: 9 years (2015 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / female: 6 years (2015 est.)

## Environment
Environmental issues: inadequate supplies of potable water; soil and water pollution from improper waste disposal in rural areas and poor farming practices; desertification
International environmental agreements / party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
International environmental agreements / signed, but not ratified: Marine Dumping-London Convention
Climate: tropical in south, desert in north
Land use / agricultural land: 40% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 4.2% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 0% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 35.7% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 3.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 57% (2023 est.)
Urbanization / urban population: 24.4% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 4.1% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / total emissions: 2.054 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from coal and metallurgical coke: 2 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from petroleum and other liquids: 2.054 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Particulate matter emissions: 41.2 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Methane emissions / energy: 101.8 kt (2022-2024 est.)
Methane emissions / agriculture: 1,282.9 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Methane emissions / waste: 60.3 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Methane emissions / other: 12 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Waste and recycling / municipal solid waste generated annually: 1.359 million tons (2024 est.)
Waste and recycling / percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 11.1% (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / municipal: 103.7 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / industrial: 103.7 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / agricultural: 672.2 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total renewable water resources: 45.7 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: Republic of Chad
Country name / conventional short form: Chad
Country name / local long form: R&eacute;publique du Tchad/Jumhuriyat Tshad
Country name / local short form: Tchad/Tshad
Country name / etymology: named for Lake Chad, which lies along the country's western border; taken from a local word meaning "large body of water" or "lake"
Government type: presidential republic
Capital / name: N'Djamena
Capital / geographic coordinates: 12 06 N, 15 02 E
Capital / time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Capital / etymology: said to derive its name from a local word meaning "place of rest"
Administrative divisions: 23 provinces; Barh-El-Gazel, Batha, Borkou, Chari-Baguirmi, Ennedi-Est, Ennedi-Ouest, Guera, Hadjer-Lamis, Kanem, Lac, Logone Occidental, Logone Oriental, Mandoul, Mayo-Kebbi-Est, Mayo-Kebbi-Ouest, Moyen-Chari, N'Djamena, Ouaddai, Salamat, Sila, Tandjile, Tibesti, Wadi-Fira
Legal system: mixed system of civil and customary law
Constitution / history: several previous; latest adopted by National Transitional Council 27 June 2023, approved by referendum 17 December, verified by Chad Supreme Court 28 December, promulgated 1 January 2024
Constitution / amendment process: previous process: proposed as a revision by the president of the republic after a Council of Ministers (cabinet) decision or by the National Assembly; approval for consideration of a revision requires at least three-fifths majority vote by the Assembly; passage requires approval by referendum or at least two-thirds majority vote by the Assembly
International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Citizenship / citizenship by birth: no
Citizenship / citizenship by descent only: both parents must be citizens of Chad
Citizenship / dual citizenship recognized: Chadian law does not address dual citizenship
Citizenship / residency requirement for naturalization: 15 years
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch / chief of state: President Mahamat Idriss D&Eacute;BY (since 6 May 2024)
Executive branch / head of government: Prime Minister Allamaye HALINA (since 23 May 2024)
Executive branch / cabinet: Council of Ministers
Executive branch / election/appointment process: president directly elected by absolute-majority popular vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a 5-year term (no term limits)
Executive branch / most recent election date: 6 May 2024
Executive branch / election results: 2024: Mahamat Idriss DÉBY elected president; percent of vote - Mahamat Idriss DÉBY (MPS) 61%, Succes MASRA (Transformers) 18.5%, Albert PADACKE 16.9%, other 3.6%
Executive branch / expected date of next election: TBD
Legislative branch / legislature name: Parliament
Legislative branch / legislative structure: bicameral
Legislative branch - lower chamber / chamber name: National Assembly (National Assembly)
Legislative branch - lower chamber / number of seats: 188 (all directly elected)
Legislative branch - lower chamber / electoral system: mixed system
Legislative branch - lower chamber / scope of elections: full renewal
Legislative branch - lower chamber / term in office: 5 years
Legislative branch - lower chamber / most recent election date: 12/29/2024
Legislative branch - lower chamber / parties elected and seats per party: Patriotic Salvation Movement (MPS) (124); Rally of Chadian Nationalists/Awakening (RNDT/ Le R&eacute;veil) (12); Others (27); Other (25)
Legislative branch - lower chamber / percentage of women in chamber: 33.5%
Legislative branch - lower chamber / expected date of next election: December 2029
Legislative branch - upper chamber / chamber name: Senate (Senate)
Legislative branch - upper chamber / number of seats: 69 (46 indirectly elected; 23 appointed)
Legislative branch - upper chamber / scope of elections: full renewal
Legislative branch - upper chamber / term in office: 6 years
Legislative branch - upper chamber / most recent election date: 2/25/2025
Legislative branch - upper chamber / parties elected and seats per party: Patriotic Salvation Movement (MPS) (66); Other (3)
Legislative branch - upper chamber / percentage of women in chamber: 36.2%
Legislative branch - upper chamber / expected date of next election: February 2031
Judicial branch / highest court(s): Supreme Court (consists of the chief justice, 3 chamber presidents, and 12 judges or councilors and divided into 3 chambers); Supreme Council of the Judiciary (consists of the Judiciary president, vice president and 13 members)
Judicial branch / judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court chief justice selected by the president; councilors - 8 designated by the president and 7 by the speaker of the National Assembly; chief justice and councilors appointed for life; Supreme Council of the Judiciary - with the exception of the Judiciary president and vice president, members are elected for single renewable 4-year terms
Judicial branch / subordinate courts: High Court of Justice; Courts of Appeal; tribunals; justices of the peace
Political parties: Chadian Convention for Peace and Development or CTPD Federation Action for the Republic or FAR National Rally for Development and Progress or Viva-RNDP National Union for Democracy and Renewal or UNDR Party for Unity and Reconstruction or PUR Patriotic Salvation Movement or MPS Rally for Democracy and Progress or RDP Rally of Chadian Nationalists/Awakening or RNDT/Le Reveil Social Democratic Party for a Change-over of Power or PDSA Union for Democracy and the Republic or UDR Union for Renewal and Democracy or URD Transformers
Diplomatic representation in the US / chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charg&eacute; d'Affaires ANWAR SADAT Fatahalbab (since 30 July 2025)
Diplomatic representation in the US / chancery: 2401 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation in the US / telephone: [1] (202) 652-1312
Diplomatic representation in the US / FAX: [1] (202) 578-0431
Diplomatic representation in the US / email address and website: info@chadembassy.us https://chadembassy.us/
Diplomatic representation from the US / chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charg&eacute; d&rsquo;Affaires William FLENS (since July 2025)
Diplomatic representation from the US / embassy: Rond-Point Chagoua, B.P. 413, N&rsquo;Djamena
Diplomatic representation from the US / mailing address: 2410 N'Djamena Place, Washington DC 20521-2410
Diplomatic representation from the US / telephone: [235] 6885-1065
Diplomatic representation from the US / FAX: [235] 2253-9102
Diplomatic representation from the US / email address and website: NdjamenaACS@state.gov https://td.usembassy.gov/
International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, AU, BDEAC, CEMAC, EITI (compliant country), FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LCBC, MIGA, MNJTF, NAM, OIC, OIF, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNOCI, UNOOSA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Independence: 11 August 1960 (from France)
National holiday: Independence Day, 11 August (1960)
Flag: description: three equal vertical bands of blue (left side), gold, and red meaning: combines the blue and red French (former colonial) colors with the red and yellow Pan-African colors; blue stands for the sky, hope, and the south of the country; gold for the sun and the desert in the north; red for progress, unity, and sacrifice
National symbol(s): goat (north), lion (south)
National color(s): blue, yellow, red
National anthem(s) / title: "La Tchadienne" (The Chadian)
National anthem(s) / lyrics/music: Louis GIDROL and his students/Paul VILLARD
National anthem(s) / history: adopted 1960
National heritage / total World Heritage Sites: 2 (1 natural, 1 mixed)
National heritage / selected World Heritage Site locales: Lakes of Ounianga (n); Ennedi Massif: Natural and Cultural Landscape (m)

## Economy
Economic overview: oil-dependent economy challenged by market fluctuations, regional instability, refugee influx, and climate vulnerability; high levels of extreme poverty and food insecurity; recent growth driven by oil and agricultural recovery; debt-restructuring agreement under G20 Common Framework
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $52.895 billion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $51.03 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $49.012 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2024: 3.7% (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2023: 4.1% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2022: 12.9% (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2024: $2,600 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2023: $2,600 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2022: $2,700 (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $20.626 billion (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024: 8.9% (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023: 10.8% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 5.8% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / agriculture: 32.2% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / industry: 29.7% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / services: 31.6% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / household consumption: 61.3% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / government consumption: 8.7% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in fixed capital: 14.4% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in inventories: 3.4% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / exports of goods and services: 28.1% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / imports of goods and services: -17.2% (2024 est.)
Agricultural products: sorghum, groundnuts, millet, beef, cereals, yams, sugarcane, maize, cassava, milk (2023)
Industries: oil, cotton textiles, brewing, natron (sodium carbonate), soap, cigarettes, construction materials
Industrial production growth rate: 5.1% (2024 est.)
Labor force: 6.6 million (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2024: 1.1% (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2023: 1.1% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2022: 1.1% (2022 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / total: 1.5% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / male: 2.1% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / female: 0.7% (2024 est.)
Population below poverty line: 44.8% (2022 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income / Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2022: 37.4 (2022 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / lowest 10%: 2.8% (2022 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / highest 10%: 29.5% (2022 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2023: 0% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2022: 0% of GDP (2022 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2021: 0% of GDP (2021 est.)
Budget / revenues: $2.129 billion (2020 est.)
Budget / expenditures: $2.15 billion (2020 est.)
Public debt / Public debt 2016: 52.4% of GDP (2016 est.)
Exports / Exports 2024: $5.799 billion (2024 est.)
Exports / Exports 2023: $5.7 billion (2023 est.)
Exports / Exports 2022: $5.658 billion (2022 est.)
Exports - partners: UAE 26%, China 19%, Germany 17%, Netherlands 13%, France 10% (2023)
Exports - commodities: crude petroleum, gold, oil seeds, gum resins, cotton (2023)
Imports / Imports 2024: $3.557 billion (2024 est.)
Imports / Imports 2023: $3.271 billion (2023 est.)
Imports / Imports 2022: $2.898 billion (2022 est.)
Imports - partners: China 28%, UAE 23%, Turkey 10%, France 9%, India 5% (2023)
Imports - commodities: jewelry, broadcasting equipment, packaged medicine, cars, refined petroleum (2023)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023: $1.05 billion (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $1.013 billion (2022 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2021: $211.591 million (2021 est.)
Debt - external / Debt - external 2023: $2.286 billion (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Currency: Cooperation Financiere en Afrique Centrale francs (XAF) per US dollar -
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2024: 606.345 (2024 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2023: 606.57 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2022: 623.76 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2021: 554.531 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2020: 575.586 (2020 est.)

## Energy
Electricity access / electrification - total population: 11.7% (2022 est.)
Electricity access / electrification - urban areas: 46.3%
Electricity access / electrification - rural areas: 1.3%
Electricity / installed generating capacity: 167,000 kW (2023 est.)
Electricity / consumption: 282.103 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / transmission/distribution losses: 109.04 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / fossil fuels: 94.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / solar: 0.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / wind: 2.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / biomass and waste: 2.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Coal / imports: 20 metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum / total petroleum production: 124,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Petroleum / refined petroleum consumption: 15,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Petroleum / crude oil estimated reserves: 1.5 billion barrels (2021 est.)
Energy consumption per capita / Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 1.502 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

## Communications
Telephones - fixed lines / total subscriptions: (2024 est.) The telephone system is down. No data is available for the year 2024.
Telephones - fixed lines / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2024 est.) The telephone system is down. No data is available for the year 2024.
Telephones - mobile cellular / total subscriptions: 14.8 million (2024 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 73 (2024 est.)
Broadcast media: 1 state-owned TV station; 2 privately-owned TV stations; state-owned radio network, Radiodiffusion Nationale Tchadienne (RNT), operates national and regional stations; over 10 private radio stations; some stations rebroadcast programs from international broadcasters (2017)
Internet country code: .td
Internet users / percent of population: 13% (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / total: 0 (2022 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2022 est.) less than 1

## Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: TT
Airports: 44 (2025)

## Military and Security
Military and security forces: Chadian National Army (Armee Nationale du Tchad, ANT): Ground Forces (l'Armee de Terre, AdT), Chadian Air Force (l'Armee de l'Air Tchadienne, AAT), Chadian National Gendarmerie; General Direction of the Security Services of State Institutions (Direction Generale des Services de Securite des Institutions de l'Etat, GDSSIE) Ministry of Public Security and Immigration: National Nomadic Guard of Chad (GNNT) (2025)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2024: 3% of GDP (2024 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2023: 2.9% of GDP (2023 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2022: 2.6% of GDP (2022 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2021: 2.5% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2020: 2.9% of GDP (2020 est.)
Military and security service personnel strengths: estimated 35-40,000 active Chadian National Army personnel (2025)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the ANT has a mix of older, secondhand, and some more modern armaments from a variety of suppliers, including Brazil, China, France, Russia/former Soviet Union, T&uuml;rkiye, Ukraine, and the UAE (2025)
Military service age and obligation: 18-25 for voluntary service; men subject to 18-36 months of compulsory service at age 20; women are subject to 12 months of compulsory military or civic service at age 21 (2025)
Military deployments: note: Chad has committed approximately 1,000-1,500 troops to the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) against Boko Haram and other terrorist groups operating in the general area of the Lake Chad Basin and along Nigeria's northeast border; national MNJTF troop contingents are deployed within their own territories, although cross‐border operations are conducted periodically
Military - note: internal security is the primary focus of the Chadian National Army, and it is actively engaged in counterinsurgency operations against multiple terrorist and rebel groups; the terrorist groups Boko Haram and Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham in West Africa operate in the Lake Chad Basin area; meanwhile, a number of anti-government militias operate in northern Chad, some from bases in southern Libya, including the FACT (Front pour le Changement et la Concorde au Tchad), the Military Command Council for the Salvation of the Republic (le Conseil de Commandement Militaire pour le salut de la République or CCSMR), the Union of Forces for Democracy and Development (le Union des Forces pour la Démocratie et le Développement or UFDD), and the Union of Resistance Forces (le Union des Forces de la Résistance UFR); former Chadian President Idriss DEBY was killed in April 2021 during fighting between the FACT and government forces (2025)

## Terrorism
Terrorist group(s): Boko Haram; Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham - West Africa (ISIS-WA)

## Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons / refugees: 1,286,645 (2024 est.)
Refugees and internally displaced persons / IDPs: 1,542,532 (2024 est.)
Trafficking in persons / tier rating: Tier 3 — Chad does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and is not making significant efforts to do so, therefore, Chad was downgraded to Tier 3; for more details, go to: https://www.state.gov/reports/2025-trafficking-in-persons-report/chad/

=== Congo (Brazzaville) ===

## Introduction
Background: Upon independence in 1960, the former French region of Middle Congo became the Republic of the Congo. From 1968 to 1992, the country was named the People&rsquo;s Republic of the Congo. A quarter-century of experimentation with Marxism was abandoned in 1990, and a democratically elected government took office in 1992, at which time the country reverted to "the Republic of the Congo" name. A two-year civil war that ended in 1999 restored to power former President Denis SASSOU-Nguesso, who had ruled from 1979 to 1992. A new constitution adopted three years later provided for a multi-party system and a seven-year presidential term, and the next elections retained SASSOU-Nguesso. After a year of renewed fighting, SASSOU-Nguesso and southern-based rebel groups agreed to a final peace accord in 2003. SASSOU-Nguesso was reelected in 2009 and, after passing a constitutional referendum allowing him to run for additional terms, was reelected again in 2016 and 2021. The Republic of the Congo is one of Africa's largest petroleum producers.

## Geography
Location: Central Africa, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, between Angola and Gabon
Geographic coordinates: 1 00 S, 15 00 E
Map references: Africa
Area / total: 342,000 sq km
Area / land: 341,500 sq km
Area / water: 500 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly smaller than Montana; about twice the size of Florida
Land boundaries / total: 5,554 km
Land boundaries / border countries: Angola 231 km; Cameroon 494 km; Central African Republic 487 km; Democratic Republic of the Congo 1,775 km; Gabon 2,567 km
Coastline: 169 km
Maritime claims / territorial sea: 12 nm
Maritime claims / contiguous zone: 24 nm
Maritime claims / exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate: tropical; rainy season (March to June); dry season (June to October); persistent high temperatures and humidity; particularly enervating climate astride the Equator
Terrain: coastal plain, southern basin, central plateau, northern basin
Elevation / highest point: Mont Nabeba 1,020 m
Elevation / lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
Elevation / mean elevation: 430 m
Natural resources: petroleum, timber, potash, lead, zinc, uranium, copper, phosphates, gold, magnesium, natural gas, hydropower
Land use / agricultural land: 31.2% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 1.6% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 0.3% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 29.3% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 63.9% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 4.9% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land: 20 sq km (2012)
Major rivers (by length in km): Oubangui (Ubangi) (shared with Central African Republic [s] and Democratic Republic of Congo [m]) - 2,270 km note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Major watersheds (area sq km) / Atlantic Ocean drainage: Congo (3,730,881 sq km)
Major aquifers: Congo Basin
Population distribution: the population is primarily located in the south, in and around the capital of Brazzaville, as shown in this population distribution map
Natural hazards: seasonal flooding
Geography - note: about 70% of the population lives in Brazzaville, Pointe-Noire, or along the railroad between them

## People and Society
Population / total: 6,097,665 (2024 est.)
Population / male: 3,045,973
Population / female: 3,051,692
Nationality / noun: Congolese (singular and plural)
Nationality / adjective: Congolese or Congo
Ethnic groups: Kongo (Bakongo) 40.5%, Teke 16.9%, Mbochi 13.1%, foreigner 8.2%, Sangha 5.6%, Mbere/Mbeti/Kele 4.4%, Punu 4.3%, Pygmy 1.6%, Oubanguiens 1.6%, Duma 1.5%, Makaa 1.3%, other and unspecified 1% (2014-15 est.)
Languages / Languages: French (official), French Lingala and Monokutuba (trade languages), many local languages and dialects (of which Kikongo is the most widespread)
Languages / major-language sample(s): Buku oyo ya bosembo ya Mokili Mobimba Ezali na Makanisi ya Liboso Mpenza. (Lingala) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
Religions: Roman Catholic 33.1%, Awakening Churches/Christian Revival 22.3%, Protestant 19.9%, Salutiste 2.2%, Muslim 1.6%, Kimbanguist 1.5%, other 8.1%, none 11.3% (2007 est.)
Age structure / 0-14 years: 37.8% (male 1,162,298/female 1,143,668)
Age structure / 15-64 years: 57.8% (male 1,770,337/female 1,756,925)
Age structure / 65 years and over: 4.3% (2024 est.) (male 113,338/female 151,099)
Dependency ratios / total dependency ratio: 72.9 (2024 est.)
Dependency ratios / youth dependency ratio: 65.4 (2024 est.)
Dependency ratios / elderly dependency ratio: 7.5 (2024 est.)
Dependency ratios / potential support ratio: 13.3 (2024 est.)
Median age / total: 20.9 years (2025 est.)
Median age / male: 20.5 years
Median age / female: 20.9 years
Population growth rate: 2.36% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 28.34 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 4.64 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: -0.08 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution: the population is primarily located in the south, in and around the capital of Brazzaville, as shown in this population distribution map
Urbanization / urban population: 69.2% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 3.19% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 2.638 million BRAZZAVILLE (capital), 1.336 million Pointe-Noire (2023)
Sex ratio / at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 0-14 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 65 years and over: 0.75 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / total population: 1 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth: 19.6 years (2011/12 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio: 241 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Infant mortality rate / total: 29.9 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Infant mortality rate / male: 33.5 deaths/1,000 live births
Infant mortality rate / female: 27.7 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth / total population: 72.9 years (2024 est.)
Life expectancy at birth / male: 71.5 years
Life expectancy at birth / female: 74.3 years
Total fertility rate: 3.72 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 1.83 (2025 est.)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 3.9% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 3.5% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density: 0.17 physicians/1,000 population (2022)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 9.6% (2016)
Alcohol consumption per capita / total: 5.74 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / beer: 5.11 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / wine: 0.1 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / spirits: 0.52 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / other alcohols: 0.01 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Tobacco use / total: 15.8% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / male: 30% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / female: 1.7% (2025 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49): 51.8% (2023 est.)
Child marriage / women married by age 15: 6.9% (2015)
Child marriage / women married by age 18: 27.3% (2015)
Child marriage / men married by age 18: 5.6% (2018 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% GDP): 3.3% of GDP (2023 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% national budget): 14.7% national budget (2023 est.)

## Environment
Environmental issues: air pollution from vehicle emissions; water pollution from raw sewage; tap water not potable; deforestation; wildlife protection
International environmental agreements / party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands
International environmental agreements / signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Climate: tropical; rainy season (March to June); dry season (June to October); persistent high temperatures and humidity; particularly enervating climate astride the Equator
Land use / agricultural land: 31.2% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 1.6% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 0.3% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 29.3% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 63.9% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 4.9% (2023 est.)
Urbanization / urban population: 69.2% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 3.19% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / total emissions: 2.66 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from petroleum and other liquids: 1.826 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from consumed natural gas: 834,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Particulate matter emissions: 36.5 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Methane emissions / energy: 308.8 kt (2022-2024 est.)
Methane emissions / agriculture: 19.7 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Methane emissions / waste: 25.3 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Methane emissions / other: 11.4 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Waste and recycling / municipal solid waste generated annually: 451,200 tons (2024 est.)
Waste and recycling / percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 17.2% (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / municipal: 63.7 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / industrial: 24 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / agricultural: 4 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total renewable water resources: 832 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: Republic of the Congo
Country name / conventional short form: Congo (Brazzaville)
Country name / local long form: R&eacute;publique du Congo
Country name / local short form: Congo
Country name / former: French Congo, Middle Congo, People's Republic of the Congo, Congo/Brazzaville
Country name / etymology: named for the Congo River, which makes up much of the country's eastern border; the river name derives from Kongo, a Bantu kingdom in the area
Government type: presidential republic
Capital / name: Brazzaville
Capital / geographic coordinates: 4 15 S, 15 17 E
Capital / time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Capital / etymology: named after the Italian-born French explorer and humanitarian, Pierre Savorgnan de BRAZZA (1852-1905), who founded the town in 1883
Administrative divisions: 15 departments; Bouenza, Brazzaville, Congo-Oubangui, Cuvette, Cuvette-Ouest, Djoue-Lefini, Kouilou, Lekoumou, Likouala, Niari, Nkeni-Alima, Plateaux, Pointe-Noire, Pool, Sangha
Legal system: mixed system of French civil law and customary law
Constitution / history: several previous; latest approved by referendum 25 October 2015
Constitution / amendment process: proposed by the president of the republic or by Parliament; passage of presidential proposals requires Supreme Court review followed by approval in a referendum; such proposals may also be submitted directly to Parliament, in which case passage requires at least three-quarters majority vote of both houses in joint session; proposals by Parliament require three-fourths majority vote of both houses in joint session; constitutional articles including those affecting the country&rsquo;s territory, republican form of government, and secularity of the state are not amendable
International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Citizenship / citizenship by birth: no
Citizenship / citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of the Republic of the Congo
Citizenship / dual citizenship recognized: no
Citizenship / residency requirement for naturalization: 10 years
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch / chief of state: President Denis SASSOU-Nguesso (since 1997)
Executive branch / head of government: Prime Minister Anatole Collinet MAKOSSO (since 12 May 2021)
Executive branch / cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
Executive branch / election/appointment process: president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a 5-year term (eligible for 2 additional terms)
Executive branch / most recent election date: 21 March 2021
Executive branch / election results: 2021: Denis SASSOU-Nguesso reelected president in the first round; percent of vote - Denis SASSOU-Nguesso (PCT) 88.4%, Guy Price Parfait KOLELAS (MCDDI) 8.0%, other 3.6% 2016: Denis SASSOU-Nguesso reelected president in the first round; percent of vote - Denis SASSOU-Nguesso (PCT) 60.4%, Guy Price Parfait KOLELAS (MCDDI) 15.1%, Jean-Marie MOKOKO (independent) 13.9%, Pascal Tsaty MABIALA (UPADS) 4.4%, other 6.2%
Executive branch / expected date of next election: 21 March 2026
Legislative branch / legislature name: Parliament (Parlement)
Legislative branch / legislative structure: bicameral
Legislative branch - lower chamber / chamber name: National Assembly (Assemblée nationale)
Legislative branch - lower chamber / number of seats: 151 (all directly elected)
Legislative branch - lower chamber / electoral system: plurality/majority
Legislative branch - lower chamber / scope of elections: full renewal
Legislative branch - lower chamber / term in office: 5 years
Legislative branch - lower chamber / most recent election date: 8/20/2023
Legislative branch - lower chamber / parties elected and seats per party: Congolese Workers Party (PCT) (112); Other (39)
Legislative branch - lower chamber / percentage of women in chamber: 14.6%
Legislative branch - lower chamber / expected date of next election: July 2026
Legislative branch - upper chamber / chamber name: Senate (Sénat)
Legislative branch - upper chamber / number of seats: 72 (all indirectly elected)
Legislative branch - upper chamber / scope of elections: full renewal
Legislative branch - upper chamber / term in office: 6 years
Legislative branch - upper chamber / most recent election date: 7/10/2022 to 7/31/2022
Legislative branch - upper chamber / percentage of women in chamber: 31.9%
Legislative branch - upper chamber / expected date of next election: August 2029
Judicial branch / highest court(s): Supreme Court or Cour Supreme (consists of NA judges); Constitutional Court (consists of 9 members)
Judicial branch / judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court judges elected by Parliament and serve until age 65; Constitutional Court members appointed by the president of the republic - 3 directly by the president and 6 nominated by Parliament; members appointed for renewable 9-year terms with one third of the membership renewed every 3 years
Judicial branch / subordinate courts: Court of Audit and Budgetary Discipline; courts of appeal; regional and district courts; employment tribunals; juvenile courts
Political parties: Alliance of the Presidential Majority or AMP Action Movement for Renewal or MAR Citizen's Rally or RC Congolese Labour Party or PCT Congolese Movement for Democracy and Integral Development or MCDDI Congo on the Move or LCEM Movement for Unity, Solidarity, and Work or MUST Pan-African Union for Social Development or UPADS Club 2002-Party for the Unity and the Republic or Club 2002 Patriotic Union for Democracy and Progress or UPDP Perspectives and Realities Club or CPR Rally for Democracy and Social Progress or RDPS Republican and Liberal Party or PRL Union of Democratic Forces or UDF Union for Democracy and Republic or UDR Union of Humanist Democrats or UDH-YUKI Union for the Republic or UR
Diplomatic representation in the US / chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charg&eacute; d'Affaires Firmine BOUITY (since 6 September 2025)
Diplomatic representation in the US / chancery: 1720 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
Diplomatic representation in the US / telephone: [1] (202) 726-5500
Diplomatic representation in the US / FAX: [1] (202) 726-1860
Diplomatic representation in the US / email address and website: info@ambacongo-us.org http://www.ambacongo-us.org/en-us/home.aspx
Diplomatic representation from the US / chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charg&eacute; d&rsquo;Affaires Amanda S. JACOBSEN (since 18 July 2025)
Diplomatic representation from the US / embassy: 70-83 Section D, Boulevard Denis Sassou N'Guesso, Brazzaville
Diplomatic representation from the US / mailing address: 2090 Brazzaville Place, Washington DC 20521-2090
Diplomatic representation from the US / telephone: [242] 06 612-2000, [242] 05 387-9700
Diplomatic representation from the US / email address and website: BrazzavilleACS@state.gov https://cg.usembassy.gov/
International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, AU, BDEAC, CEMAC, EITI (compliant country), FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LCBC (observer), MIGA, NAM, OIF, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Independence: 15 August 1960 (from France)
National holiday: Independence Day, 15 August (1960)
Flag: description: divided diagonally from the lower-left side by a wide yellow band; the upper triangle (left side) is green, and the lower triangle is red meaning: green stands for agriculture and forests, and yellow for the people's friendship and nobility; the meaning of the red color is not noted but has been associated with the struggle for independence
National symbol(s): lion, elephant
National color(s): green, yellow, red
National anthem(s) / title: "La Congolaise" (The Congolese)
National anthem(s) / lyrics/music: Jacques TONDRA and Georges KIBANGHI/Jean ROYER and Joseph SPADILIERE
National anthem(s) / history: originally adopted 1959, restored 1991
National heritage / total World Heritage Sites: 2 (natural)
National heritage / selected World Heritage Site locales: Sangha Trinational Forest; Forest Massif of Odzala-Kokoua

## Economy
Economic overview: primarily an oil- and natural resources-based economy; recovery from mid-2010s oil devaluation has been slow and curtailed by COVID-19; extreme poverty increasing, particularly in southern rural regions; attempting to implement recommended CEMAC reforms; increasing likelihood of debt default
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $39.147 billion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $38.163 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $37.448 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2024: 2.6% (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2023: 1.9% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2022: 1.5% (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2024: $6,200 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2023: $6,200 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2022: $6,200 (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $15.72 billion (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024: 3.1% (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023: 4.3% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 3% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / agriculture: 9.4% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / industry: 40.1% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / services: 45% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / household consumption: 47.4% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / government consumption: 13.4% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in fixed capital: 26.5% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in inventories: 0.3% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / exports of goods and services: 52.8% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / imports of goods and services: -40.4% (2024 est.)
Agricultural products: cassava, sugarcane, oil palm fruit, bananas, plantains, root vegetables, game meat, vegetables, mangoes/guavas, fruits (2023)
Industries: petroleum extraction, cement, lumber, brewing, sugar, palm oil, soap, flour, cigarettes
Industrial production growth rate: 0.3% (2024 est.)
Labor force: 2.563 million (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2024: 19.7% (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2023: 19.9% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2022: 20.2% (2022 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / total: 40% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / male: 41% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / female: 39% (2024 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2023: 0.3% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2022: 0.3% of GDP (2022 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2021: 0.3% of GDP (2021 est.)
Budget / revenues: $2.393 billion (2020 est.)
Budget / expenditures: $3.231 billion (2020 est.)
Public debt / Public debt 2016: 128.7% of GDP (2016 est.)
Taxes and other revenues: 6.5% (of GDP) (2021 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2021: $1.716 billion (2021 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2020: $1.441 billion (2020 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2019: $1.632 billion (2019 est.)
Exports / Exports 2021: $7.752 billion (2021 est.)
Exports / Exports 2020: $4.67 billion (2020 est.)
Exports / Exports 2019: $7.855 billion (2019 est.)
Exports - partners: China 46%, UAE 23%, India 6%, Saudi Arabia 5%, Portugal 3% (2023)
Exports - commodities: crude petroleum, refined copper, gold, wood, refined petroleum (2023)
Imports / Imports 2021: $4.487 billion (2021 est.)
Imports / Imports 2020: $3.279 billion (2020 est.)
Imports / Imports 2019: $4.945 billion (2019 est.)
Imports - partners: China 24%, Angola 20%, Gabon 9%, France 6%, UAE 5% (2023)
Imports - commodities: ships, poultry, garments, iron pipes, refined petroleum (2023)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023: $715.391 million (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $835.649 million (2022 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2021: $828.56 million (2021 est.)
Debt - external / Debt - external 2023: $6.36 billion (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Currency: Cooperation Financiere en Afrique Centrale francs (XAF) per US dollar -
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2024: 606.345 (2024 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2023: 606.57 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2022: 623.76 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2021: 554.531 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2020: 575.586 (2020 est.)

## Energy
Electricity access / electrification - total population: 50.6% (2022 est.)
Electricity access / electrification - urban areas: 67.5%
Electricity access / electrification - rural areas: 12.4%
Electricity / installed generating capacity: 842,000 kW (2023 est.)
Electricity / consumption: 2.832 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / exports: 31 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / imports: 30.588 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / transmission/distribution losses: 2.335 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / fossil fuels: 79.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / solar: 0.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / hydroelectricity: 20.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / biomass and waste: 0.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Coal / imports: 65 metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum / total petroleum production: 267,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Petroleum / refined petroleum consumption: 13,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Petroleum / crude oil estimated reserves: 2.882 billion barrels (2021 est.)
Natural gas / production: 425 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / consumption: 425 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / proven reserves: 283.99 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)
Energy consumption per capita / Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 7.351 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

## Communications
Telephones - fixed lines / total subscriptions: 17,000 (2020 est.)
Telephones - fixed lines / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2022 est.) less than 1
Telephones - mobile cellular / total subscriptions: 5,875,800 (2023 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 96 (2024 est.)
Broadcast media: 1 state-owned TV and 3 state-owned radio stations; several privately owned TV and radio stations; satellite TV service is available; rebroadcasts of several international broadcasters are available
Internet country code: .cg
Internet users / percent of population: 38% (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / total: 78,000 (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 1 (2023 est.)

## Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: TN
Airports: 56 (2025)
Railways / total: 510 km (2014)
Railways / narrow gauge: 510 km (2014) 1.067-m gauge
Merchant marine / total: 11 (2023)
Merchant marine / by type: oil tanker 1, other 10
Ports / total ports: 5 (2024)
Ports / large: 0
Ports / medium: 0
Ports / small: 1
Ports / very small: 4
Ports / ports with oil terminals: 4
Ports / key ports: Djeno Terminal, Dussafu Terminal, N'kossa Terminal, Pointe Noire, Yombo Terminal

## Military and Security
Military and security forces: Congolese Armed Forces (Forces Armees Congolaises, FAC): Army, Navy, Congolese Air Force, National Gendarmerie Ministry of Interior: National Police (2025)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2024: 1.2% of GDP (2024 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2023: 2% of GDP (2023 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2022: 1.8% of GDP (2022 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2021: 2.4% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2020: 2.8% of GDP (2020 est.)
Military and security service personnel strengths: approximately 12-14,000 active FAC, including Gendarmerie (2025)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the FAC has a mixed inventory of Chinese, French, Italian, Russian/Soviet, and South African armaments (2025)
Military service age and obligation: 18-25 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women (2025)
Military deployments: has about 175 mostly police personnel deployed to the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) (2025)
Military - note: the FAC's primary focuses are internal and maritime security; since its creation in 1961, the FAC has had a turbulent history; it has been sidelined by some national leaders in favor of personal militias, endured an internal rebellion (1996), and clashed with various rebel groups and political or ethnic militias (1993-1996, 2002-2005, 2017); during the 1997-1999 civil war, the military generally split along ethnic lines, with most northern officers supporting eventual winner SASSOU-Nguesso, and most southerners backing the rebels; others joined ethnic-based factions loyal to regional warlords; forces backing SASSOU-Nguesso were supported by Angolan troops and received some French assistance; the FAC also has undergone at least three reorganizations that included the incorporation of former rebel combatants and various ethnic and political militias; in recent years, France has provided some advice and training, and a military cooperation agreement was signed with Russia in 2019 (2025)

## Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons / refugees: 69,766 (2024 est.)
Trafficking in persons / tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List — the Republic of the Congo does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking, but the government has devoted sufficient resources to a written plan that, if implemented, would constitute significant efforts to meet the minimum standards; therefore, the Republic of the Congo was granted a waiver per the Trafficking Victims Protection Act from an otherwise required downgrade to Tier 3 and remained on Tier 2 Watch List for the third consecutive year; for more details, go to: https://www.state.gov/reports/2025-trafficking-in-persons-report/republic-of-the-congo/

=== DRC ===

## Introduction
Background: Bantu, Sudanic, and other migrants from West and Northeastern Africa arrived in the Congo River Basin between 2000 B.C. and A.D. 500. The territory that is now the Democratic Republic of the Congo has more than 200 ethnic groups that trace their histories to many communal organizations and kingdoms. The Kingdom of Kongo, for example, ruled the area around the mouth of the Congo River from the 14th to 19th centuries. Meanwhile, the Kingdoms of Luba and Lunda, located to the south and east, were also notable political groupings in the territory and ruled from the 16th and 17th centuries to the 19th century. European prospectors in the Congo Basin invaded and splintered these kingdoms in the late 1800’s, sponsored by King LEOPOLD II of Belgium, and the kingdoms were eventually forced to grant Leopold the rights to the Congo territory as his private property. During this period, known as the Congo Free State, the king's private colonial military forced the local population to produce rubber. From 1885 to 1908, millions of Congolese people died as a result of disease and inhumane treatment. International condemnation finally forced LEOPOLD to cede the land to the state of Belgium, creating the Belgian Congo. The Republic of the Congo gained its independence from Belgium in 1960, but its early years were marred by instability. Col. Joseph MOBUTU seized power and declared himself president in a 1965 coup. He subsequently changed his name to MOBUTU Sese Seko and the country's name to Zaire. MOBUTU retained his position for 32 years, using sham elections and brute force. In 1994, a massive inflow of refugees from conflict in neighboring Rwanda and Burundi sparked ethnic strife and civil war. A rebellion backed by Rwanda and Uganda and fronted by Laurent KABILA toppled the MOBUTU regime in 1997. KABILA renamed the country the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). In 1998, another insurrection -- again backed by Rwanda and Uganda -- challenged the KABILA regime, but troops from Angola, Chad, Namibia, Sudan, and Zimbabwe helped quell the uprising. In 2001, KABILA was assassinated, and his son, Joseph KABILA, was named head of state. In 2002, the new president negotiated the withdrawal of Rwandan forces occupying the eastern DRC; the remaining warring parties subsequently signed the Pretoria Accord to end the fighting and establish a government of national unity. KABILA was elected as president in 2006 and 2011. The DRC constitution barred him from running for a third term, so in 2016, the DRC Government delayed national elections for two years. This fueled significant civil and political unrest, with sporadic street protests and exacerbation of tensions in the eastern DRC regions. The results of the 2018 elections were disputed, but opposition candidate Felix TSHISEKEDI, son of long-time opposition leader Etienne TSHISEKEDI, was announced as the election winner. This was the first transfer of power to an opposition candidate without significant violence or a coup since 1960. In 2023, the DRC held its fourth electoral cycle since independence; TSHISEKEDI was proclaimed the winner despite some allegations of fraud, with his Sacred Union alliance retaining a large parliamentary majority. The DRC continues to experience violence -- particularly in the East -- perpetrated by more than 100 armed groups active in the region, including the March 23 (M23) rebel group, the ISIS-affiliated Allied Democratic Forces (ADF, or ISIS-DRC), the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), and assorted local militias known as Mai Mai militias. The UN Organization Stabilization Mission in the DRC (MONUSCO) has operated in the region since 1999 and is the largest and most expensive UN peacekeeping mission in the world.

## Geography
Location: Central Africa, northeast of Angola
Geographic coordinates: 0 00 N, 25 00 E
Map references: Africa
Area / total: 2,344,858 sq km
Area / land: 2,267,048 sq km
Area / water: 77,810 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly less than one-fourth the size of the US
Land boundaries / total: 11,027 km
Land boundaries / border countries: Angola 2,646 km (of which 225 km is the boundary of Angola's discontiguous Cabinda Province); Burundi 236 km; Central African Republic 1,747 km; Republic of the Congo 1,775 km; Rwanda 221 km; South Sudan 714 km; Tanzania 479 km; Uganda 877 km; Zambia 2,332 km
Coastline: 37 km
Maritime claims / territorial sea: 12 nm
Maritime claims / exclusive economic zone: since 2011, the DRC has had a Common Interest Zone agreement with Angola for the mutual development of off-shore resources
Climate: tropical; hot and humid in equatorial river basin; cooler and drier in southern highlands; cooler and wetter in eastern highlands; north of Equator - wet season (April to October), dry season (December to February); south of Equator - wet season (November to March), dry season (April to October)
Terrain: vast central basin is a low-lying plateau; mountains in east
Elevation / highest point: Pic Marguerite on Mont Ngaliema (Mount Stanley) 5,110 m
Elevation / lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
Elevation / mean elevation: 726 m
Natural resources: cobalt, copper, niobium, tantalum, petroleum, industrial and gem diamonds, gold, silver, zinc, manganese, tin, uranium, coal, hydropower, timber
Land use / agricultural land: 15.5% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 6.6% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 0.9% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 8% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 61.6% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 22.9% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land: 110 sq km (2012)
Major lakes (area sq km) / fresh water lake(s): Lake Tanganyika (shared with Burundi, Tanzania, and Zambia) - 32,000 sq km; Lake Albert (shared with Uganda) - 5,590 sq km; Lake Mweru (shared with Zambia) - 4,350 sq km; Lac Mai-Ndombe - 2,300 sq km; Lake Kivu (shared with Rwanda) - 2,220 sq km; Lake Edward (shared with Uganda) - 2,150 sq km; Lac Tumba - 500 sq km; Lac Upemba - 530 sq km
Major rivers (by length in km): Zaïre (Congo) river mouth (shared with Zambia [s], Angola, and Republic of Congo) - 2,920 km; Ubangi river mouth (shared with Central African Republic [s] and Republic of Congo) - 2,270 km note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Major watersheds (area sq km) / Atlantic Ocean drainage: Congo (3,730,881 sq km), (Mediterranean Sea) Nile (3,254,853 sq km)
Major watersheds (area sq km) / Indian Ocean drainage: Zambezi (1,332,412 sq km)
Major aquifers: Congo Basin
Population distribution: urban clusters are spread throughout the country, particularly in the northeast along the border with Uganda, Rwanda, and Burundi; the largest city is the capital, Kinshasha, located in the west along the Congo River; the south is least densely populated, as shown in this population distribution map
Natural hazards: periodic droughts in south; Congo River floods (seasonal); active volcanoes in the east along the Great Rift Valley volcanism: the active volcano Nyiragongo (3,470 m) poses a major threat to the city of Goma, home to a quarter of a million people; it produces unusually fast-moving lava, known to travel up to 100 km/hr; Nyiragongo has been deemed a Decade Volcano by the International Association of Volcanology and Chemistry of the Earth's Interior, worthy of study due to its explosive history and close proximity to human populations; its neighbor Nyamuragira is Africa's most active volcano; Visoke is the only other historically active volcano
Geography - note: note 1: second-largest country in Africa (after Algeria) and largest country in sub-Saharan Africa; straddles the equator; dense tropical rainforest in central river basin and eastern highlands; the narrow strip of land that controls the lower Congo River is the DRC's only outlet to the South Atlantic Ocean note 2: the Congo River, most of which flows through the DRC, has never been accurately measured along much of its length because of its speed, cataracts, rapids, and turbulence; nonetheless, it is conceded to be the deepest river in the world, with estimates of the point of greatest depth varying between 220 and 250 meters

## People and Society
Population / total: 119,038,825 (2025 est.)
Population / male: 59,509,076
Population / female: 59,529,749
Nationality / noun: Congolese (singular and plural)
Nationality / adjective: Congolese or Congo
Ethnic groups: more than 200 African ethnic groups of which the majority are Bantu; the four largest groups - Mongo, Luba, Kongo (all Bantu), and the Mangbetu-Azande (Hamitic) - make up about 45% of the population
Languages / Languages: French (official), Lingala (a trade language), Kingwana (a dialect of Kiswahili or Swahili), Kikongo, Tshiluba
Languages / major-language sample(s): Buku oyo ya bosembo ya Mokili Mobimba Ezali na Makanisi ya Liboso Mpenza. (Lingala) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
Religions: Christian 93/1% (Roman Catholic 29.9%, Protestant 26.7%, other Christian 36.5%), Kimbanguist 2.8%, Muslim 1.3%, other (includes syncretic sects and indigenous beliefs) 1.2%, none 1.3%, unspecified 0.2% (2014 est.)
Age structure / 0-14 years: 45.7% (male 26,584,268/female 26,208,891)
Age structure / 15-64 years: 51.8% (male 29,845,450/female 29,884,958)
Age structure / 65 years and over: 2.5% (2024 est.) (male 1,258,442/female 1,621,018)
Dependency ratios / total dependency ratio: 92.1 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / youth dependency ratio: 87.3 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / elderly dependency ratio: 4.8 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / potential support ratio: 20.8 (2025 est.)
Median age / total: 16.9 years (2025 est.)
Median age / male: 16.7 years
Median age / female: 17 years
Population growth rate: 3.09% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 38.8 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 7.37 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: -0.5 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution: urban clusters are spread throughout the country, particularly in the northeast along the border with Uganda, Rwanda, and Burundi; the largest city is the capital, Kinshasha, located in the west along the Congo River; the south is least densely populated, as shown in this population distribution map
Urbanization / urban population: 47.4% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 4.33% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 16.316 million KINSHASA (capital), 2.892 million Mbuji-Mayi, 2.812 million Lubumbashi, 1.664 million Kananga, 1.423 million Kisangani, 1.249 million Bukavu (2023)
Sex ratio / at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 0-14 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 65 years and over: 0.78 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / total population: 1 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth: 19.9 years (2013/14 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio: 427 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Infant mortality rate / total: 55.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Infant mortality rate / male: 62.9 deaths/1,000 live births
Infant mortality rate / female: 51.9 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth / total population: 62.6 years (2024 est.)
Life expectancy at birth / male: 60.7 years
Life expectancy at birth / female: 64.6 years
Total fertility rate: 5.42 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 2.67 (2025 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: urban: urban: 59.3% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: rural: rural: 13.8% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: total: total: 35.1% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: urban: urban: 40.7% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: rural: rural: 86.2% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: total: total: 64.9% of population (2022 est.)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 3.8% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 4% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density: 0.21 physicians/1,000 population (2022)
Sanitation facility access / improved: urban: urban: 48.8% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: rural: rural: 20.5% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: total: total: 33.7% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: urban: urban: 51.2% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: rural: rural: 79.5% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: total: total: 66.3% of population (2022 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 6.7% (2016)
Alcohol consumption per capita / total: 0.56 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / beer: 0.5 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / wine: 0.01 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / spirits: 0.05 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / other alcohols: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Tobacco use / total: 10.4% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / male: 18.8% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / female: 2.3% (2025 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 25% (2023 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49): 58.2% (2018 est.)
Child marriage / women married by age 15: 8.4% (2018)
Child marriage / women married by age 18: 29.1% (2018)
Child marriage / men married by age 18: 5.6% (2018)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% GDP): 2.8% of GDP (2022 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% national budget): 13.5% national budget (2017 est.)
Literacy / total population: 73.6% (2018 est.)
Literacy / male: 87.5% (2018 est.)
Literacy / female: 61.6% (2018 est.)

## Environment
Environmental issues: poaching; water pollution; deforestation from agriculture and wood used for fuel; soil erosion; damage from mining
International environmental agreements / party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands
International environmental agreements / signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification
Climate: tropical; hot and humid in equatorial river basin; cooler and drier in southern highlands; cooler and wetter in eastern highlands; north of Equator - wet season (April to October), dry season (December to February); south of Equator - wet season (November to March), dry season (April to October)
Land use / agricultural land: 15.5% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 6.6% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 0.9% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 8% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 61.6% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 22.9% (2023 est.)
Urbanization / urban population: 47.4% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 4.33% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / total emissions: 5.883 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from coal and metallurgical coke: 731,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from petroleum and other liquids: 5.152 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Particulate matter emissions: 33.7 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Methane emissions / energy: 780.6 kt (2022-2024 est.)
Methane emissions / agriculture: 567.3 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Methane emissions / waste: 499.2 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Methane emissions / other: 214.3 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Waste and recycling / municipal solid waste generated annually: 14.385 million tons (2024 est.)
Waste and recycling / percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 6.4% (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / municipal: 464.9 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / industrial: 146.8 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / agricultural: 71.9 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total renewable water resources: 1.283 trillion cubic meters (2022 est.)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: Democratic Republic of the Congo
Country name / conventional short form: DRC
Country name / local long form: R&eacute;publique d&eacute;mocratique du Congo
Country name / local short form: RDC
Country name / former: Congo Free State, Belgian Congo, Congo/Leopoldville, Congo/Kinshasa, Zaire
Country name / abbreviation: DRC (or DROC)
Country name / etymology: named for the Congo River, most of which lies within the DRC; the river name derives from Kongo, a Bantu kingdom in the area
Government type: semi-presidential republic
Capital / name: Kinshasa
Capital / geographic coordinates: 4 19 S, 15 18 E
Capital / time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Capital / time zone note: the DRC has two time zones
Capital / etymology: founded as a trading post in 1881 and named Leopoldville in honor of King LEOPOLD II of the Belgians; in 1966, Leopoldville was renamed Kinshasa, a Bantu name of unknown meaning
Administrative divisions: 26 provinces; Bas-Uele (Lower Uele), Equateur, Haut-Katanga (Upper Katanga), Haut-Lomami (Upper Lomami), Haut-Uele (Upper Uele), Ituri, Kasai, Kasai-Central, Kasai-Oriental (East Kasai), Kinshasa, Kongo Central, Kwango, Kwilu, Lomami, Lualaba, Mai-Ndombe, Maniema, Mongala, Nord-Kivu (North Kivu), Nord-Ubangi (North Ubangi), Sankuru, Sud-Kivu (South Kivu), Sud-Ubangi (South Ubangi), Tanganyika, Tshopo, Tshuapa
Legal system: civil law system primarily based on Belgian law, but also customary and tribal law
Constitution / history: several previous; latest adopted 13 May 2005, approved by referendum 18-19 December 2005, promulgated 18 February 2006
Constitution / amendment process: proposed by the president of the republic, by the government, by either house of Parliament, or by public petition; agreement on the substance of a proposed bill requires absolute majority vote in both houses; passage requires a referendum only if both houses in joint meeting fail to achieve three-fifths majority vote; constitutional articles, including the form of government, universal suffrage, judicial independence, political pluralism, and personal freedoms, cannot be amended
International law organization participation: accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Citizenship / citizenship by birth: no
Citizenship / citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Citizenship / dual citizenship recognized: no
Citizenship / residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Executive branch / chief of state: President Felix TSHISEKEDI (since 20 January 2024)
Executive branch / head of government: Prime Minister Judith SUMINWA Tuluka (since 29 May 2024)
Executive branch / cabinet: Ministers of State appointed by the president
Executive branch / election/appointment process: president directly elected by simple majority vote for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); prime minister appointed by the president
Executive branch / most recent election date: 20 December 2023
Executive branch / election results: 2023: Felix TSHISEKEDI reelected president; percent of vote - Felix TSHISEKEDI (UDPS) 73.3%, Moise KATUMBI (Ensemble) 18.8%, Martin FAYULU (ECIDE) 5.3%, other 2.6% 2018: Felix TSHISEKEDI elected president; percent of vote - Felix TSHISEKEDI (UDPS) 38.6%, Martin FAYULU (Lamuka coalition) 34.8%, Emmanuel Ramazani SHADARY (PPRD) 23.9%, other 2.7%
Executive branch / expected date of next election: 20 December 2028
Legislative branch / legislature name: Parlement (Parliament)
Legislative branch / legislative structure: bicameral
Legislative branch - lower chamber / chamber name: National Assembly (Assemblée nationale)
Legislative branch - lower chamber / number of seats: 500 (all directly elected)
Legislative branch - lower chamber / electoral system: mixed system
Legislative branch - lower chamber / scope of elections: full renewal
Legislative branch - lower chamber / term in office: 5 years
Legislative branch - lower chamber / most recent election date: 4/29/2024 to 5/26/2024
Legislative branch - lower chamber / parties elected and seats per party: Union for Democracy and Social Progress/TSHISEKEDI (UDPS/TSHISEKEDI) (69); Action of Allies and Union for the Congolese Nation (A/A-UNC) (35); Alliance of Democratic Forces of Congo and Allies (AFDC-A) (35); Act and Build (AB) (26); Action of Allies/All for the Development of the Congo (2A/TDC) (21); Alliance of Stakeholders for the People (AAAP) (21); Alliance Bloc 50 (A/B50) (20); Congo Liberation Movement (MLC) (19); Other (131)
Legislative branch - lower chamber / percentage of women in chamber: 12.8%
Legislative branch - lower chamber / expected date of next election: December 2028
Legislative branch - upper chamber / chamber name: Senate (Sénat)
Legislative branch - upper chamber / number of seats: 109 (all indirectly elected)
Legislative branch - upper chamber / scope of elections: full renewal
Legislative branch - upper chamber / term in office: 5 years
Legislative branch - upper chamber / most recent election date: 12/20/2023
Legislative branch - upper chamber / percentage of women in chamber: 15.8%
Legislative branch - upper chamber / expected date of next election: April 2029
Judicial branch / highest court(s): Court of Cassation or Cour de Cassation (consists of 26 justices and organized into legislative and judiciary sections); Constitutional Court (consists of 9 judges)
Judicial branch / judge selection and term of office: Court of Cassation judges nominated by the Judicial Service Council, an independent body of public prosecutors and selected judges of the lower courts; judge tenure NA; Constitutional Court judges - 3 nominated by the president, 3 by the Judicial Service Council, and 3 by the legislature; judges appointed by the president to serve 9-year non-renewable terms with one third of the membership renewed every 3 years
Judicial branch / subordinate courts: State Security Court; Court of Appeals (organized into administrative and judiciary sections); Tribunal de Grande Instance; magistrates' courts; customary courts
Political parties: Christian Democrat Party or PDC Congolese Rally for Democracy or RCD Convention of Christian Democrats or CDC Engagement for Citizenship and Development or ECIDE Forces of Renewal or FR Movement for the Liberation of the Congo or MLC Nouvel Elan Our Congo or CNB ("Congo Na Biso") People's Party for Reconstruction and Democracy or PPRD Social Movement for Renewal or MSR Together for Change ("Ensemble") Unified Lumumbist Party or PALU Union for the Congolese Nation or UNC Union for Democracy and Social Progress or UDPS
Diplomatic representation in the US / chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charg&eacute; d'Affaires Michael SHAKU YUMI (since 1 August 2024)
Diplomatic representation in the US / chancery: 1100 Connecticut Avenue NW, Suite 725, Washington DC 20036
Diplomatic representation in the US / telephone: [1] (202) 234-7690
Diplomatic representation in the US / FAX: [1] (202) 234-2609
Diplomatic representation in the US / email address and website: ambassade@ambardcusa.org https://www.ambardcusa.org/
Diplomatic representation in the US / representative office: New York
Diplomatic representation from the US / chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charg&eacute; d&rsquo;Affaires Susan TULLER (since January 2026)
Diplomatic representation from the US / embassy: 310 Avenue des Aviateurs, Kinshasa, Gombe
Diplomatic representation from the US / mailing address: 2220 Kinshasa Place, Washington DC 20521-2220
Diplomatic representation from the US / telephone: [243] 081 556-0151
Diplomatic representation from the US / FAX: [243] 81 556-0175
Diplomatic representation from the US / email address and website: ACSKinshasa@state.gov https://cd.usembassy.gov/
International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, AU, CEMAC, CEPGL, COMESA, EAC, EITI (compliant country), FAO, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LCBC (observer), MIGA, NAM, OIF, OPCW, PCA, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Independence: 30 June 1960 (from Belgium)
National holiday: Independence Day, 30 June (1960)
Flag: description: sky-blue field divided diagonally from the lower-left corner to the upper-right corner by a red stripe bordered with two narrow yellow stripes; a five-pointed yellow star is in the upper-left corner meaning: blue stands for peace and hope, red for the blood of the country's martyrs, and yellow for the country's wealth and prosperity; the star symbolizes unity and a brilliant future for the country
National symbol(s): leopard
National color(s): sky blue, red, yellow
National anthem(s) / title: "Debout Congolaise" (Arise, Congolese)
National anthem(s) / lyrics/music: Joseph LUTUMBA/Simon-Pierre BOKA di Mpasi Londi
National anthem(s) / history: adopted 1960; replaced when the country was known as Zaire, but readopted in 1997
National heritage / total World Heritage Sites: 5 (all natural)
National heritage / selected World Heritage Site locales: Garamba National Park; Kahuzi-Biega National Park; Okapi Wildlife Reserve; Salonga National Park; Virunga National Park

## Economy
Economic overview: very poor, large, natural resource-rich sub-Saharan country; possesses the world&rsquo;s second largest rainforest; increasing Chinese extractive sector trade; massive decrease in government investments; increasing current account deficit and public debts
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $164.367 billion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $154.081 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $141.867 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2024: 6.7% (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2023: 8.6% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2022: 8.9% (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2024: $1,500 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2023: $1,500 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2022: $1,400 (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $70.749 billion (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2017: 41.5% (2017 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2016: 2.9% (2016 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2015: 0.7% (2015 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / agriculture: 17.1% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / industry: 46.6% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / services: 33% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / household consumption: 62.7% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / government consumption: 8.1% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in fixed capital: 32.9% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in inventories: 0.5% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / exports of goods and services: 46.6% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / imports of goods and services: -50.9% (2024 est.)
Agricultural products: cassava, plantains, sugarcane, maize, oil palm fruit, rice, root vegetables, bananas, sweet potatoes, groundnuts (2023)
Industries: mining (copper, cobalt, gold, diamonds, coltan, zinc, tin, tungsten), mineral processing, consumer products (textiles, plastics, footwear, cigarettes), metal products, processed foods and beverages, timber, cement, commercial ship repair
Industrial production growth rate: 10.1% (2024 est.)
Labor force: 38.546 million (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2024: 4.6% (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2023: 4.5% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2022: 4.6% (2022 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / total: 8.5% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / male: 10.8% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / female: 6.6% (2024 est.)
Population below poverty line: 56.2% (2020 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income / Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2020: 44.7 (2020 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / lowest 10%: 2.1% (2020 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / highest 10%: 35.7% (2020 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2023: 4.9% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2022: 5% of GDP (2022 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2021: 2.4% of GDP (2021 est.)
Budget / revenues: $11.568 billion (2022 est.)
Budget / expenditures: $13.026 billion (2022 est.)
Public debt / Public debt 2022: 16% of GDP (2022 est.)
Taxes and other revenues: 11.4% (of GDP) (2022 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2023: -$3.883 billion (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2022: -$3.148 billion (2022 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2021: -$587.407 million (2021 est.)
Exports / Exports 2023: $29.65 billion (2023 est.)
Exports / Exports 2022: $28.753 billion (2022 est.)
Exports / Exports 2021: $22.354 billion (2021 est.)
Exports - partners: China 69%, UAE 7%, India 3%, Spain 3%, Egypt 3% (2023)
Exports - commodities: refined copper, cobalt, copper ore, raw copper, crude petroleum (2023)
Imports / Imports 2023: $33.68 billion (2023 est.)
Imports / Imports 2022: $31.699 billion (2022 est.)
Imports / Imports 2021: $22.193 billion (2021 est.)
Imports - partners: China 35%, Zambia 12%, South Africa 12%, India 5%, Belgium 4% (2023)
Imports - commodities: trucks, refined petroleum, stone processing machines, plastic products, sulphur (2023)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023: $5.104 billion (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $4.378 billion (2022 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2021: $3.467 billion (2021 est.)
Debt - external / Debt - external 2023: $7.926 billion (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Currency: Congolese francs (CDF) per US dollar -
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2023: 2,340.036 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2022: 2,006.708 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2021: 1,989.391 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2020: 1,851.122 (2020 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2019: 1,647.76 (2019 est.)

## Energy
Electricity access / electrification - total population: 21.5% (2022 est.)
Electricity access / electrification - urban areas: 45.3%
Electricity access / electrification - rural areas: 1%
Electricity / installed generating capacity: 3.229 million kW (2023 est.)
Electricity / consumption: 16.069 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / exports: 62 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / imports: 1.473 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / transmission/distribution losses: 1.242 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / solar: 13.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / hydroelectricity: 86% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / biomass and waste: 0.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Coal / consumption: 304,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / imports: 304,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / proven reserves: 987.999 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum / total petroleum production: 19,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Petroleum / refined petroleum consumption: 35,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Petroleum / crude oil estimated reserves: 180 million barrels (2021 est.)
Natural gas / production: 380,000 cubic meters (2019 est.)
Natural gas / consumption: 380,000 cubic meters (2019 est.)
Natural gas / proven reserves: 991.09 million cubic meters (2021 est.)
Energy consumption per capita / Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 1.305 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

## Communications
Telephones - fixed lines / total subscriptions: (2023 est.) Currently, operators holding fixed-line telephone licenses do not have an operational distribution network, which explains the low number of customers.
Telephones - fixed lines / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2023 est.) less than 1
Telephones - mobile cellular / total subscriptions: 56.3 million (2023 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 53 (2023 est.)
Broadcast media: state-owned TV station with near-national coverage; more than a dozen privately owned TV stations, including 2 with near-national coverage; 2 state-owned radio stations and over 100 private radio stations; transmissions of at least 2 international broadcasters are available
Internet country code: .cd
Internet users / percent of population: 31% (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / total: 33,000 (2022 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2022 est.) less than 1

## Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: 9Q
Airports: 273 (2025)
Heliports: 1 (2025)
Railways / total: 4,007 km (2014)
Railways / narrow gauge: 3,882 km (2014) 1.067-m gauge (858 km electrified)
Merchant marine / total: 24 (2023)
Merchant marine / by type: general cargo 5, oil tanker 2, other 17
Ports / total ports: 3 (2024)
Ports / large: 0
Ports / medium: 0
Ports / small: 2
Ports / very small: 1
Ports / ports with oil terminals: 2
Ports / key ports: Banana, Boma, Matadi

## Military and Security
Military and security forces: Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (Forces d'Armees de la Republique Democratique du Congo, FARDC): Land Forces (Forces Terrestres), National Navy (La Marine Nationale), Congolese Air Force (Force Aerienne Congolaise, FAC); Republican Guard (Garde Républicaine, GR) Ministry of Interior: Congolese National Police (Police Nationale Congolaise, PNC) (2025)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2024: 1.2% of GDP (2024 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2023: 1.2% of GDP (2023 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2022: 0.7% of GDP (2022 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2021: 0.7% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2020: 0.7% of GDP (2020 est.)
Military and security service personnel strengths: estimated 100-150,000 active FARDC (2025)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the FARDC is equipped mostly with Soviet-era and older French armaments; in recent years, it has received some more modern equipment, such as armored vehicles and armed drones, from China, South Africa, Turkey, and the UAE (2025)
Military service age and obligation: 18-35 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women; 18-45 years of age for compulsory military service for men; it is unclear how much conscription is used (2025)
Military - note: the FARDC’s primary focus is internal security and conducting operations against rebels and other illegal armed groups (IOGs) operating in the DRC, particularly in the eastern provinces of Ituri, North Kivu, and South Kivu, where more than 15 significant and cohesive IOGs operate; there is also IOG-related violence in Maniema, Kasai, Kasai Central, and Tanganyika provinces; some estimates place over 100 IOGs operating in the country, including organized militias, such as the Nduma Defense of Congo-Renewal (NDC-R), which controls a large portion of North Kivu; Mai Mai groups (local militias that operate variously as self-defense networks and criminal rackets); and foreign-origin groups seeking safe haven and resources, such as the Ugandan-origin Allied Democratic Forces (ADF; aka Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham in the DRC), the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), multiple groups originating from Burundi, the Lords Resistance Army (LRA), and the March 23 Movement (aka M23 or Congolese Revolutionary Army), which Rwanda has been accused of supporting militarily; the FARDC incorporates some non-state armed groups and has been accused of collaborating with some IOGs, such as the NDC-R the UN Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) has operated in the central and eastern parts of the country since 1999; its mandate had been extended to the end of 2026; MONUSCO includes a Force Intervention Brigade (FIB), the first ever UN peacekeeping force specifically tasked to carry out targeted offensive operations to neutralize and disarm groups considered a threat to state authority and civilian security (2025)

## Terrorism
Terrorist group(s): Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham – Democratic Republic of the Congo (ISIS-DRC)

## Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons / refugees: 518,445 (2024 est.)
Refugees and internally displaced persons / IDPs: 6,895,648 (2024 est.)
Trafficking in persons / tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List — the Democratic Republic of the Congo did not demonstrate overall increasing efforts to eliminate trafficking compared with the previous reporting period and was downgraded to Tier 2 Watch List; for more details, go to: https://www.state.gov/reports/2025-trafficking-in-persons-report/democratic-republic-of-the-congo/

=== Cameroon ===

## Introduction
Background: Powerful chiefdoms ruled much of the area of present-day Cameroon before it became a German colony known as Kamerun in 1884. After World War I, the territory was divided between France and the UK as League of Nations mandates. French Cameroon became independent in 1960 as the Republic of Cameroon. The following year, the southern portion of neighboring British Cameroon voted to merge with the new country to form the Federal Republic of Cameroon. In 1972, a new constitution replaced the federation with a unitary state, the United Republic of Cameroon. The country has generally enjoyed stability, which has enabled the development of agriculture, roads, and railways, as well as a petroleum industry. Nonetheless, unrest and violence in the country's two western, English-speaking regions have persisted since 2016. Movement toward democratic reform is slow, and political power remains firmly in the hands of President Paul BIYA.

## Geography
Location: Central Africa, bordering the Bight of Biafra, between Equatorial Guinea and Nigeria
Geographic coordinates: 6 00 N, 12 00 E
Map references: Africa
Area / total: 475,440 sq km
Area / land: 472,710 sq km
Area / water: 2,730 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly larger than California; about four times the size of Pennsylvania
Land boundaries / total: 5,018 km
Land boundaries / border countries: Central African Republic 901 km; Chad 1,116 km; Republic of the Congo 494 km; Equatorial Guinea 183 km; Gabon 349 km; Nigeria 1975 km
Coastline: 402 km
Maritime claims / territorial sea: 12 nm
Maritime claims / contiguous zone: 24 nm
Climate: varies with terrain, from tropical along coast to semiarid and hot in north
Terrain: diverse, with coastal plain in southwest, dissected plateau in center, mountains in west, plains in north
Elevation / highest point: Fako on Mont Cameroun 4,045 m
Elevation / lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
Elevation / mean elevation: 667 m
Natural resources: petroleum, bauxite, iron ore, timber, hydropower
Land use / agricultural land: 20.9% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 13.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 3.6% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 4.2% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 41% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 38.1% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land: 290 sq km (2012)
Major lakes (area sq km) / fresh water lake(s): Lake Chad (endorheic lake shared with Niger, Nigeria, and Chad) - 10,360-25,900 sq km note - area varies by season and year to year
Major watersheds (area sq km) / Atlantic Ocean drainage: Congo (3,730,881 sq km), Niger (2,261,741 sq km)
Major watersheds (area sq km) / Internal (endorheic basin) drainage: Lake Chad (2,497,738 sq km)
Major aquifers: Lake Chad Basin
Population distribution: population concentrated in the west and north, with the interior of the country sparsely populated, as shown in this population distribution map
Natural hazards: volcanic activity with periodic releases of poisonous gases from Lake Nyos and Lake Monoun volcanoes volcanism: Mt. Cameroon (4,095 m), which last erupted in 2000, is the most frequently active volcano in West Africa; lakes in the Oku volcanic field sometimes release fatal levels of gas, which killed about 1,700 people in 1986
Geography - note: sometimes referred to as the hinge of Africa because of its central location on the continent and its position at the west-south juncture of the Gulf of Guinea; areas of thermal springs and indications of current or prior volcanic activity; Mount Cameroon, the highest mountain in Sub-Saharan west Africa, is an active volcano

## People and Society
Population / total: 31,518,954 (2025 est.)
Population / male: 15,683,611
Population / female: 15,835,343
Nationality / noun: Cameroonian(s)
Nationality / adjective: Cameroonian
Ethnic groups: Bamileke-Bamu 22.2%, Biu-Mandara 16.4%, Arab-Choa/Hausa/Kanuri 13.5%, Beti/Bassa, Mbam 13.1%, Grassfields 9.9%, Adamawa-Ubangi, 9.8%, Cotier/Ngoe/Oroko 4.6%, Southwestern Bantu 4.3%, Kako/Meka 2.3%, foreign/other ethnic group 3.8% (2022 est.)
Languages / Languages: 24 major African language groups, English (official), French (official)
Languages / major-language sample(s): The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information. (English) The World Factbook, une source indispensable d'informations de base. (French)
Religions: Roman Catholic 33.1%, Muslim 30.6%, Protestant 27.1% other Christian 6.1%, animist 1.3%, other 0.7%, none 1.2% (2022 est.)
Age structure / 0-14 years: 41.5% (male 6,477,438/female 6,364,987)
Age structure / 15-64 years: 55.3% (male 8,488,522/female 8,638,519)
Age structure / 65 years and over: 3.2% (2024 est.) (male 463,628/female 533,011)
Dependency ratios / total dependency ratio: 77.6 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / youth dependency ratio: 71.8 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / elderly dependency ratio: 5.8 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / potential support ratio: 17.3 (2025 est.)
Median age / total: 19.4 years (2025 est.)
Median age / male: 18.6 years
Median age / female: 19.2 years
Population growth rate: 2.37% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 30.79 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 6.73 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: -0.32 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution: population concentrated in the west and north, with the interior of the country sparsely populated, as shown in this population distribution map
Urbanization / urban population: 59.3% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 3.43% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 4.509 million YAOUNDE (capital), 4.063 million Douala (2023)
Sex ratio / at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 0-14 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 65 years and over: 0.87 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth: 20.1 years (2018 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio: 258 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Infant mortality rate / total: 44.6 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Infant mortality rate / male: 50.8 deaths/1,000 live births
Infant mortality rate / female: 41.3 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth / total population: 64.2 years (2024 est.)
Life expectancy at birth / male: 62.3 years
Life expectancy at birth / female: 66.1 years
Total fertility rate: 3.87 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 1.91 (2025 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: urban: urban: 81.6% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: rural: rural: 52.5% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: total: total: 69.6% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: urban: urban: 18.4% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: rural: rural: 47.5% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: total: total: 30.4% of population (2022 est.)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 3.8% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 3.9% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density: 0.14 physicians/1,000 population (2022)
Hospital bed density: 2.6 beds/1,000 population (2016 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: urban: urban: 83.2% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: rural: rural: 27.4% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: total: total: 60.2% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: urban: urban: 16.8% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: rural: rural: 72.6% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: total: total: 39.8% of population (2022 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 11.4% (2016)
Alcohol consumption per capita / total: 4.09 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / beer: 2.36 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / wine: 0.16 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / spirits: 0.01 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / other alcohols: 1.56 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Tobacco use / total: 5% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / male: 9.2% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / female: 0.9% (2025 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 11% (2018 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49): 58.1% (2018 est.)
Child marriage / women married by age 15: 10.7% (2018)
Child marriage / women married by age 18: 29.8% (2018)
Child marriage / men married by age 18: 2.9% (2018)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% GDP): 2.8% of GDP (2023 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% national budget): 13.8% national budget (2024 est.)
Literacy / total population: 72.6% (2018 est.)
Literacy / male: 79.7% (2018 est.)
Literacy / female: 66.2% (2018 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / total: 11 years (2023 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / male: 12 years (2023 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / female: 10 years (2023 est.)

## Environment
Environmental issues: deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification; poaching; overfishing; overhunting
International environmental agreements / party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling
International environmental agreements / signed, but not ratified: Nuclear Test Ban
Climate: varies with terrain, from tropical along coast to semiarid and hot in north
Land use / agricultural land: 20.9% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 13.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 3.6% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 4.2% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 41% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 38.1% (2023 est.)
Urbanization / urban population: 59.3% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 3.43% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / total emissions: 6.707 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from coal and metallurgical coke: 200 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from petroleum and other liquids: 5.658 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from consumed natural gas: 1.049 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Particulate matter emissions: 62 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Methane emissions / energy: 293.3 kt (2022-2024 est.)
Methane emissions / agriculture: 278.2 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Methane emissions / waste: 166.4 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Methane emissions / other: 24 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Waste and recycling / municipal solid waste generated annually: 3.271 million tons (2024 est.)
Waste and recycling / percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 4.6% (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / municipal: 246.8 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / industrial: 104.6 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / agricultural: 737 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total renewable water resources: 283.15 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: Republic of Cameroon
Country name / conventional short form: Cameroon
Country name / local long form: R&eacute;publique du Cameroun (French)/Republic of Cameroon (English)
Country name / local short form: Cameroun/Cameroon
Country name / former: Kamerun, French Cameroon, British Cameroon, Federal Republic of Cameroon, United Republic of Cameroon
Country name / etymology: in the 16th century, Portuguese explorers named an estuary near the mouth of the Wouri River the Rio dos Camaroes (River of Prawns) after the abundant shrimp in the water; the name Camaroes evolved into "Cameroon"
Government type: presidential republic
Capital / name: Yaounde
Capital / geographic coordinates: 3 52 N, 11 31 E
Capital / time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Capital / etymology: Germans founded the city in 1888, but the name comes from the native Ewondo people; the meaning of the name is unclear
Administrative divisions: 10 regions ( régions , singular - région ); Adamaoua, Centre, East (Est), Far North (Extrême-Nord), Littoral, North (Nord), North-West (Nord-Ouest), West (Ouest), South (Sud), South-West (Sud-Ouest)
Legal system: mixed system of English common law, French civil law, and customary law
Constitution / history: several previous; latest effective 18 January 1996
Constitution / amendment process: proposed by the president of the republic or by Parliament; amendment drafts require approval of at least one third of the membership in either house of Parliament; passage requires absolute majority vote of the Parliament membership; passage of drafts requested by the president for a second reading in Parliament requires two-thirds majority vote of its membership; the president can opt to submit drafts to a referendum, in which case passage requires a simple majority; constitutional articles on Cameroon&rsquo;s unity and territorial integrity and its democratic principles cannot be amended
International law organization participation: accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; non-party state to the ICCt
Citizenship / citizenship by birth: no
Citizenship / citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Cameroon
Citizenship / dual citizenship recognized: no
Citizenship / residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years
Suffrage: 20 years of age; universal
Executive branch / chief of state: President Paul BIYA (since 6 November 1982)
Executive branch / head of government: Prime Minister Joseph NGUTE (since 4 January 2019)
Executive branch / cabinet: Cabinet proposed by the prime minister, appointed by the president
Executive branch / election/appointment process: president directly elected by simple-majority popular vote for a 7-year term (no term limits); prime minister appointed by the president
Executive branch / most recent election date: 12 October 2025
Executive branch / election results: 2025- Paul BIYA reelected president; percent of vote - Paul BIYA (CPDM) 53.7%, Issa Tchiroma BAKARY (CNSF) 35.2%, Cabral LIBII (PCRN) 3.4%, Bello Boubou MAIGARI (UNDP)2.4%, other 5.3% 2018: Paul BIYA reelected president; percent of vote - Paul BIYA (CPDM) 71.3%, Maurice KAMTO (MRC) 14.2%, Cabral LIBII (Univers) 6.3%, other 8.2% (2018)
Executive branch / expected date of next election: October 2032
Legislative branch / legislature name: Parlement - Parliament
Legislative branch / legislative structure: bicameral
Legislative branch - lower chamber / chamber name: National Assembly (Assemblée nationale - National Assembly)
Legislative branch - lower chamber / number of seats: 180 (all directly elected)
Legislative branch - lower chamber / electoral system: proportional representation
Legislative branch - lower chamber / scope of elections: full renewal
Legislative branch - lower chamber / term in office: 5 years
Legislative branch - lower chamber / most recent election date: 3/12/2023
Legislative branch - lower chamber / parties elected and seats per party: Cameroon People's Democratic Movement (RDPC/CPDM) (152); Other (28)
Legislative branch - lower chamber / percentage of women in chamber: 33.9%
Legislative branch - lower chamber / expected date of next election: February 2026
Legislative branch - upper chamber / chamber name: Senate (S&eacute;nat - Senate)
Legislative branch - upper chamber / number of seats: 100 (70 indirectly elected; 30 appointed)
Legislative branch - upper chamber / scope of elections: full renewal
Legislative branch - upper chamber / term in office: 5 years
Legislative branch - upper chamber / most recent election date: 2/9/2020 to 3/22/2020
Legislative branch - upper chamber / percentage of women in chamber: 33%
Legislative branch - upper chamber / expected date of next election: March 2027
Judicial branch / highest court(s): Supreme Court of Cameroon (consists of 9 titular and 6 surrogate judges and organized into judicial, administrative, and audit chambers); Constitutional Council (consists of 11 members)
Judicial branch / judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court judges appointed by the president with the advice of the Higher Judicial Council of Cameroon, a body chaired by the president and includes the minister of justice, selected magistrates, and representatives of the National Assembly; judge term NA; Constitutional Council members appointed by the president for renewable 6-year terms
Judicial branch / subordinate courts: Parliamentary Court of Justice (jurisdiction limited to cases involving the president and prime minister); appellate and first instance courts; circuit and magistrates' courts
Political parties: Alliance for Democracy and Development Cameroon People's Democratic Movement or CPDM Cameroon People's Party or CPP Cameroon Renaissance Movement or MRC Cameroonian Democratic Union or UDC Cameroonian Party for National Reconciliation or PCRN Front for the National Salvation of Cameroon or FSNC Movement for the Defense of the Republic or MDR Movement for the Liberation and Development of Cameroon or MLDC National Union for Democracy and Progress or UNDP Progressive Movement or MP Social Democratic Front or SDF Union of Peoples of Cameroon or UPC Union of Socialist Movements
Diplomatic representation in the US / chief of mission: Ambassador Henri ETOUNDI ESSOMBA (since 27 June 2016)
Diplomatic representation in the US / chancery: 2349 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation in the US / telephone: [1] (202) 265-8790
Diplomatic representation in the US / FAX: [1] (202) 387-3826
Diplomatic representation in the US / email address and website: mail@cameroonembassyusa Cameroon Embassy in Washington DC, USA (cameroonembassyusa.org)
Diplomatic representation from the US / chief of mission: Ambassador Christopher J. LAMORA (since 21 March 2022)
Diplomatic representation from the US / embassy: Avenue Rosa Parks, Yaound&eacute;
Diplomatic representation from the US / mailing address: 2520 Yaounde Place, Washington, DC 20521-2520
Diplomatic representation from the US / telephone: [237] 22251-4000
Diplomatic representation from the US / FAX: [237] 22251-4000, Ext. 4531
Diplomatic representation from the US / email address and website: YaoundeACS@state.gov https://cm.usembassy.gov/
Diplomatic representation from the US / branch office(s): Douala
International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, AU, BDEAC, C, CEMAC, EITI (compliant country), FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LCBC, MIGA, MNJTF, MONUSCO, NAM, OIC, OIF, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHRC, UNIDO, UNMISS, UNOOSA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Independence: 1 January 1960 (from French-administered UN trusteeship)
National holiday: State Unification Day (National Day), 20 May (1972)
Flag: description: three equal vertical bands of green (left side), red, and yellow, with a small five-pointed yellow star centered in the red band meaning: red stands for unity; yellow for the sun, happiness, and the northern savannahs; green for hope and the southern forests; the star is called the "star of unity;" the vertical tricolor design is similar to the French flag history: uses the colors of the Pan-African movement
National symbol(s): lion
National color(s): green, red, yellow
National anthem(s) / title: "O Cameroun, Berceau de Nos Anc&ecirc;tres" (O Cameroon, Cradle of Our Forefathers)
National anthem(s) / lyrics/music: Rene Djam AFAME, Samuel Minkio BAMBA, Moise Nyatte NKO'O [French], Benard Nsokika FONLON [English]/Rene Djam AFAME
National anthem(s) / history: adopted 1957; lyrics were changed slightly to the current version in 1978
National heritage / total World Heritage Sites: 3 (two natural and one cultural)
National heritage / selected World Heritage Site locales: Dja Faunal Reserve (n); Sangha Trinational Forest (n); Diy-Gid-Biy Cultural Landscape of the Mandara Mountains (c)

## Economy
Economic overview: largest CEMAC economy with many natural resources; recent political instability and terrorism reducing economic output; systemic corruption; poor property rights enforcement; increasing poverty in northern regions
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $143.264 billion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $138.191 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $133.843 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2024: 3.7% (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2023: 3.2% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2022: 3.7% (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2024: $4,900 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2023: $4,900 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2022: $4,800 (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $51.327 billion (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024: 4.5% (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023: 7.4% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 6.2% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / agriculture: 17.4% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / industry: 25.6% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / services: 49.9% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / household consumption: 74.5% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / government consumption: 10.5% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in fixed capital: 21.4% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in inventories: 0% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / exports of goods and services: 14.7% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / imports of goods and services: -21.1% (2024 est.)
Agricultural products: cassava, plantains, oil palm fruit, maize, taro, tomatoes, sorghum, sugarcane, bananas, vegetables (2023)
Industries: petroleum production and refining, aluminum production, food processing, light consumer goods, textiles, lumber, ship repair
Industrial production growth rate: 1.9% (2024 est.)
Labor force: 11.119 million (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2024: 3.6% (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2023: 3.7% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2022: 3.7% (2022 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / total: 6.2% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / male: 5.9% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / female: 6.7% (2024 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income / Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2021: 42.2 (2021 est.)
Average household expenditures / on food: 45.8% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Average household expenditures / on alcohol and tobacco: 2.9% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / lowest 10%: 2.1% (2021 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / highest 10%: 31.1% (2021 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2023: 1.6% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2022: 1.3% of GDP (2022 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2021: 1% of GDP (2021 est.)
Budget / revenues: $6.385 billion (2021 est.)
Budget / expenditures: $7.624 billion (2021 est.)
Public debt / Public debt 2016: 32.5% of GDP (2016 est.)
Taxes and other revenues: 11.3% (of GDP) (2021 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2023: -$2.019 billion (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2022: -$1.505 billion (2022 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2021: -$1.794 billion (2021 est.)
Exports / Exports 2023: $8.353 billion (2023 est.)
Exports / Exports 2022: $8.641 billion (2022 est.)
Exports / Exports 2021: $7.447 billion (2021 est.)
Exports - partners: Netherlands 21%, France 14%, UAE 13%, India 9%, China 8% (2023)
Exports - commodities: crude petroleum, natural gas, gold, cocoa beans, wood (2023)
Imports / Imports 2023: $10.294 billion (2023 est.)
Imports / Imports 2022: $9.759 billion (2022 est.)
Imports / Imports 2021: $9.025 billion (2021 est.)
Imports - partners: China 43%, France 6%, India 6%, Belgium 4%, UAE 4% (2023)
Imports - commodities: garments, refined petroleum, plastic products, wheat, rice (2023)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023: $4.882 billion (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $5.133 billion (2022 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2021: $4.3 billion (2021 est.)
Debt - external / Debt - external 2023: $11.112 billion (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Currency: Cooperation Financiere en Afrique Centrale francs (XAF) per US dollar -
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2024: 606.345 (2024 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2023: 606.57 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2022: 623.76 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2021: 554.531 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2020: 575.586 (2020 est.)

## Energy
Electricity access / electrification - total population: 71% (2022 est.)
Electricity access / electrification - urban areas: 94%
Electricity access / electrification - rural areas: 25%
Electricity / installed generating capacity: 1.798 million kW (2023 est.)
Electricity / consumption: 6.161 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / imports: 60 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / transmission/distribution losses: 2.238 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / fossil fuels: 36.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / solar: 0.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / hydroelectricity: 63.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / biomass and waste: 0.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Coal / imports: 300 metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum / total petroleum production: 64,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Petroleum / refined petroleum consumption: 41,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Petroleum / crude oil estimated reserves: 200 million barrels (2021 est.)
Natural gas / production: 2.356 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / consumption: 534.691 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / exports: 1.821 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / proven reserves: 135.071 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)
Energy consumption per capita / Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 4.271 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

## Communications
Telephones - fixed lines / total subscriptions: 67,500 (2024 est.)
Telephones - fixed lines / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2024 est.) less than 1
Telephones - mobile cellular / total subscriptions: 31.5 million (2024 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 108 (2024 est.)
Broadcast media: government maintains tight control over broadcast media; state-owned Cameroon Radio Television (CRTV), with both TV and radio broadcasts, was the only officially recognized and fully licensed broadcaster until 2007, when the government issued licenses to 2 private TV broadcasters and 1 private radio broadcaster; about 70 privately owned, unlicensed radio stations operate under &ldquo;administrative tolerance,&rdquo; meaning the stations could be subject to closure at any time (2023)
Internet country code: .cm
Internet users / percent of population: 42% (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / total: 603,000 (2022 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 2 (2022 est.)

## Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: TJ
Airports: 37 (2025)
Heliports: 1 (2025)
Railways / total: 987 km (2014)
Railways / narrow gauge: 987 km (2014) 1.000-m gauge
Merchant marine / total: 198 (2023)
Merchant marine / by type: bulk carrier 2, general cargo 91, oil tanker 42, other 63
Ports / total ports: 7 (2024)
Ports / large: 0
Ports / medium: 1
Ports / small: 0
Ports / very small: 5
Ports / size unknown: 1
Ports / ports with oil terminals: 5
Ports / key ports: Douala, Ebome Marine Terminal, Kole Oil Terminal, Kome Kribi 1 Marine Terminal, Kribi Deep Sea Port, Limboh Terminal, Moudi Marine Terminal

## Military and Security
Military and security forces: Cameroon Armed Forces (Forces Armees Camerounaises, FAC): Army, Cameroon Navy (includes naval infantry or fusiliers marin), Air Force, National Gendarmerie, National Firefighting Corps General Delegation for National Security (Délégation Générale à la Sûreté Nationale or DGSN): Cameroon Police (2025)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2024: 1% of GDP (2024 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2023: 1% of GDP (2023 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2022: 1% of GDP (2022 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2021: 1% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2020: 1% of GDP (2020 est.)
Military and security service personnel strengths: estimated 40-50,000 active FAC, including the Gendarmerie (2025)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the FAC inventory is comprised of armaments from a variety of countries, including China, Israel, Russia/former Soviet Union, South Africa, the US, and some Western European countries, particularly France (2025)
Military service age and obligation: 18-23 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women (18-28 for medical services); no conscription; service obligation 4 years (2025)
Military deployments: 750 (plus about 400 police) Central African Republic (MINUSCA) (2025)
Military - note: the Cameroon Armed Forces (FAC) are responsible for defending the country's territorial integrity, providing humanitarian assistance, supporting regional peacekeeping operations, and contributing to internal security; key areas of focus are the threat from the terrorist groups Boko Haram and ISIS-West Africa along its frontiers with Nigeria and Chad (Far North region) and, since 2016, an insurgency from armed Anglophone separatist groups in the North-West and South-West regions; in addition, the FAC often deploys ground units to the border region with the Central African Republic to counter intrusions from armed militias and bandits; the Navy&rsquo;s missions include protecting Cameroon&rsquo;s oil installations, combatting crime and piracy in the Gulf of Guinea, and patrolling the country&rsquo;s lakes and rivers; the FAC's small Air Force supports both the ground and naval forces (2025)

## Terrorism
Terrorist group(s): Boko Haram; Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham – West Africa

## Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons / refugees: 443,740 (2024 est.)
Refugees and internally displaced persons / IDPs: 1,058,405 (2024 est.)

=== Comoros ===

## Introduction
Background: For centuries prior to colonization in the 19th century, the Comoros archipelago in the Indian Ocean served as a key node in maritime trade networks that connected the Middle East, India, and eastern African regions. Composed of the islands of Anjouan, Mayotte, Moheli, and Grande Comore, Comoros spent most of the 20th century as a colonial outpost until it declared independence from France on 6 July 1975. Residents of Mayotte, however, voted to remain in France, and the French Government has since classified it as a French Overseas Department. Since independence, Comoros has weathered approximately 20 successful and attempted coups, mostly between 1975 and 2000, resulting in prolonged political instability and stunted economic development. In 2002, President AZALI Assoumani became the first elected president following the completion of the Fomboni Accords, in which the islands of Grande Comore, Anjouan, and Moheli agreed to rotate the presidency among the islands every five years. This power-sharing agreement also included provisions allowing each island to maintain its local government. In 2007, Mohamed BACAR effected Anjouan's de-facto secession from the Union of the Comoros, refusing to step down when Comoros' other islands held legitimate elections. The African Union (AU) initially attempted to resolve the political crisis with sanctions and a naval blockade of Anjouan, but in 2008, the AU and Comoran soldiers seized the island. The island's inhabitants generally welcomed the move. In 2011, Ikililou DHOININE won the presidency in peaceful elections widely deemed to be free and fair. In closely contested elections in 2016, AZALI won a second term, when the rotating presidency returned to Grande Comore. In 2018, a referendum -- which the opposition parties boycotted -- approved a new constitution that extended presidential term limits and abolished the requirement for the presidency to rotate between the three main islands. AZALI formed a new government later that year, and he subsequently ran and was reelected in 2019. AZALI was reelected again in January 2024 in an election that the opposition disputed but the Supreme Court validated.

## Geography
Location: Southern Africa, group of islands at the northern mouth of the Mozambique Channel, about two-thirds of the way between northern Madagascar and northern Mozambique
Geographic coordinates: 12 10 S, 44 15 E
Map references: Africa
Area / total: 2,235 sq km
Area / land: 2,235 sq km
Area / water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly more than 12 times the size of Washington, D.C.
Land boundaries / total: 0 km
Coastline: 340 km
Maritime claims / territorial sea: 12 nm
Maritime claims / exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate: tropical marine; rainy season (November to May)
Terrain: volcanic islands, interiors vary from steep mountains to low hills
Elevation / highest point: Karthala 2,360 m
Elevation / lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
Natural resources: fish
Land use / agricultural land: 71.5% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 34.9% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 28.5% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 8.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 17.8% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 10.7% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land: 1.3 sq km (2012)
Population distribution: the capital city of Maroni, on the western side of the island of Grande Comore, is the country's largest city; however, Anjouan is the most densely populated of the three islands that comprise Comoros, as shown in this population distribution map
Natural hazards: cyclones possible during rainy season (December to April); volcanic activity on Grand Comore volcanism: Karthala (2,361 m) on Grand Comore Island last erupted in 2007; a 2005 eruption forced thousands of people to be evacuated and produced a large ash cloud
Geography - note: important location at northern end of Mozambique Channel; the only Arab League country that lies entirely in the Southern Hemisphere

## People and Society
Population / total: 911,707 (2025 est.)
Population / male: 441,215
Population / female: 470,492
Nationality / noun: Comoran(s)
Nationality / adjective: Comoran
Ethnic groups: Antalote, Cafre, Makoa, Oimatsaha, Sakalava
Languages: Arabic (official), French (official), Shikomoro (official; similar to Swahili), Comorian
Religions: Muslim 98.1% (overwhelmingly Sunni Muslim, small Shia Muslim and Ahmadiyya Muslim populations), ethnic religionist 1.1%, Christian 0.6%, other 0.3% (2020 est.)
Age structure / 0-14 years: 32.6% (male 146,480/female 146,626)
Age structure / 15-64 years: 62.8% (male 271,139/female 294,231)
Age structure / 65 years and over: 4.6% (2024 est.) (male 18,139/female 23,526)
Dependency ratios / total dependency ratio: 57.3 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / youth dependency ratio: 49.9 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / elderly dependency ratio: 7.4 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / potential support ratio: 13.5 (2025 est.)
Median age / total: 23.1 years (2025 est.)
Median age / male: 22.1 years
Median age / female: 23.3 years
Population growth rate: 1.26% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 21.12 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 6.38 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: -2.17 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution: the capital city of Maroni, on the western side of the island of Grande Comore, is the country's largest city; however, Anjouan is the most densely populated of the three islands that comprise Comoros, as shown in this population distribution map
Urbanization / urban population: 30.1% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 2.97% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 62,000 MORONI (capital) (2018)
Sex ratio / at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 0-14 years: 1 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 15-64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 65 years and over: 0.77 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth: 23 years (2012 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio: 179 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Infant mortality rate / total: 53.9 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Infant mortality rate / male: 64.9 deaths/1,000 live births
Infant mortality rate / female: 44.7 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth / total population: 67.8 years (2024 est.)
Life expectancy at birth / male: 65.5 years
Life expectancy at birth / female: 70.2 years
Total fertility rate: 2.52 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 1.24 (2025 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: urban: urban: 97.4% of population
Drinking water source / improved: rural: rural: 88.5% of population
Drinking water source / improved: total: total: 91% of population
Drinking water source / unimproved: urban: urban: 2.6% of population
Drinking water source / unimproved: rural: rural: 11.5% of population
Drinking water source / unimproved: total: total: 8.9% of population (2017 est.)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 6.3% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 4.7% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density: 0.42 physicians/1,000 population (2022)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 7.8% (2016)
Alcohol consumption per capita / total: 0.18 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / beer: 0.04 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / wine: 0.07 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / spirits: 0.07 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / other alcohols: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Tobacco use / total: 14.7% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / male: 24.8% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / female: 4.7% (2025 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 9.1% (2022 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49): 63.1% (2022 est.)
Child marriage / women married by age 15: 4.9% (2022)
Child marriage / women married by age 18: 20.7% (2022)
Child marriage / men married by age 18: 6.9% (2022)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% GDP): 2.3% of GDP (2023 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% national budget): 11.5% national budget (2025 est.)
Literacy / total population: 75.8% (2021 est.)
Literacy / male: 79.9% (2021 est.)
Literacy / female: 72.2% (2021 est.)

## Environment
Environmental issues: deforestation; soil degradation and erosion from forest loss and crop cultivation on slopes without proper terracing; silting of coral reefs
International environmental agreements / party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
International environmental agreements / signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Climate: tropical marine; rainy season (November to May)
Land use / agricultural land: 71.5% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 34.9% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 28.5% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 8.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 17.8% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 10.7% (2023 est.)
Urbanization / urban population: 30.1% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 2.97% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / total emissions: 436,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from petroleum and other liquids: 436,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Particulate matter emissions: 14.5 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Waste and recycling / municipal solid waste generated annually: 91,000 tons (2024 est.)
Waste and recycling / percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 10.1% (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / municipal: 4.8 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / industrial: 500,000 cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / agricultural: 4.7 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total renewable water resources: 1.2 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: Union of the Comoros
Country name / conventional short form: Comoros
Country name / local long form: Udzima wa Komori (Comorian)/Union des Comores (French)/Al Ittihad al Qumuri (Arabic)
Country name / local short form: Komori (Comorian)/Les Comores (French)/Juzur al Qamar (Arabic)
Country name / former: Comorian State, Federal Islamic Republic of the Comoros
Country name / etymology: name derives from the Arabic al qamar , meaning "the moon"
Government type: federal presidential republic
Capital / name: Moroni
Capital / geographic coordinates: 11 42 S, 43 14 E
Capital / time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Capital / etymology: the name means "at the place of fire," referring to the capital's location below the active volcano Mt. Karthala
Administrative divisions: 3 islands; Anjouan (Ndzuwani), Grande Comore (N'gazidja), Moheli (Mwali)
Legal system: mixed legal system of Islamic religious law, the French civil code of 1975, and customary law
Constitution / history: previous 1996, 2001; newest adopted 30 July 2018
Constitution / amendment process: proposed by the president of the union or supported by at least one third of the Assembly of the Union membership; adoption requires approval by at least three-quarters majority of the total Assembly membership or approval in a referendum
International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Citizenship / citizenship by birth: no
Citizenship / citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of the Comoros
Citizenship / dual citizenship recognized: no
Citizenship / residency requirement for naturalization: 10 years
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch / chief of state: President AZALI Assoumani (since 26 May 2016)
Executive branch / head of government: President AZALI Assoumani (since 26 May 2016)
Executive branch / cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
Executive branch / election/appointment process: president directly elected by absolute majority vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a 5-year term
Executive branch / most recent election date: 14 January 2024
Executive branch / election results: 2024: AZALI Assoumani reelected president in first round - AZALI Assoumani (CRC) 63%, SALIM ISSA Abdallah (PJ) 20.3%, DAOUDOU Abdallah Mohamed (Orange Party) 5.9%, Bourhane HAMIDOU (independent) 5.1%
Executive branch / expected date of next election: 2029
Legislative branch / legislature name: Assembly of the Union (Assembl&eacute;e de l'Union)
Legislative branch / legislative structure: unicameral
Legislative branch / number of seats: 33 (all directly elected)
Legislative branch / electoral system: plurality/majority
Legislative branch / scope of elections: full renewal
Legislative branch / term in office: 5 years
Legislative branch / most recent election date: 1/12/2025 to 2/16/2025
Legislative branch / parties elected and seats per party: Convention for the Renewal of the Comoros (CRC) (31); Other (2)
Legislative branch / percentage of women in chamber: 18.2%
Legislative branch / expected date of next election: January 2030
Judicial branch / highest court(s): Supreme Court or Cour Supreme (consists of 7 judges)
Judicial branch / judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court judges - selection and term of office NA
Judicial branch / subordinate courts: Court of Appeals (in Moroni); Tribunal de premi&egrave;re instance; island village (community) courts; religious courts
Political parties: Convention for the Renewal of the Comoros or CRC Juwa Party (Parti Juwa) or PJ Orange Party (2020)
Diplomatic representation in the US / chief of mission: Ambassador Issimail CHANFI (since 23 December 2020); note - also Permanent Representative to the UN
Diplomatic representation in the US / chancery: Permanent Mission to the UN, 866 United Nations Plaza, Suite 495, New York, NY 10017
Diplomatic representation in the US / telephone: [1] (212) 750-1637
Diplomatic representation in the US / FAX: [1] (212) 750-1657
Diplomatic representation in the US / email address and website: comoros@un.int https://www.un.int/comoros/
Diplomatic representation from the US / embassy: the US does not have an embassy in Comoros; the US Ambassador to Madagascar is accredited to Comoros
International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, AMF, AOSIS, AU, CAEU (candidates), COMESA, FAO, FZ, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, InOC, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAS, MIGA, NAM, OIC, OIF, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)
Independence: 6 July 1975 (from France)
National holiday: Independence Day, 6 July (1975)
Flag: description: four equal horizontal bands of yellow (top), white, red, and blue, with a green isosceles triangle based on the left; a vertical white crescent moon is centered in the triangle, with four five-pointed white stars placed vertically in a line between the points of the crescent meaning: the horizontal bands and the stars represent the four main islands of the archipelago -- Mwali, N'gazidja, Ndzuwani, and Mahore (Mayotte is a department of France, but claimed by Comoros)
National symbol(s): four five-pointed stars and crescent moon
National color(s): green, white
National coat of arms: the coat of arms is in the national colors of green and white; was adopted in 1978; the crescent and stars represent Islam, with the four stars also symbolizing the archipelago&rsquo;s four main islands: Grande Comore, Moh&eacute;li, Anjouan, and Mayotte (the last of which is a French department claimed by Comoros); above and below the sun&rsquo;s rays is the name of the nation written in French and Arabic; two olive branches, representing peace, are connected by a banner with the national motto in French, which translates as "Unity, Solidarity, Development"
National anthem(s) / title: "Udzima wa ya Masiwa" (The Union of the Great Islands)
National anthem(s) / lyrics/music: Said Hachim SIDI ABDEREMANE/Said Hachim SIDI ABDEREMANE and Kamildine ABDALLAH
National anthem(s) / history: adopted 1978

## Economy
Economic overview: small trade-based island economy; declining remittances; new structural and fiscal reforms; adverse cyclone and COVID-19 impacts; manageable debts; fragile liquidity environment; large foreign direct investment; state-owned enterprises suffering
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $3.092 billion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $2.99 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $2.901 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2024: 3.4% (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2023: 3.1% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2022: 2.8% (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2024: $3,600 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2023: $3,500 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2022: $3,500 (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $1.546 billion (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2017: 1% (2017 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2016: 1.8% (2016 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / agriculture: 36.6% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / industry: 9.6% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / services: 50.1% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / household consumption: 103.6% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / government consumption: 9.2% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in fixed capital: 11.7% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in inventories: 0% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / exports of goods and services: 9.9% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / imports of goods and services: -34.5% (2024 est.)
Agricultural products: bananas, coconuts, cassava, yams, maize, taro, milk, tomatoes, sweet potatoes, pulses (2023)
Industries: fishing, tourism, perfume distillation
Industrial production growth rate: 3.8% (2024 est.)
Labor force: 276,400 (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2024: 3.9% (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2023: 3.8% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2022: 3.9% (2022 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / total: 8.9% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / male: 8.3% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / female: 9.6% (2024 est.)
Population below poverty line: 44.8% (2020 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2023: 21.4% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2022: 22% of GDP (2022 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2021: 22.2% of GDP (2021 est.)
Budget / revenues: $212.551 million (2023 est.)
Budget / expenditures: $230.338 million (2023 est.)
Public debt / Public debt 2016: 27.7% of GDP (2016 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2023: -$24.621 million (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2022: -$5.248 million (2022 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2021: -$4.076 million (2021 est.)
Exports / Exports 2023: $148.455 million (2023 est.)
Exports / Exports 2022: $166.032 million (2022 est.)
Exports / Exports 2021: $128.331 million (2021 est.)
Exports - partners: Indonesia 25%, India 23%, Turkey 16%, UAE 11%, USA 3% (2023)
Exports - commodities: cloves, ships, essential oils, vanilla, scrap iron (2023)
Imports / Imports 2023: $504.036 million (2023 est.)
Imports / Imports 2022: $480.268 million (2022 est.)
Imports / Imports 2021: $415.965 million (2021 est.)
Imports - partners: China 24%, UAE 21%, Tanzania 12%, France 7%, India 6% (2023)
Imports - commodities: refined petroleum, poultry, rice, flavored water, additive manufacturing machines (2023)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024: $323.946 million (2024 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023: $324.561 million (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $283.746 million (2022 est.)
Debt - external / Debt - external 2023: $267.652 million (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Currency: Comoran francs (KMF) per US dollar -
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2024: 454.524 (2024 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2023: 454.991 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2022: 467.184 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2021: 415.956 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2020: 430.721 (2020 est.)

## Energy
Electricity access / electrification - total population: 89.9% (2022 est.)
Electricity access / electrification - urban areas: 100%
Electricity access / electrification - rural areas: 82.9%
Electricity / installed generating capacity: 32,000 kW (2023 est.)
Electricity / consumption: 113.052 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / transmission/distribution losses: 22.1 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / fossil fuels: 100% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Coal / imports: 2,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum / refined petroleum consumption: 3,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Energy consumption per capita / Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 7.139 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

## Communications
Telephones - fixed lines / total subscriptions: 8,200 (2023 est.)
Telephones - fixed lines / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 1 (2023 est.) less than 1
Telephones - mobile cellular / total subscriptions: 934,000 (2023 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 110 (2023 est.)
Broadcast media: national state-owned TV station and a TV station run by Anjouan regional government; national state-owned radio; regional governments on the islands of Grande Comore and Anjouan each operate a radio station; a few independent and small community radio stations operate on the islands of Grande Comore and Moheli, and these two islands have access to Mayotte Radio and French TV
Internet country code: .km
Internet users / percent of population: 36% (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / total: 3,000 (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2023 est.) less than 1

## Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: D6
Airports: 3 (2025)
Merchant marine / total: 273 (2023)
Merchant marine / by type: bulk carrier 17, container ship 7, general cargo 125, oil tanker 36, other 88
Ports / total ports: 4 (2024)
Ports / large: 0
Ports / medium: 0
Ports / small: 0
Ports / very small: 4
Ports / ports with oil terminals: 3
Ports / key ports: Dzaoudzi, Fomboni, Moroni, Moutsamoudu

## Military and Security
Military and security forces: National Army for Development (l'Armee Nationale de Developpement, AND): Comoran Defense Force (Force Comorienne de Defense or FCD; includes Comoran National Gendarmerie); Ministry of Interior: Coast Guard, Federal Police, National Directorate of Territorial Safety (customs and immigration) (2024)
Military and security service personnel strengths: estimated 600 Defense Force; estimated 500 Federal Police (2023)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the AND is lightly armed and equipped with small arms, a few light aircraft, and utility vehicles (2024)
Military service age and obligation: 18-25 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women; no conscription (2023)
Military - note: the focus for the security forces is search and rescue operations and maintaining internal security; a defense treaty with France provides naval resources for the protection of territorial waters, training of Comoran military personnel, and air surveillance; France maintains a small maritime base and a Foreign Legion contingent on neighboring Mayotte (2024)

## Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons / refugees: 18 (2024 est.)
Refugees and internally displaced persons / IDPs: 38 (2024 est.)

=== none ===

## Introduction
Background: The Central African Republic (CAR) is a perennially weak state that sits at the crossroads of ethnic and linguistic groups in the center of the African continent. Among the last areas of Sub-Saharan Africa to be drawn into the world economy, its introduction into trade networks around the early 1700s fostered significant competition among its population. The local population sought to benefit from the lucrative Atlantic, trans-Saharan, and Indian Ocean trade in enslaved people and ivory. Slave raids aided by the local populations fostered animosity between ethnic groups that remains today. The territory was established as a French colony named Ubangui-Shari in 1903, and France modeled its administration of the colony after the Belgian Congo, subcontracting control of the territory to private companies that collected rubber and ivory. Although France banned the domestic slave trade in CAR in the 1910s, the private companies continued to exploit the population through forced labor. The colony of Ubangi-Shari gained independence from France as the Central African Republic in 1960, but the death of independence leader Barthelemy BOGANDA six months prior led to an immediate struggle for power. CAR’s political history has since been marred by a series of coups, the first of which brought Jean-Bedel BOKASSA to power in 1966. Widespread corruption and intolerance for any political opposition characterized his regime. In an effort to prolong his mandate, BOKASSA named himself emperor in 1976 and changed the country’s name to the Central African Empire. His regime’s economic mismanagement culminated in widespread student protests in 1979 that were violently suppressed by security forces. BOKASSA fell out of favor with the international community and was overthrown in a French-backed coup in 1979. After BOKASSA’s departure, the country’s name once again became the Central African Republic. CAR’s fifth coup in 2013 unseated President Francois BOZIZE after the Seleka, a mainly Muslim rebel coalition, seized the capital and forced BOZIZE to flee the country. The Seleka's widespread abuses spurred the formation of mainly Christian self-defense groups that called themselves the anti-Balaka, which have also committed human rights abuses against Muslim populations in retaliation. Since the rise of these groups, conflict in CAR has become increasingly ethnoreligious, although focused on identity rather than religious ideology. Elections in 2016 installed independent candidate Faustin-Archange TOUADERA as president; he was reelected in 2020. A peace agreement signed in 2019 between the government and the main armed factions has had little effect, and armed groups remain in control of large swaths of the country's territory. TOUADERA's United Hearts Movement has governed the country since 2016, and a new constitution approved by referendum on 30 July 2023 effectively ended term limits, creating the potential for TOUADERA to extend his rule.

## Geography
Location: Central Africa, north of Democratic Republic of the Congo
Geographic coordinates: 7 00 N, 21 00 E
Map references: Africa
Area / total: 622,984 sq km
Area / land: 622,984 sq km
Area / water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly smaller than Texas; about four times the size of Georgia
Land boundaries / total: 5,920 km
Land boundaries / border countries: Cameroon 901 km; Chad 1556 km; Democratic Republic of the Congo 1,747 km, Republic of the Congo 487 km; South Sudan 1055 km; Sudan 174 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
Climate: tropical; hot, dry winters; mild to hot, wet summers
Terrain: vast, flat to rolling plateau; scattered hills in northeast and southwest
Elevation / highest point: Mont Ngaoui 1,410 m
Elevation / lowest point: Oubangui River 335 m
Elevation / mean elevation: 635 m
Natural resources: diamonds, uranium, timber, gold, oil, hydropower
Land use / agricultural land: 9.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 2.9% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 1.4% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 4.8% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 72.5% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 18.4% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land: 10 sq km (2012)
Major rivers (by length in km): Oubangui (Ubangi) river [s] (shared with Democratic Republic of Congo and Republic of Congo [m]) - 2,270 km note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Major watersheds (area sq km) / Atlantic Ocean drainage: Congo (3,730,881 sq km), (Mediterranean Sea) Nile (3,254,853 sq km)
Major watersheds (area sq km) / Internal (endorheic basin) drainage: Lake Chad (2,497,738 sq km)
Major aquifers: Congo Basin, Lake Chad Basin
Population distribution: majority of residents live in the western and central areas of the country, especially in and around the capital of Bangui, as shown in this population distribution map
Natural hazards: hot, dry, dusty harmattan winds affect northern areas; floods are common
Geography - note: landlocked; almost the precise center of Africa

## People and Society
Population / total: 5,750,570 (2025 est.)
Population / male: 2,864,870
Population / female: 2,885,700
Nationality / noun: Central African(s)
Nationality / adjective: Central African
Ethnic groups: Baya 28.8%, Banda 22.9%, Mandjia 9.9%, Sara 7.9%, M'Baka-Bantu 7.9%, Arab-Fulani (Peuhl) 6%, Mbum 6%, Ngbanki 5.5%, Zande-Nzakara 3%, other Central African Republic ethnic groups 2%, non-Central African Republic ethnic groups .1% (2003 est.)
Languages: French (official), Sangho (lingua franca and national language), tribal languages
Religions: Roman Catholic 34.6%, Protestant 15.7%, other Christian 22.9%, Muslim 13.8%, ethnic religionist 12%, Baha'i 0.2%, agnostic/atheist 0.7% (2020 est.)
Age structure / 0-14 years: 38.5% (male 1,113,795/female 1,063,971)
Age structure / 15-64 years: 58% (male 1,613,770/female 1,662,522)
Age structure / 65 years and over: 3.5% (2024 est.) (male 86,932/female 109,967)
Dependency ratios / total dependency ratio: 71.7 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / youth dependency ratio: 65.7 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / elderly dependency ratio: 6 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / potential support ratio: 16.6 (2025 est.)
Median age / total: 20.6 years (2025 est.)
Median age / male: 19.7 years
Median age / female: 21.2 years
Population growth rate: 1.74% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 31.49 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 11.04 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: -3.06 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution: majority of residents live in the western and central areas of the country, especially in and around the capital of Bangui, as shown in this population distribution map
Urbanization / urban population: 43.6% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 3.32% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 958,000 BANGUI (capital) (2023)
Sex ratio / at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 65 years and over: 0.79 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio: 692 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Infant mortality rate / total: 79.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Infant mortality rate / male: 86.4 deaths/1,000 live births
Infant mortality rate / female: 74.5 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth / total population: 56.4 years (2024 est.)
Life expectancy at birth / male: 55.1 years
Life expectancy at birth / female: 57.7 years
Total fertility rate: 3.89 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 1.92 (2025 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: urban: urban: 48.1% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: rural: rural: 27.4% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: total: total: 36.3% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: urban: urban: 51.9% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: rural: rural: 72.6% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: total: total: 63.7% of population (2022 est.)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 9.1% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 9% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density: 0.07 physicians/1,000 population (2023)
Sanitation facility access / improved: urban: urban: 53.5% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: rural: rural: 12.4% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: total: total: 30.2% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: urban: urban: 46.5% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: rural: rural: 87.6% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: total: total: 69.8% of population (2022 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 7.5% (2016)
Alcohol consumption per capita / total: 0.94 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / beer: 0.55 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / wine: 0.04 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / spirits: 0.02 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / other alcohols: 0.33 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 18.4% (2022 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49): 65.4% (2019 est.)
Child marriage / women married by age 15: 25.8% (2019)
Child marriage / women married by age 18: 61% (2019)
Child marriage / men married by age 18: 17.1% (2019)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% GDP): 1.8% of GDP (2023 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% national budget): 10% national budget (2023 est.)
Literacy / total population: 42.4% (2019 est.)
Literacy / male: 59.8% (2019 est.)
Literacy / female: 27.1% (2019 est.)

## Environment
Environmental issues: water pollution; tap water not potable; poaching; wildlife mismanagement; desertification; deforestation; soil erosion
International environmental agreements / party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands
International environmental agreements / signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea
Climate: tropical; hot, dry winters; mild to hot, wet summers
Land use / agricultural land: 9.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 2.9% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 1.4% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 4.8% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 72.5% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 18.4% (2023 est.)
Urbanization / urban population: 43.6% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 3.32% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / total emissions: 313,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from petroleum and other liquids: 313,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Particulate matter emissions: 25.5 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Waste and recycling / municipal solid waste generated annually: 1.106 million tons (2024 est.)
Waste and recycling / percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 9.1% (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / municipal: 60.1 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / industrial: 12 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / agricultural: 400,000 cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total renewable water resources: 141 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: Central African Republic
Country name / conventional short form: none
Country name / local long form: R&eacute;publique centrafricaine
Country name / local short form: none
Country name / former: Ubangi-Shari, Central African Empire
Country name / abbreviation: CAR
Country name / etymology: self-descriptive name specifying the country's location on the continent; "Africa" is derived from the Roman designation of the area corresponding to present-day Tunisia, "Africa terra," which meant "Land of the Afri" (the tribe resident in that area), but which eventually came to mean the entire continent
Government type: presidential republic
Capital / name: Bangui
Capital / geographic coordinates: 4 22 N, 18 35 E
Capital / time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Capital / etymology: established as a French military post in 1889; the name means "rapids" in the local Bobangui language, because of the city's location above the first great rapid on the Ubangi River
Administrative divisions: 14 prefectures ( préfectures , singular - préfecture ), 2 economic prefectures* ( préfectures économiques , singular - préfecture économique ), and 1 commune**; Bamingui-Bangoran, Bangui**, Basse-Kotto, Haute-Kotto, Haut-Mbomou, Kemo, Lobaye, Mambere-Kadei, Mbomou, Nana-Grebizi*, Nana-Mambere, Ombella-Mpoko, Ouaka, Ouham, Ouham-Pende, Sangha-Mbaere*, Vakaga
Legal system: civil law system based on the French model
Constitution / history: several previous; latest constitution passed by a national referendum on 30 July 2023 and validated by the Constitutional Court on 30 August 2023
Constitution / amendment process: proposals require support of the government, two thirds of the National Council of Transition, and assent by the "Mediator of the Central African" crisis; passage requires at least three-fourths majority vote by the National Council membership; non-amendable constitutional provisions include those on the secular and republican form of government, fundamental rights and freedoms, amendment procedures, or changes to the authorities of various high-level executive, parliamentary, and judicial officials
International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Citizenship / citizenship by birth: no
Citizenship / citizenship by descent only: least one parent must be a citizen of the Central African Republic
Citizenship / dual citizenship recognized: yes
Citizenship / residency requirement for naturalization: 35 years
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch / chief of state: President Faustin-Archange TOUAD&Eacute;RA (since 30 March 2016)
Executive branch / head of government: Prime Minister F&eacute;lix MOLOUA (since 7 February 2022)
Executive branch / cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
Executive branch / election/appointment process: current president was directly elected for 5-year term; constitutional referendum in July 2023 removed term limits and instituted 7-year terms
Executive branch / most recent election date: 28 December 2025
Executive branch / election results: 2025: Faustin-Archange TOUADÉRA reelected president in first round; percent of vote - Faustin-Archange TOUADÉRA (independent) 76.2%, Anicet Georges DOLOGUELE (URCA) 14.7%, other 9.1%
Executive branch / expected date of next election: December 2032
Legislative branch / legislature name: National Assembly (Assembl&eacute;e nationale)
Legislative branch / legislative structure: unicameral
Legislative branch / number of seats: 140 (all directly elected)
Legislative branch / electoral system: plurality/majority
Legislative branch / scope of elections: full renewal
Legislative branch / term in office: 5 years
Legislative branch / most recent election date: 12/27/2020 to 7/25/2021
Legislative branch / parties elected and seats per party: United Hearts Movement (MCU) (63); National Movement of Independents (MOUNI) (9); Union for Central African Renewal (URCA) (7); Movement for the Liberation of the Central African People (MLPC) (7); Other (34); Independents (20)
Legislative branch / percentage of women in chamber: 11.4%
Legislative branch / expected date of next election: 28 December 2025
Judicial branch / highest court(s): Supreme Court or Cour Supreme (number of judges unknown); Constitutional Court (consists of 9 judges, at least 3 of whom are women)
Judicial branch / judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court judges appointed by the president; Constitutional Court judge appointments - 2 by the president, 1 by the speaker of the National Assembly, 2 elected by their peers, 2 are advocates elected by their peers, and 2 are law professors elected by their peers; judges serve 7-year non-renewable terms
Judicial branch / subordinate courts: high courts; magistrates' courts
Political parties: Action Party for Development or PAD African Party for Radical Transformation and Integration of States or PATRIE Alliance for Democracy and Progress or ADP Be Africa ti e Kwe (also known as Central Africa for Us All or BTK) Central African Democratic Rally or RDC Central African Party for Integrated Development or PCDI Democratic Movement for the Renewal and Evolution of Central Africa or MDREC Kodro Ti Mo Kozo Si Movement or MKMKS Movement for Democracy and Development or MDD Movement for the Liberation of the Central African People or MLPC National Convergence (also known as Kwa Na Kwa or KNK) National Movement of Independents or MOUNI National Union for Democracy and Progress or UNDP National Union of Republican Democrats or UNADER New Impetus for Central Africa or CANE Party for Democracy and Solidarity - Kélémba or KPDS Party for Democratic Governance or PGD Path of Hope or CDE Renaissance for Sustainable Development or RDD Socialist Party or PS Transformation Through Action Initiative or ITA Union for Central African Renewal or URCA Union for Renaissance and Development or URD United Hearts Movement or MCU
Diplomatic representation in the US / chief of mission: Ambassador Martial NDOUBOU (since 17 September 2018)
Diplomatic representation in the US / chancery: 2704 Ontario Road NW, Washington, DC 20009
Diplomatic representation in the US / telephone: [1] (202) 483-7800
Diplomatic representation in the US / FAX: [1] (202) 332-9893
Diplomatic representation in the US / email address and website: centrafricwashington@yahoo.com https://www.usrcaembassy.org/
Diplomatic representation from the US / chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charg&eacute; d&rsquo;Affaires Melanie Anne ZIMMERMAN (since July 2025)
Diplomatic representation from the US / embassy: Avenue David Dacko, Bangui
Diplomatic representation from the US / mailing address: 2060 Bangui Place, Washington DC 20521-2060
Diplomatic representation from the US / telephone: [236] 2161-0200
Diplomatic representation from the US / FAX: [236] 2161-4494
Diplomatic representation from the US / email address and website: https://cf.usembassy.gov/
International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, AU, BDEAC, CEMAC, EITI (compliant country) (suspended), FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LCBC, MIGA, NAM, OIC (observer), OIF, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Independence: 13 August 1960 (from France)
National holiday: Republic Day, 1 December (1958)
Flag: description: four equal horizontal bands of blue (top), white, green, and yellow with a vertical red band in the center; a five-pointed yellow star sits in the top left corner of the flag, on the blue band meaning: combines the pan-African and French flag colors; red stands for blood spilled in the struggle for independence, blue for the sky and freedom, white for peace and dignity, green for hope and faith, and yellow for tolerance; the star represents aspiring to a vibrant future
National symbol(s): elephant
National color(s): blue, white, green, yellow, red
National anthem(s) / title: "La Renaissance" (The Renaissance)
National anthem(s) / lyrics/music: Barthelemy BOGANDA/Herbert PEPPER
National anthem(s) / history: adopted 1960; BOGANDA wrote the anthem's lyrics and was the first prime minister of the autonomous French territory
National heritage / total World Heritage Sites: 2 (natural)
National heritage / selected World Heritage Site locales: Manovo-Gounda St. Floris National Park; Sangha Trinational Forest

## Economy
Economic overview: enormous natural resources; extreme poverty; weak public institutions and infrastructure; political and gender-based violence have led to displacement of roughly 25% of population; Bangui-Douala corridor blockade reduced activity and tax collection; strong agricultural performance offset COVID-19 downturn
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $5.926 billion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $5.836 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $5.795 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2024: 1.5% (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2023: 0.7% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2022: 0.5% (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2024: $1,100 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2023: $1,100 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2022: $1,100 (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $2.752 billion (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023: 3% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 5.6% (2022 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021: 4.3% (2021 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / agriculture: 32.5% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / industry: 17.8% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / services: 40.5% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / household consumption: 94.7% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / government consumption: 9.7% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in fixed capital: 15.4% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in inventories: 0% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / exports of goods and services: 15.5% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / imports of goods and services: -32.4% (2024 est.)
Agricultural products: cassava, groundnuts, yams, coffee, maize, sesame seeds, taro, sugarcane, beef, milk (2023)
Industries: gold and diamond mining, logging, brewing, sugar refining
Industrial production growth rate: 9.7% (2024 est.)
Labor force: 2 million (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2024: 5.9% (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2023: 5.9% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2022: 6% (2022 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / total: 9.5% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / male: 8.5% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / female: 10.6% (2024 est.)
Population below poverty line: 68.8% (2021 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income / Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2021: 43 (2021 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / lowest 10%: 2.1% (2021 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / highest 10%: 33.1% (2021 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2023: 0% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2022: 0% of GDP (2022 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2021: 0% of GDP (2021 est.)
Budget / revenues: $360.48 million (2021 est.)
Budget / expenditures: $462.104 million (2021 est.)
Public debt / Public debt 2016: 56% of GDP (2016 est.)
Taxes and other revenues: 8.2% (of GDP) (2021 est.)
Exports / Exports 2024: $425.306 million (2024 est.)
Exports / Exports 2023: $369.034 million (2023 est.)
Exports / Exports 2022: $293.074 million (2022 est.)
Exports - partners: UAE 54%, China 14%, France 6%, Turkey 5%, Belgium 4% (2023)
Exports - commodities: gold, wood, diamonds, vehicle parts/accessories, cotton (2023)
Imports / Imports 2024: $890.572 million (2024 est.)
Imports / Imports 2023: $742.108 million (2023 est.)
Imports / Imports 2022: $784.669 million (2022 est.)
Imports - partners: China 16%, Cameroon 14%, France 8%, Belgium 6%, Cote d'Ivoire 5% (2023)
Imports - commodities: refined petroleum, cars, packaged medicine, vaccines, tanks and armored vehicles (2023)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023: $479.593 million (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $374.405 million (2022 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2021: $483.872 million (2021 est.)
Debt - external / Debt - external 2023: $724.179 million (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Currency: Cooperation Financiere en Afrique Centrale francs (XAF) per US dollar -
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2024: 606.345 (2024 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2023: 606.57 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2022: 623.76 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2021: 554.531 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2020: 575.586 (2020 est.)

## Energy
Electricity access / electrification - total population: 15.7% (2022 est.)
Electricity access / electrification - urban areas: 34.7%
Electricity access / electrification - rural areas: 1.6%
Electricity / installed generating capacity: 63,000 kW (2023 est.)
Electricity / consumption: 132.105 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / transmission/distribution losses: 10 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / fossil fuels: 0.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / hydroelectricity: 99.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Coal / imports: 1 metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / proven reserves: 3 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum / refined petroleum consumption: 2,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Energy consumption per capita / Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 954,000 Btu/person (2023 est.)

## Communications
Telephones - fixed lines / total subscriptions: 2,090 (2022 est.)
Telephones - fixed lines / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2022 est.) less than 1
Telephones - mobile cellular / total subscriptions: 1.98 million (2022 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 39 (2022 est.)
Broadcast media: government-owned network, Radiodiffusion T&eacute;l&eacute;vision Centrafricaine, provides limited TV broadcasting; state-owned radio network is supplemented by a small number of privately owned broadcast stations, as well as a few community radio stations; transmissions of at least 2 international broadcasters are available (2017)
Internet country code: .cf
Internet users / percent of population: 8% (2019 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / total: 1,000 (2022 est.) Data available for 2019 only.
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2022 est.) less than 1

## Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: TL
Airports: 43 (2025)

## Military and Security
Military and security forces: Central African Armed Forces (Forces Armees Centrafricaines, FACA): Army (includes an air squadron, Escadrille Centrafricaine) Ministry of Interior: National Gendarmerie (Gendarmerie Nationale), National Police (2025)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2024: 2.5% of GDP (2024 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2023: 1.8% of GDP (2023 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2022: 1.7% of GDP (2022 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2021: 1.8% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2020: 1.8% of GDP (2020 est.)
Military and security service personnel strengths: estimated 10-15,000 active FACA (2025)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: most of the military's heavy weapons and equipment were lost during the 2012–2014 civil war; prior to the war, most of its inventory was of French, Russian, or Soviet origin; in recent years, it has received some donated equipment from China and Russia, including armored vehicles, drones, helicopters, jet trainer aircraft, and some light weapons (2025)
Military service age and obligation: 18-22 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women; no conscription although the constitution provides for the possibility of conscription in the event of an imminent threat to the country (2025)
Military - note: the Central African Armed Forces (FACA) are focused on internal security; since the 2013 coup, multiple armed groups have been active in the country, carrying out attacks, controlling territory, and undermining security; the coup resulted in the institutional collapse of the FACA; its forces were overwhelmed and forced to flee to neighboring countries; it has been estimated that only 10% of the FACA returned afterwards; over the past decade, the FACA has sought to rebuild with considerable foreign assistance, including from France, the EU, Russia, Rwanda, Uganda, and the UN; Russian private military contractors and Rwandan military forces have assisted the FACA in its operations against rebel groups the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) has operated in the country since 2014; its mission includes providing security, protecting civilians, facilitating humanitarian assistance, disarming and demobilizing armed groups, and supporting the country’s transitional government (2025)

## Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons / refugees: 53,378 (2024 est.)
Refugees and internally displaced persons / IDPs: 469,342 (2024 est.)

=== Cabo Verde ===

## Introduction
Background: The Portuguese discovered and colonized the uninhabited islands of Cabo Verde in the 15th century; Cabo Verde subsequently became a trading center for African slaves and later an important coaling and resupply stop for whaling and transatlantic shipping. The fusing of European and various African cultural traditions is reflected in Cabo Verde’s Crioulo language, music, and pano textiles. After gaining independence in 1975, a one-party system was established and maintained until multi-party elections were held in 1990. Cabo Verde continues to sustain one of Africa's most stable democratic governments and relatively stable economies, maintaining a currency pegged first to the Portuguese escudo and then to the euro since 1998. Repeated droughts during the second half of the 20th century caused significant hardship and prompted heavy emigration. As a result, Cabo Verde's expatriate population -- concentrated in Boston, Massachusetts and Western Europe -- is greater than its domestic one. Most Cabo Verdeans have both African and Portuguese antecedents. Cabo Verde’s population descends from its first permanent inhabitants in the late 15th-century -- a preponderance of West African slaves, a small share of Portuguese colonists, and even fewer Italians and Spaniards. Among the nine inhabited islands, population distribution is varied. The islands in the east are very dry and are home to the country's growing tourism industry. The more western islands receive more precipitation and support larger populations, but agriculture and livestock grazing have damaged their soil fertility and vegetation. For centuries, the country’s overall population size has fluctuated significantly, as recurring periods of famine and epidemics have caused high death tolls and emigration.

## Geography
Location: Western Africa, group of islands in the North Atlantic Ocean, west of Senegal
Geographic coordinates: 16 00 N, 24 00 W
Map references: Africa
Area / total: 4,033 sq km
Area / land: 4,033 sq km
Area / water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly larger than Rhode Island
Land boundaries / total: 0 km
Coastline: 965 km
Maritime claims / territorial sea: 12 nm
Maritime claims / contiguous zone: 24 nm
Maritime claims / exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate: temperate; warm, dry summer; precipitation meager and erratic
Terrain: steep, rugged, rocky, volcanic
Elevation / highest point: Mt. Fogo (a volcano on Fogo Island) 2,829 m
Elevation / lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
Natural resources: salt, basalt rock, limestone, kaolin, fish, clay, gypsum
Land use / agricultural land: 19.6% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 12.4% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 1% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 6.2% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 12.4% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 68% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land: 35 sq km (2012)
Population distribution: among the nine inhabited islands, population distribution is variable; islands in the east are very dry and are only sparsely settled; the more southerly islands receive more precipitation and support larger populations; approximately half of the population lives on Sao Tiago Island, which is the location of the capital of Praia; Mindelo, on the northern island of Sao Vicente, also has a large urban population, as shown in this population distribution map
Natural hazards: prolonged droughts; seasonal harmattan wind produces obscuring dust; volcanically and seismically active volcanism: Fogo (2,829 m), which last erupted in 1995, is Cabo Verde's only active volcano
Geography - note: strategic location 500 km from west coast of Africa near major north-south sea routes; one of four North Atlantic archipelagos that make up Macaronesia; the others are Azores (Portugal), Canary Islands (Spain), and Madeira (Portugal)

## People and Society
Population / total: 611,014 (2024 est.)
Population / male: 297,106
Population / female: 313,908
Nationality / noun: Cabo Verdean(s)
Nationality / adjective: Cabo Verdean
Ethnic groups: Creole (Mulatto) 71%, African 28%, European 1%
Languages: Portuguese (official), Crioulo (a Portuguese-based creole language with two main dialects)
Religions: Roman Catholic 72.5%, Protestant 4% (includes Adventist 1.9%, Nazarene 1.8%, Assembly of God 0.2%, God is Love 0.1%), Christian Rationalism 1.7%, Muslim 1.3%, Jehovah's Witness 1.2%, Church of Jesus Christ 1%, other Christian 1.3%, other 1.2%, none 15.6%, no response 0.4% (2021 est.)
Age structure / 0-14 years: 26.4% (male 80,973/female 80,129)
Age structure / 15-64 years: 67.2% (male 201,084/female 209,676)
Age structure / 65 years and over: 6.4% (2024 est.) (male 15,049/female 24,103)
Dependency ratios / total dependency ratio: 48.8 (2024 est.)
Dependency ratios / youth dependency ratio: 39.2 (2024 est.)
Dependency ratios / elderly dependency ratio: 9.5 (2024 est.)
Dependency ratios / potential support ratio: 10.5 (2024 est.)
Median age / total: 29.3 years (2025 est.)
Median age / male: 27.9 years
Median age / female: 29.6 years
Population growth rate: 1.12% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 17.51 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 5.73 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: -0.56 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution: among the nine inhabited islands, population distribution is variable; islands in the east are very dry and are only sparsely settled; the more southerly islands receive more precipitation and support larger populations; approximately half of the population lives on Sao Tiago Island, which is the location of the capital of Praia; Mindelo, on the northern island of Sao Vicente, also has a large urban population, as shown in this population distribution map
Urbanization / urban population: 68% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 1.83% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 168,000 PRAIA (capital) (2018)
Sex ratio / at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 0-14 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 65 years and over: 0.62 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio: 40 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Infant mortality rate / total: 21.9 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Infant mortality rate / male: 26.3 deaths/1,000 live births
Infant mortality rate / female: 18.4 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth / total population: 74.3 years (2024 est.)
Life expectancy at birth / male: 72 years
Life expectancy at birth / female: 76.7 years
Total fertility rate: 2.08 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 1.02 (2025 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: urban: urban: 93.2% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: rural: rural: 82.9% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: total: total: 89.9% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: urban: urban: 6.8% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: rural: rural: 17.1% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: total: total: 10.1% of population (2022 est.)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 6.9% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 16.1% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density: 0.73 physicians/1,000 population (2023)
Hospital bed density: 2 beds/1,000 population (2018 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: urban: urban: 95.6% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: rural: rural: 77.8% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: total: total: 89.8% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: urban: urban: 4.4% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: rural: rural: 22.2% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: total: total: 10.2% of population (2022 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 11.8% (2016)
Alcohol consumption per capita / total: 4.7 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / beer: 2.28 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / wine: 1.82 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / spirits: 0.6 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / other alcohols: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Tobacco use / total: 9.8% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / male: 15.3% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / female: 4.5% (2025 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 2.2% (2018 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49): 45% (2021 est.)
Child marriage / women married by age 15: 1.8% (2018)
Child marriage / women married by age 18: 8.4% (2018)
Child marriage / men married by age 18: 1.5% (2018)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% GDP): 4.3% of GDP (2023 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% national budget): 13.4% national budget (2024 est.)
Literacy / total population: 88.5% (2024 est.)
Literacy / male: 92.9% (2024 est.)
Literacy / female: 84.1% (2024 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / total: 13 years (2018 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / male: 13 years (2018 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / female: 14 years (2018 est.)

## Environment
Environmental issues: deforestation due to demand for firewood; water shortages; droughts; desertification; soil erosion; illegal beach sand extraction; overfishing
International environmental agreements / party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
International environmental agreements / signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Climate: temperate; warm, dry summer; precipitation meager and erratic
Land use / agricultural land: 19.6% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 12.4% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 1% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 6.2% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 12.4% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 68% (2023 est.)
Urbanization / urban population: 68% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 1.83% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / total emissions: 714,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from petroleum and other liquids: 714,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Particulate matter emissions: 27.4 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Waste and recycling / municipal solid waste generated annually: 132,600 tons (2024 est.)
Waste and recycling / percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 17.4% (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / municipal: 155.895 million cubic meters (2022)
Total water withdrawal / industrial: 5.614 million cubic meters (2022)
Total water withdrawal / agricultural: 103.217 million cubic meters (2022)
Total renewable water resources: 300 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: Republic of Cabo Verde
Country name / conventional short form: Cabo Verde
Country name / local long form: Republica de Cabo Verde
Country name / local short form: Cabo Verde
Country name / etymology: the name derives from the Cape Verde (Green Cape) peninsula on the Senegalese coast, the westernmost point of Africa and the nearest mainland to the islands
Government type: parliamentary republic
Capital / name: Praia
Capital / geographic coordinates: 14 55 N, 23 31 W
Capital / time difference: UTC-1 (4 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Capital / etymology: the earlier Portuguese name was Villa de Praia ("Village of the Beach"); it was shortened to Praia in 1974
Administrative divisions: 22 municipalities ( concelhos , singular - concelho ); Boa Vista, Brava, Maio, Mosteiros, Paul, Porto Novo, Praia, Ribeira Brava, Ribeira Grande, Ribeira Grande de Santiago, Sal, Santa Catarina, Santa Catarina do Fogo, Santa Cruz, São Domingos, São Filipe, São Lourenco dos Orgaos, São Miguel, São Salvador do Mundo, São Vicente, Tarrafal, Tarrafal de São Nicolau
Legal system: civil law system of Portugal
Constitution / history: previous 1981; latest effective 25 September 1992
Constitution / amendment process: proposals require support of at least four fifths of the active National Assembly membership; amendment drafts require sponsorship of at least one third of the active Assembly membership; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote by the Assembly membership; constitutional sections, including those on national independence, form of government, political pluralism, suffrage, and human rights and liberties, cannot be amended
International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Citizenship / citizenship by birth: no
Citizenship / citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Cabo Verde
Citizenship / dual citizenship recognized: yes
Citizenship / residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch / chief of state: President Jose Maria Pereira NEVES (since 9 November 2021)
Executive branch / head of government: Prime Minister Jose Ulisses CORREIA e SILVA (since 22 April 2016)
Executive branch / cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister
Executive branch / election/appointment process: president directly elected by absolute-majority popular vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); prime minister nominated by the National Assembly and appointed by the president
Executive branch / most recent election date: 17 October 2021
Executive branch / election results: 2020: Jose Maria Pereira NEVES elected president; percent of vote - Jose Maria Pereira NEVES (PAICV) 51.7%, Carlos VEIGA (MPD) 42.4%, Casimiro DE PINA (independent) 1.8%, Fernando Rocha DELGADO (independent) 1.4%, Helio SANCHES (independent) 1.14%, Gilson ALVES (independent) 0.8%, Joaquim MONTEIRO (independent) 3.4% 2016: Jorge Carlos FONSECA reelected president; percent of vote - Jorge Carlos FONSECA (MPD) 74.1%, Albertino GRACA (independent) 22.5%, other 3.4%
Executive branch / expected date of next election: October 2026
Legislative branch / legislature name: National Assembly (Assembleia Nacional)
Legislative branch / legislative structure: unicameral
Legislative branch / number of seats: 72 (all directly elected)
Legislative branch / electoral system: proportional representation
Legislative branch / scope of elections: full renewal
Legislative branch / term in office: 5 years
Legislative branch / most recent election date: 4/18/2021
Legislative branch / parties elected and seats per party: Movement for Democracy (MpD) (38); African Party for the Independence of Cabo Verde (PAICV) (30); Union for an Independent Democratic Cape Verde (UCID) (4)
Legislative branch / percentage of women in chamber: 44.4%
Legislative branch / expected date of next election: April 2026
Judicial branch / highest court(s): Supreme Court of Justice (consists of the chief justice and at least 7 judges and organized into civil, criminal, and administrative sections)
Judicial branch / judge selection and term of office: judge appointments - 1 by the president of the republic, 1 elected by the National Assembly, and 3 by the Superior Judicial Council (SJC), a 16-member independent body chaired by the chief justice and includes the attorney general, 8 private citizens, 2 judges, 2 prosecutors, the senior legal inspector of the Attorney General's office, and a representative of the Ministry of Justice; chief justice appointed by the president of the republic from among peers of the Supreme Court of Justice and in consultation with the SJC; judges appointed for life
Judicial branch / subordinate courts: appeals courts, first instance (municipal) courts; audit, military, and fiscal and customs courts
Political parties: African Party for Independence of Cabo Verde or PAICV Democratic and Independent Cabo Verdean Union or UCID Democratic Christian Party or PDC Democratic Renewal Party or PRD Movement for Democracy or MPD Party for Democratic Convergence or PCD Party of Work and Solidarity or PTS Social Democratic Party or PSD
Diplomatic representation in the US / chief of mission: Ambassador Jose Luis do Livramento MONTEIRO ALVES DE BRITO (since 23 December 2020)
Diplomatic representation in the US / chancery: 3415 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007
Diplomatic representation in the US / telephone: [1] (202) 965-6820
Diplomatic representation in the US / FAX: [1] (202) 965-1207
Diplomatic representation in the US / email address and website: embassy.wdc@mnec.gov.cv https://www.embcv-usa.gov.cv/
Diplomatic representation in the US / consulate(s) general: Boston
Diplomatic representation from the US / chief of mission: Ambassador Jennifer ADAMS (since 10 September 2024)
Diplomatic representation from the US / embassy: Rua Abilio Macedo 6, Praia
Diplomatic representation from the US / mailing address: 2460 Praia Place, Washington DC 20521-2460
Diplomatic representation from the US / telephone: [238] 260-8900
Diplomatic representation from the US / FAX: [238] 261-1355
Diplomatic representation from the US / email address and website: PraiaConsular@state.gov https://cv.usembassy.gov/
International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, AOSIS, AU, CD, CPLP, ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NAM, OIF, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Independence: 5 July 1975 (from Portugal)
National holiday: Independence Day, 5 July (1975)
Flag: description: five unequal horizontal bands; the top band of blue is half the height of the flag; under it are three narrow bands of white, red, and white, and a bottom stripe of blue; a circle of 10 five-pointed yellow stars is centered on the red stripe and sits toward the left side of the flag meaning: blue stands for the sea and sky; the stripes symbolize the country's formation through peace (white) and effort (red); the stars represent the 10 major islands
National symbol(s): ten five-pointed yellow stars
National color(s): blue, white, red, yellow
National coat of arms: adopted in 1992, the coat of arms features the national symbol of ten stars that represent the country&rsquo;s islands; the stylized torch and triangle at the center of the circle symbolize freedom and national unity, and the three blue lines represent the ocean and sky; the name of the country is written in Portuguese, the official language; the plumbob at the top of the circle -- used in construction to make accurate vertical lines -- represents justice, righteousness, and truth; the chain links symbolize a commitment to the people and their well-being
National anthem(s) / title: "Cantico da Liberdade" (Song of Freedom)
National anthem(s) / lyrics/music: Amilcar Spencer LOPES/Adalberto Higino Tavares SILVA
National anthem(s) / history: adopted 1996
National heritage / total World Heritage Sites: 1 (cultural)
National heritage / selected World Heritage Site locales: Cidade Velha; Historic Center of Ribeira Grande

## Economy
Economic overview: stable, middle-income, developing island economy; strong GDP growth led by tourism sector recovery; sustained poverty reduction through PEDS II development plan; high reliance on foreign remittances and aid to finance external debt
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $5.2 billion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $4.848 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $4.6 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2024: 7.3% (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2023: 5.4% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2022: 15.8% (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2024: $9,900 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2023: $9,300 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2022: $8,900 (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $2.768 billion (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024: 1% (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023: 3.7% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 7.9% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / agriculture: 4.7% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / industry: 10.5% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / services: 69.4% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / household consumption: 74.7% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / government consumption: 20.7% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in fixed capital: 16% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in inventories: 0% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / exports of goods and services: 41.9% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / imports of goods and services: -53.2% (2024 est.)
Agricultural products: sugarcane, tomatoes, coconuts, pulses, goat milk, milk, vegetables, bananas, cabbages, onions (2023)
Industries: food and beverages, fish processing, shoes and garments, salt mining, ship repair
Industrial production growth rate: 4.4% (2024 est.)
Labor force: 224,500 (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2024: 11.9% (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2023: 12% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2022: 12.3% (2022 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / total: 28.2% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / male: 24.6% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / female: 33.8% (2024 est.)
Population below poverty line: 35.2% (2015 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income / Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2015: 42.4 (2015 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / lowest 10%: 2.2% (2015 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / highest 10%: 32.3% (2015 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2024: 12.1% of GDP (2024 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2023: 12.5% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2022: 14% of GDP (2022 est.)
Budget / revenues: $453.182 million (2020 est.)
Budget / expenditures: $623.816 million (2020 est.)
Public debt / Public debt 2016: 127.6% of GDP (2016 est.)
Taxes and other revenues: 18.4% (of GDP) (2020 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2024: $101.072 million (2024 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2023: -$64.439 million (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2022: -$78.271 million (2022 est.)
Exports / Exports 2024: $1.158 billion (2024 est.)
Exports / Exports 2023: $972.636 million (2023 est.)
Exports / Exports 2022: $851.907 million (2022 est.)
Exports - partners: Spain 46%, Portugal 9%, Togo 7%, Italy 7%, India 6% (2023)
Exports - commodities: fish, refined petroleum, railway cargo containers, shellfish, garments (2023)
Imports / Imports 2024: $1.473 billion (2024 est.)
Imports / Imports 2023: $1.428 billion (2023 est.)
Imports / Imports 2022: $1.31 billion (2022 est.)
Imports - partners: Portugal 29%, Saudi Arabia 11%, Netherlands 9%, Spain 8%, China 7% (2023)
Imports - commodities: refined petroleum, aircraft, cars, fish, railway cargo containers (2023)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024: $783.106 million (2024 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023: $837.881 million (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $729.566 million (2022 est.)
Debt - external / Debt - external 2023: $1.385 billion (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Currency: Cabo Verdean escudos (CVE) per US dollar -
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2024: 101.922 (2024 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2023: 101.805 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2022: 104.863 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2021: 93.218 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2020: 96.796 (2020 est.)

## Energy
Electricity access / electrification - total population: 97.1% (2022 est.)
Electricity access / electrification - urban areas: 95.3%
Electricity access / electrification - rural areas: 96.9%
Electricity / installed generating capacity: 200,000 kW (2023 est.)
Electricity / consumption: 400 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / transmission/distribution losses: 106 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / fossil fuels: 71.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / solar: 14.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / wind: 14.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Petroleum / refined petroleum consumption: 5,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Energy consumption per capita / Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 19.999 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

## Communications
Telephones - fixed lines / total subscriptions: 60,000 (2023 est.)
Telephones - fixed lines / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 12 (2023 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / total subscriptions: 590,354 (2023 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 112 (2024 est.)
Broadcast media: state-run TV and radio network, plus a growing number of private broadcasters; Portuguese public TV and radio services for Africa are available; transmissions of a few international broadcasters are available (2019)
Internet country code: .cv
Internet users / percent of population: 74% (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / total: 38,000 (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 7 (2023 est.)

## Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: D4
Airports: 10 (2025)
Merchant marine / total: 44 (2023)
Merchant marine / by type: general cargo 14, oil tanker 2, other 28
Ports / total ports: 2 (2024)
Ports / large: 0
Ports / medium: 0
Ports / small: 1
Ports / very small: 1
Ports / ports with oil terminals: 1
Ports / key ports: Porto da Praia, Porto Grande

## Military and Security
Military and security forces: Cabo Verdean Armed Forces (FACV): National Guard (GN), Cabo Verde Coast Guard (Guardia Costeira de Cabo Verde, GCCV) (2025)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2024: 0.6% of GDP (2024 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2023: 0.6% of GDP (2023 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2022: 0.5% of GDP (2022 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2021: 0.5% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2020: 0.5% of GDP (2020 est.)
Military and security service personnel strengths: the FACV has approximately 1,000-1,500 active personnel (2025)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the FACV has a limited amount of mostly dated or secondhand equipment, largely from China, some European countries, and the former Soviet Union (2025)
Military service age and obligation: 17 years of age for voluntary service (with parental consent); 18-35 years of age for selective compulsory service (14-month service obligation) (2025)
Military - note: the FACV is responsible for external defense; it also has an internal security role in collaboration with the police if required; its duties include monitoring and patrolling the country's air and maritime spaces, participating in training exercises, conducting search and rescue, countering narcotics and other forms of illicit trafficking, and supporting the police and civil society (2025)

## Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons / stateless persons: 115 (2024 est.)
Trafficking in persons / tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List — Cabo Verde did not demonstrate overall increasing efforts to eliminate trafficking compared with the previous reporting period and was downgraded to Tier 2 Watch List; for more details, go to: https://www.state.gov/reports/2025-trafficking-in-persons-report/cabo-verde/

=== Djibouti ===

## Introduction
Background: Present-day Djibouti was the site of the medieval Ifat and Adal Sultanates. In the late 19th century, the Afar sultans signed treaties with the French that allowed the latter to establish the colony of French Somaliland in 1862. The French signed additional treaties with the ethnic Somali in 1885. Tension between the ethnic Afar and Somali populations increased over time, as the ethnic Somalis perceived that the French unfairly favored the Afar and gave them disproportionate influence in local governance. In 1958, the French held a referendum that provided residents of French Somaliland the option to either continue their association with France or to join neighboring Somalia as it established its independence. Ethnic Somali protested the vote, because French colonial leaders did not recognize many Somali as residents, which gave the Afar outsized influence in the decision to uphold ties with France. After a second referendum in 1967, the French changed the territory’s name to the French Territory of the Afars and the Issas, in part to underscore their relationship with the ethnic Afar and downplay the significance of the ethnic Somalis. A final referendum in 1977 established Djibouti as an independent nation and granted ethnic Somalis Djiboutian nationality, formally resetting the balance of power between the majority ethnic Somalis and minority ethnic Afar residents. Upon independence, the country was named after its capital city of Djibouti. Hassan Gouled APTIDON, an ethnic Somali leader, installed an authoritarian one-party state and served as president until 1999. Unrest between the Afar minority and Somali majority culminated in a civil war during the 1990s that ended in 2001 with a peace accord between Afar rebels and the Somali Issa-dominated government. In 1999, Djibouti's first multiparty presidential election resulted in the election of Ismail Omar GUELLEH as president; he was reelected to a second term in 2005 and extended his tenure in office via a constitutional amendment, which allowed him to serve his third and fourth terms, and to begin a fifth term in 2021. Djibouti occupies a strategic geographic location at the intersection of the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. Its ports handle 95% of Ethiopia’s trade. Djibouti’s ports also service transshipments between Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. The government has longstanding ties to France, which maintains a military presence in the country, as do the US, Japan, Italy, Germany, Spain, and China.

## Geography
Location: Eastern Africa, bordering the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea, between Eritrea and Somalia
Geographic coordinates: 11 30 N, 43 00 E
Map references: Africa
Area / total: 23,200 sq km
Area / land: 23,180 sq km
Area / water: 20 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly smaller than New Jersey
Land boundaries / total: 528 km
Land boundaries / border countries: Eritrea 125 km; Ethiopia 342 km; Somalia 61 km
Coastline: 314 km
Maritime claims / territorial sea: 12 nm
Maritime claims / contiguous zone: 24 nm
Maritime claims / exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate: desert; torrid, dry
Terrain: coastal plain and plateau separated by central mountains
Elevation / highest point: Moussa Ali 2,021 m
Elevation / lowest point: Lac Assal -155 m
Elevation / mean elevation: 430 m
Natural resources: potential geothermal power, gold, clay, granite, limestone, marble, salt, diatomite, gypsum, pumice, petroleum
Land use / agricultural land: 73.5% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 0.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 0% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 73.3% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 0.3% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 26.2% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land: 10 sq km (2012)
Major lakes (area sq km) / salt water lake(s): Abhe Bad/Abhe Bid Hayk (shared with Ethiopia) - 780 sq km
Population distribution: most densely populated areas are in the east; the largest city is Djibouti, and the other cities in the country are a fraction of its size, as shown in this population distribution map
Natural hazards: earthquakes; droughts; occasional cyclonic disturbances from the Indian Ocean bring heavy rains and flash floods volcanism: experiences limited volcanic activity; Ardoukoba (298 m) last erupted in 1978; Manda-Inakir, located along the Ethiopian border, is also historically active
Geography - note: strategic location near world's busiest shipping lanes and close to Arabian oilfields; Lac Assal (Lake Assal) is the lowest point in Africa and the saltiest lake in the world

## People and Society
Population / total: 1,013,703 (2025 est.)
Population / male: 458,988
Population / female: 554,715
Nationality / noun: Djiboutian(s)
Nationality / adjective: Djiboutian
Ethnic groups: Somali 60%, Afar 35%, other 5% (mostly Yemeni Arab, also French, Ethiopian, and Italian)
Languages: French (official), Arabic (official), Somali, Afar
Religions: Sunni Muslim 94% (nearly all Djiboutians), other 6% (mainly foreign-born residents - Shia Muslim, Christian, Hindu, Jewish, Baha'i, and atheist)
Age structure / 0-14 years: 28.4% (male 141,829/female 140,696)
Age structure / 15-64 years: 67.4% (male 290,654/female 379,778)
Age structure / 65 years and over: 4.2% (2024 est.) (male 18,313/female 23,704)
Dependency ratios / total dependency ratio: 48.1 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / youth dependency ratio: 41.7 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / elderly dependency ratio: 6.4 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / potential support ratio: 15.7 (2025 est.)
Median age / total: 26.7 years (2025 est.)
Median age / male: 24.4 years
Median age / female: 27.9 years
Population growth rate: 1.84% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 21.46 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 7 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: 3.94 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution: most densely populated areas are in the east; the largest city is Djibouti, and the other cities in the country are a fraction of its size, as shown in this population distribution map
Urbanization / urban population: 78.6% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 1.56% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 600,000 DJIBOUTI (capital) (2023)
Sex ratio / at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 0-14 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 15-64 years: 0.77 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 65 years and over: 0.77 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / total population: 0.83 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio: 162 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Infant mortality rate / total: 44.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Infant mortality rate / male: 52.1 deaths/1,000 live births
Infant mortality rate / female: 38 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth / total population: 65.9 years (2024 est.)
Life expectancy at birth / male: 63.4 years
Life expectancy at birth / female: 68.5 years
Total fertility rate: 2.09 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 1.03 (2025 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: urban: urban: 84.1% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: rural: rural: 47.3% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: total: total: 76.2% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: urban: urban: 15.9% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: rural: rural: 52.7% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: total: total: 23.8% of population (2022 est.)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 2.9% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 5.2% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density: 0.21 physicians/1,000 population (2022)
Hospital bed density: 1.4 beds/1,000 population (2018 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: urban: urban: 87.7% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: rural: rural: 24.2% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: total: total: 74% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: urban: urban: 12.3% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: rural: rural: 75.8% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: total: total: 26% of population (2022 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 13.5% (2016)
Alcohol consumption per capita / total: 0.21 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / beer: 0.05 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / wine: 0.02 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / spirits: 0.14 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / other alcohols: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 17.7% (2023 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49): 46.5% (2017 est.)
Child marriage / women married by age 15: 1.4% (2019)
Child marriage / women married by age 18: 6.5% (2019)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% GDP): 3.8% of GDP (2018 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% national budget): 14.5% national budget (2018 est.)

## Environment
Environmental issues: inadequate supplies of potable water; water pollution; limited arable land; deforestation (forests threatened by agriculture and the use of wood for fuel); desertification; endangered species
International environmental agreements / party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
International environmental agreements / signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Climate: desert; torrid, dry
Land use / agricultural land: 73.5% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 0.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 0% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 73.3% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 0.3% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 26.2% (2023 est.)
Urbanization / urban population: 78.6% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 1.56% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / total emissions: 685,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from coal and metallurgical coke: 45,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from petroleum and other liquids: 640,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Particulate matter emissions: 21 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Waste and recycling / municipal solid waste generated annually: 115,000 tons (2024 est.)
Waste and recycling / percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 14.9% (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / municipal: 16 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / industrial: 0 cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / agricultural: 3 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total renewable water resources: 300 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: Republic of Djibouti
Country name / conventional short form: Djibouti
Country name / local long form: R&eacute;publique de Djibouti (French)/ Jumhuriyat Jibuti (Arabic)
Country name / local short form: Djibouti (French)/ Jibuti (Arabic)
Country name / former: French Somaliland, French Territory of the Afars and Issas
Country name / etymology: the country name derives from the capital city of Djibouti
Government type: presidential republic
Capital / name: Djibouti
Capital / geographic coordinates: 11 35 N, 43 09 E
Capital / time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Capital / etymology: the name is said to derive from the Afar word gabouri , meaning "plate," in reference to a palm-fiber plate used for ceremonial purposes
Administrative divisions: 6 districts ( cercles , singular - cercle ); Ali Sabieh, Arta, Dikhil, Djibouti, Obock, Tadjourah
Legal system: mixed system based primarily on the French civil code (as it existed in 1997), Islamic religious law (in matters of family law and successions), and customary law
Constitution / history: approved by referendum 4 September 1992
Constitution / amendment process: proposed by the president of the republic or by the National Assembly; Assembly consideration of proposals requires assent of at least one third of the membership; passage requires a simple majority vote by the Assembly and approval by simple majority vote in a referendum; the president can opt to bypass a referendum if adopted by at least two-thirds majority vote of the Assembly; constitutional articles on the sovereignty of Djibouti, its republican form of government, and its pluralist form of democracy cannot be amended
International law organization participation: accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Citizenship / citizenship by birth: no
Citizenship / citizenship by descent only: the mother must be a citizen of Djibouti
Citizenship / dual citizenship recognized: no
Citizenship / residency requirement for naturalization: 10 years
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch / chief of state: President Ismail Omar GUELLEH (since 8 May 1999)
Executive branch / head of government: Prime Minister Abdoulkader Kamil MOHAMED (since 1 April 2013)
Executive branch / cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister
Executive branch / election/appointment process: president directly elected by absolute-majority popular vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a 5-year term; prime minister appointed by the president
Executive branch / most recent election date: 9 April 2021
Executive branch / election results: 2021: Ismail Omar GUELLEH reelected president for a fifth term; percent of vote - Ismail Omar GUELLEH (RPP) 97.4%, Zakaria Ismael FARAH (MDEND) 2.7%
Executive branch / expected date of next election: April 2026
Legislative branch / legislature name: National Assembly (Assembl&eacute;e nationale)
Legislative branch / legislative structure: unicameral
Legislative branch / number of seats: 65 (all directly elected)
Legislative branch / electoral system: mixed system
Legislative branch / scope of elections: full renewal
Legislative branch / term in office: 5 years
Legislative branch / most recent election date: 2/24/2023
Legislative branch / parties elected and seats per party: Union for the Presidential Majority (UMP) (58); Union for Democracy and Justice (UDJ) (7)
Legislative branch / percentage of women in chamber: 26.2%
Legislative branch / expected date of next election: February 2028
Judicial branch / highest court(s): Supreme Court or Cour Supr&ecirc;me (consists of NA magistrates); Constitutional Council (consists of 6 magistrates)
Judicial branch / judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court magistrates appointed by the president with the advice of the Superior Council of the Magistracy (CSM), a 10-member body consisting of 4 judges, 3 members (non-parliamentarians and judges) appointed by the president, and 3 appointed by the National Assembly president or speaker; magistrates appointed for life with retirement at age 65; Constitutional Council magistrate appointments - 2 by the president of the republic, 2 by the president of the National Assembly, and 2 by the CSM; magistrates appointed for 8-year, non-renewable terms
Judicial branch / subordinate courts: High Court of Appeal; Courts of First Instance; customary courts; State Court (replaced sharia courts in 2003)
Political parties: Front for Restoration of Unity and Democracy (Front pour la Restauration de l'Unite Democratique) or FRUD National Democratic Party or PND People's Rally for Progress or RPP Peoples Social Democratic Party or PPSD Union for Democracy and Justice or UDJ Union for the Presidential Majority coalition or UMP Union of Reform Partisans or UPR
Diplomatic representation in the US / chief of mission: Ambassador Mohamed Siad DOUALEH (28 January 2016)
Diplomatic representation in the US / chancery: 1156 15th Street NW, Suite 515, Washington, DC 20005
Diplomatic representation in the US / telephone: [1] (202) 331-0270
Diplomatic representation in the US / FAX: [1] (202) 331-0302
Diplomatic representation in the US / email address and website: info@djiboutiembassyus.org https://www.djiboutiembassyus.org/
Diplomatic representation from the US / chief of mission: Ambassador Cynthia KIERSCHT (since 17 October 2024)
Diplomatic representation from the US / embassy: Lot 350-B Haramouss, B.P. 185
Diplomatic representation from the US / mailing address: 2150 Djibouti Place, Washington DC 20521-2150
Diplomatic representation from the US / telephone: [253] 21-45-30-00
Diplomatic representation from the US / FAX: [253] 21-45-31-29
Diplomatic representation from the US / email address and website: DjiboutiACS@state.gov https://dj.usembassy.gov/
International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, AFESD, AMF, ATMIS, AU, CAEU (candidates), COMESA, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAS, MIGA, MINURSO, NAM, OIC, OIF, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Independence: 27 June 1977 (from France)
National holiday: Independence Day, 27 June (1977)
Flag: description: two equal horizontal bands of light blue (top) and light green, with a white isosceles triangle based on the left side that has a five-pointed red star in the center meaning: blue stands for sea, sky, and the Issa Somali people, green for earth and the Afar people, and white for peace; the red star stands for the struggle for independence and unity
National symbol(s): red star
National color(s): light blue, green, white, red
National anthem(s) / title: "Jabuuti" (Djibouti)
National anthem(s) / lyrics/music: Aden ELMI/Abdi ROBLEH
National anthem(s) / history: adopted 1977

## Economy
Economic overview: food import-dependent Horn of Africa economy driven by various national military bases and port-based trade; fairly resilient from COVID-19 disruptions; major re-exporter; increasing Ethiopian and Chinese trade relations; investing in infrastructure
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $7.995 billion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $7.546 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $7.028 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2024: 6% (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2023: 7.4% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2022: 5.2% (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2024: $6,800 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2023: $6,500 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2022: $6,200 (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $4.086 billion (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024: 2.1% (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023: 1.5% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 5.2% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / agriculture: 2.6% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / industry: 15.4% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / services: 75.5% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / household consumption: 73% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / government consumption: 18.8% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in fixed capital: 26.3% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in inventories: -30.1% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / exports of goods and services: 160.8% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / imports of goods and services: -148.3% (2024 est.)
Agricultural products: vegetables, beans, milk, beef, camel milk, lemons/limes, goat meat, lamb/mutton, tomatoes, beef offal (2023)
Industries: construction, agricultural processing, shipping
Industrial production growth rate: 9.7% (2024 est.)
Labor force: 265,200 (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2024: 25.9% (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2023: 26.2% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2022: 26.4% (2022 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / total: 76.3% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / male: 75.3% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / female: 77.9% (2024 est.)
Population below poverty line: 21.1% (2017 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income / Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2017: 41.6 (2017 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / lowest 10%: 1.9% (2017 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / highest 10%: 32.3% (2017 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2024: 1.4% of GDP (2024 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2023: 1.5% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2022: 1.6% of GDP (2022 est.)
Budget / revenues: $725 million (2019 est.)
Budget / expenditures: $754 million (2019 est.)
Public debt / Public debt 2016: 33.7% of GDP (2016 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2024: $610.124 million (2024 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2023: $721.349 million (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2022: $656.207 million (2022 est.)
Exports / Exports 2024: $5.25 billion (2024 est.)
Exports / Exports 2023: $5.877 billion (2023 est.)
Exports / Exports 2022: $5.674 billion (2022 est.)
Exports - partners: Ethiopia 77%, UAE 5%, China 3%, Singapore 2%, France 2% (2023)
Exports - commodities: raw sugar, seed oils, cars, palm oil, rice (2023)
Imports / Imports 2024: $4.765 billion (2024 est.)
Imports / Imports 2023: $5.269 billion (2023 est.)
Imports / Imports 2022: $5.096 billion (2022 est.)
Imports - partners: China 32%, India 12%, UAE 10%, Turkey 6%, Morocco 5% (2023)
Imports - commodities: refined petroleum, palm oil, fertilizers, cars, seed oils (2023)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024: $348.725 million (2024 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023: $502.034 million (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $589.437 million (2022 est.)
Debt - external / Debt - external 2023: $2.531 billion (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Currency: Djiboutian francs (DJF) per US dollar -
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2024: 177.721 (2024 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2023: 177.721 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2022: 177.721 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2021: 177.721 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2020: 177.721 (2020 est.)

## Energy
Electricity access / electrification - total population: 65% (2022 est.)
Electricity access / electrification - urban areas: 72.8%
Electricity access / electrification - rural areas: 36.6%
Electricity / installed generating capacity: 210,000 kW (2023 est.)
Electricity / consumption: 584.997 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / imports: 512 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / transmission/distribution losses: 128.74 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / fossil fuels: 65.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / solar: 0.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / wind: 34.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Coal / exports: 8 metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / imports: 19,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum / refined petroleum consumption: 5,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Energy consumption per capita / Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 10.428 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

## Communications
Telephones - fixed lines / total subscriptions: 28,700 (2023 est.)
Telephones - fixed lines / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 3 (2023 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / total subscriptions: 559,000 (2023 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 49 (2023 est.)
Broadcast media: state-owned Radiodiffusion-T&eacute;l&eacute;vision de Djibouti operates the sole terrestrial TV station, as well as the 2 domestic radio networks; no private TV or radio stations; transmissions of several international broadcasters are available (2019)
Internet country code: .dj
Internet users / percent of population: 65% (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / total: 17,000 (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 1 (2023 est.)

## Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: J2
Airports: 10 (2025)
Heliports: 6 (2025)
Railways / total: 97 km (2017) (Djibouti segment of the 756 km Addis Ababa-Djibouti railway)
Railways / standard gauge: 97 km (2017) 1.435-m gauge
Merchant marine / total: 40 (2023)
Merchant marine / by type: bulk carrier 1, container ship 1, general cargo 4, oil tanker 13, other 21
Ports / total ports: 2 (2024)
Ports / large: 0
Ports / medium: 0
Ports / small: 2
Ports / very small: 0
Ports / ports with oil terminals: 2
Ports / key ports: Djibouti, Doraleh

## Military and Security
Military and security forces: Djibouti Armed Forces (Forces Armées Djiboutiennes or FAD): Djiboutian (or National) Army, Djiboutian Navy (includes Djiboutian Coast Guard), Djiboutian Air Force; Djiboutian National Gendarmerie Ministry of Interior: National Police (Police Nationale) (2025)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2019: 3.5% of GDP (2019 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2018: 3.5% of GDP (2018 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2017: 3.3% of GDP (2017 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2016: 2.7% of GDP (2016 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2015: 2.5% of GDP (2015 est.)
Military and security service personnel strengths: estimated 10-12,000 active Armed Forces, including Gendarmerie (2025)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the FAD's inventory is a mix of mostly older or secondhand equipment from a variety of suppliers, including China, France, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Russia/former Soviet Union, South Africa, T&uuml;rkiye, and the US (2025)
Military service age and obligation: 18-26 years of age for voluntary military service (2025)
Military deployments: approximately 1,500 Somalia (AUSSOM) (2025)
Military - note: Djibouti's military forces are largely focused on border, coastal, and internal security duties, such as counterterrorism; as recently as February 2025, Djiboutian forces have conducted operations near its border with Ethiopia against members of the Armed Front for the Restoration of Unity and Democracy (FRUD A), which Djibouti considers a terrorist group China, France, Italy, Japan, and the US maintain bases in Djibouti for regional military missions, including counterterrorism, counter-piracy, crisis response, and security assistance; other countries, such as Germany and Spain, have smaller military contingents; the EU and NATO also maintain a presence in Djibouti to support multinational naval counter-piracy operations and maritime training efforts (2025)

## Terrorism
Terrorist group(s): al-Shabaab

## Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons / refugees: 32,636 (2024 est.)
Trafficking in persons / tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List — Djibouti does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking but is making significant efforts to do so, therefore Djibouti was upgraded to Tier 2 Watch List; for more details, go to: https://www.state.gov/reports/2025-trafficking-in-persons-report/djibouti/

=== Egypt ===

## Introduction
Background: The regularity and richness of the annual Nile River flood, coupled with semi-isolation provided by deserts to the east and west, allowed for the development of one of the world's great civilizations in Egypt. A unified kingdom arose circa 3200 B.C., and a series of dynasties ruled in Egypt for the next three millennia. The last native dynasty fell to the Persians in 341 B.C., who in turn were replaced by the Greeks, Romans, and Byzantines. Arab conquerors introduced Islam and the Arabic language in the 7th century and ruled for the next six centuries. The Mamluks, a local military caste, took control around 1250 and continued to govern after the Ottoman Turks conquered Egypt in 1517. Completion of the Suez Canal in 1869 elevated Egypt as an important world transportation hub. Ostensibly to protect its investments, Britain seized control of Egypt's government in 1882, but the country's nominal allegiance to the Ottoman Empire continued until 1914. Egypt gained partial independence from the UK in 1922 and full sovereignty in 1952. British forces evacuated the Suez Canal Zone in 1956. The completion of the Aswan High Dam in 1971 and the resultant Lake Nasser have reaffirmed the time-honored place of the Nile River in the agriculture and ecology of Egypt. A rapidly growing population (the largest in the Arab world), limited arable land, and dependence on the Nile all continue to overtax resources and stress society. The government has struggled to meet the demands of Egypt's fast-growing population as it implements large-scale infrastructure projects, energy cooperation, and foreign direct investment appeals. Inspired by the 2010 Tunisian revolution, Egyptian opposition groups led demonstrations and labor strikes countrywide, culminating in President Hosni MUBARAK's ouster in 2011. Egypt's military assumed national leadership until a new legislature was in place in early 2012; later that same year, Muslim Brotherhood candidate Mohamed MORSI won the presidential election. Following protests throughout the spring of 2013 against MORSI's government and the Muslim Brotherhood, the Egyptian Armed Forces intervened and removed MORSI from power in July 2013 and replaced him with interim president Adly MANSOUR. Simultaneously, the government began enacting laws to limit freedoms of assembly and expression. In 2014, voters approved a new constitution by referendum and then elected former defense minister Abdel Fattah EL-SISI president. EL-SISI was reelected to a second four-year term in 2018 and a third term in December 2023.

## Geography
Location: Northern Africa, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Libya and the Gaza Strip, and the Red Sea north of Sudan, and includes the Asian Sinai Peninsula
Geographic coordinates: 27 00 N, 30 00 E
Map references: Africa
Area / total: 1,001,450 sq km
Area / land: 995,450 sq km
Area / water: 6,000 sq km
Area - comparative: more than eight times the size of Ohio; slightly more than three times the size of New Mexico
Land boundaries / total: 2,612 km
Land boundaries / border countries: Gaza Strip 13 km; Israel 208 km; Libya 1,115 km; Sudan 1,276 km
Coastline: 2,450 km
Maritime claims / territorial sea: 12 nm
Maritime claims / contiguous zone: 24 nm
Maritime claims / exclusive economic zone: 200 nm or the equidistant median line with Cyprus
Maritime claims / continental shelf: 200 nm
Climate: desert; hot, dry summers with moderate winters
Terrain: vast desert plateau interrupted by Nile valley and delta
Elevation / highest point: Mount Catherine 2,629 m
Elevation / lowest point: Qattara Depression -133 m
Elevation / mean elevation: 321 m
Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, phosphates, manganese, limestone, gypsum, talc, asbestos, lead, rare earth elements, zinc
Land use / agricultural land: 4.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 3.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 1% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 0% (2022 est.)
Land use / forest: 0% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 95.9% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land: 36,500 sq km (2012)
Major lakes (area sq km) / salt water lake(s): Lake Manzala - 1,360 sq km note - largest of Nile Delta lakes
Major rivers (by length in km): An Nīl (Nile) river mouth (shared with Rwanda [s], Tanzania, Uganda, South Sudan, and Sudan) - 6,650 km note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Major watersheds (area sq km) / Atlantic Ocean drainage: (Mediterranean Sea) Nile (3,254,853 sq km)
Major aquifers: Nubian Aquifer System
Population distribution: approximately 95% of the population lives within 20 km (12 mi) of the Nile River and its delta; vast areas of the country remain sparsely populated or uninhabited, as shown in this population distribution map
Natural hazards: periodic droughts; frequent earthquakes; flash floods; landslides; hot, driving windstorms called khamsin occur in spring; dust storms; sandstorms
Geography - note: controls Sinai Peninsula, the only land bridge between Africa and remainder of Eastern Hemisphere; controls Suez Canal, a sea link between Indian Ocean and Mediterranean Sea

## People and Society
Population / total: 112,870,457 (2025 est.)
Population / male: 57,960,635
Population / female: 54,909,822
Nationality / noun: Egyptian(s)
Nationality / adjective: Egyptian
Ethnic groups: Egyptian 99.7%, other 0.3% (2006 est.)
Languages / Languages: Arabic (official); English and French widely understood by educated classes
Languages / major-language sample(s): كتاب حقائق العالم، أفضل مصدر للمعلومات الأساسية (Arabic) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
Religions: Muslim (predominantly Sunni) 90%, Christian (majority Coptic Orthodox, other Christians include Armenian Apostolic, Catholic, Maronite, Orthodox, and Anglican) 10%
Age structure / 0-14 years: 33.8% (male 19,349,395/female 18,243,571)
Age structure / 15-64 years: 60.6% (male 34,646,369/female 32,792,151)
Age structure / 65 years and over: 5.6% (2024 est.) (male 3,146,720/female 3,069,042)
Dependency ratios / total dependency ratio: 63.7 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / youth dependency ratio: 54.2 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / elderly dependency ratio: 9.5 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / potential support ratio: 10.5 (2025 est.)
Median age / total: 24.6 years (2025 est.)
Median age / male: 24.3 years
Median age / female: 24.4 years
Population growth rate: 1.4% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 18.63 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 4.33 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: -0.27 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution: approximately 95% of the population lives within 20 km (12 mi) of the Nile River and its delta; vast areas of the country remain sparsely populated or uninhabited, as shown in this population distribution map
Urbanization / urban population: 43.1% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 1.9% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 22.183 million CAIRO (capital), 5.588 million Alexandria, 778,000 Bur Sa'id (2023)
Sex ratio / at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 15-64 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 65 years and over: 1.03 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / total population: 1.06 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth: 22.6 years (2014 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio: 17 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Infant mortality rate / total: 16.4 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Infant mortality rate / male: 17.8 deaths/1,000 live births
Infant mortality rate / female: 15.9 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth / total population: 75 years (2024 est.)
Life expectancy at birth / male: 73.8 years
Life expectancy at birth / female: 76.2 years
Total fertility rate: 2.53 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 1.23 (2025 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: urban: urban: 99.3% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: rural: rural: 98.4% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: total: total: 98.8% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: urban: urban: 0.7% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: rural: rural: 1.6% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: total: total: 1.2% of population (2022 est.)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 4.6% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 7.2% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density: 0.67 physicians/1,000 population (2020)
Hospital bed density: 1.1 beds/1,000 population (2020 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: urban: urban: 99.9% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: rural: rural: 98.5% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: total: total: 99.1% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: urban: urban: 0.1% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: rural: rural: 1.5% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: total: total: 0.9% of population (2022 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 32% (2016)
Alcohol consumption per capita / total: 0.14 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / beer: 0.09 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / wine: 0.01 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / spirits: 0.04 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / other alcohols: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Tobacco use / total: 25.8% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / male: 51% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / female: 0.3% (2025 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 3.7% (2021 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49): 65.6% (2021 est.)
Child marriage / women married by age 15: 1.8% (2021)
Child marriage / women married by age 18: 15.8% (2021)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% GDP): 3.9% of GDP (2015 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% national budget): 12% national budget (2015 est.)
Literacy / total population: 79.5% (2022 est.)
Literacy / male: 85.3% (2022 est.)
Literacy / female: 73.3% (2022 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / total: 13 years (2023 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / male: 13 years (2023 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / female: 13 years (2023 est.)

## Environment
Environmental issues: rapid growth in population straining natural resources; increasing soil salination below Aswan High Dam; desertification; oil pollution in coastal ecosystems; water pollution from agricultural pesticides, raw sewage, and industrial effluents; limited natural freshwater resources away from the Nile
International environmental agreements / party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
International environmental agreements / signed, but not ratified: Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban
Climate: desert; hot, dry summers with moderate winters
Land use / agricultural land: 4.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 3.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 1% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 0% (2022 est.)
Land use / forest: 0% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 95.9% (2023 est.)
Urbanization / urban population: 43.1% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 1.9% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / total emissions: 236.618 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from coal and metallurgical coke: 6.966 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from petroleum and other liquids: 114.507 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from consumed natural gas: 115.144 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Particulate matter emissions: 66.4 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Methane emissions / energy: 690.8 kt (2022-2024 est.)
Methane emissions / agriculture: 548.9 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Methane emissions / waste: 874 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Methane emissions / other: 9.2 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Waste and recycling / municipal solid waste generated annually: 21 million tons (2024 est.)
Waste and recycling / percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 26.6% (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / municipal: 10.75 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / industrial: 5.4 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / agricultural: 61.35 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total renewable water resources: 57.5 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: Arab Republic of Egypt
Country name / conventional short form: Egypt
Country name / local long form: Jumhuriyat Misr al-Arabiyah
Country name / local short form: Misr
Country name / former: United Arab Republic (short-lived unification with Syria)
Country name / etymology: the English name Egypt derives from the ancient Greek name for the country, "Aguptos," and the ancient Roman name, "Aegyptus," with the Greek form coming from the words aia gupos , or "land of the vulture;" the Arabic name for the country, Misr, can be traced to the Assyrian word misir , meaning "fort"
Government type: presidential republic
Capital / name: Cairo
Capital / geographic coordinates: 30 03 N, 31 15 E
Capital / time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Capital / daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Friday in April; ends last Friday in October
Capital / etymology: the ancient Egyptian name of the original city was Khere-ohe or Kheri-aha; the modern city's name may also derive from the Arabic al-qahir , meaning "the victorious;" this is an Arabic name for the planet Mars, which was in the ascendant on the day in 969 A.D. when construction on the new part of the city began
Administrative divisions: 27 governorates ( muhafazat , singular - muhafazat ); Ad Daqahliyah, Al Bahr al Ahmar (Red Sea), Al Buhayrah, Al Fayyum, Al Gharbiyah, Al Iskandariyah (Alexandria), Al Isma'iliyah (Ismailia), Al Jizah (Giza), Al Minufiyah, Al Minya, Al Qahirah (Cairo), Al Qalyubiyah, Al Uqsur (Luxor), Al Wadi al Jadid (New Valley), As Suways (Suez), Ash Sharqiyah, Aswan, Asyut, Bani Suwayf, Bur Sa'id (Port Said), Dumyat (Damietta), Janub Sina' (South Sinai), Kafr ash Shaykh, Matruh, Qina, Shamal Sina' (North Sinai), Suhaj
Legal system: mixed system based on Napoleonic civil and penal law, Islamic religious law, and vestiges of colonial-era laws; Supreme Constitutional Court reviews laws
Constitution / history: several previous; latest approved by a constitutional committee in December 2013, approved by referendum held on 14-15 January 2014, ratified by interim president on 19 January 2014
Constitution / amendment process: proposed by the president of the republic or by one fifth of the House of Representatives members; a decision to accept the proposal requires majority vote by House members; passage of amendment requires a two-thirds majority vote by House members and passage by majority vote in a referendum; articles of reelection of the president and principles of freedom are not amendable unless the amendment "brings more guarantees"
International law organization participation: accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; non-party state to the ICCt
Citizenship / citizenship by birth: no
Citizenship / citizenship by descent only: if the father was born in Egypt
Citizenship / dual citizenship recognized: only with prior permission from the government
Citizenship / residency requirement for naturalization: 10 years
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Executive branch / chief of state: President Abdel Fattah EL-SISI (since 8 June 2014)
Executive branch / head of government: Prime Minister Mostafa MADBOULY (since 7 June 2018)
Executive branch / cabinet: Cabinet ministers nominated by the executive branch and approved by the House of Representatives
Executive branch / election/appointment process: president elected by absolute-majority popular vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a 6-year term (eligible for 3 consecutive terms); prime minister appointed by the president, approved by the House of Representatives
Executive branch / most recent election date: 10-12 December 2023
Executive branch / election results: 2023: Abdel Fattah EL-SISI reelected president in first round; percent of valid votes cast - Abdel Fattah EL-SISI (independent) 89.6%, Hazam OMAR (Republican People’s Party) 4.5%, Farid ZAHRAN (Egyptian Social Democratic Party 4%, Abdel-Samad YAMAMA 1.9% 2018: Abdelfattah ELSISI reelected president in first round; percent of valid votes cast - Abdelfattah ELSISI (independent) 97.1%, Moussa Mostafa MOUSSA (El Ghad Party) 2.9%; note - more than 7% of ballots cast were deemed invalid
Executive branch / expected date of next election: 2029
Legislative branch / legislative structure: bicameral
Legislative branch - lower chamber / chamber name: House of Representatives (Majlis Al-Nuwab)
Legislative branch - lower chamber / number of seats: 596 (568 directly elected; 28 appointed)
Legislative branch - lower chamber / electoral system: mixed system
Legislative branch - lower chamber / scope of elections: full renewal
Legislative branch - lower chamber / term in office: 5 years
Legislative branch - lower chamber / most recent election date: 10/24/2020 to 12/8/2020
Legislative branch - lower chamber / parties elected and seats per party: Future of the Nation (Mostakbal Watan) (317); Republican People's party (El Shaab el Gomhory) (49); Independents (117); Other (109)
Legislative branch - lower chamber / percentage of women in chamber: 27.7%
Legislative branch - lower chamber / expected date of next election: November 2025
Legislative branch - upper chamber / chamber name: Senate (Majlis Al-Shiyoukh)
Legislative branch - upper chamber / number of seats: 300 (200 directly elected; 100 appointed)
Legislative branch - upper chamber / electoral system: mixed system
Legislative branch - upper chamber / scope of elections: full renewal
Legislative branch - upper chamber / term in office: 5 years
Legislative branch - upper chamber / most recent election date: 8/4/2025 to 8/28/2025
Legislative branch - upper chamber / parties elected and seats per party: Future of the Nation (Mostakbal Watan) (148); Republican People's party (17); Independents (88); Other (47)
Legislative branch - upper chamber / percentage of women in chamber: 10.7%
Legislative branch - upper chamber / expected date of next election: July 2030
Judicial branch / highest court(s): Supreme Constitutional Court (SCC) (consists of the court president and 10 justices); the SCC serves as the final court of arbitration on the constitutionality of laws and conflicts between lower courts regarding jurisdiction and rulings; Court of Cassation (CC) (consists of the court president and 550 judges organized in circuits with cases heard by panels of 5 judges); the CC is the highest appeals body for civil and criminal cases, also known as "ordinary justices"; Supreme Administrative Court (SAC) (consists of the court president and NA judges and organized in circuits with cases heard by panels of 5 judges); the SAC is the highest court of the State Council
Judicial branch / judge selection and term of office: under the 2014 constitution, all judges and justices selected and appointed by the Supreme Judiciary Council and approved as a formality by the president of the Republic; judges appointed for life; under the 2019 amendments, the president has the power to appoint heads of judiciary authorities and courts, the prosecutor general, and the head of the Supreme Constitutional Court
Judicial branch / subordinate courts: Courts of Appeal; Courts of First Instance; courts of limited jurisdiction; Family Court (established in 2004)
Political parties: Al-Nour Arab Democratic Nasserist Party Congress Party Conservative Party Democratic Peace Party Egyptian National Movement Party Egyptian Social Democratic Party El Ghad Party El Serh El Masry el Hor Eradet Geel Party Free Egyptians Party Freedom Party Justice Party Homeland’s Protector Party Modern Egypt Party My Homeland Egypt Party Nation's Future Party (Mostaqbal Watan) National Progressive Unionist (Tagammu) Party Reform and Development Party Republican People’s Party Revolutionary Guards Party Wafd Party
Diplomatic representation in the US / chief of mission: Ambassador Motaz Mounir ZAHRAN (since 17 September 2020)
Diplomatic representation in the US / chancery: 3521 International Court NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation in the US / telephone: [1] (202) 895-5400
Diplomatic representation in the US / FAX: (202) 244-4319
Diplomatic representation in the US / email address and website: embassy@egyptembassy.net https://www.egyptembassy.net/
Diplomatic representation in the US / consulate(s) general: Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, New York
Diplomatic representation from the US / chief of mission: Ambassador Herro MUSTAFA GARG (since 15 November 2023)
Diplomatic representation from the US / embassy: 5 Tawfik Diab St., Garden City, Cairo
Diplomatic representation from the US / mailing address: 7700 Cairo Place, Washington DC 20512-7700
Diplomatic representation from the US / telephone: [20-2] 2797-3300
Diplomatic representation from the US / FAX: [20-2] 2797-3200
Diplomatic representation from the US / email address and website: ConsularCairoACS@state.gov https://eg.usembassy.gov/
Diplomatic representation from the US / consulate(s) general: Alexandria
International organization participation: ABEDA, AfDB, AFESD, AMF, AU, BRICS, BSEC (observer), CAEU, CD, CICA, COMESA, D-8, EBRD, FAO, G-15, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, LAS, LCBC (observer), MIGA, MINURSO, MONUSCO, NAM, OAPEC, OAS (observer), OIC, OIF, OSCE (partner), PCA, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNISFA, UNMISS, UNOCI, UNOOSA, UNRWA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Independence: 28 February 1922 (from UK protectorate status; the military-led revolution that began on 23 July 1952 led to a republic being declared on 18 June 1953 and all British troops withdrawn on 18 June 1956)
National holiday: Revolution Day, 23 July (1952)
Flag: description: three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black; centered in the white band is the national emblem, a gold Eagle of Saladin; it faces the left side, with a shield on its chest, above a scroll with the country's name in Arabic meaning: 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)
National symbol(s): golden eagle, white lotus
National color(s): red, white, black
National coat of arms: adopted in 1984, the coat of arms features the national symbol, the Eagle of Saladin; the eagle holds a golden scroll with the name of the country, &ldquo;Gumhuriyet Miṣr al-ʿArabiyyah&rdquo; (Arab Republic of Egypt), in Arabic script; the shield on the eagle&rsquo;s chest shows the national colors of red, white, and black
National anthem(s) / title: "Bilady, Bilady, Bilady" (My Homeland, My Homeland, My Homeland)
National anthem(s) / lyrics/music: Younis-al QADI/Sayed DARWISH
National anthem(s) / history: adopted 1979; the current anthem was written after the 1979 peace treaty with Israel; the composer is considered the father of modern Egyptian music; of the three verses, only the first verse is sung, preceded and followed by the chorus
National heritage / total World Heritage Sites: 7 (6 cultural, 1 natural)
National heritage / selected World Heritage Site locales: Memphis and its Necropolis (c); Ancient Thebes with its Necropolis (c); Nubian Monuments (c); Saint Catherine Area (c); Abu Mena (c); Historic Cairo (c); Wadi Al-Hitan (Whale Valley) (n)

## Economy
Economic overview: Africa&rsquo;s second-largest economy; 2030 Vision to diversify markets and energy infrastructure; improving fiscal, external, and current accounts; underperforming private sector; poor labor force participation; expanded credit access
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $1.958 trillion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $1.912 trillion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $1.842 trillion (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2024: 2.4% (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2023: 3.8% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2022: 6.6% (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2024: $16,800 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2023: $16,700 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2022: $16,400 (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $389.06 billion (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024: 28.3% (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023: 33.9% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 13.9% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / agriculture: 13.7% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / industry: 32.6% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / services: 48.9% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / household consumption: 87.6% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / government consumption: 6.3% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in fixed capital: 11.7% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in inventories: 1.3% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / exports of goods and services: 16.4% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / imports of goods and services: -23.2% (2024 est.)
Agricultural products: sugarcane, sugar beets, wheat, maize, potatoes, tomatoes, rice, milk, onions, oranges (2023)
Industries: textiles, food processing, tourism, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, hydrocarbons, construction, cement, metals, light manufactures
Industrial production growth rate: -1.9% (2024 est.)
Labor force: 33.749 million (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2024: 7.2% (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2023: 7.4% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2022: 7.4% (2022 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / total: 18.7% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / male: 12.4% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / female: 47.1% (2024 est.)
Population below poverty line: 29.7% (2019 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income / Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2021: 28.5 (2021 est.)
Average household expenditures / on food: 36.9% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Average household expenditures / on alcohol and tobacco: 4.6% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / lowest 10%: 4.2% (2021 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / highest 10%: 24.6% (2021 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2023: 4.9% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2022: 5.9% of GDP (2022 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2021: 7.4% of GDP (2021 est.)
Budget / revenues: $69.999 billion (2015 est.)
Budget / expenditures: $96.057 billion (2015 est.)
Public debt / Public debt 2017: 103% of GDP (2017 est.)
Taxes and other revenues: 12.5% (of GDP) (2015 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2023: -$12.564 billion (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2022: -$10.537 billion (2022 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2021: -$18.611 billion (2021 est.)
Exports / Exports 2023: $68.218 billion (2023 est.)
Exports / Exports 2022: $76.295 billion (2022 est.)
Exports / Exports 2021: $58.339 billion (2021 est.)
Exports - partners: Saudi Arabia 10%, Turkey 9%, Italy 6%, USA 5%, UAE 5% (2023)
Exports - commodities: refined petroleum, natural gas, fertilizers, garments, crude petroleum (2023)
Imports / Imports 2023: $82.265 billion (2023 est.)
Imports / Imports 2022: $97.144 billion (2022 est.)
Imports / Imports 2021: $94.039 billion (2021 est.)
Imports - partners: China 16%, Saudi Arabia 6%, Russia 6%, USA 6%, Germany 5% (2023)
Imports - commodities: refined petroleum, wheat, plastics, natural gas, packaged medicine (2023)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024: $44.921 billion (2024 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023: $33.07 billion (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $32.144 billion (2022 est.)
Debt - external / Debt - external 2023: $117.272 billion (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Currency: Egyptian pounds (EGP) per US dollar -
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2024: 45.299 (2024 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2023: 30.626 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2022: 19.16 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2021: 15.645 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2020: 15.759 (2020 est.)

## Energy
Electricity access / electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)
Electricity / installed generating capacity: 59.68 million kW (2023 est.)
Electricity / consumption: 162.026 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / exports: 1.785 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / imports: 187 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / transmission/distribution losses: 45.67 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / fossil fuels: 87.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / solar: 2.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / wind: 2.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / hydroelectricity: 7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / biomass and waste: 0.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Nuclear energy / Number of nuclear reactors under construction: 4 (2025)
Coal / production: 69,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / consumption: 3.262 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / exports: 68,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / imports: 3.263 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / proven reserves: 182 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum / total petroleum production: 667,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Petroleum / refined petroleum consumption: 830,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Petroleum / crude oil estimated reserves: 3.3 billion barrels (2021 est.)
Natural gas / production: 57.181 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / consumption: 58.695 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / exports: 5.344 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / imports: 9.126 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / proven reserves: 1.784 trillion cubic meters (2021 est.)
Energy consumption per capita / Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 34.975 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

## Communications
Telephones - fixed lines / total subscriptions: 13.3 million (2024 est.)
Telephones - fixed lines / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 11 (2024 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / total subscriptions: 113 million (2024 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 97 (2024 est.)
Broadcast media: mix of state-run and private broadcast media; state-run TV operates 2 national and 6 regional terrestrial networks, as well as a few satellite channels; dozens of private satellite channels and a large number of Arabic satellite channels are available for free; some limited satellite services are also available via subscription; state-run radio operates about 30 stations belonging to 8 networks; privately-owned radio includes 8 major stations (2019)
Internet country code: .eg
Internet users / percent of population: 73% (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / total: 13.6 million (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 12 (2023 est.)

## Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: SU
Airports: 73 (2025)
Heliports: 60 (2025)
Railways / total: 5,085 km (2014)
Railways / standard gauge: 5,085 km (2014) 1.435-m gauge (62 km electrified)
Merchant marine / total: 441 (2023)
Merchant marine / by type: bulk carrier 14, container ship 6, general cargo 23, oil tanker 42, other 356
Ports / total ports: 31 (2024)
Ports / large: 5
Ports / medium: 1
Ports / small: 8
Ports / very small: 16
Ports / size unknown: 1
Ports / ports with oil terminals: 17
Ports / key ports: Ain Sukhna Terminal, Al Iskandariyh (Alexandria), As Suways, Bur Sa'id, Damietta, Ras Shukhier

## Military and Security
Military and security forces: Egyptian Armed Forces (EAF): Army (includes Republican Guard), Navy (includes Coast Guard), Air Force, Air Defense Forces, Border Guard Forces Interior Ministry: Public Security Sector Police, the Central Security Force, National Security Agency (2025)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2024: 0.7% of GDP (2024 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2023: 1% of GDP (2023 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2022: 1.2% of GDP (2022 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2021: 1.3% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2020: 1.3% of GDP (2020 est.)
Military and security service personnel strengths: estimated 450,000 active Armed Forces (2025)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the EAF's inventory is comprised of a mix of domestically produced, Soviet-era, and more modern, typically Western, weapons systems; in recent years, the EAF has embarked on an equipment modernization program with purchases from foreign suppliers, including China, France, Germany, Italy, Russia, UAE, the UK, and the US; Egypt's defense industry produces a range of products from small arms to armored vehicles and naval vessels; it also has licensed and co-production agreements with several countries, including Germany and the US (2025)
Military service age and obligation: voluntary enlistment possible from age 16 for men and 17 for women; 18-30 years of age for compulsory service for men; service obligation 14-36 months, followed by a 9-year reserve obligation; active service length depends on education; high school drop-outs serve for the full 36 months, while college graduates serve for lesser periods of time, depending on their education level (2025)
Military deployments: 775 (plus nearly 200 police) Central African Republic (MINUSCA); 1,100 Somalia (AUSSOM); also has about 200 police deployed to the Democratic Republic of the Congo under MONUSCO (2025)
Military - note: the Egyptian Armed Forces (EAF) are responsible for external defense but also have an internal role assisting police and paramilitary security forces during emergencies and in anti-terrorism operations; the EAF also participates in foreign peacekeeping and other security missions, as well as both bilateral and multinational exercises; the military has considerable political power and independence; it has long had a crucial role in Egypt’s politics and has a large stake in the civilian economy, including running banks, businesses, gas stations, shipping lines, and utilities, and producing consumer and industrial goods, importing commodities, and building and managing infrastructure projects, such as bridges, roads, hospitals, and housing key areas of concern for the EAF include Islamist militant groups operating out of the Sinai Peninsula, regional challenges such as ongoing conflicts and instability, and maritime security; since 2011, the EAF has been conducting operations alongside other security forces in the North Sinai governorate against several militant groups, particularly the Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS); over the past decade, it has deployed additional units along the border with Libya, provided air support to the Saudi-led coalition's intervention in Yemen, and most recently boosted its presence on the border with Gaza in response to the HAMAS-Israel conflict; the Navy in recent years has sought to modernize and expand its capabilities and profile in the Eastern Mediterranean and Red Sea, including the acquisition of helicopter carriers, modern frigates, and attack submarines, as well as the establishment of a joint service military base on the Red Sea the Multinational Force & Observers (MFO) has operated in the Sinai since 1982 as a peacekeeping and monitoring force to supervise the implementation of the security provisions of the 1979 Egyptian-Israeli Treaty of Peace; the MFO is an independent international organization, created by agreement between Egypt and Israel; it has about 1,150 troops from 13 countries; Colombia, Fiji, and the US are the leading providers of troops to the MFO (2025)

## Space
Space agency/agencies: Egyptian Space Agency (EgSA; established 2019); National Authority for Remote Sensing and Space Science (NARSS; formed in 1994 from the Remote Sensing Center, which was established in 1971) (2025)
Space program overview: has a growing space program and seeks to become a regional space power; operates satellites; builds satellites jointly with foreign partners but developing localized satellite manufacturing and support infrastructure; acquiring other space-related technologies through transfers and domestic development, including in communications, Earth imaging/remote sensing (RS), and satellite payloads and components; works with a variety of foreign governments and commercial space companies, including those of Belarus, Canada, China, the ESA and its member states (particularly France, Germany, Italy), Ghana, India, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Nigeria, Russia, South Africa, Sudan, Uganda, Ukraine, the UAE, and the US; also a member of the Arab Space Coordination Group; has an active commercial space sector (2025)
Key space-program milestones: 1960 - initiated a space program 1998 - first communications satellite (NileSat-101) built in Europe and launched on a European rocket (first African country to have its own communications satellite) 2007 - first remote sensing (RS) satellite (Egypsat-1) built and launched by Russia 2019 - first domestically produced RS cube satellites (NARSSCube-1 and 2) released from International Space Station; signed agreement with China for construction of satellite assembly, integrating, and testing facilities 2020 - announced a 10-year national space program, including initiating an astronaut training program and jointly developing with several African countries an RS satellite for monitoring climate changes 2022 - inaugurated a “space city” containing a satellite manufacturing facility, a research center, a space academy, and the headquarters of the African Space Agency (AfSA; inaugurated 2025); latest NileSat-series (NileSat-301) communications satellite acquired from Europe and launched by the US 2023 - three RS satellites (Horus-1, Horus-2, and MisrSat-2) built jointly with and launched by China; joined the China-led International Lunar Research Station project 2024 - experimental RS satellite (Nexsat-1) jointly developed with a European commercial company and launched by China

## Terrorism
Terrorist group(s): Army of Islam; Harakat Sawa'd Misr (HASM); Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham – Sinai Province (ISIS-SP); al-Qa’ida

## Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons / refugees: 876,962 (2024 est.)
Refugees and internally displaced persons / stateless persons: 5 (2024 est.)

=== Equatorial Guinea ===

## Introduction
Background: Equatorial Guinea consists of a continental territory and five inhabited islands; it is one of the smallest countries by area and population in Africa. The mainland region was most likely predominantly inhabited by Pygmy ethnic groups prior to the migration of various Bantu-speaking ethnic groups around the second millennium BC. The island of Bioko, the largest of Equatorial Guinea’s five inhabited islands and the location of the country’s capital of Malabo, has been occupied since at least 1000 B.C. In the early 1470s, Portuguese explorers landed on Bioko Island, and Portugal soon after established control of the island and other areas of modern Equatorial Guinea. In 1778, Portugal ceded its colonial hold over present-day Equatorial Guinea to Spain in the Treaty of El Pardo. The borders of modern-day Equatorial Guinea would evolve between 1778 and 1968 as the area remained under European colonial rule. In 1968, Equatorial Guinea was granted independence from Spain and elected Francisco MACIAS NGUEMA as its first president. MACIAS consolidated power soon after his election and ruled brutally for over a decade. Under his regime, Equatorial Guinea experienced mass suppression, purges, and killings. Some estimates indicate that a third of the population either went into exile or was killed under MACIAS’ rule. In 1979, present-day President OBIANG Nguema Mbasogo, then a senior military officer, deposed MACIAS in a violent coup. OBIANG has ruled since and has been elected in non-competitive contests several times, most recently in 2022. The president exerts near-total control over the political system. Equatorial Guinea experienced rapid economic growth in the early years of the 21st century due to the discovery of large offshore oil reserves in 1996. Production peaked in 2004 and has declined since. The country's economic windfall from oil production resulted in massive increases in government revenue, a significant portion of which was earmarked for infrastructure development. Systemic corruption, however, has hindered socio-economic development, and the population has seen only limited improvements to living standards. Equatorial Guinea continues to seek to diversify its economy, increase foreign investment, and assume a greater role in regional and international affairs.&nbsp

## Geography
Location: Central Africa, bordering the Bight of Biafra, between Cameroon and Gabon
Geographic coordinates: 2 00 N, 10 00 E
Map references: Africa
Area / total: 28,051 sq km
Area / land: 28,051 sq km
Area / water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly smaller than Maryland
Land boundaries / total: 528 km
Land boundaries / border countries: Cameroon 183 km; Gabon 345 km
Coastline: 296 km
Maritime claims / territorial sea: 12 nm
Maritime claims / exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate: tropical; always hot, humid
Terrain: coastal plains rise to interior hills; islands are volcanic
Elevation / highest point: Pico Basile 3,008 m
Elevation / lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
Elevation / mean elevation: 577 m
Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas, timber, gold, bauxite, diamonds, tantalum, sand and gravel, clay
Land use / agricultural land: 3.7% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 1.9% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 1.7% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 0.2% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 86.4% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 9.9% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land: NA
Population distribution: the two large cities are Bata on the mainland and the capital Malabo on the island of Bioko; small communities are scattered throughout the mainland and the five inhabited islands, as shown in this population distribution map
Natural hazards: violent windstorms; flash floods volcanism: Santa Isabel (3,007 m), which last erupted in 1923, is the country's only historically active volcano; Santa Isabel and two dormant volcanoes form Bioko Island in the Gulf of Guinea
Geography - note: insular and continental regions widely separated; despite its name, no part of the equator passes through Equatorial Guinea -- the mainland part of the country is located just north of the equator

## People and Society
Population / total: 1,795,834 (2024 est.)
Population / male: 962,385
Population / female: 833,449
Nationality / noun: Equatorial Guinean(s) or Equatoguinean(s)
Nationality / adjective: Equatorial Guinean or Equatoguinean
Ethnic groups: Fang 78.1%, Bubi 9.4%, Ndowe 2.8%, Nanguedambo 2.7%, Bisio 0.9%, foreigner 5.3%, other 0.7%, unspecified 0.2% (2011 est.)
Languages / Languages: Spanish (official) 67.6%, other (includes Fang, Bubi, Portuguese (official), French (official), Fa d'Ambo spoken in Annobon) 32.4% (1994 est.)
Languages / major-language sample(s): La Libreta Informativa del Mundo, la fuente indispensable de información básica. (Spanish) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
Religions: Roman Catholic 88%, Protestant 5%, Muslim 2%, other 5% (animist, Baha'i, Jewish) (2015 est.)
Age structure / 0-14 years: 35.6% (male 330,636/female 309,528)
Age structure / 15-64 years: 59.4% (male 585,139/female 481,121)
Age structure / 65 years and over: 5% (2024 est.) (male 46,610/female 42,800)
Dependency ratios / total dependency ratio: 68.4 (2024 est.)
Dependency ratios / youth dependency ratio: 60 (2024 est.)
Dependency ratios / elderly dependency ratio: 8.4 (2024 est.)
Dependency ratios / potential support ratio: 11.9 (2024 est.)
Median age / total: 22.3 years (2025 est.)
Median age / male: 22.7 years
Median age / female: 21.5 years
Population growth rate: 3.1% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 28.55 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 8.81 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: 11.29 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution: the two large cities are Bata on the mainland and the capital Malabo on the island of Bioko; small communities are scattered throughout the mainland and the five inhabited islands, as shown in this population distribution map
Urbanization / urban population: 74.4% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 3.62% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 297,000 MALABO (capital) (2018)
Sex ratio / at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 0-14 years: 1.07 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 15-64 years: 1.22 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 65 years and over: 1.09 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / total population: 1.16 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio: 174 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Infant mortality rate / total: 76.9 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Infant mortality rate / male: 83.3 deaths/1,000 live births
Infant mortality rate / female: 71.3 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth / total population: 63.9 years (2024 est.)
Life expectancy at birth / male: 61.6 years
Life expectancy at birth / female: 66.2 years
Total fertility rate: 4.05 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 1.99 (2025 est.)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 3.4% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 4.4% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density: 0.15 physicians/1,000 population (2022)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 8% (2016)
Alcohol consumption per capita / total: 6.11 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / beer: 3.83 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / wine: 1.24 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / spirits: 0.99 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / other alcohols: 0.05 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

## Environment
Environmental issues: deforestation (agricultural expansion, fires, and grazing); desertification; water pollution; tap water non-potable; wildlife preservation
International environmental agreements / party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
International environmental agreements / signed, but not ratified: Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban
Climate: tropical; always hot, humid
Land use / agricultural land: 3.7% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 1.9% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 1.7% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 0.2% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 86.4% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 9.9% (2023 est.)
Urbanization / urban population: 74.4% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 3.62% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / total emissions: 5.471 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from coal and metallurgical coke: 1 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from petroleum and other liquids: 896,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from consumed natural gas: 4.575 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Particulate matter emissions: 26.5 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Methane emissions / energy: 129.8 kt (2022-2024 est.)
Methane emissions / agriculture: 0.4 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Methane emissions / waste: 10 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Methane emissions / other: 2.2 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Waste and recycling / municipal solid waste generated annually: 198,400 tons (2024 est.)
Waste and recycling / percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 23.9% (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / municipal: 15.8 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / industrial: 3 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / agricultural: 1 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total renewable water resources: 26 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: Republic of Equatorial Guinea
Country name / conventional short form: Equatorial Guinea
Country name / local long form: Republica de Guinea Ecuatorial (Spanish)/ R&eacute;publique de Guin&eacute;e &eacute;quatoriale (French)
Country name / local short form: Guinea Ecuatorial (Spanish)/Guin&eacute;e &eacute;quatoriale (French)
Country name / former: Spanish Guinea
Country name / etymology: the country is named for the Guinea region of West Africa that lies along the Gulf of Guinea and stretches north to the Sahel; the "equatorial" refers to the fact that the country lies just north of the Equator
Government type: presidential republic
Capital / name: Malabo; note - Malabo is on the island of Bioko; some months of the year, the government operates out of Bata on the mainland region.
Capital / geographic coordinates: 3 45 N, 8 47 E
Capital / time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Capital / etymology: English settlers who founded the city in 1827 named it Port Clarence after the Duke of CLARENCE; the Spanish renamed it Santa Isabel in 1843, for Queen ISABELLA II of Spain; it was renamed again in 1973 after King MALABO (1837&ndash;1937), the last king of the Bubi (local ethnic group)
Administrative divisions: 8 provinces ( provincias , singular - provincia ); Annobon, Bioko Norte, Bioko Sur, Centro Sur, Djibloho, Kie-Ntem, Litoral, Wele-Nzas
Legal system: mixed system of civil and customary law
Constitution / history: previous 1968, 1973, 1982; approved by referendum 17 November 1991
Constitution / amendment process: proposed by the president of the republic or supported by three fourths of the membership in either house of the National Assembly; passage requires three-fourths majority vote by both houses of the Assembly and approval in a referendum if requested by the president
International law organization participation: accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Citizenship / citizenship by birth: no
Citizenship / citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Equatorial Guinea
Citizenship / dual citizenship recognized: no
Citizenship / residency requirement for naturalization: 10 years
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch / chief of state: President OBIANG Nguema Mbasogo (since 3 August 1979)
Executive branch / head of government: Prime Minister Manuel Osa Nsue Nsua (since 17 August 2024)
Executive branch / cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president and overseen by the prime minister
Executive branch / election/appointment process: president directly elected by simple-majority popular vote for a 7-year term (eligible for a second term); prime minister and deputy prime ministers appointed by the president
Executive branch / most recent election date: 20 November 2022
Executive branch / election results: 2022: OBIANG Nguema Mbasogo reelected president; percent of vote - OBIANG Nguema Mbasogo (PDGE) 95%, other 6.1% 2016: OBIANG Nguema Mbasogo reelected president; percent of vote - OBIANG Nguema Mbasogo (PDGE) 93.5%, other 6.5%
Executive branch / expected date of next election: 2029
Legislative branch / legislature name: Parliament (Parlamento)
Legislative branch / legislative structure: bicameral
Legislative branch - lower chamber / chamber name: Chamber of Deputies (Cámara de los Diputados)
Legislative branch - lower chamber / number of seats: 100 (all directly elected)
Legislative branch - lower chamber / electoral system: proportional representation
Legislative branch - lower chamber / scope of elections: full renewal
Legislative branch - lower chamber / term in office: 5 years
Legislative branch - lower chamber / most recent election date: 11/20/2022
Legislative branch - lower chamber / parties elected and seats per party: Democratic Party of Equatorial Guinea (PDGE) and its allies (100)
Legislative branch - lower chamber / percentage of women in chamber: 31%
Legislative branch - lower chamber / expected date of next election: November 2027
Legislative branch - upper chamber / chamber name: Senate (Senado)
Legislative branch - upper chamber / number of seats: 70 (55 directly elected; 15 appointed)
Legislative branch - upper chamber / electoral system: proportional representation
Legislative branch - upper chamber / scope of elections: full renewal
Legislative branch - upper chamber / term in office: 5 years
Legislative branch - upper chamber / most recent election date: 11/20/2022
Legislative branch - upper chamber / parties elected and seats per party: Democratic Party of Equatorial Guinea (PDGE) and its allies (55)
Legislative branch - upper chamber / percentage of women in chamber: 25%
Legislative branch - upper chamber / expected date of next election: November 2027
Judicial branch / highest court(s): Supreme Court of Justice (consists of the President of the Supreme Court and nine judges organized into civil, criminal, commercial, labor, administrative, and customary sections); Constitutional Court (consists of the court president and 4 members)
Judicial branch / judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court judges appointed by the president for five-year terms; Constitutional Court members appointed by the president, 2 of whom are nominated by the Chamber of Deputies
Judicial branch / subordinate courts: Court of Guarantees; military courts; Courts of Appeal; first instance tribunals; district and county tribunals
Political parties: Center Right Union or UCD Convergence Party for Social Democracy or CPDS Democratic Party for Equatorial Guinea or PDGE Liberal Democratic Convention or CLD Liberal Party or PL National Congress of Equatorial Guinea (CNGE) National Democratic Party (PNDGE) National Democratic Union or UDENA National Union for Democracy PUNDGE Popular Action of Equatorial Guinea or APGE Popular Union or UP Progressive Democratic Alliance or ADP Social and Popular Convergence Party or CSDP Social Democratic Coalition Party (PCSD) Social Democratic Party of Equatorial Guinea or PSDGE Social Democratic Union or UDS Socialist Party of Equatorial Guinea
Diplomatic representation in the US / chief of mission: Ambassador Dr. Crisantos OBAMA ONDO (since 27 February 2024)
Diplomatic representation in the US / chancery: 2020 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
Diplomatic representation in the US / telephone: [1] (202) 518-5700
Diplomatic representation in the US / FAX: [1] (202) 518-5252
Diplomatic representation in the US / email address and website: info@egembassydc.com https://www.egembassydc.com/
Diplomatic representation in the US / consulate(s) general: Houston
Diplomatic representation from the US / chief of mission: Ambassador David R. GILMOUR (since 24 May 2022)
Diplomatic representation from the US / embassy: Malabo II Highway (between the Headquarters of Sonagas and the offices of the United Nations), Malabo
Diplomatic representation from the US / mailing address: 2320 Malabo Place, Washington, DC 20521-2520
Diplomatic representation from the US / telephone: [240] 333 09-57-41
Diplomatic representation from the US / email address and website: Malaboconsular@state.gov https://gq.usembassy.gov/
International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, AU, BDEAC, CEMAC, CPLP, FAO, Francophonie, FZ, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ITSO, ITU, MIGA, NAM, OAS (observer), OIF, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WTO (observer)
Independence: 12 October 1968 (from Spain)
National holiday: Independence Day, 12 October (1968)
Flag: description: three equal horizontal bands of green (top), white, and red, with a blue isosceles triangle based on the left side and the coat of arms centered in the white band; the coat of arms has six six-pointed yellow stars (representing the mainland and five offshore islands) above a gray shield with a silk-cotton tree; below is a scroll with the motto UNIDAD, PAZ, JUSTICIA (Unity, Peace, Justice) meaning: green stands for the jungle and natural resources, blue for the sea, white for peace, and red for the fight for independence
National symbol(s): silk cotton tree
National color(s): green, white, red, blue
National coat of arms: the national symbol, the silk cotton tree, is in the center of the coat of arms; the tree represents the location where the first treaty was signed between local rulers and the Portuguese; the stars above the tree symbolize the mainland and the five offshore islands; a ribbon below the shield displays the national motto, &ldquo;Unidad, Paz, Justicia&rdquo; (Unity, Peace, Justice)
National anthem(s) / title: "Caminemos pisando la senda" (Let Us Tread the Path)
National anthem(s) / lyrics/music: Atanasio Ndongo MIYONO/Atanasio Ndongo MIYONO or Ramiro Sanchez LOPEZ (disputed)
National anthem(s) / history: adopted 1968

## Economy
Economic overview: growing CEMAC economy and new OPEC member; large oil and gas reserves; targeting economic diversification and poverty reduction; still recovering from CEMAC crisis; improving public financial management; persistent poverty; hard-hit by COVID-19
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $29.248 billion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $28.985 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $30.539 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2024: 0.9% (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2023: -5.1% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2022: 3.2% (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2024: $15,500 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2023: $15,700 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2022: $16,900 (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $12.766 billion (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 4.8% (2022 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021: -0.1% (2021 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2020: 4.8% (2020 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / agriculture: 3.1% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / industry: 45.8% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / services: 51.1% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / household consumption: 52.9% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / government consumption: 28.3% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in fixed capital: 9.1% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in inventories: -0.1% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / exports of goods and services: 35.2% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / imports of goods and services: -25.4% (2024 est.)
Agricultural products: sweet potatoes, cassava, plantains, oil palm fruit, root vegetables, bananas, coconuts, coffee, cocoa beans, chicken (2023)
Industries: petroleum, natural gas, sawmilling
Industrial production growth rate: 0.8% (2024 est.)
Labor force: 715,000 (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2024: 7.9% (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2023: 8.4% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2022: 8.5% (2022 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / total: 14.7% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / male: 13.9% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / female: 15.7% (2024 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income / Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2022: 38.5 (2022 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / lowest 10%: 2.6% (2022 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / highest 10%: 29.1% (2022 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2023: 0% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2022: 0% of GDP (2022 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2021: 0% of GDP (2021 est.)
Budget / revenues: $3.62 billion (2022 est.)
Budget / expenditures: $2.051 billion (2022 est.)
Public debt / Public debt 2016: 43.3% of GDP (2016 est.)
Taxes and other revenues: 6.6% (of GDP) (2022 est.)
Exports / Exports 2024: $4.489 billion (2024 est.)
Exports / Exports 2023: $4.516 billion (2023 est.)
Exports / Exports 2022: $7.25 billion (2022 est.)
Exports - partners: China 27%, Netherlands 12%, Spain 10%, Italy 7%, Germany 6% (2023)
Exports - commodities: crude petroleum, natural gas, alcohols, wood, scrap iron (2023)
Imports / Imports 2024: $3.24 billion (2024 est.)
Imports / Imports 2023: $3.065 billion (2023 est.)
Imports / Imports 2022: $3.948 billion (2022 est.)
Imports - partners: China 20%, Spain 17%, USA 10%, Gabon 5%, UK 5% (2023)
Imports - commodities: ships, poultry, plastic products, beer, valves (2023)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023: $1.538 billion (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $1.458 billion (2022 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2021: $44.271 million (2021 est.)
Exchange rates / Currency: Cooperation Financiere en Afrique Centrale francs (XAF) per US dollar -
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2024: 606.345 (2024 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2023: 606.57 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2022: 623.76 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2021: 554.531 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2020: 575.586 (2020 est.)

## Energy
Electricity access / electrification - total population: 67% (2022 est.)
Electricity access / electrification - urban areas: 89.8%
Electricity access / electrification - rural areas: 1.4%
Electricity / installed generating capacity: 349,000 kW (2023 est.)
Electricity / consumption: 1.402 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / transmission/distribution losses: 170.527 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / fossil fuels: 68.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / hydroelectricity: 31.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Coal / imports: 8 metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum / total petroleum production: 98,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Petroleum / refined petroleum consumption: 6,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Petroleum / crude oil estimated reserves: 1.1 billion barrels (2021 est.)
Natural gas / production: 6.013 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / consumption: 2.332 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / exports: 3.63 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / proven reserves: 139.007 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)
Energy consumption per capita / Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 54.509 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

## Communications
Telephones - fixed lines / total subscriptions: 11,000 (2022 est.)
Telephones - fixed lines / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 1 (2022 est.) less than 1
Telephones - mobile cellular / total subscriptions: 893,441 (2022 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 50 (2022 est.)
Broadcast media: the state maintains control of broadcast media; 1 state-owned TV station, 1 private TV station owned by the president's eldest son, 1 state-owned radio station, and 1 private radio station owned by the president's eldest son; satellite TV service is available; transmissions of multiple international broadcasters are generally accessible (2019)
Internet country code: .gq
Internet users / percent of population: 60% (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / total: 2,000 (2022 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2022 est.) less than 1

## Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: 3C
Airports: 7 (2025)
Merchant marine / total: 53 (2023)
Merchant marine / by type: bulk carrier 1, general cargo 16, oil tanker 7, other 29
Ports / total ports: 7 (2024)
Ports / large: 0
Ports / medium: 0
Ports / small: 1
Ports / very small: 6
Ports / ports with oil terminals: 6
Ports / key ports: Bata, Ceiba Terminal, Cogo, Luba, Malabo, Punta Europa Terminal, Serpentina Terminal

## Military and Security
Military and security forces: Equatorial Guinea Armed Forces (Fuerzas Armadas de Guinea Ecuatorial, FAGE): Army, Navy, Air Force, Gendarmerie (Guardia Civil) (2025)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2024: 1% of GDP (2024)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2023: 1.6% of GDP (2023 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2022: 1.3% of GDP (2022 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2021: 1.3% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2020: 1.6% of GDP (2020 est.)
Military and security service personnel strengths: estimated 2,000 active Armed Forces, including Gendarmerie (2025)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the FAGE is armed with mostly older (typically Soviet-era) and secondhand weapons systems; in recent years, it has sought to modernize its naval inventory with purchases of vessels from several countries, including Bulgaria and Israel; China and Russia have also supplied some equipment to the FAGE (2025)
Military service age and obligation: 18-25 for voluntary military service; selective compulsory military service for men; 24-month service obligation (2025)
Military - note: the Armed Forces of Equatorial Guinea (FAGE) are responsible for defending the territory and sovereignty of the country; the FAGE also has some internal security duties, including fulfilling some police functions in border areas, sensitive sites, and high-traffic areas; maritime security, particularly protecting offshore oil installations and combating piracy and crime in the Gulf of Guinea, is a key priority (2025)

## Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons / refugees: 5 (2024 est.)

=== Eritrea ===

## Introduction
Background: Eritrea won independence from Italian colonial control in 1941, but the UN only established it as an autonomous region within the Ethiopian federation in 1952, after a decade of British administrative control. Ethiopia's full annexation of Eritrea as a province 10 years later sparked a violent 30-year conflict for independence that ended in 1991 with Eritrean fighters defeating government forces. Eritreans overwhelmingly approved independence in a 1993 referendum. ISAIAS Afwerki has been Eritrea's only president since independence; his rule, particularly since 2001, has been characterized by highly autocratic and repressive actions. His government has created a highly militarized society by instituting an unpopular program of mandatory conscription into national service -- divided between military and civilian service -- of indefinite length. A two-and-a-half-year border war with Ethiopia that erupted in 1998 ended under UN auspices in 2000. Ethiopia rejected a subsequent 2007 Eritrea-Ethiopia Boundary Commission (EEBC) demarcation. More than a decade of a tense “no peace, no war” stalemate ended in 2018 when the newly elected Ethiopian prime minister accepted the EEBC’s 2007 ruling, and the two countries signed declarations of peace and friendship. Eritrean leaders then engaged in intensive diplomacy around the Horn of Africa, bolstering regional peace, security, and cooperation, as well as brokering rapprochements between governments and opposition groups. In 2018, the UN Security Council lifted an arms embargo that had been imposed on Eritrea since 2009, after the UN Somalia-Eritrea Monitoring Group reported they had not found evidence of Eritrean support in recent years for al-Shabaab. The country’s rapprochement with Ethiopia led to a resumption of economic ties, but the level of air transport, trade, and tourism have remained roughly the same since late 2020. The Eritrean economy remains agriculture-dependent, and the country is still one of Africa’s poorest nations. Eritrea faced new international condemnation and US sanctions in mid-2021 for its participation in the war in Ethiopia’s Tigray Regional State, where Eritrean forces were found to have committed war crimes and crimes against humanity. As most Eritrean troops were departing northern Ethiopia in January 2023, ISAIAS began a series of diplomatic engagements aimed at bolstering Eritrea’s foreign partnerships and regional influence. Despite the country's improved relations with its neighbors, ISAIAS has not let up on repression, and conscription and militarization continue.

## Geography
Location: Eastern Africa, bordering the Red Sea, between Djibouti and Sudan
Geographic coordinates: 15 00 N, 39 00 E
Map references: Africa
Area / total: 117,600 sq km
Area / land: 101,000 sq km
Area / water: 16,600 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly smaller than Pennsylvania
Land boundaries / total: 1,840 km
Land boundaries / border countries: Djibouti 125 km; Ethiopia 1,033 km; Sudan 682 km
Coastline: 2,234 km (mainland on Red Sea 1,151 km; islands in Red Sea 1,083 km)
Maritime claims / territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: hot, dry desert strip along Red Sea coast; cooler and wetter in the central highlands (up to 61 cm of rainfall annually, heaviest June to September); semiarid in western hills and lowlands
Terrain: dominated by extension of Ethiopian north-south trending highlands, descending on the east to a coastal desert plain, on the northwest to hilly terrain and on the southwest to flat-to-rolling plains
Elevation / highest point: Soira 3,018 m
Elevation / lowest point: near Kulul within the Danakil Depression -75 m
Elevation / mean elevation: 853 m
Natural resources: gold, potash, zinc, copper, salt, possibly oil and natural gas, fish
Land use / agricultural land: 62.7% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 5.7% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 0% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 56.9% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 12% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 25.3% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land: 210 sq km (2012)
Population distribution: density is highest in the center of the country, in and around the cities of Asmara (capital) and Keren; smaller settlements exist in the north and south, as shown in this population distribution map
Natural hazards: frequent droughts, rare earthquakes and volcanoes; locust swarms volcanism: Dubbi (1,625 m), which last erupted in 1861, was the country's only historically active volcano until Nabro (2,218 m) came to life in 2011
Geography - note: strategic geopolitical position along world's busiest shipping lanes

## People and Society
Population / total: 6,416,435 (2025 est.)
Population / male: 3,158,281
Population / female: 3,258,154
Nationality / noun: Eritrean(s)
Nationality / adjective: Eritrean
Ethnic groups: Tigrinya 50%, Tigre 30%, Saho 4%, Afar 4%, Kunama 4%, Bilen 3%, Hedareb/Beja 2%, Nara 2%, Rashaida 1% (2021 est.)
Languages: Tigrinya (official), Arabic (official), English (official), Tigre, Kunama, Afar, other Cushitic languages
Religions: Eritrean Orthodox, Roman Catholic, Evangelical Lutheran, Sunni Muslim
Age structure / 0-14 years: 35.7% (male 1,138,382/female 1,123,925)
Age structure / 15-64 years: 60.3% (male 1,882,547/female 1,944,266)
Age structure / 65 years and over: 4% (2024 est.) (male 101,504/female 153,332)
Dependency ratios / total dependency ratio: 64.2 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / youth dependency ratio: 57.6 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / elderly dependency ratio: 6.6 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / potential support ratio: 15.1 (2025 est.)
Median age / total: 21.7 years (2025 est.)
Median age / male: 20.8 years
Median age / female: 21.8 years
Population growth rate: 1.16% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 25.92 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 6.43 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: -7.95 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution: density is highest in the center of the country, in and around the cities of Asmara (capital) and Keren; smaller settlements exist in the north and south, as shown in this population distribution map
Urbanization / urban population: 43.3% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 3.67% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 1.073 million ASMARA (capital) (2023)
Sex ratio / at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 0-14 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 65 years and over: 0.66 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth: 21.3 years (2010 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio: 291 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Infant mortality rate / total: 39 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Infant mortality rate / male: 46.6 deaths/1,000 live births
Infant mortality rate / female: 32.8 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth / total population: 67.5 years (2024 est.)
Life expectancy at birth / male: 64.9 years
Life expectancy at birth / female: 70.2 years
Total fertility rate: 3.35 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 1.65 (2025 est.)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 4.2% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 2.4% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density: 0.09 physicians/1,000 population (2022)
Hospital bed density: 1 beds/1,000 population (2020 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 5% (2016)
Alcohol consumption per capita / total: 0.93 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / beer: 0.42 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / wine: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / spirits: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / other alcohols: 0.51 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Tobacco use / total: 7.5% (2020 est.)
Tobacco use / male: 14.7% (2020 est.)
Tobacco use / female: 0.2% (2020 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / total: 8 years (2015 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / male: 9 years (2015 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / female: 7 years (2015 est.)

## Environment
Environmental issues: deforestation; desertification; soil erosion; overgrazing
International environmental agreements / party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Whaling
International environmental agreements / signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Paris Agreement
Climate: hot, dry desert strip along Red Sea coast; cooler and wetter in the central highlands (up to 61 cm of rainfall annually, heaviest June to September); semiarid in western hills and lowlands
Land use / agricultural land: 62.7% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 5.7% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 0% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 56.9% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 12% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 25.3% (2023 est.)
Urbanization / urban population: 43.3% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 3.67% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / total emissions: 733,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from petroleum and other liquids: 733,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Particulate matter emissions: 22.7 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Methane emissions / energy: 15.7 kt (2022-2024 est.)
Methane emissions / agriculture: 117.4 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Methane emissions / waste: 20.5 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Methane emissions / other: 2.8 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Waste and recycling / municipal solid waste generated annually: 727,000 tons (2024 est.)
Waste and recycling / percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 6.8% (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / municipal: 31 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / industrial: 1 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / agricultural: 550 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total renewable water resources: 7.315 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: State of Eritrea
Country name / conventional short form: Eritrea
Country name / local long form: Hagere Ertra
Country name / local short form: Ertra
Country name / former: Eritrea Autonomous Region in Ethiopia
Country name / etymology: the country name derives from the ancient Greek name Erythra Thalassa , meaning "Red Sea," the body of water that borders the country
Government type: authoritarian
Capital / name: Asmara
Capital / geographic coordinates: 15 20 N, 38 56 E
Capital / time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Capital / etymology: the name's origin is unclear; according to Tigrinya oral tradition, the name is part of a phrase meaning "the women made them unite," referring to a group of women who made four clans unite to defeat a common enemy; asmara also means "flowery wood" in the Tigrinya language
Administrative divisions: 6 regions ( zobatat , singular - zoba ); 'Anseba, Debub (South), Debubawi K'eyyih Bahri (Southern Red Sea), Gash-Barka, Ma'ikel (Central), Semienawi K'eyyih Bahri (Northern Red Sea)
Legal system: mixed system of civil, customary, and Islamic religious law
Constitution / history: ratified by the Constituent Assembly 23 May 1997 (never implemented)
Constitution / amendment process: proposed by the president of Eritrea or by assent of at least one half of the National Assembly membership; passage requires at least an initial three-quarters majority vote by the Assembly and, after one year, final passage by at least four-fifths majority vote by the Assembly
International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt
Citizenship / citizenship by birth: no
Citizenship / citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Eritrea
Citizenship / dual citizenship recognized: no
Citizenship / residency requirement for naturalization: 20 years
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch / chief of state: President ISAIAS Afwerki (since 24 May 1993)
Executive branch / head of government: President ISAIAS Afwerki (since 8 June 1993)
Executive branch / cabinet: State Council appointed by the president
Executive branch / election/appointment process: president indirectly elected by the National Assembly for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term), according to the constitution
Executive branch / most recent election date: 24 May 1993, following independence from Ethiopia
Executive branch / election results: 1993: ISAIAS Afwerki elected president by the transitional National Assembly; percent of National Assembly vote - ISAIAS Afwerki (PFDJ) 95%, other 5%
Executive branch / expected date of next election: postponed indefinitely
Legislative branch / legislature name: National Assembly (Hagerawi Baito)
Legislative branch / legislative structure: unicameral
Legislative branch / number of seats: 150 (all indirectly elected)
Legislative branch / scope of elections: full renewal
Legislative branch / term in office: 4 years
Legislative branch / most recent election date: 2/1/1994
Judicial branch / highest court(s): High Court (consists of 20 judges and organized into civil, commercial, criminal, labor, administrative, and customary sections)
Judicial branch / judge selection and term of office: High Court judges appointed by the president
Judicial branch / subordinate courts: regional/zonal courts; community courts; special courts; sharia courts (for issues dealing with Muslim marriage, inheritance, and family); military courts
Political parties: People's Front for Democracy and Justice or PFDJ (the only party recognized by the government)
Diplomatic representation in the US / chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charg&eacute; d'Affaires Berhane Gebrehiwet SOLOMON (since 15 March 2011)
Diplomatic representation in the US / chancery: 1708 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009
Diplomatic representation in the US / telephone: [1] (202) 319-1991
Diplomatic representation in the US / FAX: [1] (202) 319-1304
Diplomatic representation in the US / email address and website: embassyeritrea@embassyeritrea.org https://us.embassyeritrea.org/
Diplomatic representation from the US / chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charg&eacute; d'Affaires Christine E. MEYER (since July 2025)
Diplomatic representation from the US / embassy: 179 Alaa Street, Asmara
Diplomatic representation from the US / mailing address: 7170 Asmara Place, Washington DC 20521-7170
Diplomatic representation from the US / telephone: [291] (1) 12-00-04
Diplomatic representation from the US / FAX: [291] (1) 12-75-84
Diplomatic representation from the US / email address and website: consularasmara@state.gov https://er.usembassy.gov/
International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, AU, COMESA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS (observer), IGAD, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAS (observer), MIGA, NAM, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHRC, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO
Independence: 24 May 1993 (from Ethiopia)
National holiday: Independence Day, 24 May (1991)
Flag: description: a red isosceles triangle (based on the left side) divides the flag into two right triangles; the upper triangle is green, the lower is blue; a gold wreath around a gold olive branch is on the left side of the red triangle meaning: green stands for the country's agriculture economy, red for the blood shed in the fight for freedom, and blue for the sea's bounty; the shape of the red triangle mimics the country's shape
National symbol(s): camel
National color(s): green, red, blue
National coat of arms: Eritrea adopted its coat of arms on May 24, 1993, when it won independence from Ethiopia; the camel was used to transport supplies and goods during the war, and it became a symbol of the country&rsquo;s success; the olive wreath represents peace, reconciliation, and harmony; under the camel is name of the country in its three official languages: Tigrinya, English, and Arabic
National anthem(s) / title: "Ertra, Ertra, Ertra" (Eritrea, Eritrea, Eritrea)
National anthem(s) / lyrics/music: SOLOMON Tsehaye Beraki/Isaac Abraham MEHAREZGI and ARON Tekle Tesfatsion
National anthem(s) / history: adopted 1993, after gaining independence from Ethiopia
National heritage / total World Heritage Sites: 1 (cultural)
National heritage / selected World Heritage Site locales: Asmara: A Modernist African City

## Economy
Economic overview: largely agrarian economy with a significant mining sector; substantial fiscal surplus due to tight controls; high and vulnerable debts; increased Ethiopian trade and shared port usage decreasing prices; financial and economic data integrity challenges
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $2.534 billion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $2.465 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $2.398 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2017: 5% (2017 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2016: 1.9% (2016 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2015: 2.6% (2015 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2024: $700 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2023: $700 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2022: $700 (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $2.535 billion (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 7.4% (2022 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021: 6.6% (2021 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2020: 5.6% (2020 est.)
Agricultural products: sorghum, milk, barley, vegetables, root vegetables, cereals, pulses, wheat, beef, maize (2023)
Industries: food processing, beverages, clothing and textiles, light manufacturing, salt, cement
Labor force: 1.71 million (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2024: 5.6% (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2023: 5.6% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2022: 5.7% (2022 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / total: 9.4% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / male: 8.5% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / female: 10.5% (2024 est.)
Budget / revenues: $633 million (2018 est.)
Budget / expenditures: $549 million (2018 est.)
Public debt / Public debt 2016: 132.8% of GDP (2016 est.)
Exports / Exports 2017: $624.3 million (2017 est.)
Exports / Exports 2016: $485.4 million (2016 est.)
Exports / Exports 2011: $374.898 million (2011 est.)
Exports - partners: China 67%, UAE 26%, Philippines 5%, Italy 1%, Croatia 1% (2023)
Exports - commodities: copper ore, zinc ore, gold, garments, liquor (2023)
Imports / Imports 2010: $494.229 million (2010 est.)
Imports / Imports 2009: $435.275 million (2009 est.)
Imports - partners: China 32%, UAE 27%, Turkey 9%, USA 7%, Italy 5% (2023)
Imports - commodities: trucks, sorghum, construction vehicles, wheat flours, other foods (2023)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2019: $191.694 million (2019 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2018: $163.034 million (2018 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2017: $143.412 million (2017 est.)
Debt - external / Debt - external 2023: $461.376 million (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Currency: nakfa (ERN) per US dollar -
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2024: 15.075 (2024 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2023: 15.075 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2022: 15.075 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2021: 15.075 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2020: 15.075 (2020 est.)

## Energy
Electricity access / electrification - total population: 55.4% (2022 est.)
Electricity access / electrification - urban areas: 75.5%
Electricity access / electrification - rural areas: 36%
Electricity / installed generating capacity: 243,000 kW (2023 est.)
Electricity / consumption: 388.987 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / transmission/distribution losses: 51.528 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / fossil fuels: 89.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / solar: 10.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / wind: 0.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Petroleum / refined petroleum consumption: 5,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Energy consumption per capita / Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 2.977 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

## Communications
Telephones - fixed lines / total subscriptions: 68,200 (2022 est.)
Telephones - fixed lines / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 2 (2022 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / total subscriptions: 2.02 million (2022 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 59 (2022 est.)
Broadcast media: government controls broadcast media, with private ownership prohibited; 1 state-owned TV station; 2 state-owned radio networks; purchases of satellite dishes and subscriptions to international broadcast media are permitted (2023)
Internet country code: .er
Internet users / percent of population: 20% (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / total: 6,000 (2022 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2022 est.) less than 1

## Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: E3
Airports: 11 (2025)
Railways / total: 306 km (2018)
Railways / narrow gauge: 306 km (2018) 0.950-m gauge
Merchant marine / total: 9 (2023)
Merchant marine / by type: general cargo 4, oil tanker 1, other 4
Ports / total ports: 2 (2024)
Ports / large: 0
Ports / medium: 0
Ports / small: 2
Ports / very small: 0
Ports / ports with oil terminals: 2
Ports / key ports: Assab, Mitsiwa Harbor

## Military and Security
Military and security forces: Eritrean Defense Forces (EDF): Eritrean Ground Forces, Eritrean Navy, Eritrean Air Force; People's Militia (aka People's Army or Hizbawi Serawit) (2024)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2019: 10% of GDP (2019 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2018: 10.2% of GDP (2018 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2017: 10.3% of GDP (2017 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2016: 10.4% of GDP (2016 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2015: 10.6% of GDP (2015 est.)
Military and security service personnel strengths: available information varies widely; estimated 150,000-200,000 active Defense Forces (2025)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the EDF's inventory is comprised primarily of Soviet-era weapons and equipment (2025)
Military service age and obligation: Eritrea mandates military service for all citizens age 18-40; 18-month conscript service obligation, which reportedly includes 4-6 months of military training and 12 months of military or other national service (military service is most common); in practice, military and national service is often extended indefinitely; citizens up to the age of 59 eligible for recall during mobilization (2025)
Military - note: the military’s primary responsibilities are external defense, border security, and providing the regime a vehicle for national cohesion; the conscript-based Army is the dominant service since the country's independence in 1991, the Eritrean military has participated in numerous conflicts, including the Hanish Island Crisis with Yemen (1995), the First Congo War (1996-1997), the Second Sudanese Civil War (1996-1998), the Eritrea-Ethiopia War (1998-2000), the Djiboutian-Eritrean border conflict (2008), and the Tigray conflict in Ethiopia (2020-2022); during the Tigray conflict, the Eritrean Defense Forces were accused of human rights abuses; in recent years, it has provided training support to the military of Somalia (2025)

## Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons / refugees: 119 (2024 est.)
Trafficking in persons / tier rating: Tier 3 — Eritrea does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and is not making significant efforts to do so, therefore Eritrea remained on Tier 3; for more details, go to: https://www.state.gov/reports/2025-trafficking-in-persons-report/eritrea/

=== Ethiopia ===

## Introduction
Background: The area that is modern-day Ethiopia is rich in cultural and religious diversity with more than 80 ethnic groups. The oldest hominid yet found comes from Ethiopia, and Ethiopia was the second country to officially adopt Christianity in the 4th century A.D. A series of monarchies ruled the area that is now Ethiopia from 980 B.C. to 1855, when the Amhara kingdoms of northern Ethiopia united in an empire under Tewodros II. Many Ethiopians still speak reverently about the Battle of Adwa in 1896, when they defeated Italian forces and won their freedom from colonial rule. Emperor Haile SELASSIE became an internationally renowned figure in 1935, when he unsuccessfully appealed to the League of Nations to prevent Italy from occupying Ethiopia from 1936 to 1941. SELASSIE survived an attempted coup in 1960, annexed modern-day Eritrea in 1962, and played a leading role in establishing the Organization of African Unity in 1963. However, in 1974, a military junta called the Derg deposed him and established a socialist state. Torn by bloody coups, uprisings, drought, and massive displacement, the Derg regime was toppled in 1991 by a coalition of opposing forces, the Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF). The EPRDF became an ethno-federalist political coalition that ruled Ethiopia from 1991 until its dissolution in 2019. Ethiopia adopted its constitution in 1994 and held its first multiparty elections in 1995. A two-and-a-half-year border war with Eritrea in the late 1990s ended with a peace treaty in 2000. Ethiopia subsequently rejected the 2007 Eritrea-Ethiopia Boundary Commission demarcation. This resulted in more than a decade of a tense “no peace, no war” stalemate between the two countries. In 2012, longtime Prime Minister MELES Zenawi died in office and was replaced by his Deputy Prime Minister HAILEMARIAM Desalegn, marking the first peaceful transition of power in decades. Following a wave of popular dissent and anti-government protest that began in 2015, HAILEMARIAM resigned in 2018, and ABIY Ahmed Ali took office the same year as Ethiopia's first ethnic Oromo prime minister. In 2018, ABIY promoted a rapprochement between Ethiopia and Eritrea that was marked with a peace agreement and a reopening of their shared border. In 2019, Ethiopia's nearly 30-year ethnic-based ruling coalition, the EPRDF, merged into a single unity party called the Prosperity Party; however, the lead coalition party, the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF), declined to join. In 2020, a military conflict erupted between forces aligned with the TPLF and the Ethiopian military. The conflict -- which was marked by atrocities committed by all parties -- ended in 2022 with a cessation of hostilities agreement between the TPLF and the Ethiopian Government. However, Ethiopia continues to experience ethnic-based violence as other groups -- including the Oromo Liberation Army (OLA) and Amhara militia Fano -- seek concessions from the Ethiopian Government.

## Geography
Location: Eastern Africa, west of Somalia
Geographic coordinates: 8 00 N, 38 00 E
Map references: Africa
Area / total: 1,104,300 sq km
Area / land: 1,096,570 sq km
Area / water: 7,730 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly less than twice the size of Texas
Land boundaries / total: 5,925 km
Land boundaries / border countries: Djibouti 342 km; Eritrea 1,033 km; Kenya 867 km; Somalia 1,640 km; South Sudan 1,299 km; Sudan 744 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
Climate: tropical monsoon with wide topographic-induced variation
Terrain: high plateau with central mountain range divided by Great Rift Valley
Elevation / highest point: Ras Dejen 4,550 m
Elevation / lowest point: Danakil Depression -125 m
Elevation / mean elevation: 1,330 m
Natural resources: small reserves of gold, platinum, copper, potash, natural gas, hydropower
Land use / agricultural land: 34.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 14.5% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 1.8% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 17.7% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 23.7% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 42.2% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land: 1,814 sq km (2020)
Major lakes (area sq km) / fresh water lake(s): Lake Tana - 3,600 sq km; Abaya Hayk - 1,160 sq km; Ch'amo Hayk - 550 sq km
Major lakes (area sq km) / salt water lake(s): Lake Turkana (shared with Kenya) - 6,400 sq km; Abhe Bid Hayk/Abhe Bad (shared with Djibouti) - 780 sq km;
Major rivers (by length in km): Blue Nile river source (shared with Sudan [m]) - 1,600 km note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Major watersheds (area sq km) / Atlantic Ocean drainage: (Mediterranean Sea) Nile (3,254,853 sq km)
Major aquifers: Ogaden-Juba Basin, Sudd Basin (Umm Ruwaba Aquifer)
Population distribution: highest density is found in the highlands of the north and middle areas of the country, particularly around the centrally located capital city of Addis Ababa; the far east and southeast are sparsely populated, as shown in this population distribution map
Natural hazards: geologically active Great Rift Valley susceptible to earthquakes, volcanic eruptions; frequent droughts volcanism: volcanic activity in the Great Rift Valley; Erta Ale (613 m) is the country's most active volcano; Dabbahu became active in 2005, forcing evacuations; other historically active volcanoes include Alayta, Dalaffilla, Dallol, Dama Ali, Fentale, Kone, Manda Hararo, and Manda-Inakir
Geography - note: the most populous landlocked country in the world; the Blue Nile, the chief headstream of the Nile by water volume, rises in T'ana Hayk (Lake Tana) in northwest Ethiopia

## People and Society
Population / total: 121,372,632 (2025 est.)
Population / male: 60,461,406
Population / female: 60,911,226
Nationality / noun: Ethiopian(s)
Nationality / adjective: Ethiopian
Ethnic groups: Oromo 35.8%, Amhara 24.1%, Somali 7.2%, Tigray 5.7%, Sidama 4.1%, Guragie 2.6%, Welaita 2.3%, Afar 2.2%, Silte 1.3%, Kefficho 1.2%, other 13.5% (2022 est.)
Languages / Languages: Oromo (official regional working language) 33.8%, Amharic (official national language) 29.3%, Somali (official regional working language) 6.2%, Tigrigna (Tigrinya) (official regional working language) 5.9%, Sidamo 4%, Wolaytta 2.2%, Gurage 2%, Afar (official regional working language) 1.7%, Hadiyya 1.7%, Gamo 1.5%, Gedeo 1.3%, Opuuo 1.2%, Kafa 1.1%, other 8.1%, English (2007 est.)
Languages / major-language sample(s): Kitaaba Addunyaa Waan Qabataamaatiif - Kan Madda Odeeffannoo bu’uraawaatiif baay’ee barbaachisaa ta’e. (Oromo) የአለም እውነታ መጽሐፍ፣ ለመሠረታዊ መረጃ እጅግ አስፈላጊ የሆነ ምንጭ። (Amharic) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
Religions: Ethiopian Orthodox 43.8%, Muslim 31.3%, Protestant 22.8%, Catholic 0.7%, traditional 0.6%, other 0.8% (2016 est.)
Age structure / 0-14 years: 38.7% (male 23,092,496/female 22,765,882)
Age structure / 15-64 years: 58% (male 34,175,328/female 34,536,238)
Age structure / 65 years and over: 3.4% (2024 est.) (male 1,794,269/female 2,186,085)
Dependency ratios / total dependency ratio: 71.7 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / youth dependency ratio: 65.8 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / elderly dependency ratio: 5.9 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / potential support ratio: 17.1 (2025 est.)
Median age / total: 20.6 years (2025 est.)
Median age / male: 20.2 years
Median age / female: 20.7 years
Population growth rate: 2.34% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 29.08 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 5.58 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: -0.12 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution: highest density is found in the highlands of the north and middle areas of the country, particularly around the centrally located capital city of Addis Ababa; the far east and southeast are sparsely populated, as shown in this population distribution map
Urbanization / urban population: 23.2% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 4.4% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 5.461 million ADDIS ABABA (capital) (2023)
Sex ratio / at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 0-14 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 65 years and over: 0.82 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth: 19.3 years (2019 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio: 195 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Infant mortality rate / total: 31.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Infant mortality rate / male: 37.4 deaths/1,000 live births
Infant mortality rate / female: 27.6 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth / total population: 67.7 years (2024 est.)
Life expectancy at birth / male: 65.4 years
Life expectancy at birth / female: 70 years
Total fertility rate: 3.77 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 1.86 (2025 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: urban: urban: 83.2% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: rural: rural: 42.2% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: total: total: 51.5% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: urban: urban: 16.8% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: rural: rural: 57.8% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: total: total: 48.5% of population (2022 est.)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 3.2% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 5.7% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density: 0.14 physicians/1,000 population (2023)
Hospital bed density: 0.3 beds/1,000 population (2016 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: urban: urban: 50.8% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: rural: rural: 8.2% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: total: total: 17.8% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: urban: urban: 49.2% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: rural: rural: 91.8% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: total: total: 82.2% of population (2022 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 4.5% (2016)
Alcohol consumption per capita / total: 1.16 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / beer: 0.92 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / wine: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / spirits: 0.2 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / other alcohols: 0.03 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Tobacco use / total: 4.5% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / male: 7.7% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / female: 1.4% (2025 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 21.2% (2019 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49): 66.3% (2019 est.)
Child marriage / women married by age 15: 14.1% (2016)
Child marriage / women married by age 18: 40.3% (2016)
Child marriage / men married by age 18: 5% (2016)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% GDP): 2.3% of GDP (2024 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% national budget): 16.7% national budget (2024 est.)
Literacy / total population: 60.5% (2022 est.)
Literacy / male: 71% (2022 est.)
Literacy / female: 50% (2022 est.)

## Environment
Environmental issues: deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification; loss of biodiversity; water shortages in some areas from water-intensive farming and poor management; industrial pollution and pesticides contribute to air, water, and soil pollution
International environmental agreements / party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection
International environmental agreements / signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban
Climate: tropical monsoon with wide topographic-induced variation
Land use / agricultural land: 34.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 14.5% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 1.8% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 17.7% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 23.7% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 42.2% (2023 est.)
Urbanization / urban population: 23.2% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 4.4% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / total emissions: 18.519 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from coal and metallurgical coke: 3.427 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from petroleum and other liquids: 15.092 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Particulate matter emissions: 23.5 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Methane emissions / energy: 1,108.5 kt (2022-2024 est.)
Methane emissions / agriculture: 1,948.6 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Methane emissions / waste: 356.3 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Methane emissions / other: 143.9 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Waste and recycling / municipal solid waste generated annually: 6.533 million tons (2024 est.)
Waste and recycling / percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 12.8% (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / municipal: 810 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / industrial: 51.1 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / agricultural: 9.687 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total renewable water resources: 122 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia
Country name / conventional short form: Ethiopia
Country name / local long form: YeItyop'iya Federalawi Demokrasiyawi Ripeblik
Country name / local short form: Ityop'iya
Country name / former: Abyssinia, Italian East Africa
Country name / abbreviation: FDRE
Country name / etymology: the country name derives from the ancient Greek word used to describe the inhabitants, aithiops , meaning "burnt appearance"
Government type: federal parliamentary republic
Capital / name: Addis Ababa
Capital / geographic coordinates: 9 02 N, 38 42 E
Capital / time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Capital / etymology: the name in Amharic means "new flower;" Empress TAITU gave the name to the new capital city in 1887
Administrative divisions: 12 ethnically based regional states ( kililoch , singular - kilil ) and 2 chartered cities* ( astedader akabibiwach , singular - astedader akabibi ); Adis Abeba* (Addis Ababa), Afar, Amara (Amhara), Binshangul Gumuz, Dire Dawa*, Gambela Hizboch (Gambela), Hareri Hizb (Harari), Oromia, Sidama, Sumale, Tigray, YeDebub Biheroch Bihereseboch na Hizboch (Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples), YeDebub M'irab Ityop'iya Hizboch (Southwest Ethiopia Peoples), Southern Ethiopia Peoples
Legal system: civil law system
Constitution / history: several previous; latest drafted June 1994, adopted 8 December 1994, entered into force 21 August 1995
Constitution / amendment process: proposals submitted for discussion require two-thirds majority approval in either house of Parliament or majority approval of one-third of the State Councils; passage of amendments other than constitutional articles on fundamental rights and freedoms and the initiation and amendment of the constitution requires two-thirds majority vote in a joint session of Parliament and majority vote by two thirds of the State Councils; passage of amendments affecting rights and freedoms and amendment procedures requires two-thirds majority vote in each house of Parliament and majority vote by all the State Councils
International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt
Citizenship / citizenship by birth: no
Citizenship / citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Ethiopia
Citizenship / dual citizenship recognized: no
Citizenship / residency requirement for naturalization: 4 years
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch / chief of state: President TAYE Atske Selassie (since 7 October 2024)
Executive branch / head of government: Prime Minister ABIY Ahmed Ali (since April 2018)
Executive branch / cabinet: Council of Ministers selected by the prime minister and approved by the House of People's Representatives
Executive branch / election/appointment process: president indirectly elected by both chambers of Parliament for a 6-year term (eligible for a second term); prime minister designated by the majority party following legislative elections
Executive branch / most recent election date: 21 June 2021 and 30 September 2021 (scheduled 29 August 2020 election was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic)
Executive branch / election results: 2021: SAHLE-WORK Zewde reelected president during joint session of Parliament, vote - 659 (unanimous); ABIY confirmed Prime Minister by House of Peoples' Representatives (4 October 2021)
Legislative branch / legislative structure: bicameral
Legislative branch - lower chamber / chamber name: House of Peoples' Representatives (Yehizb Tewokayoch Mekir Bete)
Legislative branch - lower chamber / number of seats: 547 (all directly elected)
Legislative branch - lower chamber / electoral system: plurality/majority
Legislative branch - lower chamber / scope of elections: full renewal
Legislative branch - lower chamber / term in office: 5 years
Legislative branch - lower chamber / most recent election date: 6/21/2021 to 9/30/2021
Legislative branch - lower chamber / parties elected and seats per party: Prosperity Party (448); Other (22)
Legislative branch - lower chamber / percentage of women in chamber: 41.9%
Legislative branch - lower chamber / expected date of next election: June 2026
Legislative branch - upper chamber / chamber name: House of the Federation (Yefedereshein Mekir Bete)
Legislative branch - upper chamber / number of seats: 153 (all indirectly elected)
Legislative branch - upper chamber / scope of elections: full renewal
Legislative branch - upper chamber / term in office: 5 years
Legislative branch - upper chamber / most recent election date: 10/4/2021
Legislative branch - upper chamber / percentage of women in chamber: 29.7%
Legislative branch - upper chamber / expected date of next election: October 2026
Judicial branch / highest court(s): Federal Supreme Court (consists of 11 judges)
Judicial branch / judge selection and term of office: president and vice president of Federal Supreme Court recommended by the prime minister and appointed by the House of People's Representatives; other Supreme Court judges nominated by the Federal Judicial Administrative Council (a 10-member body chaired by the president of the Federal Supreme Court) and appointed by the House of People's Representatives; judges serve until retirement at age 60
Judicial branch / subordinate courts: federal high courts and federal courts of first instance; state court systems (mirror structure of federal system); sharia courts and customary and traditional courts
Political parties: Ethiopian Citizens for Social Justice and Democracy or EZEMA Gedeo People's Democratic Party Independent Kucha People Democratic Party National Movement of Amhara or NAMA Prosperity Party or PP
Diplomatic representation in the US / chief of mission: Ambassador BINALF Andualem Ashenef (since 25 February 2025)
Diplomatic representation in the US / chancery: 3506 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation in the US / telephone: [1] (202) 364-1200
Diplomatic representation in the US / FAX: [1] (202) 587-0195
Diplomatic representation in the US / email address and website: ethiopia@ethiopianembassy.org https://ethiopianembassy.org/
Diplomatic representation in the US / consulate(s) general: Los Angeles, St. Paul (MN)
Diplomatic representation from the US / chief of mission: Ambassador Ervin MASSINGA (since 4 October 2023)
Diplomatic representation from the US / embassy: Entoto Street, P.O. Box 1014, Addis Ababa
Diplomatic representation from the US / mailing address: 2030 Addis Ababa Place, Washington DC 20521-2030
Diplomatic representation from the US / telephone: [251] 111-30-60-00
Diplomatic representation from the US / FAX: [251] 111-24-24-01
Diplomatic representation from the US / email address and website: AddisACS@state.gov https://et.usembassy.gov/
International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, ATMIS, AU, BRICS, COMESA, EITI, FAO, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NAM, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMISS, UNOOSA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (accession candidate)
Independence: 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 appeared in the first century B.C.
National holiday: Derg Downfall Day (defeat of MENGISTU regime), 28 May (1991)
Flag: description: three equal horizontal bands of green (top), yellow, and red, with a light blue disk centered on the three bands; on the disk is a yellow pentagram with single yellow rays emanating from the angles between the points meaning: green stands for hope and the land's fertility, yellow for justice and harmony, and red for sacrifice and heroism; the blue of the disk symbolizes peace, and the pentagram represents the Ethiopian people's unity and equality history: the emblem in the center of the current flag was added in 1996
National symbol(s): Abyssinian lion (traditional), yellow pentagram with five rays of light on a blue field (promoted by government)
National color(s): green, yellow, red
National coat of arms: adopted in 1996, the coat of arms features the national symbol, a pentagram; the blue circle symbolizes peace, and the pentagram represents the unity and equality of the Ethiopian people
National anthem(s) / title: "Whedefit Gesgeshi Woud Enat Ethiopia" (March Forward, Dear Mother Ethiopia)
National anthem(s) / lyrics/music: DEREJE Melaku Mengesha/SOLOMON Lulu
National anthem(s) / history: adopted 1992
National heritage / total World Heritage Sites: 12 (10 cultural, 2 natural)
National heritage / selected World Heritage Site locales: Rock-Hewn Churches, Lalibela (c); Simien National Park (n); Fasil Ghebbi, Gondar Region (c); Aksum (c); Lower Valley of the Awash (c); Lower Valley of the Omo (c); Tiya (c); Harar Jugol, the Fortified Historic Town (c); Konso Cultural Landscape (c); Gedeo Cultural Landscape (c); Bale Mountains National Park (n); Melka Kunture and Balchit: Archaeological and Palaeontological Sites in the Highland Area of Ethiopia (c)

## Economy
Economic overview: low-income, fast-growing Horn of Africa economy; widespread poverty and food insecurity worsened by conflict and environmental factors; landlocked with tensions over seaport access; development aid supporting reforms to boost private-sector growth and financial stability; challenge of creating jobs for growing labor force
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $380.895 billion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $354.926 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $332.97 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2024: 7.3% (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2023: 6.6% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2022: 5.3% (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2024: $2,900 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2023: $2,800 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2022: $2,700 (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $126.773 billion (2022 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024: 21% (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023: 30.2% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 33.9% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / agriculture: 34.9% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / industry: 25.4% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / services: 37.6% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / household consumption: 80.2% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / government consumption: 5.5% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in fixed capital: 20.5% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in inventories: 0% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / exports of goods and services: 5.6% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / imports of goods and services: -11.8% (2024 est.)
Agricultural products: maize, cereals, wheat, milk, sorghum, barley, taro, beans, sweet potatoes, potatoes (2023)
Industries: food processing, beverages, textiles, leather, garments, chemicals, metals processing, cement
Industrial production growth rate: 9.2% (2024 est.)
Labor force: 54.47 million (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2024: 3.4% (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2023: 3.5% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2022: 3.5% (2022 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / total: 5.4% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / male: 4% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / female: 7.2% (2024 est.)
Population below poverty line: 23.5% (2015 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income / Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2021: 31.1 (2021 est.)
Average household expenditures / on food: 37.9% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Average household expenditures / on alcohol and tobacco: 3.1% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / lowest 10%: 3.5% (2021 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / highest 10%: 24.8% (2021 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2023: 0.33% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2022: 0.4% of GDP (2022 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2021: 0.4% of GDP (2021 est.)
Budget / revenues: $8.808 billion (2023 est.)
Budget / expenditures: $12.49 billion (2023 est.)
Public debt / Public debt 2019: 31.4% of GDP (2019 est.)
Taxes and other revenues: 3.9% (of GDP) (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2023: -$4.788 billion (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2022: -$5.16 billion (2022 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2021: -$4.507 billion (2021 est.)
Exports / Exports 2023: $10.865 billion (2023 est.)
Exports / Exports 2022: $10.971 billion (2022 est.)
Exports / Exports 2021: $9.496 billion (2021 est.)
Exports - partners: USA 12%, China 10%, UAE 8%, Saudi Arabia 8%, Netherlands 5% (2023)
Exports - commodities: coffee, garments, dried legumes, cut flowers, oil seeds (2023)
Imports / Imports 2023: $22.951 billion (2023 est.)
Imports / Imports 2022: $24.187 billion (2022 est.)
Imports / Imports 2021: $20.859 billion (2021 est.)
Imports - partners: China 26%, Djibouti 16%, India 7%, Kuwait 7%, Saudi Arabia 6% (2023)
Imports - commodities: refined petroleum, fertilizers, plastics, raw sugar, cars (2023)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024: $3.784 billion (2024 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023: $2.028 billion (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $1.192 billion (2022 est.)
Debt - external / Debt - external 2023: $25.426 billion (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Currency: birr (ETB) per US dollar -
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2023: 54.601 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2022: 51.756 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2021: 43.734 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2020: 34.927 (2020 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2019: 29.07 (2019 est.)

## Energy
Electricity access / electrification - total population: 55% (2022 est.)
Electricity access / electrification - urban areas: 94%
Electricity access / electrification - rural areas: 43%
Electricity / installed generating capacity: 5.69 million kW (2023 est.)
Electricity / consumption: 12.298 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / exports: 1.762 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / transmission/distribution losses: 4.194 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / solar: 0.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / wind: 3.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / hydroelectricity: 96.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / geothermal: 0.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Coal / production: 456,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / consumption: 1.653 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / exports: 1,000 metric tons (2022 est.)
Coal / imports: 1.153 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum / refined petroleum consumption: 102,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Petroleum / crude oil estimated reserves: 428,000 barrels (2021 est.)
Natural gas / proven reserves: 24.919 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)
Energy consumption per capita / Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 2.366 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

## Communications
Telephones - fixed lines / total subscriptions: 766,000 (2024 est.)
Telephones - fixed lines / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2024 est.) less than 1
Telephones - mobile cellular / total subscriptions: 85.9 million (2024 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 65 (2024 est.)
Broadcast media: 10 public/state broadcasters; 9 public/state radio stations; 13 commercial FM radio stations; 18 commercial TV stations; 45 community radio stations; 5 community TV stations (2023)
Internet country code: .et
Internet users / percent of population: 17% (2021 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / total: 566,000 (2022 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2022 est.) less than 1

## Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: ET
Airports: 58 (2025)
Heliports: 1 (2025)
Railways / total: 659 km (2017) (Ethiopian segment of the 756 km Addis Ababa-Djibouti railroad)
Railways / standard gauge: 659 km (2017) 1.435-m gauge
Merchant marine / total: 12 (2023)
Merchant marine / by type: general cargo 10, oil tanker 2

## Military and Security
Military and security forces: Ethiopian National Defense Force (ENDF; aka Federal Defense Force of Ethiopia, FDRE): Army, Air Force, Naval Force, Defense Cyber Main Directorate (2025)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2024: 0.7% of GDP (2024 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2023: 1% of GDP (2023 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2022: 1.7% of GDP (2022 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2021: 0.5% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2020: 0.5% of GDP (2020 est.)
Military and security service personnel strengths: available information varies widely; estimated 150-300,000 active-duty Defense Force (2025)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the ENDF's inventory has traditionally been comprised of Russian, Soviet, and Eastern Bloc armaments; it suffered considerable equipment losses during the 2020-2022 Tigray conflict; in more recent years, Ethiopia has diversified its arms sources to include such suppliers as China, T&uuml;rkiye, Ukraine, and the UAE; Ethiopia's defense industry produces small arms, as well as armored vehicles under license (2025)
Military service age and obligation: 18-22 years of age for voluntary military service; 24-month service obligation; no compulsory military service, but the military can conduct callups when necessary and compliance is compulsory (2025)
Military deployments: 1,500 South Sudan (UNMISS); estimated to have as many as 10,000 troops Somalia (approximately 2,500 under the AU; the remainder under a bilateral agreement with the Somali Government) (2025)
Military - note: the Ethiopian National Defense Force (ENDF) is focused on both external threats emanating from its neighbors and internal threats from multiple internal armed groups; since 1998, the ENDF has engaged in several conventional and counterinsurgency operations, including border wars with Eritrea (1998-2000) and Somalia (2006-2008) and internal conflicts with the Tigray regional state (2020-2022), multiple insurgent groups and ethnic militias, and the al-Shabaab terrorist group; as of 2025, the ENDF was actively conducting counterinsurgency operations against anti-government militants in several states, including the Amhara militia Fano and the Oromo Liberation Army (OLA), as well as al-Shabaab in Somalia (2025)

## Space
Space agency/agencies: Ethiopian Space Science and Geospatial Institute (ESSGI; formed in 2022 from the joining of the Ethiopian Space Science and Technology Institute or ESSTI and the Ethiopian Geospatial Information Institute or EGII) (2025)
Space program overview: focuses on acquiring and operating satellites, as well as conducting research; jointly builds satellites with foreign partners, and operates and exploits remote sensing (RS) satellites; developing the ability to manufacture satellites and their payloads; involved in astronomy and the construction of space observatories; works with a variety of countries, including China, France, India, Russia, and multiple African countries, particularly Kenya, Rwanda, Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda; shares RS data with neighboring countries (2025)
Key space-program milestones: 2015 - established Entoto Observatory and Space Science Research Center 2019 - first remote sensing (RS) satellite (Ethiopia RS Satellite or ETRSS-1) built and launched by China 2020 - second RS satellite (ET-SMART-RSS) built with assistance from and launched by China; began construction of satellite manufacturing, assembly, integration, and testing facility 2021 - established a multi-mission ground control station for RS satellites 2024 - declared second satellite ground station operational 2025 - announced plans to launch third RS satellite (ETRSS-02) in partnership with China in 2026

## Terrorism
Terrorist group(s): al-Shabaab

## Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons / refugees: 1,071,881 (2024 est.)
Refugees and internally displaced persons / IDPs: 3,134,600 (2024 est.)

=== The Gambia ===

## Introduction
Background: In the 10th century, Muslim merchants established some of The Gambia’s earliest large settlements as trans-Saharan trade hubs. These settlements eventually grew into major export centers sending slaves, gold, and ivory across the Sahara. Between the 16th and 17th centuries, European colonial powers began establishing trade with The Gambia. In 1664, the United Kingdom established a colony in The Gambia focused on exporting enslaved people across the Atlantic. During the roughly 300 years of the trans-Atlantic slave trade, the UK and other European powers may have exported as many as 3 million people from The Gambia. The Gambia gained its independence from the UK in 1965. Geographically surrounded by Senegal, it formed the short-lived confederation of Senegambia between 1982 and 1989. In 1994, Yahya JAMMEH led a military coup overthrowing the president and banning political activity. He subsequently won every presidential election until 2016, when he lost to Adama BARROW, who headed an opposition coalition during free and fair elections. BARROW won reelection in 2021. The Gambia is the only member of the Economic Community of West African States that does not have presidential term limits. Since the 2016 election, The Gambia and the US have enjoyed improved relations. US assistance to the country has supported democracy-strengthening activities, capacity building, economic development, and security sector education and training programs.

## Geography
Location: Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean and Senegal
Geographic coordinates: 13 28 N, 16 34 W
Map references: Africa
Area / total: 11,300 sq km
Area / land: 10,120 sq km
Area / water: 1,180 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly less than twice the size of Delaware
Land boundaries / total: 749 km
Land boundaries / border countries: Senegal 749 km
Coastline: 80 km
Maritime claims / territorial sea: 12 nm
Maritime claims / contiguous zone: 18 nm
Maritime claims / continental shelf: extent not specified
Maritime claims / exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
Climate: tropical; hot, rainy season (June to November); cooler, dry season (November to May)
Terrain: flood plain of the Gambia River flanked by some low hills
Elevation / highest point: unnamed elevation 63 m; 3 km southeast of the town of Sabi
Elevation / lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
Elevation / mean elevation: 34 m
Natural resources: fish, clay, silica sand, titanium (rutile and ilmenite), tin, zircon
Land use / agricultural land: 62.6% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 43.5% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 0.7% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 18.5% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 22% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 15.4% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land: 50 sq km (2012)
Major rivers (by length in km): Gambia river mouth (shared with Senegal and Guinea [s]) - 1,094 km note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Major aquifers: Senegalo-Mauritanian Basin
Population distribution: settlements are found scattered along the Gambia River; the largest communities, including the capital of Banjul and the country's largest city, Serekunda, are found at the mouth of the Gambia River along the Atlantic coast, as shown in this population distribution map
Natural hazards: droughts
Geography - note: almost an enclave of Senegal; smallest country on the African mainland

## People and Society
Population / total: 2,523,327 (2024 est.)
Population / male: 1,250,490
Population / female: 1,272,837
Nationality / noun: Gambian(s)
Nationality / adjective: Gambian
Ethnic groups: Mandinka/Jahanka 33.3%, Fulani/Tukulur/Lorobo 18.2%, Wolof 12.9%, Jola/Karoninka 11%, Serahuleh 7.2%, Serer 3.5%, other 4%, non-Gambian 9.9% (2019-20 est.)
Languages: English (official), Mandinka, Wolof, Fula, other indigenous vernaculars
Religions: Muslim 96.4%, Christian 3.5%, other or none 0.1% (2019-20 est.)
Age structure / 0-14 years: 38.2% (male 486,472/female 477,309)
Age structure / 15-64 years: 58.1% (male 723,360/female 743,127)
Age structure / 65 years and over: 3.7% (2024 est.) (male 40,658/female 52,401)
Dependency ratios / total dependency ratio: 72.1 (2024 est.)
Dependency ratios / youth dependency ratio: 65.7 (2024 est.)
Dependency ratios / elderly dependency ratio: 6.3 (2024 est.)
Dependency ratios / potential support ratio: 15.8 (2024 est.)
Median age / total: 20.5 years (2025 est.)
Median age / male: 19.8 years
Median age / female: 20.6 years
Population growth rate: 2.09% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 26.49 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 5.53 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: -0.04 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution: settlements are found scattered along the Gambia River; the largest communities, including the capital of Banjul and the country's largest city, Serekunda, are found at the mouth of the Gambia River along the Atlantic coast, as shown in this population distribution map
Urbanization / urban population: 64.5% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 3.75% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 481,000 BANJUL (capital) (2023)
Sex ratio / at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 0-14 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 65 years and over: 0.78 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth: 20.7 years (2019/20 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio: 354 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Infant mortality rate / total: 35 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Infant mortality rate / male: 39.1 deaths/1,000 live births
Infant mortality rate / female: 32.2 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth / total population: 68.4 years (2024 est.)
Life expectancy at birth / male: 66.7 years
Life expectancy at birth / female: 70.1 years
Total fertility rate: 3.39 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 1.67 (2025 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: urban: urban: 90.9% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: rural: rural: 76.4% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: total: total: 85.6% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: urban: urban: 9.1% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: rural: rural: 23.6% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: total: total: 14.4% of population (2022 est.)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 3.2% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 7.5% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density: 0.09 physicians/1,000 population (2023)
Hospital bed density: 1.2 beds/1,000 population (2021 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: urban: urban: 74.9% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: rural: rural: 32% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: total: total: 59.4% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: urban: urban: 25.1% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: rural: rural: 68% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: total: total: 40.6% of population (2022 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 10.3% (2016)
Alcohol consumption per capita / total: 2.67 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / beer: 0.21 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / wine: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / spirits: 0.02 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / other alcohols: 2.44 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Tobacco use / total: 8.6% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / male: 17% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / female: 0.5% (2025 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 11.6% (2020 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49): 63% (2020 est.)
Child marriage / women married by age 15: 5.6% (2020)
Child marriage / women married by age 18: 23.1% (2020)
Child marriage / men married by age 18: 0.2% (2020)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% GDP): 2.8% of GDP (2023 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% national budget): 14.2% national budget (2025 est.)
Literacy / total population: 51.6% (2021 est.)
Literacy / male: 65.3% (2021 est.)
Literacy / female: 40.5% (2021 est.)

## Environment
Environmental issues: deforestation due to slash-and-burn agriculture; desertification; water pollution; water-borne diseases
International environmental agreements / party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
International environmental agreements / signed, but not ratified: Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban
Climate: tropical; hot, rainy season (June to November); cooler, dry season (November to May)
Land use / agricultural land: 62.6% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 43.5% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 0.7% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 18.5% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 22% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 15.4% (2023 est.)
Urbanization / urban population: 64.5% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 3.75% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / total emissions: 537,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from petroleum and other liquids: 537,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Particulate matter emissions: 34.9 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Waste and recycling / municipal solid waste generated annually: 193,400 tons (2024 est.)
Waste and recycling / percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 13% (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / municipal: 41.2 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / industrial: 21.2 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / agricultural: 39.2 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total renewable water resources: 8 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: Republic of The Gambia
Country name / conventional short form: The Gambia
Country name / etymology: named for the Gambia River that flows through the country; Portuguese explorers in the 15th century derived the name for the river from its local name, Ba-Dimma, meaning "the river"
Government type: presidential republic
Capital / name: Banjul
Capital / geographic coordinates: 13 27 N, 16 34 W
Capital / time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Capital / etymology: the name derives from a misunderstanding between Portuguese colonists and inhabitants in the 15th century; when asked what the area was called, the inhabitants thought they were being asked what they were doing and replied, " bangjulo," or "rope making"
Administrative divisions: 5 regions, 1 city*, and 1 municipality**; Banjul*, Central River, Kanifing**, Lower River, North Bank, Upper River, West Coast
Legal system: mixed system of English common law, Islamic law, and customary law
Constitution / history: previous 1965 (Independence Act), 1970; latest adopted 8 April 1996, approved by referendum 8 August 1996, effective 16 January 1997
Constitution / amendment process: proposed by the National Assembly; passage requires at least three-fourths majority vote by the Assembly membership in each of several readings and approval by the president of the republic; a referendum is required for amendments affecting national sovereignty, fundamental rights and freedoms, government structures and authorities, taxation, and public funding; passage by referendum requires participation of at least 50% of eligible voters and approval by at least 75% of votes cast
International law organization participation: accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Citizenship / citizenship by birth: yes
Citizenship / citizenship by descent only: yes
Citizenship / dual citizenship recognized: no
Citizenship / residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch / chief of state: President Adama BARROW (since 19 January 2022)
Executive branch / head of government: Vice President Mohammed JALLOW (since 23 February 2024)
Executive branch / cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president
Executive branch / election/appointment process: president directly elected by simple-majority popular vote for a 5-year term (no term limits); vice president appointed by the president
Executive branch / most recent election date: 4 December 2021
Executive branch / election results: 2021: Adama BARROW reelected president; percent of vote - Adama BARROW (NPP) 53.2%, Ousainou DARBOE (UDP) 27.7%, Mamma KANDEH (GDC) 12.3%, other 6.8% 2016: Adama BARROW elected president; percent of vote - Adama BARROW (Coalition 2016) 43.3%, Yahya JAMMEH (APRC) 39.6%, Mamma KANDEH (GDC) 17.1%
Executive branch / expected date of next election: 2026
Legislative branch / legislature name: National Assembly
Legislative branch / legislative structure: unicameral
Legislative branch / number of seats: 58 (53 directly elected; 5 appointed)
Legislative branch / electoral system: plurality/majority
Legislative branch / scope of elections: full renewal
Legislative branch / term in office: 5 years
Legislative branch / most recent election date: 4/9/2022
Legislative branch / parties elected and seats per party: National People's Party (NPP) (18); United Democratic Party (UDP) (15); National Reconciliation Party (NRP) (4); Independents (12); Other (4)
Legislative branch / percentage of women in chamber: 8.6%
Legislative branch / expected date of next election: April 2027
Judicial branch / highest court(s): Supreme Court of The Gambia (consists of the chief justice and 6 justices; court sessions held with 5 justices)
Judicial branch / judge selection and term of office: justices appointed by the president after consultation with the Judicial Service Commission, a 6-member independent body of high-level judicial officials, a presidential appointee, and a National Assembly appointee; justices appointed for life or until mandatory retirement at age 75
Judicial branch / subordinate courts: Court of Appeal; High Court; Special Criminal Court; Khadis or Muslim courts; district tribunals; magistrates courts; cadi courts
Political parties: Alliance for Patriotic Reorientation and Construction or APRC Gambia Democratic Congress or GDC Gambia Moral Congress or GMC National People's Party or NPP People's Progressive Party or PPP United Democratic Party or UDP
Diplomatic representation in the US / chief of mission: Ambassador Momodou Lamin BAH (12 December 2022)
Diplomatic representation in the US / chancery: 5630 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20011
Diplomatic representation in the US / telephone: [1] (202) 785-1399
Diplomatic representation in the US / FAX: [1] (202) 785-1430
Diplomatic representation in the US / email address and website: info@gambiaembassydc.us https://www.gambiaembassydc.us/home
Diplomatic representation from the US / chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charg&eacute; d&rsquo;Affaires Eugene S. YOUNG (since 14 October 2025)
Diplomatic representation from the US / embassy: Kairaba Avenue, Fajara, P.M.B. 19, Banjul
Diplomatic representation from the US / mailing address: 2070 Banjul Place, Washington DC 20521-2070
Diplomatic representation from the US / telephone: [220] 439-2856
Diplomatic representation from the US / FAX: [220] 439-2475
Diplomatic representation from the US / email address and website: ConsularBanjul@state.gov https://gm.usembassy.gov/
International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, AU, ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NAM, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHRC, UNIDO, UNISFA, UNMIL, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Independence: 18 February 1965 (from the UK)
National holiday: Independence Day, 18 February (1965)
Flag: description: three equal horizontal bands of red (top), blue with white edges, and green meaning: red stands for the sun and the savannah, blue for the Gambia River, and green for forests and agriculture; the white stripes denote unity and peace
National symbol(s): lion
National color(s): red, blue, green, white
National anthem(s) / title: "For The Gambia, Our Homeland"
National anthem(s) / lyrics/music: Virginia Julie HOWE/adapted by Jeremy Frederick HOWE
National anthem(s) / history: adopted 1965; the music is an adaptation of the traditional Mandinka song "Foday Kaba Dumbuya"
National heritage / total World Heritage Sites: 2 (both cultural)
National heritage / selected World Heritage Site locales: Kunta Kinteh Island and Related Sites; Stone Circles of Senegambia

## Economy
Economic overview: low-income West African economy; agriculture-dominant; high poverty rate; heightened inflation; dependent on foreign assistance and remittances; structural reforms conditioned by IMF Extended Credit Facility program
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $8.365 billion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $7.911 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $7.549 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2024: 5.7% (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2023: 4.8% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2022: 5.5% (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2024: $3,000 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2023: $2,900 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2022: $2,900 (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $2.508 billion (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024: 11.6% (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023: 17% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 11.5% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / agriculture: 24.1% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / industry: 14.7% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / services: 53.9% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / household consumption: 83.2% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / government consumption: 8.5% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in fixed capital: 39% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in inventories: 0% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / exports of goods and services: 6.6% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / imports of goods and services: -37.2% (2024 est.)
Agricultural products: rice, groundnuts, milk, millet, oil palm fruit, maize, vegetables, cassava, fruits, sorghum (2023)
Industries: peanuts, fish, hides, tourism, beverages, agricultural machinery assembly, woodworking, metalworking, clothing
Industrial production growth rate: 2.4% (2024 est.)
Labor force: 783,100 (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2024: 6.5% (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2023: 6.5% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2022: 6.1% (2022 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / total: 10.9% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / male: 10.9% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / female: 10.9% (2024 est.)
Population below poverty line: 53.4% (2020 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income / Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2020: 38.8 (2020 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / lowest 10%: 2.6% (2020 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / highest 10%: 30.5% (2020 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2024: 21.1% of GDP (2024 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2023: 21.5% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2022: 22.8% of GDP (2022 est.)
Budget / revenues: $308.887 million (2018 est.)
Budget / expenditures: $221.137 million (2018 est.)
Public debt / Public debt 2016: 82.3% of GDP (2016 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2024: -$74.374 million (2024 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2023: -$120.064 million (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2022: -$90.251 million (2022 est.)
Exports / Exports 2024: $838.409 million (2024 est.)
Exports / Exports 2023: $717.774 million (2023 est.)
Exports / Exports 2022: $267.377 million (2022 est.)
Exports - partners: Kazakhstan 92%, Guinea-Bissau 2%, China 1%, India 1%, Greece 1% (2023)
Exports - commodities: packaged medicine, cars, harvesting machinery, refined petroleum, trailers (2023)
Imports / Imports 2024: $1.549 billion (2024 est.)
Imports / Imports 2023: $1.353 billion (2023 est.)
Imports / Imports 2022: $829.516 million (2022 est.)
Imports - partners: Kazakhstan 26%, China 18%, Senegal 8%, India 7%, Brazil 4% (2023)
Imports - commodities: crude petroleum, refined petroleum, cotton fabric, iron alloys, rice (2023)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023: $577.028 million (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $568.244 million (2022 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2021: $652.671 million (2021 est.)
Debt - external / Debt - external 2023: $902.421 million (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Currency: dalasis (GMD) per US dollar -
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2023: 61.096 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2022: 54.923 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2021: 51.484 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2020: 51.502 (2020 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2019: 50.062 (2019 est.)

## Energy
Electricity access / electrification - total population: 65.4% (2022 est.)
Electricity access / electrification - urban areas: 82.8%
Electricity access / electrification - rural areas: 31.2%
Electricity / installed generating capacity: 162,000 kW (2023 est.)
Electricity / consumption: 410.824 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / transmission/distribution losses: 104.176 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / fossil fuels: 99% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / solar: 0.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / wind: 0.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Petroleum / refined petroleum consumption: 3,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Energy consumption per capita / Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 2.731 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

## Communications
Telephones - fixed lines / total subscriptions: 60,000 (2021 est.)
Telephones - fixed lines / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 2 (2022 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / total subscriptions: 2.68 million (2021 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 101 (2021 est.)
Broadcast media: 1 state-run TV-channel; one privately owned TV station; 1 online TV station; 3 state-owned and 31 privately owned radio stations; 8 community radio stations; transmissions of multiple international broadcasters are available; cable and satellite TV subscription services in some parts of the country (2019)
Internet country code: .gm
Internet users / percent of population: 46% (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / total: 6,000 (2022 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2022 est.) less than 1

## Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: C5
Airports: 1 (2025)
Merchant marine / total: 15 (2023)
Merchant marine / by type: general cargo 5, other 10
Ports / total ports: 1 (2024)
Ports / large: 0
Ports / medium: 0
Ports / small: 0
Ports / very small: 1
Ports / ports with oil terminals: 1
Ports / key ports: Banjul

## Military and Security
Military and security forces: Gambian Armed Forces (GAF; aka Armed Forces of the Gambia): the Gambian National Army (GNA), Gambia Navy, Gambia Air Force, Republican National Guard (RNG) Ministry of Interior: Gambia Police Force (GPF) (2025)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2024: 0.6% of GDP (2024 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2023: 0.6% of GDP (2023 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2022: 0.7% of GDP (2022 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2021: 0.8% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2020: 0.8% of GDP (2020 est.)
Military and security service personnel strengths: estimated 3,000-4,000 active Gambian Armed Forces (2025)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the military of Gambia has a limited inventory of mostly older, obsolescent, or donated equipment originating from several suppliers, including Taiwan, Turkey, the UK, and the US (2025)
Military service age and obligation: 18-28 years of age for men and women depending on enlisted, officer, or specialized positions (2025)
Military - note: the Gambian Armed Forces (GAF) are responsible for external defense and aiding civil authorities in internal emergencies and natural disaster relief; they participate in multinational peacekeeping missions, as well as domestic support activities such as agricultural development, construction, education, and health services; the Gambian security forces have a history of involvement in domestic politics, including multiple coup attempts and mutinies, with the latest being an attempted coup in 2022 since January 2017, several members of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) have provided security forces for Gambia's stability, plus assistance and training for the GAF and other Gambian security forces through the ECOWAS Mission in the Gambia (ECOMIG); as of 2025, Ghana, Nigeria, and Senegal were providing military and gendarmerie personnel for ECOMIG (2025)

## Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons / refugees: 4,411 (2024 est.)
Refugees and internally displaced persons / IDPs: 7,462 (2024 est.)

=== Gabon ===

## Introduction
Background: Gabon, a sparsely populated country known for its dense rainforests and vast petroleum reserves, is one of the most prosperous and stable countries in central Africa. Approximately 40 ethnic groups are represented, the largest of which is the Fang, a group that covers the northern third of Gabon and expands north into Equatorial Guinea and Cameroon. From about the early 1300s, various kingdoms emerged in present-day Gabon and the surrounding area, including the Kingdoms of Loango and Orungu. Because most early Bantu languages spoken in these kingdoms did not have a written form, much of Gabon's early history was lost over time. Portuguese traders who arrived in the mid-1400s gave the area its name of Gabon. At that time, indigenous trade networks began to engage with European traders, exchanging goods such as ivory and wood. For a century beginning in the 1760s, trade came to focus mostly on enslaved people. While many groups in Gabon participated in the slave trade, the Fang were a notable exception. As the slave trade declined in the late 1800s, France colonized the country and directed a widespread extraction of Gabonese resources. Anti-colonial rhetoric by Gabon’s educated elites increased significantly in the early 1900s, but no widespread rebellion materialized. French decolonization after World War II led to the country’s independence in 1960. Within a year of independence, the government changed from a parliamentary to a presidential system, and Leon M’BA won the first presidential election in 1961. El Hadj Omar BONGO Ondimba was M’BA’s vice president and assumed the presidency after M’BA’s death in 1967. BONGO went on to dominate the country's political scene for four decades (1967-2009). In 1968, he declared Gabon a single-party state and created the still-dominant Parti Democratique Gabonais (PDG). In the early 1990s, he reintroduced a multiparty system under a new constitution in response to growing political opposition. He was reelected by wide margins in 1995, 1998, 2002, and 2005 against a divided opposition and amidst allegations of fraud. After BONGO's death in 2009, a new election brought his son, Ali BONGO Ondimba, to power, and he was reelected in 2016. He won a third term in the August 2023 election but was overthrown in a military coup a few days later. Gen. Brice OLIGUI Nguema led a military group called the Committee for the Transition and Restoration of Institutions that arrested BONGO, canceled the election results, and dissolved state institutions. In September 2023, OLIGUI was sworn in as transitional president of Gabon.

## Geography
Location: Central Africa, bordering the Atlantic Ocean at the Equator, between Republic of the Congo and Equatorial Guinea
Geographic coordinates: 1 00 S, 11 45 E
Map references: Africa
Area / total: 267,667 sq km
Area / land: 257,667 sq km
Area / water: 10,000 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly smaller than Colorado
Land boundaries / total: 3,261 km
Land boundaries / border countries: Cameroon 349 km; Republic of the Congo 2,567 km; Equatorial Guinea 345 km
Coastline: 885 km
Maritime claims / territorial sea: 12 nm
Maritime claims / contiguous zone: 24 nm
Maritime claims / exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate: tropical; always hot, humid
Terrain: narrow coastal plain; hilly interior; savanna in east and south
Elevation / highest point: Mont Bengoue 1,050 m
Elevation / lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
Elevation / mean elevation: 377 m
Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas, diamond, niobium, manganese, uranium, gold, timber, iron ore, hydropower
Land use / agricultural land: 8.4% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 1.3% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 0.7% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 6.4% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 91.5% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 0.2% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land: 40 sq km (2012)
Major watersheds (area sq km) / Atlantic Ocean drainage: Congo (3,730,881 sq km)
Major aquifers: Congo Basin
Population distribution: the relatively small population is spread in pockets throughout the country; the largest urban center is the capital of Libreville, located along the Atlantic coast in the northwest, as shown in this population distribution map
Natural hazards: none
Geography - note: the country has maintained its pristine rain forest and rich biodiversity

## People and Society
Population / total: 2,513,738 (2025 est.)
Population / male: 1,299,085
Population / female: 1,214,653
Nationality / noun: Gabonese (singular and plural)
Nationality / adjective: Gabonese
Ethnic groups: Fang 23.5%, Shira-Punu'Vii 20.6%, Nzabi-Duma 11.2%, Mbede-Teke 5.6%, Myene 4.4%, Kota-Kele 4.3%, Okande-Tsogho 1.6%, other 12.6%, foreigner 16.2% (2021 est.)
Languages: French (official), Fang, Myene, Nzebi, Bapounou/Eschira, Bandjabi
Religions: Protestant 46.4% (Revival Church 37%, other Protestant 9.4%), Roman Catholic 29.8%, other Christian 4%, Muslim 10.8%, traditional/animist 1.1%, other 0.9%, none 7% (2019-21 est.)
Age structure / 0-14 years: 34.6% (male 429,133/female 421,120)
Age structure / 15-64 years: 61.1% (male 787,480/female 711,913)
Age structure / 65 years and over: 4.3% (2024 est.) (male 53,410/female 52,049)
Dependency ratios / total dependency ratio: 63 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / youth dependency ratio: 55.8 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / elderly dependency ratio: 7.2 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / potential support ratio: 13.9 (2025 est.)
Median age / total: 22.3 years (2025 est.)
Median age / male: 22.5 years
Median age / female: 21.5 years
Population growth rate: 2.35% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 25.51 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 5.44 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: 3.42 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution: the relatively small population is spread in pockets throughout the country; the largest urban center is the capital of Libreville, located along the Atlantic coast in the northwest, as shown in this population distribution map
Urbanization / urban population: 91% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 2.27% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 870,000 LIBREVILLE (capital) (2023)
Sex ratio / at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 0-14 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 15-64 years: 1.11 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 65 years and over: 1.03 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / total population: 1.07 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth: 19.6 years (2012 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio: 233 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Infant mortality rate / total: 26 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Infant mortality rate / male: 29.7 deaths/1,000 live births
Infant mortality rate / female: 24 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth / total population: 70.4 years (2024 est.)
Life expectancy at birth / male: 68.6 years
Life expectancy at birth / female: 72.1 years
Total fertility rate: 3.16 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 1.56 (2025 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: urban: urban: 90.2% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: rural: rural: 54.9% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: total: total: 86.9% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: urban: urban: 9.8% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: rural: rural: 45.1% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: total: total: 13.1% of population (2022 est.)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 2.7% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 9.6% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density: 0.52 physicians/1,000 population (2022)
Sanitation facility access / improved: urban: urban: 81.3% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: rural: rural: 55.1% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: total: total: 78.9% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: urban: urban: 18.7% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: rural: rural: 44.9% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: total: total: 21.1% of population (2022 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 15% (2016)
Alcohol consumption per capita / total: 6.47 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / beer: 5.31 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / wine: 0.62 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / spirits: 0.5 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / other alcohols: 0.04 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 5.4% (2020 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49): 48.5% (2020 est.)
Child marriage / women married by age 15: 2.9% (2021)
Child marriage / women married by age 18: 13.3% (2021)
Child marriage / men married by age 18: 4.8% (2021)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% GDP): 2.3% of GDP (2023 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% national budget): 13.6% national budget (2023 est.)
Literacy / total population: 88.9% (2021 est.)
Literacy / male: 90.8% (2021 est.)
Literacy / female: 87.1% (2021 est.)

## Environment
Environmental issues: deforestation from logging; solid-waste disposal; water pollution from oil industry; wildlife poaching
International environmental agreements / party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling
International environmental agreements / signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Climate: tropical; always hot, humid
Land use / agricultural land: 8.4% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 1.3% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 0.7% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 6.4% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 91.5% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 0.2% (2023 est.)
Urbanization / urban population: 91% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 2.27% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / total emissions: 3.144 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from coal and metallurgical coke: 230,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from petroleum and other liquids: 2.005 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from consumed natural gas: 908,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Particulate matter emissions: 29.6 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Methane emissions / energy: 272.4 kt (2022-2024 est.)
Methane emissions / agriculture: 4.9 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Methane emissions / waste: 18.6 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Methane emissions / other: 5.4 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Waste and recycling / municipal solid waste generated annually: 238,100 tons (2024 est.)
Waste and recycling / percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 22.4% (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / municipal: 84.7 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / industrial: 14.1 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / agricultural: 40.3 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total renewable water resources: 166 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: Gabonese Republic
Country name / conventional short form: Gabon
Country name / local long form: R&eacute;publique Gabonaise
Country name / local short form: Gabon
Country name / etymology: name originates from the Portuguese word gabão, meaning "cloak," possibly used by early explorers to describe the shape of the Komo River estuary
Government type: presidential republic
Capital / name: Libreville
Capital / geographic coordinates: 0 23 N, 9 27 E
Capital / time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Capital / etymology: the city was founded in 1849 by freed slaves, and the name means "free town" in French
Administrative divisions: 9 provinces; Estuaire, Haut-Ogooue, Moyen-Ogooue, Ngounie, Nyanga, Ogooue-Ivindo, Ogooue-Lolo, Ogooue-Maritime, Woleu-Ntem
Legal system: mixed system of French civil law and customary law
Constitution / history: previous 1961, 1991; latest approved in November 2024 referendum
Constitution / amendment process: proposed by the president of the republic, by the Council of Ministers, or by one third of either house of Parliament; passage requires Constitutional Court evaluation, at least two-thirds majority vote of two thirds of the Parliament membership convened in joint session, and approval in a referendum; constitutional articles on Gabon&rsquo;s democratic form of government cannot be amended
International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Citizenship / citizenship by birth: no
Citizenship / citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Gabon
Citizenship / dual citizenship recognized: no
Citizenship / residency requirement for naturalization: 10 years
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch / chief of state: President Brice OLIGUI Nguema (since 3 May 2025)
Executive branch / head of government: President Brice OLIGUI Nguema (since 3 May 2025)
Executive branch / cabinet: cabinet appointed by president
Executive branch / election/appointment process: the president directly elected by plurality vote to a 7-year term (no term limits)
Executive branch / most recent election date: 12 April 2025
Executive branch / election results: 2025: Brice OLIGUI Nguema elected president; percent of vote - Brice OLIGUI Nguema (Ind.) 90.35%, Alain Claude Bilie By Nze (EPG) 3.02%, other 6.63% 2016: Ali BONGO Ondimba reelected president; percent of vote - Ali BONGO Ondimba (PDG) 49.8%, Jean PING (UFC) 48.2%, other 2.0%
Legislative branch / legislature name: Parliament
Legislative branch / legislative structure: bicameral
Legislative branch - lower chamber / chamber name: National Assembly (Assemblée nationale)
Legislative branch - lower chamber / number of seats: 145 (all directly elected)
Legislative branch - lower chamber / electoral system: plurality/majority
Legislative branch - lower chamber / scope of elections: full renewal
Legislative branch - lower chamber / term in office: 5 years
Legislative branch - lower chamber / most recent election date: 10/6/2023
Legislative branch - lower chamber / percentage of women in chamber: 21.6%
Legislative branch - lower chamber / expected date of next election: November 2030
Legislative branch - upper chamber / chamber name: Senate (Senate)
Legislative branch - upper chamber / number of seats: 70 (all indirectly elected)
Legislative branch - upper chamber / scope of elections: full renewal
Legislative branch - upper chamber / term in office: 5 years
Legislative branch - upper chamber / most recent election date: 9/27/2025 to 10/11/2025
Legislative branch - upper chamber / percentage of women in chamber: 20.3%
Legislative branch - upper chamber / expected date of next election: November 2025
Judicial branch / highest court(s): Supreme Court (consists of 4 permanent specialized supreme courts - Supreme Court or Cour de Cassation, Administrative Supreme Court or Conseil d'Etat, Accounting Supreme Court or Cour des Comptes, Constitutional Court or Cour Constitutionnelle, and the non-permanent Court of State Security, initiated only for cases of high treason by the president and criminal activity by executive branch officials)
Judicial branch / judge selection and term of office: appointment and tenure of Supreme, Administrative, Accounting, and State Security courts NA; Constitutional Court judges appointed - 3 by the national president, 3 by the president of the Senate, and 3 by the president of the National Assembly; judges serve single renewable 7-year terms
Judicial branch / subordinate courts: Courts of Appeal; county courts; military courts
Political parties: Gabonese Democratic Party or PDG Restoration of Republican Values or RV The Democrats or LD
Diplomatic representation in the US / chief of mission: Ambassador No&euml;l Nelson MESSONE (12 December 2022)
Diplomatic representation in the US / chancery: 2034 20th Street NW, Suite 200, Washington, DC 20009
Diplomatic representation in the US / telephone: [1] (202) 797-1000
Diplomatic representation in the US / FAX: [1] (301) 332-0668
Diplomatic representation in the US / email address and website: info@gaboneembassyusa.org https://gabonembassyusa.org/en/
Diplomatic representation in the US / consulate(s) general: New York
Diplomatic representation from the US / chief of mission: Ambassador Vernelle Trim FITZPATRICK (since 26 January 2024); note - also accredited to Sao Tome and Principe
Diplomatic representation from the US / embassy: Sabliere, B.P. 4000, Libreville
Diplomatic representation from the US / mailing address: 2270 Libreville Place, Washington, DC 20521-2270
Diplomatic representation from the US / telephone: [241] 011-45-71-00
Diplomatic representation from the US / FAX: [241] 011-45-71-05
Diplomatic representation from the US / email address and website: ACSLibreville@state.gov https://ga.usembassy.gov/
International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, AU (suspended), BDEAC, CEMAC, FAO, FZ, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MINUSCA, NAM, OIC, OIF, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Independence: 17 August 1960 (from France)
National holiday: Independence Day, 17 August (1960)
Flag: description: three equal horizontal bands of green (top), yellow, and blue meaning: green stands for the country's forests and natural resources, gold for the equator and the sun, and blue for the sea
National symbol(s): black panther
National color(s): green, yellow, blue
National coat of arms: the panthers represent vigilance and courage, and they support a shield with a ship and an okoume tree, which is a symbol of the timber trade; the ribbon below the shield has the national motto in French, Union, Travail, Justice ("Union, Work, Justice"), and the ribbon above the shield has the Latin phrase Uniti Progrediemur ("We shall go forward united")
National anthem(s) / title: "La Concorde" (The Concorde)
National anthem(s) / lyrics/music: Georges Aleka DAMAS
National anthem(s) / history: adopted 1960
National heritage / total World Heritage Sites: 2 (1 natural, 1 mixed)
National heritage / selected World Heritage Site locales: Ecosystem and Relict Cultural Landscape of Lop&eacute;-Okanda (m); Ivindo National Park (n)

## Economy
Economic overview: natural-resource-rich, upper-middle-income, Central African economy; significant reliance on oil and mineral exports; highly urbanized population; high levels of poverty and unemployment; uncertainty on institutional and development reform progress following 2023 military coup
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $48.045 billion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $46.472 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $45.363 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2024: 3.4% (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2023: 2.4% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2022: 3% (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2024: $18,900 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2023: $18,700 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2022: $18,700 (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $20.867 billion (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024: 1.2% (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023: 3.6% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 4.2% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / agriculture: 6.2% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / industry: 50.9% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / services: 37.5% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / household consumption: 33.7% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / government consumption: 12.2% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in fixed capital: 18.1% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in inventories: 0% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / exports of goods and services: 65.3% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / imports of goods and services: -29.2% (2024 est.)
Agricultural products: oil palm fruit, plantains, cassava, sugarcane, yams, taro, vegetables, maize, groundnuts, game meat (2023)
Industries: petroleum extraction and refining; manganese, gold; chemicals, ship repair, food and beverages, textiles, lumbering and plywood, cement
Industrial production growth rate: 2.8% (2024 est.)
Labor force: 824,400 (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2024: 20.1% (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2023: 20.3% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2022: 20.4% (2022 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / total: 36% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / male: 31.1% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / female: 42.3% (2024 est.)
Population below poverty line: 33.4% (2017 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income / Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2017: 38 (2017 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / lowest 10%: 2.2% (2017 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / highest 10%: 27.7% (2017 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2023: 0.1% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2022: 0.1% of GDP (2022 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2021: 0.1% of GDP (2021 est.)
Budget / revenues: $2.939 billion (2021 est.)
Budget / expenditures: $3.226 billion (2021 est.)
Public debt / Public debt 2016: 64.2% of GDP (2016 est.)
Taxes and other revenues: 9.5% (of GDP) (2021 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2015: $140.996 million (2015 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2014: $1.112 billion (2014 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2013: $1.463 billion (2013 est.)
Exports / Exports 2024: $13.622 billion (2024 est.)
Exports / Exports 2023: $12.869 billion (2023 est.)
Exports / Exports 2022: $13.814 billion (2022 est.)
Exports - partners: China 26%, Indonesia 8%, Spain 7%, Israel 6%, Congo, Republic of the 5% (2023)
Exports - commodities: crude petroleum, ships, manganese ore, refined petroleum, wood (2023)
Imports / Imports 2024: $6.094 billion (2024 est.)
Imports / Imports 2023: $5.38 billion (2023 est.)
Imports / Imports 2022: $5.005 billion (2022 est.)
Imports - partners: France 14%, China 13%, S. Korea 13%, USA 7%, India 4% (2023)
Imports - commodities: ships, refined petroleum, iron pipes, cars, packaged medicine (2023)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023: $1.447 billion (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $1.415 billion (2022 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2021: $1.304 billion (2021 est.)
Debt - external / Debt - external 2023: $6.442 billion (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Currency: Coop&eacute;ration Financi&egrave;re en Afrique Centrale francs (XAF) per US dollar -
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2024: 606.345 (2024 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2023: 606.57 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2022: 623.76 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2021: 554.531 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2020: 575.586 (2020 est.)

## Energy
Electricity access / electrification - total population: 93.5% (2022 est.)
Electricity access / electrification - urban areas: 98.5%
Electricity access / electrification - rural areas: 29%
Electricity / installed generating capacity: 785,000 kW (2023 est.)
Electricity / consumption: 3.173 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / imports: 584.039 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / transmission/distribution losses: 604 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / fossil fuels: 51.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / hydroelectricity: 47.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / biomass and waste: 0.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Coal / imports: 75,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum / total petroleum production: 204,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Petroleum / refined petroleum consumption: 14,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Petroleum / crude oil estimated reserves: 2 billion barrels (2021 est.)
Natural gas / production: 463 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / consumption: 463 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / proven reserves: 25.995 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)
Energy consumption per capita / Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 22.101 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

## Communications
Telephones - fixed lines / total subscriptions: 67,100 (2024 est.)
Telephones - fixed lines / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 3 (2024 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / total subscriptions: 3.18 million (2024 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 125 (2024 est.)
Broadcast media: 2 state-run TV stations and 2 state-run radio stations; a few private radio and TV stations; transmissions of at least 2 international broadcasters are accessible; satellite service subscriptions are available
Internet country code: .ga
Internet users / percent of population: 72% (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / total: 80,000 (2022 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 3 (2022 est.)

## Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: TR
Airports: 42 (2025)
Railways / total: 649 km (2014)
Railways / standard gauge: 649 km (2014) 1.435-m gauge
Merchant marine / total: 87 (2023)
Merchant marine / by type: bulk carrier 1, general cargo 19, oil tanker 30, other 37
Ports / total ports: 9 (2024)
Ports / large: 0
Ports / medium: 2
Ports / small: 2
Ports / very small: 5
Ports / ports with oil terminals: 7
Ports / key ports: Libreville, Oguendjo Terminal, Port Gentil, Port Owendo

## Military and Security
Military and security forces: Gabonese Armed Forces (Force Armées Gabonaise or FAG; aka National Defense and Security Forces of Gabon or des Forces Nationales de Défense et de Sécurité (FNDS) du Gabon): Army, Navy, Air Force, Light Aviation, Fire Brigade; Gabon National Gendarmerie (GENA); Republican Guard (GR); Military Health Service; Military Engineering (2025)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2024: 1.5% of GDP (2024 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2023: 1.3% of GDP (2023 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2022: 1.3% of GDP (2022 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2021: 1.7% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2020: 1.8% of GDP (2020 est.)
Military and security service personnel strengths: approximately 7,000 active-duty Armed Forces including the Republican Guard and Gendarmerie (2025)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the Gabonese military has a mix of older and limited quantities of more modern armaments; suppliers include Brazil, China, France, Germany, Russia/former Soviet Union, South Africa, and Spain (2025)
Military service age and obligation: 18-24 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription (2025)
Military - note: the Gabonese military is a small and lightly armed force that is responsible for both external and internal security; the military may also participate in the economic and social development work of the nation; key defense priorities include securing the country's borders and maritime domain; it has contributed to regional peacekeeping and joint security operations; in August 2023, officers from the Republican Guard seized control of the government and placed the president under arrest (2025)

## Space
Space agency/agencies: Gabonese Studies and Space Observations Agency (Agence Gabonaise d&rsquo;Etudes et d&rsquo;Observations Spatiales or AGEOS; established 2015) (2025)
Space program overview: has a small space program focused on using data from remote sensing (RS) satellites for environmental and natural-resource management, mapping, land-use planning, maritime surveillance, and research; member of the African Space Agency; has relationships with Brazil, China, the ESA, individual ESA member states (particularly France), and the US, as well as African countries such as Kenya, Niger, Rwanda, and South Africa; shares RS satellite data with neighboring countries (2025)
Key space-program milestones: 1986 - ESA established a ground station in Gabon 2018 - completed mapping Gabon’s forests 2019 - founding member of the Space Climate Observatory 2021 - began acquisition process for first satellite in joint project with Japan, known as BIRDs 2025 - became member of new African Space Agency

## Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons / refugees: 261 (2024 est.)

=== Ghana ===

## Introduction
Background: Ghana is a multiethnic country rich in natural resources and is one of the most stable and democratic countries in West Africa. Ghana has been inhabited for at least several thousand years, but little is known about its early inhabitants. By the 12th century, the gold trade started to boom in Bono (Bonoman) state in what is today southern Ghana, and it became the genesis of the Akan people's power and wealth in the region. Beginning in the 15th century, the Portuguese, followed by other European powers, arrived and competed for trading rights. Numerous kingdoms and empires emerged in the area, among the most powerful were the Kingdom of Dagbon in the north and the Asante (Ashanti) Empire in the south. By the mid-18th century, Asante was a highly organized state with immense wealth; it provided enslaved people for the Atlantic slave trade, and in return received firearms that facilitated its territorial expansion. The Asante resisted increasing British influence in the coastal areas, engaging in a series of wars during the 19th century before ultimately falling under British control. Formed from the merger of the British colony of the Gold Coast and the Togoland trust territory, Ghana in 1957 became the first Sub-Saharan country in colonial Africa to gain its independence, with Kwame NKRUMAH as its first leader. Ghana endured a series of coups before Lt. Jerry RAWLINGS took power in 1981 and banned political parties. After approving a new constitution and restoring multiparty politics in 1992, RAWLINGS won presidential elections in 1992 and 1996 but was constitutionally prevented from running for a third term in 2000. John KUFUOR of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) succeeded him and was reelected in 2004. John Atta MILLS of the National Democratic Congress won the 2008 presidential election and took over as head of state. MILLS died in 2012 and was constitutionally succeeded by his vice president, John Dramani MAHAMA, who subsequently won the 2012 presidential election. In 2016, Nana Addo Dankwa AKUFO-ADDO of the NPP defeated MAHAMA, marking the third time that Ghana’s presidency had changed parties since the return to democracy. AKUFO-ADDO was reelected in 2020. In recent years, Ghana has taken an active role in promoting regional stability and is highly integrated in international affairs.

## Geography
Location: Western Africa, bordering the Gulf of Guinea, between Cote d'Ivoire and Togo
Geographic coordinates: 8 00 N, 2 00 W
Map references: Africa
Area / total: 238,533 sq km
Area / land: 227,533 sq km
Area / water: 11,000 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly smaller than Oregon
Land boundaries / total: 2,420 km
Land boundaries / border countries: Burkina Faso 602 km; Cote d'Ivoire 720 km; Togo 1098 km
Coastline: 539 km
Maritime claims / territorial sea: 12 nm
Maritime claims / contiguous zone: 24 nm
Maritime claims / exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Maritime claims / continental shelf: 200 nm
Climate: tropical; warm and comparatively dry along southeast coast; hot and humid in southwest; hot and dry in north
Terrain: mostly low plains with dissected plateau in south-central area
Elevation / highest point: Mount Afadjato 885 m
Elevation / lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
Elevation / mean elevation: 190 m
Natural resources: gold, timber, industrial diamonds, bauxite, manganese, fish, rubber, hydropower, petroleum, silver, salt, limestone
Land use / agricultural land: 55.4% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 20.7% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 11.9% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 22.8% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 30.7% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 13.9% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land: 360 sq km (2013)
Major rivers (by length in km): Volta river mouth (shared with Burkina Faso [s]) - 1,600 km note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Major watersheds (area sq km) / Atlantic Ocean drainage: Volta (410,991 sq km)
Population distribution: population is concentrated in the southern half of the country, with the highest concentrations on or near the Atlantic coast, as shown in this population distribution map
Natural hazards: dry, dusty, northeastern harmattan winds from January to March; droughts
Geography - note: Lake Volta is the world's largest artificial lake (manmade reservoir) by surface area (8,482 sq km; 3,275 sq mi); the lake was created after the Akosombo Dam was completed in 1965

## People and Society
Population / total: 35,336,133 (2025 est.)
Population / male: 17,278,776
Population / female: 18,057,357
Nationality / noun: Ghanaian(s)
Nationality / adjective: Ghanaian
Ethnic groups: Akan 45.7%, Mole-Dagbani 18.5%, Ewe 12.8%, Ga-Dangme 7.1%, Gurma 6.4%, Guan 3.2%, Grusi 2.7%, Mande 2%, other 1.6% (2021 est.)
Languages: Asante 16%, Ewe 14%, Fante 11.6%, Boron (Brong) 4.9%, Dagomba 4.4%, Dangme 4.2%, Dagarte (Dagaba) 3.9%, Kokomba 3.5%, Akyem 3.2%, Ga 3.1%, other 31.2% (2010 est.)
Religions: Christian 71.3% (Pentecostal/Charismatic 31.6%, Protestant 17.4%, Catholic 10%, other 12.3%), Muslim 19.9%, traditionalist 3.2%, other 4.5%, none 1.1% (2021 est.)
Age structure / 0-14 years: 37.4% (male 6,527,386/female 6,400,245)
Age structure / 15-64 years: 58.2% (male 9,690,498/female 10,444,197)
Age structure / 65 years and over: 4.4% (2024 est.) (male 684,189/female 842,577)
Dependency ratios / total dependency ratio: 70.8 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / youth dependency ratio: 63.2 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / elderly dependency ratio: 7.6 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / potential support ratio: 13.1 (2025 est.)
Median age / total: 21.6 years (2025 est.)
Median age / male: 20.6 years
Median age / female: 22.3 years
Population growth rate: 2.12% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 27.09 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 5.73 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: -0.15 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution: population is concentrated in the southern half of the country, with the highest concentrations on or near the Atlantic coast, as shown in this population distribution map
Urbanization / urban population: 59.2% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 3.06% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 3.768 million Kumasi, 2.660 million ACCRA (capital), 1.078 million Sekondi Takoradi (2023)
Sex ratio / at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 0-14 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 15-64 years: 0.93 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 65 years and over: 0.81 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth: 22.1 years (2022 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio: 234 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Infant mortality rate / total: 30.5 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Infant mortality rate / male: 34.5 deaths/1,000 live births
Infant mortality rate / female: 27.8 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth / total population: 70.1 years (2024 est.)
Life expectancy at birth / male: 68.4 years
Life expectancy at birth / female: 71.8 years
Total fertility rate: 3.51 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 1.73 (2025 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: urban: urban: 98.4% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: rural: rural: 74.1% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: total: total: 88.4% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: urban: urban: 1.6% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: rural: rural: 25.9% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: total: total: 11.6% of population (2022 est.)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 4.2% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 7.4% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density: 0.27 physicians/1,000 population (2023)
Hospital bed density: 0.7 beds/1,000 population (2015 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: urban: urban: 85.7% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: rural: rural: 55.3% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: total: total: 73.1% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: urban: urban: 14.3% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: rural: rural: 44.7% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: total: total: 26.9% of population (2022 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 10.9% (2016)
Alcohol consumption per capita / total: 1.59 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / beer: 0.53 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / wine: 0.05 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / spirits: 0.39 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / other alcohols: 0.61 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Tobacco use / total: 2.8% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / male: 5.4% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / female: 0.3% (2025 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 12% (2022 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49): 53.4% (2022 est.)
Child marriage / women married by age 15: 3.3% (2022)
Child marriage / women married by age 18: 16.1% (2022)
Child marriage / men married by age 18: 2.4% (2022)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% GDP): 2.9% of GDP (2022 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% national budget): 13.2% national budget (2022 est.)
Literacy / total population: 76.5% (2021 est.)
Literacy / male: 81.3% (2021 est.)
Literacy / female: 72.1% (2021 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / total: 12 years (2022 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / male: 12 years (2022 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / female: 12 years (2022 est.)

## Environment
Environmental issues: drought in north; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; poaching and habitat destruction; water pollution; inadequate potable water
International environmental agreements / party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling
International environmental agreements / signed, but not ratified: Marine Life Conservation
Climate: tropical; warm and comparatively dry along southeast coast; hot and humid in southwest; hot and dry in north
Land use / agricultural land: 55.4% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 20.7% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 11.9% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 22.8% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 30.7% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 13.9% (2023 est.)
Urbanization / urban population: 59.2% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 3.06% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / total emissions: 20.822 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from coal and metallurgical coke: 107,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from petroleum and other liquids: 13.349 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from consumed natural gas: 7.366 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Particulate matter emissions: 43.4 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Methane emissions / energy: 164.9 kt (2022-2024 est.)
Methane emissions / agriculture: 166.7 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Methane emissions / waste: 134 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Methane emissions / other: 28.1 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Waste and recycling / municipal solid waste generated annually: 3.538 million tons (2024 est.)
Waste and recycling / percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 13.3% (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / municipal: 299.6 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / industrial: 95 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / agricultural: 1.07 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total renewable water resources: 56.2 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: Republic of Ghana
Country name / conventional short form: Ghana
Country name / former: Gold Coast
Country name / etymology: named for a tribal chieftain who ruled a large part of the region prior to the 13th century, even though his territory was northwest of modern-day Ghana; the former name, Gold Coast, came from the gold that Portuguese explorers discovered in the region in the late 15th century
Government type: presidential republic
Capital / name: Accra
Capital / geographic coordinates: 5 33 N, 0 13 W
Capital / time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Capital / etymology: the name derives from the Akan word nkran , meaning "ant," and may refer to the nickname local forest dwellers gave to the Nigerian tribes who settled in the area in the 16th century
Administrative divisions: 16 regions; Ahafo, Ashanti, Bono, Bono East, Central, Eastern, Greater Accra, North East, Northern, Oti, Savannah, Upper East, Upper West, Volta, Western, Western North
Legal system: mixed system of English common law and customary law
Constitution / history: several previous; latest drafted 31 March 1992, approved and promulgated 28 April 1992, entered into force 7 January 1993
Constitution / amendment process: proposed by Parliament; consideration requires prior referral to the Council of State, a body of prominent citizens who advise the president of the republic; passage of amendments to "entrenched" constitutional articles (including those on national sovereignty, fundamental rights and freedoms, the structure and authorities of the branches of government, and amendment procedures) requires approval in a referendum by at least 40% participation of eligible voters and at least 75% of votes cast, followed by at least two-thirds majority vote in Parliament, and assent of the president; amendments to non-entrenched articles do not require referenda
International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Citizenship / citizenship by birth: no
Citizenship / citizenship by descent only: at least one parent or grandparent must be a citizen of Ghana
Citizenship / dual citizenship recognized: yes
Citizenship / residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch / chief of state: President John Dramani MAHAMA (since 7 January 2025)
Executive branch / head of government: President John Dramani MAHAMA (since 7 January 2025)
Executive branch / cabinet: Council of Ministers; nominated by the president, approved by Parliament
Executive branch / election/appointment process: president and vice president directly elected on the same ballot by absolute-majority popular vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a 4-year term (eligible for a second term); the president is both chief of state and head of government
Executive branch / most recent election date: 7 December 2024
Executive branch / election results: 2024: John Dramani MAHAMA elected president in the first round; percent of vote- John Dramani MAHAMA (NDC) 56.5%, Mahamudu BAWUMIA (NPC) 41%, other 2.5% 2020: Nana Addo Dankwa AKUFO-ADDO reelected president in the first round; percent of vote - Nana Addo Dankwa AKUFO-ADDO (NPP) 51.3%, John Dramani MAHAMA (NDC) 47.4%, other 1.3% (2020)
Executive branch / expected date of next election: 7 December 2028
Legislative branch / legislature name: Parliament
Legislative branch / legislative structure: unicameral
Legislative branch / number of seats: 276 (all directly elected)
Legislative branch / electoral system: plurality/majority
Legislative branch / scope of elections: full renewal
Legislative branch / term in office: 4 years
Legislative branch / most recent election date: 12/7/2024
Legislative branch / parties elected and seats per party: National Democratic Congress (NDC) (183); New Patriotic Party (NPP) (88); Other (4)
Legislative branch / percentage of women in chamber: 14.5%
Legislative branch / expected date of next election: December 2028
Judicial branch / highest court(s): Supreme Court (consists of the chief justice and 13 justices)
Judicial branch / judge selection and term of office: chief justice appointed by the president in consultation with the Council of State (a small advisory body of prominent citizens) and with the approval of Parliament; other justices appointed by the president on the advice of the Judicial Council (an 18-member independent body of judicial, military and police officials, and presidential nominees) and on the advice of the Council of State; justices can retire at age 60, with compulsory retirement at age 70
Judicial branch / subordinate courts: Court of Appeal; High Court; Circuit Court; District Court; regional tribunals
Political parties: All Peoples Congress or APC Convention People's Party or CPP Ghana Freedom Party or GFP Ghana Union Movement or GUM Great Consolidated Popular Party or GCPP Liberal Party of Ghana or LPG National Democratic Congress or NDC National Democratic Party or NDP New Patriotic Party or NPP People's National Convention or PNC Progressive People's Party or PPP United Front Party or UFP United Progressive Party or UPP
Diplomatic representation in the US / chief of mission: Ambassador Victor Emmanuel SMITH (since 19 September 2025)
Diplomatic representation in the US / chancery: 3512 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation in the US / telephone: [1] (202) 686-4520
Diplomatic representation in the US / FAX: [1] (202) 686-4527
Diplomatic representation in the US / email address and website: info.washington@mfa.gov.gh https://washington.mfa.gov.gh/
Diplomatic representation in the US / consulate(s) general: New York
Diplomatic representation from the US / chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charg&eacute; d&rsquo;Affaires Rolf OLSON (since 29 May 2025)
Diplomatic representation from the US / embassy: No. 24, Fourth Circular Road, Cantonments, Accra, P.O. Box 2288, Accra
Diplomatic representation from the US / mailing address: 2020 Accra Place, Washington DC 20521-2020
Diplomatic representation from the US / telephone: [233] (0) 30-274-1000
Diplomatic representation from the US / email address and website: ACSAccra@state.gov https://gh.usembassy.gov/
International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, ATMIS, AU, C, ECOWAS, EITI (compliant country), FAO, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MINURSO, MONUSCO, NAM, OAS (observer), OIF, OPCW, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNHRC, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNISFA, UNMIL, UNMISS, UNOCI, UNOOSA, UNSOM, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Independence: 6 March 1957 (from the UK)
National holiday: Independence Day, 6 March (1957)
Flag: description: three equal horizontal bands of red (top), yellow, and green, with a large five-pointed black star centered in the yellow band meaning: red stands for the blood shed for independence, yellow for the country's mineral wealth, and green for its forests and natural wealth; the black star is said to be the lodestar of African freedom history: uses the colors of the Pan-African movement
National symbol(s): black star, golden eagle
National color(s): red, yellow, green, black
National anthem(s) / title: "God Bless Our Homeland Ghana"
National anthem(s) / lyrics/music: unknown/Philip GBEHO
National anthem(s) / history: music adopted 1957, lyrics adopted 1966; the lyrics were changed twice, in 1960 when a republic was declared and after a 1966 coup
National heritage / total World Heritage Sites: 2 (both cultural)
National heritage / selected World Heritage Site locales: Forts and Castles, Volta, Greater Accra, Central and Western Regions; Asante Traditional Buildings

## Economy
Economic overview: West African lower-middle income economy; major gold, oil and cocoa exporter; macroeconomic challenges following nearly four decades of sustained growth; recent progress in debt restructuring, fiscal reforms, financial stability, and curbing runaway inflation under 2023-26 IMF credit facility program
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $243.124 billion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $230.046 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $223.043 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2024: 5.7% (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2023: 3.1% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2022: 3.8% (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2024: $7,100 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2023: $6,800 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2022: $6,700 (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $82.825 billion (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024: 22.8% (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023: 38.1% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 31.3% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / agriculture: 20.7% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / industry: 28.8% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / services: 43.9% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / household consumption: 84.1% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / government consumption: 4.8% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in fixed capital: 9.8% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in inventories: 0.2% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / exports of goods and services: 35.3% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / imports of goods and services: -34.1% (2024 est.)
Agricultural products: cassava, yams, plantains, maize, oil palm fruit, taro, rice, oranges, pineapples, cocoa beans (2023)
Industries: mining, lumbering, light manufacturing, aluminum smelting, food processing, cement, small commercial ship building, petroleum
Industrial production growth rate: 7.1% (2024 est.)
Labor force: 13.928 million (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2024: 3.1% (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2023: 3.1% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2022: 3.1% (2022 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / total: 5.4% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / male: 5.5% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / female: 5.3% (2024 est.)
Population below poverty line: 23.4% (2016 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income / Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2016: 43.5 (2016 est.)
Average household expenditures / on food: 39.1% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Average household expenditures / on alcohol and tobacco: 0.4% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / lowest 10%: 1.6% (2016 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / highest 10%: 32.2% (2016 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2023: 3% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2022: 2.8% of GDP (2022 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2021: 2.4% of GDP (2021 est.)
Budget / revenues: $11.684 billion (2022 est.)
Budget / expenditures: $19.102 billion (2022 est.)
Public debt / Public debt 2016: 73.4% of GDP (2016 est.)
Taxes and other revenues: 12.3% (of GDP) (2022 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2023: $1.407 billion (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2022: -$1.741 billion (2022 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2021: -$2.541 billion (2021 est.)
Exports / Exports 2023: $25.365 billion (2023 est.)
Exports / Exports 2022: $25.52 billion (2022 est.)
Exports / Exports 2021: $23.901 billion (2021 est.)
Exports - partners: Switzerland 24%, UAE 18%, India 8%, South Africa 7%, China 7% (2023)
Exports - commodities: gold, crude petroleum, cocoa beans, manganese ore, cocoa paste (2023)
Imports / Imports 2023: $26.024 billion (2023 est.)
Imports / Imports 2022: $26.329 billion (2022 est.)
Imports / Imports 2021: $25.967 billion (2021 est.)
Imports - partners: China 30%, Netherlands 8%, India 5%, USA 5%, Russia 5% (2023)
Imports - commodities: refined petroleum, cars, plastics, plastic products, footwear (2023)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023: $3.624 billion (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $5.205 billion (2022 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2021: $9.917 billion (2021 est.)
Debt - external / Debt - external 2023: $29.241 billion (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Currency: cedis (GHC) per US dollar -
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2023: 11.02 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2022: 8.272 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2021: 5.806 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2020: 5.596 (2020 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2019: 5.217 (2019 est.)

## Energy
Electricity access / electrification - total population: 85.1% (2022 est.)
Electricity access / electrification - urban areas: 95%
Electricity access / electrification - rural areas: 71.6%
Electricity / installed generating capacity: 5.519 million kW (2023 est.)
Electricity / consumption: 19.534 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / exports: 2 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / imports: 48.449 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / transmission/distribution losses: 2.796 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / fossil fuels: 61.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / solar: 0.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / hydroelectricity: 37.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / biomass and waste: 0.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Coal / consumption: 51,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / exports: 21 metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / imports: 52,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum / total petroleum production: 176,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Petroleum / refined petroleum consumption: 96,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Petroleum / crude oil estimated reserves: 660 million barrels (2021 est.)
Natural gas / production: 3.116 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / consumption: 3.755 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / imports: 639.204 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / proven reserves: 22.653 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)
Energy consumption per capita / Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 10.493 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

## Communications
Telephones - fixed lines / total subscriptions: 269,000 (2024 est.)
Telephones - fixed lines / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2024 est.) less than 1
Telephones - mobile cellular / total subscriptions: 39.1 million (2024 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 114 (2024 est.)
Broadcast media: state-owned TV station, 2 state-owned radio networks; several privately owned TV stations and a large number of privately owned radio stations; transmissions of multiple international broadcasters are accessible; several cable and satellite TV subscription services are obtainable
Internet country code: .gh
Internet users / percent of population: 70% (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / total: 223,000 (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 1 (2023 est.)

## Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: 9G
Airports: 11 (2025)
Heliports: 7 (2025)
Railways / total: 947 km (2022)
Railways / narrow gauge: 947 km (2022) 1.067-m gauge
Merchant marine / total: 52 (2023)
Merchant marine / by type: general cargo 8, oil tanker 3, other 41
Ports / total ports: 4 (2024)
Ports / large: 0
Ports / medium: 1
Ports / small: 1
Ports / very small: 2
Ports / ports with oil terminals: 3
Ports / key ports: Saltpond, Sekondi, Takoradi, Tema

## Military and Security
Military and security forces: Ghana Armed Forces (GAF): Army, Air Force, Ghana Navy Ministry of Interior: Ghana Police Service (2025)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2024: 0.4% of GDP (2024 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2023: 0.4% of GDP (2023 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2022: 0.4% of GDP (2022 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2021: 0.5% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2020: 0.4% of GDP (2020 est.)
Military and security service personnel strengths: estimated 15-20,000 active Armed Forces (2025)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the military's inventory is a mix of older (mostly Soviet-era) and some newer armaments from such suppliers as China, Japan, Jordan, T&uuml;rkiye, the UK, and the US; the government has committed to an increase in funding for equipment acquisitions, including armor, mechanized, and special forces capabilities for the Army, light attack aircraft for the Air Force, and more modern coastal patrol vessels for the Navy (2025)
Military service age and obligation: 18-27 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription (2025)
Military deployments: 875 Lebanon (UNIFIL); 725 (plus about 275 police) South Sudan (UNMISS); 670 Sudan (UNISFA) (2025)
Military - note: the military’s primary missions are border defense, assisting with internal security, peacekeeping, and protecting the country’s territorial waters, particularly its offshore oil and gas infrastructure; it has benefited from cooperation with foreign partners, such as the UK and the US, and experience gained from participation in multiple international peacekeeping missions in recent years, Ghana has expanded the Army and reinforced its presence in the northern part of the country to shore up porous borders, interdict smuggling routes, and counter threats from the terrorist organization Jama’at Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin (JNIM), a coalition of al-Qa'ida linked militant groups which has a considerable presence in Burkina Faso and has conducted attacks in Cote d'Ivoire and Togo; Ghana has also made efforts to increase the Navy's capabilities to protect its maritime claims and counter threats such as piracy and illegal fishing (2025)

## Space
Space agency/agencies: Ghana Space Science and Technology Institute (GSSTI; established 2011) (2025)
Space program overview: has nascent space program focused on Earth observation, space science education, and telecommunications; seeks to exploit remote sensing (RS) technology for agriculture, natural-resource management, weather forecasting, and national security; relies on foreign imagery for analysis but seeks to develop its own RS satellite capabilities; has established cooperative relationships with China, Japan, and a number of regional states, particularly South Africa; working with Egypt, Kenya, Nigeria, Sudan, and Uganda on a satellite to monitor climate changes in the African continent; member of the African Space Agency; partner in the Square Kilometer Array radio telescope (2025)
Key space-program milestones: 2017 - first satellite (GhanaSat-1), a technology demonstration/remote sensing nanosatellite built by a Gabonese university with assistance from Japan and released from the International Space Station; established Ghana Radio Astronomy Observatory 2024 - released a national space policy

## Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons / refugees: 17,334 (2024 est.)
Refugees and internally displaced persons / IDPs: 4,937 (2024 est.)

=== Guinea ===

## Introduction
Background: Guinea's deep Muslim heritage arrived via the neighboring Almoravid Empire in the 11th century. Following Almoravid decline, Guinea existed on the fringe of several African kingdoms, all competing for regional dominance. In the 13th century, the Mali Empire took control of Guinea and encouraged its already growing Muslim faith. After the fall of the West African empires, various smaller kingdoms controlled Guinea. In the 18th century, Fulani Muslims established an Islamic state in central Guinea that provided one of the earliest examples of a written constitution and alternating leadership. European traders first arrived in the 16th century, and the French secured colonial rule in the 19th century. In 1958, Guinea achieved independence from France. Sekou TOURE became Guinea’s first post-independence president; he established a dictatorial regime and ruled until his death in 1984, after which General Lansana CONTE staged a coup and seized the government. He too established an authoritarian regime and manipulated presidential elections until his death in 2008, when Captain Moussa Dadis CAMARA led a military coup, seized power, and suspended the constitution. In 2009, CAMARA was wounded in an assassination attempt and was exiled to Burkina Faso. In 2010 and 2013 respectively, the country held its first free and fair presidential and legislative elections. Alpha CONDE won the 2010 and 2015 presidential elections, and his first cabinet was the first all-civilian government in Guinean history. CONDE won a third term in 2020 after a constitutional change to term limits. In 2021, Col Mamady DOUMBOUYA led another successful military coup, establishing the National Committee for Reconciliation and Development (CNRD), suspending the constitution, and dissolving the government and the legislature. DOUMBOUYA was sworn in as transition president and appointed Mohamed BEAVOGUI as transition prime minister. The National Transition Council (CNT), which acts as the legislative body for the transition, was formed in 2022 and consists of appointed members representing a broad swath of Guinean society.

## Geography
Location: Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Guinea-Bissau and Sierra Leone
Geographic coordinates: 11 00 N, 10 00 W
Map references: Africa
Area / total: 245,857 sq km
Area / land: 245,717 sq km
Area / water: 140 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly smaller than Oregon; slightly larger than twice the size of Pennsylvania
Land boundaries / total: 4,046 km
Land boundaries / border countries: Cote d'Ivoire 816 km; Guinea-Bissau 421 km; Liberia 590 km; Mali 1062 km; Senegal 363 km; Sierra Leone 794 km
Coastline: 320 km
Maritime claims / territorial sea: 12 nm
Maritime claims / exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate: generally hot and humid; monsoonal-type rainy season (June to November) with southwesterly winds; dry season (December to May) with northeasterly harmattan winds
Terrain: generally flat coastal plain, hilly to mountainous interior
Elevation / highest point: Mont Nimba 1,752 m
Elevation / lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
Elevation / mean elevation: 472 m
Natural resources: bauxite, iron ore, diamonds, gold, uranium, hydropower, fish, salt
Land use / agricultural land: 73.2% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 24.4% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 5.3% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 43.5% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 20.3% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 6.5% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land: 949 sq km (2017)
Major rivers (by length in km): Niger river source (shared with Mali, and Nigeria [m]) - 4,200 km; Gambie (Gambia) river source (shared with Senegal and The Gambia [m]) - 1,094 km note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Major watersheds (area sq km) / Atlantic Ocean drainage: Niger (2,261,741 sq km), Senegal (456,397 sq km)
Population distribution: areas of highest density are in the west and south; interior is sparsely populated, as shown in this population distribution map
Natural hazards: hot, dry, dusty harmattan haze may reduce visibility during dry season
Geography - note: the Niger and its important tributary, the Milo River, have their sources in the Guinean highlands

## People and Society
Population / total: 14,374,590 (2025 est.)
Population / male: 7,179,661
Population / female: 7,194,929
Nationality / noun: Guinean(s)
Nationality / adjective: Guinean
Ethnic groups: Fulani (Peuhl) 33.4%, Malinke 29.4%, Susu 21.2%, Guerze 7.8%, Kissi 6.2%, Toma 1.6%, other/foreign 0.4% (2018 est.)
Languages: French (official), Pular, Maninka, Susu, other native languages
Religions: Muslim 85.2%, Christian 13.4%, animist 0.2%, none 1.2% (2018 est.)
Age structure / 0-14 years: 40.9% (male 2,884,146/female 2,835,794)
Age structure / 15-64 years: 55.1% (male 3,846,852/female 3,856,366)
Age structure / 65 years and over: 4% (2024 est.) (male 254,608/female 308,413)
Dependency ratios / total dependency ratio: 81.5 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / youth dependency ratio: 74.1 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / elderly dependency ratio: 7.4 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / potential support ratio: 13.6 (2025 est.)
Median age / total: 19.5 years (2025 est.)
Median age / male: 19.2 years
Median age / female: 19.6 years
Population growth rate: 2.74% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 35.04 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 7.69 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution: areas of highest density are in the west and south; interior is sparsely populated, as shown in this population distribution map
Urbanization / urban population: 38.1% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 3.64% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 2.111 million CONAKRY (capital) (2023)
Sex ratio / at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 0-14 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 65 years and over: 0.83 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / total population: 1 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth: 19.9 years (2018 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio: 494 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Infant mortality rate / total: 45.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Infant mortality rate / male: 51.6 deaths/1,000 live births
Infant mortality rate / female: 42.3 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth / total population: 64.6 years (2024 est.)
Life expectancy at birth / male: 62.7 years
Life expectancy at birth / female: 66.6 years
Total fertility rate: 4.75 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 2.34 (2025 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: urban: urban: 92% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: rural: rural: 59% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: total: total: 71.5% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: urban: urban: 8% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: rural: rural: 41% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: total: total: 28.5% of population (2022 est.)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 3.8% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 5% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density: 0.21 physicians/1,000 population (2022)
Sanitation facility access / improved: urban: urban: 95.6% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: rural: rural: 39.4% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: total: total: 60.6% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: urban: urban: 4.4% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: rural: rural: 60.6% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: total: total: 39.4% of population (2022 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 7.7% (2016)
Alcohol consumption per capita / total: 0.33 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / beer: 0.29 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / wine: 0.01 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / spirits: 0.03 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / other alcohols: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 15% (2022 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49): 70.9% (2018 est.)
Child marriage / women married by age 15: 17% (2018)
Child marriage / women married by age 18: 46.5% (2018)
Child marriage / men married by age 18: 1.9% (2018)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% GDP): 1.7% of GDP (2023 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% national budget): 9.2% national budget (2025 est.)
Literacy / total population: 39.6% (2018 est.)
Literacy / male: 54.4% (2018 est.)
Literacy / female: 27.7% (2018 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / total: 9 years (2021 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / male: 9 years (2021 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / female: 8 years (2021 est.)

## Environment
Environmental issues: deforestation; inadequate potable water; desertification; soil contamination and erosion; overfishing, overpopulation in forest region; poor mining practices; water pollution; improper waste disposal
International environmental agreements / party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
International environmental agreements / signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Climate: generally hot and humid; monsoonal-type rainy season (June to November) with southwesterly winds; dry season (December to May) with northeasterly harmattan winds
Land use / agricultural land: 73.2% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 24.4% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 5.3% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 43.5% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 20.3% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 6.5% (2023 est.)
Urbanization / urban population: 38.1% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 3.64% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / total emissions: 4.505 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from coal and metallurgical coke: 1,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from petroleum and other liquids: 4.504 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Particulate matter emissions: 34.2 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Waste and recycling / municipal solid waste generated annually: 596,900 tons (2024 est.)
Waste and recycling / percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 23.9% (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / municipal: 230 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / industrial: 60 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / agricultural: 600 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total renewable water resources: 226 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: Republic of Guinea
Country name / conventional short form: Guinea
Country name / local long form: R&eacute;publique de Guin&eacute;e
Country name / local short form: Guin&eacute;e
Country name / former: French Guinea
Country name / etymology: the country is named after the Guinea region of West Africa that lies along the Gulf of Guinea, but the name itself derives from the Tuareg word aginaw , meaning "black people"
Government type: presidential republic
Capital / name: Conakry
Capital / geographic coordinates: 9 30 N, 13 42 W
Capital / time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Capital / etymology: the name derives from konakri , a Susu word meaning "over the water" and referring to the city's location on a peninsula; it was originally the name of a local village
Administrative divisions: 7 administrative regions ( régions administratives , singular - région administrative ) and 1 governorate ( gouvenorat )*; Boke, Conakry*, Faranah, Kankan, Kindia, Labe, Mamou, N'Zerekore
Legal system: civil law system based on the French model
Constitution / history: previous 1958, 1990; 2010 and a referendum in 2020, which was suspended on 5 September 2021 via a coup d'&eacute;tat; on 27 September, the Transitional Charter was released, which supersedes the constitution until a new constitution is promulgated
International law organization participation: accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Citizenship / citizenship by birth: no
Citizenship / citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Guinea
Citizenship / dual citizenship recognized: no
Citizenship / residency requirement for naturalization: na
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch / chief of state: President Col. Mamady DOUMBOUYA (since 17 January 2026)
Executive branch / head of government: Prime Minister Amadou Oury BAH (since 27 February 2024)
Executive branch / cabinet: formerly the Council of Ministers appointed by the president
Executive branch / election/appointment process: the president is directly elected by absolute-majority popular vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a 7-year single term, and the prime minister is appointed by the president
Executive branch / most recent election date: 28 December 2025
Executive branch / election results: 2025: Mamady DOUMBOUYA elected president in the first round; percent of vote -Mamady DOUMBOUYA (Independent) 86.7%, Abdoulaye Yero BALDE (DFG) 6.5%, other 7% 2020: Alpha CONDE reelected president in the first round; percent of vote - Alpha CONDE (RPG) 59.5%, Cellou Dalein DIALLO (UFDG) 33.5%, other 7%
Legislative branch / legislature name: Transitional National Council (Conseil national de transition)
Legislative branch / legislative structure: unicameral
Legislative branch / number of seats: 81 (all appointed)
Legislative branch / electoral system: mixed system
Legislative branch / scope of elections: full renewal
Legislative branch / most recent election date: 1/22/2022
Legislative branch / percentage of women in chamber: 29.6%
Legislative branch / expected date of next election: December 2025
Judicial branch / highest court(s): Supreme Court or Cour Supr&ecirc;me (organized into Administrative Chamber and Civil, Penal, and Social Chamber; court consists of the first president, 2 chamber presidents, 10 councilors, the solicitor general, and NA deputies); Constitutional Court - suspended on 5 September 2021
Judicial branch / judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court first president appointed by the national president after consultation with the National Assembly; other members appointed by presidential decree; members serve 9-year terms until age 65
Judicial branch / subordinate courts: Court of Appeal or Cour d'Appel; High Court of Justice or Cour d'Assises; Court of Account (Court of Auditors); Courts of First Instance (Tribunal de Premi&egrave;re Instance); labor court; military tribunal; justices of the peace; specialized courts
Political parties: African Congress for Democracy and Renewal or CADRE Alliance for National Renewal or ARN Alliance for National Renewal or ARENA Bloc Liberal or BL Citizen Generation or GECI Citizen Party for the Defense of Collective Interests or PCDIC Democratic Alliance for Renewal or ADR Democratic National Movement or MND Democratic Union for Renewal and Progress or UDRP Democratic Union of Guinea or UDG Democratic People's Movement of Guinea or MPDG Democratic Workers' Party of Guinea or PDTG Front for the National Alliance or FAN Generation for Reconciliation Union and Prosperity or GRUP Guinea for Democracy and Balance or GDE Guinean Party for Peaceful Coexistence and Development or PGCD Guinean Party for Solidarity and Democracy or PGSD Guinean Union for Democracy and Development or UGDD Guinean Rally for Development or RGD Guinean Rally for Unity and Development or RGUD Guinean Renaissance Party or PGR Modern Guinea Movement for Solidarity and Development or MSD National Committee for Reconciliation and Development National Front for Development or FND National Union for Prosperity or UNP National Party for Hope and Development or PEDN New Democratic Forces or NFD New Generation for the Republic or NGR New Guinea or NG New Political Generation or NGP Party for Progress and Change or PPC Party of Citizen Action through Labor or PACT Party of Democrats for Hope or PADES Party of Freedom and Progress or PLP Party of Hope for National Development or PEDN Rally for Renaissance and Development or RRD Rally for the Guinean People or RPG Rally for the Integrated Development of Guinea or RDIG Rally for the Republic or RPR Union of Democratic Forces of Guinea or UFDG Union for Progress and Renewal or UPR Union for the Defense of Republican Interests or UDIR Union for the Progress of Guinea or UPG Union of Democratic Forces or UFD a or UFDG Union of Democrats for the Renaissance of Guinea or UDRG Union of Republican Forces or UFR Unity and Progress Party or PUP
Diplomatic representation in the US / chief of mission: Ambassador Fatoumata KABA (since 19 April 2023)
Diplomatic representation in the US / chancery: 2112 Leroy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation in the US / telephone: [1] (202) 986-4300
Diplomatic representation in the US / FAX: [1] (202) 986-3800
Diplomatic representation in the US / email address and website: http://guineaembassyusa.org/en/welcome-to-the-embassy-of-guinea-washington-usa/
Diplomatic representation in the US / consulate(s): Los Angelos
Diplomatic representation from the US / chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charg&eacute; d&rsquo;Affaires Mary E. DASCHBACH (since 15 July 2025)
Diplomatic representation from the US / embassy: Transversale No. 2, Centre Administratif de Koloma, Commune de Ratoma, Conakry
Diplomatic representation from the US / mailing address: 2110 Conakry Place, Washington DC 20521-2110
Diplomatic representation from the US / telephone: [224] 65-10-40-00
Diplomatic representation from the US / FAX: [224] 65-10-42-97
Diplomatic representation from the US / email address and website: ConakryACS@state.gov https://gn.usembassy.gov/
International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, EITI (compliant country), FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MINURSO, MONUSCO, NAM, OIC, OIF, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNISFA, UNMISS, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Independence: 2 October 1958 (from France)
National holiday: Independence Day, 2 October (1958)
Flag: description: three equal vertical bands of red (left side), yellow, and green meaning: red stands for the people's sacrifice for liberation and work; yellow for the sun, the riches of the earth, and justice; green for the country's vegetation and unity history: uses the colors of the Pan-African movement
National symbol(s): elephant
National color(s): red, yellow, green
National anthem(s) / title: "Libert&eacute;" (Liberty)
National anthem(s) / lyrics/music: unknown/Fodeba KEITA
National anthem(s) / history: adopted 1958
National heritage / total World Heritage Sites: 1 (natural)
National heritage / selected World Heritage Site locales: Mount Nimba Strict Nature Reserve

## Economy
Economic overview: growing but primarily agrarian West African economy; major mining sector; improving fiscal and debt balances prior to COVID-19; economy increasingly vulnerable to climate change; slow infrastructure improvements; gender wealth and human capital gaps
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $59.439 billion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $56.251 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $53.297 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2024: 5.7% (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2023: 5.5% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2022: 4% (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2024: $4,000 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2023: $3,900 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2022: $3,800 (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $25.334 billion (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024: 8.1% (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023: 7.8% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 10.5% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / agriculture: 29.6% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / industry: 25.3% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / services: 37.5% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / household consumption: 67.4% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / government consumption: 13.4% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in fixed capital: 32.1% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in inventories: -0.9% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / exports of goods and services: 44% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / imports of goods and services: -56.1% (2024 est.)
Agricultural products: rice, cassava, maize, groundnuts, oil palm fruit, plantains, potatoes, fonio, yams, sweet potatoes (2023)
Industries: bauxite, gold, diamonds, iron ore; light manufacturing, agricultural processing
Industrial production growth rate: 7.1% (2024 est.)
Labor force: 4.534 million (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2024: 5.3% (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2023: 5.3% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2022: 5.3% (2022 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / total: 7.1% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / male: 6.2% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / female: 8% (2024 est.)
Population below poverty line: 43.7% (2018 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income / Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2018: 29.6 (2018 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / lowest 10%: 3.5% (2018 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / highest 10%: 23.1% (2018 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2023: 2.2% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2022: 2.6% of GDP (2022 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2021: 2% of GDP (2021 est.)
Budget / revenues: $1.949 billion (2019 est.)
Budget / expenditures: $2.014 billion (2019 est.)
Public debt / Public debt 2016: 41.8% of GDP (2016 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2023: $2.288 billion (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2022: $3.35 billion (2022 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2021: $4.639 billion (2021 est.)
Exports / Exports 2023: $12.008 billion (2023 est.)
Exports / Exports 2022: $8.898 billion (2022 est.)
Exports / Exports 2021: $10.266 billion (2021 est.)
Exports - partners: UAE 50%, China 36%, India 8%, Switzerland 1%, Spain 1% (2023)
Exports - commodities: gold, aluminum ore, cocoa beans, crude petroleum, coconuts/brazil nuts/cashews (2023)
Imports / Imports 2023: $8.365 billion (2023 est.)
Imports / Imports 2022: $5.749 billion (2022 est.)
Imports / Imports 2021: $5.353 billion (2021 est.)
Imports - partners: China 39%, India 9%, Netherlands 7%, Belgium 6%, UAE 4% (2023)
Imports - commodities: refined petroleum, rice, garments, construction vehicles, cars (2023)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023: $1.887 billion (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $2.11 billion (2022 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2021: $2.183 billion (2021 est.)
Debt - external / Debt - external 2023: $3.764 billion (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Currency: Guinean francs (GNF) per US dollar -
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2020: 9,565.082 (2020 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2019: 9,183.876 (2019 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2018: 9,011.134 (2018 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2017: 9,088.319 (2017 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2016: 8,967.927 (2016 est.)

## Energy
Electricity access / electrification - total population: 47.7% (2022 est.)
Electricity access / electrification - urban areas: 91%
Electricity access / electrification - rural areas: 21.3%
Electricity / installed generating capacity: 1.06 million kW (2023 est.)
Electricity / consumption: 3.624 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / transmission/distribution losses: 424.356 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / fossil fuels: 25.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / solar: 0.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / hydroelectricity: 74.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Coal / imports: 400 metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum / refined petroleum consumption: 32,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Energy consumption per capita / Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 5.235 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

## Communications
Telephones - fixed lines / total subscriptions: 0 (2022 est.)
Telephones - fixed lines / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2022 est.) less than 1
Telephones - mobile cellular / total subscriptions: 15.3 million (2022 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 109 (2022 est.)
Broadcast media: government maintains control over broadcast media; single state-run TV station; state-run radio also operates several stations in rural areas; a dozen private TV stations; many privately owned radio stations, nearly all in Conakry, and about a dozen community radio stations; foreign TV programming available via satellite and cable subscription services (2022)
Internet country code: .gn
Internet users / percent of population: 27% (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / total: 1,000 (2022 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2022 est.) less than 1

## Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: 3X
Airports: 16 (2025)
Heliports: 1 (2025)
Railways / total: 1,086 km (2017)
Railways / standard gauge: 279 km (2017) 1.435-m gauge
Railways / narrow gauge: 807 km (2017) 1.000-m gauge
Merchant marine / total: 2 (2023)
Merchant marine / by type: other 2
Ports / total ports: 4 (2024)
Ports / large: 0
Ports / medium: 1
Ports / small: 0
Ports / very small: 3
Ports / ports with oil terminals: 2
Ports / key ports: Benti, Conakry, Kamsar, Victoria

## Military and Security
Military and security forces: Guinean (or National) Armed Forces (Forces Armées Guinéennes): Army, Air Force, Navy, National Gendarmerie Ministry of Security: National Police (2025)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2024: 2.1% of GDP (2024 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2023: 2.1% of GDP (2023 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2022: 1.8% of GDP (2022 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2021: 1.5% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2020: 1.4% of GDP (2020 est.)
Military and security service personnel strengths: estimated 10-12,000 active Armed Forces (2025)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the Guinean military's inventory consists almost entirely of ageing Soviet-era weapons and equipment along with small amounts of secondhand arms from China, France, Russia, and South Africa (2025)
Military service age and obligation: 18 years of age for voluntary and selective conscripted service; 9-12 months of service (2025)
Military - note: the Guinean military is responsible for territorial defense, but also has some domestic security responsibilities and has historically been involved in suppressing public protests; in 2021 the Army&rsquo;s special forces led a military overthrow of the government; the military-led government has since been accused of cracking down on dissent, the media, and political opposition; border security is a key focus for the Guinean military, particularly a territorial dispute with Sierra Leone that dates back to 2001 (2025)

## Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons / refugees: 2,343 (2024 est.)
Refugees and internally displaced persons / IDPs: 5,160 (2024 est.)

=== C&ocirc;te d'Ivoire ===

## Introduction
Background: Various small kingdoms ruled the area of Cote d'Ivoire between the 15th and 19th centuries, when European explorers arrived and then began to expand their presence. In 1844, France established a protectorate. During this period, many of these kingdoms and tribes fought to maintain their cultural identities -- some well into the 20th century. For example, the Sanwi kingdom -- originally founded in the 17th century -- tried to break away from Cote d’Ivoire and establish an independent state in 1969. Cote d’Ivoire achieved independence from France in 1960 but has maintained close ties. Foreign investment and the export and production of cocoa drove economic growth that led Cote d’Ivoire to become one of the most prosperous states in West Africa. Then in 1999, a military coup overthrew the government, and a year later, junta leader Robert GUEI held rigged elections and declared himself the winner. Popular protests forced him to step aside, and Laurent GBAGBO was elected. Ivoirian dissidents and members of the military launched a failed coup in 2002 that developed into a civil war. In 2003, a cease-fire resulted in rebels holding the north, the government holding the south, and peacekeeping forces occupying a buffer zone in the middle. In 2007, President GBAGBO and former rebel leader Guillaume SORO signed an agreement in which SORO joined GBAGBO's government as prime minister. The two agreed to reunite the country by dismantling the buffer zone, integrating rebel forces into the national armed forces, and holding elections. In 2010, Alassane Dramane OUATTARA won the presidential election, but GBAGBO refused to hand over power, resulting in five months of violent conflict. Armed OUATTARA supporters and UN and French troops eventually forced GBAGBO to step down in 2011. OUATTARA won a second term in 2015 and a controversial third term in 2020 -- despite the two-term limit in the Ivoirian constitution -- in an election boycotted by the opposition. Through political compromise with OUATTARA, the opposition participated peacefully in 2021 legislative elections and won a substantial minority of seats. Also in 2021, the International Criminal Court in The Hague ruled on a final acquittal for GBAGBO, who was on trial for crimes against humanity, paving the way for GBAGBO’s return to Abidjan the same year. GBAGBO has publicly met with OUATTARA since his return as a demonstration of political reconciliation.

## Geography
Location: Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Ghana and Liberia
Geographic coordinates: 8 00 N, 5 00 W
Map references: Africa
Area / total: 322,463 sq km
Area / land: 318,003 sq km
Area / water: 4,460 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly larger than New Mexico
Land boundaries / total: 3,458 km
Land boundaries / border countries: Burkina Faso 545 km; Ghana 720 km; Guinea 816 km; Liberia 778 km; Mali 599 km
Coastline: 515 km
Maritime claims / territorial sea: 12 nm
Maritime claims / exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Maritime claims / continental shelf: 200 nm
Climate: tropical along coast, semiarid in far north; three seasons - warm and dry (November to March), hot and dry (March to May), hot and wet (June to October)
Terrain: mostly flat to undulating plains; mountains in northwest
Elevation / highest point: Monts Nimba 1,752 m
Elevation / lowest point: Gulf of Guinea 0 m
Elevation / mean elevation: 250 m
Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas, diamonds, manganese, iron ore, cobalt, bauxite, copper, gold, nickel, tantalum, silica sand, clay, cocoa beans, coffee, palm oil, hydropower
Land use / agricultural land: 86.5% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 15.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 29.9% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 41.5% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 12.4% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 1.1% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land: 730 sq km (2012)
Major lakes (area sq km) / salt water lake(s): Lagune Aby - 780 sq km
Major watersheds (area sq km) / Atlantic Ocean drainage: Niger (2,261,741 sq km), Volta (410,991 sq km)
Population distribution: the population is primarily located in the forested south, with the highest concentration of people residing in and around the cities on the Atlantic coast; most of the northern savanna remains sparsely populated, with higher concentrations located along transportation corridors, as shown in this population distribution map
Natural hazards: coast has heavy surf and no natural harbors; during the rainy season torrential flooding is possible
Geography - note: most of the inhabitants live along the sandy coastal region; apart from the capital area, the forested interior is sparsely populated

## People and Society
Population / total: 31,855,971 (2025 est.)
Population / male: 15,992,906
Population / female: 15,863,065
Nationality / noun: Ivoirian(s)
Nationality / adjective: Ivoirian
Ethnic groups: Akan 38%, Voltaique or Gur 22%, Northern Mande 22%, Kru 9.1%, Southern Mande 8.6%, other 0.3% (2021 est.)
Languages / Languages: French (official), 60 native dialects of which Dioula is the most widely spoken
Languages / major-language sample(s): The World Factbook, une source indispensable d'informations de base. (French) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
Religions: Muslim 42.9%, Catholic 17.2%, Evangelical 11.8%, Methodist 1.7%, other Christian 3.2%, animist 3.6%, other religion 0.5%, none 19.1% (2014 est.)
Age structure / 0-14 years: 36.1% (male 5,437,108/female 5,390,782)
Age structure / 15-64 years: 60.9% (male 9,200,957/female 9,060,748)
Age structure / 65 years and over: 3% (2024 est.) (male 401,967/female 490,196)
Dependency ratios / total dependency ratio: 72.2 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / youth dependency ratio: 67.5 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / elderly dependency ratio: 4.7 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / potential support ratio: 21.2 (2025 est.)
Median age / total: 20 years (2025 est.)
Median age / male: 21.2 years
Median age / female: 21.2 years
Population growth rate: 2.33% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 29.87 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 6.93 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: 0.39 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution: the population is primarily located in the forested south, with the highest concentration of people residing in and around the cities on the Atlantic coast; most of the northern savanna remains sparsely populated, with higher concentrations located along transportation corridors, as shown in this population distribution map
Urbanization / urban population: 53.1% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 3.38% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 231,000 YAMOUSSOUKRO (capital) (2018), 5.686 million ABIDJAN (seat of government) (2023)
Sex ratio / at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 0-14 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 65 years and over: 0.82 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth: 19.6 years (2011/12 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio: 359 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Infant mortality rate / total: 52.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Infant mortality rate / male: 59.5 deaths/1,000 live births
Infant mortality rate / female: 45.2 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth / total population: 63.2 years (2024 est.)
Life expectancy at birth / male: 60.9 years
Life expectancy at birth / female: 65.4 years
Total fertility rate: 3.85 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 1.9 (2025 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: urban: urban: 86.2% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: rural: rural: 58% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: total: total: 72.9% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: urban: urban: 13.8% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: rural: rural: 42% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: total: total: 27.1% of population (2022 est.)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 3.1% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 6.2% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density: 0.17 physicians/1,000 population (2023)
Sanitation facility access / improved: urban: urban: 84.6% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: rural: rural: 41.5% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: total: total: 64.2% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: urban: urban: 15.4% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: rural: rural: 58.5% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: total: total: 35.8% of population (2022 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 10.3% (2016)
Alcohol consumption per capita / total: 1.7 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / beer: 1.13 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / wine: 0.33 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / spirits: 0.2 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / other alcohols: 0.04 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Tobacco use / total: 7.8% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / male: 14.9% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / female: 0.6% (2025 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 13.6% (2021 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49): 62.7% (2021 est.)
Child marriage / women married by age 15: 7.4% (2021)
Child marriage / women married by age 18: 25.8% (2021)
Child marriage / men married by age 18: 1.9% (2021)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% GDP): 3.4% of GDP (2023 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% national budget): 17.6% national budget (2024 est.)
Literacy / total population: 50% (2021 est.)
Literacy / male: 60.2% (2021 est.)
Literacy / female: 40.3% (2021 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / total: 11 years (2023 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / male: 11 years (2023 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / female: 11 years (2023 est.)

## Environment
Environmental issues: deforestation; water pollution from sewage and from industrial, mining, and agricultural effluents
International environmental agreements / party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling
International environmental agreements / signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Climate: tropical along coast, semiarid in far north; three seasons - warm and dry (November to March), hot and dry (March to May), hot and wet (June to October)
Land use / agricultural land: 86.5% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 15.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 29.9% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 41.5% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 12.4% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 1.1% (2023 est.)
Urbanization / urban population: 53.1% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 3.38% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / total emissions: 16.28 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from petroleum and other liquids: 11.641 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from consumed natural gas: 4.639 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Particulate matter emissions: 36 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Methane emissions / energy: 187.7 kt (2022-2024 est.)
Methane emissions / agriculture: 192 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Methane emissions / waste: 199.9 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Methane emissions / other: 28.9 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Waste and recycling / municipal solid waste generated annually: 4.441 million tons (2024 est.)
Waste and recycling / percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 13.3% (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / municipal: 320 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / industrial: 242 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / agricultural: 600 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total renewable water resources: 84.14 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: Republic of C&ocirc;te d'Ivoire
Country name / conventional short form: C&ocirc;te d'Ivoire
Country name / local long form: R&eacute;publique de C&ocirc;te d'Ivoire
Country name / local short form: Cote d'Ivoire
Country name / former: Ivory Coast
Country name / etymology: name, which means "Ivory Coast" in French, reflects the ivory trade in the region from the 15th to 17th centuries; the French version of the name has been used internationally since 1986, at the country's request
Government type: presidential republic
Capital / name: Yamoussoukro (legislative capital), Abidjan (administrative and economic capital); note - the US Embassy is in Abidjan
Capital / geographic coordinates: 6 49 N, 5 16 W
Capital / time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Capital / etymology: formerly a village named N'Gokro, Yamoussoukro is named after Queen YAMOUSSOU, who ruled during the early 20th century; Abidjan's name may have come from a misunderstanding when a French explorer asked a group of women the name of the village -- thinking it was a question about what they were doing, they replied "t'chan m&rsquo;bi djan," which in the Ebrie language means "I return from cutting leaves," so the explorer recorded the name of the locale as Abidjan
Administrative divisions: 12 districts and 2 autonomous districts*; Abidjan*, Bas-Sassandra, Comoe, Denguele, Goh-Djiboua, Lacs, Lagunes, Montagnes, Sassandra-Marahoue, Savanes, Vall&eacute;e du Bandama, Woroba, Yamoussoukro*, Zanzan
Legal system: civil law system based on the French civil code; Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme Court reviews legislation
Constitution / history: previous 1960, 2000; latest draft completed 24 September 2016, approved by the National Assembly 11 October 2016, approved by referendum 30 October 2016, promulgated 8 November 2016
Constitution / amendment process: proposed by the president of the republic or by Parliament; consideration of drafts or proposals requires an absolute majority vote by the parliamentary membership; passage of amendments affecting presidential elections, presidential term of office and vacancies, and amendment procedures requires approval by absolute majority in a referendum; passage of other proposals by the president requires at least four-fifths majority vote by Parliament; constitutional articles on the sovereignty of the state and its republican and secular form of government cannot be amended
International law organization participation: accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Citizenship / citizenship by birth: no
Citizenship / citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Cote d'Ivoire
Citizenship / dual citizenship recognized: no
Citizenship / residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch / chief of state: President Alassane Dramane OUATTARA (since 25 October 2025)
Executive branch / head of government: Prime Minister Robert BREUGRE MAMBE (since 17 October 2023)
Executive branch / cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
Executive branch / election/appointment process: president directly elected by absolute-majority popular vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a single renewable 5-year term; vice president elected on same ballot as president; prime minister appointed by the president
Executive branch / most recent election date: October 2030
Executive branch / election results: 2025: Alassane OUATTARA reelected president; percent of vote - Alassane OUATTARA (RDR) 91.2%, Jean Louis BILLON (DC) 3.1%, Simone Gbagbo (MCG) 2.4%, Ahoua Don MELLO (Ind.) 2.0%, other 1.3% 2020: Alassane OUATTARA reelected president; percent of vote - Alassane OUATTARA (RDR) 94.3%, Kouadio Konan BERTIN (PDCI-RDA) 2.0%, other 3.7%
Executive branch / expected date of next election: October 2030
Legislative branch / legislature name: Parliament (Parlement)
Legislative branch / legislative structure: bicameral
Legislative branch - lower chamber / chamber name: National Assembly (Assembl&eacute;e nationale)
Legislative branch - lower chamber / number of seats: 255 (all directly elected)
Legislative branch - lower chamber / electoral system: plurality/majority
Legislative branch - lower chamber / scope of elections: full renewal
Legislative branch - lower chamber / term in office: 5 years
Legislative branch - lower chamber / most recent election date: 3/6/2021 to 6/12/2021
Legislative branch - lower chamber / parties elected and seats per party: Rally of Houphouetists for Democracy and Peace (RHDP) (139); Democratic Party of C&ocirc;te d'Ivoire-African Democratic Rally (PDCI-RDA)-Together for Democracy and Sovereignty (EDS) (49); Democratic Party of C&ocirc;te d'Ivoire-African Democratic Rally (PDCI-RDA) (23); Independents (26); Other (18)
Legislative branch - lower chamber / percentage of women in chamber: 13.4%
Legislative branch - lower chamber / expected date of next election: December 2025
Legislative branch - upper chamber / chamber name: Senate (Sénat)
Legislative branch - upper chamber / number of seats: 99 (66 indirectly elected; 33 appointed)
Legislative branch - upper chamber / scope of elections: full renewal
Legislative branch - upper chamber / term in office: 5 years
Legislative branch - upper chamber / most recent election date: 9/16/2023
Legislative branch - upper chamber / percentage of women in chamber: 24.5%
Legislative branch - upper chamber / expected date of next election: September 2028
Judicial branch / highest court(s): Supreme Court or Cour Supreme (organized into Judicial, Audit, Constitutional, and Administrative Chambers; consists of the court president, 3 vice presidents for the Judicial, Audit, and Administrative chambers, and 9 associate justices or magistrates)
Judicial branch / judge selection and term of office: judges nominated by the Superior Council of the Magistrature, a 7-member body consisting of the national president (chairman), 3 "bench" judges, and 3 public prosecutors; judges appointed for life
Judicial branch / subordinate courts: Courts of Appeal (organized into civil, criminal, and social chambers); first instance courts; peace courts
Political parties: African Peoples' Party-Cote d'Ivoire or PPA-CI Democratic Party of Cote d'Ivoire or PDCI Ivorian Popular Front or FPI Liberty and Democracy for the Republic or LIDER Movement of the Future Forces or MFA Pan-African Congress for People's Justice and Equality or COJEP Rally of Houphouetists for Democracy and Peace or RHDP Rally of the Republicans or RDR Together for Democracy and Sovereignty or EDS Together to Build (UDPCI, FPI,and allies) Union for Cote d'Ivoire or UPCI Union for Democracy and Peace in Cote d'Ivoire or UDPCI
Diplomatic representation in the US / chief of mission: Ambassador Ibrahima TOURE (since 13 January 2022)
Diplomatic representation in the US / chancery: 2424 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation in the US / telephone: [1] (202) 797-0300
Diplomatic representation in the US / FAX: [1] (202) 204-3967
Diplomatic representation in the US / email address and website: info@ambacidc.org Ambassade de Cote D’ivoire aux USA (ambaciusa.org)
Diplomatic representation from the US / chief of mission: Ambassador Jessica Davis BA (since 2 March 2023)
Diplomatic representation from the US / embassy: B.P. 730 Abidjan Cidex 03
Diplomatic representation from the US / mailing address: 2010 Abidjan Place, Washington DC 20521-2010
Diplomatic representation from the US / telephone: [225] 27-22-49-40-00
Diplomatic representation from the US / FAX: [225] 27-22-49-43-23
Diplomatic representation from the US / email address and website: AbjAmCit@state.gov https://ci.usembassy.gov/
International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, AU, ECOWAS, EITI (compliant country), Entente, FAO, FZ, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MINUSCA, MONUSCO, NAM, OIC, OIF, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNHRC, UNIDO, UNMISS, Union Latina, UNWTO, UPU, WADB (regional), WAEMU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Independence: 7 August 1960 (from France)
National holiday: Independence Day, 7 August (1960)
Flag: description: three equal vertical bands of orange (left side), white, and green meaning: orange stands for the savannah and fertility, white for peace and unity, green for the forests of the south and the hope for a bright future; design based on France's flag
National symbol(s): elephant
National color(s): orange, white, green
National anthem(s) / title: "L'Abidjanaise" (Song of Abidjan)
National anthem(s) / lyrics/music: Mathieu EKRA, Joachim BONY, and Pierre Marie COTY/Pierre Marie COTY and Pierre Michel PANGO
National anthem(s) / history: adopted 1960; named after the former capital city of Abidjan
National heritage / total World Heritage Sites: 5 (2 cultural, 3 natural)
National heritage / selected World Heritage Site locales: Como&eacute; National Park (n); Historic Grand-Bassam (c); Mount Nimba Strict Nature Reserve (n); Sudanese-style Mosques (c); Ta&iuml; National Park (n)

## Economy
Economic overview: one of West Africa&rsquo;s most influential, stable, and rapidly developing economies; poverty declines in urban but increases in rural areas; strong construction sector and increasingly diverse economic portfolio; increasing but manageable public debt; large labor force in agriculture
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $215.018 billion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $202.943 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $190.645 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2024: 6% (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2023: 6.5% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2022: 6.4% (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2024: $6,700 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2023: $6,500 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2022: $6,300 (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $86.538 billion (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024: 3.5% (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023: 4.4% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 5.3% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / agriculture: 17.9% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / industry: 22.1% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / services: 53.9% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / household consumption: 66% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / government consumption: 9% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in fixed capital: 24.5% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in inventories: 0% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / exports of goods and services: 27.6% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / imports of goods and services: -27.1% (2024 est.)
Agricultural products: yams, cassava, oil palm fruit, cocoa beans, sugarcane, plantains, rice, rubber, maize, cashews (2023)
Industries: foodstuffs, beverages; wood products, oil refining, gold mining, truck and bus assembly, textiles, fertilizer, building materials, electricity
Industrial production growth rate: 2.8% (2024 est.)
Labor force: 12.595 million (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2024: 2.3% (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2023: 2.3% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2022: 2.4% (2022 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / total: 3.9% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / male: 3.5% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / female: 4.4% (2024 est.)
Population below poverty line: 37.5% (2021 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income / Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2021: 35.3 (2021 est.)
Average household expenditures / on food: 37.7% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Average household expenditures / on alcohol and tobacco: 3.2% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / lowest 10%: 3.1% (2021 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / highest 10%: 27.8% (2021 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2023: 1.3% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2022: 1.5% of GDP (2022 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2021: 0.6% of GDP (2021 est.)
Budget / revenues: $12.351 billion (2023 est.)
Budget / expenditures: $16.03 billion (2023 est.)
Public debt / Public debt 2016: 47% of GDP (2016 est.)
Taxes and other revenues: 13.2% (of GDP) (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2022: -$5.394 billion (2022 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2021: -$2.874 billion (2021 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2020: -$1.974 billion (2020 est.)
Exports / Exports 2022: $17.211 billion (2022 est.)
Exports / Exports 2021: $16.23 billion (2021 est.)
Exports / Exports 2020: $13.232 billion (2020 est.)
Exports - partners: Switzerland 17%, Netherlands 9%, Mali 7%, USA 5%, Malaysia 4% (2023)
Exports - commodities: gold, cocoa beans, rubber, refined petroleum, coconuts/brazil nuts/cashews (2023)
Imports / Imports 2022: $19.948 billion (2022 est.)
Imports / Imports 2021: $16.191 billion (2021 est.)
Imports / Imports 2020: $12.66 billion (2020 est.)
Imports - partners: China 16%, Nigeria 12%, France 6%, India 5%, USA 4% (2023)
Imports - commodities: crude petroleum, ships, refined petroleum, fish, rice (2023)
Debt - external / Debt - external 2023: $26.576 billion (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Currency: Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar -
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2024: 606.345 (2024 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2023: 606.57 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2022: 623.76 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2021: 554.531 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2020: 575.586 (2020 est.)

## Energy
Electricity access / electrification - total population: 70.4% (2022 est.)
Electricity access / electrification - urban areas: 95%
Electricity access / electrification - rural areas: 45.3%
Electricity / installed generating capacity: 2.315 million kW (2023 est.)
Electricity / consumption: 8.746 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / exports: 971 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / imports: 222.79 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / transmission/distribution losses: 1.638 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / fossil fuels: 68.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / solar: 0.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / hydroelectricity: 30.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / biomass and waste: 0.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Petroleum / total petroleum production: 29,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Petroleum / refined petroleum consumption: 87,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Petroleum / crude oil estimated reserves: 100 million barrels (2021 est.)
Natural gas / production: 2.474 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / consumption: 2.474 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / proven reserves: 28.317 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)
Energy consumption per capita / Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 8.489 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

## Communications
Telephones - fixed lines / total subscriptions: 245,000 (2024 est.)
Telephones - fixed lines / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2024 est.) less than 1
Telephones - mobile cellular / total subscriptions: 58.7 million (2024 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 184 (2024 est.)
Broadcast media: state-controlled Radiodiffusion T&eacute;l&eacute;vision Ivoirienne (RTI) is made up of 2 radio stations (Radio Cote d'Ivoire and Fr&eacute;quence2) and 2 TV stations (RTI1 and RTI2) with nationwide coverage, broadcasting mainly in French; 178 proximity radio stations, 16 religious radio stations, 5 commercial radio stations, and 5 international radio stations; government now runs radio station UNOCIFM, previously owned by the UN Operation in Cote d'Ivoire; in 2016, 4 media companies were granted licenses: Live TV, Optimum Media Cote d'Ivoire, the Audiovisual Company of Cote d'Ivoire (Sedaci), and Sorano-CI (2019)
Internet country code: .ci
Internet users / percent of population: 41% (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / total: 425,000 (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 1 (2023 est.)

## Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: TU
Airports: 29 (2025)
Heliports: 1 (2025)
Railways / total: 660 km (2008)
Railways / narrow gauge: 660 km (2008) 1.000-m gauge
Merchant marine / total: 25 (2023)
Merchant marine / by type: oil tanker 2, other 23
Ports / total ports: 5 (2024)
Ports / large: 1
Ports / medium: 0
Ports / small: 0
Ports / very small: 4
Ports / ports with oil terminals: 5
Ports / key ports: Abidjan, Baobab Marine Terminal, Espoir Marine Terminal, Port Bouet, San Pedro

## Military and Security
Military and security forces: Armed Forces of Cote d'Ivoire (Forces Armees de Cote d'Ivoire, FACI; aka Republican Forces of Ivory Coast, FRCI): Army, National Navy, Air Force, Special Forces; National Gendarmerie Ministry of Security and Civil Protection: National Police (2025)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2024: 0.8% of GDP (2024 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2023: 0.9% of GDP (2023 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2022: 0.9% of GDP (2022 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2021: 1.1% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2020: 1.1% of GDP (2020 est.)
Military and security service personnel strengths: approximately 25-30,000 active FACI, including Gendarmerie personnel (2025)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the inventory of the FACI consists mostly of older or secondhand armaments, typically of French or Soviet-era origin; in recent years, it has received small quantities of newer and secondhand equipment from a variety of suppliers, including Bulgaria, China, France, Israel, South Africa, and the US (2025)
Military service age and obligation: 18-26 (up to 35 for healthcare professionals) years of age for voluntary military service for men and women; conscription is authorized but reportedly not enforced (2025)
Military deployments: 180 Central African Republic (MINUSCA) (2025)
Military - note: the military (FACI) is responsible for external defense but also has a considerable internal role supporting the National Gendarmerie and other internal security forces; key areas of focus for the FACI are the country's porous international borders and the threat posed by Islamic militants associated with the al-Qa’ida in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) terrorist group operating across the border in Burkina Faso and Mali; AQIM militants conducted attacks in the country in 2016 and 2020; Côte d’Ivoire since 2016 has stepped up border security and completed building a joint counter-terrorism training center with France near Abidjan in 2020; Cote d'Ivoire has long maintained a close security relationship with France the FACI has mutinied several times since the late 1990s, most recently in 2017, and has had a large role in the country’s political turmoil; it was established in 1960 from home defense units the French colonial government began standing up in 1950 (2025)

## Space
Space agency/agencies: National Office for Technical Studies and Development (Bureau d'Études Techniques et de Développement or BNETD); Côte d’Ivoire Geographic and Digital Information Center (CIGN) (2025)
Space program overview: has a small, nascent program focused on satellite technology and geospatial information systems, as well as exploitation for resource management, environmental challenges, agricultural sector support, and national security; member of the African Space Agency and cooperates bilaterally with member states such as Tanzania (2025)
Key space-program milestones: 2023 - hosted an Africa-wide space industry conference; announced plans to acquire and launch first small remote sensing satellite (Yam-Sat- CI 01) 2024 - began joint project with Tanzania to build a technology-demonstrator cube satellite (TanSat-1)

## Terrorism
Terrorist group(s): al-Qa'ida in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM); Jama’at Nusrat al Islam wal Muslimeen (JNIM)

## Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons / refugees: 69,176 (2024 est.)
Refugees and internally displaced persons / stateless persons: 930,978 (2024 est.)

=== Kenya ===

## Introduction
Background: Trade centers such as Mombasa have existed along the Kenyan and Tanzanian coastlines, known as the Land of Zanj, since at least the 2nd century. These centers traded with the outside world, including China, India, Indonesia, the Middle East, North Africa, and Persia. By around the 9th century, the mix of Africans, Arabs, and Persians who lived and traded there became known as Swahili ("people of the coast") with a distinct language (KiSwahili) and culture. The Portuguese arrived in the 1490s and, using Mombasa as a base, sought to monopolize trade in the Indian Ocean. The Portuguese were pushed out in the late 1600s by the combined forces of Oman and Pate, an island off the coast. In 1890, Germany and the UK divided up the region, with the UK taking the north and the Germans the south, including present-day Tanzania, Burundi, and Rwanda. In 1895, the British established the East Africa Protectorate, which in 1920 was converted into a colony, and named Kenya after its highest mountain. Numerous political disputes between the colony and the UK led to the violent Mau Mau Uprising, which began in 1952, and the eventual declaration of independence in 1963. Jomo KENYATTA, the founding president and an icon of the liberation struggle, led Kenya from independence in 1963 until his death in 1978, when Vice President Daniel Arap MOI took power in a constitutional succession. The country was a de facto one-party state from 1969 until 1982, after which time the ruling Kenya African National Union (KANU) changed the constitution to make itself the sole legal political party. MOI gave in to internal and external pressure for political liberalization in 1991, but the ethnically fractured opposition failed to dislodge KANU from power in elections in 1992 and 1997, which were marred by violence and fraud. MOI stepped down in 2002 after fair and peaceful elections. Mwai KIBAKI, running as the candidate of the multiethnic, united opposition group, the National Rainbow Coalition (NARC), defeated KANU candidate Uhuru KENYATTA, the son of the founding president, and assumed the presidency following a campaign centered on an anticorruption platform. Opposition candidate Raila ODINGA challenged KIBAKI's reelection in 2007 on the grounds of widespread vote rigging, leading to two months of ethnic violence that caused more than 1,100 deaths and displaced hundreds of thousands. African Union-sponsored mediation resulted in a power-sharing accord that brought ODINGA into the government as prime minister and outlined a reform agenda. In 2010, Kenyans overwhelmingly voted to adopt a new constitution that eliminated the prime minister, introduced additional checks and balances to executive power, and devolved power and resources to 47 newly created counties. Uhuru KENYATTA won the first presidential election under the new constitution in 2013. He won a second and final term in office in 2017 after a contentious repeat election. In 2022, William RUTO won a close presidential election; he assumed the office the following month after the Kenyan Supreme Court upheld the victory.

## Geography
Location: Eastern Africa, bordering the Indian Ocean, between Somalia and Tanzania
Geographic coordinates: 1 00 N, 38 00 E
Map references: Africa
Area / total: 580,367 sq km
Area / land: 569,140 sq km
Area / water: 11,227 sq km
Area - comparative: five times the size of Ohio; slightly more than twice the size of Nevada
Land boundaries / total: 3,457 km
Land boundaries / border countries: Ethiopia 867 km; Somalia 684 km; South Sudan 317 km; Tanzania 775 km; Uganda 814 km
Coastline: 536 km
Maritime claims / territorial sea: 12 nm
Maritime claims / exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Maritime claims / continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Climate: varies from tropical along coast to arid in interior
Terrain: low plains rise to central highlands bisected by Great Rift Valley; fertile plateau in west
Elevation / highest point: Mount Kenya 5,199 m
Elevation / lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
Elevation / mean elevation: 762 m
Natural resources: limestone, soda ash, salt, gemstones, fluorspar, zinc, diatomite, gypsum, wildlife, hydropower
Land use / agricultural land: 49.5% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 11.4% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 1.4% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 36.7% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 6.5% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 44% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land: 1,030 sq km (2012)
Major lakes (area sq km) / fresh water lake(s): Lake Victoria (shared with Tanzania and Uganda) - 62,940 sq km
Major lakes (area sq km) / salt water lake(s): Lake Turkana (shared with Ethiopia) - 6,400 sq km
Major watersheds (area sq km) / Atlantic Ocean drainage: (Mediterranean Sea) Nile (3,254,853 sq km)
Major aquifers: Ogaden-Juba Basin
Population distribution: population heavily concentrated in the west along the shore of Lake Victoria; other areas of high density include the capital of Nairobi, and in the southeast along the Indian Ocean coast, as shown in this population distribution map
Natural hazards: recurring drought; flooding during rainy seasons volcanism: limited volcanic activity; the Barrier (1,032 m) last erupted in 1921; South Island is the only other historically active volcano
Geography - note: the Kenyan Highlands comprise one of the most successful agricultural production regions in Africa; glaciers are found on Mount Kenya, Africa's second-highest peak; unique physiography supports abundant and varied wildlife of scientific and economic value; Lake Victoria, the world's largest tropical lake and the second-largest freshwater lake, is shared among three countries: Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda

## People and Society
Population / total: 55,751,717 (2025 est.)
Population / male: 27,857,519
Population / female: 27,894,198
Nationality / noun: Kenyan(s)
Nationality / adjective: Kenyan
Ethnic groups: Kikuyu 17.1%, Luhya 14.3%, Kalenjin 13.4%, Luo 10.7%, Kamba 9.8%, Somali 5.8%, Kisii 5.7%, Mijikenda 5.2%, Meru 4.2%, Maasai 2.5%, Turkana 2.1%, non-Kenyan 1%, other 8.2% (2019 est.)
Languages / Languages: English (official), Kiswahili (official), numerous indigenous languages
Languages / major-language sample(s): The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information. (English) The World Factbook, Chanzo cha Lazima Kuhusu Habari ya Msingi. (Kiswahili)
Religions: Christian 85.5% (Protestant 33.4%, Catholic 20.6%, Evangelical 20.4%, African Instituted Churches 7%, other Christian 4.1%), Muslim 10.9%, other 1.8%, none 1.6%, don't know/no answer 0.2% (2019 est.)
Age structure / 0-14 years: 35.8% (male 10,464,384/female 10,366,997)
Age structure / 15-64 years: 60.9% (male 17,731,068/female 17,723,012)
Age structure / 65 years and over: 3.4% (2024 est.) (male 896,348/female 1,064,569)
Dependency ratios / total dependency ratio: 64 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / youth dependency ratio: 58.5 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / elderly dependency ratio: 5.5 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / potential support ratio: 18.2 (2025 est.)
Median age / total: 21.5 years (2025 est.)
Median age / male: 21.1 years
Median age / female: 21.4 years
Population growth rate: 2.15% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 25.93 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 4.72 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: 0.26 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution: population heavily concentrated in the west along the shore of Lake Victoria; other areas of high density include the capital of Nairobi, and in the southeast along the Indian Ocean coast, as shown in this population distribution map
Urbanization / urban population: 29.5% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 4.09% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 5.325 million NAIROBI (capital), 1.440 million Mombassa (2023)
Sex ratio / at birth: 1.02 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 0-14 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 65 years and over: 0.84 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / total population: 1 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth: 20.3 years (2014 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio: 379 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Infant mortality rate / total: 26.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Infant mortality rate / male: 29 deaths/1,000 live births
Infant mortality rate / female: 23.1 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth / total population: 70.4 years (2024 est.)
Life expectancy at birth / male: 68.6 years
Life expectancy at birth / female: 72.2 years
Total fertility rate: 3.09 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 1.53 (2025 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: urban: urban: 86.4% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: rural: rural: 53.3% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: total: total: 62.9% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: urban: urban: 13.6% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: rural: rural: 46.7% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: total: total: 37.1% of population (2022 est.)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 4.5% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 8.7% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density: 0.29 physicians/1,000 population (2023)
Hospital bed density: 1.3 beds/1,000 population (2019 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: urban: urban: 84.7% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: rural: rural: 51.1% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: total: total: 60.9% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: urban: urban: 15.3% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: rural: rural: 48.9% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: total: total: 39.1% of population (2022 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 7.1% (2016)
Alcohol consumption per capita / total: 1.68 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / beer: 0.81 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / wine: 0.04 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / spirits: 0.81 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / other alcohols: 0.03 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Tobacco use / total: 8.6% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / male: 15.5% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / female: 1.9% (2025 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 9.8% (2022 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49): 53.2% (2022 est.)
Child marriage / women married by age 15: 2.2% (2022)
Child marriage / women married by age 18: 12.5% (2022)
Child marriage / men married by age 18: 1.8% (2022)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% GDP): 4% of GDP (2024 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% national budget): 28.5% national budget (2025 est.)

## Environment
Environmental issues: water pollution from urban and industrial wastes and from use of pesticides and fertilizers; flooding; water-hyacinth infestation in Lake Victoria; deforestation; soil erosion; desertification; poaching
International environmental agreements / party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
International environmental agreements / signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Climate: varies from tropical along coast to arid in interior
Land use / agricultural land: 49.5% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 11.4% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 1.4% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 36.7% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 6.5% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 44% (2023 est.)
Urbanization / urban population: 29.5% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 4.09% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / total emissions: 19.023 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from coal and metallurgical coke: 3.316 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from petroleum and other liquids: 15.707 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Particulate matter emissions: 12.7 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Methane emissions / energy: 334.4 kt (2022-2024 est.)
Methane emissions / agriculture: 1,241 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Methane emissions / waste: 127.1 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Methane emissions / other: 32.8 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Waste and recycling / municipal solid waste generated annually: 5.595 million tons (2024 est.)
Waste and recycling / percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 19.9% (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / municipal: 495 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / industrial: 303 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / agricultural: 3.234 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total renewable water resources: 30.7 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: Republic of Kenya
Country name / conventional short form: Kenya
Country name / local long form: Republic of Kenya (English)/ Jamhuri ya Kenya (Swahili)
Country name / local short form: Kenya
Country name / former: British East Africa
Country name / etymology: named for Mount Kenya; the mountain's name may derive from the Kikuyu word kere nyaga , or "white mountain"
Government type: presidential republic
Capital / name: Nairobi
Capital / geographic coordinates: 1 17 S, 36 49 E
Capital / time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Capital / etymology: the name derives from the Maasai expression meaning "cool waters," which was used to refer to a local water hole, Enkare Nairobi
Administrative divisions: 47 counties; Baringo, Bomet, Bungoma, Busia, Elgeyo/Marakwet, Embu, Garissa, Homa Bay, Isiolo, Kajiado, Kakamega, Kericho, Kiambu, Kilifi, Kirinyaga, Kisii, Kisumu, Kitui, Kwale, Laikipia, Lamu, Machakos, Makueni, Mandera, Marsabit, Meru, Migori, Mombasa, Murang'a, Nairobi City, Nakuru, Nandi, Narok, Nyamira, Nyandarua, Nyeri, Samburu, Siaya, Taita/Taveta, Tana River, Tharaka-Nithi, Trans Nzoia, Turkana, Uasin Gishu, Vihiga, Wajir, West Pokot
Legal system: mixed system of English common law, Islamic law, and customary law; Supreme Court reviews laws
Constitution / history: current constitution passed by referendum on 4 August 2010
Constitution / amendment process: amendments can be proposed by either house of Parliament or by petition of at least one million eligible voters; passage of amendments by Parliament requires approval by at least two-thirds majority vote of both houses in each of two readings, approval in a referendum by majority of votes cast by at least 20% of eligible voters in at least one half of Kenya&rsquo;s counties, and approval by the president; passage of amendments introduced by petition requires approval by a majority of county assemblies, approval by majority vote of both houses, and approval by the president
International law organization participation: accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Citizenship / citizenship by birth: no
Citizenship / citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Kenya
Citizenship / dual citizenship recognized: yes
Citizenship / residency requirement for naturalization: 4 out of the previous 7 years
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch / chief of state: President William RUTO (since 13 September 2022)
Executive branch / head of government: President William RUTO (since 13 September 2022)
Executive branch / cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president, subject to confirmation by the National Assembly
Executive branch / election/appointment process: president and deputy president directly elected on the same ballot by majority vote nationwide and at least 25% of the votes cast in at least 24 of the 47 counties; failure to meet these thresholds requires a runoff between the top two candidates
Executive branch / most recent election date: 9 August 2022
Executive branch / election results: 2022 : William RUTO elected president in first round; percent of vote - William RUTO (UDA) 50.5%, Raila ODINGA (ODM) 48.9%, other 0.6%
Executive branch / expected date of next election: 10 August 2027
Legislative branch / legislature name: Parliament of Kenya
Legislative branch / legislative structure: bicameral
Legislative branch - lower chamber / chamber name: National Assembly
Legislative branch - lower chamber / number of seats: 350 (all directly elected)
Legislative branch - lower chamber / electoral system: plurality/majority
Legislative branch - lower chamber / scope of elections: full renewal
Legislative branch - lower chamber / term in office: 5 years
Legislative branch - lower chamber / most recent election date: 8/9/2022
Legislative branch - lower chamber / parties elected and seats per party: United Democratic Alliance (UDA) (145); Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) (86); Jubilee Party (JP) (28); Wiper Democratic Movement-Kenya (WDM-K) (26); Others (19); Other (45)
Legislative branch - lower chamber / percentage of women in chamber: 23.4%
Legislative branch - lower chamber / expected date of next election: August 2027
Legislative branch - upper chamber / chamber name: Senate
Legislative branch - upper chamber / number of seats: 68 (all directly elected)
Legislative branch - upper chamber / electoral system: plurality/majority
Legislative branch - upper chamber / scope of elections: full renewal
Legislative branch - upper chamber / term in office: 5 years
Legislative branch - upper chamber / most recent election date: 8/9/2022
Legislative branch - upper chamber / parties elected and seats per party: Kenya Kwanza Alliance (33); Azimio la Umoja - One Kenya Coalition Party (32); Other (1)
Legislative branch - upper chamber / percentage of women in chamber: 31.3%
Legislative branch - upper chamber / expected date of next election: August 2027
Judicial branch / highest court(s): Supreme Court (consists of chief and deputy chief justices and 5 judges)
Judicial branch / judge selection and term of office: chief and deputy chief justices nominated by Judicial Service Commission (JSC) and appointed by the president with approval of the National Assembly; other judges nominated by the JSC and appointed by president; chief justice serves a nonrenewable 10-year term or until age 70, whichever comes first; other judges serve until age 70
Judicial branch / subordinate courts: High Court; Court of Appeal; military courts; magistrates' courts; religious courts
Political parties: Azimio La Umoja–One Kenya Coalition Party Amani National Congress or ANC Chama Cha Kazi or CCK Democratic Action Party or DAP-K Democratic Party or DP Forum for the Restoration of Democracy–Kenya or FORD-Kenya Grand Dream Development Party or GDDP Jubilee Party or JP Kenya African National Union or KANU Kenya Kwanza coalition Kenya Union Party or KUP Maendeleo Chap Chap Party or MCC Movement for Democracy and Growth or MDG National Agenda Party or NAP-K National Ordinary People Empowerment Union or NOPEU Orange Democratic Movement or ODM Pamoja African Alliance or PAA] The Service Party or TSP United Democratic Alliance or UDA United Democratic Movement or UDM United Democratic Party or UDP United Party of Independent Alliance or UPIA United Progressive Alliance or UPA Wiper Democratic Movement-Kenya or WDM-K
Diplomatic representation in the US / chief of mission: Ambassador David Kipkorir Kiplagat KERICH (since 18 September 2024)
Diplomatic representation in the US / chancery: 2249 R St NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation in the US / telephone: [1] (202) 387-6101
Diplomatic representation in the US / FAX: [1] (202) 462-3829
Diplomatic representation in the US / email address and website: information@kenyaembassydc.org https://kenyaembassydc.org/#
Diplomatic representation in the US / consulate(s): New York
Diplomatic representation from the US / chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charg&eacute; d&rsquo;Affaires Susan M. BURNS (since 25 August 2025)
Diplomatic representation from the US / embassy: P.O. Box 606 Village Market, 00621 Nairobi
Diplomatic representation from the US / mailing address: 8900 Nairobi Place, Washington, DC 20521-8900
Diplomatic representation from the US / telephone: [254] (20) 363-6000
Diplomatic representation from the US / FAX: [254] (20) 363-6157
Diplomatic representation from the US / email address and website: kenya_acs@state.gov https://ke.usembassy.gov/
International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, ATMIS, AU, C, CD, COMESA, EAC, EADB, FAO, G-15, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCT, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MONUSCO, NAM, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNISFA, UNMIL, UNMISS, UNOOSA, UNSOM, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WMO, WTO
Independence: 12 December 1963 (from the UK)
National holiday: Jamhuri Day (Independence Day), 12 December (1963)
Flag: description: 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 at the center meaning: black stands for the majority population, red for the blood shed in the struggle for freedom, green for natural wealth, and white for peace; the shield and crossed spears symbolize the defense of freedom
National symbol(s): lion
National color(s): black, red, green, white
National coat of arms: the two lions symbolize protection as they hold a traditional East African shield and spears in defense of freedom and unity; the shield features the national colors: black for the people, green for agriculture and natural resources, red for the struggle for freedom, and white for unity and peace; on the shield, a rooster greets the new day, and the axe represents both authority and the Kenya Africa National Union (KANU) that led the country to independence; at the base of the shield is Mount Kenya, Africa’s second-highest peak; the scroll has the Swahili word Harambee , meaning “all for one” or “pulling together”
National anthem(s) / title: "Ee Mungu Nguvu Yetu" (O God of All Creation)
National anthem(s) / lyrics/music: Graham HYSLOP, Thomas KALUME, Peter KIBUKOSYA, Washington OMONDI, and George W. SENOGA-ZAKE/traditional, adapted by Graham HYSLOP, Thomas KALUME, Peter KIBUKOSYA, Washington OMONDI, and George W. SENOGA-ZAKE
National anthem(s) / history: adopted 1963; based on a traditional Kenyan folk song
National heritage / total World Heritage Sites: 8(5 cultural, 3 natural)
National heritage / selected World Heritage Site locales: Lake Turkana National Parks (n); Mount Kenya National Park/Natural Forest (n); Lamu Old Town (c); Sacred Mijikenda Kaya Forests (c); Fort Jesus, Mombasa (c); Kenya Lake System in the Great Rift Valley (n); Thimlich Ohinga Archaeological Site (c); The Historic Town and Archaeological Site of Gedi (c)

## Economy
Economic overview: fast growing, third largest Sub-Saharan economy; strong agriculture sector with emerging services and tourism industries; IMF program to address current account and debt service challenges; business-friendly policies foster infrastructure investment, digital innovation and public-private partnerships; vulnerable to climate change-induced droughts
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $328.632 billion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $314.491 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $297.938 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2024: 4.5% (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2023: 5.6% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2022: 4.9% (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2024: $5,800 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2023: $5,700 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2022: $5,500 (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $124.499 billion (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024: 4.5% (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023: 7.7% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 7.7% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / agriculture: 21.3% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / industry: 16.1% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / services: 55.9% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / household consumption: 75.5% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / government consumption: 11.5% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in fixed capital: 17.7% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in inventories: -0.9% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / exports of goods and services: 11.1% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / imports of goods and services: -19.2% (2024 est.)
Agricultural products: sugarcane, milk, maize, bananas, tea, potatoes, cassava, cabbages, camel milk, mangoes/guavas (2023)
Industries: agriculture, transportation, services, manufacturing, construction, telecommunications, tourism, retail
Industrial production growth rate: 0.2% (2024 est.)
Labor force: 23.781 million (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2024: 5.5% (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2023: 5.6% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2022: 5.8% (2022 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / total: 11.9% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / male: 8.3% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / female: 16% (2024 est.)
Population below poverty line: 38.6% (2021 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income / Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2021: 38.7 (2021 est.)
Average household expenditures / on food: 42.1% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Average household expenditures / on alcohol and tobacco: 3.5% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / lowest 10%: 2.9% (2021 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / highest 10%: 31.8% (2021 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2023: 3.9% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2022: 3.5% of GDP (2022 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2021: 3.4% of GDP (2021 est.)
Budget / revenues: $20.202 billion (2023 est.)
Budget / expenditures: $30.924 billion (2023 est.)
Public debt / Public debt 2016: 53.2% of GDP (2016 est.)
Taxes and other revenues: 14% (of GDP) (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2023: -$4.317 billion (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2022: -$5.889 billion (2022 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2021: -$5.597 billion (2021 est.)
Exports / Exports 2023: $12.626 billion (2023 est.)
Exports / Exports 2022: $13.954 billion (2022 est.)
Exports / Exports 2021: $11.815 billion (2021 est.)
Exports - partners: Uganda 10%, USA 10%, UAE 8%, Netherlands 8%, Pakistan 6% (2023)
Exports - commodities: tea, cut flowers, garments, gold, tropical fruits (2023)
Imports / Imports 2023: $22.046 billion (2023 est.)
Imports / Imports 2022: $24.606 billion (2022 est.)
Imports / Imports 2021: $22.001 billion (2021 est.)
Imports - partners: China 22%, UAE 14%, India 10%, Saudi Arabia 5%, Malaysia 4% (2023)
Imports - commodities: refined petroleum, palm oil, wheat, plastics, garments (2023)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024: $10.067 billion (2024 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023: $7.342 billion (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $7.969 billion (2022 est.)
Debt - external / Debt - external 2023: $31.451 billion (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Currency: Kenyan shillings (KES) per US dollar -
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2024: 134.822 (2024 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2023: 139.846 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2022: 117.866 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2021: 109.638 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2020: 106.451 (2020 est.)

## Energy
Electricity access / electrification - total population: 76% (2022 est.)
Electricity access / electrification - urban areas: 98%
Electricity access / electrification - rural areas: 65.6%
Electricity / installed generating capacity: 3.824 million kW (2023 est.)
Electricity / consumption: 10.002 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / exports: 34 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / imports: 316 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / transmission/distribution losses: 3.069 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / fossil fuels: 10.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / solar: 4.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / wind: 15.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / hydroelectricity: 20.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / geothermal: 47.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / biomass and waste: 1.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Coal / consumption: 1.453 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / exports: 30 metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / imports: 1.453 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum / refined petroleum consumption: 113,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Energy consumption per capita / Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 5.486 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

## Communications
Telephones - fixed lines / total subscriptions: 68,000 (2023 est.)
Telephones - fixed lines / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2023 est.) less than 1
Telephones - mobile cellular / total subscriptions: 71.4 million (2024 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 126 (2024 est.)
Broadcast media: about a half-dozen large, privately owned media companies with TV and radio stations, as well as a state-owned TV broadcaster, provide service nationwide; satellite and cable TV subscription services available; state-owned radio broadcaster operates 2 national radio channels and provides regional and local radio services in multiple languages; many private radio stations broadcast nationally, with over 100 private and non-profit regional stations broadcasting in local languages; TV transmissions of all major international broadcasters available, mostly via paid subscriptions (2019)
Internet country code: .ke
Internet users / percent of population: 35% (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / total: 1.32 million (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 2 (2023 est.)

## Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: 5Y
Airports: 368 (2025)
Railways / total: 3,819 km (2018)
Railways / standard gauge: 485 km (2018) 1.435-m gauge
Railways / narrow gauge: 3,334 km (2018) 1.000-m gauge
Merchant marine / total: 26 (2023)
Merchant marine / by type: oil tanker 4, other 22
Ports / total ports: 4 (2024)
Ports / large: 0
Ports / medium: 1
Ports / small: 2
Ports / very small: 1
Ports / ports with oil terminals: 1
Ports / key ports: Kilifi, Lamu, Malindi, Mombasa

## Military and Security
Military and security forces: Kenya Defense Forces (KDF): Kenya Army, Kenya Navy, Kenya Air Force Ministry of Interior: National Police Service, Kenya Coast Guard (2025)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2024: 1.1% of GDP (2024 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2023: 1.1% of GDP (2023 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2022: 1.1% of GDP (2022 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2021: 1.2% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2020: 1.2% of GDP (2020 est.)
Military and security service personnel strengths: approximately 25,000 active Kenya Defense Forces (2025)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the KDF's inventory is a mix of older, donated/secondhand, and some modern weapon systems from a variety of sources; major suppliers have included China, France, South Africa, T&uuml;rkiye, the UK, and the US; in 2023, the Kenyan Government unveiled a five-year defense spending plan with a focus on upgraded military equipment, including aerial surveillance drones, tactical vehicles, and air defense systems (2025)
Military service age and obligation: 18-26 years of age for voluntary service for men and women (under 18 with parental consent; upper limit 30 years of age for specialists, tradesmen, or women with a diploma; 39 years of age for chaplains/imams); 7-9 year service obligations (2026)
Military deployments: 400 Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO); approximately 1,400 Somalia (African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia or AUSSOM) (2025)
Military - note: the Kenya Defense Forces (KDF) are responsible for protecting the country's sovereignty and territory and assisting civil authorities in responding to emergency, disaster, or political unrest as requested; the KDF's chief security concerns include regional disputes and instability, maritime crime and piracy, and the threat posed by the Somalia-based al-Shabaab terrorist group, which has conducted attacks inside Kenya; it has conducted operations in neighboring Somalia since 2011 and taken part in numerous regional peacekeeping and security missions; the KDF is a leading member of the Africa Standby Force; it participates in multinational exercises, and has ties to a variety of foreign militaries, including those of France, the UK, and the US the Kenya Military Forces were created following independence in 1963; the current KDF was established and its composition laid out in the 2010 constitution; it is governed by the Kenya Defense Forces Act of 2012; the Army traces its origins back to the Kings African Rifles (KAR), a British colonial regiment raised from Britain's East Africa possessions from 1902 until independence in the 1960s; the KAR conducted both military and internal security functions within the colonial territories, and served outside the territories during both World Wars (2025)

## Space
Space agency/agencies: Kenya Space Agency (KSA; established 2017) (2025)
Space launch site(s): Luigi Broglio Space Center (aka Malindi Space Center, Malindi Station, San Marco Satellite Launching and Tracking Station; Kilifi County; over 20 sounding rockets and nine satellites launched from the site, 1967-1989); in 2020, Kenya concluded a new deal with Italy to conduct rocket launches from the site again in the future (2025)
Space program overview: has a national space strategy focused on acquiring and applying space technologies for agriculture, communications, disaster and resource management, security, urban planning, and weather monitoring; jointly develops and builds nanosatellites with foreign partners; operates satellites; researching and developing satellite payloads and imagery data analysis capabilities; has cooperated on space issues with China, Japan, India, Italy, and the US, as well as a variety of African partners; member of the African Space Agency (2025)
Key space-program milestones: 1970 - first satellite (US-made Uhura) launched from Kenya 2008 - established country's first satellite ground station 2018 - first remote-sensing (RS)/technology-demonstrator cube nanosatellite (1KUNS-PF) produced jointly with Japan and Italy and deployed from the International Space Station 2023 - first domestically designed RS satellite (TAIFA-1) built by Bulgaria and launched by US

## Terrorism
Terrorist group(s): al-Shabaab

## Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons / refugees: 823,904 (2024 est.)
Refugees and internally displaced persons / IDPs: 284,886 (2024 est.)
Refugees and internally displaced persons / stateless persons: 9,800 (2024 est.)

=== Liberia ===

## Introduction
Background: With 28 ethnic groups and languages, Liberia is one of the most ethnically diverse countries in the world. For hundreds of years, the Mali and Songhai Empires claimed most of Liberia. Beginning in the 15th century, European traders began establishing outposts along the Liberian coast. Unlike its neighbors, however, Liberia did not fall under European colonial rule. In the early 19th century, the US began sending freed enslaved people and other people of color to Liberia to establish settlements. In 1847, these settlers declared independence from the US, writing their own constitution and establishing Africa’s first republic. Early in Liberia’s history, tensions arose between the Americo-Liberian settlers and the indigenous population. In 1980, Samuel DOE, who was from the indigenous population, led a military coup and ushered in a decade of authoritarian rule. In 1989, Charles TAYLOR launched a rebellion that led to a prolonged civil war in which DOE was killed. A period of relative peace in 1997 permitted an election that brought TAYLOR to power. In 2000, fighting resumed. A 2003 peace agreement ended the war and prompted TAYLOR’s resignation. He was later convicted by the UN-backed Special Court for Sierra Leone in The Hague for his involvement in Sierra Leone's civil war. In 2005, Ellen JOHNSON SIRLEAF became president after two years of transitional governments; she was the first female head of state in Africa. In 2011, JOHNSON SIRLEAF won reelection but struggled to rebuild Liberia's economy -- particularly after the 2014-15 Ebola epidemic -- and to reconcile a nation still recovering from 14 years of fighting. In 2017, former soccer star George WEAH won the presidential runoff election, marking the first successful transfer of power from one democratically elected government to another since the end of Liberia’s civil wars. Like his predecessor, WEAH struggled to improve the country’s economy. In 2023, former Vice President Joseph BOAKAI was elected president, edging out WEAH by a thin margin, the first time since 1927 that an incumbent was not re-elected after one term.

## Geography
Location: Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Cote d'Ivoire and Sierra Leone
Geographic coordinates: 6 30 N, 9 30 W
Map references: Africa
Area / total: 111,369 sq km
Area / land: 96,320 sq km
Area / water: 15,049 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly larger than Virginia
Land boundaries / total: 1,667 km
Land boundaries / border countries: Guinea 590 km; Cote d'Ivoire 778 km; Sierra Leone 299 km
Coastline: 579 km
Maritime claims / territorial sea: 12 nm
Maritime claims / contiguous zone: 24 nm
Maritime claims / exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Maritime claims / continental shelf: 200 nm
Climate: tropical; hot, humid; dry winters with hot days and cool to cold nights; wet, cloudy summers with frequent heavy showers
Terrain: mostly flat to rolling coastal plains rising to rolling plateau and low mountains in northeast
Elevation / highest point: Mount Wuteve 1,447 m
Elevation / lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
Elevation / mean elevation: 243 m
Natural resources: iron ore, timber, diamonds, gold, hydropower
Land use / agricultural land: 20% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 5.2% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 2.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 12.7% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 66.5% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 13.5% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land: 30 sq km (2012)
Population distribution: more than half of the population lives in urban areas, with approximately one third living within an 80-km (50-mi) radius of Monrovia, as shown in this population distribution map
Natural hazards: dust-laden harmattan winds blow from the Sahara (December to March)
Geography - note: facing the Atlantic Ocean, the coastline is characterized by lagoons, mangrove swamps, and river-deposited sandbars; the inland grassy plateau supports limited agriculture

## People and Society
Population / total: 5,563,541 (2025 est.)
Population / male: 2,774,006
Population / female: 2,789,535
Nationality / noun: Liberian(s)
Nationality / adjective: Liberian
Ethnic groups: Kpelle 20.2%, Bassa 13.6%, Grebo 9.9%, Gio 7.9%, Mano 7.2%, Kru 5.5%, Lorma 4.8%, Krahn 4.5%, Kissi, 4.3%, Mandingo 4.2%, Vai 3.8%, Gola 3.8%, Gbandi 2.9%, Mende 1.7%, Sapo 1%, Belle 0.7%, Dey 0.3%, other Liberian ethnic group 0.4%, other African 3%, non-African 0.2% (2022 est.)
Languages: English 20% (official) and 27 indigenous languages, including Liberian English variants
Religions: Christian 84.9%, Muslim 12%, Traditional 0.5%, other 0.1%, none 2.6% (2022 est.)
Age structure / 0-14 years: 38.9% (male 1,064,100/female 1,052,556)
Age structure / 15-64 years: 57.9% (male 1,566,263/female 1,579,835)
Age structure / 65 years and over: 3.2% (2024 est.) (male 80,961/female 93,534)
Dependency ratios / total dependency ratio: 72 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / youth dependency ratio: 66.4 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / elderly dependency ratio: 5.6 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / potential support ratio: 18 (2025 est.)
Median age / total: 20.1 years (2025 est.)
Median age / male: 19.8 years
Median age / female: 20 years
Population growth rate: 2.27% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 31.72 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 8.17 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: -0.84 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution: more than half of the population lives in urban areas, with approximately one third living within an 80-km (50-mi) radius of Monrovia, as shown in this population distribution map
Urbanization / urban population: 53.6% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 3.41% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 1.678 million MONROVIA (capital) (2023)
Sex ratio / at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 0-14 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 65 years and over: 0.87 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / total population: 1 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth: 19.1 years (2019/20 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio: 628 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Infant mortality rate / total: 55.2 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Infant mortality rate / male: 61 deaths/1,000 live births
Infant mortality rate / female: 50.2 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth / total population: 61.6 years (2024 est.)
Life expectancy at birth / male: 59.9 years
Life expectancy at birth / female: 63.3 years
Total fertility rate: 3.84 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 1.89 (2025 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: urban: urban: 84.6% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: rural: rural: 65.5% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: total: total: 75.6% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: urban: urban: 15.4% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: rural: rural: 34.5% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: total: total: 24.4% of population (2022 est.)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 16.6% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 4.8% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density: 0.18 physicians/1,000 population (2022)
Hospital bed density: 1.6 beds/1,000 population (2021 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: urban: urban: 70.1% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: rural: rural: 25.1% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: total: total: 49% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: urban: urban: 29.9% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: rural: rural: 74.9% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: total: total: 51% of population (2022 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 9.9% (2016)
Alcohol consumption per capita / total: 3.12 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / beer: 0.38 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / wine: 0.44 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / spirits: 2.28 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / other alcohols: 0.02 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Tobacco use / total: 6.4% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / male: 11.5% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / female: 1.5% (2025 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 10.9% (2019 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49): 51.4% (2020 est.)
Child marriage / women married by age 15: 5.8% (2020)
Child marriage / women married by age 18: 24.9% (2020)
Child marriage / men married by age 18: 8.4% (2020)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% GDP): 2.3% of GDP (2023 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% national budget): 7.4% national budget (2021 est.)

## Environment
Environmental issues: tropical rainforest deforestation; soil erosion; loss of biodiversity; hunting of endangered species for bushmeat; pollution of coastal waters from oil residue and raw sewage; pollution of rivers from industrial run-off; burning and dumping of household waste
International environmental agreements / party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling
International environmental agreements / signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification, Marine Life Conservation
Climate: tropical; hot, humid; dry winters with hot days and cool to cold nights; wet, cloudy summers with frequent heavy showers
Land use / agricultural land: 20% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 5.2% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 2.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 12.7% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 66.5% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 13.5% (2023 est.)
Urbanization / urban population: 53.6% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 3.41% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / total emissions: 671,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from coal and metallurgical coke: 4 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from petroleum and other liquids: 671,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Particulate matter emissions: 41.9 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Waste and recycling / municipal solid waste generated annually: 564,500 tons (2024 est.)
Waste and recycling / percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 7.9% (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / municipal: 80.2 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / industrial: 53.4 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / agricultural: 12.3 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total renewable water resources: 232 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: Republic of Liberia
Country name / conventional short form: Liberia
Country name / etymology: name derives from the Latin word liber, meaning "free;" so named because the nation was created as a homeland for liberated African-American slaves
Government type: presidential republic
Capital / name: Monrovia
Capital / geographic coordinates: 6 18 N, 10 48 W
Capital / time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Capital / etymology: named after James MONROE (1758-1831), the fifth president of the United States and supporter of Liberia's colonization by freed slaves
Administrative divisions: 15 counties; Bomi, Bong, Gbarpolu, Grand Bassa, Grand Cape Mount, Grand Gedeh, Grand Kru, Lofa, Margibi, Maryland, Montserrado, Nimba, River Cess, River Gee, Sinoe
Legal system: mixed system of common law, based on Anglo-American law and customary law
Constitution / history: previous 1847 (at independence); latest drafted 19 October 1983, revision adopted by referendum 3 July 1984, effective 6 January 1986
Constitution / amendment process: proposed by agreement of at least two thirds of both National Assembly houses or by petition of at least 10,000 citizens; passage requires at least two-thirds majority approval of both houses and approval in a referendum by at least two-thirds majority of registered voters
International law organization participation: accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Citizenship / citizenship by birth: no
Citizenship / citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Liberia
Citizenship / dual citizenship recognized: no
Citizenship / residency requirement for naturalization: 2 years
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch / chief of state: President Joseph BOAKAI (since 22 January 2024)
Executive branch / head of government: President Joseph BOAKAI (since 22 January 2024)
Executive branch / cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president, confirmed by the Senate
Executive branch / election/appointment process: president directly elected by absolute-majority popular vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a 6-year term (eligible for a second term)
Executive branch / most recent election date: 10 October 2023, with a runoff on 14 November 2023
Executive branch / election results: 2023: Joseph BOAKAI elected president in second round; percent of vote in first round - George WEAH (CDC) 43.8%, Joseph BOAKAI (UP) 43.4%, Edward APPLETON (GDM) 2.2%, Lusinee KAMARA (ALCOP) 2%, Alexander B. CUMMINGS, Jr. (CPP) 1.6%, Tiawan Saye GONGLOE (LPP) 1.4%, other 5.6%; percentage of vote in second round - Joseph BOAKAI 50.6%, George WEAH 49.4% 2017: George WEAH elected president in second round; percent of vote in first round - George WEAH (Coalition for Democratic Change) 38.4%, Joseph BOAKAI (UP) 28.8%, Charles BRUMSKINE (LP) 9.6%, Prince JOHNSON (MDR) 8.2%, Alexander B. CUMMINGS (ANC) 7.2%, other 7.8%; percentage of vote in second round - George WEAH 61.5%, Joseph BOAKAI 38.5%
Executive branch / expected date of next election: October 2029
Legislative branch / legislature name: Legislature
Legislative branch / legislative structure: bicameral
Legislative branch - lower chamber / chamber name: House of Representatives
Legislative branch - lower chamber / number of seats: 73 (all directly elected)
Legislative branch - lower chamber / electoral system: plurality/majority
Legislative branch - lower chamber / scope of elections: full renewal
Legislative branch - lower chamber / term in office: 6 years
Legislative branch - lower chamber / most recent election date: 10/10/2023
Legislative branch - lower chamber / parties elected and seats per party: Congress for Democratic Change (CDC) (25); Unity Party (UP) (11); Collaborating Political Parties (CPP) (6); Movement for Democracy and Reconstruction (MDR) (4); Independents (19); Other (8)
Legislative branch - lower chamber / percentage of women in chamber: 11%
Legislative branch - lower chamber / expected date of next election: October 2029
Legislative branch - upper chamber / chamber name: The Liberian Senate
Legislative branch - upper chamber / number of seats: 30 (all directly elected)
Legislative branch - upper chamber / electoral system: plurality/majority
Legislative branch - upper chamber / scope of elections: partial renewal
Legislative branch - upper chamber / term in office: 9 years
Legislative branch - upper chamber / most recent election date: 10/10/2023
Legislative branch - upper chamber / parties elected and seats per party: Congress for Democratic Change (CDC) (6); Unity Party (UP) (1); Movement for Democracy and Reconstruction (MDR) (1); Liberia Restoration Party (LRP) (1); Independents (6)
Legislative branch - upper chamber / percentage of women in chamber: 10%
Legislative branch - upper chamber / expected date of next election: October 2029
Judicial branch / highest court(s): Supreme Court (consists of a chief justice and 4 associate justices)
Judicial branch / judge selection and term of office: chief justice and associate justices appointed by the president of Liberia with consent of the Senate; judges can serve until age 70
Judicial branch / subordinate courts: judicial circuit courts; special courts, including criminal, civil, labor, traffic; magistrate and traditional or customary courts
Political parties: All Liberian Party or ALP Alliance for Peace and Democracy or APD Alternative National Congress or ANC Coalition for Democratic Change (includes CDC, NPP, and LPDP) Collaborating Political Parties or CPP (coalition includes ANC, LP; CPP dissolved in April 2024) Congress for Democratic Change or CDC Liberia Destiny Party or LDP Liberia National Union or LINU Liberia Transformation Party or LTP Liberian People Democratic Party or LPDP Liberian People's Party or LPP Liberian Restoration Party or LRP Liberty Party or LP Movement for Democracy and Reconstruction or MDR Movement for Economic Empowerment Movement for Progressive Change or MPC National Democratic Coalition or NDC National Democratic Party of Liberia or NDPL National Patriotic Party or NPP National Reformist Party or NRP National Union for Democratic Progress or NUDP People's Unification Party or PUP Unity Party or UP United People's Party Victory for Change Party or VCP
Diplomatic representation in the US / chief of mission: Ambassador Al-Hassan CONTEH (since 24 July 2025)
Diplomatic representation in the US / chancery: 5201 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20011
Diplomatic representation in the US / telephone: [1] (202) 723-0437
Diplomatic representation in the US / FAX: [1] (202) 723-0436
Diplomatic representation in the US / email address and website: info@liberianembassyus.org http://www.liberianembassyus.org/
Diplomatic representation in the US / consulate(s) general: New York
Diplomatic representation from the US / chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charg&eacute; d&rsquo;Affaires Joseph ZADROZNY (since August 2025)
Diplomatic representation from the US / embassy: 502 Benson Street, Monrovia
Diplomatic representation from the US / mailing address: 8800 Monrovia Place, Washington DC 20521-8800
Diplomatic representation from the US / telephone: [231] 77-677-7000
Diplomatic representation from the US / FAX: [231] 77-677-7370
Diplomatic representation from the US / email address and website: ACSMonrovia@state.gov https://lr.usembassy.gov/
International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, AU, ECOWAS, EITI (compliant country), FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NAM, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNISFA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Independence: 26 July 1847
National holiday: Independence Day, 26 July (1847)
Flag: description: 11 equal horizontal stripes of red alternating with white; a five-pointed white star sits on a blue square in the upper-left corner meaning: the stripes stand for the signatories of the Liberian Declaration of Independence, the blue square for the African mainland, and the star for the freedom granted to ex-slaves; the blue stands for liberty, justice, and fidelity; the white for purity, cleanliness, and guilelessness; the red for steadfastness, valor, and fervor
National symbol(s): white star
National color(s): red, white, blue
National anthem(s) / title: "All Hail, Liberia, Hail!"
National anthem(s) / lyrics/music: Daniel Bashiel WARNER/Olmstead LUCA
National anthem(s) / history: lyrics adopted 1847, music adopted 1860; the anthem's author later became the third president of Liberia

## Economy
Economic overview: low-income West African economy; food scarcity, especially in rural areas; high poverty and inflation; bad recession prior to COVID-19 due to Ebola crisis; growing government debt; longest continuously operated rubber plantation; large informal economy
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $9.308 billion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $8.882 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $8.484 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2024: 4.8% (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2023: 4.7% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2022: 4.8% (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2024: $1,700 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2023: $1,600 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2022: $1,600 (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $4.75 billion (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023: 10.1% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 7.6% (2022 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021: 7.8% (2021 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / agriculture: 33.6% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / industry: 23.3% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / services: 42.1% (2024 est.)
Agricultural products: cassava, sugarcane, rice, oil palm fruit, bananas, rubber, vegetables, plantains, taro, maize (2023)
Industries: mining (iron ore and gold), rubber processing, palm oil processing, diamonds
Industrial production growth rate: 6.1% (2024 est.)
Labor force: 2.607 million (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2024: 2.9% (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2023: 3% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2022: 3% (2022 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / total: 2.1% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / male: 2.2% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / female: 2% (2024 est.)
Population below poverty line: 50.9% (2016 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income / Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2016: 35.3 (2016 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / lowest 10%: 2.9% (2016 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / highest 10%: 27.1% (2016 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2023: 18.2% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2022: 17.2% of GDP (2022 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2021: 15.1% of GDP (2021 est.)
Budget / revenues: $5 million (2019 est.)
Budget / expenditures: $6 million (2019 est.)
Public debt / Public debt 2016: 28.3% of GDP (2016 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2022: $64.806 million (2022 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2021: -$101.746 million (2021 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2020: -$274.971 million (2020 est.)
Exports / Exports 2022: $1.22 billion (2022 est.)
Exports / Exports 2021: $1.041 billion (2021 est.)
Exports / Exports 2020: $731.658 million (2020 est.)
Exports - partners: Switzerland 30%, UK 13%, France 8%, Germany 7%, Lebanon 4% (2023)
Exports - commodities: gold, ships, iron ore, rubber, refined petroleum (2023)
Imports / Imports 2022: $1.961 billion (2022 est.)
Imports / Imports 2021: $1.739 billion (2021 est.)
Imports / Imports 2020: $1.371 billion (2020 est.)
Imports - partners: China 48%, Japan 21%, Germany 8%, Brazil 3%, Cote d'Ivoire 3% (2023)
Imports - commodities: ships, refined petroleum, rice, trucks, centrifuges (2023)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $599.66 million (2022 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2021: $700.829 million (2021 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2020: $340.966 million (2020 est.)
Debt - external / Debt - external 2023: $1.335 billion (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Currency: Liberian dollars (LRD) per US dollar -
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2023: 174.956 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2022: 152.934 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2021: 166.154 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2020: 191.518 (2020 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2019: 186.43 (2019 est.)

## Energy
Electricity access / electrification - total population: 31.8% (2022 est.)
Electricity access / electrification - urban areas: 53.7%
Electricity access / electrification - rural areas: 14.9%
Electricity / installed generating capacity: 199,000 kW (2023 est.)
Electricity / consumption: 215.96 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / transmission/distribution losses: 179.222 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / fossil fuels: 66.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / solar: 1.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / hydroelectricity: 32.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / biomass and waste: 0.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Coal / imports: 75,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum / refined petroleum consumption: 5,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Energy consumption per capita / Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 1.822 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

## Communications
Telephones - fixed lines / total subscriptions: 6,000 (2021 est.)
Telephones - fixed lines / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2022 est.) less than 1
Telephones - mobile cellular / total subscriptions: 1.72 million (2022 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 32 (2022 est.)
Broadcast media: 8 private and 1 state-owned TV station; satellite TV service available; 1 state-owned radio station; about 20 independent radio stations broadcasting in Monrovia, with about 80 more local stations operating in other areas; transmissions of 4 international broadcasters are available (2019)
Internet country code: .lr
Internet users / percent of population: 24% (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / total: 15,000 (2022 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2022 est.) less than 1

## Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: A8
Airports: 19 (2025)
Railways / total: 429 km (2008)
Railways / standard gauge: 345 km (2008) 1.435-m gauge
Railways / narrow gauge: 84 km (2008) 1.067-m gauge
Merchant marine / total: 4,821 (2023)
Merchant marine / by type: bulk carrier 1,895, container ship 1,013, general cargo 170, oil tanker 1,038, other 705
Ports / total ports: 4 (2024)
Ports / large: 0
Ports / medium: 0
Ports / small: 1
Ports / very small: 3
Ports / ports with oil terminals: 3
Ports / key ports: Buchanan, Cape Palmas, Greenville, Monrovia

## Military and Security
Military and security forces: Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL): Army, Liberian Coast Guard Ministry of Justice: Liberia National Police, Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency (2025)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2024: 0.7% of GDP (2024 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2023: 1.3% of GDP (2023 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2022: 1.3% of GDP (2022 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2021: 0.8% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2020: 0.5% of GDP (2020 est.)
Military and security service personnel strengths: approximately 2,000 active Armed Forces (2025)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the military has a limited inventory; in recent years, it has received small quantities of equipment, including donations, from countries such as China, UAE, and the US (2025)
Military service age and obligation: 18 years of age for men and women for voluntary military service (2025)
Military - note: the Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL) are responsible for external defense and some domestic security responsibilities if called upon, such as humanitarian assistance during natural disasters and support to law enforcement; it is a small, lightly equipped force comprised of two combat infantry battalions and supporting units, as well as a few coastal patrol craft for the Coast Guard; the infantry battalions were rebuilt with US assistance in 2007-2008 from the restructured AFL following the end of the second civil war in 2003 when military and police forces were disbanded and approximately 100,000 military, police, and rebel combatants were disarmed the first militia unit established for defense of the Liberia colony was raised in 1832; the AFL traces its origins to the 1908 establishment of the Liberia Frontier Force, which became the Liberian National Guard in 1965; the AFL was established in 1970 (2025)

## Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons / refugees: 1,854 (2024 est.)
Trafficking in persons / tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List — the government did not demonstrate overall increasing efforts to eliminate trafficking compared with the previous reporting period, therefore Liberia remained on Tier 2 Watch List for the second consecutive year; for more details, go to: https://www.state.gov/reports/2025-trafficking-in-persons-report/liberia/

=== Lesotho ===

## Introduction
Background: Paramount chief MOSHOESHOE I consolidated what would become Basutoland in the early 19th century and made himself king in 1822. Continuing encroachments by Dutch settlers from the neighboring Orange Free State caused the king to enter into an 1868 agreement with the UK that made Basutoland first a British protectorate and, after 1884, a crown colony. After gaining independence in 1966, the country was renamed the Kingdom of Lesotho. The Basotho National Party ruled the country during its first two decades. King MOSHOESHOE II was exiled in 1990, returned to Lesotho in 1992, was reinstated in 1995, and was then succeeded by his son, King LETSIE III, in 1996. Constitutional government was restored in 1993 after seven years of military rule. In 1998, violent protests and a military mutiny following a contentious election prompted a brief but bloody intervention by South African and Batswana military forces under the aegis of the Southern African Development Community (SADC). Subsequent constitutional reforms restored relative political stability. Peaceful parliamentary elections were held in 2002, but the National Assembly elections in 2007 were hotly contested, and aggrieved parties disputed how seats were awarded. In 2012, competitive elections saw Prime Minister Motsoahae Thomas THABANE form a coalition government -- the first in the country's history -- that ousted the 14-year incumbent, Pakalitha MOSISILI, who peacefully transferred power the following month. MOSISILI returned to power in snap elections in 2015 after the collapse of THABANE’s coalition government and an alleged attempted military coup. In 2017, THABANE returned to become prime minister but stepped down in 2020 after being implicated in his estranged wife’s murder. He was succeeded by Moseketsi MAJORO. In 2022, Ntsokoane Samuel MATEKANE was inaugurated as prime minister and head of a three-party coalition.

## Geography
Location: Southern Africa, an enclave of South Africa
Geographic coordinates: 29 30 S, 28 30 E
Map references: Africa
Area / total: 30,355 sq km
Area / land: 30,355 sq km
Area / water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly smaller than Maryland
Land boundaries / total: 1,106 km
Land boundaries / border countries: South Africa 1,106 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
Climate: temperate; cool to cold, dry winters; hot, wet summers
Terrain: mostly highland with plateaus, hills, and mountains
Elevation / highest point: Thabana Ntlenyana 3,482 m
Elevation / lowest point: junction of the Orange and Makhaleng Rivers 1,400 m
Elevation / mean elevation: 2,161 m
Natural resources: water, agricultural and grazing land, diamonds, sand, clay, building stone
Land use / agricultural land: 77.8% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 11.8% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 0.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 65.9% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 1.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 21.1% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land: 12 sq km (2013)
Major rivers (by length in km): Orange river source (shared with South Africa and Namibia [m]) - 2,092 km note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Major watersheds (area sq km) / Atlantic Ocean drainage: Orange (941,351 sq km)
Population distribution: relatively higher population density in the western half of the nation, with the capital of Maseru and the smaller cities of Mafeteng, Teyateyaneng, and Leribe attracting the most people, as shown in this population distribution map
Natural hazards: periodic droughts
Geography - note: landlocked, surrounded by South Africa; mountainous, more than 80% of the country is 1,800 m (5,900 ft) above sea level

## People and Society
Population / total: 2,222,962 (2025 est.)
Population / male: 1,099,314
Population / female: 1,123,648
Nationality / noun: Mosotho (singular), Basotho (plural)
Nationality / adjective: Basotho
Ethnic groups: Sotho 99.7%, other 0.3% (includes Kwena, Nguni (Hlubi and Phuthi), Zulu)
Languages: Sesotho (official), English (official), Phuthi, Xhosa, Zulu
Religions: Protestant 47.8% (Pentecostal 23.1%, Lesotho Evangelical 17.3%, Anglican 7.4%), Roman Catholic 39.3%, other Christian 9.1%, non-Christian 1.4%, none 2.3% (2014 est.)
Age structure / 0-14 years: 32% (male 358,137/female 353,618)
Age structure / 15-64 years: 62.7% (male 699,197/female 696,626)
Age structure / 65 years and over: 5.4% (2024 est.) (male 44,625/female 75,345)
Dependency ratios / total dependency ratio: 56.8 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / youth dependency ratio: 48.2 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / elderly dependency ratio: 8.6 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / potential support ratio: 11.6 (2025 est.)
Median age / total: 24 years (2025 est.)
Median age / male: 23.4 years
Median age / female: 24.3 years
Population growth rate: 0.73% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 21.68 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 10.2 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: -4.21 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution: relatively higher population density in the western half of the nation, with the capital of Maseru and the smaller cities of Mafeteng, Teyateyaneng, and Leribe attracting the most people, as shown in this population distribution map
Urbanization / urban population: 30.4% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 2.77% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 202,000 MASERU (capital) (2018)
Sex ratio / at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 0-14 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 65 years and over: 0.59 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth: 20.9 years (2014 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio: 478 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Infant mortality rate / total: 52.2 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Infant mortality rate / male: 51 deaths/1,000 live births
Infant mortality rate / female: 40.2 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth / total population: 60.2 years (2024 est.)
Life expectancy at birth / male: 58.1 years
Life expectancy at birth / female: 62.3 years
Total fertility rate: 2.49 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 1.23 (2025 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: urban: urban: 93% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: rural: rural: 65.9% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: total: total: 74% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: urban: urban: 7% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: rural: rural: 34.1% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: total: total: 26% of population (2022 est.)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 10.2% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 13.1% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density: 0.24 physicians/1,000 population (2022)
Sanitation facility access / improved: urban: urban: 93.6% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: rural: rural: 62.4% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: total: total: 71.7% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: urban: urban: 6.4% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: rural: rural: 37.6% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: total: total: 28.3% of population (2022 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 16.6% (2016)
Alcohol consumption per capita / total: 3.56 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / beer: 1.98 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / wine: 0.44 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / spirits: 0.31 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / other alcohols: 0.82 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Tobacco use / total: 22.8% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / male: 42.4% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / female: 4.1% (2025 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 12.5% (2024 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49): 46.9% (2021 est.)
Child marriage / women married by age 15: 1% (2018)
Child marriage / women married by age 18: 16.4% (2018)
Child marriage / men married by age 18: 1.9% (2018)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% GDP): 6.6% of GDP (2024 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% national budget): 10.4% national budget (2024 est.)
Literacy / total population: 90.4% (2024 est.)
Literacy / male: 83.2% (2024 est.)
Literacy / female: 96.6% (2024 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / total: 11 years (2017 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / male: 11 years (2017 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / female: 11 years (2017 est.)

## Environment
Environmental issues: overgrazing; severe soil erosion; soil exhaustion; desertification; Highlands Water Project controls, stores, and redirects water to South Africa
International environmental agreements / party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
International environmental agreements / signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Climate: temperate; cool to cold, dry winters; hot, wet summers
Land use / agricultural land: 77.8% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 11.8% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 0.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 65.9% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 1.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 21.1% (2023 est.)
Urbanization / urban population: 30.4% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 2.77% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / total emissions: 1.148 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from coal and metallurgical coke: 175,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from petroleum and other liquids: 973,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Particulate matter emissions: 17.4 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Waste and recycling / municipal solid waste generated annually: 73,500 tons (2024 est.)
Waste and recycling / percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 11.9% (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / municipal: 20 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / industrial: 20 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / agricultural: 3.8 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total renewable water resources: 3.022 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: Kingdom of Lesotho
Country name / conventional short form: Lesotho
Country name / local long form: Kingdom of Lesotho
Country name / local short form: Lesotho
Country name / former: Basutoland
Country name / etymology: the name comes from the Sotho people, whose name means "dark-skinned;" Le - is a singular noun prefix; the former name, Basutoland, uses the plural noun prefix, Ba -
Government type: parliamentary constitutional monarchy
Capital / name: Maseru
Capital / geographic coordinates: 29 19 S, 27 29 E
Capital / time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Capital / etymology: the name means "[place of] red sandstones" in the Sesotho language
Administrative divisions: 10 districts; Berea, Butha-Buthe, Leribe, Mafeteng, Maseru, Mohale's Hoek, Mokhotlong, Qacha's Nek, Quthing, Thaba-Tseka
Legal system: mixed system of English common law and Roman-Dutch law; High Court and Court of Appeal review legislative acts
Constitution / history: previous 1959, 1967; latest adopted 2 April 1993 (effectively restoring the 1967 version)
Constitution / amendment process: proposed by Parliament; passage of amendments affecting constitutional provisions, including fundamental rights and freedoms, sovereignty of the kingdom, the office of the king, and powers of Parliament, requires a majority vote by the National Assembly, approval by the Senate, approval in a referendum by a majority of qualified voters, and assent of the king; passage of amendments other than those specified provisions requires at least a two-thirds majority vote in both houses of Parliament
International law organization participation: accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Citizenship / citizenship by birth: yes
Citizenship / citizenship by descent only: yes
Citizenship / dual citizenship recognized: no
Citizenship / residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch / chief of state: King LETSIE III (since 7 February 1996)
Executive branch / head of government: Prime Minister Ntsokoane Samuel MATEKANE (28 October 2022)
Executive branch / cabinet: consists of the prime minister (appointed by the King on the advice of the Council of State), the deputy prime minister, and 18 other ministers; the prime minister is the leader of the majority party or majority coalition in the National Assembly
Executive branch / election/appointment process: the monarchy is hereditary but has no executive or legislative powers under the constitution; under traditional law, the College of Chiefs has the power to depose the monarch, determine next in line of succession, or serve as regent in the event that a successor is not of mature age
Legislative branch / legislature name: Parliament
Legislative branch / legislative structure: bicameral
Legislative branch - lower chamber / chamber name: National Assembly
Legislative branch - lower chamber / number of seats: 122 (all directly elected)
Legislative branch - lower chamber / electoral system: mixed system
Legislative branch - lower chamber / scope of elections: full renewal
Legislative branch - lower chamber / term in office: 5 years
Legislative branch - lower chamber / most recent election date: 11/2/2022
Legislative branch - lower chamber / parties elected and seats per party: Revolution for Prosperity (RFP) (56); Democratic Congress (DC) (29); All Basotho Convention (ABC) (8); Basotho Action Party (BAP) (6); Other (20)
Legislative branch - lower chamber / percentage of women in chamber: 25%
Legislative branch - lower chamber / expected date of next election: October 2027
Legislative branch - upper chamber / chamber name: Senate
Legislative branch - upper chamber / number of seats: 33 (11 appointed)
Legislative branch - upper chamber / scope of elections: full renewal
Legislative branch - upper chamber / term in office: 5 years
Legislative branch - upper chamber / most recent election date: 10/7/2022
Legislative branch - upper chamber / percentage of women in chamber: 21.2%
Legislative branch - upper chamber / expected date of next election: November 2027
Judicial branch / highest court(s): Court of Appeal (consists of the court president, such number of justices of appeal as set by Parliament, and the Chief Justice and the puisne judges of the High Court ex officio); High Court (consists of the chief justice and such number of puisne judges as set by Parliament)
Judicial branch / judge selection and term of office: Court of Appeal president and High Court chief justice appointed by the monarch on the advice of the prime minister; puisne judges appointed by the monarch on advice of the Judicial Service Commission, an independent body of judicial officers and officials designated by the monarch; judges of both courts can serve until age 75
Judicial branch / subordinate courts: Magistrate Courts; customary or traditional courts; military courts
Political parties: All Basotho Convention or ABC Alliance of Democrats or AD Basotho Action Party or BAP Basotho National Party or BNP Democratic Congress or DC Democratic Party of Lesotho or DPL Lesotho People's Congress or LPC Movement of Economic Change or MEC National Independent Party or NIP Popular Front for Democracy of PFD Reformed Congress of Lesotho or RCL
Diplomatic representation in the US / chief of mission: Ambassador Tumisang MOSOTHO (since 16 September 2022)
Diplomatic representation in the US / chancery: 2511 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation in the US / telephone: [1] (202) 797-5533
Diplomatic representation in the US / FAX: [1] (202) 234-6815
Diplomatic representation in the US / email address and website: lesothoembassy@verizon.net https://www.gov.ls/
Diplomatic representation from the US / chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charg&eacute; d'Affaires Thomas HINES (since August 2024)
Diplomatic representation from the US / embassy: 254 Kingsway Avenue, Maseru
Diplomatic representation from the US / mailing address: 2340 Maseru Place, Washington DC 20521-2340
Diplomatic representation from the US / telephone: [266] 22312666
Diplomatic representation from the US / FAX: [266] 22310116
Diplomatic representation from the US / email address and website: USConsularMaseru@state.gov https://ls.usembassy.gov/
International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, AU, C, CD, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITU, MIGA, NAM, OPCW, SACU, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Independence: 4 October 1966 (from the UK)
National holiday: Independence Day, 4 October (1966)
Flag: description: three horizontal stripes of blue (top), white, and green; centered on the white stripe is a black mokorotlo , a traditional Basotho straw hat and national symbol meaning: blue stands for rain, white for peace, and green for prosperity history: the redesigned flag was introduced in 2006 to celebrate 40 years of independence
National symbol(s): mokorotio (Basotho hat)
National color(s): blue, white, green, black
National anthem(s) / title: "Lesotho fatse la bo ntat'a rona" (Lesotho, Land of Our Fathers)
National anthem(s) / lyrics/music: Francois COILLARD/Ferdinand-Samuel LAUR
National anthem(s) / history: adopted 1967; music derives from an 1823 Swiss songbook
National heritage / total World Heritage Sites: 1 (mixed)
National heritage / selected World Heritage Site locales: Maloti-Drakensberg Park

## Economy
Economic overview: lower middle-income economy surrounded by South Africa; environmentally fragile and politically unstable; key infrastructure and renewable energy investments; dire poverty; urban job and income losses due to COVID-19; systemic corruption
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $6.166 billion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $6 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $5.893 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2024: 2.8% (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2023: 1.8% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2022: 2.4% (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2024: $2,600 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2023: $2,600 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2022: $2,600 (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $2.272 billion (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024: 6.1% (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023: 6.3% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 8.3% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / agriculture: 6.5% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / industry: 31% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / services: 48% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / household consumption: 92.9% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / government consumption: 35.6% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in fixed capital: 28.3% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in inventories: -1.1% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / exports of goods and services: 42.9% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / imports of goods and services: -98.6% (2023 est.)
Agricultural products: milk, potatoes, maize, vegetables, fruits, sorghum, wheat, game meat, beans, wool (2023)
Industries: food, beverages, textiles, apparel assembly, handicrafts, construction, tourism
Industrial production growth rate: 2.6% (2024 est.)
Labor force: 884,200 (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2024: 16.2% (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2023: 16.5% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2022: 16.7% (2022 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / total: 24.2% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / male: 17.7% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / female: 36.2% (2024 est.)
Population below poverty line: 49.7% (2017 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income / Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2017: 44.9 (2017 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / lowest 10%: 1.7% (2017 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / highest 10%: 32.9% (2017 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2024: 22% of GDP (2024 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2023: 22.9% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2022: 22.6% of GDP (2022 est.)
Budget / revenues: $1.13 billion (2022 est.)
Budget / expenditures: $1.256 billion (2022 est.)
Public debt / Public debt 2020: 3% of GDP (2020 est.)
Taxes and other revenues: 30.4% (of GDP) (2022 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2024: $84.393 million (2024 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2023: -$151.577 million (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2022: -$268.876 million (2022 est.)
Exports / Exports 2024: $983.027 million (2024 est.)
Exports / Exports 2023: $885.789 million (2023 est.)
Exports / Exports 2022: $1.07 billion (2022 est.)
Exports - partners: South Africa 31%, Belgium 26%, USA 20%, UAE 8%, India 8% (2023)
Exports - commodities: diamonds, garments, wool, power equipment, bedding (2023)
Imports / Imports 2024: $2.083 billion (2024 est.)
Imports / Imports 2023: $2.077 billion (2023 est.)
Imports / Imports 2022: $2.247 billion (2022 est.)
Imports - partners: South Africa 78%, China 10%, Taiwan 3%, Japan 1%, India 1% (2023)
Imports - commodities: refined petroleum, fabric, trucks, garments, cotton fabric (2023)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024: $1.008 billion (2024 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023: $854.089 million (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $771.278 million (2022 est.)
Debt - external / Debt - external 2023: $928.019 million (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Currency: maloti (LSL) per US dollar -
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2024: 18.329 (2024 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2023: 18.45 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2022: 16.356 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2021: 14.779 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2020: 16.459 (2020 est.)

## Energy
Electricity access / electrification - total population: 50% (2022 est.)
Electricity access / electrification - urban areas: 83.6%
Electricity access / electrification - rural areas: 37.7%
Electricity / installed generating capacity: 104,000 kW (2023 est.)
Electricity / consumption: 833.009 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / imports: 453.992 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / transmission/distribution losses: 102.88 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / fossil fuels: 0.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / solar: 0.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / hydroelectricity: 99.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Coal / production: 57,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / consumption: 81,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / exports: 1 metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / imports: 24,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum / refined petroleum consumption: 7,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Energy consumption per capita / Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 8.117 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

## Communications
Telephones - fixed lines / total subscriptions: 7,000 (2023 est.)
Telephones - fixed lines / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2023 est.) less than 1
Telephones - mobile cellular / total subscriptions: 1.64 million (2024 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 70 (2024 est.)
Broadcast media: 1 state-owned TV station and 2 state-owned radio stations; most private broadcast media transmitters are connected to government radio signal towers; satellite TV subscription service available; transmissions of multiple international broadcasters obtainable (2019)
Internet country code: .ls
Internet users / percent of population: 48% (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / total: 9,000 (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2023 est.) less than 1

## Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: 7P
Airports: 34 (2025)

## Military and Security
Military and security forces: Lesotho Defense Force (LDF) (2025)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2024: 1.5% of GDP (2024 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2023: 1.6% of GDP (2023 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2022: 1.6% of GDP (2022 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2021: 1.5% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2020: 1.6% of GDP (2020 est.)
Military and security service personnel strengths: approximately 2,000 active Defense Forces (2025)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the LDF is lightly armed and has a small inventory of mostly older or secondhand equipment of European, South African, and US origin (2025)
Military service age and obligation: 20-30 years of age for voluntary military service for both men and women (2026)
Military - note: the Lesotho Defense Force (LDF) is responsible for the maintenance of the country's sovereignty and the preservation of internal security; in practice, external security is guaranteed by South Africa; the LDF is a small force that began in 1964 as the Police Mobile Unit (PMU); the PMU was designated as the Lesotho Paramilitary Force in 1980 and became the Royal Lesotho Defense Force in 1986; it was renamed the Lesotho Defense Force in 1993 (2025)

## Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons / refugees: 610 (2024 est.)

=== Libya ===

## Introduction
Background: Berbers have inhabited central north Africa since ancient times, but Phoenicians, Greeks, Carthaginians, Persians, Egyptians, Romans, and Vandals have all settled and ruled the region. In the 7th century, Islam spread through the area. In the mid-16th century, Ottoman rule began; the Italians supplanted the Ottoman Turks in the area around Tripoli in 1911 and held it until 1943, when they were defeated in World War II. Libya then came under UN administration and achieved independence in 1951. Col. Muammar al-QADHAFI assumed leadership with a military coup in 1969 and began to espouse a political system that combined socialism and Islam. During the 1970s, QADHAFI used oil revenues to promote his ideology outside Libya, supporting subversive and terrorist activities that included the downing of two airliners -- one over Scotland and another in Northern Africa -- and a discotheque bombing in Berlin. UN sanctions in 1992 isolated QADHAFI politically and economically; the sanctions were lifted in 2003 when Libya accepted responsibility for the bombings and agreed to claimant compensation. QADHAFI also agreed to end Libya's program to develop weapons of mass destruction, and he made significant strides in normalizing relations with Western nations. Unrest that began in several Middle Eastern and North African countries in 2010 erupted in Libyan cities in 2011. QADHAFI's brutal crackdown on protesters spawned an eight-month civil war that saw the emergence of a National Transitional Council (NTC), UN authorization of air and naval intervention by the international community, and the toppling of the QADHAFI regime. In 2012, the NTC handed power to an elected parliament, the General National Congress (GNC), which was replaced two years later with the House of Representatives (HoR). In 2015, the UN brokered the Libyan Political Agreement (LPA) among a broad array of political parties and social groups, establishing an interim executive body. However, hardliners continued to oppose and hamper the LPA implementation, leaving Libya with eastern and western-based rival governments. In 2018, the international community supported a recalibrated plan that aimed to break the political deadlock with a National Conference in 2019. These plans, however, were derailed when the eastern-based, self-described Libyan National Army (LNA) launched an offensive to seize Tripoli. The LNA offensive collapsed in 2020, and a subsequent UN-sponsored cease-fire helped formalize the pause in fighting between rival camps. In 2021, the UN-facilitated Libyan Political Dialogue Forum selected a new prime minister for an interim government -- the Government of National Unity (GNU) -- and a new presidential council charged with preparing for elections and uniting the country’s state institutions. The HoR approved the GNU and its cabinet the same year, providing Libya with its first unified government since 2014, but the parliament then postponed the planned presidential election to an undetermined date in the future. In 2022, the HoR voted to replace GNU interim Prime Minister, Abdul Hamid DUBAYBAH, with another government led by Fathi BASHAGHA. GNU allegations of an illegitimate HoR vote allowed DUBAYBAH to remain in office and rebuff BASHAGHA's attempts to seat his government in Tripoli. In 2023, the HoR voted to replace BASHAGHA with Osma HAMAD. Special Representative of the UN Security-General for Libya, Abdoulaye BATHILY, is leading international efforts to persuade key Libyan political actors to resolve the core issues impeding elections.

## Geography
Location: Northern Africa, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Egypt, Tunisia, and Algeria
Geographic coordinates: 25 00 N, 17 00 E
Map references: Africa
Area / total: 1,759,540 sq km
Area / land: 1,759,540 sq km
Area / water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative: about 2.5 times the size of Texas; slightly larger than Alaska
Land boundaries / total: 4,339 km
Land boundaries / border countries: Algeria 989 km; Chad 1,050 km; Egypt 1,115 km; Niger 342 km; Sudan 382 km; Tunisia 461 km
Coastline: 1,770 km
Maritime claims / territorial sea: 12 nm
Maritime claims / exclusive fishing zone: 62 nm
Climate: Mediterranean along coast; dry, extreme desert interior
Terrain: mostly barren, flat to undulating plains, plateaus, depressions
Elevation / highest point: Bikku Bitti 2,267 m
Elevation / lowest point: Sabkhat Ghuzayyil -47 m
Elevation / mean elevation: 423 m
Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas, gypsum
Land use / agricultural land: 8.7% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 1% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 0.2% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 7.6% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 0.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 91.2% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land: 4,700 sq km (2012)
Major watersheds (area sq km) / Internal (endorheic basin) drainage: Lake Chad (2,497,738 sq km)
Major aquifers: Nubian Aquifer System, North Western Sahara Aquifer System, Murzuk-Djado Basin
Population distribution: over 90% of the population lives along the Mediterranean coast in and between Tripoli to the west and Al Bayda to the east; the interior remains vastly underpopulated due to the Sahara and its lack of surface water, as shown in this population distribution map
Natural hazards: hot, dry, dust-laden ghibli is a southern wind lasting one to four days in spring and fall; dust storms, sandstorms
Geography - note: note 1: more than 90% of the country is desert or semidesert note 2: the volcano Waw an Namus lies in south central Libya in the middle of the Sahara; the caldera is an oasis -- the name means "oasis of mosquitoes" -- containing several small lakes that host many species of insects and birds

## People and Society
Population / total: 7,361,263 (2024 est.)
Population / male: 3,747,364
Population / female: 3,613,899
Nationality / noun: Libyan(s)
Nationality / adjective: Libyan
Ethnic groups: Amazigh and Arab 97%, other 3% (includes Egyptian, Greek, Indian, Italian, Maltese, Pakistani, Tunisian, and Turkish)
Languages / Languages: Arabic (official), Italian, English (all widely understood in the major cities); Tamazight (Nafusi, Ghadamis, Suknah, Awjilah, Tamasheq)
Languages / major-language sample(s): كتاب حقائق العالم، المصدر الذي لا يمكن الاستغناء عنه للمعلومات الأساسية (Arabic) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
Religions: Muslim (official; virtually all Sunni) 96.6%, Christian 2.7%, Buddhist <1%, Hindu <1%, Jewish <1%, folk religion <1%, other <1%, unaffiliated <1% (2020 est.)
Age structure / 0-14 years: 32.3% (male 1,211,087/female 1,165,648)
Age structure / 15-64 years: 63.2% (male 2,385,152/female 2,263,780)
Age structure / 65 years and over: 4.6% (2024 est.) (male 151,125/female 184,471)
Dependency ratios / total dependency ratio: 58.3 (2024 est.)
Dependency ratios / youth dependency ratio: 51.1 (2024 est.)
Dependency ratios / elderly dependency ratio: 7.2 (2024 est.)
Dependency ratios / potential support ratio: 13.9 (2024 est.)
Median age / total: 26.4 years (2025 est.)
Median age / male: 26.3 years
Median age / female: 26.2 years
Population growth rate: 1.35% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 19.83 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 3.48 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: -2.89 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution: over 90% of the population lives along the Mediterranean coast in and between Tripoli to the west and Al Bayda to the east; the interior remains vastly underpopulated due to the Sahara and its lack of surface water, as shown in this population distribution map
Urbanization / urban population: 81.6% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 1.45% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 1.183 million TRIPOLI (capital), 984,000 Misratah, 859,000 Benghazi (2023)
Sex ratio / at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 15-64 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 65 years and over: 0.82 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / total population: 1.04 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio: 59 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Infant mortality rate / total: 10.4 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Infant mortality rate / male: 12.1 deaths/1,000 live births
Infant mortality rate / female: 9.3 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth / total population: 77.7 years (2024 est.)
Life expectancy at birth / male: 75.5 years
Life expectancy at birth / female: 80 years
Total fertility rate: 2.96 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 1.44 (2025 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: total: total: 99.9% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: total: total: 0.1% of population (2022 est.)
Health expenditure: 5.1% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density: 2.04 physicians/1,000 population (2017)
Hospital bed density: 3.2 beds/1,000 population (2021 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: total: total: 99.3% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: total: total: 0.7% of population (2022 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 32.5% (2016)
Alcohol consumption per capita / total: 0.01 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / beer: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / wine: 0.01 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / spirits: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / other alcohols: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 4.3% (2022 est.)

## Environment
Environmental issues: desertification; limited natural freshwater resources; water pollution; threats to coastal ecosystem from sewage, oil byproducts, and industrial waste
International environmental agreements / party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
International environmental agreements / signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Law of the Sea
Climate: Mediterranean along coast; dry, extreme desert interior
Land use / agricultural land: 8.7% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 1% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 0.2% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 7.6% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 0.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 91.2% (2023 est.)
Urbanization / urban population: 81.6% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 1.45% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / total emissions: 46.479 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from coal and metallurgical coke: 700 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from petroleum and other liquids: 29.542 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from consumed natural gas: 16.936 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Particulate matter emissions: 29.8 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Methane emissions / energy: 1,357.4 kt (2022-2024 est.)
Methane emissions / agriculture: 63.4 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Methane emissions / waste: 77.3 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Methane emissions / other: 3.6 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Waste and recycling / municipal solid waste generated annually: 2.148 million tons (2024 est.)
Total water withdrawal / municipal: 700 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / industrial: 280 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / agricultural: 4.85 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total renewable water resources: 700 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: State of Libya
Country name / conventional short form: Libya
Country name / local long form: Dawlat Libiya
Country name / local short form: Libiya
Country name / etymology: the name probably derives from the Libu, a North African tribe first mentioned in texts from the 13th century B.C.; the ancient Greeks and Romans used the name for the entire North African coast west of Egypt
Government type: in transition
Capital / name: Tripoli (Tarabulus)
Capital / geographic coordinates: 32 53 N, 13 10 E
Capital / time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Capital / etymology: the name derives from the Greek words tri and polis , meaning "three cities;" the modern-day city was founded in the 14th century to replace the three ancient cities of Pallantium, Tegea, and Mantineia
Administrative divisions: 22 governorates ( muhafazah , singular - muhafazat ); Al Butnan, Al Jabal al Akhdar, Al Jabal al Gharbi, Al Jafarah, Al Jufrah, Al Kufrah, Al Marj, Al Marqab, Al Wahat, An Nuqat al Khams, Az Zawiyah, Banghazi (Benghazi), Darnah, Ghat, Misratah, Murzuq, Nalut, Sabha, Surt, Tarabulus (Tripoli), Wadi al Hayat, Wadi ash Shati
Legal system: Libya's post-revolution system is in flux and driven by state and non-state entities
Constitution / history: previous 1951, 1977, 2011 (interim)
International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt
Citizenship / citizenship by birth: no
Citizenship / citizenship by descent only: at least one parent or grandparent must be a citizen of Libya
Citizenship / dual citizenship recognized: no
Citizenship / residency requirement for naturalization: varies from 3 to 5 years
Suffrage: 18 years of age, universal
Executive branch / chief of state: President, Presidential Council, Mohammed al-MANFI (since 5 February 2021)
Executive branch / head of government: GNU Interim Prime Minister Abd-al-Hamid DUBAYBAH (since 5 February 2021)
Executive branch / election/appointment process: first direct presidential election was not held as planned
Executive branch / most recent election date: scheduled for 24 December 2021 but not held
Executive branch / expected date of next election: no new date has been set for elections
Legislative branch / legislative structure: unicameral
Legislative branch / chamber name: House of Representatives (Majlis Al-Nuwaab)
Legislative branch / number of seats: 200 (all directly elected)
Legislative branch / electoral system: other systems
Legislative branch / scope of elections: full renewal
Legislative branch / most recent election date: 6/25/2014
Legislative branch / percentage of women in chamber: 16.5%
Legislative branch / expected date of next election: December 2026
Judicial branch / highest court(s): Libya's judicial system consists of a supreme court, central high courts (in Tripoli, Benghazi, and Sabha), and a series of lower courts
Diplomatic representation in the US / chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charg&eacute; d'Affaires Fadil S M OMAR (since 17 July 2023)
Diplomatic representation in the US / chancery: 1460 Dahlia Street NW, Washington, DC 20012
Diplomatic representation in the US / telephone: [1] (202) 944-9601
Diplomatic representation in the US / FAX: [1] (202) 944-9606
Diplomatic representation in the US / email address and website: info@embassyoflibyadc.com https://www.embassyoflibyadc.org/
Diplomatic representation from the US / chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charg&eacute; d'Affaires Jeremy BERNDT (since 14 October 2023)
Diplomatic representation from the US / embassy: US Embassy Tripoli operations suspended in 2014
Diplomatic representation from the US / mailing address: 8850 Tripoli Place, Washington, DC 20521-8850
Diplomatic representation from the US / telephone: [216] 71-107-000
Diplomatic representation from the US / email address and website: Webmaster_Libya@state.gov https://ly.usembassy.gov/
International organization participation: ABEDA, AfDB, AFESD, AMF, AMU, AU, BDEAC, CAEU, COMESA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, LAS, LCBC, MIGA, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, OPCW, OPEC, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHRC, UNIDO, UNOOSA, UNSMIL, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)
Independence: 24 December 1951 (from UN trusteeship)
National holiday: Liberation Day, 23 October (2011)
Flag: description: three horizontal bands of red (top), black (double-width), and green, with a white crescent and star centered on the black stripe meaning: the colors represent the three major regions of the country: red stands for Fezzan, black for Cyrenaica, and green for Tripolitania; the crescent and star represent Islam history: the National Transitional Council reintroduced this flag design from the former Kingdom of Libya (1951-69) in 2011 to replace the all-green banner of the QADHAFI regime
National symbol(s): star and crescent, hawk
National color(s): red, black, green
National anthem(s) / title: "Libya, Libya, Libya"
National anthem(s) / lyrics/music: Al Bashir AL AREBI/Mohamad Abdel WAHAB
National anthem(s) / history: adopted 1951, but replaced in 1969 when QADHAFI came to power; readopted 2011 with some modification to the lyrics; also known as "Ya Beladi" (O My Country)
National heritage / total World Heritage Sites: 5 (all cultural)
National heritage / selected World Heritage Site locales: Archaeological Site of Cyrene; Archaeological Site of Leptis Magna, Archaeological Site of Sabratha; Rock-Art Sites of Tadrart Acacus; Old Town of Ghadamès

## Economy
Economic overview: upper middle-income, fossil fuel-based North African economy; 31% economic contraction due to COVID-19 and 2020 oil blockade; reduced government spending; central bank had to devalue currency; public wages are over 60% of expenditures
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $90.609 billion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $91.161 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $82.756 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2024: -0.6% (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2023: 10.2% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2022: -8.3% (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2024: $12,300 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2023: $12,500 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2022: $11,500 (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $46.636 billion (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024: 2.1% (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023: 2.4% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 4.5% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / agriculture: 1.7% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / industry: 68.3% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / services: 34.3% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / household consumption: 32.7% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / government consumption: 36.7% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in fixed capital: 14.8% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in inventories: 0% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / exports of goods and services: 74.8% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / imports of goods and services: -59.1% (2024 est.)
Agricultural products: potatoes, onions, watermelons, tomatoes, dates, olives, milk, chicken, wheat, vegetables (2023)
Industries: petroleum, petrochemicals, aluminum, iron and steel, food processing, textiles, handicrafts, cement
Industrial production growth rate: -5.8% (2024 est.)
Labor force: 2.585 million (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2024: 18.7% (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2023: 18.8% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2022: 19.3% (2022 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / total: 49.5% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / male: 41.5% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / female: 68.8% (2024 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2023: 0% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2022: 0% of GDP (2022 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2021: 0% of GDP (2021 est.)
Budget / revenues: $28.005 billion (2019 est.)
Budget / expenditures: $37.475 billion (2019 est.)
Public debt / Public debt 2016: 7.5% of GDP (2016 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2023: $1.865 billion (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2022: $9.607 billion (2022 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2021: $5.675 billion (2021 est.)
Exports / Exports 2023: $37.753 billion (2023 est.)
Exports / Exports 2022: $39.831 billion (2022 est.)
Exports / Exports 2021: $32.38 billion (2021 est.)
Exports - partners: Italy 23%, Germany 15%, Spain 9%, France 7%, China 6% (2023)
Exports - commodities: crude petroleum, natural gas, refined petroleum, gold, scrap iron (2023)
Imports / Imports 2023: $33.284 billion (2023 est.)
Imports / Imports 2022: $27.872 billion (2022 est.)
Imports / Imports 2021: $25.406 billion (2021 est.)
Imports - partners: China 17%, Turkey 15%, Italy 8%, UAE 8%, Egypt 8% (2023)
Imports - commodities: refined petroleum, broadcasting equipment, tobacco, garments, cars (2023)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024: $92.894 billion (2024 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023: $92.427 billion (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $86.683 billion (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Currency: Libyan dinars (LYD) per US dollar -
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2024: 4.832 (2024 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2023: 4.813 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2022: 4.813 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2021: 4.514 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2020: 1.389 (2020 est.)

## Energy
Electricity access / electrification - total population: 70% (2022 est.)
Electricity access / electrification - urban areas: 100%
Electricity / installed generating capacity: 10.519 million kW (2023 est.)
Electricity / consumption: 28.826 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / imports: 800 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / transmission/distribution losses: 7.081 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / fossil fuels: 100% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Coal / imports: 4,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum / total petroleum production: 1.245 million bbl/day (2023 est.)
Petroleum / refined petroleum consumption: 207,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Petroleum / crude oil estimated reserves: 48.363 billion barrels (2021 est.)
Natural gas / production: 11.16 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / consumption: 8.633 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / exports: 2.527 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / proven reserves: 1.505 trillion cubic meters (2021 est.)
Energy consumption per capita / Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 100.844 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

## Communications
Telephones - fixed lines / total subscriptions: 1.218 million (2022 est.)
Telephones - fixed lines / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 17 (2022 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / total subscriptions: 13.9 million (2022 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 205 (2022 est.)
Broadcast media: state-funded and private TV stations; some provinces operate local TV stations; pan-Arab satellite TV stations are available; state-funded radio (2019)
Internet country code: .ly
Internet users / percent of population: 89% (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / total: 326,000 (2022 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 5 (2022 est.)

## Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: 5A
Airports: 75 (2025)
Merchant marine / total: 96 (2023)
Merchant marine / by type: general cargo 2, oil tanker 13, other 81
Ports / total ports: 14 (2024)
Ports / large: 0
Ports / medium: 2
Ports / small: 3
Ports / very small: 9
Ports / ports with oil terminals: 10
Ports / key ports: Al Burayqah, Az Zawiya, Banghazi, Mersa Tobruq, Mina Tarabulus (Tripoli)

## Military and Security
Military and security forces: the Libyan Armed Forces of the Tripoli-based Government of National Unity (GNU) have various ground, air, and naval/coast guard forces, which include a mix of nominally integrated and semi-regular units, tribal armed groups and militias, civilian volunteers, and foreign military contractors; the GNU's armed forces are nominally under the control of the Ministry of Defense; the GNU also has various internal security forces under both the Ministry of Defense and the Ministry of Interior (2025)
Military expenditures: not available
Military and security service personnel strengths: estimates not available
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: both the forces aligned with the GNU and the LNA are largely equipped with weapons of Russian or Soviet origin; in recent years, Türkiye has the been the primary supplier of arms to the GNU, while the LNA has received quantities from Russia and the United Arab Emirates (2025)
Military service age and obligation: not available
Military - note: the western-based forces aligned with the GNU and the eastern-based LNA forces are separated by a fortified line of control just west of the coastal city of Sirte; Turkey has provided support to the GNU forces, including military trainers, ammunition, weapons, and aerial drones; Russia, the United Arab Emirates, and Egypt have been the main supporters of the LNA (2025)

## Terrorism
Terrorist group(s): Ansar al-Sharia groups; Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham - Libya (ISIS-L); al-Mulathamun Battalion (al-Mourabitoun); al-Qa'ida in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM)

## Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons / refugees: 277,010 (2024 est.)
Refugees and internally displaced persons / IDPs: 139,305 (2024 est.)
Trafficking in persons / tier rating: Special Case; for more details, go to: https://www.state.gov/reports/2025-trafficking-in-persons-report/libya/

=== Madagascar ===

## Introduction
Background: Madagascar was one of the last major habitable landmasses on earth to be settled by humans. While there is some evidence of human presence on the island in the millennia B.C., large-scale settlement began between A.D. 350 and 550 with settlers from present-day Indonesia. The island attracted Arab and Persian traders as early as the 7th century, and migrants from Africa arrived around A.D. 1000. Madagascar was a pirate stronghold during the late 17th and early 18th centuries and served as a slave trading center into the 19th century. From the 16th to the late 19th century, a native Merina Kingdom dominated much of Madagascar. The French conquered the island in 1896 and made it a colony; independence was regained in 1960. Free presidential and National Assembly elections were held in 1992-93, ending 17 years of single-party rule. In 1997, in the second presidential race, Didier RATSIRAKA, the leader during the 1970s and 1980s, returned to the presidency. The 2001 presidential election was contested between the followers of RATSIRAKA and Marc RAVALOMANANA, nearly causing half the country to secede. In 2002, the High Constitutional Court announced RAVALOMANANA the winner. He won a second term in 2006 but, following protests in 2009, handed over power to the military, which then conferred the presidency on the mayor of Antananarivo, Andry RAJOELINA, in what amounted to a coup d'etat. After a lengthy mediation process, Madagascar held UN-supported presidential and parliamentary elections in 2013. Former de facto finance minister Hery RAJAONARIMAMPIANINA won in a runoff and was inaugurated in 2014. In 2019, RAJOELINA was declared the winner against RAVALOMANANA. In 2023, RAJOELINA won another term in an election that most of the opposition boycotted, including RAJAONARIMAMPIANINA and RAVALOMANANA, who claimed it was rigged in favor of RAJOELINA. International observers, however, saw no evidence of systemic fraud, leading the international community to accept the election results.

## Geography
Location: Southern Africa, island in the Indian Ocean, east of Mozambique
Geographic coordinates: 20 00 S, 47 00 E
Map references: Africa
Area / total: 587,041 sq km
Area / land: 581,540 sq km
Area / water: 5,501 sq km
Area - comparative: almost four times the size of Georgia; slightly less than twice the size of Arizona
Land boundaries / total: 0 km
Coastline: 4,828 km
Maritime claims / territorial sea: 12 nm
Maritime claims / contiguous zone: 24 nm
Maritime claims / exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Maritime claims / continental shelf: 200 nm or 100 nm from the 2,500-m isobath
Climate: tropical along coast, temperate inland, arid in south
Terrain: narrow coastal plain, high plateau and mountains in center
Elevation / highest point: Maromokotro 2,876 m
Elevation / lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
Elevation / mean elevation: 615 m
Natural resources: graphite, chromite, coal, bauxite, rare earth elements, salt, quartz, tar sands, semiprecious stones, mica, fish, hydropower
Land use / agricultural land: 70.3% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 5.2% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 1% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 64.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 17.5% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 12.2% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land: 10,860 sq km (2012)
Population distribution: most of population lives on the eastern half of the island; significant clustering is found in the central highlands and eastern coastline, as shown in this population distribution map
Natural hazards: periodic cyclones; drought; and locust infestation volcanism: Madagascar's volcanoes have not erupted in recorded history
Geography - note: world's fourth-largest island; strategic location along Mozambique Channel; despite Madagascar&rsquo;s close proximity to the African continent, ocean currents isolate the island, resulting in high rates of endemic plant and animal species; approximately 90% of the flora and fauna on the island are found nowhere else

## People and Society
Population / total: 31,345,040 (2025 est.)
Population / male: 15,647,362
Population / female: 15,697,678
Nationality / noun: Malagasy (singular and plural)
Nationality / adjective: Malagasy
Ethnic groups: Malayo-Indonesian (Merina and related Betsileo), Cotiers (mixed African, Malayo-Indonesian, and Arab ancestry - Betsimisaraka, Tsimihety, Antaisaka, Sakalava), French, Indian, Creole, Comoran
Languages: Malagasy (official) 99.9%, French (official) 23.6%, English 8.2%, other 0.6% (2018 est.)
Religions: Church of Jesus Christ in Madagascar/Malagasy Lutheran Church/Anglican Church 34%, Roman Catholic 32.3%, other Christian 8.1%, traditional/Animist 1.7%, Muslim 1.4%, other 0.6%, none 21.9% (2021 est.)
Age structure / 0-14 years: 37% (male 5,507,847/female 5,400,551)
Age structure / 15-64 years: 59.1% (male 8,720,012/female 8,673,880)
Age structure / 65 years and over: 3.9% (2024 est.) (male 532,642/female 617,782)
Dependency ratios / total dependency ratio: 73.4 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / youth dependency ratio: 66.9 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / elderly dependency ratio: 6.5 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / potential support ratio: 15.3 (2025 est.)
Median age / total: 20.5 years (2025 est.)
Median age / male: 21.1 years
Median age / female: 21.5 years
Population growth rate: 2.15% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 27.54 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 5.95 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: -0.08 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution: most of population lives on the eastern half of the island; significant clustering is found in the central highlands and eastern coastline, as shown in this population distribution map
Urbanization / urban population: 40.6% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 4.26% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 3.872 million ANTANANARIVO (capital) (2023)
Sex ratio / at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 0-14 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 65 years and over: 0.86 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth: 19.5 years (2021 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio: 445 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Infant mortality rate / total: 38.4 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Infant mortality rate / male: 40.9 deaths/1,000 live births
Infant mortality rate / female: 34 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth / total population: 68.8 years (2024 est.)
Life expectancy at birth / male: 67.3 years
Life expectancy at birth / female: 70.3 years
Total fertility rate: 3.47 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 1.71 (2025 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: urban: urban: 79.8% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: rural: rural: 36% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: total: total: 53.5% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: urban: urban: 20.2% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: rural: rural: 64% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: total: total: 46.5% of population (2022 est.)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 3.5% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 5.7% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density: 0.17 physicians/1,000 population (2022)
Sanitation facility access / improved: urban: urban: 53.9% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: rural: rural: 25.2% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: total: total: 36.7% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: urban: urban: 46.1% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: rural: rural: 74.8% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: total: total: 63.3% of population (2022 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 5.3% (2016)
Alcohol consumption per capita / total: 0.89 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / beer: 0.5 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / wine: 0.07 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / spirits: 0.32 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / other alcohols: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Tobacco use / total: 24.1% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / male: 40.2% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / female: 8.2% (2025 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 22.6% (2021 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49): 62.3% (2021 est.)
Child marriage / women married by age 15: 12.7% (2021)
Child marriage / women married by age 18: 38.8% (2021)
Child marriage / men married by age 18: 11.2% (2021)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% GDP): 3% of GDP (2023 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% national budget): 18% national budget (2019 est.)
Literacy / total population: 74.7% (2021 est.)
Literacy / male: 77.9% (2021 est.)
Literacy / female: 71.8% (2021 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / total: 9 years (2019 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / male: 9 years (2019 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / female: 9 years (2019 est.)

## Environment
Environmental issues: erosion and soil degradation from deforestation and overgrazing; desertification; agricultural fires; water pollution from raw sewage and other organic wastes; wildlife preservation
International environmental agreements / party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands
International environmental agreements / signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Climate: tropical along coast, temperate inland, arid in south
Land use / agricultural land: 70.3% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 5.2% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 1% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 64.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 17.5% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 12.2% (2023 est.)
Urbanization / urban population: 40.6% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 4.26% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / total emissions: 3.936 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from coal and metallurgical coke: 1.057 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from petroleum and other liquids: 2.879 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Particulate matter emissions: 16.7 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Waste and recycling / municipal solid waste generated annually: 3.769 million tons (2024 est.)
Waste and recycling / percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 9.2% (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / municipal: 395 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / industrial: 161.9 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / agricultural: 13 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total renewable water resources: 337 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: Republic of Madagascar
Country name / conventional short form: Madagascar
Country name / local long form: R&eacute;publique de Madagascar/Repoblikan'i Madagasikara
Country name / local short form: Madagascar/Madagasikara
Country name / former: Malagasy Republic
Country name / etymology: a variant of the name was first used by 13th-century Venetian explorer Marco POLO when he confused the island with the Somali port of Mogadishu; the transliteration was later adopted as the official name
Government type: semi-presidential republic
Capital / name: Antananarivo
Capital / geographic coordinates: 18 55 S, 47 31 E
Capital / time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Capital / etymology: the name means "City of the Thousand," from the Malagasy an - (a prefix denoting a place name), tanana (town), and arivo (thousand); in the 17th century, King ADRIANJAKA named the original fortress after the 1,000 soldiers stationed there
Administrative divisions: 6 provinces ( faritany ); Antananarivo, Antsiranana, Fianarantsoa, Mahajanga, Toamasina, Toliara
Legal system: civil law system based on the old French civil code and customary law in matters of marriage, family, and obligation
Constitution / history: previous 1992; latest passed by referendum 17 November 2010, promulgated 11 December 2010
Constitution / amendment process: proposed by the president of the republic in consultation with the cabinet or supported by a least two thirds of both the Senate and National Assembly membership; passage requires at least three-fourths approval of both the Senate and National Assembly and approval in a referendum; constitutional articles, including the form and powers of government, the sovereignty of the state, and the autonomy of Madagascar&rsquo;s collectivities, cannot be amended
International law organization participation: accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Citizenship / citizenship by birth: no
Citizenship / citizenship by descent only: the father must be a citizen of Madagascar; in the case of a child born out of wedlock, the mother must be a citizen
Citizenship / dual citizenship recognized: no
Citizenship / residency requirement for naturalization: unknown
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch / chief of state: Michael RANDRIANIRINA (Col.)
Executive branch / head of government: Prime Minister Herintsalama RAJAONARIVELO (since 22 October 2025)
Executive branch / cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister
Executive branch / election/appointment process: president directly elected by absolute-majority popular vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); prime minister nominated by the National Assembly, appointed by the president
Executive branch / most recent election date: 16 November 2023
Executive branch / election results: 2023 : Andry RAJOELINA reelected president in first round; percent of vote - Andry RAJOELINA (TGV) 59.0%, Siteny Thierry RANDRIANASOLONIAIKO 14.4%, Marc RAVALOMANANA (TIM) 12.1%, other 14.5%
Executive branch / expected date of next election: November 2028
Legislative branch / legislative structure: bicameral
Legislative branch - lower chamber / chamber name: National Assembly (Antenimierampirenena)
Legislative branch - lower chamber / number of seats: 163 (all directly elected)
Legislative branch - lower chamber / electoral system: mixed system
Legislative branch - lower chamber / scope of elections: full renewal
Legislative branch - lower chamber / term in office: 5 years
Legislative branch - lower chamber / most recent election date: 12/11/2020
Legislative branch - lower chamber / parties elected and seats per party: Isika Rehetra Miaraka Amin’i Andry Rajoelina (IRMAR) (84); Firaisankina (22); Independents (50); Other (7)
Legislative branch - lower chamber / percentage of women in chamber: 14.1%
Legislative branch - lower chamber / expected date of next election: May 2029
Legislative branch - upper chamber / chamber name: Senate (Antenimierandoholona)
Legislative branch - upper chamber / number of seats: 18 (12 indirectly elected; 6 appointed)
Legislative branch - upper chamber / term in office: 5 years
Legislative branch - upper chamber / most recent election date: 5/29/2024
Legislative branch - upper chamber / parties elected and seats per party: IRMAR (10); MALAGASY MIARA-MIAINGA (2)
Legislative branch - upper chamber / percentage of women in chamber: 11.1%
Legislative branch - upper chamber / expected date of next election: 31 December 2026
Judicial branch / highest court(s): Supreme Court or Cour Supr&ecirc;me (consists of 11 members; addresses judicial administration issues only); High Constitutional Court or Haute Cour Constitutionnelle (consists of 9 members); High Court of Justice (consists of 11 members; addresses cases brought against the president of Madagascar and senior officials for high treason, grave violations of the Constitution, or breach of duties incompatible with the exercise of the presidential mandate)
Judicial branch / judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court heads elected by the president and judiciary officials to serve 3-year, single renewable terms; High Constitutional Court members appointed - 3 each by the president, by both legislative bodies, and by the Council of Magistrates; members serve single, 7-year terms; High Court of Justice members include: first president of the Supreme Court; 2 presidents from the Court of Cassation; 2 presidents from the Court of Appeal; 2 deputies from the National Assembly; 2 senators from the Senate; 2 members from the High Council for the Defense of Democracy and the State of law
Judicial branch / subordinate courts: Courts of Appeal; Court of Cassation; Courts of First Instance; military courts; traditional courts (dina); Trade Court
Political parties: Group of Young Malagasy Patriots (Groupe des Jeunes Malgaches Patriotes) or GJMP I Love Madagascar (Tiako I Madagasikara) or TIM Isika Rehetra Miaraka amin'i Andry Rajoelina coalition or IRD Malagasy Aware (Malagasy Tonga Saina) or MTS Malagasy Tia Tanindrazana or MATITA or ANGADY Movement for Democracy in Madagascar (Mouvement pour la Démocratie à Madagascar) or MDM Rally for Democratic Socialism (Rassemblement pour Socialisme Démocratique - Nouveau) or RPSD Vaovao Young Malagasies Determined (Tanora Malagasy Vonona) or TGV
Diplomatic representation in the US / chief of mission: Ambassador Lantosoa RAKOTOMALALA (since 13 January 2025)
Diplomatic representation in the US / chancery: 2374 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation in the US / telephone: [1] (202) 265-5525
Diplomatic representation in the US / FAX: [1] (202) 265-3034
Diplomatic representation in the US / email address and website: madagascar.embassy.dc@gmail.com https://us-madagascar-embassy.org/
Diplomatic representation from the US / chief of mission: Ambassador Claire PIERANGELO (since 2 May 2022)
Diplomatic representation from the US / embassy: Lot 207A, Andranoro, Antehiroka, 105 Antananarivo - Madagascar
Diplomatic representation from the US / mailing address: 2040 Antananarivo Place, Washington DC 20521-2040
Diplomatic representation from the US / telephone: [261] 33-44-320-00
Diplomatic representation from the US / FAX: [261] 33-44-320-35
Diplomatic representation from the US / email address and website: antanACS@state.gov https://mg.usembassy.gov/
International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, AU, CD, COMESA, EITI (candidate country), FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, InOC, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NAM, OIF, OPCW, PCA, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Independence: 26 June 1960 (from France)
National holiday: Independence Day, 26 June (1960)
Flag: description: two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and green, with a vertical white band on the left side meaning: red stands for sovereignty, green for hope, and white for purity
National symbol(s): traveller's palm (ravenala), zebu
National color(s): red, green, white
National anthem(s) / title: "Ry Tanindraza nay malala o" (O Our Beloved Fatherland)
National anthem(s) / lyrics/music: Pasteur RAHAJASON/Norbert RAHARISOA
National anthem(s) / history: adopted 1959
National heritage / total World Heritage Sites: 3 (1 cultural, 2 natural)
National heritage / selected World Heritage Site locales: Tsingy de Bemaraha Strict Nature Reserve (n); Ambohimanga Royal Hill (c); Atsinanana Rainforests (n)

## Economy
Economic overview: low-income East African island economy; natural resource rich; extreme poverty; return of political stability has helped growth; sharp tax revenue drop due to COVID-19; leading vanilla producer; environmentally fragile
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $52.968 billion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $50.833 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $48.782 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2024: 4.2% (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2023: 4.2% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2022: 4.2% (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2024: $1,700 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2023: $1,600 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2022: $1,600 (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $17.421 billion (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023: 9.9% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 8.2% (2022 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021: 5.8% (2021 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / agriculture: 22.5% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / industry: 22.8% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / services: 46.4% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / household consumption: 69.8% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / government consumption: 15.3% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in fixed capital: 22.6% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in inventories: 0% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / exports of goods and services: 23.6% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / imports of goods and services: -31.3% (2024 est.)
Agricultural products: rice, sugarcane, cassava, sweet potatoes, milk, bananas, vegetables, mangoes/guavas, maize, potatoes (2023)
Industries: meat processing, seafood, soap, beer, leather, sugar, textiles, glassware, cement, automobile assembly plant, paper, petroleum, tourism, mining
Industrial production growth rate: 3.7% (2024 est.)
Labor force: 16.519 million (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2024: 3.1% (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2023: 3.1% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2022: 3.2% (2022 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / total: 5.4% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / male: 5.3% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / female: 5.4% (2024 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2023: 2.4% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2022: 2.5% of GDP (2022 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2021: 3.1% of GDP (2021 est.)
Budget / revenues: $2.066 billion (2023 est.)
Budget / expenditures: $2.876 billion (2023 est.)
Public debt / Public debt 2016: 38.4% of GDP (2016 est.)
Taxes and other revenues: 9.6% (of GDP) (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2022: -$829.376 million (2022 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2021: -$721.953 million (2021 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2020: -$623.653 million (2020 est.)
Exports / Exports 2022: $4.689 billion (2022 est.)
Exports / Exports 2021: $3.362 billion (2021 est.)
Exports / Exports 2020: $2.589 billion (2020 est.)
Exports - partners: USA 16%, France 15%, Japan 8%, China 6%, S. Korea 6% (2023)
Exports - commodities: garments, nickel, vanilla, cloves, gold (2023)
Imports / Imports 2022: $6.041 billion (2022 est.)
Imports / Imports 2021: $4.769 billion (2021 est.)
Imports / Imports 2020: $3.718 billion (2020 est.)
Imports - partners: China 19%, Oman 13%, France 10%, India 8%, South Africa 5% (2023)
Imports - commodities: refined petroleum, rice, fabric, cotton fabric, wheat (2023)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024: $2.785 billion (2024 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023: $2.632 billion (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $2.16 billion (2022 est.)
Debt - external / Debt - external 2023: $3.548 billion (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Currency: Malagasy ariary (MGA) per US dollar -
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2024: 4,525.425 (2024 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2023: 4,429.579 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2022: 4,096.116 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2021: 3,829.978 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2020: 3,787.754 (2020 est.)

## Energy
Electricity access / electrification - total population: 36.1% (2022 est.)
Electricity access / electrification - urban areas: 71.6%
Electricity access / electrification - rural areas: 10.9%
Electricity / installed generating capacity: 759,000 kW (2023 est.)
Electricity / consumption: 2.506 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / transmission/distribution losses: 139 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / fossil fuels: 64.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / solar: 3.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / hydroelectricity: 31.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / biomass and waste: 0.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Coal / consumption: 472,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / imports: 472,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / proven reserves: 150 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum / refined petroleum consumption: 20,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Energy consumption per capita / Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 1.816 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

## Communications
Telephones - fixed lines / total subscriptions: 3,000 (2023 est.)
Telephones - fixed lines / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2023 est.) less than 1
Telephones - mobile cellular / total subscriptions: 23.5 million (2023 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 76 (2023 est.)
Broadcast media: state-owned Radio Nationale Malagasy (RNM) and Television Malagasy (TVM) have an extensive national network reach; privately owned radio and TV broadcasters in cities and major towns; state-run radio dominates in rural areas; relays of 2 international broadcasters are available in Antananarivo (2019)
Internet country code: .mg
Internet users / percent of population: 20% (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / total: 34,000 (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2023 est.) less than 1

## Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: 5R
Airports: 93 (2025)
Railways / total: 836 km (2018)
Railways / narrow gauge: 836 km (2018) 1.000-m gauge
Merchant marine / total: 29 (2023)
Merchant marine / by type: general cargo 16, oil tanker 2, other 11
Ports / total ports: 13 (2024)
Ports / large: 0
Ports / medium: 0
Ports / small: 2
Ports / very small: 11
Ports / ports with oil terminals: 5
Ports / key ports: Andoany, Antsiranana, Antsohim Bondrona, Iharana, Mahajanga, Maintirano, Manakara, Mananjary, Maroantsetra, Morondava, Toamasina, Tolanaro, Toliara

## Military and Security
Military and security forces: Madagascar Armed Forces (aka Armed forces of the Republic of Madagascar); Malagasy Army, Naval Forces (or National Navy), Air Force; Malagasy National Gendarmerie (2025)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2024: 0.7% of GDP (2024 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2023: 0.7% of GDP (2023 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2022: 0.7% of GDP (2022 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2021: 0.7% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2020: 0.7% of GDP (2020 est.)
Military and security service personnel strengths: estimated 13,000 Armed Forces; estimated 10,000 Gendarmerie (2025)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the military's inventory consists mostly of older or secondhand armaments originating from countries such as France, South Africa, the former Soviet Union, the UAE, the UK, and the US (2025)
Military service age and obligation: 18 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women; service obligation 18 months; conscription available in times of national emergency or war (2025)
Military - note: the military&rsquo;s responsibilities include ensuring sovereignty and territorial integrity and protecting Madagascar&rsquo;s maritime domain, particularly against piracy, drug trafficking, and smuggling; it also assists the Gendarmerie with maintaining law and order in rural areas, largely in areas affected by banditry, cattle rustling, and criminal groups; the military has a history of influence in domestic politics and seized control of the government in October 2025; security relationships have included France, India, and Russia; Madagascar's small Navy has traditionally looked to India for assistance with maritime security (2025)

## Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons / refugees: 1,256 (2024 est.)
Refugees and internally displaced persons / IDPs: 9,868 (2024 est.)

=== Malawi ===

## Introduction
Background: Malawi shares its name with the Chewa word for flames and is linked to the Maravi people from whom the Chewa language originated. The Maravi settled in what is now Malawi around 1400, during one of the later waves of Bantu migration across central and southern Africa. A powerful Maravi kingdom established around 1500 reached its zenith around 1700, when it controlled what is now southern and central Malawi and portions of neighboring Mozambique and Zambia. The kingdom eventually declined because of destabilization from the escalating global trade in enslaved people. In the early 1800s, widespread conflict in southern Africa displaced various ethnic Ngoni groups, some of which moved into Malawi and further undermined the Maravi. Members of the Yao ethnic group -- which had long traded with Malawi from Mozambique -- introduced Islam and began to settle in Malawi in significant numbers in the mid-1800s, followed by members of the Lomwe ethnic group. British missionary and trading activity increased in the area around Lake Nyasa in the mid-1800s, and in 1891, Britain declared a protectorate called British Central Africa over what is now Malawi. The British renamed the territory Nyasaland in 1907, and it was part of the colonial Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland -- including present-day Zambia and Zimbabwe -- from 1953 to 1963 before gaining independence as Malawi in 1964. Hastings Kamuzu BANDA served as prime minister at independence and then as president when the country became a republic in 1966. He later instituted one-party rule under his Malawi Congress Party (MCP) and was declared president for life. After three decades of one-party rule, the country held multiparty presidential and parliamentary elections in 1994 under a provisional constitution that came into full effect the following year. Bakili MULUZI of the United Democratic Front party became the first freely elected president of Malawi when he defeated BANDA at the polls in 1994; he won reelection in 1999. President Bingu wa MUTHARIKA was elected in 2004 and reelected to a second term in 2009. He died abruptly in 2012 and was succeeded by Vice President Joyce BANDA. MUTHARIKA's brother, Peter MUTHARIKA, defeated BANDA in the election in 2014. Peter MUTHARIKA was reelected in a disputed election in 2019 that resulted in countrywide protests. The courts ordered a new election, and in 2020, Lazarus CHAKWERA of the MCP was elected president. Population growth, increasing pressure on agricultural lands, corruption, and HIV/AIDS pose major problems for Malawi.

## Geography
Location: Southern Africa, east of Zambia, west and north of Mozambique
Geographic coordinates: 13 30 S, 34 00 E
Map references: Africa
Area / total: 118,484 sq km
Area / land: 94,080 sq km
Area / water: 24,404 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly smaller than Pennsylvania
Land boundaries / total: 2,857 km
Land boundaries / border countries: Mozambique 1,498 km; Tanzania 512 km; Zambia 847 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
Climate: sub-tropical; rainy season (November to May); dry season (May to November)
Terrain: narrow elongated plateau with rolling plains, rounded hills, some mountains
Elevation / highest point: Sapitwa (Mount Mlanje) 3,002 m
Elevation / lowest point: junction of the Shire River and international boundary with Mozambique 37 m
Elevation / mean elevation: 779 m
Natural resources: limestone, arable land, hydropower, unexploited deposits of uranium, coal, and bauxite
Land use / agricultural land: 64.2% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 42.4% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 2.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 19.6% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 22.4% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 13.4% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land: 740 sq km (2012)
Major lakes (area sq km) / fresh water lake(s): Lake Malawi (shared with Mozambique and Tanzania) - 22,490
Major lakes (area sq km) / salt water lake(s): Lake Chilwa - 1,040 sq km
Major rivers (by length in km): Zambezi (shared with Zambia [s], Angola, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Tanzania, and Mozambique [m]) - 2,740 km note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Major watersheds (area sq km) / Atlantic Ocean drainage: Congo (3,730,881 sq km)
Major watersheds (area sq km) / Indian Ocean drainage: Zambezi (1,332,412 sq km)
Population distribution: population density is highest south of Lake Nyasa, as shown in this population distribution map
Natural hazards: flooding; droughts; earthquakes
Geography - note: landlocked; Lake Nyasa, about 580 km (360 mi) long, is the country's most prominent physical feature; it contains more fish species than any other lake on earth

## People and Society
Population / total: 21,763,309 (2024 est.)
Population / male: 10,674,594
Population / female: 11,088,715
Nationality / noun: Malawian(s)
Nationality / adjective: Malawian
Ethnic groups: Chewa 34.3%, Lomwe 18.8%, Yao 13.2%, Ngoni 10.4%, Tumbuka 9.2%, Sena 3.8%, Mang'anja 3.2%, Tonga 1.8%, Nyanja 1.8%, Nkhonde 1%, other 2.2%, foreign 0.3% (2018 est.)
Languages: English (official), Chewa (dominant), Lambya, Lomwe, Ngoni, Nkhonde, Nyakyusa, Nyanja, Sena, Tonga, Tumbuka, Yao
Religions: Protestant 33.5% (includes Church of Central Africa Presbyterian 14.2%, Seventh Day Adventist/Baptist 9.4%, Pentecostal 7.6%, Anglican 2.3%), Roman Catholic 17.2%, other Christian 26.6%, Muslim 13.8%, traditionalist 1.1%, other 5.6%, none 2.1% (2018 est.)
Age structure / 0-14 years: 37.7% (male 4,080,567/female 4,132,710)
Age structure / 15-64 years: 58.4% (male 6,217,761/female 6,487,273)
Age structure / 65 years and over: 3.9% (2024 est.) (male 376,266/female 468,732)
Dependency ratios / total dependency ratio: 71.3 (2024 est.)
Dependency ratios / youth dependency ratio: 64.6 (2024 est.)
Dependency ratios / elderly dependency ratio: 6.7 (2024 est.)
Dependency ratios / potential support ratio: 15 (2024 est.)
Median age / total: 19.4 years (2025 est.)
Median age / male: 20 years
Median age / female: 20.6 years
Population growth rate: 2.16% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 28.04 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 3.57 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: -2.9 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution: population density is highest south of Lake Nyasa, as shown in this population distribution map
Urbanization / urban population: 18.3% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 4.41% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 1.276 million LILONGWE (capital), 1.031 million Blantyre-Limbe (2023)
Sex ratio / at birth: 1.01 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 0-14 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 65 years and over: 0.8 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth: 19.1 years (2015/16 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio: 225 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Infant mortality rate / total: 28.9 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Infant mortality rate / male: 36.4 deaths/1,000 live births
Infant mortality rate / female: 27.4 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth / total population: 73 years (2024 est.)
Life expectancy at birth / male: 69.9 years
Life expectancy at birth / female: 76.1 years
Total fertility rate: 3.33 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 1.65 (2025 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: urban: urban: 85.9% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: rural: rural: 68.8% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: total: total: 71.9% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: urban: urban: 14.1% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: rural: rural: 31.2% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: total: total: 28.1% of population (2022 est.)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 7.4% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 3.3% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density: 0.05 physicians/1,000 population (2022)
Sanitation facility access / improved: urban: urban: 87.1% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: rural: rural: 73.4% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: total: total: 75.8% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: urban: urban: 12.9% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: rural: rural: 26.6% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: total: total: 24.2% of population (2022 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 5.8% (2016)
Alcohol consumption per capita / total: 2.04 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / beer: 0.08 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / wine: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / spirits: 0.25 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / other alcohols: 1.7 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Tobacco use / total: 6.3% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / male: 11.7% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / female: 1.4% (2025 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 11.6% (2020 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49): 62.1% (2020 est.)
Child marriage / women married by age 15: 7.5% (2020)
Child marriage / women married by age 18: 37.7% (2020)
Child marriage / men married by age 18: 7% (2020)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% GDP): 2.7% of GDP (2022 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% national budget): 16% national budget (2024 est.)
Literacy / total population: 70.2% (2020 est.)
Literacy / male: 78.6% (2020 est.)
Literacy / female: 62.7% (2020 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / total: 10 years (2021 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / male: 10 years (2021 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / female: 10 years (2021 est.)

## Environment
Environmental issues: deforestation; land degradation; water pollution from agricultural runoff, sewage, industrial wastes; siltation of fish spawning grounds; high temperatures and changing precipitation patterns
International environmental agreements / party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
International environmental agreements / signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Climate: sub-tropical; rainy season (November to May); dry season (May to November)
Land use / agricultural land: 64.2% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 42.4% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 2.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 19.6% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 22.4% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 13.4% (2023 est.)
Urbanization / urban population: 18.3% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 4.41% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / total emissions: 2.265 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from coal and metallurgical coke: 65,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from petroleum and other liquids: 2.2 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Particulate matter emissions: 18.5 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Waste and recycling / municipal solid waste generated annually: 1.298 million tons (2024 est.)
Waste and recycling / percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 9.6% (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / municipal: 143.1 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / industrial: 47.7 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / agricultural: 1.166 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total renewable water resources: 17.28 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: Republic of Malawi
Country name / conventional short form: Malawi
Country name / local long form: Dziko la Malawi
Country name / local short form: Malawi
Country name / former: British Central African Protectorate, Nyasaland Protectorate, Nyasaland
Country name / etymology: named for the Maravi people who inhabited the area since the 14th century; the word maravi means "flames"
Government type: presidential republic
Capital / name: Lilongwe
Capital / geographic coordinates: 13 58 S, 33 47 E
Capital / time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Capital / etymology: named after the Lilongwe River that flows through the city; the origin of the river's name is unclear
Administrative divisions: 28 districts; Balaka, Blantyre, Chikwawa, Chiradzulu, Chitipa, Dedza, Dowa, Karonga, Kasungu, Likoma, Lilongwe, Machinga, Mangochi, Mchinji, Mulanje, Mwanza, Mzimba, Neno, Ntcheu, Nkhata Bay, Nkhotakota, Nsanje, Ntchisi, Phalombe, Rumphi, Salima, Thyolo, Zomba
Legal system: mixed system of English common law and customary law; Supreme Court of Appeal reviews legislative acts
Constitution / history: previous 1953 (pre-independence), 1964, 1966; latest drafted January to May 1994, approved 16 May 1994, entered into force 18 May 1995
Constitution / amendment process: proposed by the National Assembly; passage of amendments affecting constitutional articles, including the sovereignty and territory of the state, fundamental constitutional principles, human rights, voting rights, and the judiciary, requires majority approval in a referendum and majority approval by the Assembly; passage of other amendments requires at least two-thirds majority vote of the Assembly
International law organization participation: accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Citizenship / citizenship by birth: no
Citizenship / citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Malawi
Citizenship / dual citizenship recognized: no
Citizenship / residency requirement for naturalization: 7 years
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch / chief of state: President Peter MUTHARIKA (since 4 October 2025)
Executive branch / head of government: President Peter MUTHARIKA (since 4 October 2025)
Executive branch / cabinet: Cabinet named by the president
Executive branch / election/appointment process: president directly elected by simple-majority popular vote for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term)
Executive branch / most recent election date: September 2030
Executive branch / election results: 2025: Peter MUTHARIKA elected president; percent of vote- Peter MUTHARIKA (DPP) 56.8%, Lazarus CHAKWERA (MCP) 33.0%, Dalitso KABAMBE (UTM) 3.95, Atupele MULUZI (UDF) 1.92%, Joyce BANDA (PP) 1.61%, other 2.72% 2020: Lazarus CHAKWERA elected president; Lazarus CHAKWERA (MCP) 59.3%, Peter Mutharika (DPP) 39.9%, other 0.8%
Executive branch / expected date of next election: September 2030
Legislative branch / legislature name: National Assembly
Legislative branch / legislative structure: unicameral
Legislative branch / number of seats: 229 (all directly elected)
Legislative branch / electoral system: plurality/majority
Legislative branch / scope of elections: full renewal
Legislative branch / term in office: 5 years
Legislative branch / most recent election date: 9/16/2025
Legislative branch / parties elected and seats per party: Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) (78); Malawi Congress Party (MCP) (52); Independents (73); Other (21)
Legislative branch / percentage of women in chamber: 21.4%
Legislative branch / expected date of next election: September 2025
Judicial branch / highest court(s): Supreme Court of Appeal (consists of the chief justice and at least 3 judges)
Judicial branch / judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court chief justice appointed by the president and confirmed by the National Assembly; other judges appointed by the president on the recommendation of the Judicial Service Commission, which regulates judicial officers; judges serve until age 65
Judicial branch / subordinate courts: High Court; magistrate courts; Industrial Relations Court; district and city traditional or local courts
Political parties: Democratic Progressive Party or DPP Malawi Congress Party or MCP People's Party or PP United Democratic Front or UDF United Transformation Movement or UTM
Diplomatic representation in the US / chief of mission: Ambassador Esme Jynet CHOMBO (since 19 April 2022)
Diplomatic representation in the US / chancery: 2408 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation in the US / telephone: [1] (202) 451- 0409
Diplomatic representation in the US / email address and website: malawidc@aol.com Home | Malawi Embassy USA
Diplomatic representation from the US / chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charg&eacute; d&rsquo;Affaires Jonathan FISCHER (since 8 August 2025)
Diplomatic representation from the US / embassy: 16 Jomo Kenyatta Road, Lilongwe 3
Diplomatic representation from the US / mailing address: 2280 Lilongwe Place, Washington DC 20521-2280
Diplomatic representation from the US / telephone: [265] (0) 177-3166
Diplomatic representation from the US / FAX: [265] (0) 177-0471
Diplomatic representation from the US / email address and website: LilongweConsular@state.gov https://mw.usembassy.gov/
International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, AU, C, CD, COMESA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MINURSO, MONUSCO, NAM, OPCW, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNHRC, UNIDO, UNISFA, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Independence: 6 July 1964 (from the UK)
National holiday: Independence Day, 6 July (1964)
Flag: description: three equal horizontal bands of black (top), red, and green, with a rising red sun centered on the black band meaning: black stands for ethnic groups, red for the blood shed in the struggle for freedom, and green for nature; the sun represents the hope of freedom for the continent of Africa
National symbol(s): lion
National color(s): black, red, green
National anthem(s) / title: "Mulungu dalitsa Malawi" (O God, Bless Our Land of Malawi)
National anthem(s) / lyrics/music: Michael-Fredrick Paul SAUKA
National anthem(s) / history: adopted 1964
National heritage / total World Heritage Sites: 3 (2 cultural, 1 natural)
National heritage / selected World Heritage Site locales: Lake Malawi National Park (n); Chongoni Rock-Art Area (c); Mount Mulanje Cultural Landscape (c)

## Economy
Economic overview: low-income East African economy; primarily agrarian; investing in human capital; urban poverty increasing due to COVID-19; high public debt; endemic corruption and poor property rights; poor hydroelectric grid; localized pharmaceutical industry
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $35.425 billion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $34.789 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $34.143 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2024: 1.8% (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2023: 1.9% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2022: 0.9% (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2024: $1,600 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2023: $1,600 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2022: $1,700 (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $11.009 billion (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024: 32.2% (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023: 28.8% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 21% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / agriculture: 32.4% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / industry: 16% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / services: 44.9% (2024 est.)
Agricultural products: sweet potatoes, cassava, maize, sugarcane, mangoes/guavas, potatoes, tomatoes, pigeon peas, pumpkins/squash, plantains (2023)
Industries: tobacco, tea, sugar, sawmill products, cement, consumer goods
Industrial production growth rate: 2.1% (2024 est.)
Labor force: 8.602 million (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2024: 5.1% (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2023: 5.1% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2022: 5.1% (2022 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / total: 6.8% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / male: 6.4% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / female: 7.1% (2024 est.)
Population below poverty line: 50.7% (2019 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income / Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2019: 38.5 (2019 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / lowest 10%: 2.9% (2019 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / highest 10%: 31% (2019 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2023: 1.4% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2022: 2.1% of GDP (2022 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2021: 2.6% of GDP (2021 est.)
Budget / revenues: $2.208 billion (2022 est.)
Budget / expenditures: $3.523 billion (2022 est.)
Public debt / Public debt 2022: 55.6% of GDP (2022 est.)
Taxes and other revenues: 13.5% (of GDP) (2022 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2023: -$2.276 billion (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2022: -$2.218 billion (2022 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2021: -$1.918 billion (2021 est.)
Exports / Exports 2023: $1.526 billion (2023 est.)
Exports / Exports 2022: $1.487 billion (2022 est.)
Exports / Exports 2021: $1.587 billion (2021 est.)
Exports - partners: Germany 11%, India 7%, Zimbabwe 6%, South Africa 5%, USA 5% (2023)
Exports - commodities: tobacco, tea, dried legumes, soybean meal, raw sugar (2023)
Imports / Imports 2023: $3.995 billion (2023 est.)
Imports / Imports 2022: $3.834 billion (2022 est.)
Imports / Imports 2021: $3.768 billion (2021 est.)
Imports - partners: China 17%, South Africa 16%, UAE 12%, India 7%, Tanzania 7% (2023)
Imports - commodities: refined petroleum, fertilizers, plastics, garments, postage stamps/documents (2023)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2020: $594.498 million (2020 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2019: $846.84 million (2019 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2018: $766.155 million (2018 est.)
Debt - external / Debt - external 2023: $2.269 billion (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Currency: Malawian kwachas (MWK) per US dollar -
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2023: 1,161.094 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2022: 949.039 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2021: 805.9 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2020: 749.527 (2020 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2019: 745.541 (2019 est.)

## Energy
Electricity access / electrification - total population: 14% (2022 est.)
Electricity access / electrification - urban areas: 54%
Electricity access / electrification - rural areas: 5.6%
Electricity / installed generating capacity: 731,000 kW (2023 est.)
Electricity / consumption: 1.585 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / exports: 19.938 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / transmission/distribution losses: 231.785 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / fossil fuels: 4.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / solar: 0.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / hydroelectricity: 92.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / biomass and waste: 3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Coal / production: 3,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / consumption: 22,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / imports: 19,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / proven reserves: 801.999 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum / refined petroleum consumption: 15,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Energy consumption per capita / Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 1.792 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

## Communications
Telephones - fixed lines / total subscriptions: 5,000 (2023 est.)
Telephones - fixed lines / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2023 est.) less than 1
Telephones - mobile cellular / total subscriptions: 15 million (2024 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 69 (2024 est.)
Broadcast media: radio is the main broadcast medium; privately owned Zodiak radio has the widest national reach, followed by state-run radio; numerous private and community radio stations broadcast in cities and towns; the largest TV network is state-owned, but at least 4 private TV networks broadcast in urban areas; relays of multiple international broadcasters are available (2019)
Internet country code: .mw
Internet users / percent of population: 18% (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / total: 17,000 (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2023 est.) less than 1

## Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: 7Q
Airports: 27 (2025)
Railways / total: 767 km (2014)
Railways / narrow gauge: 767 km (2014) 1.067-m gauge

## Military and Security
Military and security forces: Malawi Defense Force (MDF): Malawi Army (Land Forces), Malawi Maritime Force (MMF), Malawi Air Force (MAF), Malawi National Service (MNS) Ministry of Homeland Security: Malawi Police Service (2025)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2024: 0.8% of GDP (2024 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2023: 1% of GDP (2023 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2022: 0.8% of GDP (2022 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2021: 0.9% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2020: 0.9% of GDP (2020 est.)
Military and security service personnel strengths: estimated 10,000 active Malawi Defense Forces (2025)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the MDF's inventory is comprised of mostly older or secondhand armaments originating from such countries as China, France, Israel, South Africa, and the UK (2025)
Military service age and obligation: 18-24 years of age for men and women for voluntary military service (2025)
Military deployments: 750 Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) (2025)
Military - note: the MDF’s primary responsibility is external security; it is also tasked as necessary with providing support to civilian authorities during emergencies, supporting the Police Service, protecting national forest reserves, and participating in regional peacekeeping missions, as well as assisting with infrastructure development; key areas of concern include border security, regional conflict, and international terrorism; the MDF participates in exercises with foreign partners and contributes regularly to African Union and UN peace support operations; Malawi contributes regularly to African Union and UN peace support operations the MDF was established in 1964 from elements of the Kings African Rifles (KAR), a British colonial regiment raised from Great Britain's various possessions in East Africa from 1902 until independence in the 1960s; the KAR conducted both military and internal security functions within the colonial territories, and served outside the territories during the World Wars (2025)

## Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons / refugees: 56,659 (2024 est.)
Refugees and internally displaced persons / IDPs: 135,728 (2024 est.)

=== Mali ===

## Introduction
Background: Present-day Mali is named after the Mali Empire that ruled the region between the 13th and 16th centuries. At its peak in the 14th century, it was the largest and wealthiest empire in West Africa and controlled an area about twice the size of modern-day France. Primarily a trading empire, Mali derived its wealth from gold and maintained several goldfields and trade routes in the Sahel. The empire also influenced West African culture through the spread of its language, laws, and customs, but by the 16th century, it had fragmented into mostly small chiefdoms. The Songhai Empire, previously a Mali dependency centered in Timbuktu, gained prominence in the 15th and 16th centuries. Under Songhai rule, Timbuktu became a large commercial center, well-known for its scholarship and religious teaching. Timbuktu remains a center of culture in West Africa today. In the late 16th century, the Songhai Empire fell to Moroccan invaders and disintegrated into independent sultanates and kingdoms. France, expanding from Senegal, seized control of the area in the 1890s and incorporated it into French West Africa as French Sudan. In 1960, French Sudan gained independence from France and became the Mali Federation. When Senegal withdrew after only a few months, the remaining area was renamed the Republic of Mali. Mali saw 31 years of dictatorship until 1991, when a military coup led by Amadou Toumani TOURE ousted the government, established a new constitution, and instituted a multi-party democracy. Alpha Oumar KONARE won Mali's first two democratic presidential elections in 1992 and 1997. In keeping with Mali's two-term constitutional limit, he stepped down in 2002 and was succeeded by Amadou Toumani TOURE, who won a second term in 2007. In 2012, rising ethnic tensions and an influx of fighters -- some linked to Al-Qa’ida -- from Libya led to a rebellion and military coup. Following the coup, rebels expelled the military from the country’s three northern regions, allowing terrorist organizations to develop strongholds in the area. With a 2013 French-led military intervention, the Malian government managed to retake most of the north. However, the government’s grasp in the region remains weak with local militias, terrorists, and insurgent groups competing for control. In 2015, the Malian Government and northern rebels signed an internationally mediated peace accord. Despite a 2017 target for implementation of the agreement, the signatories have made little progress. Terrorist groups were left out of the peace process, and terrorist attacks remain common. Ibrahim Boubacar KEITA won the Malian presidential elections in 2013 and 2018. Aside from security and logistic shortfalls, international observers deemed these elections credible. Terrorism, banditry, ethnic-based violence, and extra-judicial military killings plagued the country during KEITA’s second term. In 2020, the military arrested KEITA, his prime minister, and other senior members of the government and established a military junta called the National Committee for the Salvation of the People (CNSP). The junta then established a transition government and appointed Bah N’DAW, a retired army officer and former defense minister, as interim president and Colonel Assimi GOITA, the coup leader and chairman of the CNSP, as interim vice president. The transition government’s charter allowed it to rule for up to 18 months before calling a general election. In 2021, GOITA led a military takeover, arresting the interim president after a Cabinet shake-up removed GOITA’s key allies. GOITA was sworn in as transition president, and Choguel Kokalla MAIGA was sworn in as prime minister. In 2022, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) imposed sanctions on the transition government, and member states closed their borders with Mali after the transition government presented a five-year extension to the electoral calendar. The transition government and ECOWAS agreed to a new two-year timeline, which would have included presidential elections in February 2024, but the transition government postponed the elections indefinitely in September 2023 and withdrew from ECOWAS in January 2024.

## Geography
Location: interior Western Africa, southwest of Algeria, north of Guinea, Cote d'Ivoire, and Burkina Faso, west of Niger
Geographic coordinates: 17 00 N, 4 00 W
Map references: Africa
Area / total: 1,240,192 sq km
Area / land: 1,220,190 sq km
Area / water: 20,002 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly less than twice the size of Texas
Land boundaries / total: 7,908 km
Land boundaries / border countries: Algeria 1,359 km; Burkina Faso 1,325 km; Cote d'Ivoire 599 km; Guinea 1,062 km; Mauritania 2,236 km; Niger 838 km, Senegal 489 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
Climate: subtropical to arid; hot and dry (February to June); rainy, humid, and mild (June to November); cool and dry (November to February)
Terrain: mostly flat to rolling northern plains covered by sand; savanna in south, rugged hills in northeast
Elevation / highest point: Hombori Tondo 1,155 m
Elevation / lowest point: Senegal River 23 m
Elevation / mean elevation: 343 m
Natural resources: gold, phosphates, kaolin, salt, limestone, uranium, gypsum, granite, hydropower
Land use / agricultural land: 35.5% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 6.8% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 0.2% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 28.4% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 8.8% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 55.8% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land: 3,780 sq km (2012)
Major lakes (area sq km) / fresh water lake(s): Lac Faguibine - 590 sq km note - the Niger River is the only source of water for the lake; in recent years the lake is dry
Major rivers (by length in km): Niger (shared with Guinea [s], Niger, and Nigeria [m]) - 4,200 km; Senegal (shared with Guinea [s], Senegal, and Mauritania [m]) - 1,641 km note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Major watersheds (area sq km) / Atlantic Ocean drainage: Niger (2,261,741 sq km), Senegal (456,397 sq km), Volta (410,991 sq km)
Major aquifers: Lullemeden-Irhazer Basin, Taodeni-Tanezrouft Basin
Population distribution: the overwhelming majority of the population lives in the southern half of the country, with greater density along the border with Burkina Faso, as shown in this population distribution map
Natural hazards: hot, dust-laden harmattan haze common during dry seasons; recurring droughts; occasional Niger River flooding
Geography - note: landlocked; divided into three natural zones: the southern, cultivated Sudanese; the central, semiarid Sahelian; and the northern, arid Saharan

## People and Society
Population / total: 22,634,423 (2025 est.)
Population / male: 10,999,331
Population / female: 11,635,092
Nationality / noun: Malian(s)
Nationality / adjective: Malian
Ethnic groups: Bambara 33.3%, Fulani (Peuhl) 13.3%, Sarakole/Soninke/Marka 9.8%, Senufo/Manianka 9.6%, Malinke 8.8%, Dogon 8.7%, Sonrai 5.9%, Bobo 2.1%, Tuareg/Bella 1.7%, other Malian 6%, from members of Economic Community of West Africa 0.4%, other 0.3% (2018 est.)
Languages: Bambara (official), French 17.2%, Peuhl/Foulfoulbe/Fulani 9.4%, Dogon 7.2%, Maraka/Soninke 6.4%, Malinke 5.6%, Sonrhai/Djerma 5.6%, Minianka 4.3%, Tamacheq 3.5%, Senoufo 2.6%, Bobo 2.1%, other 6.3%, unspecified 0.7% (2009 est.)
Religions: Muslim 93.9%, Christian 2.8%, animist 0.7%, none 2.5% (2018 est.)
Age structure / 0-14 years: 46.8% (male 5,175,714/female 5,114,128)
Age structure / 15-64 years: 50.1% (male 5,178,742/female 5,842,456)
Age structure / 65 years and over: 3.1% (2024 est.) (male 334,299/female 345,268)
Dependency ratios / total dependency ratio: 98.5 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / youth dependency ratio: 92.3 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / elderly dependency ratio: 6.2 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / potential support ratio: 16.2 (2025 est.)
Median age / total: 16.5 years (2025 est.)
Median age / male: 15.7 years
Median age / female: 17.1 years
Population growth rate: 2.88% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 39.44 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 7.87 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: -2.82 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution: the overwhelming majority of the population lives in the southern half of the country, with greater density along the border with Burkina Faso, as shown in this population distribution map
Urbanization / urban population: 46.2% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 4.57% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 2.929 million BAMAKO (capital) (2023)
Sex ratio / at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 0-14 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 15-64 years: 0.89 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 65 years and over: 0.97 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth: 19.2 years (2018 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio: 367 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Infant mortality rate / total: 55.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Infant mortality rate / male: 62.6 deaths/1,000 live births
Infant mortality rate / female: 52 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth / total population: 63.2 years (2024 est.)
Life expectancy at birth / male: 60.9 years
Life expectancy at birth / female: 65.6 years
Total fertility rate: 5.26 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 2.59 (2025 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: urban: urban: 94.7% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: rural: rural: 74.4% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: total: total: 83.6% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: urban: urban: 5.3% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: rural: rural: 25.6% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: total: total: 16.4% of population (2022 est.)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 4.5% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 5.7% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density: 0.19 physicians/1,000 population (2023)
Hospital bed density: 0.2 beds/1,000 population (2018 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: urban: urban: 88.6% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: rural: rural: 49.3% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: total: total: 67.2% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: urban: urban: 11.4% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: rural: rural: 50.7% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: total: total: 32.8% of population (2022 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 8.6% (2016)
Alcohol consumption per capita / total: 0.6 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / beer: 0.09 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / wine: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / spirits: 0.02 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / other alcohols: 0.49 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Tobacco use / total: 6.9% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / male: 13.1% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / female: 0.6% (2025 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 15% (2024 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49): 79.2% (2018 est.)
Child marriage / women married by age 15: 15.9% (2018)
Child marriage / women married by age 18: 53.7% (2018)
Child marriage / men married by age 18: 2.1% (2018)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% GDP): 4.2% of GDP (2023 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% national budget): 17.8% national budget (2024 est.)
Literacy / total population: 35.5% (2018 est.)
Literacy / male: 46.2% (2018 est.)
Literacy / female: 25.7% (2018 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / total: 7 years (2017 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / male: 8 years (2017 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / female: 6 years (2017 est.)

## Environment
Environmental issues: deforestation; soil erosion; desertification; loss of pasture land; inadequate supplies of potable water
International environmental agreements / party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling
International environmental agreements / signed, but not ratified: Nuclear Test Ban
Climate: subtropical to arid; hot and dry (February to June); rainy, humid, and mild (June to November); cool and dry (November to February)
Land use / agricultural land: 35.5% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 6.8% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 0.2% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 28.4% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 8.8% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 55.8% (2023 est.)
Urbanization / urban population: 46.2% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 4.57% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / total emissions: 6.858 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from coal and metallurgical coke: 83 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from petroleum and other liquids: 6.858 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Particulate matter emissions: 48.5 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Waste and recycling / municipal solid waste generated annually: 1.937 million tons (2024 est.)
Waste and recycling / percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 10.4% (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / municipal: 107 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / industrial: 4 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / agricultural: 5.075 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total renewable water resources: 120 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: Republic of Mali
Country name / conventional short form: Mali
Country name / local long form: R&eacute;publique de Mali
Country name / local short form: Mali
Country name / former: French Sudan, Sudanese Republic, Mali Federation
Country name / etymology: name derives from the Mali Empire of the 13th to 16th centuries A.D.; the Mali name may come from a local ethnic group, the Malinke, whose name is derived from the words ma , meaning "mother," and dink , meaning "child" -- a reference to the matrilinear descent of Malinke families
Government type: semi-presidential republic
Capital / name: Bamako
Capital / geographic coordinates: 12 39 N, 8 00 W
Capital / time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Capital / etymology: the origin of the name is unclear, but it comes from the Bambara language and can refer either to a crocodile or to a person's name
Administrative divisions: 19 regions ( régions , singular - région ), 1 district*; Bamako*, Bandiagara, Bougouni, Dioila, Douentza, Gao, Kayes, Kidal, Kita, Koulikoro, Koutiala, Menaka, Mopti, Nara, Nioro, San, Segou, Sikasso, Taoudenni, Tombouctou (Timbuktu)
Legal system: civil law system based on the French civil law model and influenced by customary law; Constitutional Court reviews legislative acts
Constitution / history: several previous; latest drafted 13 October 2022 and submitted to Transition President Assimi GOITA; final draft completed 1 March 2023; approved by referendum 18 June 2023; validated by Constitutional Court 22 July 2023
International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Citizenship / citizenship by birth: no
Citizenship / citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Mali
Citizenship / dual citizenship recognized: yes
Citizenship / residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch / chief of state: Transition President Assimi GOITA (since 7 June 2021)
Executive branch / head of government: Transition Prime Minister Abdoulaye MAIGA (since 22 November 2024)
Executive branch / cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister
Executive branch / election/appointment process: president directly elected by absolute-majority popular vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); prime minister appointed by the president
Executive branch / most recent election date: 29 July 2018, with runoff on 12 August 2018
Executive branch / election results: 2018 : Ibrahim Boubacar KEITA reelected president in second round; percent of vote in first round - Ibrahim Boubacar KEITA (RPM) 41.7%, Soumaila CISSE (URD) 17.8%, other 40.5%; percent of vote in second round - Ibrahim Boubacar KEITA 67.2%, Soumaila CISSE 32.8%
Legislative branch / legislature name: Transitional National Council (Conseil national de transition)
Legislative branch / legislative structure: unicameral
Legislative branch / chamber name: Transitional National Council (Conseil national de transition)
Legislative branch / number of seats: 147 (all appointed)
Legislative branch / electoral system: plurality/majority
Legislative branch / scope of elections: full renewal
Legislative branch / most recent election date: 12/5/2020
Legislative branch / percentage of women in chamber: 30.1%
Legislative branch / expected date of next election: December 2030
Judicial branch / highest court(s): Supreme Court or Cour Supr&ecirc;me (consists of 19 judges organized into judicial, administrative, and accounting sections); Constitutional Court (consists of 9 judges)
Judicial branch / judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court judges appointed by the Ministry of Justice to serve 5-year terms; Constitutional Court judges selected - 3 each by the president, the National Assembly, and the Supreme Council of the Magistracy; members serve single renewable 7-year terms
Judicial branch / subordinate courts: Court of Appeal; High Court of Justice (jurisdiction limited to cases of high treason or criminal offenses by the president or ministers while in office); administrative courts (first instance and appeal); commercial courts; magistrate courts; labor courts; juvenile courts; special court of state security
Political parties: African Solidarity for Democracy and Independence or SADI Alliance for Democracy and Progress or ADP-Maliba Alliance for Democracy in Mali-Pan-African Party for Liberty, Solidarity, and Justice or ADEMA-PASJ Alliance for the Solidarity of Mali-Convergence of Patriotic Forces or ASMA-CFP Convergence for the Development of Mali or CODEM Democratic Alliance for Peace or ADP-Maliba Movement for Mali or MPM Party for National Renewal (also Rebirth or Renaissance or PARENA) Rally for Mali or RPM Social Democratic Convention or CDS Union for Democracy and Development or UDD Union for Republic and Democracy or URD Yéléma
Diplomatic representation in the US / chief of mission: Ambassador S&eacute;kou BERTHE (since 16 September 2022)
Diplomatic representation in the US / chancery: 2130 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation in the US / telephone: [1] (202) 332-2249
Diplomatic representation in the US / FAX: [1] (202) 332-6603
Diplomatic representation in the US / email address and website: administration@maliembassy.us https://www.maliembassy.us/
Diplomatic representation from the US / chief of mission: Ambassador Rachna KORHONEN (since 16 March 2023)
Diplomatic representation from the US / embassy: ACI 2000, Rue 243, (located off the Roi Bin Fahad Aziz Bridge west of the Bamako central district), Porte 297, Bamako
Diplomatic representation from the US / mailing address: 2050 Bamako Place, Washington DC 20521-2050
Diplomatic representation from the US / telephone: [223] 20-70-23-00
Diplomatic representation from the US / FAX: [223] 20-70-24-79
Diplomatic representation from the US / email address and website: ACSBamako@state.gov https://ml.usembassy.gov/
International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, AU (suspended), CD, EITI (compliant country), FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MINUSCA, MONUSCO, NAM, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNDP, UNESCO, UNFPA, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNOPS, UN Women, UNWTO, UPU, WADB (regional), WAEMU, World Bank Group, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Independence: 22 September 1960 (from France)
National holiday: Independence Day, 22 September (1960)
Flag: description: three equal vertical bands of green (left side), yellow, and red history: uses the colors of the Pan-African movement
National symbol(s): Great Mosque of Djenne
National color(s): green, yellow, red
National anthem(s) / title: "Le Mali" (Mali)
National anthem(s) / lyrics/music: Seydou Badian KOUYATE/Banzoumana SISSOKO
National anthem(s) / history: adopted 1962
National heritage / total World Heritage Sites: 4 (3 cultural, 1 mixed)
National heritage / selected World Heritage Site locales: Old Towns of Djenné (c); Timbuktu (c); Cliff of Bandiagara (Land of the Dogons) (m); Tomb of Askia (c)

## Economy
Economic overview: low-income Saharan economy; recession due to COVID-19 and political instability; extreme poverty; environmentally fragile; high public debt; agricultural and gold exporter; terrorism and warfare are common
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $71.253 billion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $67.857 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $64.8 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2024: 5% (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2023: 4.7% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2022: 3.5% (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2024: $2,900 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2023: $2,900 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2022: $2,800 (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $26.588 billion (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024: 3.2% (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023: 2.1% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 9.6% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / agriculture: 33.4% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / industry: 22.7% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / services: 36.7% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / household consumption: 71.9% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / government consumption: 13.1% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in fixed capital: 21.6% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in inventories: -0.7% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / exports of goods and services: 22.5% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / imports of goods and services: -28.4% (2024 est.)
Agricultural products: maize, rice, millet, sorghum, onions, okra, sugarcane, cotton, mangoes/guavas, sweet potatoes (2023)
Industries: food processing; construction; phosphate and gold mining
Industrial production growth rate: -2.4% (2024 est.)
Labor force: 9.126 million (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2024: 3.1% (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2023: 3% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2022: 2.4% (2022 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / total: 4% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / male: 4% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / female: 3.9% (2024 est.)
Population below poverty line: 44.6% (2021 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income / Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2021: 35.7 (2021 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / lowest 10%: 3.2% (2021 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / highest 10%: 28.3% (2021 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2023: 4.2% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2022: 4.9% of GDP (2022 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2021: 4.9% of GDP (2021 est.)
Budget / revenues: $2.841 billion (2020 est.)
Budget / expenditures: $3.563 billion (2020 est.)
Public debt / Public debt 2016: 36% of GDP (2016 est.)
Taxes and other revenues: 12% (of GDP) (2020 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2023: -$1.61 billion (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2022: -$1.475 billion (2022 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2021: -$1.469 billion (2021 est.)
Exports / Exports 2023: $6.13 billion (2023 est.)
Exports / Exports 2022: $5.855 billion (2022 est.)
Exports / Exports 2021: $5.381 billion (2021 est.)
Exports - partners: UAE 73%, Switzerland 15%, Australia 5%, China 1%, Uganda 1% (2023)
Exports - commodities: gold, cotton, oil seeds, fertilizers, gum resins (2023)
Imports / Imports 2023: $8.066 billion (2023 est.)
Imports / Imports 2022: $7.942 billion (2022 est.)
Imports / Imports 2021: $7.596 billion (2021 est.)
Imports - partners: Cote d'Ivoire 25%, Senegal 19%, China 12%, France 5%, Burkina Faso 4% (2023)
Imports - commodities: refined petroleum, broadcasting equipment, cement, cotton fabric, plastic products (2023)
Debt - external / Debt - external 2023: $4.085 billion (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Currency: Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar -
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2024: 606.345 (2024 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2023: 606.57 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2022: 623.76 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2021: 554.531 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2020: 575.586 (2020 est.)

## Energy
Electricity access / electrification - total population: 53% (2022 est.)
Electricity access / electrification - urban areas: 99.7%
Electricity access / electrification - rural areas: 18.3%
Electricity / installed generating capacity: 1.222 million kW (2023 est.)
Electricity / consumption: 4.261 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / exports: 661.63 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / imports: 880 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / transmission/distribution losses: 320.616 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / fossil fuels: 57.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / solar: 3.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / hydroelectricity: 37.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / biomass and waste: 1.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Coal / imports: 36 metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum / refined petroleum consumption: 46,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Energy consumption per capita / Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 4.307 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

## Communications
Telephones - fixed lines / total subscriptions: 307,000 (2022 est.)
Telephones - fixed lines / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 1 (2022 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / total subscriptions: 25.9 million (2022 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 112 (2022 est.)
Broadcast media: national public TV broadcaster; 2 privately owned companies provide subscription services to foreign multi-channel TV packages; national public radio broadcaster supplemented by a large number of privately owned and community broadcast stations; transmissions of multiple international broadcasters are available (2019)
Internet country code: .ml
Internet users / percent of population: 35% (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / total: 179,000 (2022 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 1 (2022 est.)

## Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: TZ, TT
Airports: 30 (2025)
Heliports: 4 (2025)
Railways / total: 593 km (2014)
Railways / narrow gauge: 593 km (2014) 1.000-m gauge

## Military and Security
Military and security forces: Malian Armed Forces (Forces Armées Maliennes or FAMa): Army (l’Armée de Terre), Air Force (l’Armée de l’Air); National Guard (la Garde Nationale du Mali); National Gendarmerie of Mali (Gendarmerie Nationale du Mali) (2025)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2024: 4.3% of GDP (2024 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2023: 4% of GDP (2023 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2022: 3.5% of GDP (2022 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2021: 3.4% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2020: 3.4% of GDP (2020 est.)
Military and security service personnel strengths: information varies; estimated 35-40,000 active FAMa, Gendarmerie, and National Guard (2025)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the FAMa's inventory includes mostly Soviet-era weapons and equipment along with smaller quantities of more modern material from a variety of suppliers, including France, Russia, South Africa, T&uuml;rkiye, and the UAE (2025)
Military service age and obligation: 18 years of age for men and women for selective compulsory and voluntary military service; 24-month compulsory service obligation (2025)
Military - note: the FAMa is responsible for the defense of the country’s sovereignty and territory, but also has some domestic security duties, including the maintenance of public order and support to law enforcement; it also participates in socio-economic development projects; the military has traditionally played a large role in Mali’s politics; prior to the coup in August 2020 and military takeover in May 2021, it had intervened in the political arena at least five times since the country gained independence in 1960 (1968, 1976, 1978, 1991, 2012) the FAMa and other security forces are actively engaged in combat operations against several insurgent/terrorist groups affiliated with al-Qa'ida and the Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS), as well as other armed rebel organizations, communal militias, and criminal bands spread across the central, northern, and southern regions of the country; a large portion of the country--up to 50% by some estimates--is outside of government control the FAMa and the remainder of the security forces collapsed in 2012 during the fighting against Tuareg rebels and Islamic militants and were rebuilt beginning in 2013 with external assistance from the EU and the UN; the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) and the EU Training Mission in Mali (EUTM) ended their missions in 2023 and 2024, respectively; France intervened militarily in Mali in 2013 to assist with regaining the northern half of the country from rebel and Islamic militant groups; French troops withdrew in 2022; since 2021, Mali has increased security ties with Russia, which has provided equipment, training, and other forms of military support (2025)

## Terrorism
Terrorist group(s): Ansar al-Dine; Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham in the Greater Sahara (ISIS-GS); Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM); al-Mulathamun Battalion (al-Mourabitoun)

## Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons / refugees: 135,827 (2024 est.)
Refugees and internally displaced persons / IDPs: 378,363 (2024 est.)

=== Morocco ===

## Introduction
Background: In 788, about a century after the Arab conquest of North Africa, a series of Muslim dynasties began to rule in Morocco. In the 16th century, the Sa'adi monarchy, particularly under Ahmad al-MANSUR (1578-1603), repelled foreign invaders and inaugurated a golden age. The Alaouite Dynasty, to which the current Moroccan royal family belongs, dates from the 17th century. In 1860, Spain occupied northern Morocco and ushered in a half-century of trade rivalry among European powers that saw Morocco's sovereignty steadily erode; in 1912, the French imposed a protectorate over the country. A protracted independence struggle with France ended successfully in 1956. The internationalized city of Tangier and most Spanish possessions were turned over to the new country that same year. Sultan MOHAMMED V, the current monarch's grandfather, organized the new state as a constitutional monarchy and in 1957 assumed the title of king. Since Spain's 1976 withdrawal from Western Sahara, Morocco has extended its de facto administrative control to roughly 75% of this territory; however, the UN does not recognize Morocco as the administering power for Western Sahara. The UN since 1991 has monitored a cease-fire, which broke down in late 2020, between Morocco and the Polisario Front -- an organization advocating the territory’s independence -- and restarted negotiations over the status of the territory in 2018. In 2020, the US recognized Morocco's sovereignty over all of Western Sahara. In 2011, King MOHAMMED VI responded to the spread of pro-democracy protests in the North Africa region by implementing a reform program that included a new constitution, passed by popular referendum, under which some new powers were extended to parliament and the prime minister, but ultimate authority remains in the hands of the monarch. Later that year, the Justice and Development Party (PJD) -- a moderate Islamist democratic party -- won the largest number of seats in parliamentary elections, becoming the first Islamist party to lead the Moroccan Government. In 2015, Morocco held its first direct elections for regional councils, which was one of the reforms included in the 2011 constitution. The PJD again won the largest number of seats in nationwide parliamentary elections in 2016, but it lost its plurality to the probusiness National Rally of Independents (RNI) in 2021. In 2020, Morocco signed a normalization agreement with Israel, similar to those that Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, and Sudan had concluded with Israel earlier that year.

## Geography
Location: Northern Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea, between Algeria and Mauritania
Geographic coordinates: 28 30 N, 10 00 W
Map references: Africa
Area / total: 716,550 sq km
Area / land: 716,300 sq km
Area / water: 250 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly larger than twice the size of California
Land boundaries / total: 3,523.5 km
Land boundaries / border countries: Algeria 1,941 km; Mauritania 1,564 km; Spain (Ceuta) 8 km and Spain (Melilla) 10.5 km
Coastline: 2,945 km
Maritime claims / territorial sea: 12 nm
Maritime claims / contiguous zone: 24 nm
Maritime claims / exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Maritime claims / continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Climate: Mediterranean in the north, becoming more extreme in the interior; in the south, hot, dry desert; rain is rare; cold offshore air currents produce fog and heavy dew
Terrain: mountainous northern coast (Rif Mountains) and interior (Atlas Mountains) bordered by large plateaus with intermontane valleys, and fertile coastal plains; the south is mostly low, flat desert with large areas of rocky or sandy surfaces
Elevation / highest point: Jebel Toubkal 4,165 m
Elevation / lowest point: Sebkha Tah -59 m
Elevation / mean elevation: 909 m
Natural resources: phosphates, iron ore, manganese, lead, zinc, fish, salt
Land use / agricultural land: 66.7% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 15.4% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 4.3% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 47.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 12.8% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 20.3% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land: 17,645 sq km (2019)
Major rivers (by length in km): Draa - 1,100 km
Population distribution: the highest population density is found along the Atlantic and Mediterranean coasts; a number of densely populated agglomerations are scattered through the Atlas Mountains, as shown in this population distribution map
Natural hazards: in the north, the mountains are geologically unstable and subject to earthquakes; periodic droughts; windstorms; flash floods; landslides; in the south, a hot, dry, dust/sand-laden sirocco wind can occur during winter and spring; widespread harmattan haze exists 60% of time, often severely restricting visibility
Geography - note: strategic location along Strait of Gibraltar; the only African nation to have both Atlantic and Mediterranean coastlines; the waters off the Atlantic coast are particularly rich fishing areas

## People and Society
Population / total: 37,387,585 (2024 est.)
Population / male: 18,664,263
Population / female: 18,723,322
Nationality / noun: Moroccan(s)
Nationality / adjective: Moroccan
Ethnic groups: Arab-Amazigh 99%, other 1%
Languages / Languages: Arabic (official), Tamazight languages (Tamazight (official), Tachelhit, Tarifit), French (often the language of business, government, and diplomacy)
Languages / major-language sample(s): كتاب ديال لحقائق متاع العالم، احسن مصدر متاع المعلومات الأساسية (Arabic) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
Religions: Muslim 99% (official; virtually all Sunni, <0.1% Shia), other 1% (includes Christian, Jewish, and Baha'i); note - Jewish about 3,000-3,500 (2020 est.)
Age structure / 0-14 years: 25.7% (male 4,898,154/female 4,701,786)
Age structure / 15-64 years: 65.9% (male 12,236,752/female 12,410,567)
Age structure / 65 years and over: 8.4% (2024 est.) (male 1,529,357/female 1,610,969)
Dependency ratios / total dependency ratio: 51.7 (2024 est.)
Dependency ratios / youth dependency ratio: 38.9 (2024 est.)
Dependency ratios / elderly dependency ratio: 12.7 (2024 est.)
Dependency ratios / potential support ratio: 7.8 (2024 est.)
Median age / total: 30.9 years (2025 est.)
Median age / male: 30.1 years
Median age / female: 31 years
Population growth rate: 0.81% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 16.5 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 6.66 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: -1.7 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution: the highest population density is found along the Atlantic and Mediterranean coasts; a number of densely populated agglomerations are scattered through the Atlas Mountains, as shown in this population distribution map
Urbanization / urban population: 65.1% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 1.88% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 3.893 million Casablanca, 1.959 million RABAT (capital), 1.290 million Fes, 1.314 million Tangier, 1.050 million Marrakech, 979,000 Agadir (2023)
Sex ratio / at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 65 years and over: 0.95 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / total population: 1 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio: 70 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Infant mortality rate / total: 17.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Infant mortality rate / male: 20.4 deaths/1,000 live births
Infant mortality rate / female: 16 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth / total population: 74.2 years (2024 est.)
Life expectancy at birth / male: 72.5 years
Life expectancy at birth / female: 76 years
Total fertility rate: 2.24 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 1.09 (2025 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: urban: urban: 98.8% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: rural: rural: 65.6% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: total: total: 87% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: urban: urban: 1.2% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: rural: rural: 34.4% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: total: total: 13% of population (2022 est.)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 5.7% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 6.8% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density: 0.74 physicians/1,000 population (2021)
Hospital bed density: 0.7 beds/1,000 population (2020 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: urban: urban: 98.2% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: rural: rural: 72.4% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: total: total: 89.1% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: urban: urban: 1.8% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: rural: rural: 27.6% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: total: total: 10.9% of population (2022 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 26.1% (2016)
Alcohol consumption per capita / total: 0.51 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / beer: 0.18 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / wine: 0.24 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / spirits: 0.09 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / other alcohols: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Tobacco use / total: 12.3% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / male: 23.7% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / female: 0.9% (2025 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 3% (2019 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49): 58% (2018 est.)
Child marriage / women married by age 15: 0.5% (2018)
Child marriage / women married by age 18: 13.7% (2018)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% GDP): 6% of GDP (2023 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% national budget): 23.3% national budget (2024 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / total: 15 years (2023 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / male: 15 years (2023 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / female: 15 years (2023 est.)

## Environment
Environmental issues: in the north: land degradation and desertification, with soil erosion from farming, overgrazing, and vegetation removal; water and soil pollution from industrial-waste dumping; in the south: desertification; overgrazing; sparse water
International environmental agreements / party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
International environmental agreements / signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification
Climate: Mediterranean in the north, becoming more extreme in the interior; in the south, hot, dry desert; rain is rare; cold offshore air currents produce fog and heavy dew
Land use / agricultural land: 66.7% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 15.4% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 4.3% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 47.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 12.8% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 20.3% (2023 est.)
Urbanization / urban population: 65.1% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 1.88% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / total emissions: 64.173 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from coal and metallurgical coke: 23.024 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from petroleum and other liquids: 39.329 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from consumed natural gas: 1.82 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Particulate matter emissions: 13.2 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Methane emissions / energy: 36.6 kt (2022-2024 est.)
Methane emissions / agriculture: 283.7 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Methane emissions / waste: 377.5 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Methane emissions / other: 4.5 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Waste and recycling / municipal solid waste generated annually: 6.852 million tons (2024 est.)
Waste and recycling / percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 25.4% (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / municipal: 1.063 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / industrial: 212 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / agricultural: 9.156 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total renewable water resources: 29 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Geoparks / total global geoparks and regional networks: 1
Geoparks / global geoparks and regional networks: M'Goun (2023)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: Kingdom of Morocco
Country name / conventional short form: Morocco
Country name / local long form: Al Mamlakah al Maghribiyah
Country name / local short form: Al Maghrib
Country name / former: French Protectorate in Morocco, Spanish Protectorate in Morocco, Ifni, Spanish Sahara, Western Sahara
Country name / etymology: the English name of Morocco derives from, respectively, the Spanish and Portuguese names Marruecos and Marrocos, which stem from Marrakesh, the Latin name for the former capital of ancient Morocco; the Arabic name, Al Maghrib, translates as "The West"
Government type: parliamentary constitutional monarchy
Capital / name: Rabat
Capital / geographic coordinates: 34 01 N, 6 49 W
Capital / time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Capital / etymology: derives from the Arabic name Ribat el-Fath, from the words ribat (fortified monastery) and fath (conquest); the third Almohad sultan, Abu Yusuf Yaqub al-Manṣur, gave the name to a fort on the site in the 12th century
Administrative divisions: 12 regions; Beni Mellal-Khenifra, Casablanca-Settat, Dakhla-Oued Ed-Dahab, Draa-Tafilalet, Fes-Meknes, Guelmim-Oued Noun, Laayoune-Sakia El Hamra, Marrakech-Safi, Oriental, Rabat-Sale-Kenitra, Souss-Massa, Tanger-Tetouan-Al Hoceima
Legal system: mixed system of civil law based on French civil law and Islamic (sharia) law; Constitutional Court reviews legislative acts
Constitution / history: several previous; latest drafted 17 June 2011, approved by referendum 1 July 2011
Constitution / amendment process: proposed by the king, by the prime minister, or by members in either chamber of Parliament; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote by both chambers and approval in a referendum; the king can opt to submit self-initiated proposals directly to a referendum
International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt
Citizenship / citizenship by birth: no
Citizenship / citizenship by descent only: the father must be a citizen of Morocco; if the father is unknown or stateless, the mother must be a citizen
Citizenship / dual citizenship recognized: yes
Citizenship / residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch / chief of state: King MOHAMMED VI (since 30 July 1999)
Executive branch / head of government: Prime Minister Aziz AKHANNOUCH (since 7 October 2021)
Executive branch / cabinet: Council of Ministers chosen by the prime minister in consultation with Parliament and appointed by the monarch; the monarch chooses the ministers of Interior, Foreign Affairs, Islamic Affairs, and National Defense Administration
Executive branch / election/appointment process: the monarchy is hereditary; monarch appoints the prime minister from the majority party following legislative elections
Legislative branch / legislature name: Parliament (Barlaman)
Legislative branch / legislative structure: bicameral
Legislative branch - lower chamber / chamber name: House of Representatives (Majliss-annouwab)
Legislative branch - lower chamber / number of seats: 395 (all directly elected)
Legislative branch - lower chamber / electoral system: proportional representation
Legislative branch - lower chamber / scope of elections: full renewal
Legislative branch - lower chamber / term in office: 5 years
Legislative branch - lower chamber / most recent election date: 9/8/2021
Legislative branch - lower chamber / parties elected and seats per party: National Rally of Independents (RNI) (102); Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM) (87); Istiqlal Party (PI) (81); Socialist Union of Popular Forces (USFP) (34); Popular Movement (MP) (28); Progress and Socialism Party (PPS) (22); Other (41)
Legislative branch - lower chamber / percentage of women in chamber: 24.3%
Legislative branch - lower chamber / expected date of next election: September 2026
Legislative branch - upper chamber / chamber name: House of Councillors (Majlis al-Mustacharin)
Legislative branch - upper chamber / number of seats: 120 (all indirectly elected)
Legislative branch - upper chamber / scope of elections: full renewal
Legislative branch - upper chamber / term in office: 6 years
Legislative branch - upper chamber / most recent election date: 10/5/2021
Legislative branch - upper chamber / percentage of women in chamber: 11.7%
Legislative branch - upper chamber / expected date of next election: October 2027
Judicial branch / highest court(s): Supreme Court or Court of Cassation (consists of 5-judge panels organized into civil, family matters, commercial, administrative, social, and criminal sections); Constitutional Court (consists of 12 members)
Judicial branch / judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court judges appointed by the Superior Council of Judicial Power, a 20-member body presided over by the monarch, which includes the Supreme Court president, the prosecutor general, representatives of the appeals and first instance courts (among them 1 woman magistrate), the president of the National Council for Human Rights (CNDH), and 5 "notable persons" appointed by the monarch; judges appointed for life; Constitutional Court members - 6 designated by the monarch and 6 elected by Parliament; court president appointed by the monarch from among the court members; members serve 9-year nonrenewable terms
Judicial branch / subordinate courts: courts of appeal; High Court of Justice; administrative and commercial courts; regional and Sadad courts (for religious, civil and administrative, and penal adjudication); first instance courts
Political parties: Action Party or PA Amal (hope) Party An-Nahj Ad-Dimocrati or An-Nahj or Democratic Way Authenticity and Modernity Party or PAM Constitutional Union Party or UC Democratic and Social Movement or MDS Democratic Forces Front or FFD Environment and Sustainable Development Party or PEDD Federation of the Democratic Left or FGD Green Left Party or PGV Istiqlal (Independence) Party or PI Moroccan Liberal Party or PML Moroccan Union for Democracy or UMD National Democratic Party National Rally of Independents or RNI Neo-Democrats Party Party of Development Reform or PRD Party of Justice and Development or PJD Party of Liberty and Social Justice or PLJS Party of Progress and Socialism or PPS Popular Movement or MP Renaissance and Virtue Party or PRV Renaissance Party Renewal and Equity Party or PRE Shoura (consultation) and Istiqlal Party Socialist Union of Popular Forces or USFP Unified Socialist Party or GSU Unity and Democracy Party
Diplomatic representation in the US / chief of mission: Ambassador Youssef AMRANI (since 27 February 2024)
Diplomatic representation in the US / chancery: 3508 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation in the US / telephone: [1] (202) 462-7979
Diplomatic representation in the US / FAX: [1] (202) 265-0161
Diplomatic representation in the US / email address and website: washingtonembmorocco@maec.gov.ma Embassy of the Kingdom of Morocco in the United States (diplomatie.ma)
Diplomatic representation in the US / consulate(s) general: New York
Diplomatic representation from the US / chief of mission: Ambassador-designate Richard Duke BUCHAN III (since 3 December 2025)
Diplomatic representation from the US / embassy: Km 5.7 Avenue Mohammed VI, Souissi, Rabat 10170
Diplomatic representation from the US / mailing address: 9400 Rabat Place, Washington DC 20521-9400
Diplomatic representation from the US / telephone: [212] 0537-637-200
Diplomatic representation from the US / FAX: [212] 0537-637-201
Diplomatic representation from the US / email address and website: https://ma.usembassy.gov/
Diplomatic representation from the US / consulate(s) general: Casablanca
International organization participation: ABEDA, AfDB, AFESD, AIIB, AMF, AMU, AU, CAEU, CD, EBRD, FAO, G-11, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAS, MIGA, MONUSCO, NAM, OAS (observer), OIC, OIF, OPCW, OSCE (partner), Pacific Alliance (observer), Paris Club (associate), PCA, SICA (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNOCI, UNOOSA, UNSC (temporary), UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Independence: 2 March 1956 (from France)
National holiday: Throne Day (accession of King MOHAMMED VI to the throne), 30 July (1999)
Flag: description: red with a green pentacle (five-pointed linear star) known as Sulayman's (Solomon's) seal in the center of the flag meaning: 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 the association between God and the nation history: the design dates to 1912
National symbol(s): pentacle symbol, lion
National color(s): red, green
National anthem(s) / title: "Hymne Cherifien" (Hymn of the Sharif)
National anthem(s) / lyrics/music: Ali Squalli HOUSSAINI/Leo MORGAN
National anthem(s) / history: music adopted 1956, lyrics adopted 1970
National heritage / total World Heritage Sites: 9 (all cultural)
National heritage / selected World Heritage Site locales: Medina of Fez; Medina of Marrakesh; Ksar of Ait-Ben-Haddou; Historic City of Meknes; Archaeological Site of Volubilis; Medina of Tétouan (formerly known as Titawin); Medina of Essaouira (formerly Mogador); Portuguese City of Mazagan (El Jadida); Historic and Modern Rabat

## Economy
Economic overview: lower middle-income North African economy; ongoing recovery from recent drought and earthquake; rebounding via tourism, manufacturing, and raw materials processing; significant trade and investment with EU; reform programs include fiscal rebalancing, state enterprise governance and private sector investments
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $350.594 billion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $339.603 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $328.425 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2024: 3.2% (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2023: 3.4% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2022: 1.5% (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2024: $9,100 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2023: $8,900 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2022: $8,700 (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $154.431 billion (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024: 1% (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023: 6.1% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 6.7% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / agriculture: 10.1% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / industry: 24.1% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / services: 54.1% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / household consumption: 61.3% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / government consumption: 18% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in fixed capital: 26.1% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in inventories: 3.8% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / exports of goods and services: 43.3% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / imports of goods and services: -52.5% (2024 est.)
Agricultural products: wheat, milk, potatoes, sugar beets, tomatoes, barley, olives, apples, tangerines/mandarins, onions (2023)
Industries: automotive parts, phosphate mining and processing, aerospace, food processing, leather goods, textiles, construction, energy, tourism
Industrial production growth rate: 5% (2024 est.)
Labor force: 12.475 million (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2024: 9% (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2023: 9.1% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2022: 9.5% (2022 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / total: 22.1% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / male: 22% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / female: 22.4% (2024 est.)
Population below poverty line: 3.9% (2022 est.)
Average household expenditures / on food: 34.5% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Average household expenditures / on alcohol and tobacco: 2.1% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2023: 8.1% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2022: 8.5% of GDP (2022 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2021: 7.7% of GDP (2021 est.)
Budget / revenues: $38.458 billion (2023 est.)
Budget / expenditures: $44.819 billion (2023 est.)
Public debt / Public debt 2016: 64.9% of GDP (2016 est.)
Taxes and other revenues: 21% (of GDP) (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2023: -$891.222 million (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2022: -$4.8 billion (2022 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2021: -$3.349 billion (2021 est.)
Exports / Exports 2023: $61.746 billion (2023 est.)
Exports / Exports 2022: $58.575 billion (2022 est.)
Exports / Exports 2021: $47.09 billion (2021 est.)
Exports - partners: Spain 20%, France 17%, Germany 6%, UK 5%, Italy 4% (2023)
Exports - commodities: fertilizers, cars, garments, insulated wire, tomatoes (2023)
Imports / Imports 2023: $73.759 billion (2023 est.)
Imports / Imports 2022: $73.81 billion (2022 est.)
Imports / Imports 2021: $60.215 billion (2021 est.)
Imports - partners: Spain 16%, China 11%, France 10%, USA 9%, Turkey 5% (2023)
Imports - commodities: refined petroleum, cars, vehicle parts/accessories, natural gas, coal (2023)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024: $37.134 billion (2024 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023: $36.328 billion (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $32.314 billion (2022 est.)
Debt - external / Debt - external 2023: $42.262 billion (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Currency: Moroccan dirhams (MAD) per US dollar -
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2024: 9.942 (2024 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2023: 10.131 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2022: 10.161 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2021: 8.988 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2020: 9.497 (2020 est.)

## Energy
Electricity access / electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)
Electricity / installed generating capacity: 14.615 million kW (2023 est.)
Electricity / consumption: 36.379 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / exports: 462 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / imports: 2.311 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / transmission/distribution losses: 7.781 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / fossil fuels: 78.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / solar: 5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / wind: 15.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / hydroelectricity: 0.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / biomass and waste: 0.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Coal / consumption: 10.304 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / exports: 25 metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / imports: 10.344 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / proven reserves: 96 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum / total petroleum production: 25 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Petroleum / refined petroleum consumption: 296,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Petroleum / crude oil estimated reserves: 684,000 barrels (2021 est.)
Natural gas / production: 55.473 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / consumption: 912.277 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / imports: 861.38 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / proven reserves: 1.444 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)
Energy consumption per capita / Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 23.52 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

## Communications
Telephones - fixed lines / total subscriptions: 2.874 million (2023 est.)
Telephones - fixed lines / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 8 (2023 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / total subscriptions: 55.9 million (2023 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 137 (2021 est.)
Broadcast media: 2 TV broadcast networks with state-run Radio-Television Marocaine (RTM) operating one network and the state partially owning the other; foreign TV is available via satellite dish; 3 radio broadcast networks, with RTM operating one; the state-owned network includes 10 regional radio channels in addition to its national service (2019)
Internet country code: .ma
Internet users / percent of population: 91% (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / total: 2.42 million (2022 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 6 (2022 est.)

## Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: CN
Airports: 48 (2025)
Heliports: 17 (2025)
Railways / total: 2,067 km (2014)
Railways / standard gauge: 2,067 km (2014) 1.435-m gauge (1,022 km electrified)
Merchant marine / total: 94 (2023)
Merchant marine / by type: container ship 6, general cargo 5, oil tanker 2, other 81
Ports / total ports: 12 (2024)
Ports / large: 3
Ports / medium: 1
Ports / small: 3
Ports / very small: 5
Ports / ports with oil terminals: 2
Ports / key ports: Agadir, Casablanca, Tanger, Tangier-Mediterranean

## Military and Security
Military and security forces: Royal Moroccan Armed Forces (FAR): Royal Moroccan Army (includes the Moroccan Royal Guard), Royal Moroccan Navy (includes Coast Guard, marines), Royal Moroccan Air Force, Moroccan Royal Guard, Royal Moroccan Gendarmerie Ministry of Interior: General Directorate for National Security (DGSN; aka National Police), Auxiliary Forces (2025)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2024: 4% of GDP (2024 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2023: 4% of GDP (2023 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2022: 4.5% of GDP (2022 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2021: 4.5% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2020: 4.5% of GDP (2020 est.)
Military and security service personnel strengths: estimated 220,000 active Armed Forces (175,000 Army; 10,000 Navy; 15,000 Air Force, 20,000 Gendarmerie) (2025)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the Moroccan military's inventory is mostly a mix of older and some more modern armaments from France and the US (2025)
Military service age and obligation: 19-25 years of age for 12-month compulsory and voluntary military service for men and women (2025)
Military deployments: 775 Central African Republic (MINUSCA); 890 Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) (2025)
Military - note: the Royal Armed Forces (FAR) are responsible for protecting Morocco’s national interests, sovereignty, and territorial integrity; key areas of concern for the FAR include international terrorism, maritime security, and regional challenges such as the Polisario Front in Western Sahara and Algeria; the Polisario Front (Popular Front for the Liberation of Saguia el Hamra and Rio de Oro), an organization that seeks the independence of Western Sahara, disputes Morocco’s claim of sovereignty over the territory; Moroccan and Polisario forces fought intermittently from 1975, when Spain relinquished colonial authority over the territory, until a 1991 cease-fire and the establishment of a UN peacekeeping mission; the Polisario withdrew from the cease-fire in November 2020, and since then there have been reports of low-intensity hostilities between Morocco and the Polisario Front across the 2,500-kilometer-long berm built in 1987 that separates the two sides; Algeria is seen as a regional rival and has openly backed the Polisario Front the FAR participates in international peacekeeping operations, as well as both bilateral and multinational training exercises; it has relations with a variety of partners including the militaries of France, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Spain, and the US, as well as NATO, the Arab League, and the African Union; Morocco has Major Non-NATO Ally (MNNA) status with the US, a designation under US law that provides foreign partners with certain benefits in the areas of defense trade and security cooperation the FAR was created in May 1956; Moroccans were recruited for service in the Spahi and Tirailleur regiments of the French Army during the period of the French protectorate (1912-1956), and Moroccans fought under the French Army during both World Wars, as well as the First Indochina War (1946-1954); the Spanish Army recruited Moroccans from the Spanish Protectorate during both the Rif War (1921-26) and the Spanish Civil War (1936-39) the UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) was established by Security Council resolution 690 in April 1991 in accordance with settlement proposals accepted in August 1988 by Morocco and the Polisario Front; MINURSO was unable to carry out all the original settlement proposals, but continues to monitor the cease-fire and reduce the threat of mines and unexploded ordnance, and has provided logistic support to the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) (2025)

## Terrorism
Terrorist group(s): Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS)

## Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons / refugees: 18,848 (2024 est.)
Refugees and internally displaced persons / IDPs: 256 (2024 est.)

=== Mauritius ===

## Introduction
Background: Although known to Arab and European sailors since at least the early 1500s, the island of Mauritius was uninhabited until 1638 when the Dutch established a settlement named in honor of Prince Maurits van NASSAU. Their presence led to the rapid disappearance of the flightless dodo bird that has since become one of the most well-known examples of extinction in modern times. The Dutch abandoned their financially distressed settlement in 1710, although a number of formerly enslaved people remained. In 1722, the French established what would become a highly profitable settlement focused on sugar cane plantations that were reliant on the labor of enslaved people brought to Mauritius from other parts of Africa. In the 1790s, the island had a brief period of autonomous rule when plantation owners rejected French control because of laws ending slavery that were temporarily in effect during the French Revolution. Britain captured the island in 1810 as part of the Napoleonic Wars but kept most of the French administrative structure, which remains to this day in the form of the country’s legal codes and widespread use of the French Creole language. The abolition of slavery in 1835 -- later than most other British colonies -- led to increased reliance on contracted laborers from the Indian subcontinent to work on plantations. Today their descendants form the majority of the population. Mauritius remained a strategically important British naval base and later an air station, and it played a role during World War II in anti-submarine and convoy operations, as well as in the collection of signals intelligence. Mauritius gained independence from the UK in 1968 as a Parliamentary Republic and has remained a stable democracy with regular free elections and a positive human rights record. The country also attracted considerable foreign investment and now has one of Africa's highest per capita incomes. Mauritius’ often-fractious coalition politics has been dominated by two prominent families, each of which has had father-son pairs who have been prime minister over multiple, often nonconsecutive, terms. Seewoosagur RAMGOOLAM (1968-76) was Mauritius’ first prime minister, and he was succeeded by Anerood JUGNAUTH (1982-95, 2000-03, 2014-17); his son Navin RAMGOOLAM (1995-2000, 2005-14); and Paul Raymond BERENGER (2003-05), the only non-Hindu prime minister of post-independence Mauritius. In 2017, Pravind JUGNAUTH became prime minister after his father stepped down short of completing his term, and he was elected in his own right in 2019. Mauritius claims the French island of Tromelin and the British Chagos Archipelago (British Indian Ocean Territory). Since 2017, Mauritius has secured favorable UN General Assembly resolutions and an International Court of Justice advisory opinion relating to its sovereignty dispute with the UK.

## Geography
Location: Southern Africa, island in the Indian Ocean, about 800 km (500 mi) east of Madagascar
Geographic coordinates: 20 17 S, 57 33 E
Map references: Africa
Area / total: 2,040 sq km
Area / land: 2,030 sq km
Area / water: 10 sq km
Area - comparative: almost 11 times the size of Washington, D.C.
Land boundaries / total: 0 km
Coastline: 177 km
Maritime claims / territorial sea: 12 nm
Maritime claims / exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Maritime claims / continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
Climate: tropical, modified by southeast trade winds; warm, dry winter (May to November); hot, wet, humid summer (November to May)
Terrain: small coastal plain rising to discontinuous mountains encircling central plateau
Elevation / highest point: Mont Piton 828 m
Elevation / lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
Natural resources: arable land, fish
Land use / agricultural land: 43% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 37.6% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 2% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 3.5% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 19.2% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 37.8% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land: 143 sq km (2022)
Population distribution: population density is one of the highest in the world; urban clusters are found throughout the main island, with a greater density in and around Port Luis; the population on Rodrigues Island is fairly evenly spread, with a slightly denser cluster on the north coast, as shown in this population distribution map
Natural hazards: cyclones (November to April); almost completely surrounded by reefs that may pose maritime hazards
Geography - note: the main island, from which the country derives its name, is of volcanic origin and is almost entirely surrounded by coral reefs; former home of the extinct dodo, a large flightless bird related to pigeons

## People and Society
Population / total: 1,311,375 (2025 est.)
Population / male: 639,707
Population / female: 671,668
Nationality / noun: Mauritian(s)
Nationality / adjective: Mauritian
Ethnic groups: Indo-Mauritian (compose approximately two thirds of the total population), Creole, Sino-Mauritian, Franco-Mauritian
Languages: Creole 86.5%, Bhojpuri 5.3%, French 4.1%, two languages 1.4%, other 2.6% (includes English, one of the two official languages of the National Assembly, which is spoken by less than 1% of the population), unspecified 0.1% (2011 est.)
Religions: Hindu 48.5%, Roman Catholic 26.3%, Muslim 17.3%, other Christian 6.4%, other 0.6%, none 0.7%, unspecified 0.1% (2011 est.)
Age structure / 0-14 years: 15.1% (male 100,973/female 96,711)
Age structure / 15-64 years: 71% (male 462,833/female 467,509)
Age structure / 65 years and over: 13.9% (2024 est.) (male 75,464/female 107,014)
Dependency ratios / total dependency ratio: 41.7 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / youth dependency ratio: 21.1 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / elderly dependency ratio: 20.5 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / potential support ratio: 4.9 (2025 est.)
Median age / total: 40 years (2025 est.)
Median age / male: 38.1 years
Median age / female: 41 years
Population growth rate: 0.06% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 9.73 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 9.14 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution: population density is one of the highest in the world; urban clusters are found throughout the main island, with a greater density in and around Port Luis; the population on Rodrigues Island is fairly evenly spread, with a slightly denser cluster on the north coast, as shown in this population distribution map
Urbanization / urban population: 40.9% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 0.28% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 149,000 PORT LOUIS (capital) (2018)
Sex ratio / at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio: 66 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Infant mortality rate / total: 11.4 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Infant mortality rate / male: 13.1 deaths/1,000 live births
Infant mortality rate / female: 10 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth / total population: 75.4 years (2024 est.)
Life expectancy at birth / male: 72.6 years
Life expectancy at birth / female: 78.4 years
Total fertility rate: 1.36 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 0.66 (2025 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: urban: urban: 100% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: rural: rural: 100% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: total: total: 100% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: urban: urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: rural: rural: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: total: total: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 6.4% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 9.4% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density: 1.44 physicians/1,000 population (2022)
Hospital bed density: 3.7 beds/1,000 population (2021 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: urban: urban: 99.7% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: urban: urban: 0.3% of population (2022 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 10.8% (2016)
Alcohol consumption per capita / total: 3.39 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / beer: 1.94 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / wine: 0.23 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / spirits: 0.88 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / other alcohols: 0.03 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Tobacco use / total: 19.6% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / male: 37.4% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / female: 2.6% (2025 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49): 51.6% (2022 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% GDP): 4.1% of GDP (2024 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% national budget): 14.2% national budget (2024 est.)
Literacy / total population: 94.3% (2023 est.)
Literacy / male: 96.3% (2023 est.)
Literacy / female: 92.8% (2023 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / total: 14 years (2020 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / male: 14 years (2020 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / female: 15 years (2020 est.)

## Environment
Environmental issues: water pollution, degradation of coral reefs; soil erosion; wildlife preservation; solid-waste disposal
International environmental agreements / party to: Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
International environmental agreements / signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Climate: tropical, modified by southeast trade winds; warm, dry winter (May to November); hot, wet, humid summer (November to May)
Land use / agricultural land: 43% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 37.6% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 2% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 3.5% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 19.2% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 37.8% (2023 est.)
Urbanization / urban population: 40.9% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 0.28% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / total emissions: 5.551 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from coal and metallurgical coke: 1.495 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from petroleum and other liquids: 4.056 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Particulate matter emissions: 10.5 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Waste and recycling / municipal solid waste generated annually: 438,000 tons (2024 est.)
Waste and recycling / percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 15.9% (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / municipal: 320 million cubic meters (2022)
Total water withdrawal / industrial: 10 million cubic meters (2022)
Total water withdrawal / agricultural: 303 million cubic meters (2022)
Total renewable water resources: 2.751 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: Republic of Mauritius
Country name / conventional short form: Mauritius
Country name / local long form: Republic of Mauritius
Country name / local short form: Mauritius
Country name / etymology: named after Prince Maurice VAN NASSAU, stadtholder (governor) of the Dutch Republic, in 1598
Government type: parliamentary republic
Capital / name: Port Louis
Capital / geographic coordinates: 20 09 S, 57 29 E
Capital / time difference: UTC+4 (9 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Capital / etymology: named after LOUIS XV, who was king of France in 1736 when the port became the administrative center of Mauritius
Administrative divisions: 9 districts and 3 dependencies*; Agalega Islands*, Black River, Cargados Carajos Shoals*, Flacq, Grand Port, Moka, Pamplemousses, Plaines Wilhems, Port Louis, Riviere du Rempart, Rodrigues*, Savanne
Legal system: civil system based on French civil law with some elements of English common law
Constitution / history: several previous; latest adopted 12 March 1968
Constitution / amendment process: proposed by the National Assembly; passage of amendments affecting constitutional articles, including the sovereignty of the state, fundamental rights and freedoms, citizenship, or the branches of government, requires approval in a referendum by at least three-fourths majority of voters followed by a unanimous vote by the Assembly; passage of other amendments requires only two-thirds majority vote by the Assembly
International law organization participation: accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Citizenship / citizenship by birth: yes
Citizenship / citizenship by descent only: yes
Citizenship / dual citizenship recognized: yes
Citizenship / residency requirement for naturalization: 5 out of the previous 7 years including the last 12 months
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch / chief of state: President Dharam GOKHOOL (since 7 December 2024)
Executive branch / head of government: Prime Minister Navin RAMGOOLAM (since 13 November 2024)
Executive branch / cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers (Council of Ministers) appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister
Executive branch / election/appointment process: president indirectly elected by the National Assembly for 5-year renewable terms; the president appoints the prime minister and deputy prime minister who have the majority support in the National Assembly
Executive branch / most recent election date: 6 December 2024
Executive branch / election results: 2019 : Prithvirajsing ROOPUN (MSM) elected president by the National Assembly - unanimous vote
Executive branch / expected date of next election: 2029
Legislative branch / legislature name: National Assembly - Assemblée nationale
Legislative branch / legislative structure: unicameral
Legislative branch / chamber name: National Assembly
Legislative branch / number of seats: 67 (62 directly elected; 4 appointed)
Legislative branch / electoral system: plurality/majority
Legislative branch / scope of elections: full renewal
Legislative branch / term in office: 5 years
Legislative branch / most recent election date: 11/10/2024
Legislative branch / parties elected and seats per party: Alliance Du Changement (Alliance for Change, AdC) (60); Other (2)
Legislative branch / percentage of women in chamber: 17.9%
Legislative branch / expected date of next election: October 2029
Judicial branch / highest court(s): Supreme Court of Mauritius (consists of the chief justice, a senior puisne judge, and 24 puisne judges)
Judicial branch / judge selection and term of office: chief justice appointed by the president after consultation with the prime minister; senior puisne judge appointed by the president with the advice of the chief justice; other puisne judges appointed by the president with the advice of the Judicial and Legal Commission, a 4-member body of judicial officials including the chief justice; all judges serve until retirement at age 67
Judicial branch / subordinate courts: lower regional courts known as District Courts, Court of Civil Appeal; Court of Criminal Appeal; Public Bodies Appeal Tribunal
Political parties: Alliance Morisien (Mauritian Alliance) Jean-Claude Barbier Movement (Mouvement Jean-Claude Barbier) or MJCB Mauritian Militant Movement (Mouvement Militant Mauricien) or MMM Mauritian Social Democratic Party (Parti Mauricien Social Democrate) or PMSD Mauritius Labor Party (Parti Travailliste) or PTR or MLP Militant Platform (Plateforme Militante) or PM Militant Socialist Movement (Mouvement Socialist Mauricien) or MSM Muvman Liberater or ML National Alliance Patriotic Movement (Mouvement Patriotique) or MAG Rodrigues Peoples Organization (Organisation du Peuple Rodriguais) or OPR
Diplomatic representation in the US / chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charg&eacute; d'Affaires Gajjaluxmi MOOTOOSAMY (since 5 June 2025)
Diplomatic representation in the US / chancery: 1709 N Street NW, Washington, DC 20036
Diplomatic representation in the US / telephone: [1] (202) 244-1491
Diplomatic representation in the US / FAX: [1] (202) 966-0983
Diplomatic representation in the US / email address and website: mauritius.embassy@verizon.net https://mauritius-washington.govmu.org/Pages/index.aspx
Diplomatic representation from the US / chief of mission: Ambassador Henry V. JARDINE (since 22 February 2023); note - also accredited to Seychelles
Diplomatic representation from the US / embassy: 4th Floor, Rogers House, John Kennedy Avenue, Port Louis
Diplomatic representation from the US / mailing address: 2450 Port Louis Place, Washington, DC 20521-2450
Diplomatic representation from the US / telephone: [230] 202-4400
Diplomatic representation from the US / FAX: [230] 208-9534
Diplomatic representation from the US / email address and website: PTLConsular@state.gov https://mu.usembassy.gov/
International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, AOSIS, AU, CD, COMESA, CPLP (associate), FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, InOC, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NAM, OIF, OPCW, PCA, SAARC (observer), SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNOOSA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Independence: 12 March 1968 (from the UK)
National holiday: Independence and Republic Day, 12 March (1968, 1992)
Flag: description: four equal horizontal bands of red (top), blue, yellow, and green meaning: red stands for self-determination and independence; blue for the Indian Ocean; yellow for the new light of independence, golden sunshine, or the bright future; and green for agriculture or the island's lush vegetation
National symbol(s): dodo bird, earring tree flower ( Trochetia boutoniana )
National color(s): red, blue, yellow, green
National anthem(s) / title: "Motherland"
National anthem(s) / lyrics/music: Jean Georges PROSPER/Philippe GENTIL
National anthem(s) / history: adopted 1968
National heritage / total World Heritage Sites: 2 (both cultural)
National heritage / selected World Heritage Site locales: Aapravasi Ghat; Le Morne Cultural Landscape

## Economy
Economic overview: upper middle-income Indian Ocean island economy; diversified portfolio; investing in maritime security; strong tourism sector decimated by COVID-19; expanding in information and financial services; environmentally fragile
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $34.406 billion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $32.864 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $31.296 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2024: 4.7% (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2023: 5% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2022: 8.7% (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2024: $27,300 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2023: $26,100 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2022: $24,800 (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $14.953 billion (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024: 3.6% (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023: 7.1% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 10.8% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / agriculture: 4.3% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / industry: 17.8% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / services: 64.4% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / household consumption: 68.6% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / government consumption: 14.7% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in fixed capital: 21% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in inventories: 0.2% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / exports of goods and services: 46.2% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / imports of goods and services: -57.8% (2024 est.)
Agricultural products: sugarcane, chicken, pumpkins/squash, tomatoes, eggs, potatoes, cabbages, bananas, onions, cucumbers/gherkins (2023)
Industries: food processing (largely sugar milling), textiles, clothing, mining, chemicals, metal products, transport equipment, nonelectrical machinery, tourism
Industrial production growth rate: 4.7% (2024 est.)
Labor force: 594,900 (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2024: 5.5% (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2023: 5.6% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2022: 6.4% (2022 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / total: 16.6% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / male: 15.3% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / female: 18.4% (2024 est.)
Population below poverty line: 10.3% (2017 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income / Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2017: 36.8 (2017 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / lowest 10%: 2.9% (2017 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / highest 10%: 29.9% (2017 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2023: 2.2% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2022: 2.1% of GDP (2022 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2021: 2.4% of GDP (2021 est.)
Budget / revenues: $3.801 billion (2024 est.)
Budget / expenditures: $5.042 billion (2024 est.)
Public debt / Public debt 2019: 58% of GDP (2019 est.)
Taxes and other revenues: 20.5% (of GDP) (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2023: -$647.743 million (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2022: -$1.437 billion (2022 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2021: -$1.497 billion (2021 est.)
Exports / Exports 2023: $6.381 billion (2023 est.)
Exports / Exports 2022: $6.138 billion (2022 est.)
Exports / Exports 2021: $4.213 billion (2021 est.)
Exports - partners: USA 11%, France 11%, Zimbabwe 10%, South Africa 7%, Zambia 7% (2023)
Exports - commodities: fish, garments, raw sugar, fertilizers, diamonds (2023)
Imports / Imports 2023: $8.027 billion (2023 est.)
Imports / Imports 2022: $8.052 billion (2022 est.)
Imports / Imports 2021: $6.057 billion (2021 est.)
Imports - partners: China 15%, UAE 11%, India 10%, South Africa 9%, France 6% (2023)
Imports - commodities: refined petroleum, cars, fish, coal, packaged medicine (2023)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024: $8.506 billion (2024 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023: $7.248 billion (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $7.793 billion (2022 est.)
Debt - external / Debt - external 2023: $3.632 billion (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Currency: Mauritian rupees (MUR) per US dollar -
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2024: 46.415 (2024 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2023: 45.267 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2022: 44.183 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2021: 41.692 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2020: 39.347 (2020 est.)

## Energy
Electricity access / electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)
Electricity access / electrification - urban areas: 99%
Electricity access / electrification - rural areas: 100%
Electricity / installed generating capacity: 955,000 kW (2023 est.)
Electricity / consumption: 3.084 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / transmission/distribution losses: 179.996 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / fossil fuels: 82.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / solar: 4.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / wind: 0.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / hydroelectricity: 2.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / biomass and waste: 9.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Coal / consumption: 651,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / imports: 610,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum / refined petroleum consumption: 28,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Energy consumption per capita / Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 60.188 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

## Communications
Telephones - fixed lines / total subscriptions: 464,000 (2023 est.)
Telephones - fixed lines / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 36 (2023 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / total subscriptions: 2.2 million (2024 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 173 (2024 est.)
Broadcast media: the Mauritius Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) is the national public TV and radio broadcaster, with programming in French, English, Hindi, Creole, and Chinese; MBC provides 17 television channels in Mauritius; 9 FM radio stations and 2 AM radio stations (2022)
Internet country code: .mu
Internet users / percent of population: 80% (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / total: 343,000 (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 27 (2023 est.)

## Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: 3B
Airports: 5 (2025)
Heliports: 1 (2025)
Merchant marine / total: 32 (2023)
Merchant marine / by type: general cargo 1, oil tanker 4, other 27
Ports / total ports: 2 (2024)
Ports / large: 0
Ports / medium: 0
Ports / small: 1
Ports / very small: 1
Ports / ports with oil terminals: 1
Ports / key ports: Port Louis, Port Mathurin

## Military and Security
Military and security forces: no regular military forces; the Mauritius Police Force (MPF) under the Ministry of Defense is responsible for the country's security; it includes a paramilitary unit known as the Special Mobile Force, which includes some motorized infantry and light armored units; the MPF also has a Police Helicopter Squadron, a Special Support Unit (riot police), and the National Coast Guard (2025)
Military - note: key security priorities for the Maritius Police Force (MPF) include combating narcotics trafficking, ensuring public order, fighting cybercrime, improving maritime security, and responding to natural disasters; the MPF's primary security partner is India, which provides training and other support to the National Coast Guard, while Indian naval vessels often patrol the country's waters; the MPF has also received assistance and training from France, the UK, and the US the Special Mobile Force was created in 1960 following the withdrawal of the British garrison (2025)

## Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons / refugees: 82 (2024 est.)
Refugees and internally displaced persons / IDPs: 39 (2024 est.)

=== Mauritania ===

## Introduction
Background: The Amazigh and Bafour people were among the earliest settlers in what is now Mauritania and among the first in recorded history to convert from a nomadic to agricultural lifestyle. These groups account for roughly one third of Mauritania’s ethnic makeup. The remainder of Mauritania’s ethnic groups derive from Sub-Saharan ethnic groups originating mainly from the Senegal River Valley, including descendants of former enslaved peoples. These three groups are organized according to a strict caste system with deep ethnic divides that impact access to resources and power dynamics. A former French colony, Mauritania achieved independence from France in 1960. Mauritania initially began as a single-party, authoritarian regime and experienced 49 years of dictatorships, flawed elections, failed attempts at democracy, and military coups. Ould Abdel AZIZ led the last coup in 2008, was elected president in 2009, and was reelected in 2014. Mohamed Ould Cheikh GHAZOUANI was elected president in 2019, and his inauguration marked the first peaceful transition of power from one democratically elected president to another, solidifying the country's status as an emerging democracy. International observers recognized the elections as relatively free and fair. GHAZOUANI is seeking re-election in June 2024 for a second, and final, five-year term. The country is working to address vestigial practices of slavery and its hereditary impacts. Mauritania officially abolished slavery in 1981, but the practice was not criminalized until 2007. Between 2005 and 2011, Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) launched a series of attacks killing western tourists and aid workers, attacking diplomatic and government facilities, and ambushing Mauritanian soldiers and gendarmes. Although Mauritania has not seen an attack since 2011, AQIM and similar groups remain active in the Sahel region.

## Geography
Location: Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Senegal and Western Sahara
Geographic coordinates: 20 00 N, 12 00 W
Map references: Africa
Area / total: 1,030,700 sq km
Area / land: 1,030,700 sq km
Area / water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly larger than three times the size of New Mexico; about six times the size of Florida
Land boundaries / total: 5,002 km
Land boundaries / border countries: Algeria 460 km; Mali 2,236 km; Morocco 1,564 km; Senegal 742 km
Coastline: 754 km
Maritime claims / territorial sea: 12 nm
Maritime claims / contiguous zone: 24 nm
Maritime claims / exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Maritime claims / continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
Climate: desert; constantly hot, dry, dusty
Terrain: mostly barren, flat plains of the Sahara; some central hills
Elevation / highest point: Kediet Ijill 915 m
Elevation / lowest point: Sebkhet Te-n-Dghamcha -5 m
Elevation / mean elevation: 276 m
Natural resources: iron ore, gypsum, copper, phosphate, diamonds, gold, oil, fish
Land use / agricultural land: 38.5% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 0.4% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 0% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 38.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 1% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 60.5% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land: 450 sq km (2012)
Major rivers (by length in km): Senegal river mouth (shared with Guinea [s], Senegal and Mali) - 1,641 km note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Major watersheds (area sq km) / Atlantic Ocean drainage: Niger (2,261,741 sq km), Senegal (456,397 sq km)
Major aquifers: Senegalo-Mauritanian Basin, Taodeni-Tanzerouft Basin
Population distribution: vast areas of the country, particularly in the central, northern, and eastern areas, are desert and lack sizeable population clusters; half the population lives in or around the coastal capital of Nouakchott; smaller clusters are found near the southern border with Mali and Senegal, as shown in this population distribution map
Natural hazards: hot, dry, dust/sand-laden sirocco wind primarily in March and April; periodic droughts
Geography - note: Mauritania is considered part of both North Africa's Maghreb region and West Africa's Sahel region; most of the population is concentrated in the cities of Nouakchott and Nouadhibou and along the Senegal River in the southern part of the country

## People and Society
Population / total: 5,202,109 (2025 est.)
Population / male: 2,578,114
Population / female: 2,623,995
Nationality / noun: Mauritanian(s)
Nationality / adjective: Mauritanian
Ethnic groups: Black Moors (Haratines - Arabic-speaking descendants of African origin who are or were enslaved by White Moors) 40%, White Moors (of Arab-Amazigh descent, known as Beydane) 30%, Sub-Saharan Mauritanians (non-Arabic speaking, largely resident in or originating from the Senegal River Valley, including Halpulaar, Fulani, Soninke, Wolof, and Bambara ethnic groups) 30%
Languages / Languages: Arabic (official and national), Pular, Soninke, Wolof (all national languages), French
Languages / major-language sample(s): كتاب حقائق العالم، المصدر الذي لا يمكن الاستغناء عنه للمعلومات الأساسية (Arabic) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
Religions: Muslim (official) 100%
Age structure / 0-14 years: 35.7% (male 776,035/female 770,132)
Age structure / 15-64 years: 59.9% (male 1,227,347/female 1,363,938)
Age structure / 65 years and over: 4.4% (2024 est.) (male 80,308/female 110,280)
Dependency ratios / total dependency ratio: 84.7 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / youth dependency ratio: 77.8 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / elderly dependency ratio: 7 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / potential support ratio: 14.3 (2025 est.)
Median age / total: 18.6 years (2025 est.)
Median age / male: 21.1 years
Median age / female: 23.1 years
Population growth rate: 2.88% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 34.01 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 5.18 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution: vast areas of the country, particularly in the central, northern, and eastern areas, are desert and lack sizeable population clusters; half the population lives in or around the coastal capital of Nouakchott; smaller clusters are found near the southern border with Mali and Senegal, as shown in this population distribution map
Urbanization / urban population: 57.7% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 3.84% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 1.492 million NOUAKCHOTT (capital) (2023)
Sex ratio / at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 0-14 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 15-64 years: 0.9 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 65 years and over: 0.73 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / total population: 0.93 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth: 21.8 years (2019/21)
Maternal mortality ratio: 381 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Infant mortality rate / total: 29.9 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Infant mortality rate / male: 54.8 deaths/1,000 live births
Infant mortality rate / female: 42.9 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth / total population: 65.9 years (2024 est.)
Life expectancy at birth / male: 63.4 years
Life expectancy at birth / female: 68.5 years
Total fertility rate: 4.76 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 2.34 (2025 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: urban: urban: 94.6% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: rural: rural: 55.6% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: total: total: 77.8% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: urban: urban: 5.4% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: rural: rural: 44.4% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: total: total: 22.2% of population (2022 est.)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 4.1% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 6.3% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density: 0.26 physicians/1,000 population (2022)
Sanitation facility access / improved: urban: urban: 89.4% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: rural: rural: 33.9% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: total: total: 65.5% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: urban: urban: 10.6% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: rural: rural: 66.1% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: total: total: 34.5% of population (2022 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 12.7% (2016)
Alcohol consumption per capita / total: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / beer: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / wine: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / spirits: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / other alcohols: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Tobacco use / total: 8.3% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / male: 15.5% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / female: 1.7% (2025 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 22.4% (2022 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49): 66.1% (2020 est.)
Child marriage / women married by age 15: 15.5% (2021)
Child marriage / women married by age 18: 36.6% (2021)
Child marriage / men married by age 18: 1.2% (2021)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% GDP): 4.7% of GDP (2023 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% national budget): 32% national budget (2024 est.)
Literacy / total population: 59.5% (2020 est.)
Literacy / male: 70.1% (2020 est.)
Literacy / female: 51.8% (2020 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / total: 8 years (2020 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / male: 8 years (2020 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / female: 8 years (2020 est.)

## Environment
Environmental issues: desertification caused in part by overgrazing, deforestation, and drought-aggravated soil erosion; limited natural freshwater resources; locust infestation
International environmental agreements / party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
International environmental agreements / signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Climate: desert; constantly hot, dry, dusty
Land use / agricultural land: 38.5% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 0.4% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 0% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 38.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 1% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 60.5% (2023 est.)
Urbanization / urban population: 57.7% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 3.84% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / total emissions: 4.86 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from petroleum and other liquids: 4.86 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Particulate matter emissions: 35.1 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Waste and recycling / municipal solid waste generated annually: 454,000 tons (2024 est.)
Waste and recycling / percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 10% (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / municipal: 95.4 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / industrial: 31.8 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / agricultural: 1.223 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total renewable water resources: 11.4 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: Islamic Republic of Mauritania
Country name / conventional short form: Mauritania
Country name / local long form: Al Jumhuriyah al Islamiyah al Muritaniyah
Country name / local short form: Muritaniyah
Country name / etymology: named for the ancient kingdom of Mauretania (3rd century B.C. to 1st century A.D.); its name derives from the Mauri (Moors) of northwest Africa
Government type: presidential republic
Capital / name: Nouakchott
Capital / geographic coordinates: 18 04 N, 15 58 W
Capital / time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Capital / etymology: the meaning of the name is unclear; it may derive from the Berber nawakshut , meaning "place of the winds;" other variants could translate as "the place where water appears in a new well," "the land where shells abound," "a place with pasture," "a windy place," or "without ears" (the last referring to a local chieftain who could have been the place's namesake)
Administrative divisions: 15 regions ( wilayas , singular - wilaya ); Adrar, Assaba, Brakna, Dakhlet Nouadhibou, Gorgol, Guidimaka, Hodh ech Chargui, Hodh El Gharbi, Inchiri, Nouakchott Nord, Nouakchott Ouest, Nouakchott Sud, Tagant, Tiris Zemmour, Trarza
Legal system: mixed system of Islamic and French civil law
Constitution / history: previous 1964; latest adopted 12 July 1991
Constitution / amendment process: proposed by the president of the republic or by Parliament; consideration of amendments by Parliament requires approval of at least one third of the membership; a referendum is held only if the amendment is approved by two-thirds majority vote; passage by referendum requires simple majority vote by eligible voters; passage of amendments proposed by the president can bypass a referendum if approved by at least three-fifths majority vote by Parliament
International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt
Citizenship / citizenship by birth: no
Citizenship / citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Mauritania
Citizenship / dual citizenship recognized: no
Citizenship / residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch / chief of state: President Mohamed Ould Cheikh el GHAZOUANI (since 1 August 2019)
Executive branch / head of government: Prime Minister Moctar Ould DIAY (since 2 August 2024)
Executive branch / cabinet: Council of Ministers nominees suggested by the prime minister, appointed by the president
Executive branch / election/appointment process: president directly elected by absolute-majority popular vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); prime minister appointed by the president
Executive branch / most recent election date: 29 June 2024
Executive branch / election results: 2024: Mohamed Ould Cheikh el GHAZOUANI reelected president in first round; percent of vote - Mohamed Ould Cheikh el GHAZOUANI (UPR) 56.1%, Biram Dah Ould ABEID (independent) 22.1%, Hamadi Sidi el MOKHTAR independent) 12.8%, other 9.0%
Executive branch / expected date of next election: June 2029
Legislative branch / legislature name: Parliament (Barlamane)
Legislative branch / legislative structure: unicameral
Legislative branch / chamber name: National Assembly (Al Jamiya-Al-Wataniya)
Legislative branch / number of seats: 176 (all directly elected)
Legislative branch / electoral system: mixed system
Legislative branch / scope of elections: full renewal
Legislative branch / term in office: 5 years
Legislative branch / most recent election date: 5/13/2023 to 5/27/2023
Legislative branch / parties elected and seats per party: El Insaf (107); Tawassoul (11); Other (58)
Legislative branch / percentage of women in chamber: 23.3%
Legislative branch / expected date of next election: May 2028
Judicial branch / highest court(s): Supreme Court or Cour Supr&ecirc;me (subdivided into 7 chambers: 2 civil, 2 labor, 1 commercial, 1 administrative, and 1 criminal, each with a chamber president and 2 councilors); Constitutional Council (consists of 9 members); High Court of Justice (consists of 9 members)
Judicial branch / judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court president appointed by the president of the republic to serve a 5-year renewable term; Constitutional Council members appointed - 3 by the president of the republic, 2 by the president of the National Assembly, 1 by the prime minister, 1 by the leader of the democratic opposition, 1 by the largest opposition party in the National Assembly, and 1 by the second largest party in the National Assembly; members serve single, 9-year terms with one-third of membership renewed every 3 years; High Court of Justice members appointed by Parliament - 6 by the ruling Coalition of Majority Parties and 3 by opposition parties
Judicial branch / subordinate courts: Courts of Appeal; courts of first instance, or wilya courts, are established in the regions' headquarters and include commercial and labor courts, criminal courts, Moughataa (district) Courts, and informal/customary courts
Political parties: Alliance for Justice and Democracy/Movement for Renewal or AJD/MR El Insaf or Equity Party El Islah or Reform Party El Karama or Dignity Party El Vadila or Virtue Party Mauritanian Party of Union and Change or HATEM National Democratic Alliance or AND National Rally for Reform and Development or RNRD or TAWASSOUL Nida El-Watan Party for Conciliation and Prosperity or HIWAR Party of the Mauritanian Masses or Hakam Republican Front for Unity and Democracy or FRUD Sawab Party Union for Democracy and Progress or UDP Union of Planning and Construction or UPC
Diplomatic representation in the US / chief of mission: Ambassador Ciss&eacute; Mint Cheikh Ould BOIDE (since 15 September 2021)
Diplomatic representation in the US / chancery: 2129 Leroy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation in the US / telephone: [1] (202) 232-5700
Diplomatic representation in the US / FAX: [1] (202) 319-2623
Diplomatic representation in the US / email address and website: ambarimwashington@diplomatie.gov.mr mauritaniaembassyus.org – Mauritania Embassy washington
Diplomatic representation from the US / chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charg&eacute; d&rsquo;Affaires Corina R. SANDERS (since September 2025)
Diplomatic representation from the US / embassy: Nouadhibou Road, Avenue Al Quds, NOT PRTZ, Nouakchott
Diplomatic representation from the US / mailing address: 2430 Nouakchott Place, Washington DC 20521-2430
Diplomatic representation from the US / telephone: [222] 4525-2660
Diplomatic representation from the US / FAX: [222] 4525-1592
Diplomatic representation from the US / email address and website: consularnkc@state.gov https://mr.usembassy.gov/
International organization participation: ABEDA, ACP, AfDB, AFESD, AIIB, AMF, AMU, AU, CAEU, EITI (compliant country), FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO (pending member), ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAS, MIGA, NAM, OIC, OIF, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHRC, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Independence: 28 November 1960 (from France)
National holiday: Independence Day, 28 November (1960)
Flag: description: green with red stripes along the top and bottom edges; on the green field, a five-pointed yellow star is centered over a yellow, upward-pointing crescent moon meaning: the crescent, star, and color green are traditional symbols of Islam; green also represents hope for a bright future; yellow stands for the sands of the Sahara, and red for blood shed in the fight for independence
National symbol(s): five-pointed star between the horns of a horizontal crescent moon
National color(s): green, yellow
National anthem(s) / title: "National Anthem of Mauritania"
National anthem(s) / lyrics/music: unknown/Rageh DAOUD
National anthem(s) / history: adopted 2017
National heritage / total World Heritage Sites: 2 (1 cultural, 1 natural)
National heritage / selected World Heritage Site locales: Ancient Ksour (Fortified Villages) of Ouadane, Chinguetti, Tichitt, and Oualata (c); Banc d'Arguin National Park (n)

## Economy
Economic overview: lower middle-income West African economy; primarily agrarian; rising urbanization; poor property rights; systemic corruption; endemic social and workforce tensions; wide-scale terrorism; foreign over-fishing; environmentally fragile
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $33.069 billion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $31.434 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $29.514 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2024: 5.2% (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2023: 6.5% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2022: 6.8% (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2024: $6,400 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2023: $6,300 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2022: $6,100 (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $10.767 billion (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024: 2.5% (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023: 5% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 9.5% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / agriculture: 18.6% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / industry: 30.6% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / services: 43.2% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / household consumption: 55.3% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / government consumption: 17.2% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in fixed capital: 23.5% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in inventories: 18.9% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / exports of goods and services: 38.3% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / imports of goods and services: -53.2% (2023 est.)
Agricultural products: rice, milk, goat milk, sorghum, sheep milk, lamb/mutton, beef, camel meat, camel milk, dates (2023)
Industries: fish processing, oil production, mining (iron ore, gold, copper)
Industrial production growth rate: 2.8% (2024 est.)
Labor force: 1.21 million (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2024: 10.4% (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2023: 10.5% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2022: 10.6% (2022 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / total: 23.2% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / male: 19.9% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / female: 30.1% (2024 est.)
Population below poverty line: 31.8% (2019 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income / Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2019: 32 (2019 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / lowest 10%: 3.1% (2019 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / highest 10%: 24.6% (2019 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2023: 1.6% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2022: 1.1% of GDP (2022 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2021: 0.1% of GDP (2021 est.)
Budget / revenues: $1.617 billion (2019 est.)
Budget / expenditures: $1.407 billion (2019 est.)
Public debt / Public debt 2016: 100% of GDP (2016 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2023: -$966.506 million (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2022: -$1.424 billion (2022 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2021: -$807.862 million (2021 est.)
Exports / Exports 2023: $3.955 billion (2023 est.)
Exports / Exports 2022: $4.132 billion (2022 est.)
Exports / Exports 2021: $3.18 billion (2021 est.)
Exports - partners: China 25%, Switzerland 14%, Canada 12%, UAE 9%, Spain 7% (2023)
Exports - commodities: gold, iron ore, fish, processed crustaceans, copper ore (2023)
Imports / Imports 2023: $5.271 billion (2023 est.)
Imports / Imports 2022: $5.77 billion (2022 est.)
Imports / Imports 2021: $4.312 billion (2021 est.)
Imports - partners: China 19%, UAE 14%, Morocco 6%, Spain 6%, France 5% (2023)
Imports - commodities: refined petroleum, raw sugar, palm oil, wheat, soybean oil (2023)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2021: $2.039 billion (2021 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2020: $1.493 billion (2020 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2019: $1.029 billion (2019 est.)
Debt - external / Debt - external 2023: $3.072 billion (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Currency: ouguiyas (MRO) per US dollar -
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2023: 36.489 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2022: 36.935 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2021: 36.063 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2020: 37.189 (2020 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2019: 36.691 (2019 est.)

## Energy
Electricity access / electrification - total population: 49% (2022 est.)
Electricity access / electrification - urban areas: 91.6%
Electricity / installed generating capacity: 812,000 kW (2023 est.)
Electricity / consumption: 1.7 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / imports: 378 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / transmission/distribution losses: 320 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / fossil fuels: 72.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / solar: 8.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / wind: 6.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / hydroelectricity: 12.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Coal / imports: 1 metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum / refined petroleum consumption: 32,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Petroleum / crude oil estimated reserves: 20 million barrels (2021 est.)
Natural gas / proven reserves: 28.317 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)
Energy consumption per capita / Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 14.135 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

## Communications
Telephones - fixed lines / total subscriptions: 48,000 (2022 est.)
Telephones - fixed lines / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 1 (2022 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / total subscriptions: 4.76 million (2024 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 92 (2024 est.)
Broadcast media: 12 TV stations, 6 state-owned and 6 private; 19 radio broadcasters, including 15 state-owned and 4 (Radio Nouakchott Libre, Radio Tenwir, Radio Kobeni and Mauritanid) private; of the 15 government stations, 4 broadcast from Nouakchott (Radio Mauritanie, Radio Jeunesse, Radio Koran and Mauritanid) and the other 12 broadcast from each of the 12 regions outside Nouakchott (2022)
Internet country code: .mr
Internet users / percent of population: 37% (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / total: 14,000 (2022 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2022 est.) less than 1

## Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: 5T
Airports: 25 (2025)
Heliports: 3 (2025)
Railways / total: 728 km (2014)
Railways / standard gauge: 728 km (2014) 1.435-m gauge
Merchant marine / total: 11 (2023)
Merchant marine / by type: general cargo 2, other 9
Ports / total ports: 2 (2024)
Ports / large: 0
Ports / medium: 1
Ports / small: 1
Ports / very small: 0
Ports / ports with oil terminals: 2
Ports / key ports: Nouadhibou, Nouakchott

## Military and Security
Military and security forces: Mauritanian Armed Forces (aka Armée Nationale Mauritanienne): National Army, National Navy, Air Force; Gendarmerie Ministry of Interior and Decentralization: National Police, National Guard (2025)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2024: 2.4% of GDP (2024 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2023: 2.5% of GDP (2023 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2022: 2.5% of GDP (2022 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2021: 2.4% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2020: 2.5% of GDP (2020 est.)
Military and security service personnel strengths: estimated 17,000 active Mauritanian Armed Forces; estimated 3,000 Gendarmerie (2025)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the military's inventory is limited and made up largely of older French and Soviet-era equipment; in recent years, Mauritania has received some secondhand and new military equipment from several suppliers, including China, France, and the UAE (2025)
Military service age and obligation: 18 is the legal minimum age for voluntary military service; has a compulsory two-year military service law, but the law has reportedly never been applied (2025)
Military deployments: 450 (plus about 325 police) Central African Republic (MINUSCA) (2025)
Military - note: founded in 1960, the Mauritanian military is responsible for territorial defense and internal security; it also assists in economic development projects, humanitarian missions, and disaster response; border and maritime security, regional stability, and the threat of terrorist groups operating in the Sahel, particularly Mali, are key areas of focus; Mauritania has received security assistance from the EU, France, NATO, and the US (2025)

## Terrorism
Terrorist group(s): Al-Qa'ida in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM)

## Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons / refugees: 162,277 (2024 est.)

=== Mozambique ===

## Introduction
Background: In the first half of the second millennium A.D., northern Mozambican port towns were frequented by traders from Somalia, Ethiopia, Egypt, Arabia, Persia, and India. The Portuguese were able to wrest much of the coastal trade from Arab Muslims in the centuries after 1500, and they set up their own colonies. Portugal did not relinquish Mozambique until 1975. Large-scale emigration, economic dependence on South Africa, a severe drought, and a prolonged civil war hindered the country's development until the mid-1990s. The ruling Front for the Liberation of Mozambique (FRELIMO) party formally abandoned Marxism in 1989, and a new constitution the following year provided for multiparty elections and a free-market economy. A UN-negotiated peace agreement between FRELIMO and rebel Mozambique National Resistance (RENAMO) forces ended the fighting in 1992. In 2004, Mozambique underwent a delicate transition as Joaquim CHISSANO stepped down after 18 years in office. His elected successor, Armando GUEBUZA, served two terms and then passed executive power to Filipe NYUSI in 2015. RENAMO’s residual armed forces intermittently engaged in a low-level insurgency after 2012, but a 2016 cease-fire eventually led to the two sides signing a comprehensive peace deal in 2019. Since 2017, violent extremists -- who an official ISIS media outlet recognized as ISIS's network in Mozambique for the first time in 2019 -- have been conducting attacks against civilians and security services in the northern province of Cabo Delgado. In 2021, Rwanda and the Southern African Development Community deployed forces to support Mozambique’s efforts to counter the extremist group.

## Geography
Location: Southeastern Africa, bordering the Mozambique Channel, between South Africa and Tanzania
Geographic coordinates: 18 15 S, 35 00 E
Map references: Africa
Area / total: 799,380 sq km
Area / land: 786,380 sq km
Area / water: 13,000 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly more than five times the size of Georgia; slightly less than twice the size of California
Land boundaries / total: 4,783 km
Land boundaries / border countries: Malawi 1498 km; South Africa 496 km; Eswatini 108 km; Tanzania 840 km; Zambia 439 km; Zimbabwe 1,402 km
Coastline: 2,470 km
Maritime claims / territorial sea: 12 nm
Maritime claims / exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate: tropical to subtropical
Terrain: mostly coastal lowlands, uplands in center, high plateaus in northwest, mountains in west
Elevation / highest point: Monte Binga 2,436 m
Elevation / lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
Elevation / mean elevation: 345 m
Natural resources: coal, titanium, natural gas, hydropower, tantalum, graphite
Land use / agricultural land: 52.8% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 7.2% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 0.5% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 45.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 41.7% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 5.5% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land: 1,180 sq km (2012)
Major lakes (area sq km) / fresh water lake(s): Lake Malawi (shared with Malawi and Tanzania) - 22,490
Major rivers (by length in km): Rio Zambeze (Zambezi) river mouth (shared with Zambia [s]), Angola, Namibia, Botswana, and Zimbabwe) - 2,740 km; Rio Limpopo river mouth (shared with South Africa [s], Botswana, and Zimbabwe) - 1,800 km note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Major watersheds (area sq km) / Indian Ocean drainage: Zambezi (1,332,412 sq km)
Population distribution: three large population clusters are found along the southern coast between Maputo and Inhambane, in the central area between Beira and Chimoio along the Zambezi River, and in and around the northern cities of Nampula, Cidade de Nacala, and Pemba; the northwest and southwest are the least populated areas, as shown in this population distribution map
Natural hazards: severe droughts; devastating cyclones and floods in central and southern provinces
Geography - note: the Zambezi River flows through the north-central and most fertile part of the country

## People and Society
Population / total: 34,206,144 (2025 est.)
Population / male: 16,880,529
Population / female: 17,325,615
Nationality / noun: Mozambican(s)
Nationality / adjective: Mozambican
Ethnic groups: African 99% (Makhuwa, Tsonga, Lomwe, Sena, and others), Mestizo 0.8%, other (includes European, Indian, Pakistani, Chinese) 0.2% (2017 est.)
Languages: Makhuwa 26.1%, Portuguese (official) 16.6%, Tsonga 8.6%, Nyanja 8.1, Sena 7.1%, Lomwe 7.1%, Chuwabo 4.7%, Ndau 3.8%, Tswa 3.8%, other Mozambican languages 11.8%, other 0.5%, unspecified 1.8% (2017 est.)
Religions: Catholic 27.3%, Islam 19.1%, Pentecostal 16.7%, Saio/Zione 16.3%, no religion 13.5%, other 4.3%, Anglican 1.7%, unknown 1.2% (2017 est.)
Age structure / 0-14 years: 44.7% (male 7,548,247/female 7,350,012)
Age structure / 15-64 years: 52.4% (male 8,428,457/female 9,061,065)
Age structure / 65 years and over: 2.9% (2024 est.) (male 473,030/female 490,143)
Dependency ratios / total dependency ratio: 89.2 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / youth dependency ratio: 83.7 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / elderly dependency ratio: 5.5 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / potential support ratio: 18.3 (2025 est.)
Median age / total: 17.4 years (2025 est.)
Median age / male: 16.7 years
Median age / female: 17.9 years
Population growth rate: 2.53% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 36.07 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 9.34 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: -1.46 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution: three large population clusters are found along the southern coast between Maputo and Inhambane, in the central area between Beira and Chimoio along the Zambezi River, and in and around the northern cities of Nampula, Cidade de Nacala, and Pemba; the northwest and southwest are the least populated areas, as shown in this population distribution map
Urbanization / urban population: 38.8% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 4.24% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 1.852 million Matola, 1.163 million MAPUTO (capital), 969,000 Nampula (2023)
Sex ratio / at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 0-14 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 15-64 years: 0.93 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 65 years and over: 0.97 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth: 19.2 years (2011 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio: 82 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Infant mortality rate / total: 56.7 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Infant mortality rate / male: 60.1 deaths/1,000 live births
Infant mortality rate / female: 56.2 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth / total population: 58.3 years (2024 est.)
Life expectancy at birth / male: 57.1 years
Life expectancy at birth / female: 59.6 years
Total fertility rate: 4.58 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 2.26 (2025 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: urban: urban: 87.3% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: rural: rural: 48.3% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: total: total: 63.2% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: urban: urban: 12.7% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: rural: rural: 51.7% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: total: total: 36.8% of population (2022 est.)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 9.1% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 8% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density: 0.18 physicians/1,000 population (2022)
Hospital bed density: 0.7 beds/1,000 population (2021 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: urban: urban: 71.8% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: rural: rural: 24.3% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: total: total: 42.4% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: urban: urban: 28.2% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: rural: rural: 75.7% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: total: total: 57.6% of population (2022 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 7.2% (2016)
Alcohol consumption per capita / total: 1.46 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / beer: 1.03 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / wine: 0.22 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / spirits: 0.21 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / other alcohols: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Tobacco use / total: 14.3% (2020 est.)
Tobacco use / male: 23% (2020 est.)
Tobacco use / female: 5.6% (2020 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 15.4% (2022 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49): 64.8% (2023 est.)
Child marriage / women married by age 15: 16.8% (2015)
Child marriage / women married by age 18: 52.9% (2015)
Child marriage / men married by age 18: 9.7% (2015)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% GDP): 6% of GDP (2022 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% national budget): 20.4% national budget (2021 est.)
Literacy / total population: 61.7% (2022 est.)
Literacy / male: 74.1% (2022 est.)
Literacy / female: 50.9% (2022 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / total: 10 years (2017 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / male: 11 years (2017 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / female: 10 years (2017 est.)

## Environment
Environmental issues: increased population migration to urban and coastal areas; desertification; soil erosion; deforestation; water pollution from artisanal mining; pollution of surface and coastal waters; wildlife preservation (elephant poaching for ivory)
International environmental agreements / party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands
International environmental agreements / signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Climate: tropical to subtropical
Land use / agricultural land: 52.8% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 7.2% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 0.5% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 45.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 41.7% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 5.5% (2023 est.)
Urbanization / urban population: 38.8% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 4.24% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / total emissions: 9.549 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from coal and metallurgical coke: -68,287 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from petroleum and other liquids: 6.244 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from consumed natural gas: 3.373 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Particulate matter emissions: 17.5 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Methane emissions / energy: 320.1 kt (2022-2024 est.)
Methane emissions / agriculture: 169.5 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Methane emissions / waste: 117.5 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Methane emissions / other: 101.2 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Waste and recycling / municipal solid waste generated annually: 2.5 million tons (2024 est.)
Waste and recycling / percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 5.2% (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / municipal: 372 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / industrial: 25 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / agricultural: 1.076 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total renewable water resources: 217.1 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: Republic of Mozambique
Country name / conventional short form: Mozambique
Country name / local long form: Republica de Mocambique
Country name / local short form: Mocambique
Country name / former: Portuguese East Africa, People's Republic of Mozambique
Country name / etymology: named for an offshore island; the island was named after Mussa bin BIQUE (or Mussa Ibn MALIK), an influential Arab slave trader who set himself up as sultan on the island in the 15th century
Government type: presidential republic
Capital / name: Maputo
Capital / geographic coordinates: 25 57 S, 32 35 E
Capital / time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Capital / etymology: named after the Maputo River, which drains into Maputo Bay south of the city; the river is said to be named after the son of Muagobe, a local chief in the 18th century
Administrative divisions: 10 provinces ( provincias , singular - provincia ), 1 city ( cidade )*; Cabo Delgado, Gaza, Inhambane, Manica, Maputo, Cidade de Maputo*, Nampula, Niassa, Sofala, Tete, Zambezia
Legal system: mixed system of Portuguese civil law and customary law
Constitution / history: previous 1975, 1990; latest adopted 16 November 2004, effective 21 December 2004
Constitution / amendment process: proposed by the president of the republic or supported by at least one third of the Assembly of the Republic membership; passage of amendments affecting constitutional provisions, including the independence and sovereignty of the state, the republican form of government, basic rights and freedoms, and universal suffrage, requires at least a two-thirds majority vote by the Assembly and approval in a referendum; referenda not required for passage of other amendments
International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt
Citizenship / citizenship by birth: no
Citizenship / citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Mozambique
Citizenship / dual citizenship recognized: no
Citizenship / residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch / chief of state: President Daniel Francisco CHAPO (since 15 January 2025)
Executive branch / head of government: Prime Minister Maria Benvinda Delfina LEVI (since 17 January 2025)
Executive branch / cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president
Executive branch / election/appointment process: president elected directly by absolute-majority popular vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a 5-year term (eligible for 2 consecutive terms); prime minister appointed by the president
Executive branch / most recent election date: 9 October 2024
Executive branch / election results: 2024 : Daniel CHAPO elected president in first round; percent of vote - Daniel CHAPO (FRELIMO) 65.2%, Venâncio MONDLANE (PODEMOS) 24.2%, Ossufo MOMADE (RENAMO) 6.6%
Executive branch / expected date of next election: October 2029
Legislative branch / legislature name: Assembly of the Republic (Assembleia da Republica)
Legislative branch / legislative structure: unicameral
Legislative branch / number of seats: 250 (all directly elected)
Legislative branch / electoral system: proportional representation
Legislative branch / scope of elections: full renewal
Legislative branch / term in office: 5 years
Legislative branch / most recent election date: 10/9/2024
Legislative branch / parties elected and seats per party: Mozambique Liberation Front (FRELIMO) (171); Optimist Party for the Development of Mozambique (PODEMOS) (43); Mozambican National Resistance (RENAMO) (28); Other (8)
Legislative branch / percentage of women in chamber: 38.3%
Legislative branch / expected date of next election: October 2029
Judicial branch / highest court(s): Supreme Court (consists of the court president, vice president, and 5 judges); Constitutional Council (consists of 7 judges)
Judicial branch / judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court president appointed by the president of the republic; vice president appointed by the president in consultation with the Higher Council of the Judiciary (CSMJ) and ratified by the Assembly of the Republic; other judges elected by the Assembly; judges serve 5-year renewable terms; Constitutional Council judges appointed - 1 by the president, 5 by the Assembly, and 1 by the CSMJ; judges serve 5-year nonrenewable terms
Judicial branch / subordinate courts: Administrative Court (capital city only); provincial courts or Tribunais Judicias de Provincia; District Courts or Tribunais Judicias de Districto; customs courts; maritime courts; courts marshal; labor courts; community courts
Political parties: Democratic Movement of Mozambique (Movimento Democratico de Mocambique) or MDM Liberation Front of Mozambique (Frente de Liberatacao de Mocambique) or FRELIMO Mozambican National Resistance (Resistencia Nacional Mocambicana) or RENAMO
Diplomatic representation in the US / chief of mission: Ambassador Alfredo Fabi&atilde;o NUVUNGA (since 19 April 2023)
Diplomatic representation in the US / chancery: 1525 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036
Diplomatic representation in the US / telephone: [1] (202) 293-7147
Diplomatic representation in the US / FAX: [1] (202) 835-0245
Diplomatic representation in the US / email address and website: washington.dc@embamoc.gov.mz https://usa.embamoc.gov.mz/
Diplomatic representation from the US / chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charg&eacute; d&rsquo;Affaires Abigail L. DRESSEL (since 11 August 2025)
Diplomatic representation from the US / embassy: Avenida Marginal 5467, Maputo
Diplomatic representation from the US / mailing address: 2330 Maputo Place, Washington DC 20521-2330
Diplomatic representation from the US / telephone: [258] (84) 095-8000
Diplomatic representation from the US / email address and website: MaputaConsular@state.gov https://mz.usembassy.gov/
International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, AU, C, CD, CPLP, EITI (compliant country), FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NAM, OIC, OIF (observer), OPCW, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNDP, UNEP, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNWTO, Union Latina, UPU, WCO, WFP, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Independence: 25 June 1975 (from Portugal)
National holiday: Independence Day, 25 June (1975)
Flag: description: three equal horizontal bands of green (top), black, and yellow, with a red isosceles triangle based on the left side; the black band is edged in white; centered in the triangle is a five-pointed yellow star with a crossed black-and-white rifle and hoe, on top of an open white book meaning: green stands for the riches of the land, white for peace, black for the African continent, yellow for the country's minerals, and red for the fight for independence; the rifle stands for defense and vigilance, the hoe for agriculture, the open book for the importance of education, and the star for Marxism and internationalism
National symbol(s): rifle, hoe, and book
National color(s): green, black, yellow, white, red
National anthem(s) / title: &ldquo;P&aacute;tria Amada&rdquo; (Lovely Fatherland)
National anthem(s) / lyrics/music: Salom&atilde;o J. MANHICA/unkown
National anthem(s) / history: adopted 2002; the new anthem reflects the new multi-party political system
National heritage / total World Heritage Sites: 1 (cultural)
National heritage / selected World Heritage Site locales: Island of Mozambique

## Economy
Economic overview: low-income East African economy; subsistence farming dominates labor force; return to growth led by agriculture and extractive industries; Islamist insurgency threatens natural gas projects in north; ongoing foreign debt restructuring and resolution under IMF Highly Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) initiative
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $51.786 billion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $50.844 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $48.222 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2024: 1.9% (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2023: 5.4% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2022: 4.4% (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2024: $1,500 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2023: $1,500 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2022: $1,500 (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $22.417 billion (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024: 4.1% (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023: 7.1% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 10.3% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / agriculture: 26.3% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / industry: 24.6% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / services: 38.4% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / household consumption: 69% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / government consumption: 17.1% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in fixed capital: 24.1% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in inventories: 0% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / exports of goods and services: 42.7% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / imports of goods and services: -52.9% (2024 est.)
Agricultural products: cassava, maize, sugarcane, tomatoes, beans, potatoes, sweet potatoes, bananas, coconuts, onions (2023)
Industries: aluminum, petroleum products, chemicals (fertilizer, soap, paints), textiles, cement, glass, asbestos, tobacco, food, beverages
Industrial production growth rate: 2.9% (2024 est.)
Labor force: 15.173 million (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2024: 3.6% (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2023: 3.6% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2022: 3.6% (2022 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / total: 7.4% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / male: 7.5% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / female: 7.2% (2024 est.)
Population below poverty line: 62.8% (2019 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income / Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2019: 50.3 (2019 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / lowest 10%: 1.7% (2019 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / highest 10%: 41.1% (2019 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2024: 1.2% of GDP (2024 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2023: 1.2% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2022: 0.9% of GDP (2022 est.)
Budget / revenues: $6.243 billion (2024 est.)
Budget / expenditures: $7.223 billion (2024 est.)
Public debt / Public debt 2022: 76.6% of GDP (2022 est.)
Taxes and other revenues: 22.7% (of GDP) (2022 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2024: -$2.498 billion (2024 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2023: -$2.207 billion (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2022: -$6.367 billion (2022 est.)
Exports / Exports 2024: $9.358 billion (2024 est.)
Exports / Exports 2023: $9.405 billion (2023 est.)
Exports / Exports 2022: $9.409 billion (2022 est.)
Exports - partners: India 18%, China 13%, South Africa 9%, UAE 6%, Thailand 4% (2023)
Exports - commodities: coal, natural gas, aluminum, gold, precious stones (2023)
Imports / Imports 2024: $10.488 billion (2024 est.)
Imports / Imports 2023: $11.18 billion (2023 est.)
Imports / Imports 2022: $15.932 billion (2022 est.)
Imports - partners: South Africa 34%, China 14%, India 13%, UAE 6%, Singapore 3% (2023)
Imports - commodities: refined petroleum, chromium ore, iron alloys, iron ore, palm oil (2023)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024: $3.843 billion (2024 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023: $3.637 billion (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $2.939 billion (2022 est.)
Debt - external / Debt - external 2023: $8.274 billion (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Currency: meticais (MZM) per US dollar -
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2024: 63.905 (2024 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2023: 63.886 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2022: 63.851 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2021: 65.465 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2020: 69.465 (2020 est.)

## Energy
Electricity access / electrification - total population: 33.2% (2022 est.)
Electricity access / electrification - urban areas: 79.4%
Electricity access / electrification - rural areas: 5%
Electricity / installed generating capacity: 2.86 million kW (2023 est.)
Electricity / consumption: 12.983 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / exports: 11.483 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / imports: 8.287 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / transmission/distribution losses: 3.38 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / fossil fuels: 16.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / solar: 0.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / hydroelectricity: 82.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / biomass and waste: 0.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Coal / production: 10.583 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / consumption: 13,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / exports: 10.658 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / imports: 900 metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / proven reserves: 1.792 billion metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum / refined petroleum consumption: 42,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Natural gas / production: 8.873 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / consumption: 1.625 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / exports: 7.09 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / proven reserves: 2.832 trillion cubic meters (2021 est.)
Energy consumption per capita / Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 5.789 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

## Communications
Telephones - fixed lines / total subscriptions: 29,000 (2022 est.)
Telephones - fixed lines / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2022 est.) less than 1
Telephones - mobile cellular / total subscriptions: 17.1 million (2024 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 50 (2024 est.)
Broadcast media: 1 state-run TV station supplemented by a private TV station; Portuguese state TV's African service, RTP Africa, and Brazilian-owned TV Miramar are available; state-run radio provides nearly 100% territorial coverage and broadcasts in multiple languages; a number of privately owned and community-operated stations; transmissions of multiple international broadcasters are available (2019)
Internet country code: .mz
Internet users / percent of population: 20% (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / total: 65,000 (2022 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2022 est.) less than 1

## Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: C9
Airports: 92 (2025)
Railways / total: 4,787 km (2014)
Railways / narrow gauge: 4,787 km (2014) 1.067-m gauge
Merchant marine / total: 36 (2023)
Merchant marine / by type: general cargo 9, other 27
Ports / total ports: 11 (2024)
Ports / large: 0
Ports / medium: 2
Ports / small: 5
Ports / very small: 4
Ports / ports with oil terminals: 3
Ports / key ports: Beira, Chinde, Inhambane, Maputo, Mocambique, Pebane, Porto Belo

## Military and Security
Military and security forces: Armed Forces for the Defense of Mozambique (Forcas Armadas de Defesa de Mocambique, FADM): Army, Mozambique Navy, Mozambique Air Force Ministry of Interior: Mozambique National Police (PRM; includes the Rapid Intervention Unit, UIR), the National Criminal Investigation Service (SERNIC), Border Security Force; other security forces include the Presidential Guard and the Force for the Protection of High-Level Individuals (2025)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2024: 2% of GDP (2024 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2023: 2% of GDP (2023 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2022: 2% of GDP (2022 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2021: 2% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2020: 1.5% of GDP (2020 est.)
Military and security service personnel strengths: estimated 12,000 active FADM (2025)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the FADM's inventory consists primarily of Soviet-era armaments, although in recent years it has received some secondhand equipment from a number of countries, including India, South Africa, and the UAE, mostly as donations (2025)
Military service age and obligation: registration for military service is mandatory for all men and women at 18 years of age; 18-35 years of age for selective compulsory military service; 18 years of age for voluntary service for men and women; initial 60-month service obligation (2025)
Military - note: the FADM is responsible for external security, cooperating with police on internal security, and responding to natural disasters and other emergencies; the primary focus of the FADM is countering an insurgency in the northern province of Cabo Delgado by militants affiliated with the Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham terrorist group (ISIS-Mozambique; known locally as Ahl al-Sunna wal-Jama&lsquo;a); since 2017, the conflict has claimed an estimated 6,000 lives and displaced an estimated one million persons; at Mozambique's request, Rwanda and several southern African countries under the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) deployed forces to Mozambique to combat the insurgency in 2021; the SADC forces departed in 2024; as of 2025, Rwanda continued to provide approximately 3,000 military and police personnel to assist Mozambican Defense and Security Forces, along with several hundred Tanzanian troops; the EU has also provided training assistance (2025)

## Terrorism
Terrorist group(s): Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham - Mozambique (ISIS-M)

## Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons / refugees: 24,250 (2024 est.)
Refugees and internally displaced persons / IDPs: 718,154 (2024 est.)

=== Niger ===

## Introduction
Background: Nomadic peoples from the Saharan north and agriculturalists from the south settled present-day Niger. The Taureg kingdom of Takedda was one of the largest kingdoms in the north and played a prominent role in regional trade in the 14th century. In the south, the primary ethnic groups were the Songhai-Zarma in the west, the Hausa in the center, and the Kanuri in the east. When European colonizers arrived in the 19th century, the region was an assemblage of disparate local kingdoms. In the late 19th century, the British and French agreed to partition the middle regions of the Niger River, and France began its conquest of what would become the colony of Niger. France experienced determined local resistance -- particularly during the Tuareg uprising (1916-1917) -- but established a colonial administration in 1922. After achieving independence from France in 1960, Niger experienced single-party or military rule until 1991, when political pressure forced General Ali SAIBOU to allow multiparty elections. Political infighting and democratic backsliding led to coups in 1996 and 1999. In 1999, military officers restored democratic rule and held elections that brought Mamadou TANDJA to power. TANDJA was reelected in 2004 and spearheaded a 2009 constitutional amendment allowing him to extend his presidential term. In 2010, military officers led another coup that deposed TANDJA. ISSOUFOU Mahamadou was elected in 2011 and reelected in 2016. In 2021, BAZOUM Mohamed won the presidential election, marking Niger’s first transition from one democratically elected president to another. Nonetheless, a military junta led by General Abdourahamane TIANI once again seized power in July 2023, detaining President BAZOUM and announcing the creation of a National Council for the Safeguarding of the Homeland (CNSP). Niger is one of the poorest countries in the world with minimal government services and insufficient funds to develop its resource base. It is ranked fourth to last in the world on the UN Development Program's Human Development Index of 2023/2024. The largely agrarian and subsistence-based economy is frequently disrupted by extended droughts common to the Sahel region of Africa. The Nigerien Government continues its attempts to diversify the economy through increased oil production and mining projects. In addition, Niger is facing increased security concerns on its borders from various external threats including insecurity in Libya, spillover from the conflict and terrorism in Mali, and violent extremism in northeastern Nigeria.

## Geography
Location: Western Africa, southeast of Algeria
Geographic coordinates: 16 00 N, 8 00 E
Map references: Africa
Area / total: 1.267 million sq km
Area / land: 1,266,700 sq km
Area / water: 300 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly less than twice the size of Texas
Land boundaries / total: 5,834 km
Land boundaries / border countries: Algeria 951 km; Benin 277 km; Burkina Faso 622 km; Chad 1,196 km; Libya 342 km; Mali 838 km; Nigeria 1,608 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
Climate: desert; mostly hot, dry, dusty; tropical in extreme south
Terrain: predominately desert plains and sand dunes; flat to rolling plains in south; hills in north
Elevation / highest point: Idoukal-n-Taghes 2,022 m
Elevation / lowest point: Niger River 200 m
Elevation / mean elevation: 474 m
Natural resources: uranium, coal, iron ore, tin, phosphates, gold, molybdenum, gypsum, salt, petroleum
Land use / agricultural land: 36.8% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 14% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 0.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 22.7% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 0.8% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 62.4% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land: 2,881 sq km (2022)
Major lakes (area sq km) / fresh water lake(s): Lake Chad (endorheic lake shared with Chad, Nigeria, and Cameroon) - 10,360-25,900 sq km note - area varies by season and year to year
Major rivers (by length in km): Niger (shared with Guinea [s], Mali, Benin, and Nigeria [m]) - 4,200 km note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Major watersheds (area sq km) / Atlantic Ocean drainage: Niger (2,261,741 sq km)
Major watersheds (area sq km) / Internal (endorheic basin) drainage: Lake Chad (2,497,738 sq km)
Major aquifers: Lake Chad Basin, Lullemeden-Irhazer Basin, Murzuk-Djado Basin
Population distribution: majority of the populace is located in the southernmost extreme of the country along the border with Nigeria and Benin, as shown in this population distribution map
Natural hazards: recurring droughts
Geography - note: landlocked; one of the hottest countries in the world; northern four-fifths is desert, southern one-fifth is savanna that is suitable for livestock and limited agriculture

## People and Society
Population / total: 27,322,555 (2025 est.)
Population / male: 13,542,629
Population / female: 13,779,926
Nationality / noun: Nigerien(s)
Nationality / adjective: Nigerien
Ethnic groups: Hausa 53.1%, Zarma/Songhai 21.2%, Tuareg 11%, Fulani (Peuhl) 6.5%, Kanuri 5.9%, Gurma 0.8%, Arab 0.4%, Tubu 0.4%, other/unavailable 0.9% (2006 est.)
Languages: Hausa, Zarma, French (official), Fufulde, Tamashek, Kanuri, Gurmancema, Tagdal
Religions: Muslim 95.5%, ethnic religionist 4.1%, Christian 0.3%, agnostics and other 0.1% (2020 est.)
Age structure / 0-14 years: 49.5% (male 6,567,460/female 6,463,877)
Age structure / 15-64 years: 47.8% (male 6,146,355/female 6,451,574)
Age structure / 65 years and over: 2.7% (2024 est.) (male 342,388/female 371,130)
Dependency ratios / total dependency ratio: 108.2 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / youth dependency ratio: 102.6 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / elderly dependency ratio: 5.7 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / potential support ratio: 17.7 (2025 est.)
Median age / total: 15.3 years (2025 est.)
Median age / male: 14.9 years
Median age / female: 15.6 years
Population growth rate: 3.65% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 46.29 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 9.24 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: -0.57 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution: majority of the populace is located in the southernmost extreme of the country along the border with Nigeria and Benin, as shown in this population distribution map
Urbanization / urban population: 17.1% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 4.72% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 1.437 million NIAMEY (capital) (2023)
Sex ratio / at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 0-14 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 65 years and over: 0.92 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth: 18.5 years (2012 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio: 350 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Infant mortality rate / total: 63 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Infant mortality rate / male: 69.2 deaths/1,000 live births
Infant mortality rate / female: 59.2 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth / total population: 60.9 years (2024 est.)
Life expectancy at birth / male: 59.3 years
Life expectancy at birth / female: 62.5 years
Total fertility rate: 6.55 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 3.23 (2025 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: urban: urban: 88.3% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: rural: rural: 40.9% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: total: total: 48.9% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: urban: urban: 11.7% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: rural: rural: 59.1% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: total: total: 51.1% of population (2022 est.)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 5.8% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 7.1% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density: 0.04 physicians/1,000 population (2023)
Hospital bed density: 0.3 beds/1,000 population (2020 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: urban: urban: 81.9% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: rural: rural: 15.2% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: total: total: 26.4% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: urban: urban: 18.1% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: rural: rural: 84.8% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: total: total: 73.6% of population (2022 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 5.5% (2016)
Alcohol consumption per capita / total: 0.11 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / beer: 0.04 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / wine: 0.01 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / spirits: 0.06 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / other alcohols: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Tobacco use / total: 7.5% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / male: 13.7% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / female: 1.2% (2025 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 34.6% (2022 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49): 81.3% (2021 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% GDP): 4.1% of GDP (2023 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% national budget): 12.8% national budget (2023 est.)
Literacy / total population: 35.6% (2022 est.)
Literacy / male: 47.9% (2022 est.)
Literacy / female: 25.7% (2022 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / total: 6 years (2017 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / male: 7 years (2017 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / female: 6 years (2017 est.)

## Environment
Environmental issues: overgrazing; soil erosion; deforestation; desertification; contaminated water; inadequate potable water; wildlife populations (such as elephant, hippopotamus, giraffe, and lion) threatened by poaching and habitat destruction
International environmental agreements / party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
International environmental agreements / signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Climate: desert; mostly hot, dry, dusty; tropical in extreme south
Land use / agricultural land: 36.8% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 14% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 0.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 22.7% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 0.8% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 62.4% (2023 est.)
Urbanization / urban population: 17.1% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 4.72% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / total emissions: 3.132 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from coal and metallurgical coke: 622,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from petroleum and other liquids: 2.457 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from consumed natural gas: 52,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Particulate matter emissions: 59.5 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Methane emissions / energy: 137.8 kt (2022-2024 est.)
Methane emissions / agriculture: 713.8 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Methane emissions / waste: 128.2 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Methane emissions / other: 11.1 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Waste and recycling / municipal solid waste generated annually: 1.866 million tons (2024 est.)
Waste and recycling / percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 20.3% (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / municipal: 193.247 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / industrial: 38.654 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / agricultural: 2.351 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total renewable water resources: 34,050,000,000 cubic meters (2022 est.)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: Republic of Niger
Country name / conventional short form: Niger
Country name / local long form: R&eacute;publique du Niger
Country name / local short form: Niger
Country name / etymology: named for the Niger River that passes through the southwest of the country; the name of the river probably comes from the local Tuareg name, egereou n-igereouen (big rivers)
Government type: formerly, semi-presidential republic
Capital / name: Niamey
Capital / geographic coordinates: 13 31 N, 2 07 E
Capital / time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Capital / etymology: the origin of the name is unclear; one of many stories says that an African chief told his seven slaves " Wa niammane ," meaning "stay here," and the name was later shortened to its present form
Administrative divisions: 7 regions ( régions , singular - région ) and 1 capital district* ( communauté urbaine ); Agadez, Diffa, Dosso, Maradi, Niamey*, Tahoua, Tillaberi, Zinder
Legal system: note: following the 26 July 2023 military coup, the National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland assumed control of all government institutions and rules by decree; formerly, mixed system of civil law, based on French civil law, Islamic law, and customary law
Constitution / history: several previous; passed by referendum 31 October 2010, entered into force 25 November 2010
Constitution / amendment process: formerly proposed by the president of the republic or the National Assembly; consideration of amendments requires at least three-fourths majority vote by the Assembly; passage requires at least four-fifths majority vote; if disapproved, the proposed amendment is dropped or submitted to a referendum; constitutional articles on the form of government, the multiparty system, the separation of state and religion, disqualification of Assembly members, amendment procedures, and amnesty of participants in the 2010 coup cannot be amended
International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Citizenship / citizenship by birth: no
Citizenship / citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Niger
Citizenship / dual citizenship recognized: yes
Citizenship / residency requirement for naturalization: unknown
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch / chief of state: President of the National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland (CNSP) General Abdourahame TIANI (since 28 July 2023)
Executive branch / head of government: CNSP Prime Minister Ali Mahaman Lamine ZEINE (since 9 August 2023)
Executive branch / cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the CNSP
Executive branch / election/appointment process: the CNSP rules by decree; previously, the president was directly elected by absolute-majority popular vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); prime minister was appointed by the president, authorized by the National Assembly
Executive branch / most recent election date: 27 December 2020, with a runoff held on 21 February 2021
Executive branch / election results: 2020/2021 : Mohamed BAZOUM elected president in second round; percent of vote in first round - Mohamed BAZOUM (PNDS-Tarrayya) 39.3%, Mahamane OUSMANE (MODEN/FA Lumana Africa) 17%, Seini OUMAROU (MNSD-Nassara) 9%, Albade ABOUDA (MPR-Jamhuriya) 7.1%, other 27.6%; percent of vote in second round - Mohamed BAZOUM 55.7%, Mahamane OUSMANE 44.3%
Executive branch / expected date of next election: 2030
Legislative branch / legislature name: Advisory Council for the Refoundation (Conseil consultatif de la refondation)
Legislative branch / legislative structure: unicameral
Legislative branch / number of seats: 194 (all appointed)
Legislative branch / electoral system: mixed system
Legislative branch / scope of elections: full renewal
Legislative branch / most recent election date: 5/1/2025
Legislative branch / percentage of women in chamber: 19.6%
Legislative branch / expected date of next election: April 2030
Judicial branch / highest court(s): High Court of Justice (consists of 7 members); Supreme Court (membership NA); Constitutional Court (consists of 7 judges)
Judicial branch / judge selection and term of office: High Judicial Court members selected from among the legislature and judiciary to 5-year terms; Constitutional Court judges nominated/elected - 1 by the president of the Republic, 1 by the president of the National Assembly, 2 by peer judges, 2 by peer lawyers, 1 law professor by peers, and 1 from within Nigerien society; all appointed by the president; judges serve 6-year nonrenewable terms with one-third of membership renewed every 2 years
Judicial branch / subordinate courts: Court of Cassation; Council of State; Court of Finances; various specialized tribunals and customary courts
Political parties: Alliance for Democracy and the Republic Alliance for Democratic Renewal or ARD-Adaltchi-Mutuntchi Alliance of Movements for the Emergence of Niger or AMEN AMIN Congress for the Republic or CPR-Inganci Democratic Alternation for Equity in Niger Democratic and Republican Renewal-RDR-Tchanji Democratic Movement for the Emergence of Niger Falala Democratic Patriots' Rally or RPD Bazara National Movement for the Development of Society-Nassara or MNSD-Nassara Nigerien Alliance for Democracy and Progress-Zaman Lahiya or ANDP-Zaman Lahiya Nigerien Democratic Movement for an African Federation or MODEN/FA Lumana Nigerien Party for Democracy and Socialism or PNDS-Tarrayya Nigerien Patriotic Movement or MPN-Kishin Kassa Nigerien Rally for Democracy and Peace Patriotic Movement for the Republic or MPR-Jamhuriya Peace, Justice, Progress–Generation Doubara Rally for Democracy and Progress-Jama'a or RDP-Jama'a Rally for Peace and Progress or RPP Farilla Social Democratic Rally or RSD-Gaskiyya Social Democratic Party or PSD-Bassira
Diplomatic representation in the US / chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charg&eacute; d'Affaires Hassane IDI (since 3 August 2023)
Diplomatic representation in the US / chancery: 2204 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation in the US / telephone: [1] (202) 483-4224
Diplomatic representation in the US / FAX: [1] (202) 483-3169
Diplomatic representation in the US / email address and website: communication@embassyofniger.org http://www.embassyofniger.org/
Diplomatic representation from the US / chief of mission: Ambassador Kathleen FITZGIBBON (since 2 December 2023)
Diplomatic representation from the US / embassy: BP 11201, Niamey
Diplomatic representation from the US / mailing address: 2420 Niamey Place, Washington DC 20521-2420
Diplomatic representation from the US / telephone: [227] 20-72-26-61
Diplomatic representation from the US / FAX: [227] 20-73-55-60
Diplomatic representation from the US / email address and website: consulateniamey@state.gov https://ne.usembassy.gov/
International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, AU (suspended), CD, EITI (compliant country), Entente, FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LCBC, MIGA, MINUSCA, MNJTF, MONUSCO, NAM, OIC, OIF, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNOOSA, UNWTO, UPU, WADB (regional), WAEMU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Independence: 3 August 1960 (from France)
National holiday: Republic Day, 18 December (1958)
Flag: description: three equal horizontal bands of orange (top), white, and green, with an orange disk centered on the white band meaning: orange stands for the northern Sahara regions, white for purity and innocence, and green for hope and the fertile and productive southern and western areas, as well as the Niger River; the orange disc represents the sun and the people's sacrifices
National symbol(s): zebu
National color(s): orange, white, green
National anthem(s) / title: "L'Honneur de la Patrie" (The Honor of the Fatherland)
National anthem(s) / lyrics/music: a government-appointed committee wrote both the lyrics and the music
National anthem(s) / history: adopted 2023; replaced previous national anthem, "La Nig&eacute;rienne" (The Nigerien), that was adopted in 1961
National heritage / total World Heritage Sites: 3 (1 cultural, 2 natural)
National heritage / selected World Heritage Site locales: Air and Ténéré Natural Reserves (n); W-Arly-Pendjari Complex (n); Historic Agadez (c)

## Economy
Economic overview: low-income Sahel economy; major instability and humanitarian crises limit economic activity; COVID-19 eliminated recent antipoverty gains; economy rebounding since December 2020 Nigerian border reopening and new investments; uranium resource rich
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $47.921 billion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $44.199 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $43.474 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2024: 8.4% (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2023: 1.7% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2022: 11.9% (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2024: $1,800 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2023: $1,700 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2022: $1,700 (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $19.538 billion (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024: 9.1% (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023: 3.7% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 4.2% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / agriculture: 33.8% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / industry: 17.8% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / services: 45.4% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / household consumption: 59.2% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / government consumption: 11.8% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in fixed capital: 18.7% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in inventories: 0% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / exports of goods and services: 31.2% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / imports of goods and services: -20.8% (2024 est.)
Agricultural products: millet, cowpeas, sorghum, onions, milk, sugarcane, cabbages, cassava, groundnuts, tomatoes (2023)
Industries: uranium mining, petroleum, cement, brick, soap, textiles, food processing, chemicals, slaughterhouses
Industrial production growth rate: 12.1% (2024 est.)
Labor force: 10.486 million (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2024: 0.4% (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2023: 0.5% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2022: 0.5% (2022 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / total: 0.3% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / male: 0.4% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / female: 0.2% (2024 est.)
Population below poverty line: 45.5% (2021 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income / Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2021: 32.9 (2021 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / lowest 10%: 3.8% (2021 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / highest 10%: 27.8% (2021 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2023: 3.7% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2022: 4.7% of GDP (2022 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2021: 2.4% of GDP (2021 est.)
Budget / revenues: $2.325 billion (2019 est.)
Budget / expenditures: $2.785 billion (2019 est.)
Public debt / Public debt 2016: 45.2% of GDP (2016 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2023: -$2.333 billion (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2022: -$2.5 billion (2022 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2021: -$2.099 billion (2021 est.)
Exports / Exports 2023: $1.223 billion (2023 est.)
Exports / Exports 2022: $1.376 billion (2022 est.)
Exports / Exports 2021: $1.487 billion (2021 est.)
Exports - partners: UAE 31%, France 23%, China 18%, India 6%, Sweden 5% (2023)
Exports - commodities: gold, oil seeds, uranium and thorium ore, radioactive chemicals, refined petroleum (2023)
Imports / Imports 2023: $3.808 billion (2023 est.)
Imports / Imports 2022: $4.194 billion (2022 est.)
Imports / Imports 2021: $4.027 billion (2021 est.)
Imports - partners: China 26%, France 15%, India 12%, Nigeria 7%, UAE 6% (2023)
Imports - commodities: rice, aircraft parts, iron structures, refined petroleum, centrifuges (2023)
Debt - external / Debt - external 2023: $3.793 billion (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Currency: Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar -
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2024: 606.345 (2024 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2023: 606.57 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2022: 623.76 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2021: 554.531 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2020: 575.586 (2020 est.)

## Energy
Electricity access / electrification - total population: 19.5% (2022 est.)
Electricity access / electrification - urban areas: 66.1%
Electricity access / electrification - rural areas: 7.7%
Electricity / installed generating capacity: 377,000 kW (2023 est.)
Electricity / consumption: 1.645 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / imports: 1.213 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / transmission/distribution losses: 372.245 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / fossil fuels: 97% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / solar: 3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Coal / production: 427,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / consumption: 426,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / imports: 400 metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / proven reserves: 90 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum / total petroleum production: 13,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Petroleum / refined petroleum consumption: 18,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Petroleum / crude oil estimated reserves: 150 million barrels (2021 est.)
Natural gas / production: 26.805 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / consumption: 26.872 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
Energy consumption per capita / Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 1.772 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

## Communications
Telephones - fixed lines / total subscriptions: 58,000 (2021 est.)
Telephones - fixed lines / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2022 est.) less than 1
Telephones - mobile cellular / total subscriptions: 17.2 million (2023 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 66 (2023 est.)
Broadcast media: state-run TV station; 3 private TV stations provide a mix of local and foreign programming; state-run radio has the only radio station with national coverage; about 30 private local radio stations; as many as 100 community radio stations; transmissions of multiple international broadcasters are available
Internet country code: .ne
Internet users / percent of population: 23% (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / total: 14,000 (2022 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2022 est.) less than 1

## Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: 5U
Airports: 26 (2025)

## Military and Security
Military and security forces: Nigerien Armed Forces (Forces Armees Nigeriennes, FAN): Army, Nigerien Air Force, Niger Gendarmerie Ministry of Interior, Public Safety and Decentralization: Niger National Guard, National Police (2025)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2024: 2.2% of GDP (2024 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2023: 2% of GDP (2023 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2022: 1.7% of GDP (2022 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2021: 1.8% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2020: 2% of GDP (2020 est.)
Military and security service personnel strengths: estimated 50,000 active Armed Forces, including Gendarmerie; estimated 15-20,000 National Guard (2025)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the FAN's inventory is comprised of older, typically Soviet-era weapons and equipment, along with smaller quantities of more modern armaments such as unmanned aerial vehicles/drones, air defense systems, and armored vehicles; suppliers over the past decade include China, France, Russia, South Africa, T&uuml;rkiye, and the US (2025)
Military service age and obligation: 18 is the legal minimum age for selective compulsory or voluntary military service for unmarried men and women; 24-month service term (2025)
Military - note: the military of Niger is responsible for territorial defense, but most of its focus is on internal and border security operations; the Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham in the Greater Sahara (ISIS-GS) and the al-Qaida affiliate Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM) terrorist groups are active in western Niger and in adjacent strongholds in Burkina Faso and Mali, while the Nigeria-based Boko Haram and ISIS-West Africa groups threaten southeast Niger; parts of Niger also face spillover from communal, criminal, and vigilante violence in neighboring Nigeria; since the 2023 coup, some former ethnic separatist rebels have taken up arms in support of deposed President BAZOUM the military has played a role in Niger's domestic politics since its establishment in 1960-61; prior to seizing control of the government in 2023, it attempted coups in 1974, 1996, 1999, 2010, and 2021, and ruled the country for much of the period before 1999 (2025)

## Terrorism
Terrorist group(s): Boko Haram; Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham in the Greater Sahara (ISIS-GS); Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham – West Africa (ISIS-WA); Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM); al-Mulathamun Battalion (al-Mourabitoun)

## Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons / refugees: 421,795 (2024 est.)
Refugees and internally displaced persons / IDPs: 891,565 (2024 est.)
Trafficking in persons / tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List — the government did not demonstrate overall increasing efforts to eliminate trafficking compared with the previous reporting period, therefore Niger remained on Tier 2 Watch List for the second consecutive year; for more details, go to: https://www.state.gov/reports/2025-trafficking-in-persons-report/niger/

=== Nigeria ===

## Introduction
Background: In ancient and pre-colonial times, the area of present-day Nigeria was occupied by a variety of ethnic groups with different languages and traditions. These included large Islamic kingdoms such as Borno, Kano, and the Sokoto Caliphate dominating the north, the Benin and Oyo Empires that controlled much of modern western Nigeria, and more decentralized political entities and city states in the south and southeast. In 1914, the British amalgamated their separately administered northern and southern territories into a Colony and Protectorate of Nigeria. Nigeria achieved independence from Britain in 1960 and transitioned to a federal republic with three constituent states in 1963 under President Nnamdi AZIKIWE. This structure served to enflame regional and ethnic tension, contributing to a bloody coup led by predominately southeastern military officers in 1966 and a countercoup later that year masterminded by northern officers. In the aftermath of this tension, the governor of Nigeria’s Eastern Region, centered on the southeast, declared the region independent as the Republic of Biafra. The ensuring civil war (1967-1970), resulted in more than a million deaths, many from starvation. While the war forged a stronger Nigerian state and national identity, it contributed to long-lasting mistrust of the southeast’s predominantly Igbo population. Wartime military leader Yakubu GOWON ruled until a bloodless coup by frustrated junior officers in 1975. This generation of officers, including Olusegun OBASANJO, Ibrahim BABANGIDA, and Muhammadu BUHARI, who would all later serve as president, continue to exert significant influence in Nigeria to the present day. Military rule predominated until the first durable transition to civilian government and adoption of a new constitution in 1999. The elections of 2007 marked the first civilian-to-civilian transfer of power in the country's history. National and state elections in 2011 and 2015 were generally regarded as credible. The 2015 election was also heralded for the fact that the then-umbrella opposition party, the All Progressives Congress, defeated the long-ruling (since 1999) People's Democratic Party and assumed the presidency, marking the first peaceful transfer of power from one party to another. Presidential and legislative elections in 2019 and 2023 were deemed broadly free and fair despite voting irregularities, intimidation, and violence. The government of Africa's most populous nation continues to face the daunting task of institutionalizing democracy and reforming a petroleum-based economy whose revenues have been squandered through decades of corruption and mismanagement. In addition, Nigeria faces increasing violence from Islamic terrorism, largely in the northeast, large scale criminal banditry, secessionist violence in the southeast, and competition over land and resources nationwide.

## Geography
Location: Western Africa, bordering the Gulf of Guinea, between Benin and Cameroon
Geographic coordinates: 10 00 N, 8 00 E
Map references: Africa
Area / total: 923,768 sq km
Area / land: 910,768 sq km
Area / water: 13,000 sq km
Area - comparative: about six times the size of Georgia; slightly more than twice the size of California
Land boundaries / total: 4,477 km
Land boundaries / border countries: Benin 809 km; Cameroon 1,975 km; Chad 85 km; Niger 1,608 km
Coastline: 853 km
Maritime claims / territorial sea: 12 nm
Maritime claims / exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Maritime claims / continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Climate: varies; equatorial in south, tropical in center, arid in north
Terrain: southern lowlands merge into central hills and plateaus; mountains in southeast, plains in north
Elevation / highest point: Chappal Waddi 2,419 m
Elevation / lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
Elevation / mean elevation: 380 m
Natural resources: natural gas, petroleum, tin, iron ore, coal, limestone, niobium, lead, zinc, arable land
Land use / agricultural land: 76.2% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 40.5% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 8.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 27.6% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 19.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 4.7% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land: 2,188 sq km (2017)
Major lakes (area sq km) / fresh water lake(s): Lake Chad (endorheic lake shared with Niger, Chad, and Cameroon) - 10,360-25,900 sq km note - area varies by season and year to year
Major rivers (by length in km): Niger river mouth (shared with Guinea [s], Mali, Benin, and Niger) - 4,200 km note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Major watersheds (area sq km) / Atlantic Ocean drainage: Niger (2,261,741 sq km)
Major watersheds (area sq km) / Internal (endorheic basin) drainage: Lake Chad (2,497,738 sq km)
Major aquifers: Lake Chad Basin, Lullemeden-Irhazer Aquifer System
Population distribution: largest population of any African nation; significant population clusters are scattered throughout the country, with the highest density areas being in the south and southwest, as shown in this population distribution map
Natural hazards: periodic droughts; flooding
Geography - note: the Niger River enters the country in the northwest and flows southward through tropical rainforests and swamps to its delta in the Gulf of Guinea

## People and Society
Population / total: 244,344,065 (2025 est.)
Population / male: 123,511,557
Population / female: 120,832,508
Nationality / noun: Nigerian(s)
Nationality / adjective: Nigerian
Ethnic groups: Hausa 30%, Yoruba 15.5%, Igbo (Ibo) 15.2%, Fulani 6%, Tiv 2.4%, Kanuri/Beriberi 2.4%, Ibibio 1.8%, Ijaw/Izon 1.8%, other 24.9% (2018 est.)
Languages: English (official), Hausa, Yoruba, Igbo (Ibo), Fulani, over 500 additional indigenous languages
Religions: Muslim 53.5%, Roman Catholic 10.6%, other Christian 35.3%, other 0.6% (2018 est.)
Age structure / 0-14 years: 40.4% (male 48,856,606/female 46,770,810)
Age structure / 15-64 years: 56.2% (male 66,897,900/female 66,187,584)
Age structure / 65 years and over: 3.4% (2024 est.) (male 3,759,943/female 4,274,287)
Dependency ratios / total dependency ratio: 78 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / youth dependency ratio: 72.2 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / elderly dependency ratio: 5.9 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / potential support ratio: 17 (2025 est.)
Median age / total: 19.4 years (2025 est.)
Median age / male: 19.1 years
Median age / female: 19.6 years
Population growth rate: 2.39% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 33.56 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 9.42 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: -0.24 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution: largest population of any African nation; significant population clusters are scattered throughout the country, with the highest density areas being in the south and southwest, as shown in this population distribution map
Urbanization / urban population: 54.3% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 3.92% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 15.946 million Lagos, 4.348 million Kano, 3.875 million Ibadan, 3.840 million ABUJA (capital), 3.480 million Port Harcourt, 1.905 million Benin City (2023)
Sex ratio / at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 65 years and over: 0.88 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth: 20.4 years (2018 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio: 993 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Infant mortality rate / total: 65.6 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Infant mortality rate / male: 58.9 deaths/1,000 live births
Infant mortality rate / female: 48.2 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth / total population: 62.2 years (2024 est.)
Life expectancy at birth / male: 60.4 years
Life expectancy at birth / female: 64.2 years
Total fertility rate: 4.59 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 2.23 (2025 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: urban: urban: 93.7% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: rural: rural: 63.5% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: total: total: 79.6% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: urban: urban: 6.3% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: rural: rural: 36.5% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: total: total: 20.4% of population (2022 est.)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 4.1% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 4.3% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density: 0.38 physicians/1,000 population (2023)
Sanitation facility access / improved: urban: urban: 81.9% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: rural: rural: 41.1% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: total: total: 62.9% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: urban: urban: 18.1% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: rural: rural: 58.9% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: total: total: 37.1% of population (2022 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 8.9% (2016)
Alcohol consumption per capita / total: 4.49 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / beer: 0.73 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / wine: 0.09 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / spirits: 0.4 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / other alcohols: 3.27 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Tobacco use / total: 2.6% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / male: 4.8% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / female: 0.3% (2025 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 24.4% (2021 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49): 67.6% (2018 est.)
Child marriage / women married by age 15: 12.3% (2021)
Child marriage / women married by age 18: 30.3% (2021)
Child marriage / men married by age 18: 1.6% (2021)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% GDP): 0.3% of GDP (2023 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% national budget): 3% national budget (2024 est.)
Literacy / total population: 63.2% (2021 est.)
Literacy / male: 73.7% (2021 est.)
Literacy / female: 53.3% (2021 est.)

## Environment
Environmental issues: urban air and water pollution; rapid deforestation; soil degradation; loss of arable land; water, air, and soil pollution from oil spills
International environmental agreements / party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
International environmental agreements / signed, but not ratified: Tropical Timber 2006
Climate: varies; equatorial in south, tropical in center, arid in north
Land use / agricultural land: 76.2% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 40.5% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 8.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 27.6% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 19.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 4.7% (2023 est.)
Urbanization / urban population: 54.3% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 3.92% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / total emissions: 114.397 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from coal and metallurgical coke: 2.962 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from petroleum and other liquids: 72.425 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from consumed natural gas: 39.01 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Particulate matter emissions: 56 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Methane emissions / energy: 2,794.3 kt (2022-2024 est.)
Methane emissions / agriculture: 1,991.9 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Methane emissions / waste: 729.4 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Methane emissions / other: 362.7 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Waste and recycling / municipal solid waste generated annually: 27.615 million tons (2024 est.)
Waste and recycling / percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 4.7% (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / municipal: 5 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / industrial: 1.965 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / agricultural: 5.51 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total renewable water resources: 286.2 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: Federal Republic of Nigeria
Country name / conventional short form: Nigeria
Country name / etymology: named for the Niger River that flows through the west of the country to the Atlantic Ocean; the name of the river probably comes from the local Tuareg name, egereou n-igereouen (big rivers)
Government type: federal presidential republic
Capital / name: Abuja
Capital / geographic coordinates: 9 05 N, 7 32 E
Capital / time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Capital / etymology: the newly built city of Abuja replaced Lagos as the capital city in 1991; Abuja takes its name from a nearby town, now renamed Suleja, that was named after Abu JA ("Abu the Red") in 1828
Administrative divisions: 36 states and 1 territory*; Abia, Adamawa, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Benue, Borno, Cross River, Delta, Ebonyi, Edo, Ekiti, Enugu, Federal Capital Territory*, Gombe, Imo, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Kogi, Kwara, Lagos, Nasarawa, Niger, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, Oyo, Plateau, Rivers, Sokoto, Taraba, Yobe, Zamfara
Legal system: mixed system of English common law, Islamic law (in 12 northern states), and traditional law
Constitution / history: several previous; latest adopted 5 May 1999, effective 29 May 1999
Constitution / amendment process: proposed by the National Assembly; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote of both houses and approval by the Houses of Assembly of at least two thirds of the states; amendments to constitutional articles on the creation of a new state, fundamental constitutional rights, or constitution-amending procedures requires at least four-fifths majority vote by both houses of the National Assembly and approval by the Houses of Assembly in at least two thirds of the states; passage of amendments limited to the creation of a new state require at least two-thirds majority vote by the proposing National Assembly house and approval by the Houses of Assembly in two thirds of the states
International law organization participation: accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Citizenship / citizenship by birth: no
Citizenship / citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Nigeria
Citizenship / dual citizenship recognized: yes
Citizenship / residency requirement for naturalization: 15 years
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch / chief of state: President Bola Ahmed Adekunle TINUBU (since 29 May 2023)
Executive branch / head of government: President Bola Ahmed Adekunle TINUBU (since 29 May 2023)
Executive branch / cabinet: Federal Executive Council appointed by the president but constitutionally required to include at least one member from each of the 36 states
Executive branch / election/appointment process: president directly elected by qualified-majority popular vote with at least 25% of the votes cast in 24 of Nigeria's 36 states; president elected for a 4-year term (eligible for a second term)
Executive branch / most recent election date: 25 February 2023
Executive branch / election results: 2023: Bola Ahmed Adekunle TINUBU elected president; percent of vote - Bola Ahmed Adekunle TINUBU (APC) 36.6%, Atiku ABUBAKAR (PDP) 29.1%, Peter OBI (LP) 25.4%, Rabiu KWANKWASO (NNPP) 6.4%, other 2.5% 2019: Muhammadu BUHARI elected president; percent of vote - Muhammadu BUHARI (APC) 53%, Atiku ABUBAKAR (PDP) 39%, other 8%
Executive branch / expected date of next election: 27 February 2027
Legislative branch / legislature name: National Assembly
Legislative branch / legislative structure: bicameral
Legislative branch - lower chamber / chamber name: House of Representatives
Legislative branch - lower chamber / number of seats: 360 (all directly elected)
Legislative branch - lower chamber / electoral system: plurality/majority
Legislative branch - lower chamber / scope of elections: full renewal
Legislative branch - lower chamber / term in office: 4 years
Legislative branch - lower chamber / most recent election date: 2/25/2023
Legislative branch - lower chamber / parties elected and seats per party: All Progressives Congress (APC) (180); People's Democratic Party (PDP) (116); Labour Party (LP) (35); New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) (19); Other (10)
Legislative branch - lower chamber / percentage of women in chamber: 4.2%
Legislative branch - lower chamber / expected date of next election: February 2027
Legislative branch - upper chamber / chamber name: Senate
Legislative branch - upper chamber / number of seats: 109 (all directly elected)
Legislative branch - upper chamber / electoral system: plurality/majority
Legislative branch - upper chamber / scope of elections: full renewal
Legislative branch - upper chamber / term in office: 4 years
Legislative branch - upper chamber / most recent election date: 2/25/2023
Legislative branch - upper chamber / parties elected and seats per party: All Progressives Congress (APC) (59); People's Democratic Party (PDP) (36); Labour Party (LP) (8); Other (6)
Legislative branch - upper chamber / percentage of women in chamber: 3.7%
Legislative branch - upper chamber / expected date of next election: February 2027
Judicial branch / highest court(s): Supreme Court (consists of the chief justice and 15 justices)
Judicial branch / judge selection and term of office: judges appointed by the president upon the recommendation of the National Judicial Council, a 23-member independent body of federal and state judicial officials; judge appointments confirmed by the Senate; judges serve until age 70
Judicial branch / subordinate courts: Court of Appeal; Federal High Court; High Court of the Federal Capital Territory; Sharia Court of Appeal of the Federal Capital Territory; Customary Court of Appeal of the Federal Capital Territory; state court system similar in structure to federal system
Political parties: Accord Party or ACC Africa Democratic Congress or ADC All Progressives Congress or APC All Progressives Grand Alliance or APGA Labor Party or LP New Nigeria People’s Party or NNPP Peoples Democratic Party or PDP Young Progressive Party or YPP
Diplomatic representation in the US / chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charg&eacute; d'Affaires Samson Sunday ITEGBOJE (since 22 October 2024)
Diplomatic representation in the US / chancery: 3519 International Court NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation in the US / telephone: [1] (202) 800-7201 (ext. 100)
Diplomatic representation in the US / FAX: [1] (202) 362-6541
Diplomatic representation in the US / email address and website: info@nigeriaembassyusa.org https://www.nigeriaembassyusa.org/
Diplomatic representation in the US / consulate(s) general: Atlanta, New York
Diplomatic representation from the US / chief of mission: Ambassador Richard MILLS, Jr. (since 25 July 2024)
Diplomatic representation from the US / embassy: Plot 1075 Diplomatic Drive, Central District Area, Abuja
Diplomatic representation from the US / mailing address: 8320 Abuja Place, Washington DC 20521-8320
Diplomatic representation from the US / telephone: [234] (9) 461-4000
Diplomatic representation from the US / FAX: [234] (9) 461-4036
Diplomatic representation from the US / email address and website: AbujaACS@state.gov https://ng.usembassy.gov/
Diplomatic representation from the US / consulate(s) general: Lagos
International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, ATMIS, AU, C, CD, D-8, ECOWAS, EITI (compliant country), FAO, G-15, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LCBC, MIGA, MINURSO, MNJTF, MONUSCO, NAM, OAS (observer), OIC, OPCW, OPEC, PCA, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNISFA, UNITAR, UNMIL, UNMISS, UNOCI, UNOOSA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Independence: 1 October 1960 (from the UK)
National holiday: Independence Day (National Day), 1 October (1960)
Flag: description: three equal vertical bands of green (left side), white, and green meaning: green stands for the country's forests and natural resources, and white for peace and unity
National symbol(s): eagle
National color(s): green, white
National anthem(s) / title: "Nigeria, We Hail Thee"
National anthem(s) / lyrics/music: Lillie Jean WILLIAMS/Frances BERDA
National anthem(s) / history: adopted 2024
National heritage / total World Heritage Sites: 2 (both cultural)
National heritage / selected World Heritage Site locales: Sukur Cultural Landscape; Osun-Osogbo Sacred Grove

## Economy
Economic overview: largest African market economy; enormous but mostly lower middle income labor force; major oil exporter; key telecommunications and finance industries; susceptible to global energy price shocks; regional leader in critical infrastructure; primarily agrarian employment
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $1.318 trillion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $1.275 trillion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $1.239 trillion (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2024: 3.4% (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2023: 2.9% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2022: 3.3% (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2024: $5,700 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2023: $5,600 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2022: $5,600 (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $187.76 billion (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024: 33.2% (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023: 24.7% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 18.8% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / agriculture: 20.4% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / industry: 29.6% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / services: 47% (2024 est.)
Agricultural products: cassava, yams, maize, oil palm fruit, rice, taro, bananas, vegetables, sorghum, groundnuts (2023)
Industries: crude oil, coal, tin, columbite; rubber products, wood; hides and skins, textiles, cement and other construction materials, food products, footwear, chemicals, fertilizer, printing, ceramics, steel
Industrial production growth rate: 2.4% (2024 est.)
Labor force: 113.35 million (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2024: 3% (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2023: 3.1% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2022: 3.9% (2022 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / total: 5.1% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / male: 3.7% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / female: 6.5% (2024 est.)
Population below poverty line: 40.1% (2018 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income / Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2018: 35.1 (2018 est.)
Average household expenditures / on food: 59.3% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Average household expenditures / on alcohol and tobacco: 0.9% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / lowest 10%: 2.9% (2018 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / highest 10%: 26.7% (2018 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2024: 11.3% of GDP (2024 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2023: 5.4% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2022: 4.2% of GDP (2022 est.)
Budget / revenues: $37.298 billion (2019 est.)
Budget / expenditures: $59.868 billion (2019 est.)
Public debt / Public debt 2016: 19.6% of GDP (2016 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2024: $17.215 billion (2024 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2023: $6.423 billion (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2022: $1.019 billion (2022 est.)
Exports / Exports 2024: $57.536 billion (2024 est.)
Exports / Exports 2023: $60.261 billion (2023 est.)
Exports / Exports 2022: $69.091 billion (2022 est.)
Exports - partners: USA 10%, Spain 9%, France 8%, Netherlands 7%, India 6% (2023)
Exports - commodities: crude petroleum, natural gas, gold, fertilizers, cocoa beans (2023)
Imports / Imports 2024: $57.73 billion (2024 est.)
Imports / Imports 2023: $65.423 billion (2023 est.)
Imports / Imports 2022: $77.049 billion (2022 est.)
Imports - partners: China 26%, Singapore 14%, Belgium 8%, India 6%, USA 4% (2023)
Imports - commodities: refined petroleum, tanks and armored vehicles, wheat, plastics, cars (2023)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024: $38.612 billion (2024 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023: $32.035 billion (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $35.564 billion (2022 est.)
Debt - external / Debt - external 2023: $45.009 billion (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Currency: nairas (NGN) per US dollar -
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2024: 1,478.965 (2024 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2023: 645.194 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2022: 425.979 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2021: 401.152 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2020: 358.811 (2020 est.)

## Energy
Electricity access / electrification - total population: 60.5% (2022 est.)
Electricity access / electrification - urban areas: 89%
Electricity access / electrification - rural areas: 27%
Electricity / installed generating capacity: 4.094 million kW (2023 est.)
Electricity / consumption: 34.135 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / exports: 2.4 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / transmission/distribution losses: 5.974 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / fossil fuels: 77.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / solar: 0.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / hydroelectricity: 22.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / biomass and waste: 0.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Coal / production: 1.322 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / consumption: 1.326 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / exports: 17 metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / imports: 600 metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / proven reserves: 2.144 billion metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum / total petroleum production: 1.514 million bbl/day (2023 est.)
Petroleum / refined petroleum consumption: 527,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Petroleum / crude oil estimated reserves: 36.89 billion barrels (2021 est.)
Natural gas / production: 38.248 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / consumption: 19.885 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / exports: 16.324 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / proven reserves: 5.761 trillion cubic meters (2021 est.)
Energy consumption per capita / Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 7.993 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

## Communications
Telephones - fixed lines / total subscriptions: 112,000 (2023 est.)
Telephones - fixed lines / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2023 est.) less than 1
Telephones - mobile cellular / total subscriptions: 165 million (2024 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 71 (2024 est.)
Broadcast media: nearly 70 federal government-controlled national and regional TV stations; all 36 states operate TV stations; several private TV stations; cable and satellite TV subscription services are available; network of federal government-controlled national, regional, and state radio stations; roughly 40 state government-owned radio stations; about 20 private radio stations; transmissions of international broadcasters are available; transition to digital completed in three states in 2018 (2019)
Internet country code: .ng
Internet users / percent of population: 39% (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / total: 117,000 (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2023 est.) less than 1

## Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: 5N
Airports: 50 (2025)
Heliports: 15 (2025)
Railways / total: 3,798 km (2014)
Railways / standard gauge: 293 km (2014) 1.435-m gauge
Railways / narrow gauge: 3,505 km (2014) 1.067-m gauge
Merchant marine / total: 928 (2023)
Merchant marine / by type: general cargo 23, oil tanker 128, other 777
Ports / total ports: 28 (2024)
Ports / large: 2
Ports / medium: 1
Ports / small: 1
Ports / very small: 24
Ports / ports with oil terminals: 23
Ports / key ports: Antan Oil Terminal, Bonny, Lagos, Pennington Oil Terminal

## Military and Security
Military and security forces: Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN): Nigerian Army, Nigerian Navy (includes Coast Guard), Nigerian Air Force Ministry of Interior: Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC); Ministry of Police Affairs: Nigeria Police Force (NPF) (2025)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2024: 0.6% of GDP (2024)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2023: 0.7% of GDP (2023 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2022: 0.6% of GDP (2022 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2021: 0.6% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2020: 0.6% of GDP (2020 est.)
Military and security service personnel strengths: information varies; estimated 140,000 active Armed Forces (2025)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the military's inventory consists primarily of imported weapons systems from a range of countries, including Brazil, China, France, Russia/former Soviet Union, South Korea, T&uuml;rkiye, and the US; Nigeria is developing a defense-industry capacity, including small arms, light armored personnel vehicles, and small-scale naval production (2025)
Military service age and obligation: 18-25 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women; no conscription (2025)
Military deployments: 180 Sudan/South Sudan (UNISFA); 200 Gambia (ECOWAS); 150 Guinea-Bissau (ECOWAS) (2025)
Military - note: the Nigerian military is responsible for defending against external aggression, maintaining the country's territorial integrity, securing national borders, participating in international peacekeeping and other security missions, suppressing insurrection, and aiding civil authorities in restoring order, as well as other duties such as providing humanitarian assistance; its primary concerns are internal and maritime security; in the northeast part of the country, the military is conducting operations against the Boko Haram (BH) and Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham in West Africa (ISIS-WA) terrorist groups, where it has deployed as many as 70,000 troops at times and terrorist-related violence has killed an estimated 35-40,000 people, mostly civilians, since 2009; in the northwest, the military faces threats from criminal gangs--locally referred to as bandits--and violence associated with long-standing farmer-herder conflicts, as well as BH and ISIS-WA terrorists; the military also continues to protect the oil industry in the Niger Delta region against militants and criminal activity and since 2021, has deployed troops alongside other security forces to quell renewed agitation in the state of Biafra; maritime security concerns include piracy and the protection of natural resources in the Gulf of Guinea the Nigerian military traces its origins to the Nigeria Regiment of the West African Frontier Force (WAFF), a multi-regiment force formed by the British colonial office in 1900 to garrison Great Britain's West African colonies; the WAFF (the honorary title "Royal" was added later) served in both World Wars; in 1956, the Nigeria Regiment of the Royal WAFF was renamed the Nigerian Military Forces (NMF) and in 1958, the colonial government of Nigeria took over control of the NMF from the British War Office; the Nigerian Armed Forces were established following independence in 1960 (2025)

## Space
Space agency/agencies: National Space Research and Development Agency (NARSDA; established 1999); Defense Space Administration (DSA; established 2014) (2025)
Space program overview: has a national space program that focuses on acquiring satellites for agricultural and environmental applications, meteorology, mining and disaster monitoring, security, and socio-economic development; designs, builds (mostly with foreign assistance), and operates satellites; processes overhead imagery data for analysis and sharing; developing additional capabilities in satellite and satellite payload production, including remote sensing technologies; has a sounding rocket program for researching rockets and rocket propulsion, with goal of launching domestically produced satellites into space from a Nigerian spaceport by 2030; works with a variety of foreign space agencies and industries, including those of Algeria, Bangladesh, Belarus, China, Ghana, India, Japan, Kenya, Mongolia, South Africa, Thailand, Turkey, the UK, the US, and Vietnam; has a government-owned satellite company and a small commercial aerospace sector (2025)
Key space-program milestones: 2003 - first remote sensing (RS) microsatellite (NigeriaSat-1) built jointly with the UK and launched by Russia 2007 - first communications satellite (NigSatCom-1) built and launched by China (failed in orbit, 2008) 2011 - first domestically built remote sensing (RS) satellite (NigeriaSat-X) launched by Russia 2019 - inaugurated a geospatial data analysis center 2022 - signed US-led Artemis Accords for space exploration 2023 - first military reconnaissance RS satellite (DelSat-1) launched by China

## Terrorism
Terrorist group(s): Boko Haram; Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham – West Africa; Jama’atu Ansarul Muslimina Fi Biladis-Sudan (Ansaru)

## Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons / refugees: 127,131 (2024 est.)
Refugees and internally displaced persons / IDPs: 3,709,022 (2024 est.)
Illicit drugs / USG identification: major precursor-chemical producer (2025)

=== South Sudan ===

## Introduction
Background: South Sudan, which gained independence from Sudan in 2011, is the world’s newest country. Home to a diverse array of mainly Nilotic ethnolinguistic groups that settled in the territory in the 15th through 19th centuries, South Sudanese society is heavily dependent on seasonal migration and seasonal fluctuations in precipitation. Modern-day South Sudan was conquered first by Egypt and later ruled jointly by Egyptian-British colonial administrators in the late 19th century. Christian missionaries helped spread the English language and Christianity in the area, leading to significant cultural differences with the northern part of Sudan, where Arabic and Islam are dominant. When Sudan gained its independence in 1956, the southern region received assurances that it would participate fully in the political system. However, the Arab government in Khartoum reneged on its promises, prompting two periods of civil war (1955-1972 and 1983-2005) in which as many as 2.5 million people died -- mostly civilians -- due largely to starvation and drought. The second Sudanese civil war was one of the deadliest since WWII and left southern Sudanese society devastated. Peace talks resulted in a US-backed Comprehensive Peace Agreement in 2005, which granted the South six years of autonomy followed by a referendum on final status. The result of this referendum, held in 2011, was a vote of 98% in favor of secession. Since independence, South Sudan has struggled to form a viable governing system and has been plagued by widespread corruption, political conflict, and communal violence. In 2013, conflict erupted between forces loyal to President Salva KIIR, a Dinka, and forces loyal to Vice President Riek MACHAR, a Nuer. The conflict quickly spread through the country along ethnic lines, killing tens of thousands and creating a humanitarian crisis with millions of South Sudanese displaced. KIIR and MACHAR signed a peace agreement in 2015 that created a Transitional Government of National Unity the next year. However, renewed fighting broke out in Juba between KIIR and MACHAR’s forces, plunging the country back into conflict and drawing in additional armed opposition groups. A "revitalized" peace agreement was signed in 2018, mostly ending the fighting and laying the groundwork for a unified national army, a transitional government, and elections. The transitional government was formed in 2020, when MACHAR returned to Juba as first vice president. Since 2020, implementation of the peace agreement has been stalled amid wrangling over power-sharing, which has contributed to an uptick in communal violence and the country’s worst food crisis since independence, with 7 of 11 million South Sudanese citizens in need of humanitarian assistance. The transitional period was extended an additional two years in 2022, pushing elections to late 2024.

## Geography
Location: East-Central Africa; south of Sudan, north of Uganda and Kenya, west of Ethiopia
Geographic coordinates: 8 00 N, 30 00 E
Map references: Africa
Area / total: 644,329 sq km
Area / land: NA
Area / water: NA
Area - comparative: more than four times the size of Georgia; slightly smaller than Texas
Land boundaries / total: 6,018 km
Land boundaries / border countries: Central African Republic 1,055 km; Democratic Republic of the Congo 714 km; Ethiopia 1,299 km; Kenya 317 km; Sudan 2,158 km; Uganda 475 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
Climate: hot with seasonal rainfall influenced by the annual shift of the Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone; rainfall heaviest in upland areas of the south and diminishes to the north
Terrain: plains in the north and center rise to southern highlands along the border with Uganda and Kenya; the White Nile, flowing north out of the uplands of Central Africa, is the major geographic feature of the country; The Sudd (a name derived from floating vegetation that hinders navigation) is a large swampy area of more than 100,000 sq km fed by the waters of the White Nile that dominates the center of the country
Elevation / highest point: Kinyeti 3,187 m
Elevation / lowest point: White Nile 381 m
Natural resources: hydropower, fertile agricultural land, gold, diamonds, petroleum, hardwoods, limestone, iron ore, copper, chromium ore, zinc, tungsten, mica, silver
Land use / agricultural land: 44.9% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 3.9% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 0.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 40.8% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 11.3% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 43.8% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land: 1,000 sq km (2012)
Major rivers (by length in km): Nile (shared with Rwanda [s], Tanzania, Uganda, Sudan, and Egypt [m]) - 6,650 km note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Major watersheds (area sq km) / Atlantic Ocean drainage: Congo (3,730,881 sq km), (Mediterranean Sea) Nile (3,254,853 sq km)
Population distribution: clusters found in urban areas, particularly in the western interior and around the White Nile, as shown in this population distribution map
Geography - note: landlocked; The Sudd is a vast swamp in the north central region of South Sudan, formed by the White Nile; its size is variable but can reach some 15% of the country's total area during the rainy season; it is one of the world's largest wetlands

## People and Society
Population / total: 12,703,714 (2024 est.)
Population / male: 6,476,341
Population / female: 6,227,373
Nationality / noun: South Sudanese (singular and plural)
Nationality / adjective: South Sudanese
Ethnic groups: Dinka (Jieng) approximately 35-40%, Nuer (Naath) approximately 15%, Shilluk (Chollo), Azande, Bari, Kakwa, Kuku, Murle, Mandari, Didinga, Ndogo, Bviri, Lndi, Anuak, Bongo, Lango, Dungotona, Acholi, Baka, Fertit (2011 est.)
Languages / Languages: English (official), Arabic (includes Juba and Sudanese variants), ethnic languages include Dinka, Nuer, Bari, Zande, Shilluk
Languages / major-language sample(s): The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information. (English) كتاب حقائق العالم، المصدر الذي لا يمكن الاستغناء عنه للمعلومات الأساسية (Arabic)
Religions: Christian 60.5%, folk religion 32.9%, Muslim 6.2%, other <1%, unaffiliated <1% (2020 est.)
Age structure / 0-14 years: 42.1% (male 2,725,520/female 2,619,035)
Age structure / 15-64 years: 55.3% (male 3,568,064/female 3,458,804)
Age structure / 65 years and over: 2.6% (2024 est.) (male 182,757/female 149,534)
Dependency ratios / total dependency ratio: 80.8 (2024 est.)
Dependency ratios / youth dependency ratio: 76.1 (2024 est.)
Dependency ratios / elderly dependency ratio: 4.7 (2024 est.)
Dependency ratios / potential support ratio: 21.1 (2024 est.)
Median age / total: 18.7 years (2025 est.)
Median age / male: 18.7 years
Median age / female: 18.7 years
Population growth rate: 4.52% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 35.68 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 8.65 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: 18.2 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution: clusters found in urban areas, particularly in the western interior and around the White Nile, as shown in this population distribution map
Urbanization / urban population: 21.2% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 4.12% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 459,000 JUBA (capital) (2023)
Sex ratio / at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 65 years and over: 1.22 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / total population: 1.04 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio: 692 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Infant mortality rate / total: 58.6 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Infant mortality rate / male: 65.8 deaths/1,000 live births
Infant mortality rate / female: 54.1 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth / total population: 60.3 years (2024 est.)
Life expectancy at birth / male: 58.4 years
Life expectancy at birth / female: 62.2 years
Total fertility rate: 4.98 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 2.43 (2025 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: urban: urban: 70% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: rural: rural: 33.6% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: total: total: 41.2% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: urban: urban: 30% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: rural: rural: 66.4% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: total: total: 58.8% of population (2022 est.)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 5.9% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 2.1% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density: 0.04 physicians/1,000 population (2022)
Sanitation facility access / improved: urban: urban: 60.6% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: rural: rural: 15.5% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: total: total: 24.9% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: urban: urban: 39.4% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: rural: rural: 84.5% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: total: total: 75.1% of population (2022 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 6.6% (2014)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% GDP): 1.6% of GDP (2016 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% national budget): 3.3% national budget (2015 est.)

## Environment
Environmental issues: water pollution; inadequate supplies of potable water; wildlife conservation and loss of biodiversity; deforestation; soil erosion; desertification; drought
International environmental agreements / party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Desertification, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
International environmental agreements / signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Climate: hot with seasonal rainfall influenced by the annual shift of the Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone; rainfall heaviest in upland areas of the south and diminishes to the north
Land use / agricultural land: 44.9% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 3.9% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 0.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 40.8% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 11.3% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 43.8% (2023 est.)
Urbanization / urban population: 21.2% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 4.12% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / total emissions: 1.725 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from petroleum and other liquids: 1.725 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Particulate matter emissions: 20.6 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Methane emissions / energy: 59.4 kt (2022-2024 est.)
Methane emissions / agriculture: 696 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Methane emissions / waste: 120.2 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Methane emissions / other: 12.7 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Waste and recycling / municipal solid waste generated annually: 2.681 million tons (2024 est.)
Total water withdrawal / municipal: 193 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / industrial: 225 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / agricultural: 240 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total renewable water resources: 49.5 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: Republic of South Sudan
Country name / conventional short form: South Sudan
Country name / etymology: self-descriptive name from the country's geographic position within Sudan prior to independence; the name Sudan derives from the Arabic balad-as-sudan , meaning "Land of the Black [peoples]"
Government type: presidential republic
Capital / name: Juba
Capital / geographic coordinates: 04 51 N, 31 37 E
Capital / time difference: UTC+2 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Capital / etymology: the name comes from the name of a small Bari village that was located near the present-day city
Administrative divisions: 10 states; Central Equatoria, Eastern Equatoria, Jonglei, Lakes, Northern Bahr el Ghazal, Unity, Upper Nile, Warrap, Western Bahr el Ghazal, Western Equatoria
Constitution / history: previous 2005 (pre-independence); latest signed 7 July 2011, effective 9 July 2011 (Transitional Constitution of the Republic of South Sudan, 2011)
Constitution / amendment process: proposed by the National Legislature or by the president of the republic; passage requires submission of the proposal to the Legislature at least one month prior to consideration, approval by at least two-thirds majority vote in both houses of the Legislature, and assent of the president
Citizenship / citizenship by birth: no
Citizenship / citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of South Sudan
Citizenship / dual citizenship recognized: yes
Citizenship / residency requirement for naturalization: 10 years
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch / chief of state: President Salva KIIR Mayardit (since 9 July 2011)
Executive branch / head of government: President Salva KIIR Mayardit (since 9 July 2011)
Executive branch / cabinet: National Council of Ministers appointed by the president, approved by the Transitional National Legislative Assembly
Executive branch / election/appointment process: president directly elected by simple-majority popular vote for a 4-year term (eligible for a second term)
Executive branch / most recent election date: 11-15 April 2010
Executive branch / election results: 2010: Salva KIIR Mayardit elected leader of then-Southern Sudan; percent of vote - Salva KIIR Mayardit (SPLM) 93%, Lam AKOL (SPLM-DC) 7%
Executive branch / expected date of next election: scheduled for 2015 but has been postponed multiple times, currently to be held in December 2026
Legislative branch / legislature name: Législature nationale (National Legislature)
Legislative branch / legislative structure: bicameral
Legislative branch - lower chamber / chamber name: Transitional National Legislative Assembly (Al-Majlis Al-Tachirii)
Legislative branch - lower chamber / number of seats: 550 (all appointed)
Legislative branch - lower chamber / scope of elections: full renewal
Legislative branch - lower chamber / most recent election date: 5/10/2021
Legislative branch - lower chamber / percentage of women in chamber: 32.4%
Legislative branch - lower chamber / expected date of next election: December 2026
Legislative branch - upper chamber / chamber name: Council of States (Al-Watani)
Legislative branch - upper chamber / number of seats: 100 (all appointed)
Legislative branch - upper chamber / scope of elections: full renewal
Legislative branch - upper chamber / most recent election date: 8/2/2021
Legislative branch - upper chamber / percentage of women in chamber: 32.1%
Legislative branch - upper chamber / expected date of next election: December 2026
Judicial branch / highest court(s): Supreme Court of South Sudan (consists of a chief justice, deputy chief justice, and 5 additional justices); the 2011 Transitional Constitution of South Sudan calls for 9, rather than 5 additional justices
Judicial branch / judge selection and term of office: the 2011 Transitional Constitution of South Sudan calls for the establishment of a Judicial Service Council to recommend prospective justices to the president, and for the justices' tenures to be set by the National Legislature
Judicial branch / subordinate courts: national level - Courts of Appeal; High Courts; County Courts; state level - High Courts; County Courts; customary courts; other specialized courts and tribunals
Political parties: Democratic Change or DC Democratic Forum or DF Labour Party or LPSS South Sudan Opposition Alliance or SSOA Sudan African National Union or SANU Sudan People's Liberation Movement or SPLM Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-In Opposition or SPLM-IO United Democratic Salvation Front or UDSF United South Sudan African Party or USSAP United South Sudan Party or USSP
Diplomatic representation in the US / chief of mission: Ambassador Santino Fardol Watod DICKEN (since 18 September 2024)
Diplomatic representation in the US / chancery: 1015 31st Street NW, Suite 300, Washington, DC 20007
Diplomatic representation in the US / telephone: [1] (202) 600-2238
Diplomatic representation in the US / FAX: [1] (202) 644-9910
Diplomatic representation in the US / email address and website: info.ssdembassy@gmail.com https://www.ssembassydc.org/
Diplomatic representation from the US / chief of mission: Ambassador Michael J. ADLER (since 24 August 2022)
Diplomatic representation from the US / embassy: Kololo Road adjacent to the EU's compound, Juba
Diplomatic representation from the US / mailing address: 4420 Juba Place, Washington DC 20521-4420
Diplomatic representation from the US / telephone: [211] 912-105-188
Diplomatic representation from the US / email address and website: ACSJuba@state.gov https://ss.usembassy.gov/
International organization participation: AU, EAC, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOM, IPU, ITU, MIGA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WMO
Independence: 9 July 2011 (from Sudan)
National holiday: Independence Day, 9 July (2011)
Flag: description: three equal horizontal bands of black (top), red, and green; the red band is edged in white; a five-pointed gold star is in the middle of a blue isosceles triangle based on the left side meaning: black stands for the people, red for the blood shed in the struggle for freedom, green for the land, and blue for the Nile; the gold star represents the unity of the country's states
National symbol(s): African fish eagle
National color(s): red, green, blue, yellow, black, white
National anthem(s) / title: "South Sudan Oyee!" (South Sudan, Hooray!)
National anthem(s) / lyrics/music: collective/Mido SAMUEL and Juba University students
National anthem(s) / history: adopted 2011; anthem selected in a national contest

## Economy
Economic overview: low-income, oil-based Sahelian economy; extreme poverty and food insecurity; COVID-19 and ongoing violence threaten socioeconomic potential; environmentally fragile; ongoing land and property rights issues; natural resource rich but lacks infrastructure
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $6.752 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $6.585 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2021: $6.945 billion (2021 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2017: -5.2% (2017 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2016: -13.9% (2016 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2015: -10.8% (2015 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2023: $400 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2022: $400 (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2021: $400 (2021 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $4.629 billion (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024: 91.4% (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023: 2.4% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: -6.7% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / agriculture: 10.4% (2015 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / industry: 33.1% (2015 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / services: 56.6% (2015 est.)
Agricultural products: milk, cassava, sorghum, goat milk, vegetables, fruits, groundnuts, sesame seeds, beef, maize (2023)
Industrial production growth rate: -36.8% (2015 est.)
Labor force: 5.091 million (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2023: 12.5% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2022: 12.6% (2022 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2021: 14.1% (2021 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / total: 18.5% (2023 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / male: 19.4% (2023 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / female: 17.6% (2023 est.)
Population below poverty line: 82.3% (2016 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income / Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2016: 44 (2016 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / lowest 10%: 1.8% (2016 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / highest 10%: 33% (2016 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2015: 9.5% of GDP (2015 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2014: 0% of GDP (2014 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2013: 0% of GDP (2013 est.)
Budget / revenues: $2.513 billion (2023 est.)
Budget / expenditures: $1.984 billion (2023 est.)
Public debt / Public debt 2016: 86.6% of GDP (2016 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2023: $577.9 million (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2022: -$596.748 million (2022 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2021: -$6.55 million (2021 est.)
Exports / Exports 2023: $4.499 billion (2023 est.)
Exports / Exports 2022: $5.811 billion (2022 est.)
Exports / Exports 2021: $4.652 billion (2021 est.)
Exports - partners: China 51%, Singapore 29%, UAE 10%, Germany 4%, Uganda 3% (2023)
Exports - commodities: crude petroleum, refined petroleum, forage crops, gold, scrap iron (2023)
Imports / Imports 2023: $4.443 billion (2023 est.)
Imports / Imports 2022: $6.402 billion (2022 est.)
Imports / Imports 2021: $4.037 billion (2021 est.)
Imports - partners: Uganda 33%, UAE 26%, Kenya 14%, China 10%, USA 3% (2023)
Imports - commodities: garments, cement, other foods, iron bars, cereal flours (2023)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023: $72.881 million (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $94.914 million (2022 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2021: $341.932 million (2021 est.)
Exchange rates / Currency: South Sudanese pounds (SSP) per US dollar -
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2024: 2,163.104 (2024 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2023: 930.331 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2022: 534.511 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2021: 306.355 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2020: 165.907 (2020 est.)

## Energy
Electricity access / electrification - total population: 8.4% (2022 est.)
Electricity access / electrification - urban areas: 15%
Electricity access / electrification - rural areas: 1.7%
Electricity / installed generating capacity: 136,000 kW (2023 est.)
Electricity / consumption: 566.034 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / transmission/distribution losses: 23.966 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / fossil fuels: 93.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / solar: 6.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Coal / imports: 100 metric tons (2022 est.)
Petroleum / total petroleum production: 146,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Petroleum / refined petroleum consumption: 11,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Petroleum / crude oil estimated reserves: 3.75 billion barrels (2021 est.)
Energy consumption per capita / Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 2.092 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

## Communications
Telephones - fixed lines / total subscriptions: 0 (2023 est.)
Telephones - fixed lines / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2023 est.) less than 1
Telephones - mobile cellular / total subscriptions: 6.17 million (2023 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 30 (2022 est.)
Broadcast media: 1 state-controlled TV channel and radio station; several community and commercial FM stations, mostly sponsored by outside aid donors; some foreign radio broadcasts available (2019)
Internet country code: .ss
Internet users / percent of population: 9% (2022 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / total: 0 (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2023 est.) less than 1

## Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: Z8
Airports: 89 (2025)
Heliports: 2 (2025)
Railways / total: 248 km (2018)

## Military and Security
Military and security forces: South Sudan People’s Defense Force (SSPDF): Land Forces (includes Presidential Guard), Air Forces, Marine (Riverine) Forces, Reserve Forces; National (or Necessary) Unified Forces (NUF) Ministry of Interior: South Sudan National Police Service (SSNPS) (2025)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2024: 2% of GDP (2024 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2023: 2% of GDP (2023 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2022: 2% of GDP (2022 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2021: 2% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2020: 2% of GDP (2020 est.)
Military and security service personnel strengths: information varies; estimated 150-200,000 active Defense Forces (2025)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the SSPDF inventory is a mix of primarily of Soviet-era armaments alongside limited quantities of more modern equipment such as armored personnel carriers from UAE (2025)
Military service age and obligation: 18 (legal minimum age)-35 for voluntary military service for men and women; 12-24 months service (2025)
Military - note: the South Sudan People's Defense Forces (SSPDF) are largely focused on border and internal security; areas of concern include disputed national borders, conflict spillover from neighboring Sudan, banditry, and armed rebel groups and militias that continue to operate in the country since the civil war ended in 2020 the SSPDF, formerly the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA), was founded as a guerrilla movement against the Sudanese Government in 1983 and participated in the Second Sudanese Civil War (1983-2005); the Juba Declaration that followed the Comprehensive Peace Agreement of 2005 unified the SPLA and the South Sudan Defense Forces (SSDF), the second-largest rebel militia remaining from the civil war, under the SPLA name; in 2017, the SPLA was renamed the South Sudan Defense Forces (SSDF) and in September 2018 was renamed again as the SSPDF the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) has operated in the country since 2011 with the objectives of consolidating peace and security and helping establish conditions for the successful economic and political development of South Sudan; UNMISS has about 18,000 personnel assigned; the UN Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) has operated in the disputed Abyei region along the border between Sudan and South Sudan since 2011; its mission includes ensuring security, protecting civilians, strengthening the capacity of the Abyei Police Service, de-mining, monitoring/verifying the redeployment of armed forces from the area, and facilitating the flow of humanitarian aid; UNISFA has approximately 3,800 personnel assigned (2025)

## Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons / refugees: 517,471 (2024 est.)
Refugees and internally displaced persons / IDPs: 1,359,795 (2024 est.)
Refugees and internally displaced persons / stateless persons: 18,000 (2024 est.)
Trafficking in persons / tier rating: Tier 3 — South Sudan does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and is not making significant efforts to do so, therefore, South Sudan remained on Tier 3; for more details, go to: https://www.state.gov/reports/2025-trafficking-in-persons-report/south-sudan/

=== Guinea-Bissau ===

## Introduction
Background: For much of its history, Guinea-Bissau was under the control of the Mali Empire and the Kaabu Kingdom. In the 16th century, Portugal began establishing trading posts along Guinea-Bissau’s shoreline. Initially, the Portuguese were restricted to the coastline and islands. However, the slave and gold trades were lucrative to local African leaders, and the Portuguese were slowly able to expand their power and influence inland. Starting in the 18th century, the Mali Empire and Kingdom of Kaabu slowly disintegrated into smaller local entities. By the 19th century, Portugal had fully incorporated Guinea-Bissau into its empire. Since gaining independence in 1974, Guinea-Bissau has experienced considerable political and military upheaval. In 1980, a military coup established General Joao Bernardo 'Nino' VIEIRA as president. VIEIRA's regime suppressed political opposition and purged political rivals. Several coup attempts through the 1980s and early 1990s failed to unseat him, but a military mutiny and civil war in 1999 led to VIEIRA's ouster. In 2000, a transitional government turned over power to opposition leader Kumba YALA. In 2003, a bloodless military coup overthrew YALA and installed businessman Henrique ROSA as interim president. In 2005, VIEIRA was reelected, pledging to pursue economic development and national reconciliation; he was assassinated in 2009. Malam Bacai SANHA was then elected president, but he passed away in 2012 from a long-term illness. A military coup blocked the second round of the election to replace him, but after mediation from the Economic Community of Western African States, a civilian transitional government assumed power. In 2014, Jose Mario VAZ was elected president in a free and fair election, and in 2019, he became the first president in Guinea-Bissau’s history to complete a full term. Umaro Sissoco EMBALO was elected president in 2019, but he did not take office until 2020 because of a prolonged challenge to the election results.

## Geography
Location: Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Guinea and Senegal
Geographic coordinates: 12 00 N, 15 00 W
Map references: Africa
Area / total: 36,125 sq km
Area / land: 28,120 sq km
Area / water: 8,005 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly less than three times the size of Connecticut
Land boundaries / total: 762 km
Land boundaries / border countries: Guinea 421 km; Senegal 341 km
Coastline: 350 km
Maritime claims / territorial sea: 12 nm
Maritime claims / exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate: tropical; generally hot and humid; monsoonal-type rainy season (June to November) with southwesterly winds; dry season (December to May) with northeasterly harmattan winds
Terrain: mostly low-lying coastal plain with a deeply indented estuarine coastline rising to savanna in east; numerous off-shore islands including the Arquipelago Dos Bijagos consisting of 18 main islands and many small islets
Elevation / highest point: Dongol Ronde 277 m
Elevation / lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
Elevation / mean elevation: 70 m
Natural resources: fish, timber, phosphates, bauxite, clay, granite, limestone, unexploited deposits of petroleum
Land use / agricultural land: 29.9% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 14.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 8.9% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 6.9% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 75% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 0% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land: 250 sq km (2012)
Major aquifers: Senegalo-Mauritanian Basin
Population distribution: approximately one fifth of the population lives in the capital city of Bissau along the Atlantic coast; the remainder is distributed among the eight mainly rural regions, as shown in this population distribution map
Natural hazards: hot, dry, dusty harmattan haze may reduce visibility during dry season; brush fires
Geography - note: this small country is swampy along its western coast and is low-lying inland

## People and Society
Population / total: 2,132,325 (2024 est.)
Population / male: 1,042,910
Population / female: 1,089,415
Nationality / noun: Bissau-Guinean(s)
Nationality / adjective: Bissau-Guinean
Ethnic groups: Balanta 30%, Fulani 30%, Manjaco 14%, Mandinga 13%, Papel 7%, unspecified smaller ethnic groups 6% (2015 est.)
Languages: Portuguese-based Creole, Portuguese (official; largely used as a second or third language), Pular (a Fula language), Mandingo
Religions: Muslim 46.1%, folk religions 30.6%, Christian 18.9%, other or unaffiliated 4.4% (2020 est.)
Age structure / 0-14 years: 42.3% (male 453,513/female 448,514)
Age structure / 15-64 years: 54.6% (male 561,868/female 602,280)
Age structure / 65 years and over: 3.1% (2024 est.) (male 27,529/female 38,621)
Dependency ratios / total dependency ratio: 83.2 (2024 est.)
Dependency ratios / youth dependency ratio: 77.5 (2024 est.)
Dependency ratios / elderly dependency ratio: 5.7 (2024 est.)
Dependency ratios / potential support ratio: 17.6 (2024 est.)
Median age / total: 18.5 years (2025 est.)
Median age / male: 17.8 years
Median age / female: 18.9 years
Population growth rate: 2.55% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 35.82 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 6.99 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: -3.36 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution: approximately one fifth of the population lives in the capital city of Bissau along the Atlantic coast; the remainder is distributed among the eight mainly rural regions, as shown in this population distribution map
Urbanization / urban population: 45.5% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 3.22% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 664,000 BISSAU (capital) (2023)
Sex ratio / at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 0-14 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 15-64 years: 0.93 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio: 505 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Infant mortality rate / total: 45.1 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Infant mortality rate / male: 52 deaths/1,000 live births
Infant mortality rate / female: 40.6 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth / total population: 64.5 years (2024 est.)
Life expectancy at birth / male: 62.2 years
Life expectancy at birth / female: 66.8 years
Total fertility rate: 4.59 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 2.26 (2025 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: urban: urban: 73.1% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: rural: rural: 52.5% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: total: total: 61.8% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: urban: urban: 26.9% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: rural: rural: 47.5% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: total: total: 38.2% of population (2022 est.)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 8.2% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 5.2% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density: 0.25 physicians/1,000 population (2022)
Sanitation facility access / improved: urban: urban: 72.2% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: rural: rural: 23.8% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: total: total: 45.6% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: urban: urban: 27.8% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: rural: rural: 76.2% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: total: total: 54.4% of population (2022 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 9.5% (2016)
Alcohol consumption per capita / total: 3.21 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / beer: 0.41 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / wine: 0.98 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / spirits: 0.54 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / other alcohols: 1.28 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Tobacco use / total: 6.7% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / male: 13.2% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / female: 0.5% (2025 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 18.8% (2019 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49): 59% (2019 est.)
Child marriage / women married by age 15: 8.1% (2019)
Child marriage / women married by age 18: 25.7% (2019)
Child marriage / men married by age 18: 2.2% (2019)
Education expenditure: 2.7% of GDP (2020 est.)
Literacy / total population: 63.9% (2022 est.)
Literacy / male: 77.3% (2022 est.)
Literacy / female: 52.2% (2022 est.)

## Environment
Environmental issues: deforestation (overharvesting of trees for timber and agricultural purposes); soil erosion; overgrazing; overfishing
International environmental agreements / party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
International environmental agreements / signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Climate: tropical; generally hot and humid; monsoonal-type rainy season (June to November) with southwesterly winds; dry season (December to May) with northeasterly harmattan winds
Land use / agricultural land: 29.9% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 14.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 8.9% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 6.9% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 75% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 0% (2023 est.)
Urbanization / urban population: 45.5% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 3.22% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / total emissions: 366,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from coal and metallurgical coke: 1 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from petroleum and other liquids: 366,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Particulate matter emissions: 42.6 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Waste and recycling / municipal solid waste generated annually: 289,500 tons (2024 est.)
Waste and recycling / percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 10.1% (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / municipal: 34.1 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / industrial: 11.9 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / agricultural: 144 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total renewable water resources: 31.4 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: Republic of Guinea-Bissau
Country name / conventional short form: Guinea-Bissau
Country name / local long form: Republica da Guine-Bissau
Country name / local short form: Guine-Bissau
Country name / former: Portuguese Guinea
Country name / etymology: the country is partly named after the Guinea region of West Africa that lies along the Gulf of Guinea; the name itself is derived from the Tuareg word aginaw , meaning "black people;" Bissau, the name of the capital city, distinguishes the country from neighboring Guinea and is derived from the local Bijuga people
Government type: semi-presidential republic
Capital / name: Bissau
Capital / geographic coordinates: 11 51 N, 15 35 W
Capital / time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Capital / etymology: the name is derived from the local Bijuga people and is used to distinguish the country from neighboring Guinea
Administrative divisions: 9 regions ( regioes , singular - regiao ); Bafata, Biombo, Bissau, Bolama/Bijagos, Cacheu, Gabu, Oio, Quinara, Tombali
Legal system: mixed system of civil law, which incorporated Portuguese law at independence; influenced by Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), West African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA), African Francophone Public Law, and customary law
Constitution / history: promulgated 16 May 1984
Constitution / amendment process: proposed by the National People&rsquo;s Assembly if supported by at least one third of its members, by the Council of State (a presidential consultant body), or by the government; passage requires approval by at least two-thirds majority vote of the Assembly; constitutional articles on the republican and secular form of government and national sovereignty cannot be amended
International law organization participation: accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; non-party state to the ICCt
Citizenship / citizenship by birth: yes
Citizenship / citizenship by descent only: yes
Citizenship / dual citizenship recognized: no
Citizenship / residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch / chief of state: Interim President Gen. Horta Nta Na MAN (since 27 November 2025)
Executive branch / head of government: Interim Prime Minister Il&iacute;dio Vieira TE (since 28 November 2025)
Executive branch / cabinet: Cabinet nominated by the prime minister, appointed by the president
Executive branch / election/appointment process: president directly elected by absolute-majority popular vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for up to 2 consecutive 5-year terms; prime minister appointed by the president after consultation with party leaders in the National People's Assembly
Executive branch / most recent election date: 23 November 2025
Executive branch / election results: 2025: Umaro Sissoco EMBALO (Madem G15) and Fernando DIAS da Costa (PRS) both claimed victory in first round; a coup prevented the release of election results after ballots were destroyed 2019: Umaro Sissoco EMBALO elected president in second round; percent of vote in first round - Domingos Simoes PEREIRA (PAIGC) 40.1%, Umaro Sissoco EMBALO (Madem G15) 27.7%, Nuno Gomez NABIAM (APU-PDGB) 13.2%, Jose Mario VAZ (independent) 12.4%, other 6.6%; percent of vote in second round - Umaro Sissoco EMBALO 53.6%, Domingos Simoes PEREIRA 46.5% (2019)
Executive branch / expected date of next election: 2025
Legislative branch / legislature name: People's National Assembly (Assembleia Nacional Popular)
Legislative branch / legislative structure: unicameral
Legislative branch / number of seats: 102 (all directly elected)
Legislative branch / electoral system: proportional representation
Legislative branch / scope of elections: full renewal
Legislative branch / term in office: 4 years
Legislative branch / most recent election date: 11/23/2025
Legislative branch / parties elected and seats per party: Inclusive Alliance Platform/Terra Coalition (54); Movement for Democratic Alternation (MADEM G.15) (29); Party for Social Renewal (PRS) (12); Bissau-Guinean Workers’ Party (6); Other (1)
Legislative branch / percentage of women in chamber: 9.8%
Legislative branch / expected date of next election: November 2029
Judicial branch / highest court(s): Supreme Court or Supremo Tribunal de Justica (consists of 9 judges and organized into Civil, Criminal, and Social and Administrative Disputes Chambers)
Judicial branch / judge selection and term of office: judges nominated by the Higher Council of the Magistrate, a major government organ responsible for judge appointments, dismissals, and judiciary discipline; judges appointed by the president for life
Judicial branch / subordinate courts: Appeals Court; regional (first instance) courts; military court
Political parties: African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cabo Verde or PAIGC Democratic Convergence Party or PCD Movement for Democratic Alternation Group of 15 or MADEM-G15 National People’s Assembly – Democratic Party of Guinea Bissau or APU-PDGB New Democracy Party or PND Party for Social Renewal or PRS Republican Party for Independence and Development or PRID Union for Change or UM
Diplomatic representation in the US / chief of mission: Ambassador Maria Da Concei&ccedil;&atilde;o NOBRE CABRAL (since 18 September 2024)
Diplomatic representation in the US / chancery: 918 16th Street, NW (Mezzanine Suite) Washington DC 20006
Diplomatic representation in the US / telephone: [1] (202) 872-4222
Diplomatic representation in the US / FAX: [1] (202) 872-4226
Diplomatic representation from the US / chief of mission: Ambassador Michael RAYNOR (since 20 April 2022)
Diplomatic representation from the US / mailing address: 2080 Bissau Place, Washington DC 20521-2080
Diplomatic representation from the US / email address and website: dakarACS@state.gov https://gw.usmission.gov/
International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, AOSIS, AU, CPLP, ECOWAS, FAO, FZ, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MINUSMA, NAM, OIC, OIF, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WADB (regional), WAEMU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Independence: 24 September 1973 (declared); 10 September 1974 (from Portugal)
National holiday: Independence Day, 24 September (1973)
Flag: description: two equal horizontal bands of yellow (top) and green, with a vertical red band on the left side; a five-pointed black star is centered in the red band meaning: yellow stands for the sun, green for hope, red for blood shed during the struggle for independence; the black star stands for African unity history: uses the colors of the Pan-African movement; the Ghanaian flag heavily influenced the design
National symbol(s): black star
National color(s): red, yellow, green, black
National anthem(s) / title: "Esta e a Nossa Patria Bem Amada" (This is Our Beloved Country)
National anthem(s) / lyrics/music: Amilcar Lopes CABRAL/XIAO He
National anthem(s) / history: adopted 1974; a delegation from Portuguese Guinea visited China in 1963 and heard music by XIAO He; Amilcar Lopes CABRAL, the leader of Guinea-Bissau's independence movement, asked the composer to create a piece that would inspire his people to fight for independence
National heritage / total World Heritage Sites: 1 (natural)
National heritage / selected World Heritage Site locales: Coastal and Marine Ecosystems of the Bijag&oacute;s Archipelago &ndash; Omat&iacute; Minh&ocirc; (n)

## Economy
Economic overview: extremely poor West African economy; ethnically diverse labor force; increasing government expenditures; slight inflation due to food supply disruptions; major cashew exporter; systemic banking instabilities and corruption; vulnerable to oil price shocks
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $5.912 billion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $5.64 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $5.399 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2024: 4.8% (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2023: 4.5% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2022: 5.6% (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2024: $2,700 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2023: $2,600 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2022: $2,600 (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $2.12 billion (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024: 3.8% (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023: 7.1% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 9.4% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / agriculture: 36.8% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / industry: 16.6% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / services: 42.1% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / household consumption: 77% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / government consumption: 17.8% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in fixed capital: 22.8% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in inventories: -1.9% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / exports of goods and services: 12.5% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / imports of goods and services: -28.2% (2024 est.)
Agricultural products: rice, groundnuts, cashews, root vegetables, oil palm fruit, plantains, cassava, coconuts, vegetables, sweet potatoes (2023)
Industries: agricultural products processing, beer, soft drinks
Industrial production growth rate: 8% (2024 est.)
Labor force: 845,300 (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2024: 2.7% (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2023: 2.7% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2022: 2.7% (2022 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / total: 2.8% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / male: 3.4% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / female: 2% (2024 est.)
Population below poverty line: 50.5% (2021 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income / Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2021: 33.4 (2021 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / lowest 10%: 3.4% (2021 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / highest 10%: 26.1% (2021 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2023: 9.8% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2022: 10.3% of GDP (2022 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2021: 11% of GDP (2021 est.)
Budget / revenues: $269.794 million (2023 est.)
Budget / expenditures: $450.953 million (2023 est.)
Public debt / Public debt 2016: 57.9% of GDP (2016 est.)
Taxes and other revenues: 8.8% (of GDP) (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2023: -$160.169 million (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2022: -$146.64 million (2022 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2021: -$14.128 million (2021 est.)
Exports / Exports 2023: $284.5 million (2023 est.)
Exports / Exports 2022: $280.065 million (2022 est.)
Exports / Exports 2021: $334.904 million (2021 est.)
Exports - partners: India 66%, Chile 9%, Cote d'Ivoire 5%, Ghana 4%, Netherlands 3% (2023)
Exports - commodities: coconuts/brazil nuts/cashews, fish, fish oil, processed crustaceans, malt extract (2023)
Imports / Imports 2023: $592.095 million (2023 est.)
Imports / Imports 2022: $577.899 million (2022 est.)
Imports / Imports 2021: $518.162 million (2021 est.)
Imports - partners: Senegal 28%, Portugal 24%, China 11%, Gambia, The 10%, Pakistan 4% (2023)
Imports - commodities: refined petroleum, iron bars, rice, plastics, flavored water (2023)
Debt - external / Debt - external 2023: $896.812 million (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Currency: Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar -
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2024: 606.345 (2024 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2023: 606.57 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2022: 623.76 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2021: 554.531 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2020: 575.586 (2020 est.)

## Energy
Electricity access / electrification - total population: 37.4% (2022 est.)
Electricity access / electrification - urban areas: 61%
Electricity access / electrification - rural areas: 15.8%
Electricity / installed generating capacity: 29,000 kW (2023 est.)
Electricity / consumption: 79.8 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / transmission/distribution losses: 6 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / fossil fuels: 96.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / solar: 3.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Coal / imports: 1 metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum / refined petroleum consumption: 2,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Energy consumption per capita / Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 2.351 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

## Communications
Telephones - fixed lines / total subscriptions: 0 (2022 est.)
Telephones - fixed lines / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2022 est.) less than 1
Telephones - mobile cellular / total subscriptions: 2.76 million (2023 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 126 (2022 est.)
Broadcast media: 1 state-owned TV station, Televisao da Guine-Bissau (TGB) and a second station, Radio e Televisao de Portugal (RTP) Africa, operated by Portuguese public broadcaster (RTP); 1 state-owned radio station, several private radio stations, and some community radio stations; multiple international broadcasters are available (2019)
Internet country code: .gw
Internet users / percent of population: 33% (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / total: 7,000 (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2023 est.) less than 1

## Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: J5
Airports: 7 (2025)
Merchant marine / total: 20 (2023)
Merchant marine / by type: bulk carrier 3, general cargo 12, other 5
Ports / total ports: 2 (2024)
Ports / large: 0
Ports / medium: 0
Ports / small: 0
Ports / very small: 2
Ports / ports with oil terminals: 1
Ports / key ports: Bissau, Rio Cacheu

## Military and Security
Military and security forces: People's Revolutionary Armed Force (Forcas Armadas Revolucionarias do Povo or FARP): Army, Navy, Air Force Ministry of Internal Administration: National Guard (a gendarmerie force), Public Order Police, Border Police, Rapid Intervention Police, Maritime Police (2025)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2024: 1.2% of GDP (2024 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2023: 1.2% of GDP (2023 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2022: 1.4% of GDP (2022 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2021: 1.5% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2020: 1.5% of GDP (2020 est.)
Military and security service personnel strengths: estimated 4,000 active FARP (2025)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the FARP is outfitted mostly with Soviet-era weapons and equipment (2025)
Military service age and obligation: 18-25 years of age for selective compulsory military service for men and women (Air Force service is voluntary) (2025)
Military - note: the Armed Forces (FARP) are focused on external security, but also has some internal security duties; the FARP and the paramilitary National Guard have been influential in the country&rsquo;s politics since independence and have attempted several coups; since the 2000s, the FARP has undergone various attempts at defense and security sector reforms under the auspices of the African Union, the EU, the Economic Community of West Africa (ECOWAS), and the UN (2025)

## Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons / refugees: 54 (2024 est.)

=== Rwanda ===

## Introduction
Background: Rwanda -- a small and centralized country dominated by rugged hills and fertile volcanic soil -- has exerted disproportionate influence over the African Great Lakes region for centuries. A Rwandan kingdom increasingly dominated the region from the mid-18th century onward, with the Tutsi monarchs gradually extending the power of the royal court into peripheral areas and expanding their borders through military conquest. While the current ethnic labels Hutu and Tutsi predate colonial rule, their flexibility and importance have varied significantly over time and often manifested more as a hierarchical class distinction than an ethnic or cultural distinction. The majority Hutu and minority Tutsi have long shared a common language and culture, and intermarriage was frequent. The Rwandan royal court centered on the Tutsi king ( mwami ), who relied on an extensive network of political, cultural, and economic relationships. Social categories became more rigid during the reign of RWABUGIRI (1860-1895), who focused on aggressive expansion and solidifying Rwanda’s bureaucratic structures. German colonial conquest began in the late 1890s, but the territory was ceded to Belgian forces in 1916 during World War I. Both European nations quickly realized the benefits of ruling through the already centralized Rwandan Tutsi kingdom. Colonial rule reinforced existing trends toward autocratic and exclusionary rule, leading to the elimination of traditional positions of authority for Hutus. Belgian administrators significantly increased requirements for communal labor and instituted harsh taxes, which fed the population's frustration. Changing political attitudes in Belgium contributed to colonial and Catholic officials shifting their support from Tutsi to Hutu leaders in the years leading up to independence. Simmering resentment of minority rule exploded in 1959, three years before independence from Belgium, when Hutus overthrew the Tutsi king. Thousands of Tutsis were killed over the next several years, and some 150,000 were driven into exile in neighboring countries. Army Chief of Staff Juvenal HABYARIMANA seized power in a coup in 1973 and ruled Rwanda as a single-party state for two decades. HABYARIMANA increasingly discriminated against Tutsis, and extremist Hutu factions gained prominence after multiple parties were introduced in the early 1990s. The children of Tutsi exiles later formed a rebel group, the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF) and began a civil war in 1990. The civil war exacerbated ethnic tensions and culminated in the shooting down of HABYARIMANA’s private jet in 1994. The event sparked a state-orchestrated genocide in which Rwandans killed more than 800,000 of their fellow citizens, including approximately three-quarters of the Tutsi population. The genocide ended later the same year when the predominantly Tutsi RPF, operating out of Uganda and northern Rwanda, defeated the national army and Hutu militias and established an RPF-led government of national unity. Rwanda held its first local elections in 1999 and its first post-genocide presidential and legislative elections in 2003, formalizing President Paul KAGAME’s de facto role as head of government. KAGAME was formally elected in 2010, and again in 2017 after changing the constitution to allow him to run for a third term.

## Geography
Location: Central Africa, east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, north of Burundi
Geographic coordinates: 2 00 S, 30 00 E
Map references: Africa
Area / total: 26,338 sq km
Area / land: 24,668 sq km
Area / water: 1,670 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly smaller than Maryland
Land boundaries / total: 930 km
Land boundaries / border countries: Burundi 315 km; Democratic Republic of the Congo 221 km; Tanzania 222 km; Uganda 172 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
Climate: temperate; two rainy seasons (February to April, November to January); mild in mountains with frost and snow possible
Terrain: mostly grassy uplands and hills; relief is mountainous with altitude declining from west to east
Elevation / highest point: Volcan Karisimbi 4,519 m
Elevation / lowest point: Rusizi River 950 m
Elevation / mean elevation: 1,598 m
Natural resources: gold, cassiterite (tin ore), wolframite (tungsten ore), methane, hydropower, arable land
Land use / agricultural land: 76.3% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 47% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 13.7% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 15.6% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 24.5% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 0% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land: 96 sq km (2012)
Major lakes (area sq km) / fresh water lake(s): Lake Kivu (shared with Democratic Republic of Congo) - 2,220 sq km
Major rivers (by length in km): Nile river source (shared with Tanzania, Uganda, South Sudan, Sudan, and Egypt [m]) - 6,650 km note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Major watersheds (area sq km) / Atlantic Ocean drainage: Congo (3,730,881 sq km), (Mediterranean Sea) Nile (3,254,853 sq km)
Population distribution: one of Africa's most densely populated countries; large concentrations tend to be in the central regions and along the shore of Lake Kivu in the west, as shown in this population distribution map
Natural hazards: periodic droughts; the volcanic Virunga Mountains are in the northwest along the border with Democratic Republic of the Congo volcanism: Visoke (3,711 m), on the border with the Democratic Republic of the Congo, is the country's only historically active volcano
Geography - note: landlocked; most of the country is intensively cultivated and rugged, with the population predominantly rural

## People and Society
Population / total: 13,623,302 (2024 est.)
Population / male: 6,684,655
Population / female: 6,938,647
Nationality / noun: Rwandan(s)
Nationality / adjective: Rwandan
Ethnic groups: Hutu, Tutsi, Twa
Languages / Languages: Kinyarwanda (official, universal Bantu vernacular) 93.2%, French (official) <0.1%, English (official) <0.1%, Swahili/Kiswahili (official, used in commercial centers) <0.1%, more than one language, other 6.3%, unspecified 0.3% (2002 est.)
Languages / major-language sample(s): Inkoranya nzimbuzi y'isi, isoko fatizo y'amakuru y'ibanze. (Kinyarwanda) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
Religions: Catholic 39.9%, Pentecostal 21.3%, Protestant 14.6%, Adventist 12.2%, other Christians 4.2%, no religion 3.0%, Muslim 2.0%, other religions 2.0%; less than 1%: Jehovah Witness, not specified, Animist (2022 est.)
Age structure / 0-14 years: 37.2% (male 2,561,884/female 2,508,218)
Age structure / 15-64 years: 59.7% (male 3,954,608/female 4,179,844)
Age structure / 65 years and over: 3.1% (2024 est.) (male 168,163/female 250,585)
Dependency ratios / total dependency ratio: 67.5 (2024 est.)
Dependency ratios / youth dependency ratio: 62.3 (2024 est.)
Dependency ratios / elderly dependency ratio: 5.1 (2024 est.)
Dependency ratios / potential support ratio: 19.4 (2024 est.)
Median age / total: 21.3 years (2025 est.)
Median age / male: 20.1 years
Median age / female: 21.5 years
Population growth rate: 2% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 25.05 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 4.87 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: -0.13 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution: one of Africa's most densely populated countries; large concentrations tend to be in the central regions and along the shore of Lake Kivu in the west, as shown in this population distribution map
Urbanization / urban population: 17.9% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 3.07% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 1.248 million KIGALI (capital) (2023)
Sex ratio / at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 0-14 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 65 years and over: 0.67 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth: 23 years (2019/20 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio: 229 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Infant mortality rate / total: 27.4 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Infant mortality rate / male: 27.3 deaths/1,000 live births
Infant mortality rate / female: 22.5 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth / total population: 66.6 years (2024 est.)
Life expectancy at birth / male: 64.6 years
Life expectancy at birth / female: 68.6 years
Total fertility rate: 3.2 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 1.58 (2025 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: urban: urban: 88.1% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: rural: rural: 60.1% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: total: total: 65.1% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: urban: urban: 11.9% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: rural: rural: 39.9% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: total: total: 34.9% of population (2022 est.)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 7.3% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 9.5% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density: 0.09 physicians/1,000 population (2022)
Hospital bed density: 0.7 beds/1,000 population (2020 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: urban: urban: 91.4% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: rural: rural: 87% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: total: total: 87.8% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: urban: urban: 8.6% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: rural: rural: 13% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: total: total: 12.2% of population (2022 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 5.8% (2016)
Alcohol consumption per capita / total: 6.35 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / beer: 0.23 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / wine: 0.03 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / spirits: 0.09 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / other alcohols: 6 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Tobacco use / total: 11.4% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / male: 17% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / female: 6.3% (2025 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 7.7% (2020 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49): 49.9% (2022 est.)
Child marriage / women married by age 15: 0.3% (2020)
Child marriage / women married by age 18: 5.5% (2020)
Child marriage / men married by age 18: 0.4% (2020)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% GDP): 4.7% of GDP (2024 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% national budget): 13.9% national budget (2025 est.)
Literacy / total population: 78.8% (2022 est.)
Literacy / male: 81% (2022 est.)
Literacy / female: 76.7% (2022 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / total: 13 years (2023 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / male: 13 years (2023 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / female: 13 years (2023 est.)

## Environment
Environmental issues: deforestation; overgrazing; land degradation; soil erosion; a decline in soil fertility (soil exhaustion); wetland degradation and loss of biodiversity; widespread poaching
International environmental agreements / party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
International environmental agreements / signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea
Climate: temperate; two rainy seasons (February to April, November to January); mild in mountains with frost and snow possible
Land use / agricultural land: 76.3% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 47% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 13.7% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 15.6% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 24.5% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 0% (2023 est.)
Urbanization / urban population: 17.9% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 3.07% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / total emissions: 1.645 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from coal and metallurgical coke: 226,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from petroleum and other liquids: 1.295 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from consumed natural gas: 124,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Particulate matter emissions: 35.7 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Waste and recycling / municipal solid waste generated annually: 4.385 million tons (2024 est.)
Waste and recycling / percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 11.5% (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / municipal: 230 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / industrial: 10 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / agricultural: 361 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total renewable water resources: 13.3 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: Republic of Rwanda
Country name / conventional short form: Rwanda
Country name / local long form: Republika y'u Rwanda
Country name / local short form: Rwanda
Country name / former: Kingdom of Rwanda, Ruanda, German East Africa
Country name / etymology: the country is named for a local people, but the meaning of their own name is obscure
Government type: presidential republic
Capital / name: Kigali
Capital / geographic coordinates: 1 57 S, 30 03 E
Capital / time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Capital / etymology: the city takes its name from nearby Mount Kigali; the name is composed of the Bantu prefix ki- and the Rwandan word gali , meaning "broad," which is probably meant to describe the terrain
Administrative divisions: 4 provinces ( provinces , singular - province (French); intara for singular and plural (Kinyarwanda)) and 1 city* ( ville (French); umujyi (Kinyarwanda)); Est (Eastern), Kigali*, Nord (Northern), Ouest (Western), Sud (Southern)
Legal system: mixed system of civil law, based on German and Belgian models, and customary law; Supreme Court reviews legislative acts
Constitution / history: several previous; latest adopted by referendum 26 May 2003, effective 4 June 2003
Constitution / amendment process: proposed by the president of the republic (with Council of Ministers approval) or by two-thirds majority vote of both houses of Parliament; passage requires at least three-quarters majority vote in both houses; changes to constitutional articles on national sovereignty, the presidential term, the form and system of government, and political pluralism also require approval in a referendum
International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt
Citizenship / citizenship by birth: no
Citizenship / citizenship by descent only: the father must be a citizen of Rwanda; if the father is stateless or unknown, the mother must be a citizen
Citizenship / dual citizenship recognized: no
Citizenship / residency requirement for naturalization: 10 years
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch / chief of state: President Paul KAGAME (since 22 April 2000)
Executive branch / head of government: Prime Minister Justin NSENGIYUMVA (since 23 July 2025)
Executive branch / cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
Executive branch / election/appointment process: president directly elected by simple-majority popular vote for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); prime minister appointed by the president
Executive branch / most recent election date: 4 August 2017
Executive branch / election results: 2024: Paul KAGAME reelected president; Paul KAGAME (RPF) 99.2%, Frank HABINEZA (DGPR) 0.5%, Philippe MPAYIMANA (independent) 0.3% 2017: Paul KAGAME reelected president; Paul KAGAME (RPF) 98.8%, Philippe MPAYIMANA (independent), other 1.2%
Executive branch / expected date of next election: 15 July 2029
Legislative branch / legislature name: Parlement (Parliament)
Legislative branch / legislative structure: bicameral
Legislative branch - lower chamber / chamber name: Chamber of Deputies (Chambre des Députés)
Legislative branch - lower chamber / number of seats: 80 (53 directly elected; 27 indirectly elected)
Legislative branch - lower chamber / electoral system: proportional representation
Legislative branch - lower chamber / scope of elections: full renewal
Legislative branch - lower chamber / term in office: 5 years
Legislative branch - lower chamber / most recent election date: 7/15/2024 to 7/16/2024
Legislative branch - lower chamber / parties elected and seats per party: Rwandan Patriotic Front (FPR) and its allies (37); Liberal Party (PL) (5); Social Democratic Party (PSD) (5); Other (6)
Legislative branch - lower chamber / percentage of women in chamber: 63.8%
Legislative branch - lower chamber / expected date of next election: July 2029
Legislative branch - upper chamber / chamber name: Senate (Sénat)
Legislative branch - upper chamber / number of seats: 26 (18 indirectly elected; 8 appointed)
Legislative branch - upper chamber / scope of elections: full renewal
Legislative branch - upper chamber / term in office: 5 years
Legislative branch - upper chamber / most recent election date: 9/16/2024 to 9/16/2024
Legislative branch - upper chamber / percentage of women in chamber: 53.8%
Legislative branch - upper chamber / expected date of next election: September 2029
Judicial branch / highest court(s): Supreme Court (consists of the chief and deputy chief justices and 5 judges; normally organized into 3-judge panels); High Court (consists of the court president, vice president, and a minimum of 24 judges and organized into 5 chambers)
Judicial branch / judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court judges nominated by the president after consultation with the Cabinet and the Superior Council of the Judiciary (SCJ), a 27-member body of judges, other judicial officials, and legal professionals, and approved by the Senate; chief and deputy chief justices appointed for 8-year nonrenewable terms; tenure of judges NA; High Court president and vice president appointed by the president of the republic upon approval by the Senate; judges appointed by the Supreme Court chief justice upon approval of the SCJ; judge tenure NA
Judicial branch / subordinate courts: High Court of the Republic; commercial courts including the High Commercial Court; intermediate courts; primary courts; and military specialized courts
Political parties: Democratic Green Party of Rwanda or DGPR Liberal Party or PL Party for Progress and Concord or PPC Rwandan Patriotic Front or RPF Rwandan Patriotic Front Coalition (includes RPF, PPC, PSP, UDPR, PDI, PSR, PDC) Social Democratic Party or PSD Social Party Imberakuri or PS-Imberakuri
Diplomatic representation in the US / chief of mission: Ambassador Mathilde MUKANTABANA (since 18 July 2013)
Diplomatic representation in the US / chancery: 1714 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009
Diplomatic representation in the US / telephone: [1] (202) 232-2882
Diplomatic representation in the US / FAX: [1] (202) 232-4544
Diplomatic representation in the US / email address and website: info@rwandaembassy.org https://rwandaembassy.org/
Diplomatic representation from the US / chief of mission: Ambassador Eric KNEEDLER (since 3 October 2023)
Diplomatic representation from the US / embassy: 2657 Avenue de la Gendarmerie (Kaciyiru), P. O. Box 28 Kigali
Diplomatic representation from the US / mailing address: 2210 Kigali Place, Washington DC 20521-2210
Diplomatic representation from the US / telephone: [250] 252 596-400
Diplomatic representation from the US / FAX: [250] 252 580-325
Diplomatic representation from the US / email address and website: consularkigali@state.gov https://rw.usembassy.gov/
International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, AU, CEPGL, COMESA, EAC, EADB, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MINUSMA, NAM, OIF, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNISFA, UNMISS, UNOOSA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Independence: 1 July 1962 (from Belgium-administered UN trusteeship)
National holiday: Independence Day, 1 July (1962)
Flag: description: three horizontal bands of sky blue (top, double-width), yellow, and green, with a golden sun with 24 rays on the right end of the blue band meaning: blue stands for happiness and peace, yellow for economic development and mineral wealth, and green for hope for prosperity and natural resources; the sun symbolizes unity and enlightenment
National symbol(s): traditional woven basket with peaked lid
National color(s): blue, yellow, green
National anthem(s) / title: "Rwanda nziza" (Rwanda, Our Beautiful Country)
National anthem(s) / lyrics/music: Faustin MURIGO/Jean-Bosco HASHAKAIMANA
National anthem(s) / history: adopted 2001
National heritage / total World Heritage Sites: 2 (1 cultural, 1 natural)
National heritage / selected World Heritage Site locales: Memorial sites of the Genocide: Nyamata, Murambi, Gisozi and Bisesero (c); Nyungwe National Park (n)

## Economy
Economic overview: low-income Sub-Saharan economy; services, industry, and agriculture sectors driving growth; increased government spending on human capital, energy, and healthcare; major infrastructure projects including the Bugesera Airport intended to support long-term growth; challenges include lack of economic diversification, high inflation, and wide current account deficit
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $46.543 billion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $42.743 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $39.485 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2024: 8.9% (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2023: 8.2% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2022: 8.2% (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2024: $3,300 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2023: $3,100 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2022: $2,900 (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $14.252 billion (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024: 1.8% (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023: 19.8% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 17.7% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / agriculture: 24.6% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / industry: 21% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / services: 47.6% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / household consumption: 64.9% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / government consumption: 17.1% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in fixed capital: 29.1% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in inventories: -3.2% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / exports of goods and services: 30.8% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / imports of goods and services: -39.1% (2024 est.)
Agricultural products: bananas, cassava, sweet potatoes, plantains, potatoes, maize, beans, pumpkins/squash, taro, sorghum (2023)
Industries: cement, agricultural products, small-scale beverages, soap, furniture, shoes, plastic goods, textiles, cigarettes
Industrial production growth rate: 10% (2024 est.)
Labor force: 5.671 million (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2024: 12% (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2023: 12.4% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2022: 15.1% (2022 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / total: 17.5% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / male: 15.8% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / female: 19.4% (2024 est.)
Population below poverty line: 38.2% (2016 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income / Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2016: 43.7 (2016 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / lowest 10%: 2.4% (2016 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / highest 10%: 35.6% (2016 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2023: 3.6% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2022: 3.6% of GDP (2022 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2021: 3.5% of GDP (2021 est.)
Budget / revenues: $3.41 billion (2023 est.)
Budget / expenditures: $3.996 billion (2023 est.)
Public debt / Public debt 2016: 37.3% of GDP (2016 est.)
Taxes and other revenues: 13.5% (of GDP) (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2023: -$1.654 billion (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2022: -$1.246 billion (2022 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2021: -$1.209 billion (2021 est.)
Exports / Exports 2023: $3.509 billion (2023 est.)
Exports / Exports 2022: $2.993 billion (2022 est.)
Exports / Exports 2021: $2.11 billion (2021 est.)
Exports - partners: UAE 66%, China 10%, USA 3%, Kenya 3%, Thailand 2% (2023)
Exports - commodities: gold, rare earth ores, coffee, tea, tin ores (2023)
Imports / Imports 2023: $5.783 billion (2023 est.)
Imports / Imports 2022: $4.978 billion (2022 est.)
Imports / Imports 2021: $3.856 billion (2021 est.)
Imports - partners: China 19%, Kenya 14%, Uganda 13%, Tanzania 9%, UAE 7% (2023)
Imports - commodities: broadcasting equipment, fish, corn, packaged medicine, plastic products (2023)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024: $2.406 billion (2024 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023: $1.834 billion (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $1.726 billion (2022 est.)
Debt - external / Debt - external 2023: $5.531 billion (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Currency: Rwandan francs (RWF) per US dollar -
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2024: 1,318.128 (2024 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2023: 1,160.099 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2022: 1,030.308 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2021: 988.625 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2020: 943.278 (2020 est.)

## Energy
Electricity access / electrification - total population: 50.6% (2022 est.)
Electricity access / electrification - urban areas: 98%
Electricity access / electrification - rural areas: 38.2%
Electricity / installed generating capacity: 294,000 kW (2023 est.)
Electricity / consumption: 876.401 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / exports: 8.674 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / imports: 32 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / transmission/distribution losses: 197.606 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / fossil fuels: 43.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / solar: 3.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / hydroelectricity: 52.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / biomass and waste: 0.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Coal / consumption: 123,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / imports: 89,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum / refined petroleum consumption: 9,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Natural gas / production: 63.666 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / consumption: 63.696 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / proven reserves: 56.634 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)
Energy consumption per capita / Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 1.808 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

## Communications
Telephones - fixed lines / total subscriptions: 8,000 (2023 est.)
Telephones - fixed lines / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2023 est.) less than 1
Telephones - mobile cellular / total subscriptions: 12.8 million (2023 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 80 (2022 est.)
Broadcast media: 13 TV stations; 35 radio stations, including international broadcasters; government owns most popular TV and radio stations; regional satellite-based TV available
Internet country code: .rw
Internet users / percent of population: 34% (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / total: 62,000 (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2023 est.) less than 1

## Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: 9XR
Airports: 8 (2025)

## Military and Security
Military and security forces: Rwanda Defense Force (RDF; Ingabo z’u Rwanda): Rwanda Army (Rwanda Land Force), Rwanda Air Force (Force Aerienne Rwandaise, FAR), Rwanda Reserve Force, Special Units Ministry of Internal Security: Rwanda National Police (2025)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2024: 1.3% of GDP (2024 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2023: 1.3% of GDP (2023 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2022: 1.4% of GDP (2022 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2021: 1.4% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2020: 1.3% of GDP (2020 est.)
Military and security service personnel strengths: approximately 30-35,000 active Rwanda Defense Forces (2025)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the RDF's inventory is a mix of older and some modern equipment from suppliers such as China, France, Israel, Russia/former Soviet Union, South Africa, and T&uuml;rkiye (2025)
Military service age and obligation: typically 18-30 years of age for men and women for voluntary military service (including officer candidates and those with university degrees and specialized qualifications); enlistment is either as contract (5-years, renewable twice) or career professional; no conscription (2025)
Military deployments: approximately 3,200 Central African Republic (about 2,200 under MINUSCA, plus some 700 police; approximately 1,000 under a bi-lateral agreement); estimated 3-4,000 Democratic Republic of the Congo; estimated 3,000 Mozambique (bilateral agreement to assist with combating an insurgency; includes both military and police forces); 2,600 (plus about 450 police) South Sudan (UNMISS) (2025)
Military - note: the principle responsibilities of the Rwanda Defense Force (RDF) are ensuring territorial integrity and national sovereignty and preventing infiltrations of illegal armed groups from neighboring countries, particularly the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC); since 2021, Rwanda has deployed RDF troops to the border region with the DRC to combat the rebel Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), which it has accused the DRC of backing; Rwanda has been accused by the DRC, the UN, and the US of deploying RDF troops in the DRC and providing material support to the March 23 Movement (M23, aka Congolese Revolutionary Army) rebel group; the RDF also participates in UN and regional military operations, as well as multinational exercises; it has deployed several thousand RDF troops and police personnel to Mozambique to assist in combating an insurgency since 2021; Rwanda has mutual defense treaties with Kenya and Uganda the Rwandan Armed Forces (FAR) were established following independence in 1962; after the 1990-1994 civil war and genocide, the victorious Tutsi-dominated Rwandan Patriotic Front's military wing, the Rwandan Patriotic Army (RPA), became the country's military force; the RPA participated in the First (1996-1997) and Second (1998-2003) Congolese Wars; the RPA was renamed the Rwanda Defense Force (RDF) in 2003, by which time it had assumed a more national character with the inclusion of many former Hutu officers as well as newly recruited soldiers (2025)

## Space
Space agency/agencies: Rwanda Space Agency (L&rsquo;Agence Spatiale Rwandaise; RSA; established 2020 and approved by legislature in 2021) (2025)
Space program overview: has a small program focused on developing space technologies, such as satellite communications and imagery for connectivity, disaster management, security, and socioeconomic development; operates communications and remote sensing (RS) satellites; has established ties with the space agencies or industries of several countries, including France, Israel, Japan, Poland, the UAE, and the US, as well as members of the African Space Agency; seeks to establish itself as an African hub for satellite production and has encouraged development of a domestic commercial space sector (2025)
Key space-program milestones: 2018 - signed cooperation agreement with Japan for training in designing and producing mini-satellites 2019 - first remote sensing (RS) nanosatellite (RWASAT-1) built with assistance from and launched by Japan; first commercial communications satellite (Icyerekezo) built and launched by France 2022 - signed US-led Artemis Accords for space exploration 2025 - joined newly formed African Space Agency

## Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons / refugees: 128,561 (2024 est.)
Refugees and internally displaced persons / IDPs: 21,948 (2024 est.)
Refugees and internally displaced persons / stateless persons: 14,500 (2024 est.)
Trafficking in persons / tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List — the government did not demonstrate overall increasing efforts to eliminate trafficking compared with the previous reporting period, therefore Rwanda remained on Tier 2 Watch List for the second consecutive year; for more details, go to: https://www.state.gov/reports/2025-trafficking-in-persons-report/rwanda

=== Seychelles ===

## Introduction
Background: Seychelles was uninhabited before Europeans discovered the islands early in the 16th century. After a lengthy struggle, France eventually ceded control of the islands to Great Britain in 1814. During colonial rule, a plantation-based economy developed that relied on imported labor, primarily from European colonies in Africa. Seychelles gained independence in 1976 through negotiations with Great Britain. In 1977, Prime Minister France-Albert RENE launched a coup against the country’s first president, and Seychelles became a socialist one-party state until adopting a new constitution and holding elections in 1993. RENE continued to lead Seychelles through two election cycles until he stepped down in 2004. Vice President James Alix MICHEL took over the presidency and in 2006 was elected to a new five-year term; he was reelected in 2011 and again in 2015. In 2016, James MICHEL resigned and handed over the presidency to his vice-president, Danny FAURE. In 2020, Wavel RAMKALAWAN was elected president, the first time an opposition candidate has won the presidency.

## Geography
Location: archipelago in the Indian Ocean, northeast of Madagascar
Geographic coordinates: 4 35 S, 55 40 E
Map references: Africa
Area / total: 455 sq km
Area / land: 455 sq km
Area / water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative: 2.5 times the size of Washington, D.C.
Land boundaries / total: 0 km
Coastline: 491 km
Maritime claims / territorial sea: 12 nm
Maritime claims / contiguous zone: 24 nm
Maritime claims / exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Maritime claims / continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
Climate: tropical marine; humid; cooler season during southeast monsoon (late May to September); warmer season during northwest monsoon (March to May)
Terrain: Mahe Group is volcanic with a narrow coastal strip and rocky, hilly interior; others are relatively flat coral atolls, or elevated reefs; sits atop the submarine Mascarene Plateau
Elevation / highest point: Morne Seychellois 905 m
Elevation / lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
Natural resources: fish, coconuts (copra), cinnamon trees
Land use / agricultural land: 3.4% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 0.3% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 3% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 0% (2022 est.)
Land use / forest: 58.6% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 38% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land: 3 sq km (2012)
Population distribution: more than three quarters of the population lives on the main island of Mahe; Praslin is home to less than 10%, and a smaller percentage is on La Digue and the outer islands, as shown in this population distribution map
Natural hazards: lies outside the cyclone belt, so severe storms are rare; occasional short droughts
Geography - note: the smallest African country in terms of both area and population; the constitution of the Republic of Seychelles lists 155 islands, including 42 granitic and 113 coralline; the largest island by far is Mahe, which is home to about 90% of the population and is the site of the capital city of Victoria

## People and Society
Population / total: 98,187 (2024 est.)
Population / male: 50,973
Population / female: 47,214
Nationality / noun: Seychellois (singular and plural)
Nationality / adjective: Seychellois
Ethnic groups: predominantly Creole (mainly of East African and Malagasy heritage); also French, Indian, Chinese, and Arab populations
Languages: Seychellois Creole (official) 89.1%, English (official) 5.1%, French (official) 0.7%, other 3.8%, unspecified 1.4% (2010 est.)
Religions: Roman Catholic 76.2%, Protestant 10.5% (Anglican 6.1%, Pentecostal Assembly 1.5%, Seventh Day Adventist 1.2%, other Protestant 1.7%), other Christian 2.4%, Hindu 2.4%, Muslim 1.6%, other non-Christian 1.1%, unspecified 4.8%, none 0.9% (2010 est.)
Age structure / 0-14 years: 17.7% (male 8,912/female 8,439)
Age structure / 15-64 years: 72.4% (male 37,841/female 33,210)
Age structure / 65 years and over: 10% (2024 est.) (male 4,220/female 5,565)
Dependency ratios / total dependency ratio: 38.2 (2024 est.)
Dependency ratios / youth dependency ratio: 24.4 (2024 est.)
Dependency ratios / elderly dependency ratio: 13.8 (2024 est.)
Dependency ratios / potential support ratio: 7.3 (2024 est.)
Median age / total: 39.2 years (2025 est.)
Median age / male: 38.2 years
Median age / female: 39.4 years
Population growth rate: 0.53% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 11.59 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 7.02 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: 0.71 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution: more than three quarters of the population lives on the main island of Mahe; Praslin is home to less than 10%, and a smaller percentage is on La Digue and the outer islands, as shown in this population distribution map
Urbanization / urban population: 58.8% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 0.99% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 28,000 VICTORIA (capital) (2018)
Sex ratio / at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 15-64 years: 1.14 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 65 years and over: 0.76 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / total population: 1.08 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio: 42 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Infant mortality rate / total: 10 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Infant mortality rate / male: 12.8 deaths/1,000 live births
Infant mortality rate / female: 7.4 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth / total population: 76.6 years (2024 est.)
Life expectancy at birth / male: 72.2 years
Life expectancy at birth / female: 81.1 years
Total fertility rate: 1.8 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 0.89 (2025 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: total: total: 96.4% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: total: total: 3.6% of population (2022 est.)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 5.3% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 10.2% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density: 2.25 physicians/1,000 population (2019)
Hospital bed density: 3.2 beds/1,000 population (2020 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: total: total: 100% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: total: total: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 14% (2016)
Alcohol consumption per capita / total: 9.48 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / beer: 4.11 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / wine: 0.49 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / spirits: 4.62 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / other alcohols: 0.25 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Tobacco use / total: 20.5% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / male: 34.2% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / female: 5.2% (2025 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49): 44.6% (2022 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% GDP): 4.5% of GDP (2023 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% national budget): 10.7% national budget (2025 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / total: 13 years (2023 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / male: 13 years (2023 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / female: 15 years (2023 est.)

## Environment
Environmental issues: limited freshwater resources; water pollution; biodiversity
International environmental agreements / party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
International environmental agreements / signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Climate: tropical marine; humid; cooler season during southeast monsoon (late May to September); warmer season during northwest monsoon (March to May)
Land use / agricultural land: 3.4% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 0.3% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 3% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 0% (2022 est.)
Land use / forest: 58.6% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 38% (2023 est.)
Urbanization / urban population: 58.8% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 0.99% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / total emissions: 893,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from coal and metallurgical coke: 92 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from petroleum and other liquids: 893,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Particulate matter emissions: 17.4 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Waste and recycling / municipal solid waste generated annually: 48,000 tons (2024 est.)
Waste and recycling / percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 24.4% (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / municipal: 9 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / industrial: 3.8 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / agricultural: 900,000 cubic meters (2022 est.)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: Republic of Seychelles
Country name / conventional short form: Seychelles
Country name / local long form: Republic of Seychelles
Country name / local short form: Seychelles
Country name / etymology: named by French Captain Corneille Nicholas MORPHEY after Jean Moreau de S&Eacute;CHELLES, the finance minister of France, in 1756; the British changed the spelling of the name in 1815 when they acquired the islands
Government type: presidential republic
Capital / name: Victoria
Capital / geographic coordinates: 4 37 S, 55 27 E
Capital / time difference: UTC+4 (9 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Capital / etymology: the British named the town Port Victoria in 1841 after Queen VICTORIA; the name was later shortened
Administrative divisions: 27 administrative districts; Anse aux Pins, Anse Boileau, Anse Etoile, Anse Royale, Au Cap, Baie Lazare, Baie Sainte Anne, Beau Vallon, Bel Air, Bel Ombre, Cascade, Glacis, Grand Anse Mahe, Grand Anse Praslin, Ile Pers&eacute;v&eacute;rance I, Ile Pers&eacute;v&eacute;rance II, La Digue, La Rivi&egrave;re Anglaise, Les Mamelles, Mont Buxton, Mont Fleuri, Plaisance, Pointe Larue, Port Glaud, Roche Caiman, Saint Louis, Takamaka
Legal system: mixed system of English common law, French civil law, and customary law
Constitution / history: previous 1970, 1979; latest drafted May 1993, approved by referendum 18 June 1993, effective 23 June 1993
Constitution / amendment process: proposed by the National Assembly; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote by the National Assembly; passage of amendments affecting the country&rsquo;s sovereignty, symbols and languages, the supremacy of the constitution, fundamental rights and freedoms, amendment procedures, and dissolution of the Assembly also requires approval by at least 60% of voters in a referendum
International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Citizenship / citizenship by birth: no
Citizenship / citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of the Seychelles
Citizenship / dual citizenship recognized: no
Citizenship / residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch / chief of state: President Patrick HERMINIE (since 26 October 2025)
Executive branch / head of government: President Patrick HERMINIE (since 26 October 2025)
Executive branch / cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
Executive branch / election/appointment process: president directly elected by absolute-majority popular vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term)
Executive branch / most recent election date: 9 October 2025
Executive branch / election results: 2025 : Patrick HERMINIE elected president; Patrick HERMINIE (US) 52.7%, Wavel RAMKALAWAN (LDS) 47.3%
Executive branch / expected date of next election: 2030
Legislative branch / legislature name: National Assembly
Legislative branch / legislative structure: unicameral
Legislative branch / number of seats: 34 (all directly elected)
Legislative branch / electoral system: mixed system
Legislative branch / scope of elections: full renewal
Legislative branch / term in office: 5 years
Legislative branch / most recent election date: 9/27/2025
Legislative branch / parties elected and seats per party: United Seychelles (US) (19); Seychelles Democratic Alliance (Linyon Demokratik Seselwa, LDS) (15)
Legislative branch / percentage of women in chamber: 26.5%
Legislative branch / expected date of next election: September 2030
Judicial branch / highest court(s): Seychelles Court of Appeal (consists of the court president and 4 justices); Supreme Court of Seychelles (consists of the chief justice and 9 puisne judges); Constitutional Court (consists of 3 Supreme Court judges)
Judicial branch / judge selection and term of office: all judges appointed by the president of the republic upon the recommendation of the Constitutional Appointments Authority, a 3-member body, with 1 member appointed by the president of the republic, 1 by the opposition leader in the National Assembly, and 1 by the other 2 appointees; judges serve until retirement at age 70
Judicial branch / subordinate courts: Magistrates' Courts of Seychelles; Family Tribunal for issues such as domestic violence, child custody, and maintenance; Employment Tribunal for labor-related disputes
Political parties: Seychelles Party for Social Justice and Democracy or SPSJD Seychellois Democratic Alliance or LDS (Linyon Demokratik Seselwa/Union Démocratique Seychelloise) Seychelles National Party or SNP United Seychelles or US
Diplomatic representation in the US / chief of mission: Ambassador Vivianne FOCK TAVE (since 16 December 2025); note - also Permanent Representative to the UN
Diplomatic representation in the US / chancery: 685 Third Avenue, Suite 1107, 11th Floor, New York, NY 10017
Diplomatic representation in the US / telephone: [1] (212) 972-1785
Diplomatic representation in the US / FAX: [1] (212) 972-1786
Diplomatic representation in the US / email address and website: seychellesmission@sycun.org Foreign Affairs Department Republic of Seychelles » United States of America (mfa.gov.sc)
Diplomatic representation from the US / chief of mission: Ambassador Henry V. JARDINE (since 22 February 2023) and Charg&eacute; d&rsquo;Affaires Adham LOUTFI (since 6 October 2023); note - Ambassador JARDINE is posted in Mauritius and is accredited to Seychelles, and Charg&eacute; d&rsquo;Affaires LOUTFI is posted in Victoria, Mahe, Seychelles
Diplomatic representation from the US / embassy: 2nd Floor, Oliaji Trade Center, Victoria Mahe, Seychelles; note - US Embassy in Seychelles reopened on 1 June 2023 after having been closed in 1996
Diplomatic representation from the US / telephone: [248] 422 5256
Diplomatic representation from the US / email address and website: USEmbassySeychelles@state.gov https://sc.usembassy.gov/
International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, AOSIS, AU, C, CD, COMESA, EITI (candidate country), FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, InOC, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITU, MIGA, NAM, OIF, OPCW, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Independence: 29 June 1976 (from the UK)
National holiday: Constitution Day, 18 June (1993); Independence Day (National Day), 29 June (1976)
Flag: description: five expanding bands of blue, yellow, red, white, and green, radiating from the bottom left corner meaning: the bands symbolize a dynamic new country moving into the future; blue stands for the sky and sea, yellow for the sun giving light and life, red for the people's determination to work for the future in unity and love, white for social justice and harmony, and green for the land and natural environment
National symbol(s): coco de mer (sea coconut)
National color(s): blue, yellow, red, white, green
National anthem(s) / title: "Koste Seselwa" (Seychellois Unite)
National anthem(s) / lyrics/music: David Francois Marc ANDRE and George Charles Robert PAYET
National anthem(s) / history: adopted 1996
National heritage / total World Heritage Sites: 2 (both natural)
National heritage / selected World Heritage Site locales: Aldabra Atoll; Vallée de Mai Nature Reserve

## Economy
Economic overview: high-income Indian Ocean island economy; rapidly growing tourism sector; major tuna exporter; offshore financial hub; environmentally fragile and investing in ocean rise mitigation; recently discovered offshore oil potential; successful anticorruption efforts
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $3.549 billion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $3.43 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $3.354 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2024: 3.5% (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2023: 2.3% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2022: 12.7% (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2024: $29,200 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2023: $28,600 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2022: $28,000 (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $2.167 billion (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024: 0.3% (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023: -1% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 2.6% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / agriculture: 2.5% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / industry: 12.3% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / services: 65.8% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / household consumption: 74.6% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / government consumption: 26.3% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in fixed capital: 17.2% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in inventories: 0% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / exports of goods and services: 85.2% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / imports of goods and services: -103.2% (2024 est.)
Agricultural products: coconuts, vegetables, bananas, eggs, chicken, pork, fruits, tomatoes, tropical fruits, cassava (2023)
Industries: fishing, tourism, beverages
Industrial production growth rate: -6.4% (2024 est.)
Population below poverty line: 25.3% (2018 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income / Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2018: 32.1 (2018 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / lowest 10%: 2.6% (2018 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / highest 10%: 23.9% (2018 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2023: 0.5% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2022: 0.5% of GDP (2022 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2021: 0.6% of GDP (2021 est.)
Budget / revenues: $695.973 million (2023 est.)
Budget / expenditures: $728.171 million (2023 est.)
Public debt / Public debt 2017: 63.6% of GDP (2017 est.)
Taxes and other revenues: 26.18% (of GDP) (2020 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2023: -$155.194 million (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2022: -$141.648 million (2022 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2021: -$160.168 million (2021 est.)
Exports / Exports 2023: $2.375 billion (2023 est.)
Exports / Exports 2022: $2.247 billion (2022 est.)
Exports / Exports 2021: $1.751 billion (2021 est.)
Exports - partners: France 20%, Mauritius 12%, UK 9%, Japan 8%, Italy 8% (2023)
Exports - commodities: fish, scrap iron, animal meal, broadcasting equipment, ships (2023)
Imports / Imports 2023: $2.437 billion (2023 est.)
Imports / Imports 2022: $2.298 billion (2022 est.)
Imports / Imports 2021: $1.821 billion (2021 est.)
Imports - partners: UAE 32%, Spain 10%, France 6%, South Africa 6%, India 6% (2023)
Imports - commodities: refined petroleum, fish, ships, cars, plastic products (2023)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024: $773.678 million (2024 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023: $682.794 million (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $638.961 million (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Currency: Seychelles rupees (SCR) per US dollar -
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2024: 14.53 (2024 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2023: 14.018 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2022: 14.273 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2021: 16.921 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2020: 17.617 (2020 est.)

## Energy
Electricity access / electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)
Electricity / installed generating capacity: 156,000 kW (2023 est.)
Electricity / consumption: 581.227 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / transmission/distribution losses: 44.034 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / fossil fuels: 86.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / solar: 12.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / wind: 1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Coal / imports: 500 metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum / refined petroleum consumption: 6,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Energy consumption per capita / Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 98.847 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

## Communications
Telephones - fixed lines / total subscriptions: 18,000 (2023 est.)
Telephones - fixed lines / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 14 (2023 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / total subscriptions: 165,000 (2023 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 192 (2022 est.)
Broadcast media: state-run national broadcaster Seychelles Broadcasting Corporation (SBC) has the only terrestrial TV station, which also airs broadcasts from international services; privately owned Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) channel; multi-channel cable and satellite TV available through 2 providers; SBC operates 1 AM and 1 FM radio station; 2 privately operated radio stations; transmissions of 2 international broadcasters available in Victoria (2019)
Internet country code: .sc
Internet users / percent of population: 87% (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / total: 39,000 (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 31 (2023 est.)

## Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: S7
Airports: 16 (2025)
Heliports: 6 (2025)
Merchant marine / total: 30 (2023)
Merchant marine / by type: general cargo 6, oil tanker 6, other 18
Ports / total ports: 1 (2024)
Ports / large: 0
Ports / medium: 0
Ports / small: 0
Ports / very small: 1
Ports / ports with oil terminals: 1
Ports / key ports: Victoria

## Military and Security
Military and security forces: Seychelles People's Defense Forces (SPDF; aka Seychelles Defense Forces, SDF): Army (includes infantry, special forces, and a presidential security unit), Coast Guard, and Air Force Ministry of Internal Affairs: Seychelles Police Force (2025)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2024: 1.5% of GDP (2024 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2023: 1.6% of GDP (2023 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2022: 1.4% of GDP (2022 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2021: 1.5% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2020: 1.6% of GDP (2020 est.)
Military and security service personnel strengths: approximately 500 active Defense Forces (2025)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the SDF is lightly armed; its inventory consists of obsolescent armaments delivered in the 1970s and 1980s and some more recently donated equipment from Bahrain, China, India, and UAE (2025)
Military service age and obligation: 18-35 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women; no conscription (2026)
Military - note: formed in 1977, the SDF is one of the World's smallest militaries; its primary responsibility is maritime security, including countering illegal fishing, piracy, and drug smuggling; it was given police powers in 2022; the Seychelles maintains close security ties with India, which has provided support to the SDF's maritime security operations (2025)

## Transnational Issues

=== South Africa ===

## Introduction
Background: Some of the earliest human remains in the fossil record were found in South Africa. By about A.D. 500, Bantu-speaking groups began settling into what is now northeastern South Africa, displacing Khoisan-speaking groups to the southwest. Dutch traders landed at the southern tip of present-day South Africa in 1652 and established a stopover point on the spice route between the Netherlands and the Far East, founding the city of Cape Town. After the British seized the Cape of Good Hope area in 1806, many settlers of Dutch descent -- known then as "Boers," or farmers, but later called Afrikaners -- trekked north to found their own republics, Transvaal and Orange Free State. In the 1820s, several decades of wars began as the Zulus expanded their territory, moving out of what is today southeastern South Africa and clashing with other indigenous peoples and the growing European settlements. The discovery of diamonds (1867) and gold (1886) spurred mass immigration, predominantly from Europe. The Zulu kingdom's territory was incorporated into the British Empire after the Anglo-Zulu War in 1879, and the Afrikaner republics were incorporated after their defeat in the Second South African War (1899-1902). Beginning in 1910, the British and the Afrikaners ruled together under the Union of South Africa, which left the British Commonwealth to become a fully self-governing republic in 1961 after a Whites-only referendum. In 1948, the National Party was voted into power and instituted a policy of apartheid -– billed as "separate development" of the races -- which favored the White minority and suppressed the Black majority and other non-White groups. The African National Congress (ANC) led the resistance to apartheid, and many top ANC leaders such as Nelson MANDELA spent decades in South Africa's prisons. Internal protests and insurgency, as well as boycotts from some Western nations and institutions, led to the regime's eventual willingness to unban the ANC and negotiate a peaceful transition to majority rule. The first multi-racial elections in 1994 ushered in majority rule under an ANC-led government. South Africa has since struggled to address apartheid-era imbalances in wealth, housing, education, and health care under successive administrations. President Cyril RAMAPHOSA, who was reelected as the ANC leader in 2022, has made some progress in reigning in corruption.

## Geography
Location: Southern Africa, at the southern tip of the continent of Africa
Geographic coordinates: 29 00 S, 24 00 E
Map references: Africa
Area / total: 1,219,090 sq km
Area / land: 1,214,470 sq km
Area / water: 4,620 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly less than twice the size of Texas
Land boundaries / total: 5,244 km
Land boundaries / border countries: Botswana 1,969 km; Lesotho 1,106 km; Mozambique 496 km; Namibia 1,005 km; Eswatini 438 km; Zimbabwe 230 km
Coastline: 2,798 km
Maritime claims / territorial sea: 12 nm
Maritime claims / contiguous zone: 24 nm
Maritime claims / exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Maritime claims / continental shelf: 200 nm or to edge of the continental margin
Climate: mostly semiarid; subtropical along east coast; sunny days, cool nights
Terrain: vast interior plateau rimmed by rugged hills and narrow coastal plain
Elevation / highest point: Ntheledi (Mafadi) 3,450 m
Elevation / lowest point: Atlantic/Indian Oceans 0 m
Elevation / mean elevation: 1,034 m
Natural resources: gold, chromium, antimony, coal, iron ore, manganese, nickel, phosphates, tin, rare earth elements, uranium, gem diamonds, platinum, copper, vanadium, salt, natural gas
Land use / agricultural land: 79.4% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 9.9% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 0.3% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 69.2% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 18.7% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 1.9% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land: 16,700 sq km (2012)
Major rivers (by length in km): Orange (shared with Lesotho [s], and Namibia [m]) - 2,092 km; Limpoporivier (Limpopo) river source (shared with Botswana, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique [m]) - 1,800 km; Vaal [s] - 1,210 km note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Major watersheds (area sq km) / Atlantic Ocean drainage: Orange (941,351 sq km)
Major aquifers: Karoo Basin, Lower Kalahari-Stampriet Basin
Population distribution: the population is concentrated along the southern and southeastern coast, and inland around Pretoria; the eastern half of the country is more densely populated than the west, as shown in this population distribution map
Natural hazards: prolonged droughts volcanism: the volcano that formed Marion Island in the Prince Edward Islands is South Africa's only active volcano
Geography - note: note 1: South Africa completely surrounds Lesotho and almost completely surrounds Eswatini note 2: sometimes mistaken for the southernmost point of Africa, the Cape of Good Hope is more accurately described as the southwestern-most point of the African continent; Cape Agulhas, the meeting point of the Atlantic and Indian Oceans, is the southernmost point of the African continent

## People and Society
Population / total: 61,089,926 (2025 est.)
Population / male: 29,989,969
Population / female: 31,099,957
Nationality / noun: South African(s)
Nationality / adjective: South African
Ethnic groups: Black African 80.9%, Colored 8.8%, White 7.8%, Indian/Asian 2.6% (2021 est.)
Languages / Languages: isiZulu or Zulu (official) 25.3%, isiXhosa or Xhosa (official) 14.8%, Afrikaans (official) 12.2%, Sepedi or Pedi (official) 10.1%, Setswana or Tswana (official) 9.1%, English (official) 8.1%, Sesotho or Sotho (official) 7.9%, Xitsonga or Tsonga (official) 3.6%, siSwati or Swati (official) 2.8%, Tshivenda or Venda (official) 2.5%, isiNdebele or Ndebele (official) 1.6%, other (includes South African sign language (official) and Khoi or Khoisan or Khoe languages) 2% (2018 est.)
Languages / major-language sample(s): Die Wereld Feite Boek, n’ onontbeerlike bron vir basiese informasie. (Afrikaans) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information. (English)
Religions: Christian 86%, ancestral, tribal, animist, or other traditional African religions 5.4%, Muslim 1.9%, other 1.5%, nothing in particular 5.2% (2015 est.)
Age structure / 0-14 years: 27.2% (male 8,227,690/female 8,194,392)
Age structure / 15-64 years: 65.3% (male 19,524,873/female 19,947,839)
Age structure / 65 years and over: 7.5% (2024 est.) (male 1,911,825/female 2,636,028)
Dependency ratios / total dependency ratio: 53 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / youth dependency ratio: 41.1 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / elderly dependency ratio: 11.8 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / potential support ratio: 8.4 (2025 est.)
Median age / total: 30.7 years (2025 est.)
Median age / male: 30.1 years
Median age / female: 30.6 years
Population growth rate: 1.06% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 17.21 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 6.56 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: -0.07 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution: the population is concentrated along the southern and southeastern coast, and inland around Pretoria; the eastern half of the country is more densely populated than the west, as shown in this population distribution map
Urbanization / urban population: 68.8% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 1.72% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 10.316 million Johannesburg (includes Ekurhuleni), 4.890 million Cape Town (legislative capital), 3.228 million Durban, 2.818 million PRETORIA (administrative capital), 1.296 million Port Elizabeth, 934,000 West Rand (2023)
Sex ratio / at birth: 1.02 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 0-14 years: 1 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 65 years and over: 0.73 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio: 118 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Infant mortality rate / total: 19.7 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Infant mortality rate / male: 23.9 deaths/1,000 live births
Infant mortality rate / female: 20 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth / total population: 71.9 years (2024 est.)
Life expectancy at birth / male: 70.3 years
Life expectancy at birth / female: 73.5 years
Total fertility rate: 2.23 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 1.1 (2025 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: urban: urban: 99.1% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: rural: rural: 84.5% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: total: total: 94.5% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: urban: urban: 0.9% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: rural: rural: 15.5% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: total: total: 5.5% of population (2022 est.)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 8.3% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 16.9% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density: 0.79 physicians/1,000 population (2022)
Sanitation facility access / improved: urban: urban: 95.9% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: rural: rural: 81.7% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: total: total: 91.4% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: urban: urban: 4.1% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: rural: rural: 18.3% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: total: total: 8.6% of population (2022 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 28.3% (2016)
Alcohol consumption per capita / total: 7.21 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / beer: 3.99 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / wine: 1.21 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / spirits: 1.31 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / other alcohols: 0.7 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Tobacco use / total: 20.1% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / male: 35.3% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / female: 6% (2025 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 4.9% (2017 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49): 33.6% (2020 est.)
Child marriage / women married by age 15: 0.9% (2016)
Child marriage / women married by age 18: 3.6% (2016)
Child marriage / men married by age 18: 0.6% (2016)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% GDP): 6% of GDP (2024 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% national budget): 19.1% national budget (2025 est.)
Literacy / total population: 91.2% (2024 est.)
Literacy / male: 91.5% (2024 est.)
Literacy / female: 90.8% (2024 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / total: 14 years (2022 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / male: 14 years (2022 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / female: 14 years (2022 est.)

## Environment
Environmental issues: limited freshwater resources due to lack of major rivers or lakes; pollution of rivers from agricultural runoff and urban waste; air pollution resulting in acid rain; deforestation; soil erosion; land degradation; desertification; solid waste pollution; significant floral extinctions
International environmental agreements / party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protection, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
International environmental agreements / signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Climate: mostly semiarid; subtropical along east coast; sunny days, cool nights
Land use / agricultural land: 79.4% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 9.9% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 0.3% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 69.2% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 18.7% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 1.9% (2023 est.)
Urbanization / urban population: 68.8% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 1.72% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / total emissions: 446.704 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from coal and metallurgical coke: 365.269 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from petroleum and other liquids: 73.913 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from consumed natural gas: 7.522 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Particulate matter emissions: 17 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Methane emissions / energy: 1,489.2 kt (2022-2024 est.)
Methane emissions / agriculture: 754.2 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Methane emissions / waste: 770.2 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Methane emissions / other: 32.1 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Waste and recycling / municipal solid waste generated annually: 18.457 million tons (2024 est.)
Waste and recycling / percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 28.2% (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / municipal: 3.476 billion cubic meters (2022)
Total water withdrawal / industrial: 4.616 billion cubic meters (2022)
Total water withdrawal / agricultural: 11.839 billion cubic meters (2022)
Total renewable water resources: 51.35 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: Republic of South Africa
Country name / conventional short form: South Africa
Country name / former: Union of South Africa
Country name / abbreviation: RSA
Country name / etymology: self-descriptive name from the country's location on the continent; "Africa" is derived from the Roman designation of the area corresponding to present-day Tunisia "Africa terra," which meant "Land of the Afri" (the tribe resident in that area), but which eventually came to mean the entire continent
Government type: parliamentary republic
Capital / name: Pretoria (administrative capital); Cape Town (legislative capital); Bloemfontein (judicial capital)
Capital / geographic coordinates: 25 42 S, 28 13 E
Capital / time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Capital / etymology: Pretoria was named in honor of Boer statesman Andries PRETORIUS in 1855; Cape Town's name refers to its location on the Cape of Good Hope; Bloemfontein was named after the farm on which it was built in 1846, whose name combined the Dutch words bloem (flower) and fontein (fountain)
Administrative divisions: 9 provinces; Eastern Cape, Free State, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, Northern Cape, North West, Western Cape
Legal system: mixed system of Roman-Dutch civil law, English common law, and customary law
Constitution / history: several previous; latest drafted 8 May 1996, approved by the Constitutional Court 4 December 1996, effective 4 February 1997
Constitution / amendment process: proposed by the National Assembly of Parliament; passage of amendments affecting constitutional sections on human rights and freedoms, non-racism and non-sexism, supremacy of the constitution, suffrage, the multi-party system of democratic government, and amendment procedures requires at least 75% majority vote of the Assembly, approval by at least six of the nine provinces represented in the National Council of Provinces, and assent of the president of the republic; passage of amendments affecting the Bill of Rights, and those related to provincial boundaries, powers, and authorities requires at least two-thirds majority vote of the Assembly, approval by at least six of the nine provinces represented in the National Council, and assent of the president
International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Citizenship / citizenship by birth: no
Citizenship / citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of South Africa
Citizenship / dual citizenship recognized: yes, but requires prior permission of the government
Citizenship / residency requirement for naturalization: 5 year
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch / chief of state: President Matamela Cyril RAMAPHOSA (since 19 June 2024)
Executive branch / head of government: President Matamela Cyril RAMAPHOSA (since 19 June 2024)
Executive branch / cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president
Executive branch / election/appointment process: president indirectly elected by the National Assembly for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term)
Executive branch / most recent election date: 29 May 2024
Executive branch / election results: 2024: Matamela Cyril RAMAPHOSA (ANC) elected president by the National Assembly unopposed 2019: Matamela Cyril RAMAPHOSA (ANC) elected president by the National Assembly unopposed
Executive branch / expected date of next election: May 2029
Legislative branch / legislature name: Parliament
Legislative branch / legislative structure: bicameral
Legislative branch - lower chamber / chamber name: National Assembly
Legislative branch - lower chamber / number of seats: 400 (all directly elected)
Legislative branch - lower chamber / electoral system: proportional representation
Legislative branch - lower chamber / scope of elections: full renewal
Legislative branch - lower chamber / term in office: 5 years
Legislative branch - lower chamber / most recent election date: 6/15/2024
Legislative branch - lower chamber / percentage of women in chamber: 44.7%
Legislative branch - lower chamber / expected date of next election: May 2029
Legislative branch - upper chamber / chamber name: National Council of Provinces
Legislative branch - upper chamber / number of seats: 90 (all appointed)
Legislative branch - upper chamber / scope of elections: full renewal
Legislative branch - upper chamber / term in office: 5 years
Legislative branch - upper chamber / most recent election date: 5/29/2024
Legislative branch - upper chamber / percentage of women in chamber: 44.4%
Legislative branch - upper chamber / expected date of next election: June 2029
Judicial branch / highest court(s): Supreme Court of Appeals (consists of the court president, deputy president, and 21 judges); Constitutional Court (consists of the chief and deputy chief justices and 9 judges)
Judicial branch / judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court of Appeals president and vice president appointed by the national president after consultation with the Judicial Services Commission (JSC), a 23-member body chaired by the chief justice; other Supreme Court judges appointed by the national president on the advice of the JSC and hold office until discharged from active service by an Act of Parliament; Constitutional Court chief and deputy chief justices appointed by the president of South Africa after consultation with the JSC and with heads of the National Assembly; other Constitutional Court judges appointed by the national president after consultation with the chief justice and leaders of the National Assembly; Constitutional Court judges serve 12-year nonrenewable terms or until age 70
Judicial branch / subordinate courts: High Courts; Magistrates' Courts; labor courts; land claims courts
Political parties: African Christian Democratic Party or ACDP African Independent Congress or AIC African National Congress or ANC African People's Convention or APC Agang SA Congress of the People or COPE Democratic Alliance or DA Economic Freedom Fighters or EFF Freedom Front Plus or FF+ GOOD Inkatha Freedom Party or IFP National Freedom Party or NFP Pan-Africanist Congress of Azania or PAC United Christian Democratic Party or UCDP United Democratic Movement or UDM
Diplomatic representation in the US / chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charg&eacute; d&rsquo;Affaires Ismail ESAU (since 17 March 2025)
Diplomatic representation in the US / chancery: 3051 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation in the US / telephone: [1] (240) 937-5760
Diplomatic representation in the US / FAX: [1] (202) 265-1607
Diplomatic representation in the US / email address and website: Info.saembassyDC@dirco.gov.za https://www.saembassy.org/
Diplomatic representation in the US / consulate(s) general: Los Angeles, New York
Diplomatic representation from the US / chief of mission: Ambassador-designate Leo Brent BOZELL III; Charg&eacute; d&rsquo;Affaires Marc DILLARD (since October 2025)
Diplomatic representation from the US / embassy: 877 Pretorius Street, Arcadia, Pretoria
Diplomatic representation from the US / mailing address: 9300 Pretoria Place, Washington DC 20521-9300
Diplomatic representation from the US / telephone: [27] (12) 431-4000
Diplomatic representation from the US / FAX: [27] (12) 342-2299
Diplomatic representation from the US / email address and website: ACSJohannesburg@state.gov https://za.usembassy.gov/
Diplomatic representation from the US / consulate(s) general: Cape Town, Durban, Johannesburg
International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, AIIB, AU, BIS, BRICS, C, CD, FAO, FATF, G-20, G-24, G-5, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MONUSCO, NAM, NSG, OECD (enhanced engagement), OPCW, Paris Club (associate), PCA, SACU, SADC, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNISFA, UNITAR, UNOOSA, UNWTO, UPU, Wassenaar Arrangement, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
Independence: 31 May 1910 (Union of South Africa formed from four British colonies: Cape Colony, Natal, Transvaal, and Orange Free State); 22 August 1934 (Status of the Union Act); 31 May 1961 (republic declared); 27 April 1994 (majority rule)
National holiday: Freedom Day, 27 April (1994)
Flag: description: two equal-width horizontal bands of red (top) and blue separated by a central green band that splits into a horizontal Y; a black isosceles triangle is in the Y, with narrow yellow bands around it; the red and blue bands are bordered by narrow white stripes meaning: the colors have no official meaning, but the Y stands for "the convergence of diverse elements within South African society, taking the road ahead in unity"
National symbol(s): springbok (antelope), king protea flower
National color(s): red, green, blue, yellow, black, white
National anthem(s) / title: "National Anthem of South Africa"
National anthem(s) / lyrics/music: Enoch SONTONGA and Cornelius Jacob LANGENHOVEN/Enoch SONTONGA and Marthinus LOURENS de Villiers
National anthem(s) / history: adopted 1997; a combination of "N'kosi Sikelel' iAfrica" (God Bless Africa) and "Die Stem van Suid Afrika" (The Call of South Africa), which were respectively the anthems of the non-white and white communities under apartheid; official lyrics contain a mixture of Xhosa, Zulu, Sesotho, Afrikaans, and English (the five most widely spoken of South Africa's 11 official languages)
National heritage / total World Heritage Sites: 12 (7 cultural, 4 natural, 1 mixed)
National heritage / selected World Heritage Site locales: Fossil Hominid Sites of South Africa (c); iSimangaliso Wetland Park (n); Robben Island (c); Maloti-Drakensberg Park (m); Mapungubwe Cultural Landscape (c); Cape Floral Region Protected Areas (n); Vredefort Dome (n); Richtersveld Cultural and Botanical Landscape (c); Khomani Cultural Landscape (c); Barberton Makhonjwa Mountains (n); Human Rights, Liberation and Reconciliation: Nelson Mandela Legacy Sites (c); The Emergence of Modern Human Behaviour: The Pleistocene Occupation Sites of South Africa (c)

## Economy
Economic overview: upper-middle-income, largest southern African economy; Government of National Unity facing slow growth, fiscal gaps, and structural challenges; high income inequality, unemployment, and poverty; reforms to address electricity generation, transport, and logistics; leading producer and exporter of critical minerals
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $870.42 billion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $865.402 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $859.399 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2024: 0.6% (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2023: 0.7% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2022: 1.9% (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2024: $13,600 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2023: $13,700 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2022: $13,800 (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $400.261 billion (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024: 4.4% (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023: 6.1% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 7% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / agriculture: 2.9% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / industry: 24.4% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / services: 62.7% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / household consumption: 64.8% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / government consumption: 19.2% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in fixed capital: 14.5% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in inventories: -0.6% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / exports of goods and services: 31.8% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / imports of goods and services: -29.9% (2024 est.)
Agricultural products: sugarcane, maize, milk, soybeans, potatoes, wheat, grapes, chicken, oranges, apples (2023)
Industries: mining (world's largest producer of platinum, gold, chromium), automobile assembly, metalworking, machinery, textiles, iron and steel, chemicals, fertilizer, foodstuffs, commercial ship repair
Industrial production growth rate: -0.4% (2024 est.)
Labor force: 27.766 million (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2024: 33.2% (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2023: 32.1% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2022: 33.3% (2022 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / total: 60.9% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / male: 57.1% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / female: 65.5% (2024 est.)
Average household expenditures / on food: 16.1% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Average household expenditures / on alcohol and tobacco: 4.1% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2024: 0.2% of GDP (2024 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2023: 0.2% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2022: 0.2% of GDP (2022 est.)
Budget / revenues: $123.263 billion (2022 est.)
Budget / expenditures: $137.593 billion (2022 est.)
Public debt / Public debt 2022: 76.2% of GDP (2022 est.)
Taxes and other revenues: 26% (of GDP) (2022 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2024: -$2.384 billion (2024 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2023: -$6.143 billion (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2022: -$1.878 billion (2022 est.)
Exports / Exports 2024: $127.629 billion (2024 est.)
Exports / Exports 2023: $124.671 billion (2023 est.)
Exports / Exports 2022: $136.01 billion (2022 est.)
Exports - partners: China 19%, USA 8%, Germany 7%, India 7%, UK 6% (2023)
Exports - commodities: gold, platinum, coal, cars, iron ore (2023)
Imports / Imports 2024: $119.59 billion (2024 est.)
Imports / Imports 2023: $123.454 billion (2023 est.)
Imports / Imports 2022: $127.669 billion (2022 est.)
Imports - partners: China 21%, India 7%, USA 7%, Germany 6%, UAE 4% (2023)
Imports - commodities: refined petroleum, crude petroleum, gold, cars, broadcasting equipment (2023)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024: $65.435 billion (2024 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023: $62.492 billion (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $60.553 billion (2022 est.)
Debt - external / Debt - external 2023: $93.879 billion (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Currency: rand (ZAR) per US dollar -
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2024: 18.329 (2024 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2023: 18.45 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2022: 16.356 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2021: 14.779 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2020: 16.459 (2020 est.)

## Energy
Electricity access / electrification - total population: 86.5% (2022 est.)
Electricity access / electrification - urban areas: 87.1%
Electricity access / electrification - rural areas: 93.4%
Electricity / installed generating capacity: 65.989 million kW (2023 est.)
Electricity / consumption: 194.978 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / exports: 12.629 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / imports: 10.837 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / transmission/distribution losses: 22.838 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / fossil fuels: 87.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / nuclear: 3.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / solar: 2.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / wind: 5.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / hydroelectricity: 0.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / biomass and waste: 0.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Nuclear energy / Number of operational nuclear reactors: 2 (2025)
Nuclear energy / Net capacity of operational nuclear reactors: 1.85GW (2025 est.)
Nuclear energy / Percent of total electricity production: 4.4% (2023 est.)
Coal / production: 239.712 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / consumption: 176.095 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / exports: 66.918 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / imports: 3.301 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / proven reserves: 9.893 billion metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum / total petroleum production: 88,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Petroleum / refined petroleum consumption: 609,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Petroleum / crude oil estimated reserves: 15 million barrels (2021 est.)
Natural gas / production: 66.094 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / consumption: 3.834 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / imports: 3.768 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Energy consumption per capita / Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 86.197 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

## Communications
Telephones - fixed lines / total subscriptions: 1.353 million (2023 est.)
Telephones - fixed lines / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 2 (2023 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / total subscriptions: 115 million (2024 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 167 (2024 est.)
Broadcast media: the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) operates 6 free-to-air TV stations; 1 private TV station; multiple subscription TV services with mix of local and international channels; mix of public and private radio stations at the national, regional, and local levels; state-owned SABC radio network has 18 stations, including one for each of the 11 official languages, 4 community stations, and 3 commercial stations; over 100 community stations with rural coverage
Internet country code: .za
Internet users / percent of population: 76% (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / total: 2.15 million (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 3 (2023 est.)

## Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: ZS
Airports: 573 (2025)
Heliports: 49 (2025)
Railways / total: 30,400 km (2021)
Railways / standard gauge: 80 km (2021) 1.435-m gauge (80 km electrified)
Railways / narrow gauge: 19,756 km (2014) 1.065-m gauge (8,271 km electrified)
Merchant marine / total: 110 (2023)
Merchant marine / by type: bulk carrier 3, general cargo 1, oil tanker 7, other 99
Ports / total ports: 8 (2024)
Ports / large: 2
Ports / medium: 4
Ports / small: 1
Ports / very small: 1
Ports / ports with oil terminals: 7
Ports / key ports: Cape Town, Durban, Mossel Bay, Port Elizabeth, Richards Bay, Saldanha Bay

## Military and Security
Military and security forces: South African National Defense Force (SANDF): South African Army (includes Reserve Force), South African Navy (SAN), South African Air Force (SAAF), South African Military Health Services Ministry of Police: South African Police Service (SAPS) (2025)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2024: 0.7% of GDP (2024 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2023: 0.7% of GDP (2023 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2022: 0.8% of GDP (2022 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2021: 0.8% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2020: 1.1% of GDP (2020 est.)
Military and security service personnel strengths: approximately 65-70,000 active-duty National Defense Forces (2025)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the SANDF's inventory is a mix of domestically produced and foreign-supplied equipment; South Africa's domestic defense industry produced most of the Army's major weapons systems (some were jointly produced with foreign companies), while the Air Force and Navy inventories include a mix of European, Israeli, and US origin armaments, alongside some domestic systems, such as combat helicopters and some naval vessels; South Africa has one of Africa's leading defense industries (2025)
Military service age and obligation: 18-22 (18-26 for college graduates) years of age for voluntary military service for men and women; initial 24-month service obligation (2025)
Military deployments: approximately 2,000 Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO and Southern African Development Community) (2025)
Military - note: the South African National Defense Force's (SANDF) primary responsibilities include territorial and maritime defense, supporting the Police Service, protecting key infrastructure, responding to disasters, and participating in international peacekeeping missions; border security and maintaining a rapid reaction capability for regional security missions and disaster response have been priorities; in recent years, it has been deployed internally to assist the Police with quelling unrest and assisting with border security; the SANDF also regularly participates in African and UN peacekeeping missions and is a member of the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) Standby Force the SANDF was created in 1994 to replace the South African Defense Force (SADF); the SANDF was opened to all South Africans who met military requirements, while the SADF was a mostly white force (only whites were subject to conscription) with non-whites only allowed to join in a voluntary capacity; the SANDF also absorbed members of the various anti-apartheid opposition groups, including the African National Congress, the Pan Africanist Congress, and the Inkatha Freedom Party, as well as the security forces of the formerly independent Bantustan homelands (2025)

## Space
Space agency/agencies: South African National Space Agency (SANSA; established 2010) (2025)
Space launch site(s): Arniston launch facility (Western Cape) used to support space launch vehicle and ballistic missile program (1980s-1990s); it is now a weapons testing facility called the Denel Overberg Test Range (2024)
Space program overview: key areas of emphasis for its national space program include Earth observation/remote sensing (RS) capabilities, weather monitoring, research, engineering, and operations (tracking, telemetry, etc.); produces and operates satellites; has a sounding rocket program for carrying experimental payloads for research; cooperates with a range of foreign space agencies and industries, including those of China, France, India, Russia, and the US; member of the African Space Agency; participates in international programs such as the Square Kilometer Array Project; has a number of state- and privately-owned aerospace companies, as well as academic and research institutions involved in space-related activities (2025)
Key space-program milestones: 1976 - established a satellite remote sensing (RS)/radio astronomy center (originally built by the US in 1961 to receive data from US space missions) 1980s - conducted program to launch reconnaissance satellites on a domestically produced satellite launch vehicle (abandoned in 1994 along with nuclear program) 1999 - first domestically built RS/technology demonstrator microsatellite (Sunsat-1) launched by US 2009 - first government-owned and -operated RS/scientific/technology demonstrator satellite (SumbandilaSat) launched by Russia 2018 - inaugurated a radio space telescope array (Karoo Array Telescope or MeerKAT) 2021 - began construction of the international Square Kilometer Array radio telescope observatory; launched a sounding rocket for research purposes to an altitude of nearly 18,000 km (11,185 mi) 2022 - opened Africa's first regional space weather center 2023 - agreed to participate in China's international lunar research station project

## Terrorism
Terrorist group(s): Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS)

## Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons / refugees: 171,484 (2024 est.)
Refugees and internally displaced persons / IDPs: 7,385 (2024 est.)
Trafficking in persons / tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List — the government did not demonstrate overall increasing efforts to eliminate trafficking compared with the previous reporting period, therefore South Africa was downgraded to Tier 2 Watch List; for more details, go to: https://www.state.gov/reports/2025-trafficking-in-persons-report/south-africa/
Illicit drugs / USG identification: major precursor-chemical producer (2025)

=== Senegal ===

## Introduction
Background: Senegal is one of the few countries in the world with evidence of continuous human life from the Paleolithic period to present. Between the 14th and 16th centuries, the Jolof Empire ruled most of Senegal. Starting in the 15th century, Portugal, the Netherlands, France, and Great Britain traded along the Senegalese coast. Senegal’s location on the western tip of Africa made it a favorable base for the European slave trade. European powers used the Senegalese island of Goree as a base to purchase slaves from the warring chiefdoms on the mainland, and at the height of the slave trade in Senegal, over one-third of the Senegalese population was enslaved. In 1815, France abolished slavery and began expanding inland. During the second half of the 19th century, France took possession of Senegal as a French colony. In 1959, the French colonies of Senegal and French Sudan were merged and granted independence in 1960 as the Mali Federation. The union broke up after only a few months. In 1982, Senegal joined with The Gambia to form the nominal confederation of Senegambia. The envisaged integration of the two countries was never implemented, and the union dissolved in 1989. Since the 1980s, the Movement of Democratic Forces in the Casamance -- a separatist movement based in southern Senegal -- has led a low-level insurgency. Several attempts at reaching a comprehensive peace agreement have failed. Since 2012, despite sporadic incidents of violence, an unofficial cease-fire has remained largely in effect. Senegal is one of the most stable democracies in Africa and has a long history of participating in international peacekeeping and regional mediation. The Socialist Party of Senegal ruled for 40 years until Abdoulaye WADE was elected president in 2000 and re-elected in 2007. WADE amended Senegal's constitution over a dozen times to increase executive power and weaken the opposition. In 2012, WADE’s decision to run for a third presidential term sparked public backlash that led to his loss to current President Macky SALL. A 2016 constitutional referendum limited future presidents to two consecutive five-year terms. President Bassirou Diomaye FAYE took office in April 2024.

## Geography
Location: Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Guinea-Bissau and Mauritania
Geographic coordinates: 14 00 N, 14 00 W
Map references: Africa
Area / total: 196,722 sq km
Area / land: 192,530 sq km
Area / water: 4,192 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly smaller than South Dakota; slightly larger than twice the size of Indiana
Land boundaries / total: 2,684 km
Land boundaries / border countries: The Gambia 749 km; Guinea 363 km; Guinea-Bissau 341 km; Mali 489 km; Mauritania 742 km
Coastline: 531 km
Maritime claims / territorial sea: 12 nm
Maritime claims / contiguous zone: 24 nm
Maritime claims / exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Maritime claims / continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
Climate: tropical; hot, humid; rainy season (May to November) has strong southeast winds; dry season (December to April) dominated by hot, dry, harmattan wind
Terrain: generally low, rolling, plains rising to foothills in southeast
Elevation / highest point: unnamed elevation 2.8 km southeast of Nepen Diaka 648 m
Elevation / lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
Elevation / mean elevation: 69 m
Natural resources: fish, phosphates, iron ore
Land use / agricultural land: 49.4% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 19.9% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 0.4% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 29.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 45.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 5.5% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land: 1,200 sq km (2012)
Major rivers (by length in km): Senegal (shared with Guinea [s], Mali, and Mauritania [m] ) - 1,641 km; Gambie (Gambia) (shared with Guinea [s] and The Gambia [m]) - 1,094 km note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Major watersheds (area sq km) / Atlantic Ocean drainage: Senegal (456,397 sq km)
Major aquifers: Senegalo-Mauritanian Basin
Population distribution: the population is concentrated in the west, with Dakar anchoring a well-defined core area; approximately 70% of the population is rural, as shown in this population distribution map
Natural hazards: lowlands seasonally flooded; periodic droughts
Geography - note: westernmost country on the African continent; The Gambia is almost an enclave within Senegal

## People and Society
Population / total: 18,847,519 (2024 est.)
Population / male: 9,283,314
Population / female: 9,564,205
Nationality / noun: Senegalese (singular and plural)
Nationality / adjective: Senegalese
Ethnic groups: Wolof 39.7%, Pulaar 27.5%, Sereer 16%, Mandinka 4.9%, Jola 4.2%, Soninke 2.4%, other 5.4% (includes Europeans and persons of Lebanese descent) (2019 est.)
Languages: French (official), Wolof, Pulaar, Jola, Mandinka, Serer, Soninke
Religions: Muslim 97.2% (most adhere to one of the four main Sufi brotherhoods), Christian 2.7% (mostly Roman Catholic) (2019 est.)
Age structure / 0-14 years: 40.7% (male 3,907,986/female 3,760,594)
Age structure / 15-64 years: 55.9% (male 5,098,038/female 5,437,195)
Age structure / 65 years and over: 3.4% (2024 est.) (male 277,290/female 366,416)
Dependency ratios / total dependency ratio: 78.9 (2024 est.)
Dependency ratios / youth dependency ratio: 72.8 (2024 est.)
Dependency ratios / elderly dependency ratio: 6.1 (2024 est.)
Dependency ratios / potential support ratio: 16.4 (2024 est.)
Median age / total: 19.4 years (2025 est.)
Median age / male: 18.4 years
Median age / female: 20 years
Population growth rate: 2.4% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 29.54 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 4.85 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: -0.66 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution: the population is concentrated in the west, with Dakar anchoring a well-defined core area; approximately 70% of the population is rural, as shown in this population distribution map
Urbanization / urban population: 49.6% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 3.59% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 3.340 million DAKAR (capital) (2023)
Sex ratio / at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 15-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 65 years and over: 0.76 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth: 21.9 years (2019 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio: 237 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Infant mortality rate / total: 30.4 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Infant mortality rate / male: 34.4 deaths/1,000 live births
Infant mortality rate / female: 27.6 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth / total population: 70.6 years (2024 est.)
Life expectancy at birth / male: 68.8 years
Life expectancy at birth / female: 72.4 years
Total fertility rate: 3.96 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 1.93 (2025 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: urban: urban: 95.9% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: rural: rural: 77% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: total: total: 86.2% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: urban: urban: 4.1% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: rural: rural: 23% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: total: total: 13.8% of population (2022 est.)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 4.4% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 3.4% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density: 0.11 physicians/1,000 population (2023)
Hospital bed density: 0.7 beds/1,000 population (2019 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: urban: urban: 95.3% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: rural: rural: 60.1% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: total: total: 77.4% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: urban: urban: 4.7% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: rural: rural: 39.9% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: total: total: 22.6% of population (2022 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 8.8% (2016)
Alcohol consumption per capita / total: 0.25 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / beer: 0.21 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / wine: 0.02 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / spirits: 0.02 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / other alcohols: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Tobacco use / total: 5.4% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / male: 10.5% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / female: 0.5% (2025 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 16.2% (2023 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49): 65.5% (2023 est.)
Child marriage / women married by age 15: 8.8% (2019)
Child marriage / women married by age 18: 30.5% (2019)
Child marriage / men married by age 18: 0.7% (2019)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% GDP): 6.2% of GDP (2023 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% national budget): 20.9% national budget (2025 est.)
Literacy / total population: 50.4% (2023 est.)
Literacy / male: 61.5% (2023 est.)
Literacy / female: 41.5% (2023 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / total: 9 years (2023 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / male: 8 years (2023 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / female: 10 years (2023 est.)

## Environment
Environmental issues: deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification; droughts; seasonal flooding; overfishing; weak environmental laws; poaching
International environmental agreements / party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
International environmental agreements / signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Climate: tropical; hot, humid; rainy season (May to November) has strong southeast winds; dry season (December to April) dominated by hot, dry, harmattan wind
Land use / agricultural land: 49.4% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 19.9% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 0.4% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 29.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 45.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 5.5% (2023 est.)
Urbanization / urban population: 49.6% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 3.59% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / total emissions: 10.373 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from coal and metallurgical coke: 456,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from petroleum and other liquids: 9.859 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from consumed natural gas: 58,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Particulate matter emissions: 42.2 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Methane emissions / energy: 37 kt (2022-2024 est.)
Methane emissions / agriculture: 258.5 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Methane emissions / waste: 89.6 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Methane emissions / other: 4.5 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Waste and recycling / municipal solid waste generated annually: 2.454 million tons (2024 est.)
Waste and recycling / percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 11.9% (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / municipal: 261 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / industrial: 1.416 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / agricultural: 2.759 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total renewable water resources: 38.97 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: Republic of Senegal
Country name / conventional short form: Senegal
Country name / local long form: R&eacute;publique du S&eacute;n&eacute;gal
Country name / local short form: S&eacute;n&eacute;gal
Country name / former: Senegambia (along with The Gambia), Mali Federation
Country name / etymology: named for the Senegal River that forms the northern border of the country; the river's name may derive from "Azenegue," the Portuguese name for the Berber Zenaga people who lived north of the river, or it could come from a local word meaning "navigable"
Government type: presidential republic
Capital / name: Dakar
Capital / geographic coordinates: 14 44 N, 17 38 W
Capital / time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, D.C., during Standard Time)
Capital / etymology: the name comes from the Wolof word n'dakar , meaning "tamarind tree"
Administrative divisions: 14 regions ( régions , singular - région ); Dakar, Diourbel, Fatick, Kaffrine, Kaolack, Kéedougou, Kolda, Louga, Matam, Saint-Louis, Sedhiou, Tambacounda, Thies, Ziguinchor
Legal system: civil law system based on French law; Constitutional Council reviews legislative acts
Constitution / history: previous 1959 (pre-independence), 1963; latest adopted by referendum 7 January 2001, promulgated 22 January 2001
Constitution / amendment process: proposed by the president of the republic or by the National Assembly; passage requires Assembly approval and approval in a referendum; the president can bypass a referendum and submit an amendment directly to the Assembly, which requires at least three-fifths majority vote; the republican form of government is not amendable
International law organization participation: accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Citizenship / citizenship by birth: no
Citizenship / citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Senegal
Citizenship / dual citizenship recognized: no, but Senegalese citizens do not automatically lose their citizenship if they acquire citizenship in another state
Citizenship / residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch / chief of state: President Bassirou Diomaye FAYE (since 2 April 2024)
Executive branch / head of government: Prime Minister Ousmane SONKO (since 2 April 2024)
Executive branch / cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
Executive branch / election/appointment process: president directly elected by absolute-majority popular vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a single, renewable 5-year term
Executive branch / most recent election date: 24 March 2024
Executive branch / election results: 2024: Bassirou Diomaye FAYE elected president in first round; percent of vote - Bassirou Diomaye FAYE (PASTEF) 54%, Amadou BA (APR) 36%, other 10% 2019: Macky SALL reelected president in first round; percent of vote - Macky SALL (APR) 58.3%, Idrissa SECK (Rewmi) 20.5%, Ousmane SONKO (PASTEF) 15.7%, other 5.5%
Executive branch / expected date of next election: March 2029
Legislative branch / legislature name: National Assembly (Assemblée nationale)
Legislative branch / legislative structure: unicameral
Legislative branch / number of seats: 165 (all directly elected)
Legislative branch / electoral system: mixed system
Legislative branch / scope of elections: full renewal
Legislative branch / term in office: 5 years
Legislative branch / most recent election date: 11/17/2024
Legislative branch / parties elected and seats per party: Pastef Party (130); Coalition Takku Wallu Sénégal (16); Other (19)
Legislative branch / percentage of women in chamber: 41.2%
Legislative branch / expected date of next election: November 2029
Judicial branch / highest court(s): Supreme Court or Cour Supr&ecirc;me (consists of the court president and 12 judges and organized into civil and commercial, criminal, administrative, and social chambers); Constitutional Council or Conseil Constitutionnel (consists of 7 members, including the court president, vice president, and 5 judges)
Judicial branch / judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court judges appointed by the president of the republic upon recommendation of the Superior Council of the Magistrates, a body chaired by the president and minister of justice; judge tenure varies, with mandatory retirement either at 65 or 68 years; Constitutional Council members are appointed, 5 by the president and 2 by the National Assembly speaker; judges serve 6-year terms, with renewal of 2 members every 2 years
Judicial branch / subordinate courts: High Court of Justice (for crimes of high treason by the president); Courts of Appeal; Court of Auditors; assize courts; regional and district courts; Labor Court
Political parties: Alliance for Citizenship and Work or ACT Alliance for the Republic-Yakaar or APR Alliance of Forces of Progress or AFP AND (National Alliance for Democracy) And-Jef/African Party for Democracy and Socialism or AJ/PADS ARC (Alternative for the next generation of citizens) Awalé Benno Bokk Yakaar or BBY (United in Hope); coalition includes AFP, APR, BGC, LD-MPT, PIT, PS, and UNP Bokk Gis Gis coalition Citizen Movement for National Reform or MCRN-Bes Du Nakk Coalition Mimi 2024 Dare the Future movement Democratic League-Labor Party Movement or LD-MPT Democratic Renaissance Congress Front for Socialism and Democracy/Benno Jubel or FSD/BJ Gainde Centrist Bloc or BCG General Alliance for the Interests of the Republic or AGIR Grand Party or GP Gueum sa Bopp (Believe in yourself) Independence and Labor Party or PIT Jotna Coalition Liberate the People (Yewwi Askan Wi) or YAW Madicke 2019 coalition National Union for the People or UNP Only Senegal Movement Party for Truth and Development or PVD Party of Unity and Rally or PUR Patriotic Convergence Kaddu Askan Wi or CP-Kaddu Askan Wi PRP (Republican party for Progress) Rewmi Party Save Senegal (Wallu Senegal Grand Coalition) or WS; coalition includes PDS, Jotna Coalition, Democratic Renaissance Congress Senegalese Democratic Party or PDS Socialist Party or PS Tekki Movement Réewum Ngor (Republic of Values) Servants (Les Serviteurs)
Diplomatic representation in the US / chief of mission: Ambassador Abdoul Wahab HAIDARA (since 24 July 2025)
Diplomatic representation in the US / chancery: 2215 M ST NW, Washington, D.C. 20037
Diplomatic representation in the US / telephone: [1] (202) 234-0540
Diplomatic representation in the US / FAX: [1] (202) 629-2961
Diplomatic representation in the US / email address and website: contact@ambasenegal-us.org http://www.ambasenegal-us.org/index.php
Diplomatic representation in the US / consulate(s) general: New York
Diplomatic representation from the US / chief of mission: Ambassador Michael RAYNOR (since 10 March 2022); note - also accredited to Guinea-Bissau
Diplomatic representation from the US / embassy: Route des Almadies, Dakar
Diplomatic representation from the US / mailing address: 2130 Dakar Place, Washington D.C. 20521-2130
Diplomatic representation from the US / telephone: [221] 33-879-4000
Diplomatic representation from the US / email address and website: DakarACS@state.gov https://sn.usembassy.gov/
International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, AU, CD, CPLP (associate), ECOWAS, EITI (candidate country), FAO, FZ, G-15, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MONUSCO, NAM, OIC, OIF, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNMISS, UNOCI, UNOOSA, UNWTO, UPU, WADB (regional), WAEMU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Independence: 4 April 1960 (from France); 20 August 1960 (full independence after federation with Mali is dissolved)
National holiday: Independence Day, 4 April (1960)
Flag: description: three equal vertical bands of green (left side), yellow, and red, with a small five-pointed green star centered on the yellow band; green stands for Islam, progress, and hope, yellow for natural wealth and progress, and red for sacrifice and determination; the star represents unity and hope history: uses the colors of the Pan-African movement
National symbol(s): lion
National color(s): green, yellow, red
National anthem(s) / title: "Pincez tous vos koras, frappez les balafons" (Pluck Your Koras, Strike the Balafons)
National anthem(s) / lyrics/music: Leopold Sedar SENGHOR/Herbert PEPPER
National anthem(s) / history: adopted 1960; lyrics written by Leopold Sedar SENGHOR, Senegal's first president; the anthem sometimes played incorporating the koras (harp-like stringed instruments) and balafons (types of xylophones) mentioned in the title
National heritage / total World Heritage Sites: 7 (5 cultural, 2 natural)
National heritage / selected World Heritage Site locales: Island of Gor&eacute;e (c); Niokolo-Koba National Park (n); Djoudj National Bird Sanctuary (n); Island of Saint-Louis (c); Stone Circles of Senegambia (c); Saloum Delta (c); Bassari Country: Bassari, Fula, and Bedik Cultural Landscapes (c)

## Economy
Economic overview: lower middle-income, services-driven West African economy; key mining, construction, agriculture, and fishing industries; tourism and exports hit hard by COVID-19; large informal economy; developing offshore oil and gas fields; systemic corruption
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $83.183 billion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $77.82 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $74.642 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2024: 6.9% (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2023: 4.3% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2022: 3.9% (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2024: $4,500 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2023: $4,300 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2022: $4,200 (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $32.267 billion (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024: 0.8% (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023: 5.9% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 9.7% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / agriculture: 15.5% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / industry: 25.4% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / services: 49.1% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / household consumption: 65.8% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / government consumption: 16.4% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in fixed capital: 32.1% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in inventories: 0.8% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / exports of goods and services: 28.1% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / imports of goods and services: -43.1% (2024 est.)
Agricultural products: rice, groundnuts, watermelons, millet, cassava, sugarcane, maize, sorghum, onions, milk (2023)
Industries: agricultural and fish processing, phosphate mining, fertilizer production, petroleum refining, zircon, and gold mining, construction materials, ship construction and repair
Industrial production growth rate: 20% (2024 est.)
Labor force: 5.763 million (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2024: 3% (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2023: 2.8% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2022: 2.9% (2022 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / total: 4.1% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / male: 3.2% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / female: 6.3% (2024 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income / Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2021: 36.2 (2021 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / lowest 10%: 3% (2021 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / highest 10%: 28.8% (2021 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2023: 10.6% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2022: 10.5% of GDP (2022 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2021: 11.3% of GDP (2021 est.)
Budget / revenues: $7.749 billion (2023 est.)
Budget / expenditures: $9.267 billion (2023 est.)
Public debt / Public debt 2016: 47.8% of GDP (2016 est.)
Taxes and other revenues: 19.5% (of GDP) (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2023: -$6.072 billion (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2022: -$5.542 billion (2022 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2021: -$3.327 billion (2021 est.)
Exports / Exports 2023: $7.001 billion (2023 est.)
Exports / Exports 2022: $7.418 billion (2022 est.)
Exports / Exports 2021: $6.78 billion (2021 est.)
Exports - partners: Mali 21%, India 12%, Switzerland 11%, China 5%, UAE 4% (2023)
Exports - commodities: gold, refined petroleum, phosphoric acid, fish, cement (2023)
Imports / Imports 2023: $14.916 billion (2023 est.)
Imports / Imports 2022: $14.698 billion (2022 est.)
Imports / Imports 2021: $12.278 billion (2021 est.)
Imports - partners: China 19%, France 9%, Nigeria 7%, India 7%, Russia 5% (2023)
Imports - commodities: refined petroleum, crude petroleum, rice, garments, wheat (2023)
Debt - external / Debt - external 2023: $14.985 billion (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Currency: Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar -
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2024: 606.345 (2024 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2023: 606.57 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2022: 623.76 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2021: 554.531 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2020: 575.586 (2020 est.)

## Energy
Electricity access / electrification - total population: 67.9% (2022 est.)
Electricity access / electrification - urban areas: 96.6%
Electricity access / electrification - rural areas: 43.4%
Electricity / installed generating capacity: 1.772 million kW (2023 est.)
Electricity / consumption: 7.547 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / imports: 486 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / transmission/distribution losses: 983 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / fossil fuels: 78.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / solar: 7.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / wind: 9.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / hydroelectricity: 3.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / biomass and waste: 1.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Coal / consumption: 138,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / exports: 21 metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / imports: 181,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum / total petroleum production: 9,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Petroleum / refined petroleum consumption: 65,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Natural gas / production: 34.646 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / consumption: 34.604 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
Energy consumption per capita / Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 8.303 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

## Communications
Telephones - fixed lines / total subscriptions: 399,000 (2023 est.)
Telephones - fixed lines / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 2 (2023 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / total subscriptions: 22.4 million (2023 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 120 (2022 est.)
Broadcast media: over 25 private TV stations; state-run Radiodiffusion T&eacute;l&eacute;vision S&eacute;n&eacute;galaise (RTS) broadcasts from five cities; wide range of independent TV available via satellite; hundreds of radio stations; transmissions of several international broadcasters are accessible on FM in Dakar
Internet country code: .sn
Internet users / percent of population: 61% (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / total: 357,000 (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 2 (2023 est.)

## Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: 6V
Airports: 20 (2025)
Railways / total: 906 km (2017) (713 km operational in 2017)
Railways / narrow gauge: 906 km (2017) 1.000-m gauge
Merchant marine / total: 36 (2023)
Merchant marine / by type: general cargo 5, oil tanker 1, other 30
Ports / total ports: 6 (2024)
Ports / large: 0
Ports / medium: 1
Ports / small: 1
Ports / very small: 4
Ports / ports with oil terminals: 4
Ports / key ports: Dakar, Karabane, Lyndiane, M'bao Oil Terminal, Rufisque, St. Louis

## Military and Security
Military and security forces: Senegalese Armed Forces (les Forces Armées Sénégalaises, FAS): Army (l’Armée de Terre, AT), Senegalese National Navy (Marine Séenéegalaise, MNS), Senegalese Air Force (l'Arméee de l'Air du Séenéegal, AAS), National Gendarmerie Ministry of Interior: National Police (2025)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2024: 1.6% of GDP (2024 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2023: 1.5% of GDP (2023 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2022: 1.6% of GDP (2022 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2021: 1.7% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2020: 1.5% of GDP (2020 est.)
Military and security service personnel strengths: approximately 25,000 active Armed Forces personnel, including the Gendarmerie (2025)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the military has a mix of older, secondhand, and some more modern equipment from a variety of suppliers, including China, France, Russia, South Africa, Spain, T&uuml;rkiye, and the US (2025)
Military service age and obligation: 18-28 (up to 35 for specialized roles); 24-month service commitment (2025)
Military deployments: 190 Central African Republic (MINUSCA; plus about 575 police); approximately 380 police Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) (2025)
Military - note: the Senegalese military is responsible for both territorial defense and internal security; it also assists the civilian government in such areas as preventive healthcare, infrastructure development, environmental protection, and disaster response; key areas of focus for the military include a low-level insurgency in the country's south, maritime security, and securing the border against smuggling and Sahel-based Islamist insurgent groups affiliated with al-Qa'ida and the Islamic State; the military participates in foreign peacekeeping deployments and multinational exercises; its closest security partner is France, which has long maintained a military presence in Senegal Senegalese security forces have been engaged in a low-level counterinsurgency campaign in the southern Casamance region against factions of the separatist Movement of Democratic Forces of the Casamance (MDFC) since 1982; the conflict is one of longest running low-level insurgencies in the World, having claimed more than 5,000 lives while leaving another 60,000 displaced; in recent years, nearly all of the MDFC factions have agreed to cease hostilities (2025)

## Space
Space agency/agencies: Senegalese Space Study Agency (Agence S&eacute;n&eacute;galaise d'Etudes Spatiales or ASES; launched in 2023 under the Ministry of Higher Education, Research, and Innovation) (2025)
Space program overview: small, nascent program focused on earth observation/remote sensing capabilities, largely for climate resilience, environmental management, research, and socio-economic development; conducts research in fields such as astronomy and planetary sciences; has cooperated with space agencies in China, France, Turkey, and the US, as well as the ESA (2025)
Key space-program milestones: 2023 - signed cooperation agreement with ESA to leverage space technology for socio-economic growth; established a space control center to provide infrastructure for satellite manufacturing and satellite services 2024 - first Earth observation/remote sensing nanosatellite (GaindeSat-1A) built with French assistance and launched by US; signed agreement with Turkey on space infrastructure advancement; agreed to participate in China's lunar exploration/research station project 2025 - signed US-led Artemis Accords for space and lunar exploration; signed agreement with France for capacity development in space infrastructure and Earth observation initiatives

## Terrorism
Terrorist group(s): Jama&rsquo;at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM)

## Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons / refugees: 13,064 (2024 est.)
Refugees and internally displaced persons / IDPs: 5,922 (2024 est.)

=== none ===

## Introduction
Background: Saint Helena is a British Overseas Territory off the coast of Africa in the South Atlantic Ocean, and it consists of Saint Helena, Ascension Island, and the island group of Tristan da Cunha. Saint Helena: The island was uninhabited when the Portuguese first discovered it in 1502, and the British garrisoned troops on Saint Helena during the 17th century. It acquired fame as the place of Napoleon BONAPARTE's exile from 1815 until his death in 1821, but its importance as a port of call declined after the opening of the Suez Canal in 1869. During the Anglo-Boer War in South Africa, several thousand Boer prisoners were confined on the island between 1900 and 1903. Saint Helena is one of the most remote populated places in the world. The British Government committed to building an airport on Saint Helena in 2005. After more than a decade of delays and construction, a commercial air service to South Africa via Namibia was inaugurated in 2017. The weekly service to Saint Helena from Johannesburg via Windhoek in Namibia takes just over six hours (including the refueling stop in Windhoek) and replaces the mail ship that had made a five-day journey to the island every three weeks. Ascension Island: This barren and uninhabited island was discovered and named by the Portuguese in 1503. The British garrisoned the island in 1815 to prevent a rescue of NAPOLEON from Saint Helena. It served as a provisioning station for the Royal Navy's West Africa Squadron on anti-slavery patrol. The island remained under Admiralty control until 1922, when it became a dependency of Saint Helena. During World War II, the UK permitted the US to construct an airfield on Ascension in support of transatlantic flights to Africa and anti-submarine operations in the South Atlantic. In the 1960s, the island became an important space tracking station for the US. In 1982, Ascension was an essential staging area for British forces during the Falklands War. It remains a critical refueling point in the air-bridge from the UK to the South Atlantic. The island hosts one of four dedicated ground antennas that assist in the operation of the Global Positioning System (GPS) navigation system -- the others are on Diego Garcia (British Indian Ocean Territory), Kwajalein (Marshall Islands), and at Cape Canaveral, Florida (US). NASA and the US Air Force also operate a Meter-Class Autonomous Telescope (MCAT) on Ascension as part of the deep space surveillance system for tracking orbital debris, which can be a hazard to spacecraft and astronauts. Tristan da Cunha: The island group consists of Tristan da Cunha, Nightingale, Inaccessible, and Gough Islands. Tristan da Cunha, named after its Portuguese discoverer (1506), was garrisoned by the British in 1816 to prevent any attempt to rescue NAPOLEON from Saint Helena. Gough and Inaccessible Islands have been designated World Heritage Sites. South Africa leases a site for a meteorological station on Gough Island.

## Geography
Location: islands in the South Atlantic Ocean, about midway between South America and Africa; Ascension Island lies 1,300 km (800 mi) northwest of Saint Helena; Tristan da Cunha lies 4,300 km (2,700 mi) southwest of Saint Helena
Geographic coordinates: Saint Helena: 15 57 S, 5 42 W Ascension Island: 7 57 S, 14 22 W Tristan da Cunha island group: 37 15 S, 12 30 W
Map references: Africa
Area / total: 394 sq km
Area / land: 122 sq km Saint Helena Island
Area / water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly more than twice the size of Washington, D.C.
Land boundaries / total: 0 km
Coastline: Saint Helena: 60 km Ascension Island: NA Tristan da Cunha (island only): 34 km
Maritime claims / territorial sea: 12 nm
Maritime claims / exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
Climate: Saint Helena: tropical marine; mild, tempered by trade winds Ascension Island: tropical marine; mild, semi-arid Tristan da Cunha: temperate marine; mild, tempered by trade winds (tends to be cooler than Saint Helena)
Terrain: the islands of this group are of volcanic origin associated with the Atlantic Mid-Ocean Ridge Saint Helena: rugged, volcanic; small scattered plateaus and plains Ascension: surface covered by lava flows and cinder cones of 44 dormant volcanoes; terrain rises to the east Tristan da Cunha: sheer cliffs line the coastline of the nearly circular island; the flanks of the central volcanic peak are deeply dissected; narrow coastal plain lies between The Peak and the coastal cliffs
Elevation / highest point: Queen Mary's Peak on Tristan da Cunha 2,060 m; Green Mountain on Ascension Island 859 m; Diana's Peak on Saint Helena Island 818 m
Elevation / lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
Natural resources: fish, lobster
Land use / agricultural land: 30.8% (2022 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 10.3% (2022 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 0% (2022 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 20.5% (2022 est.)
Land use / forest: 5.1% (2022 est.)
Land use / other: 64.1% (2022 est.)
Irrigated land: 0 sq km (2022)
Population distribution: Saint Helena: population is concentrated in and around the capital of Jamestown in the northwest, with another significant cluster in the interior Longwood area Ascension: most of the population lives in and around Georgetown Tristan da Cunha: most of the nearly 300 inhabitants live in the northern coastal town of Edinburgh of the Seven Seas
Natural hazards: active volcanism volcanism: the volcanoes of Tristan da Cunha (2,060 m) and Nightingale Island (365 m) are active
Geography - note: Saint Helena harbors at least 40 species of plants unknown elsewhere in the world; Ascension is a breeding ground for sea turtles and sooty terns; Queen Mary's Peak on Tristan da Cunha is the highest island mountain in the South Atlantic and a prominent landmark on the sea lanes around southern Africa

## People and Society
Population / total: 7,943 (2024 est.)
Population / male: 3,978
Population / female: 3,965
Nationality / noun: Saint Helenian(s)
Nationality / adjective: Saint Helenian
Ethnic groups: St. Helena 82.1%, UK 7.6%, South Africa 3.6%, Ascension 2.8%, other 3.9% (2021 est.)
Languages: English
Religions: Anglican 63.2%, unspecified 11.4%, no religion 9%, Jehovah's Witness 3.8%, Baptist 2.3%, Salvation Army 2%, Roman Catholic 2.2%, Seventh Day Adventist 1.9%, New Apostolic 1.6%, other Christian 1.4%, other 1.1% (2021 est.)
Age structure / 0-14 years: 14.3% (male 579/female 556)
Age structure / 15-64 years: 66.5% (male 2,626/female 2,655)
Age structure / 65 years and over: 19.2% (2024 est.) (male 773/female 754)
Dependency ratios / total dependency ratio: 50.4 (2024 est.)
Dependency ratios / youth dependency ratio: 21.5 (2024 est.)
Dependency ratios / elderly dependency ratio: 28.9 (2024 est.)
Dependency ratios / potential support ratio: 3.5 (2024 est.)
Median age / total: 45.5 years (2025 est.)
Median age / male: 44.8 years
Median age / female: 45.4 years
Population growth rate: 0.08% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 9.31 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 8.55 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution: Saint Helena: population is concentrated in and around the capital of Jamestown in the northwest, with another significant cluster in the interior Longwood area Ascension: most of the population lives in and around Georgetown Tristan da Cunha: most of the nearly 300 inhabitants live in the northern coastal town of Edinburgh of the Seven Seas
Urbanization / urban population: 40.7% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 0.98% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 1,000 JAMESTOWN (capital) (2018)
Sex ratio / at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 65 years and over: 1.03 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / total population: 1 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Infant mortality rate / total: 17.5 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Infant mortality rate / male: 21.7 deaths/1,000 live births
Infant mortality rate / female: 14.2 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth / total population: 80.9 years (2024 est.)
Life expectancy at birth / male: 78.1 years
Life expectancy at birth / female: 83.9 years
Total fertility rate: 1.61 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 0.79 (2025 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: total: total: 99.1% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: total: total: 0.9% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: total: total: 100% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: total: total: 0% of population (2022 est.)

## Environment
Environmental issues: development threatens wildlife on Saint Helena
Climate: Saint Helena: tropical marine; mild, tempered by trade winds Ascension Island: tropical marine; mild, semi-arid Tristan da Cunha: temperate marine; mild, tempered by trade winds (tends to be cooler than Saint Helena)
Land use / agricultural land: 30.8% (2022 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 10.3% (2022 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 0% (2022 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 20.5% (2022 est.)
Land use / forest: 5.1% (2022 est.)
Land use / other: 64.1% (2022 est.)
Urbanization / urban population: 40.7% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 0.98% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / total emissions: 12,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from petroleum and other liquids: 12,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunha
Country name / conventional short form: none
Country name / etymology: on the feast day of Saint Helena in 1502, Spanish navigator Joao da NOVA (sailing for Portugal) sighted and named the island that now bears the saint's name; da NOVA originally named Ascension "Conception Island" in honor of the Virgin Mary, but Portuguese navigator Afonso de ALBUQUERQUE later found the island on the feast day of the Ascension in 1508 and renamed it; Portuguese explorer Tristao da CUNHA sighted the third island in 1506 and named it after himself (the name was later anglicized)
Government type: parliamentary democracy
Dependency status: overseas territory of the UK
Capital / name: Jamestown
Capital / geographic coordinates: 15 56 S, 5 43 W
Capital / time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Capital / etymology: founded in 1659 and named after James, Duke of York, who would become King JAMES II of England
Administrative divisions: 3 administrative areas; Ascension, Saint Helena, Tristan da Cunha
Legal system: English common law and local statutes
Constitution / history: several previous; latest effective 1 September 2009 (St. Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha Constitution Order 2009)
Citizenship: see United Kingdom
Suffrage: 18 years of age
Executive branch / chief of state: King CHARLES III (since 8 September 2022)
Executive branch / head of government: Governor Nigel PHILLIPS (since 13 August 2022)
Executive branch / cabinet: Executive Council consists of the governor, 3 ex-officio officers, and 5 elected members of the Legislative Council
Executive branch / election/appointment process: none; the monarchy is hereditary; governor appointed by the monarch
Judicial branch / highest court(s): Court of Appeal (consists of the court president and 2 justices); Supreme Court (consists of the chief justice and judges)
Judicial branch / judge selection and term of office: Court of Appeal and Supreme Court justices appointed by the governor acting upon the instructions from a secretary of state acting on behalf of the British monarch; justices of both courts serve until retirement at age 70, but terms can be extended
Judicial branch / subordinate courts: Magistrates' Court; Small Claims Court; Juvenile Court
Political parties: none
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (overseas territory of the UK)
Diplomatic representation from the US / embassy: none (overseas territory of the UK)
International organization participation: UPU
Independence: none (overseas territory of the UK)
National holiday: Official birthday of King Charles III, celebrated in April or June as designated by the governor (1948)
Flag: description: blue with the UK flag in the upper-left quadrant and the Saint Helenian shield centered on the right half of the flag; the upper third of the shield depicts a white plover on a yellow field; under the bird is a rocky coastline and a three-masted sailing ship with sails furled and flying an English flag history: the flag has been in use since 1984, when it was commissioned to mark the 150th anniversary of Saint Helena becoming a Crown Colony
National symbol(s): Saint Helena plover (wire bird)
National coat of arms: the coat of arms of Saint Helena was officially granted on January 30, 1984; the national bird, the Saint Helena plover ( Charadrius sanctaehelenae ), is at the top of the shield; the lower part of the shield shows a three-masted sailing ship with the mountainous island to the left; below the shield is a scroll with the motto “Loyal and unshakable;” the crest shows an image of Saint Helena, holding a cross and a flower
National anthem(s) / title: "God Save the King"
National anthem(s) / lyrics/music: unknown
National anthem(s) / history: official anthem, as a UK overseas territory

## Economy
Economic overview: upper middle-income, British Atlantic Ocean territorial economy; native (but pegged to British pound) currency user on 2 of 3 islands; significant UK financial support; unique land/farming commune structure; military-related economic activity; sport fishing locale
Agricultural products: coffee, corn, potatoes, vegetables; fish, lobster; livestock; timber
Industries: construction, crafts (furniture, lacework, fancy woodwork), fishing, collectible postage stamps
Exports - partners: Singapore 33%, USA 16%, Japan 10%, Turkey 10%, Senegal 8% (2023)
Exports - commodities: fish, shellfish, natural gas, trucks, construction vehicles (2023)
Imports - partners: UK 34%, Greece 26%, Spain 16%, South Africa 15%, Namibia 2% (2023)
Imports - commodities: refined petroleum, baked goods, plastic products, vehicle parts/accessories, air pumps (2023)
Exchange rates / Currency: Saint Helena pounds (SHP) per US dollar -
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2023: 0.805 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2022: 0.811 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2021: 0.727 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2020: 0.78 (2020 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2019: 0.783 (2019 est.)

## Energy
Electricity access / electrification - total population: 100% (2021)
Electricity / installed generating capacity: 5,000 kW (2023 est.)
Electricity / consumption: 6.962 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / transmission/distribution losses: 1.5 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / fossil fuels: 100% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Coal / imports: 70 metric tons (2022 est.)
Petroleum / refined petroleum consumption: 85 bbl/day (2023 est.)

## Communications
Telephones - fixed lines / total subscriptions: 4,000 (2021 est.)
Telephones - fixed lines / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 74 (2021 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / total subscriptions: 4,000 (2021 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 74 (2021 est.)
Broadcast media: Saint Helena : no local TV station; 2 local radio stations, one of which is relayed to Ascension Island; satellite TV stations rebroadcast terrestrially Ascension Island : no local TV station; 1 local radio station and receives relays of broadcasts from radio station on Saint Helena; broadcasts from the British Forces Broadcasting Service (BFBS) available, as well as US military TV Tristan da Cunha : 1 local radio station and receives BFBS TV and radio broadcasts
Internet country code: .sh
Internet users / percent of population: 37.6% (2021 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / total: 1,000 (2018 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 17 (2020 est.)

## Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: VQ-H
Airports: 2 (2025)
Heliports: 2 (2025)
Ports / total ports: 4 (2024)
Ports / large: 1
Ports / medium: 1
Ports / small: 1
Ports / very small: 1
Ports / ports with oil terminals: 2
Ports / key ports: Edinburgh of the Seven Seas, Georgetown, Jamestown, North Point
Transportation - note: the new airport on Saint Helena opened for limited operations in 2016, and the first commercial flight took place in 2017; the military airport on Ascension Island is closed to civilian traffic; there is no air connection to Tristan da Cunha and very limited sea connections

## Military and Security
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of the UK

## Transnational Issues

=== Sierra Leone ===

## Introduction
Background: Continuously populated for at least 2,500 years, the area now known as Sierra Leone is covered with dense jungle that allowed the region to remain relatively protected from invading West African empires. Traders introduced Sierra Leone to Islam, which occupies a central role in Sierra Leonean culture and history. In the 17th century, the British set up a trading post near present-day Freetown. The trade originally involved timber and ivory but later expanded to enslaved people. In 1787, after the American Revolution, Sierra Leone became a destination for Black British loyalists from the new United States. When Britain abolished the slave trade in 1807, British ships delivered thousands of liberated Africans to Sierra Leone. During the 19th century, the colony gradually expanded inland. In 1961, Sierra Leone became independent of the UK. Sierra Leone held free and fair elections in 1962 and 1967, but Siaka STEVENS -- Sierra Leone’s second prime minister -- quickly reverted to authoritarian tendencies, outlawing most political parties and ruling from 1967 to 1985. In 1991, Sierra Leonean soldiers launched a civil war against STEVENS’ ruling party. The war caused tens of thousands of deaths and displaced more than 2 million people (about one third of the population). In 1998, a Nigerian-led West African coalition military force intervened, installing Tejan KABBAH -- who was originally elected in 1996 -- as prime minister. In 2002, KABBAH officially announced the end of the war. Since 1998, Sierra Leone has conducted democratic elections dominated by the two main political parties, the Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) and the All People’s Congress (APC) party. In 2018, Julius Maada BIO of the Sierra Leone People’s Party won the presidential election that saw a high voter turnout despite some allegations of voter intimidation. BIO won again in June 2023, although irregularities were noted that called into question the integrity of the results. In October 2023, the Government of Sierra Leone and the main opposition party, the All People’s Congress, signed the Agreement for National Unity to boost cooperation between political parties and begin the process of reforming the country’s electoral system.

## Geography
Location: Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Guinea and Liberia
Geographic coordinates: 8 30 N, 11 30 W
Map references: Africa
Area / total: 71,740 sq km
Area / land: 71,620 sq km
Area / water: 120 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly smaller than South Carolina
Land boundaries / total: 1,093 km
Land boundaries / border countries: Guinea 794 km; Liberia 299 km
Coastline: 402 km
Maritime claims / territorial sea: 12 nm
Maritime claims / contiguous zone: 24 nm
Maritime claims / exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Maritime claims / continental shelf: 200 nm
Climate: tropical; hot, humid; summer rainy season (May to December); winter dry season (December to April)
Terrain: coastal belt of mangrove swamps, wooded hill country, upland plateau, mountains in east
Elevation / highest point: Loma Mansa (Bintimani) 1,948 m
Elevation / lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
Elevation / mean elevation: 279 m
Natural resources: diamonds, titanium ore, bauxite, iron ore, gold, chromite
Land use / agricultural land: 54.7% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 21.9% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 2.3% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 30.5% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 34.3% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 11% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land: 300 sq km (2012)
Major watersheds (area sq km) / Atlantic Ocean drainage: Niger (2,261,741 sq km)
Population distribution: population clusters are found in the lower elevations of the south and west; the northern third of the country is less populated, as shown on this population distribution map
Natural hazards: dry, sand-laden harmattan winds blow from the Sahara (December to February); sandstorms, dust storms
Geography - note: rainfall along the coast can reach 495 cm (195 in) a year, making it one of the wettest places along coastal western Africa

## People and Society
Population / total: 9,331,203 (2025 est.)
Population / male: 4,620,638
Population / female: 4,710,565
Nationality / noun: Sierra Leonean(s)
Nationality / adjective: Sierra Leonean
Ethnic groups: Temne 35.4%, Mende 30.8%, Limba 8.8%, Kono 4.3%, Korankoh 4%, Fullah 3.8%, Mandingo 2.8%, Loko 2%, Sherbro 1.9%, Creole 1.2% (descendants of freed Jamaican slaves who were settled in the Freetown area in the late-18th century; also known as Krio), other 5% (2019 est.)
Languages: English (official, regular use limited to literate minority), Mende (principal vernacular in the south), Temne (principal vernacular in the north), Krio (English-based Creole, spoken by the descendants of freed Jamaican slaves; a first language for 10% of the population but understood by 95%)
Religions: Muslim 77.1%, Christian 22.9% (2019 est.)
Age structure / 0-14 years: 40.1% (male 1,843,606/female 1,812,304)
Age structure / 15-64 years: 57.4% (male 2,557,715/female 2,675,418)
Age structure / 65 years and over: 2.5% (2024 est.) (male 114,405/female 117,601)
Dependency ratios / total dependency ratio: 72.7 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / youth dependency ratio: 68.4 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / elderly dependency ratio: 4.4 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / potential support ratio: 22.9 (2025 est.)
Median age / total: 19.7 years (2025 est.)
Median age / male: 19 years
Median age / female: 19.9 years
Population growth rate: 2.24% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 30.04 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 8.8 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: 1.13 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution: population clusters are found in the lower elevations of the south and west; the northern third of the country is less populated, as shown on this population distribution map
Urbanization / urban population: 44.3% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 3.02% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 1.309 million FREETOWN (capital) (2023)
Sex ratio / at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 0-14 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 65 years and over: 0.97 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth: 19.6 years (2019 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio: 354 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Infant mortality rate / total: 70.1 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Infant mortality rate / male: 76 deaths/1,000 live births
Infant mortality rate / female: 66.2 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth / total population: 59.4 years (2024 est.)
Life expectancy at birth / male: 57.8 years
Life expectancy at birth / female: 61 years
Total fertility rate: 3.52 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 1.73 (2025 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: urban: urban: 79.8% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: rural: rural: 54.1% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: total: total: 65.3% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: urban: urban: 20.2% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: rural: rural: 45.9% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: total: total: 34.7% of population (2022 est.)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 8.6% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 5.2% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density: 0.13 physicians/1,000 population (2022)
Sanitation facility access / improved: urban: urban: 81.9% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: rural: rural: 37.9% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: total: total: 57.2% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: urban: urban: 18.1% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: rural: rural: 62.1% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: total: total: 42.8% of population (2022 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 8.7% (2016)
Alcohol consumption per capita / total: 3.22 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / beer: 0.17 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / wine: 0.01 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / spirits: 0.15 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / other alcohols: 2.9 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Tobacco use / total: 9.8% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / male: 14.8% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / female: 4.9% (2025 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 12% (2021 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49): 61.5% (2019 est.)
Child marriage / women married by age 15: 8.6% (2019)
Child marriage / women married by age 18: 29.6% (2019)
Child marriage / men married by age 18: 4.1% (2019)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% GDP): 2.6% of GDP (2023 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% national budget): 20.5% national budget (2025 est.)
Literacy / total population: 43.6% (2019 est.)
Literacy / male: 54.6% (2019 est.)
Literacy / female: 33.9% (2019 est.)

## Environment
Environmental issues: overharvesting of timber, expansion of cattle grazing, and slash-and-burn agriculture resulting in deforestation, soil exhaustion, and flooding; loss of biodiversity; air pollution; water pollution; overfishing
International environmental agreements / party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
International environmental agreements / signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification
Climate: tropical; hot, humid; summer rainy season (May to December); winter dry season (December to April)
Land use / agricultural land: 54.7% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 21.9% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 2.3% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 30.5% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 34.3% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 11% (2023 est.)
Urbanization / urban population: 44.3% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 3.02% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / total emissions: 1.342 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from petroleum and other liquids: 1.342 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Particulate matter emissions: 45.4 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Waste and recycling / municipal solid waste generated annually: 610,200 tons (2024 est.)
Waste and recycling / percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 9.7% (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / municipal: 111 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / industrial: 55.5 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / agricultural: 45.7 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total renewable water resources: 160 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: Republic of Sierra Leone
Country name / conventional short form: Sierra Leone
Country name / local long form: Republic of Sierra Leone
Country name / local short form: Sierra Leone
Country name / etymology: Portuguese explorer Pedro de SINTRA is usually credited with naming the country "Serra da Leao" (Lion Mountains) in 1462, but Venetian explorer Alvise CA' DA MOSTO recorded the name as "Serre-Lionne" in 1457, referring to the rumbling of thunder over the mountains
Government type: presidential republic
Capital / name: Freetown
Capital / geographic coordinates: 8 29 N, 13 14 W
Capital / time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Capital / etymology: the name described the original settlement in 1781, which served as a haven for free-born and freed African Americans
Administrative divisions: 4 provinces and 1 area*; Eastern, Northern, North Western, Southern, Western*
Legal system: mixed system of English common law and customary law
Constitution / history: several previous; latest effective 1 October 1991
Constitution / amendment process: proposed by Parliament; passage of amendments requires at least two-thirds majority vote of Parliament in two successive readings and assent of the president of the republic; passage of amendments affecting fundamental rights and freedoms and many other constitutional sections also requires approval in a referendum with participation of at least one half of qualified voters and at least two thirds of votes cast
International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Citizenship / citizenship by birth: no
Citizenship / citizenship by descent only: at least one parent or grandparent must be a citizen of Sierra Leone
Citizenship / dual citizenship recognized: yes
Citizenship / residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch / chief of state: President Julius Maada BIO (since 27 June 2023)
Executive branch / head of government: President Julius Maada BIO (since 27 June 2023)
Executive branch / cabinet: Ministers of State appointed by the president, approved by Parliament; the cabinet is responsible to the president
Executive branch / election/appointment process: president directly elected by 55% in the first round or absolute-majority popular vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term)
Executive branch / most recent election date: 24 June 2023
Executive branch / election results: 2023: Julius Maada BIO reelected president in first round; percent of vote - Julius Maada BIO (SLPP) 56.2%, Samura KAMARA (APC) 41.2%, other 2.6% 2018: Julius Maada BIO elected president in second round; percent of vote - Julius Maada BIO (SLPP) 51.8%, Samura KAMARA (APC) 48.2%
Executive branch / expected date of next election: June 2028
Legislative branch / legislature name: Parliament
Legislative branch / legislative structure: unicameral
Legislative branch / number of seats: 149 (135 directly elected; 14 indirectly elected)
Legislative branch / electoral system: proportional representation
Legislative branch / scope of elections: full renewal
Legislative branch / term in office: 5 years
Legislative branch / most recent election date: 6/24/2023
Legislative branch / parties elected and seats per party: Sierra Leone People's Party (SLPP) (81); All People's Congress (APC) (54)
Legislative branch / percentage of women in chamber: 29.5%
Legislative branch / expected date of next election: June 2028
Judicial branch / highest court(s): Superior Court of Judicature (consists of the Supreme Court at the top, with the chief justice and 4 other judges, the Court of Appeal with the chief justice and 7 other judges, and the High Court of Justice with the chief justice and 9 other judges)
Judicial branch / judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court chief justice and other judges of the Judicature appointed by the president on the advice of the Judicial and Legal Service Commission, a 7-member independent body of judges, presidential appointees, and the Commission chairman, and are subject to approval by Parliament; all Judicature judges serve until retirement at age 65
Judicial branch / subordinate courts: magistrates' courts; District Appeals Court; local courts
Political parties: All People's Congress or APC Sierra Leone People's Party or SLPP
Diplomatic representation in the US / chief of mission: Ambassador Amara Sheikh Mohammed SOWA (since 24 July 2025)
Diplomatic representation in the US / chancery: 1701 19th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009-1605
Diplomatic representation in the US / telephone: [1] (202) 939-9261
Diplomatic representation in the US / FAX: [1] (202) 483-1793
Diplomatic representation in the US / email address and website: info@embassyofsierraleone.net https://embassyofsierraleone.net/
Diplomatic representation from the US / chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charg&eacute; d'Affaires Jared M. YANCEY (since 18 September 2025)
Diplomatic representation from the US / embassy: Southridge-Hill Station, Freetown
Diplomatic representation from the US / mailing address: 2160 Freetown Place, Washington DC 20521-2160
Diplomatic representation from the US / telephone: [232] 99 105 000
Diplomatic representation from the US / email address and website: consularfreetown@state.gov https://sl.usembassy.gov/
International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, ATMIS, AU, C, ECOWAS, EITI (compliant country), FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO (pending member), ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NAM, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNISFA, UNOOSA, UNSOM, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Independence: 27 April 1961 (from the UK)
National holiday: Independence Day, 27 April (1961)
Flag: description: three equal horizontal bands of light green (top), white, and light blue meaning: green stands for agriculture, mountains, and natural resources; white for unity and justice; and blue for the sea and the natural harbor in Freetown
National symbol(s): lion
National color(s): green, white, blue
National anthem(s) / title: "High We Exalt Thee, Realm of the Free"
National anthem(s) / lyrics/music: Clifford Nelson FYLE/John Joseph AKA
National anthem(s) / history: adopted 1961
National heritage / total World Heritage Sites: 1 (natural)
National heritage / selected World Heritage Site locales: Gola-Tiwai Complex (n)

## Economy
Economic overview: low-income West African economy; primarily subsistent agriculture; key iron and diamond mining activities suspended; slow recovery from 1990s civil war; systemic corruption; high-risk debt; high youth unemployment; natural resource rich
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $26.728 billion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $25.7 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $24.312 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2024: 4% (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2023: 5.7% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2022: 5.3% (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2024: $3,100 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2023: $3,000 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2022: $2,900 (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $7.548 billion (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024: 28.6% (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023: 47.6% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 27.2% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / agriculture: 25.4% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / industry: 27.3% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / services: 44.8% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / household consumption: 87.6% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / government consumption: 5.5% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in fixed capital: 29.5% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in inventories: 0% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / exports of goods and services: 20.9% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / imports of goods and services: -43.5% (2024 est.)
Agricultural products: cassava, rice, oil palm fruit, vegetables, sweet potatoes, milk, citrus fruits, fruits, groundnuts, sugarcane (2023)
Industries: diamond mining; iron ore, rutile and bauxite mining; small-scale manufacturing (beverages, textiles, footwear)
Industrial production growth rate: 4.7% (2024 est.)
Labor force: 2.863 million (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2024: 3.2% (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2023: 3.2% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2022: 3.2% (2022 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / total: 3.6% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / male: 4.8% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / female: 2.5% (2024 est.)
Population below poverty line: 56.8% (2018 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income / Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2018: 35.7 (2018 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / lowest 10%: 3.4% (2018 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / highest 10%: 29.4% (2018 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2023: 4.6% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2022: 4.1% of GDP (2022 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2021: 2.6% of GDP (2021 est.)
Budget / revenues: $740 million (2019 est.)
Budget / expenditures: $867 million (2019 est.)
Public debt / Public debt 2016: 54.9% of GDP (2016 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2023: -$606.358 million (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2022: -$452.094 million (2022 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2021: -$522.815 million (2021 est.)
Exports / Exports 2023: $1.382 billion (2023 est.)
Exports / Exports 2022: $1.202 billion (2022 est.)
Exports / Exports 2021: $928.689 million (2021 est.)
Exports - partners: China 67%, India 6%, Belgium 5%, Netherlands 4%, Ireland 3% (2023)
Exports - commodities: iron ore, titanium ore, diamonds, aluminum ore, cocoa beans (2023)
Imports / Imports 2023: $2.264 billion (2023 est.)
Imports / Imports 2022: $2.074 billion (2022 est.)
Imports / Imports 2021: $1.91 billion (2021 est.)
Imports - partners: China 32%, India 15%, UAE 5%, USA 5%, Turkey 5% (2023)
Imports - commodities: rice, plastic products, packaged medicine, cement, cars (2023)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023: $495.699 million (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $624.496 million (2022 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2021: $945.908 million (2021 est.)
Debt - external / Debt - external 2023: $1.451 billion (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Currency: leones (SLL) per US dollar -
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2023: 21.305 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2022: 14.048 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2021: 10.439 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2020: 9.83 (2020 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2019: 9.01 (2019 est.)

## Energy
Electricity access / electrification - total population: 29.4% (2022 est.)
Electricity access / electrification - urban areas: 55.3%
Electricity access / electrification - rural areas: 5%
Electricity / installed generating capacity: 149,000 kW (2023 est.)
Electricity / consumption: 131.321 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / transmission/distribution losses: 81.921 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / fossil fuels: 3.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / solar: 9.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / hydroelectricity: 84.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / biomass and waste: 2.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Petroleum / refined petroleum consumption: 9,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Energy consumption per capita / Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 2.301 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

## Communications
Telephones - fixed lines / total subscriptions: 0 (2021 est.)
Telephones - fixed lines / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2022 est.) less than 1
Telephones - mobile cellular / total subscriptions: 8.93 million (2022 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 108 (2022 est.)
Broadcast media: 1 state-owned TV station; 3 private TV stations; 1 pay-TV service; 1 state-owned national radio station; about 24 private radio stations; transmissions of several international broadcasters available (2019)
Internet country code: .sl
Internet users / percent of population: 21% (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / total: 0 (2021 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2021 est.) less than 1

## Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: 9L
Airports: 8 (2025)
Heliports: 3 (2025)
Merchant marine / total: 584 (2023)
Merchant marine / by type: bulk carrier 33, container ship 8, general cargo 320, oil tanker 97, other 126
Ports / total ports: 3 (2024)
Ports / large: 0
Ports / medium: 0
Ports / small: 1
Ports / very small: 2
Ports / ports with oil terminals: 2
Ports / key ports: Bonthe, Freetown, Pepel

## Military and Security
Military and security forces: Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces (RSLAF): organized as a Joint Force Command with land, air, and maritime components Ministry of Internal Affairs: Sierra Leone Police (2025)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2024: 0.5% of GDP (2024 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2023: 0.6% of GDP (2023 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2022: 0.6% of GDP (2022 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2021: 0.3% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2020: 0.3% of GDP (2020 est.)
Military and security service personnel strengths: estimated 10,000 active Armed Forces (2025)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the RSLAF has a small inventory comprised of obsolescent or secondhand imported armaments (2025)
Military service age and obligation: 18-25 for voluntary military service for men and women; no conscription (2025)
Military - note: the RSLAF’s primary responsibilities are securing the country's borders and territorial waters, supporting civil authorities during internal emergencies, and participating in peacekeeping missions; since the end of the civil war in 2002, it has received assistance from several foreign militaries, including those of Canada, China, France, the UK, and the US the RSLAF’s origins lie in the Sierra Leone Battalion of the Royal West African Frontier Force (RWAFF), a multi-regiment force formed by the British colonial office in 1900 to garrison the West African colonies of Gold Coast (Ghana), Nigeria (Lagos and the protectorates of Northern and Southern Nigeria), Sierra Leone, and The Gambia; the RWAFF fought in both World Wars (2025)

## Transnational Issues

=== Somalia ===

## Introduction
Background: Between A.D. 800 and 1100, immigrant Muslim Arabs and Persians set up coastal trading posts along the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean, solidifying present-day Somalia’s close trading relationship with the Arab Peninsula. In the late 19th century, Britain, France, and Italy established colonies in the Somali Peninsula that lasted until 1960, when British Somaliland gained independence and joined with Italian Somaliland to form the Republic of Somalia. The country functioned as a parliamentary democracy until 1969, when General Mohamed SIAD Barre took control in a coup, beginning a 22-year socialist dictatorship. In an effort to centralize power, SIAD called for the eradication of the clan, the key cultural and social organizing principle in Somali society. Resistance to SIAD’s socialist leadership, which was causing a rapid deterioration of the country, prompted allied clan militias to overthrow SIAD in 1991, resulting in state collapse. Subsequent fighting between rival clans for resources and territory overwhelmed the country, causing a manmade famine and prompting international intervention. Beginning in 1993, the UN spearheaded an international humanitarian mission, but the international community largely withdrew by 1995 after an incident that became known as Black Hawk Down, in which two US military helicopters were shot down in Mogadishu. The fighting and subsequent siege and rescue resulted in 21 deaths and 82 wounded among the international forces. International peace conferences in the 2000s resulted in a number of transitional governments that operated outside Somalia. Left largely to themselves, Somalis in the country established alternative governance structures; some areas formed their own administrations, such as Somaliland and Puntland, while others developed localized institutions. Many local populations turned to sharia courts, an Islamic judicial system that implements religious law. Several of these courts came together in 2006 to form the Islamic Courts Union (ICU). The ICU established order in many areas of central and southern Somalia, including Mogadishu, but was forced out when Ethiopia intervened militarily in 2006 on behalf of the Somali Transitional Federal Government (TFG). As the TFG settled in the capital, the ICU fled to rural areas or left Somalia altogether, but the organization reemerged less than a year later as the Islamic insurgent and terrorist movement al-Shabaab, which is still active today. In 2007, the African Union (AU) established a peacekeeping force, took over security responsibility for the country, and gave the TFG space to develop Somalia’s new government. By 2012, Somali powerbrokers agreed on a provisional constitution with a loose federal structure and established a central government in Mogadishu called the Somali Federal Government (SFG). Since then, the country has seen several interim regional administrations and three presidential elections, but significant governance and security problems remain because al-Shabaab still controls large portions of the country.

## Geography
Location: Eastern Africa, bordering the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean, east of Ethiopia
Geographic coordinates: 10 00 N, 49 00 E
Map references: Africa
Area / total: 637,657 sq km
Area / land: 627,337 sq km
Area / water: 10,320 sq km
Area - comparative: almost five times the size of Alabama; slightly smaller than Texas
Land boundaries / total: 2,385 km
Land boundaries / border countries: Djibouti 61 km; Ethiopia 1,640 km; Kenya 684 km
Coastline: 3,025 km
Maritime claims / territorial sea: 200 nm; note: the US does not recognize this claim
Maritime claims / exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate: principally desert; northeast monsoon (December to February), moderate temperatures in north and hot in south; southwest monsoon (May to October), torrid in the north and hot in the south, irregular rainfall, hot and humid periods (tangambili) between monsoons
Terrain: mostly flat to undulating plateau rising to hills in north
Elevation / highest point: Mount Shimbiris 2,460 m
Elevation / lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
Elevation / mean elevation: 410 m
Natural resources: uranium and largely unexploited reserves of iron ore, tin, gypsum, bauxite, copper, salt, natural gas, likely oil reserves
Land use / agricultural land: 70.3% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 1.8% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 0% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 68.5% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 7.9% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 21.7% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land: 2,000 sq km (2012)
Major aquifers: Ogaden-Juba Basin
Population distribution: distribution varies greatly throughout the country; least densely populated areas are in the northeast and central regions, as well as areas along the Kenyan border; most populated areas are in and around the cities of Mogadishu, Marka, Boorama, Hargeysa, and Baidoa, as shown on this population distribution map
Natural hazards: recurring droughts; frequent dust storms over eastern plains in summer; floods during rainy season
Geography - note: strategic location on Horn of Africa along southern approaches to Bab el Mandeb and route through Red Sea and Suez Canal

## People and Society
Population / total: 20,324,160 (2025 est.)
Population / male: 10,170,863
Population / female: 10,153,297
Nationality / noun: Somali(s)
Nationality / adjective: Somali
Ethnic groups: predominantly Somali with lesser numbers of Arabs, Bantus, and others
Languages / Languages: Somali (official), Arabic (official), Italian, English
Languages / major-language sample(s): Buugga Xaqiiqda Aduunka, waa laga maarmaanka macluumaadka assasiga. (Somali) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
Religions: Muslim 99.9% (Sunni Muslim 98.1%, Shia Muslim 1.2%, Islamic schismatic 0.6%), ethnic religionist 0.1% (2020 est.)
Age structure / 0-14 years: 41.4% (male 2,689,086/female 2,694,372)
Age structure / 15-64 years: 55.8% (male 3,699,721/female 3,568,163)
Age structure / 65 years and over: 2.8% (2024 est.) (male 157,505/female 208,426)
Dependency ratios / total dependency ratio: 100.5 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / youth dependency ratio: 97.1 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / elderly dependency ratio: 3.3 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / potential support ratio: 29.9 (2025 est.)
Median age / total: 15.7 years (2025 est.)
Median age / male: 19.3 years
Median age / female: 18.9 years
Population growth rate: 3.32% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 46.36 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 11.22 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: -1.91 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution: distribution varies greatly throughout the country; least densely populated areas are in the northeast and central regions, as well as areas along the Kenyan border; most populated areas are in and around the cities of Mogadishu, Marka, Boorama, Hargeysa, and Baidoa, as shown on this population distribution map
Urbanization / urban population: 47.9% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 4.2% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 2.610 million MOGADISHU (capital), 1.127 million Hargeysa (2023)
Sex ratio / at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 0-14 years: 1 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 15-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 65 years and over: 0.76 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio: 563 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Infant mortality rate / total: 81.5 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Infant mortality rate / male: 93.2 deaths/1,000 live births
Infant mortality rate / female: 73.7 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth / total population: 56.5 years (2024 est.)
Life expectancy at birth / male: 54.1 years
Life expectancy at birth / female: 59 years
Total fertility rate: 6.38 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 3.14 (2025 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: urban: urban: 80.1% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: rural: rural: 38.6% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: total: total: 58.3% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: urban: urban: 19.9% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: rural: rural: 61.4% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: total: total: 41.7% of population (2022 est.)
Health expenditure: 2.5% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density: 0.05 physicians/1,000 population (2014)
Hospital bed density: 0.9 beds/1,000 population (2019 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: urban: urban: 82.9% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: rural: rural: 34.8% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: total: total: 57.6% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: urban: urban: 17.1% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: rural: rural: 65.2% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: total: total: 42.4% of population (2022 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 8.3% (2016)
Alcohol consumption per capita / total: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / beer: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / wine: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / spirits: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / other alcohols: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49): 62.4% (2019 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% GDP): 0% of GDP (2023 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% national budget): 8.1% national budget (2025 est.)
Literacy / total population: 54.1% (2022 est.)
Literacy / male: 64.5% (2022 est.)
Literacy / female: 43.9% (2022 est.)

## Environment
Environmental issues: water scarcity; contaminated water; improper waste disposal; deforestation; land degradation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification
International environmental agreements / party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection
International environmental agreements / signed, but not ratified: Nuclear Test Ban
Climate: principally desert; northeast monsoon (December to February), moderate temperatures in north and hot in south; southwest monsoon (May to October), torrid in the north and hot in the south, irregular rainfall, hot and humid periods (tangambili) between monsoons
Land use / agricultural land: 70.3% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 1.8% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 0% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 68.5% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 7.9% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 21.7% (2023 est.)
Urbanization / urban population: 47.9% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 4.2% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / total emissions: 838,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from coal and metallurgical coke: 10 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from petroleum and other liquids: 838,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Particulate matter emissions: 14.3 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Waste and recycling / municipal solid waste generated annually: 2.326 million tons (2024 est.)
Total water withdrawal / municipal: 15 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / industrial: 2 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / agricultural: 3.281 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total renewable water resources: 14.7 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: Federal Republic of Somalia
Country name / conventional short form: Somalia
Country name / local long form: Jamhuuriyadda Federaalka Soomaaliya (Somali)/ Jumhuriyat as Sumal al Fidiraliyah (Arabic)
Country name / local short form: Soomaaliya (Somali)/ As Sumal (Arabic)
Country name / former: British Somaliland, Italian Somaliland, Somali Republic, Somali Democratic Republic
Country name / etymology: the name means "Land of the Somali," a local ethnic group; the origin of the group's name is unclear but may come from 1) a Cushitic word meaning "dark," 2) the local phrase soo mal , meaning "go and milk" (referring to offering guests milk), 3) the name of a local chief, or 4) the Arabic zamla , meaning "cattle"
Government type: federal parliamentary republic
Capital / name: Mogadishu
Capital / geographic coordinates: 2 04 N, 45 20 E
Capital / time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Capital / etymology: the name is probably derived from the Arabic word mukaddas , meaning "holy"
Administrative divisions: 18 regions ( gobollo , singular - gobol ); Awdal, Bakool, Banaadir, Bari, Bay, Galguduud, Gedo, Hiiraan, Jubbada Dhexe (Middle Jubba), Jubbada Hoose (Lower Jubba), Mudug, Nugaal, Sanaag, Shabeellaha Dhexe (Middle Shabeelle), Shabeellaha Hoose (Lower Shabeelle), Sool, Togdheer, Woqooyi Galbeed
Legal system: mixed system of civil law, Islamic (sharia) law, and customary law (referred to as Xeer)
Constitution / history: previous 1961, 1979; latest drafted 12 June 2012, adopted 1 August 2012
Constitution / amendment process: proposed by the federal government, by members of the state governments, the Federal Parliament, or by public petition; proposals require review by a joint committee of Parliament with inclusion of public comments and state legislatures&rsquo; comments; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote in both houses of Parliament and approval by a majority of votes cast in a referendum; constitutional clauses on Islamic principles, the federal system, human rights and freedoms, powers and authorities of the government branches, and inclusion of women in national institutions cannot be amended
International law organization participation: accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; non-party state to the ICCt
Citizenship / citizenship by birth: no
Citizenship / citizenship by descent only: the father must be a citizen of Somalia
Citizenship / dual citizenship recognized: no
Citizenship / residency requirement for naturalization: 7 years
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal suffrage starting with 24 June 2024 local elections
Executive branch / chief of state: President HASSAN SHEIKH Mohamud (since 23 May 2022)
Executive branch / head of government: Prime Minister Hamza Abdi BARRE (since 25 June 2022)
Executive branch / cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the prime minister, approved by the House of the People
Executive branch / election/appointment process: president indirectly elected by the Federal Parliament by two-thirds majority vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a single 4-year term; prime minister appointed by the president, approved by the House of the People
Executive branch / most recent election date: 15 May 2022
Executive branch / election results: 2022: HASSAN SHEIKH Mohamud elected president in third round - Federal Parliament percent of vote in first round - Said ABDULLAHI DENI (Kaah) 20.2%, Mohamed ABDULLAHI Mohamed "Farmaajo" (TPP) 18.3%, HASSAN SHEIKH Mohamud (PDP) 16.2%, Hassan Ali KHAYRE (independent) 14.6%, other 30.7%; Federal Parliament percent of vote in second round - HASSAN SHEIKH Mohamud 34.1%, Mohamed ABDULLAHI Mohamed "Farmaajo" 25.7%, Said ABDULLAHI DENI 21%, Hassan Ali KHAYRE 19.2%; Federal Parliament percent of vote in third round - HASSAN SHEIKH Mohamud 66%, Mohamed ABDULLAHI Mohamed "Farmaajo" 34%
Executive branch / expected date of next election: 2026
Legislative branch / legislature name: Federal Parliament
Legislative branch / legislative structure: bicameral
Legislative branch - lower chamber / chamber name: House of the People (Golaha Shacabka)
Legislative branch - lower chamber / number of seats: 275 (all indirectly elected)
Legislative branch - lower chamber / scope of elections: full renewal
Legislative branch - lower chamber / term in office: 5 years
Legislative branch - lower chamber / most recent election date: 11/1/2021 to 5/5/2022
Legislative branch - lower chamber / percentage of women in chamber: 19%
Legislative branch - lower chamber / expected date of next election: October 2026
Legislative branch - upper chamber / chamber name: Upper House (Aqalka Sare)
Legislative branch - upper chamber / number of seats: 54 (all indirectly elected)
Legislative branch - upper chamber / scope of elections: full renewal
Legislative branch - upper chamber / term in office: 5 years
Legislative branch - upper chamber / most recent election date: 7/27/2021 to 11/13/2021
Legislative branch - upper chamber / percentage of women in chamber: 25.9%
Legislative branch - upper chamber / expected date of next election: July 2026
Judicial branch / highest court(s): the provisional constitution stipulates the establishment of the Constitutional Court (consists of 5 judges, including the chief judge and deputy chief judge)
Judicial branch / judge selection and term of office: judges appointed by the president on proposal of the Judicial Service Commission, a 9-member judicial and administrative body; judge tenure NA
Judicial branch / subordinate courts: federal courts; federal member state-level courts; military courts; sharia courts
Political parties: Cosmopolitan Democratic Party Green Party Himilo Qaran Party Ilays Party Justice and Reconciliation Party National Progressive Party Peace and Unity Party Qaransoor Party Qiimo Qaran Party Security and Justice Party Social Justice Party Somali Labour Party Somali Republic Party Somali Social Unity Party or SSUP Union for Peace and Development Party or PDP Wadajir Party
Diplomatic representation in the US / chief of mission: Ambassador DAHIR Hassan Abdi (since 18 September 2024)
Diplomatic representation in the US / chancery: 1609 22nd Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation in the US / telephone: [1] (202) 853-9164
Diplomatic representation in the US / email address and website: washingtonembassy@mfa.gov.so https://usa.mfa.gov.so/
Diplomatic representation from the US / chief of mission: Ambassador Richard H. RILEY (since 20 June 2024)
Diplomatic representation from the US / embassy: Mogadishu, (reopened October 2019 on the grounds of the Mogadishu Airport)
Diplomatic representation from the US / mailing address: P.O. Box 606 Village Market 00621 Nairobi, Kenya
Diplomatic representation from the US / telephone: [254] 20 363-6451
Diplomatic representation from the US / email address and website: SomaliaPublicAffairs@state.gov https://so.usembassy.gov/
International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, AFESD, AMF, AU, CAEU (candidate), EAC, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ITSO, ITU, LAS, NAM, OIC, OPCW, OPCW (signatory), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNHRC, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO
Independence: 1 July 1960 (from a merger of British Somaliland, which became independent from the UK on 26 June 1960, and Italian Somaliland, which became independent from the Italian-administered UN trusteeship on 1 July 1960 to form the Somali Republic)
National holiday: Foundation of the Somali Republic, 1 July (1960); note - 26 June (1960) in Somaliland
Flag: description: light blue with a large white five-pointed star in the center meaning: the blue field was originally influenced by the UN flag but today is said to represent the sky and the Indian Ocean; the five points of the star represent the regions in the horn of Africa where Somali people live: the former British Somaliland and Italian Somaliland (which together make up Somalia), Djibouti, Ogaden (Ethiopia), and the Northeast Province (Kenya)
National symbol(s): leopard
National color(s): blue, white
National anthem(s) / title: "Qolobaa Calankeed" (Every Nation Has Its Own Flag)
National anthem(s) / lyrics/music: Abdullahi QARSHE
National anthem(s) / history: adopted 2012
Government - note: regional and local governing bodies continue to exist and control various areas of the country, including the self-declared Republic of Somaliland in northwestern Somalia

## Economy
Economic overview: low-income African Horn economy; 30 years of war and instability crippled economic potential; high remittances for basic survival; new fiscal federalism approach; cleared some unsustainable debt; environmentally fragile; digitally driven urbanization efforts
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $26.77 billion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $25.747 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $24.706 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2024: 4% (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2023: 4.2% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2022: 2.7% (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2024: $1,400 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2023: $1,400 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2022: $1,400 (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $12.109 billion (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 6.8% (2022 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021: 4.6% (2021 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2020: 4.3% (2020 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / household consumption: 124% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / government consumption: 7.6% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in fixed capital: 22.7% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in inventories: 0% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / exports of goods and services: 20% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / imports of goods and services: -74.3% (2024 est.)
Agricultural products: camel milk, milk, goat milk, sheep milk, sugarcane, fruits, sorghum, cassava, vegetables, maize (2023)
Industries: light industries, including sugar refining, textiles, wireless communication
Labor force: 3.439 million (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2024: 18.9% (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2023: 19% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2022: 19.1% (2022 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / total: 33.9% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / male: 32.1% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / female: 37% (2024 est.)
Population below poverty line: 54.4% (2022 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2023: 15.8% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2022: 17% of GDP (2022 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2021: 18.3% of GDP (2021 est.)
Public debt / Public debt 2014: 93% of GDP (2014 est.)
Taxes and other revenues: 0% (of GDP) (2023 est.)
Exports / Exports 2024: $2.424 billion (2024 est.)
Exports / Exports 2023: $2.164 billion (2023 est.)
Exports / Exports 2022: $1.804 billion (2022 est.)
Exports - partners: UAE 35%, Saudi Arabia 27%, Oman 18%, Djibouti 8%, India 3% (2023)
Exports - commodities: sheep and goats, gold, postage stamps/documents, other animals, cattle (2023)
Imports / Imports 2024: $9.002 billion (2024 est.)
Imports / Imports 2023: $8.002 billion (2023 est.)
Imports / Imports 2022: $7.456 billion (2022 est.)
Imports - partners: UAE 29%, China 19%, India 15%, Turkey 8%, Oman 5% (2023)
Imports - commodities: raw sugar, tobacco, broadcasting equipment, rice, milk (2023)
Debt - external / Debt - external 2023: $2.563 billion (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Currency: Somali shillings (SOS) per US dollar -
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2017: 23,097.987 (2017 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2016: 23,061.784 (2016 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2015: 22,254.236 (2015 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2014: 20,230.929 (2014 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2013: 19,283.8 (2013 est.)

## Energy
Electricity access / electrification - total population: 48.9% (2022 est.)
Electricity access / electrification - urban areas: 76.7%
Electricity access / electrification - rural areas: 30.6%
Electricity / installed generating capacity: 156,000 kW (2023 est.)
Electricity / consumption: 396.792 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / transmission/distribution losses: 15.408 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / fossil fuels: 82.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / solar: 16% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / wind: 1.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Coal / imports: 4 metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum / refined petroleum consumption: 6,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Natural gas / proven reserves: 5.663 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)
Energy consumption per capita / Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 649,000 Btu/person (2023 est.)

## Communications
Telephones - fixed lines / total subscriptions: 91,000 (2022 est.)
Telephones - fixed lines / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 1 (2022 est.) less than 1
Telephones - mobile cellular / total subscriptions: 9.91 million (2023 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 54 (2023 est.)
Broadcast media: 2 private TV stations rebroadcast Al-Jazeera and CNN; 1 state-operated TV station and 1 private TV station; state-operated Radio Mogadishu; 1 SW and roughly 10 private FM radio stations in Mogadishu; several radio stations in central and southern regions; transmissions of at least 2 international broadcasters available (2019)
Internet country code: .so
Internet users / percent of population: 28% (2022 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / total: 119,000 (2022 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 1 (2022 est.)

## Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: 6O
Airports: 40 (2025)
Merchant marine / total: 4 (2023)
Merchant marine / by type: general cargo 1, other 3
Ports / total ports: 6 (2024)
Ports / large: 1
Ports / medium: 0
Ports / small: 2
Ports / very small: 3
Ports / ports with oil terminals: 2
Ports / key ports: Baraawe, Berbera, Boosaaso, Kismaayo, Marka, Muqdisho

## Military and Security
Military and security forces: Somali Armed Forces (SAF; aka Somali Defense Force): Somali National Army (SNA; aka Land Forces), Somali Navy, Somali Air Force Ministry of Internal Security: Somali National Police (SNP, includes Coast Guard, commando unit) (2025)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2021: 6% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2020: 6% of GDP (2020 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2019: 5.6% of GDP (2019 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2018: 6% of GDP (2018 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2017: 5.9% of GDP (2017 est.)
Military and security service personnel strengths: estimated 20,000 active Somali Armed Forces (2025)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the SNA's inventory is a mix of older and donated (typically secondhand) equipment from a variety of suppliers, including Italy, Russia, South Africa, T&uuml;rkiye, the UK, and the US (2025)
Military service age and obligation: 18-22 for voluntary military service for men and women in the Somali Armed Forces; compulsory service is reportedly authorized, but not currently utilized (2025)
Military - note: the primary responsibility of the Somali National Army (SNA) is combating the al-Shabaab terrorist group, which controls large portions of central and southern Somalia and continues to conduct attacks targeting both military and civilian sites, including military bases, government institutions, and civilian gatherings; the SNA is supported by the National Police, regional/state security forces, and allied militias, as well as international forces; some African Union (AU) countries have provided military assistance to the SNA since 2007 under the AU Mission in Somalia (AMISOM, 2007-2022), the AU Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS, 2022-2024), and the AU Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM, January 2025-present); Turkey and the US have also provided military support to SNA operations Turkey and the US have formed and trained SNA units, including the US-backed Danab ("Lightning") Brigade and the Turkish-trained Gorgor ("Eagle") brigades; SNA soldiers have also received training from Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, the EU, Uganda, UAE, and the UK (2025)

## Terrorism
Terrorist group(s): al-Shabaab; Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham – Somalia

## Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons / refugees: 41,763 (2024 est.)
Refugees and internally displaced persons / IDPs: 3,869,345 (2024 est.)
Trafficking in persons / tier rating: Special Case; for more details, go to: https://www.state.gov/reports/2025-trafficking-in-persons-report/somalia/

=== Sudan ===

## Introduction
Background: Long referred to as Nubia, modern-day Sudan was the site of the Kingdom of Kerma (ca. 2500-1500 B.C.) until it was absorbed into the New Kingdom of Egypt. By the 11th century B.C., the Kingdom of Kush gained independence from Egypt; it lasted in various forms until the middle of the 4th century A.D. After the fall of Kush, the Nubians formed three Christian kingdoms of Nobatia, Makuria, and Alodia, with the latter two enduring until around 1500. Between the 14th and 15th centuries, Arab nomads settled much of Sudan, leading to extensive Islamization between the 16th and 19th centuries. Following Egyptian occupation early in the 19th century, an agreement in 1899 set up a joint British-Egyptian government in Sudan, but it was effectively a British colony. Military regimes favoring Islamic-oriented governments have dominated national politics since Sudan gained independence from Anglo-Egyptian co-rule in 1956. During most of the second half of the 20th century, Sudan was embroiled in two prolonged civil wars rooted in northern domination of the largely non-Muslim, non-Arab southern portion of the country. The first civil war ended in 1972, but another broke out in 1983. Peace talks gained momentum in 2002-04, and the final North/South Comprehensive Peace Agreement in 2005 granted the southern rebels autonomy for six years, followed by a referendum on independence for Southern Sudan. South Sudan became independent in 2011, but Sudan and South Sudan have yet to fully implement security and economic agreements to normalize relations between the two countries. Sudan has also faced conflict in Darfur, Southern Kordofan, and Blue Nile starting in 2003. In 2019, after months of nationwide protests, the 30-year reign of President Omar Hassan Ahmad al-BASHIR ended when the military forced him out. Economist and former international civil servant Abdalla HAMDOUK al-Kinani was selected to serve as the prime minister of a transitional government as the country prepared for elections in 2022. In late 2021, however, the Sudanese military ousted HAMDOUK and his government and replaced civilian members of the Sovereign Council (Sudan’s collective Head of State) with individuals selected by the military. HAMDOUK was briefly reinstated but resigned in January 2022. General Abd-al-Fatah al-BURHAN Abd-al-Rahman, the Chair of Sudan’s Sovereign Council and Commander-in-Chief of the Sudanese Armed Forces, currently serves as de facto head of state and government. He presides over a Sovereign Council consisting of military leaders, former armed opposition group representatives, and military-appointed civilians. A cabinet of acting ministers handles day-to-day administration.

## Geography
Location: north-eastern Africa, bordering the Red Sea, between Egypt and Eritrea
Geographic coordinates: 15 00 N, 30 00 E
Map references: Africa
Area / total: 1,861,484 sq km
Area / land: 1,731,671 sq km
Area / water: 129,813 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly less than one-fifth the size of the US
Land boundaries / total: 6,819 km
Land boundaries / border countries: Central African Republic 174 km; Chad 1,403 km; Egypt 1,276 km; Eritrea 682 km; Ethiopia 744 km; Libya 382 km; South Sudan 2,158 km
Coastline: 853 km
Maritime claims / territorial sea: 12 nm
Maritime claims / contiguous zone: 18 nm
Maritime claims / continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Climate: hot and dry; arid desert; rainy season varies by region (April to November)
Terrain: generally flat, featureless plain; desert dominates the north
Elevation / highest point: Jabal Marrah 3,042 m
Elevation / lowest point: Red Sea 0 m
Elevation / mean elevation: 568 m
Natural resources: petroleum; small reserves of iron ore, copper, chromium ore, zinc, tungsten, mica, silver, gold; hydropower
Land use / agricultural land: 60.3% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 11.2% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 0.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 49% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 12% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 27.7% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land: 15,504 sq km (2019)
Major rivers (by length in km): An Nīl (Nile) (shared with Rwanda [s], Tanzania, Uganda, South Sudan, and Egypt [m]) - 6,650 km; Blue Nile river mouth (shared with Ethiopia [s]) - 1,600 km note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Major watersheds (area sq km) / Atlantic Ocean drainage: (Mediterranean Sea) Nile (3,254,853 sq km)
Major watersheds (area sq km) / Internal (endorheic basin) drainage: Lake Chad (2,497,738 sq km)
Major aquifers: Nubian Aquifer System, Sudd Basin (Umm Ruwaba Aquifer)
Population distribution: with the exception of a ribbon of settlement that corresponds to the banks of the Nile, northern Sudan is sparsely populated; sizeable areas of population are found around Khartoum, southeast between the Blue and White Nile Rivers, and throughout South Darfur, as shown on this population distribution map
Natural hazards: dust storms and periodic persistent droughts
Geography - note: the Nile is Sudan's primary water source; its major tributaries, the White Nile and the Blue Nile, meet at Khartoum to form the River Nile, which flows northward through Egypt to the Mediterranean Sea

## People and Society
Population / total: 50,467,278 (2024 est.)
Population / male: 25,335,092
Population / female: 25,132,186
Nationality / noun: Sudanese (singular and plural)
Nationality / adjective: Sudanese
Ethnic groups: Sudanese Arab (approximately 70%), Fur, Beja, Nuba, Ingessana, Uduk, Fallata, Masalit, Dajo, Gimir, Tunjur, Berti; there are over 500 ethnic groups
Languages / Languages: Arabic (official), English (official), Nubian, Ta Bedawie, Fur
Languages / major-language sample(s): كتاب حقائق العالم، المصدر الذي لا يمكن الاستغناء عنه للمعلومات الأساسية (Arabic) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information. (English)
Religions: Sunni Muslim, small Christian minority
Age structure / 0-14 years: 40.1% (male 10,278,453/female 9,949,343)
Age structure / 15-64 years: 56.7% (male 14,211,514/female 14,390,486)
Age structure / 65 years and over: 3.2% (2024 est.) (male 845,125/female 792,357)
Dependency ratios / total dependency ratio: 76.4 (2024 est.)
Dependency ratios / youth dependency ratio: 70.7 (2024 est.)
Dependency ratios / elderly dependency ratio: 5.7 (2024 est.)
Dependency ratios / potential support ratio: 17.5 (2024 est.)
Median age / total: 19.5 years (2025 est.)
Median age / male: 19 years
Median age / female: 19.6 years
Population growth rate: 2.54% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 32.95 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 6 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: -1.55 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution: with the exception of a ribbon of settlement that corresponds to the banks of the Nile, northern Sudan is sparsely populated; sizeable areas of population are found around Khartoum, southeast between the Blue and White Nile Rivers, and throughout South Darfur, as shown on this population distribution map
Urbanization / urban population: 36.3% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 3.43% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 6.344 million KHARTOUM (capital), 1.057 million Nyala (2023)
Sex ratio / at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 0-14 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 65 years and over: 1.07 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio: 256 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Infant mortality rate / total: 39.7 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Infant mortality rate / male: 46 deaths/1,000 live births
Infant mortality rate / female: 34.8 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth / total population: 67.8 years (2024 est.)
Life expectancy at birth / male: 65.5 years
Life expectancy at birth / female: 70.2 years
Total fertility rate: 4.41 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 2.15 (2025 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: urban: urban: 74.2% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: rural: rural: 59.7% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: total: total: 64.9% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: urban: urban: 25.8% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: rural: rural: 40.3% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: total: total: 35.1% of population (2022 est.)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 2.8% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 6.7% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density: 0.25 physicians/1,000 population (2017)
Hospital bed density: 0.7 beds/1,000 population (2020 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 6.6% (2014)
Alcohol consumption per capita / total: 1.93 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / beer: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / wine: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / spirits: 0.29 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / other alcohols: 1.63 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 33% (2014)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / total: 7 years (2015 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / male: 7 years (2015 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / female: 7 years (2015 est.)

## Environment
Environmental issues: water pollution; inadequate supplies of potable water; water scarcity and drought; overhunting; soil erosion; desertification; deforestation; loss of biodiversity
International environmental agreements / party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
International environmental agreements / signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Climate: hot and dry; arid desert; rainy season varies by region (April to November)
Land use / agricultural land: 60.3% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 11.2% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 0.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 49% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 12% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 27.7% (2023 est.)
Urbanization / urban population: 36.3% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 3.43% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / total emissions: 18.242 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from coal and metallurgical coke: 300 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from petroleum and other liquids: 18.242 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Particulate matter emissions: 24.4 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Methane emissions / energy: 218.5 kt (2022-2024 est.)
Methane emissions / agriculture: 1,509.6 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Methane emissions / waste: 198.7 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Methane emissions / other: 38.8 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Waste and recycling / municipal solid waste generated annually: 2.831 million tons (2024 est.)
Waste and recycling / percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 8.9% (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / municipal: 950 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / industrial: 75 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / agricultural: 25.91 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total renewable water resources: 37.8 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: Republic of the Sudan
Country name / conventional short form: Sudan
Country name / local long form: Jumhuriyat as-Sudan
Country name / local short form: As-Sudan
Country name / former: Anglo-Egyptian Sudan, Democratic Republic of the Sudan
Country name / etymology: the name derives from the Arabic balad-as-sudan , meaning "Land of the Black [peoples]"
Government type: presidential republic
Capital / name: Khartoum
Capital / geographic coordinates: 15 36 N, 32 32 E
Capital / time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Capital / etymology: the name derives from the Arabic words ras (head or end) and al-khurtum (elephant's trunk), referring to the narrow strip of land between the Blue and White Niles where the city is located
Administrative divisions: 18 states ( wilayat , singular - wilayah ); Blue Nile, Central Darfur, East Darfur, Gedaref, Gezira, Kassala, Khartoum, North Darfur, North Kordofan, Northern, Red Sea, River Nile, Sennar, South Darfur, South Kordofan, West Darfur, West Kordofan, White Nile
Legal system: mixed system of Islamic law and English common law
Constitution / history: previous 1973, 1998, 2005 (interim constitution, which was suspended in April 2019); latest initial draft completed by Transitional Military Council in May 2019; revised draft known as the "Draft Constitutional Charter for the 2019 Transitional Period," or &ldquo;2019 Constitutional Declaration&rdquo; was signed by the Council and opposition coalition on 4 August 2019
International law organization participation: accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; withdrew acceptance of ICCt jurisdiction in 2008
Citizenship / citizenship by birth: no
Citizenship / citizenship by descent only: the father must be a citizen of Sudan
Citizenship / dual citizenship recognized: no
Citizenship / residency requirement for naturalization: 10 years
Suffrage: 17 years of age; universal
Executive branch / chief of state: Sovereign Council Chair and Commander-in-Chief of the Sudanese Armed Forces General Abd-al-Fattah al-BURHAN Abd-al-Rahman (since 11 November 2021)
Executive branch / head of government: Sovereign Council Chair and Commander-in-Chief of the Sudanese Armed Forces General Abd-al-Fattah al-BURHAN Abd-al-Rahman (since 11 November 2021)
Executive branch / cabinet: the military forced most members of the Council of Ministers out of office in 2021; a handful of ministers appointed by former armed opposition groups were allowed to retain their posts; at present, most of the members of the Council are appointed senior civil servants serving in an acting-minister capacity
Executive branch / election/appointment process: military members of the Sovereign Council are selected by the leadership of the security forces; representatives of former armed groups to the Sovereign Council are selected by the signatories of the Juba Peace Agreement
Executive branch / election results: NA
Executive branch / expected date of next election: supposed to be held in 2022 or 2023, but the methodology for elections has still not been defined
Judicial branch / highest court(s): National Supreme Court (consists of 70 judges organized into panels of 3 judges and includes 4 circuits that operate outside the capital); a Constitutional Court was required in the 2019 Constitutional Declaration, but it has yet to be implemented
Judicial branch / judge selection and term of office: National Supreme Court and Constitutional Court judges selected by the Supreme Judicial Council
Judicial branch / subordinate courts: Court of Appeal; other national courts; public courts; district, town, and rural courts
Political parties: Democratic Unionist Party Democratic Unionist Party or DUP Federal Umma Party Muslim Brotherhood or MB National Congress Party or NCP National Umma Party or NUP Popular Congress Party or PCP Reform Movement Now Sudan National Front Sudanese Communist Party or SCP Sudanese Congress Party or SCoP Umma Party for Reform and Development Unionist Movement Party or UMP
Diplomatic representation in the US / chief of mission: Ambassador Mohamed Abdalla IDRIS (since 16 September 2022)
Diplomatic representation in the US / chancery: 2210 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation in the US / telephone: [1] (202) 338-8565
Diplomatic representation in the US / FAX: [1] (202) 667-2406
Diplomatic representation in the US / email address and website: consular@sudanembassy.org https://www.sudanembassy.org/
Diplomatic representation from the US / chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charg&eacute; d'Affaires Colleen Crenwelge (since May 2024)
Diplomatic representation from the US / embassy: P.O. Box 699, Kilo 10, Soba, Khartoum
Diplomatic representation from the US / mailing address: 2200 Khartoum Place, Washington DC 20521-2200
Diplomatic representation from the US / telephone: [249] 187-0-22000
Diplomatic representation from the US / email address and website: ACSKhartoum@state.gov https://sd.usembassy.gov/
International organization participation: ABEDA, ACP, AfDB, AFESD, AMF, AU (suspended), CAEU, COMESA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, LAS, MIGA, NAM, OIC, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNHRC, UNIDO, UNOOSA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)
Independence: 1 January 1956 (from Egypt and the UK)
National holiday: Independence Day, 1 January (1956)
Flag: description: three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black, with a green isosceles triangle based on the left side meaning: red stands for the struggle for freedom; white for peace, light, and love, black for the people; green for Islam, agriculture, and prosperity history: colors and design are based on the Arab Revolt flag of World War I
National symbol(s): secretary bird
National color(s): red, white, black, green
National anthem(s) / title: "Nahnu Djundulla Djundulwatan" (We Are the Army of God and of Our Land)
National anthem(s) / lyrics/music: Sayed Ahmad Muhammad SALIH/Ahmad MURJAN
National anthem(s) / history: adopted 1956; originally served as the anthem of the Sudanese military
National heritage / total World Heritage Sites: 3 (2 cultural, 1 natural)
National heritage / selected World Heritage Site locales: Gebel Barkal and the Sites of the Napatan Region (c); Archaeological Sites of the Island of Meroe (c); Sanganeb Marine National Park and Dungonab Bay – Mukkawar Island Marine National Park (n)

## Economy
Economic overview: low-income Sahel economy devastated by ongoing civil war; major impacts on rural income, basic commodity prices, industrial production, agricultural supply chain, communications and commerce; hyperinflation and currency depreciation worsening food access and humanitarian conditions
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $94.42 billion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $109.147 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $154.672 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2024: -13.5% (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2023: -29.4% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2022: -1% (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2024: $1,900 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2023: $2,200 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2022: $3,100 (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $49.91 billion (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 138.8% (2022 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021: 359.1% (2021 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2020: 163.3% (2020 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / agriculture: 22.1% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / industry: 23% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / services: 54.9% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / household consumption: 80.7% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / government consumption: 16.5% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in fixed capital: 2.9% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in inventories: 0% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / exports of goods and services: 1.2% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / imports of goods and services: -1.3% (2024 est.)
Agricultural products: sugarcane, sorghum, milk, onions, groundnuts, sesame seeds, goat milk, bananas, mangoes/guavas, millet (2023)
Industries: oil, cotton ginning, textiles, cement, edible oils, sugar, soap distilling, shoes, petroleum refining, pharmaceuticals, armaments, automobile/light truck assembly, milling
Industrial production growth rate: -13.1% (2024 est.)
Labor force: 10.949 million (2022 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2023: 11.45% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2022: 7.6% (2022 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2021: 11.1% (2021 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / total: 12% (2022 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / male: 11.8% (2022 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / female: 13.1% (2022 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2023: 2.5% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2022: 2.9% of GDP (2022 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2021: 3.3% of GDP (2021 est.)
Budget / revenues: $9.045 billion (2015 est.)
Budget / expenditures: $9.103 billion (2015 est.)
Public debt / Public debt 2016: 99.5% of GDP (2016 est.)
Taxes and other revenues: 7.4% (of GDP) (2016 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2022: -$4.443 billion (2022 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2021: -$2.62 billion (2021 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2020: -$5.841 billion (2020 est.)
Exports / Exports 2022: $5.908 billion (2022 est.)
Exports / Exports 2021: $6.664 billion (2021 est.)
Exports / Exports 2020: $5.065 billion (2020 est.)
Exports - partners: UAE 21%, China 17%, Saudi Arabia 16%, Malaysia 9%, Egypt 8% (2023)
Exports - commodities: crude petroleum, gold, oil seeds, sheep and goats, ground nuts (2023)
Imports / Imports 2022: $11.575 billion (2022 est.)
Imports / Imports 2021: $10.271 billion (2021 est.)
Imports / Imports 2020: $10.52 billion (2020 est.)
Imports - partners: China 21%, India 19%, Egypt 16%, UAE 14%, Saudi Arabia 7% (2023)
Imports - commodities: raw sugar, wheat flours, refined petroleum, garments, packaged medicine (2023)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2017: $177.934 million (2017 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2016: $168.284 million (2016 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2015: $173.516 million (2015 est.)
Debt - external / Debt - external 2023: $21.65 billion (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Currency: Sudanese pounds (SDG) per US dollar -
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2022: 546.759 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2021: 370.791 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2020: 53.996 (2020 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2019: 45.767 (2019 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2018: 24.329 (2018 est.)

## Energy
Electricity access / electrification - total population: 63.2% (2022 est.)
Electricity access / electrification - urban areas: 84%
Electricity access / electrification - rural areas: 49.4%
Electricity / installed generating capacity: 3.815 million kW (2023 est.)
Electricity / consumption: 13.983 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / imports: 882 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / transmission/distribution losses: 3.646 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / fossil fuels: 29.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / solar: 0.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / hydroelectricity: 68.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / biomass and waste: 0.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Coal / exports: 15 metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / imports: 200 metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum / total petroleum production: 68,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Petroleum / refined petroleum consumption: 129,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Petroleum / crude oil estimated reserves: 1.25 billion barrels (2021 est.)
Natural gas / proven reserves: 84.951 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)
Energy consumption per capita / Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 6.145 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

## Communications
Telephones - fixed lines / total subscriptions: 156,000 (2022 est.)
Telephones - fixed lines / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2022 est.) less than 1
Telephones - mobile cellular / total subscriptions: 34.7 million (2022 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 74 (2022 est.)
Broadcast media: state-owned broadcasters that self-censor but are somewhat independent (2022)
Internet country code: .sd
Internet users / percent of population: 26% (2020 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / total: 30,000 (2022 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2022 est.) less than 1

## Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: ST
Airports: 45 (2025)
Heliports: 8 (2025)
Railways / total: 7,251 km (2014)
Railways / narrow gauge: 5,851 km (2014) 1.067-m gauge
Merchant marine / total: 14 (2023)
Merchant marine / by type: other 14
Ports / total ports: 4 (2024)
Ports / large: 0
Ports / medium: 2
Ports / small: 2
Ports / very small: 0
Ports / ports with oil terminals: 3
Ports / key ports: Al Khair Oil Terminal, Beshayer Oil Terminal, Port Sudan, Sawakin Harbor

## Military and Security
Military and security forces: Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF): Ground Force (Sudanese Army), Sudanese Navy, Sudanese Air Force; Rapid Support Forces (RSF); Border Guards Ministry of Interior: Sudan Police Forces (SPF), Central Reserve Police (CRP) (2025)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2021: 1% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2020: 1% of GDP (2020 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2019: 2.4% of GDP (2019 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2018: 2% of GDP (2018 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2017: 3.6% of GDP (2017 est.)
Military and security service personnel strengths: prior to the outbreak of fighting between the SAF and the RSF in 2023, size estimates for Sudan's armed forces varied widely: up to 200,000 SAF; up to 100,000 RSF; up to 80,000 Central Reserve Police (2023)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the SAF's inventory includes a mix of mostly Chinese, Russian/Soviet, and some domestically produced weapons systems; Sudan has a state-run defense industry, which mostly manufactures copies of foreign-supplied armaments, such as armored vehicles, under license (2025)
Military service age and obligation: 18-33 years of age for compulsory or voluntary military service for men and women; service obligation 12-24 months (2025)
Military - note: the primary responsibilities of the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) are border control, external defense, and internal security; SAF operations have traditionally been supported by militia and paramilitary forces, particularly the Rapid Support Forces (RSF); in the Spring of 2023, fighting broke out between the SAF and the RSF, particularly around the capital Khartoum and in the western region of Darfur, amid disputes over an internationally-backed plan for a transition towards civilian rule; fighting subsequently spread and continued into 2025 with reports of atrocities, ethnic cleansing, food insecurity, heavy civilian casualties, and millions of internally displaced persons; each side is supported by allied militias and both reportedly have received foreign support the Sudanese military has been a dominant force in the ruling of the country since its independence in 1956; in addition, the military has a large role in the country's economy, reportedly controlling over 200 commercial companies, including businesses involved in gold mining, rubber production, agriculture, and meat exports the UN Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) has operated in the disputed Abyei region along the border between Sudan and South Sudan since 2011; UNISFA's mission includes ensuring security, protecting civilians, strengthening the capacity of the Abyei Police Service, de-mining, monitoring/verifying the redeployment of armed forces from the area, and facilitating the flow of humanitarian aid; as of 2025, UNISFA had approximately 3,800 personnel assigned (2025)

## Terrorism
Terrorist group(s): Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS); al-Qa’ida; Harakat Sawa’d Misr

## Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons / refugees: 837,988 (2024 est.)
Refugees and internally displaced persons / IDPs: 11,559,970 (2024 est.)
Trafficking in persons / tier rating: Tier 3 — Sudan does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and is not making significant efforts to do so; therefore, Sudan remained on Tier 3; for more details, go to: https://www.state.gov/reports/2025-trafficking-in-persons-report/sudan

=== Togo ===

## Introduction
Background: From the 11th to the 16th centuries, various ethnic groups settled the Togo region. From the 16th to the 18th centuries, the coastal region became a major trading center for enslaved people, and the surrounding region took on the name of "The Slave Coast." In 1884, Germany declared the area a protectorate called Togoland, which included present-day Togo. After World War I, colonial rule over Togo was transferred to France. French Togoland became Togo upon independence in 1960. Gen. Gnassingbe EYADEMA, installed as military ruler in 1967, ruled Togo with a heavy hand for almost four decades. Despite the facade of multi-party elections instituted in the early 1990s, EYADEMA largely dominated the government. His Rally of the Togolese People (RPT) party has been in power almost continually since 1967, with its successor, the Union for the Republic, maintaining a majority of seats in today's legislature. Upon EYADEMA's death in 2005, the military installed his son, Faure GNASSINGBE, as president and then engineered his formal election two months later. Togo held its first relatively free and fair legislative elections in 2007. Since then, GNASSINGBE has started the country along a gradual path to democratic reform. Togo has held multiple presidential and legislative elections, and in 2019, the country held its first local elections in 32 years. Despite those positive moves, political reconciliation has moved slowly, and the country experiences periodic outbursts of protests from frustrated citizens, leading to violence between security forces and protesters. Constitutional changes in 2019 to institute a runoff system in presidential elections and to establish term limits have done little to reduce the resentment many Togolese feel after more than 50 years of one-family rule. GNASSINGBE became eligible for his current fourth term and one additional fifth term under the new rules. The next presidential election is set for 2025.

## Geography
Location: Western Africa, bordering the Bight of Benin, between Benin and Ghana
Geographic coordinates: 8 00 N, 1 10 E
Map references: Africa
Area / total: 56,785 sq km
Area / land: 54,385 sq km
Area / water: 2,400 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly smaller than West Virginia
Land boundaries / total: 1,880 km
Land boundaries / border countries: Benin 651 km; Burkina Faso 131 km; Ghana 1,098 km
Coastline: 56 km
Maritime claims / territorial sea: 30 nm
Maritime claims / exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate: tropical; hot, humid in south; semiarid in north
Terrain: gently rolling savanna in north; central hills; southern plateau; low coastal plain with extensive lagoons and marshes
Elevation / highest point: Mont Agou 986 m
Elevation / lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
Elevation / mean elevation: 236 m
Natural resources: phosphates, limestone, marble, arable land
Land use / agricultural land: 70.2% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 48.7% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 3.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 18.4% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 22.4% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 7.4% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land: 70 sq km (2012)
Major watersheds (area sq km) / Atlantic Ocean drainage: Volta (410,991 sq km)
Population distribution: one of the more densely populated African nations, with most of the population residing in rural communities; density is highest in the south on or near the Atlantic coast, as shown in this population distribution map
Natural hazards: hot, dry harmattan wind can reduce visibility in north during winter; periodic droughts
Geography - note: stretches through six distinct geographic regions; climate varies from tropical to savanna

## People and Society
Population / total: 9,143,439 (2025 est.)
Population / male: 4,488,825
Population / female: 4,654,614
Nationality / noun: Togolese (singular and plural)
Nationality / adjective: Togolese
Ethnic groups: Adja-Ewe/Mina 42.4%, Kabye/Tem 25.9%, Para-Gourma/Akan 17.1%, Akposso/Akebu 4.1%, Ana-Ife 3.2%, other Togolese 1.7%, foreigners 5.2%, no response 0.4% (2013-14 est.)
Languages: French (official, language of commerce), Ewe and Mina (in the south), Kabye (sometimes spelled Kabiye) and Dagomba (in the north)
Religions: Christian 42.3%, folk religion 36.9%, Muslim 14%, Hindu <1%, Buddhist <1%, Jewish <1%, other <1%, none 6.2% (2020 est.)
Age structure / 0-14 years: 38.7% (male 1,749,533/female 1,699,084)
Age structure / 15-64 years: 57% (male 2,486,142/female 2,597,914)
Age structure / 65 years and over: 4.3% (2024 est.) (male 159,596/female 225,725)
Dependency ratios / total dependency ratio: 74.7 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / youth dependency ratio: 66.7 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / elderly dependency ratio: 8 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / potential support ratio: 12.6 (2025 est.)
Median age / total: 20.9 years (2025 est.)
Median age / male: 19.9 years
Median age / female: 21.4 years
Population growth rate: 2.37% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 30.17 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 4.64 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: -1.85 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution: one of the more densely populated African nations, with most of the population residing in rural communities; density is highest in the south on or near the Atlantic coast, as shown in this population distribution map
Urbanization / urban population: 44.5% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 3.6% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 1.982 million LOME (capital) (2023)
Sex ratio / at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 0-14 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth: 25 years (2017 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio: 349 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Infant mortality rate / total: 34.5 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Infant mortality rate / male: 43 deaths/1,000 live births
Infant mortality rate / female: 33.7 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth / total population: 72.1 years (2024 est.)
Life expectancy at birth / male: 69.5 years
Life expectancy at birth / female: 74.7 years
Total fertility rate: 4.03 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 1.99 (2025 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: urban: urban: 87% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: rural: rural: 58.5% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: total: total: 71% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: urban: urban: 13% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: rural: rural: 41.5% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: total: total: 29% of population (2022 est.)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 5.6% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 2.6% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density: 0.08 physicians/1,000 population (2022)
Hospital bed density: 0.6 beds/1,000 population (2019 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: urban: urban: 82% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: rural: rural: 19.2% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: total: total: 46.7% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: urban: urban: 18% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: rural: rural: 80.8% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: total: total: 53.3% of population (2022 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 8.4% (2016)
Alcohol consumption per capita / total: 1.4 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / beer: 0.78 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / wine: 0.09 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / spirits: 0.2 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / other alcohols: 0.33 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Tobacco use / total: 5% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / male: 9.3% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / female: 0.7% (2025 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 15.2% (2017 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49): 63.7% (2017 est.)
Child marriage / women married by age 15: 6.4% (2017)
Child marriage / women married by age 18: 24.8% (2017)
Child marriage / men married by age 18: 2.6% (2017)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% GDP): 4.1% of GDP (2023 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% national budget): 11.6% national budget (2024 est.)
Literacy / total population: 72.6% (2022 est.)
Literacy / male: 82.8% (2022 est.)
Literacy / female: 63.7% (2022 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / total: 12 years (2017 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / male: 13 years (2017 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / female: 11 years (2017 est.)

## Environment
Environmental issues: deforestation from slash-and-burn agriculture and the use of wood for fuel; very little rainforest still present and what remains is highly degraded; desertification; water pollution; air pollution in urban areas
International environmental agreements / party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling
International environmental agreements / signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Climate: tropical; hot, humid in south; semiarid in north
Land use / agricultural land: 70.2% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 48.7% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 3.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 18.4% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 22.4% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 7.4% (2023 est.)
Urbanization / urban population: 44.5% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 3.6% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / total emissions: 2.656 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from coal and metallurgical coke: 372,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from petroleum and other liquids: 1.941 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from consumed natural gas: 343,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Particulate matter emissions: 33.9 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Methane emissions / energy: 43.3 kt (2022-2024 est.)
Methane emissions / agriculture: 51.8 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Methane emissions / waste: 31.3 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Methane emissions / other: 10.4 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Waste and recycling / municipal solid waste generated annually: 1.109 million tons (2024 est.)
Waste and recycling / percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 3.5% (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / municipal: 140.7 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / industrial: 6.3 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / agricultural: 76 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total renewable water resources: 14.7 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: Togolese Republic
Country name / conventional short form: Togo
Country name / local long form: R&eacute;publique Togolaise
Country name / local short form: none
Country name / former: French Togoland
Country name / etymology: the name derives from the town of Togodo (now Togoville) on the northern shore of Lake Togo; the town's name probably comes from the lake's name, which is composed of the Ewe words to ("water") and go ("shore")
Government type: presidential republic
Capital / name: Lome
Capital / geographic coordinates: 6 07 N, 1 13 E
Capital / time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Capital / etymology: the name comes from a local word meaning "little market"
Administrative divisions: 5 regions ( régions , singular - région ); Centrale, Kara, Maritime, Plateaux, Savanes
Legal system: customary law system
Constitution / history: several previous; latest adopted 27 September 1992, effective 14 October 1992; revised 6 May 2024
Constitution / amendment process: proposed by the president of the republic or supported by at least one fifth of the National Assembly membership; passage requires four-fifths majority vote by the Assembly; a referendum is required if approved by only two-thirds majority of the Assembly or if requested by the president; constitutional articles on the republican and secular form of government cannot be amended
International law organization participation: accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; non-party state to the ICCt
Citizenship / citizenship by birth: no
Citizenship / citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Togo
Citizenship / dual citizenship recognized: yes
Citizenship / residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch / chief of state: President Jean-Lucien Kwassi Savi de TOVE (since 3 May 2025)
Executive branch / head of government: President of Council of Ministers Faure GNASSINGBE (since 3 May 2025)
Executive branch / cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the advice of the president of the council of ministers
Executive branch / election/appointment process: president is appointed by the national assembly for one six-year term; the president of the council of ministers is the leader of the majority party in the national assembly and is confirmed by the Constitutional Court with no term limits
Executive branch / election results: 2020: Faure GNASSINGBE reelected president; percent of vote - Faure GNASSINGBE (UNIR) 70.8%, Agbeyome KODJO (MPDD) 19.5%, Jean-Pierre FABRE (ANC) 4.7%, other 5% 2015: Faure GNASSINGBE reelected president; percent of vote - Faure GNASSINGBE (UNIR) 58.8%, Jean-Pierre FABRE (ANC) 35.2%, Tchaboure GOGUE (ADDI) 4%, other 2%
Legislative branch / legislature name: Parliament
Legislative branch / legislative structure: bicameral
Legislative branch - lower chamber / chamber name: National Assembly (Assemblée nationale)
Legislative branch - lower chamber / number of seats: 113 (all directly elected)
Legislative branch - lower chamber / electoral system: proportional representation
Legislative branch - lower chamber / scope of elections: full renewal
Legislative branch - lower chamber / term in office: 6 years
Legislative branch - lower chamber / most recent election date: 4/29/2024
Legislative branch - lower chamber / parties elected and seats per party: Union for the Republic (UNIR) (108); Other (5)
Legislative branch - lower chamber / percentage of women in chamber: 15%
Legislative branch - lower chamber / expected date of next election: April 2030
Legislative branch - upper chamber / chamber name: Senate (Sénat)
Legislative branch - upper chamber / number of seats: 61 (41 directly elected; 20 appointed)
Legislative branch - upper chamber / scope of elections: full renewal
Legislative branch - upper chamber / term in office: 6 years
Legislative branch - upper chamber / most recent election date: 2/15/2025
Legislative branch - upper chamber / parties elected and seats per party: Union for the Republic (UNIR) (34); Independents (3); Other (4)
Legislative branch - upper chamber / percentage of women in chamber: 24.6%
Legislative branch - upper chamber / expected date of next election: February 2031
Judicial branch / highest court(s): Supreme Court or Cour Supr&ecirc;me (organized into criminal and administrative chambers, each with a chamber president and advisors); Constitutional Court (consists of 9 judges, including the court president)
Judicial branch / judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court president appointed by decree of the president of the republic on the proposal of the Supreme Council of the Magistracy, a 9-member judicial, advisory, and disciplinary body; other judicial appointments and judge tenure NA; Constitutional Court judges appointed by the National Assembly; judge tenure NA
Judicial branch / subordinate courts: Court of Assizes (sessions court); Appeal Court; tribunals of first instance (divided into civil, commercial, and correctional chambers; Court of State Security; military tribunal
Political parties: Action Committee for Renewal or CAR Alliance of Democrats for Integral Development or ADDI Democratic Convention of African Peoples or CDPA Democratic Forces for the Republic or FDR National Alliance for Change or ANC New Togolese Commitment Pan-African National Party or PNP Pan-African Patriotic Convergence or CPP Patriotic Movement for Democracy and Development or MPDD Socialist Pact for Renewal or PSR The Togolese Party Union of Forces for Change or UFC Union for the Republic or UNIR
Diplomatic representation in the US / chief of mission: Ambassador Fr&eacute;d&eacute;ric Edem HEGBE (since 24 April 2017)
Diplomatic representation in the US / chancery: 2208 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation in the US / telephone: [1] (202) 234-4212
Diplomatic representation in the US / FAX: [1] (202) 232-3190
Diplomatic representation in the US / email address and website: embassyoftogo@hotmail.com https://embassyoftogousa.com/
Diplomatic representation from the US / chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charg&eacute; d&rsquo;Affaires Richard C. MICHAELS (since June 2025)
Diplomatic representation from the US / embassy: Boulevard Eyadema B.P. 852, Lomé
Diplomatic representation from the US / mailing address: 2300 Lome Place, Washington, DC 20521-2300
Diplomatic representation from the US / telephone: [228] 2261-5470
Diplomatic representation from the US / FAX: [228] 2261-5501
Diplomatic representation from the US / email address and website: consularLome@state.gov https://tg.usembassy.gov/
International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, AIIB, AU, ECOWAS, EITI (compliant country), Entente, FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MINURSO, NAM, OIC, OIF, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WADB (regional), WAEMU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Independence: 27 April 1960 (from French-administered UN trusteeship)
National holiday: Independence Day, 27 April (1960)
Flag: description: five equal horizontal bands of green (top and bottom) alternating with yellow; a five-pointed white star on a red square is in the upper-left corner meaning: the five horizontal stripes stand for the country's regions; red stands for the people's loyalty and patriotism; green for hope, fertility, and agriculture; yellow for mineral wealth and faith that hard work and strength will bring prosperity; the star symbolizes life, purity, peace, dignity, and national independence history: uses the colors of the Pan-African movement
National symbol(s): lion
National color(s): green, yellow, red, white
National anthem(s) / title: "Salut &agrave; toi, pays de nos aieux" (Hail to Thee, Land of Our Forefathers)
National anthem(s) / lyrics/music: Alex CASIMIR-DOSSEH
National anthem(s) / history: adopted 1960, restored 1992; anthem was replaced during one-party rule between 1979 and 1992
National heritage / total World Heritage Sites: 1 (cultural)
National heritage / selected World Heritage Site locales: Koutammakou; the Land of the Batammariba

## Economy
Economic overview: low-income West African economy; primarily agrarian economy; has a deep-water port; growing international shipping locale; improving privatization and public budgeting transparency; key phosphate mining industry; extremely high rural poverty
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $27.115 billion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $25.75 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $24.199 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2024: 5.3% (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2023: 6.4% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2022: 5.8% (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2024: $2,800 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2023: $2,800 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2022: $2,700 (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $9.926 billion (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024: 2.9% (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023: 5.3% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 7.6% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / agriculture: 18% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / industry: 20% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / services: 52% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / household consumption: 78.3% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / government consumption: 13.1% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in fixed capital: 22.3% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in inventories: 0% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / exports of goods and services: 24.4% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / imports of goods and services: -38.1% (2024 est.)
Agricultural products: cassava, maize, yams, sorghum, soybeans, beans, rice, vegetables, oil palm fruit, cotton (2023)
Industries: phosphate mining, agricultural processing, cement, handicrafts, textiles, beverages
Industrial production growth rate: 4.2% (2024 est.)
Labor force: 3.345 million (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2024: 2% (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2023: 2% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2022: 2% (2022 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / total: 3.4% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / male: 3.3% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / female: 3.5% (2024 est.)
Population below poverty line: 45.5% (2018 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income / Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2021: 37.9 (2021 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / lowest 10%: 2.8% (2021 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / highest 10%: 29.6% (2021 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2023: 7.1% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2022: 8% of GDP (2022 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2021: 7.8% of GDP (2021 est.)
Budget / revenues: $1.801 billion (2023 est.)
Budget / expenditures: $2.407 billion (2023 est.)
Public debt / Public debt 2016: 81.6% of GDP (2016 est.)
Taxes and other revenues: 14.8% (of GDP) (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2020: -$20.738 million (2020 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2019: -$55.444 million (2019 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2018: -$184.852 million (2018 est.)
Exports / Exports 2020: $1.722 billion (2020 est.)
Exports / Exports 2019: $1.665 billion (2019 est.)
Exports / Exports 2018: $1.703 billion (2018 est.)
Exports - partners: UAE 40%, India 13%, Angola 13%, Burkina Faso 4%, Cote d'Ivoire 3% (2023)
Exports - commodities: gold, refined petroleum, soybeans, phosphates, coconuts/brazil nuts/cashews (2023)
Imports / Imports 2020: $2.389 billion (2020 est.)
Imports / Imports 2019: $2.261 billion (2019 est.)
Imports / Imports 2018: $2.329 billion (2018 est.)
Imports - partners: China 26%, India 26%, Belgium 6%, Netherlands 6%, USA 3% (2023)
Imports - commodities: refined petroleum, garments, rice, palm oil, motorcycles and cycles (2023)
Debt - external / Debt - external 2023: $1.923 billion (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Currency: Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar -
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2024: 606.345 (2024 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2023: 606.57 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2022: 623.76 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2021: 554.531 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2020: 575.586 (2020 est.)

## Energy
Electricity access / electrification - total population: 57.2% (2022 est.)
Electricity access / electrification - urban areas: 96.5%
Electricity access / electrification - rural areas: 25%
Electricity / installed generating capacity: 326,000 kW (2023 est.)
Electricity / consumption: 1.815 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / imports: 1.1 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / transmission/distribution losses: 206.938 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / fossil fuels: 79.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / solar: 11.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / hydroelectricity: 8.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / biomass and waste: 0.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Coal / consumption: 163,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / exports: 10 metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / imports: 163,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum / refined petroleum consumption: 14,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Natural gas / consumption: 176.16 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / imports: 176.16 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
Energy consumption per capita / Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 4.538 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

## Communications
Telephones - fixed lines / total subscriptions: 67,000 (2023 est.)
Telephones - fixed lines / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 1 (2023 est.) less than 1
Telephones - mobile cellular / total subscriptions: 7.69 million (2024 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 81 (2024 est.)
Broadcast media: 1 state-owned TV station with multiple transmission sites; five private local TV stations; cable TV available; state-owned radio network with two stations; several dozen private radio stations and a few community radio stations; transmissions of multiple international broadcasters available (2019)
Internet country code: .tg
Internet users / percent of population: 37% (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / total: 114,000 (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 1 (2023 est.)

## Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: 5V
Airports: 7 (2025)
Railways / total: 568 km (2014)
Railways / narrow gauge: 568 km (2014) 1.000-m gauge
Merchant marine / total: 397 (2023)
Merchant marine / by type: bulk carrier 1, container ship 10, general cargo 250, oil tanker 56, other 80
Ports / total ports: 2 (2024)
Ports / large: 0
Ports / medium: 1
Ports / small: 0
Ports / very small: 1
Ports / ports with oil terminals: 2
Ports / key ports: Kpeme, Lome

## Military and Security
Military and security forces: Togolese Armed Forces (Forces Armees Togolaise, FAT): Togolese Army, Togolese Navy, Togolese Air Force, National Gendarmerie (Gendarmerie Nationale Togolaise or GNT) Ministry of Security and Civil Protection: Togolese Police (2025)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2024: 2.2% of GDP (2024 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2023: 3% of GDP (2023 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2022: 4% of GDP (2022 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2021: 2.8% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2020: 2.8% of GDP (2020 est.)
Military and security service personnel strengths: estimated 20,000 active Armed Forces, including Gendarmerie (2025)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the FAT has a small inventory of mostly obsolescent or older armaments originating from several countries, including Brazil, France, Russia/former Soviet Union, T&uuml;rkiye, the UK, and the US (2025)
Military service age and obligation: 18-24 years of age for military service for men and women; initial 24-month service obligation; no conscription (2025)
Military - note: the Togolese Armed Forces (FAT) are responsible for both external defense and internal security; the FAT’s primary concerns are border security, terrorism, and maritime security; in recent years, it has boosted operations in the northern border region of the country to secure the frontier and prevent banditry, illicit smuggling, and infiltrations from Jama'at Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin (JNIM), a coalition of al-Qa'ida-affiliated militant groups based in Mali that also operates in neighboring Burkina Faso; in 2022, the Togolese Government declared a state of emergency in the north following an attack by JNIM fighters on a Togolese military post that killed several soldiers; the Navy and Air Force have increased focus on combating piracy and smuggling in the Gulf of Guinea since its creation in 1963, the Togolese military has had a history of involvement in the country’s politics, including assassinations, coups, and a crackdown in 2005 that killed hundreds of civilians; over the past decade, it has made efforts to reform and professionalize, which have included increasing its role in UN peacekeeping activities, participating in multinational exercises, and receiving training from foreign partners, particularly France and the US; in addition, Togo has established a regional peacekeeping training center for military and police in Lome (2025)

## Terrorism
Terrorist group(s): Jama’at Nusrat al Islam wal Muslimeen (JNIM)

## Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons / refugees: 48,756 (2024 est.)
Refugees and internally displaced persons / IDPs: 18,429 (2024 est.)

=== Sao Tome and Principe ===

## Introduction
Background: Portugal discovered and colonized the uninhabited Sao Tome and Principe islands in the late 15th century, setting up a sugar-based economy that gave way to coffee and cocoa in the 19th century -- all grown with African slave labor, a form of which lingered into the 20th century. While independence was achieved in 1975, democratic reforms were not instituted until the late 1980s. The country held its first free elections in 1991, but frequent internal wrangling among the various political parties precipitated repeated changes in leadership and failed, non-violent coup attempts in 1995, 1998, 2003, and 2009. In 2012, three opposition parties combined in a no-confidence vote to bring down the majority government of former Prime Minister Patrice TROVOADA, but legislative elections returned him to the office two years later. President Evaristo CARVALHO, of the same political party as TROVOADA, was elected in 2016, marking a rare instance in which the same party held the positions of president and prime minister. TROVOADA resigned in 2018 and was replaced by Jorge BOM JESUS. Carlos Vila NOVA was elected president in 2021. TROVOADA began his fourth stint as prime minister in 2022, after his party's victory in legislative elections.

## Geography
Location: Central Africa, islands in the Gulf of Guinea, just north of the Equator, west of Gabon
Geographic coordinates: 1 00 N, 7 00 E
Map references: Africa
Area / total: 964 sq km
Area / land: 964 sq km
Area / water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative: more than five times the size of Washington, D.C.
Land boundaries / total: 0 km
Coastline: 209 km
Maritime claims / territorial sea: 12 nm
Maritime claims / exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate: tropical; hot, humid; one rainy season (October to May)
Terrain: volcanic, mountainous
Elevation / highest point: Pico de Sao Tome 2,024 m
Elevation / lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
Natural resources: fish, hydropower
Land use / agricultural land: 44.8% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 4.2% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 39.6% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 1% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 57.5% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 0% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land: 100 sq km (2012)
Population distribution: Sao Tome, the capital city, has roughly a quarter of the nation's population; Santo Antonio is the largest town on Principe; the northern areas of both islands have the highest population densities, as shown in this population distribution map
Natural hazards: flooding
Geography - note: the second-smallest African country (after the Seychelles); the two main islands form part of a chain of extinct volcanoes, and both are mountainous

## People and Society
Population / total: 223,561 (2024 est.)
Population / male: 111,553
Population / female: 112,008
Nationality / noun: Sao Tomean(s)
Nationality / adjective: Sao Tomean
Ethnic groups: Mestico, Angolares (descendants of Angolan slaves), Forros (descendants of freed slaves), Servicais (contract laborers from Angola, Mozambique, and Cabo Verde), Tongas (children of servicais born on the islands), Europeans (primarily Portuguese), Asians (mostly Chinese)
Languages: Portuguese 98.4% (official), Forro 36.2%, Cabo Verdian 8.5%, French 6.8%, Angolar 6.6%, English 4.9%, Lunguie 1%, other (including sign language) 2.4%; other Portuguese-based Creoles are also spoken (2012 est.)
Religions: Catholic 55.7%, Adventist 4.1%, Assembly of God 3.4%, New Apostolic 2.9%, Mana 2.3%, Universal Kingdom of God 2%, Jehovah's Witness 1.2%, other 6.2%, none 21.2%, unspecified 1% (2012 est.)
Age structure / 0-14 years: 36.4% (male 41,337/female 40,106)
Age structure / 15-64 years: 60.3% (male 67,101/female 67,775)
Age structure / 65 years and over: 3.2% (2024 est.) (male 3,115/female 4,127)
Dependency ratios / total dependency ratio: 65.8 (2024 est.)
Dependency ratios / youth dependency ratio: 60.4 (2024 est.)
Dependency ratios / elderly dependency ratio: 5.4 (2024 est.)
Dependency ratios / potential support ratio: 18.6 (2024 est.)
Median age / total: 21.2 years (2025 est.)
Median age / male: 20.4 years
Median age / female: 21.2 years
Population growth rate: 1.39% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 25.87 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 5.84 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: -6.15 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution: Sao Tome, the capital city, has roughly a quarter of the nation's population; Santo Antonio is the largest town on Principe; the northern areas of both islands have the highest population densities, as shown in this population distribution map
Urbanization / urban population: 76.4% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 2.96% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 80,000 SAO TOME (capital) (2018)
Sex ratio / at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 0-14 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 65 years and over: 0.75 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / total population: 1 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth: 19.4 years (2008/09 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio: 75 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Infant mortality rate / total: 41.7 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Infant mortality rate / male: 46.1 deaths/1,000 live births
Infant mortality rate / female: 39 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth / total population: 67.7 years (2024 est.)
Life expectancy at birth / male: 66 years
Life expectancy at birth / female: 69.4 years
Total fertility rate: 3.18 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 1.57 (2025 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: urban: urban: 79.3% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: rural: rural: 71.1% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: total: total: 77.3% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: urban: urban: 20.7% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: rural: rural: 28.9% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: total: total: 22.7% of population (2022 est.)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 7.8% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 14.9% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density: 0.46 physicians/1,000 population (2022)
Hospital bed density: 2.9 beds/1,000 population (2019 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: urban: urban: 56.8% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: rural: rural: 43.2% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: total: total: 53.5% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: urban: urban: 43.2% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: rural: rural: 56.8% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: total: total: 46.5% of population (2022 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 12.4% (2016)
Alcohol consumption per capita / total: 4.23 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / beer: 0.42 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / wine: 3.58 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / spirits: 0.23 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / other alcohols: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Tobacco use / total: 7.3% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / male: 13.1% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / female: 1.7% (2025 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 5.4% (2019 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49): 53.1% (2019 est.)
Child marriage / women married by age 15: 5.4% (2019)
Child marriage / women married by age 18: 28% (2019)
Child marriage / men married by age 18: 3.1% (2019)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% GDP): 5% of GDP (2023 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% national budget): 18.1% national budget (2024 est.)
Literacy / total population: 87.4% (2019 est.)
Literacy / male: 92.5% (2019 est.)
Literacy / female: 82.8% (2019 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / total: 13 years (2021 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / male: 13 years (2021 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / female: 13 years (2021 est.)

## Environment
Environmental issues: deforestation and illegal logging; soil erosion and exhaustion; inadequate sewage treatment in cities; biodiversity
International environmental agreements / party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
International environmental agreements / signed, but not ratified: Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban
Climate: tropical; hot, humid; one rainy season (October to May)
Land use / agricultural land: 44.8% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 4.2% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 39.6% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 1% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 57.5% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 0% (2023 est.)
Urbanization / urban population: 76.4% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 2.96% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / total emissions: 146,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from petroleum and other liquids: 146,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Particulate matter emissions: 29 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Waste and recycling / municipal solid waste generated annually: 25,600 tons (2024 est.)
Waste and recycling / percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 16.9% (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / municipal: 14.7 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / industrial: 600,000 cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / agricultural: 25.6 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total renewable water resources: 2.18 billion cubic meters (2022)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: Democratic Republic of Sao Tome and Principe
Country name / conventional short form: Sao Tome and Principe
Country name / local long form: Republica Democratica de Sao Tome e Principe
Country name / local short form: Sao Tome e Principe
Country name / etymology: Sao Tome was named after Saint THOMAS the Apostle by the Portuguese who discovered the island on 21 December 1470 (or 1471), the saint's feast day; Principe is a shortening of the original Portuguese name of "Ilha do Principe" (Isle of the Prince), referring to Prince ALPHONSO of Portugal
Government type: semi-presidential republic
Capital / name: Sao Tome
Capital / geographic coordinates: 0 20 N, 6 44 E
Capital / time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Capital / etymology: named after Saint THOMAS the Apostle by the Portuguese, who discovered the island on 21 December 1470 (or 1471), the saint's feast day
Administrative divisions: 6 districts ( distritos , singular - distrito ), 1 autonomous region* ( regiao autonoma ); Agua Grande, Cantagalo, Caue, Lemba, Lobata, Me-Zochi, Principe*
Legal system: mixed system of civil law based on the Portuguese model and customary law
Constitution / history: approved 5 November 1975
Constitution / amendment process: proposed by the National Assembly; passage requires two-thirds majority vote by the Assembly; the Assembly can propose to the president of the republic that an amendment be submitted to a referendum
International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt
Citizenship / citizenship by birth: no
Citizenship / citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Sao Tome and Principe
Citizenship / dual citizenship recognized: no
Citizenship / residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch / chief of state: President Carlos Manuel VILA NOVA (since 2 October 2021)
Executive branch / head of government: Prime Minister Am&eacute;rico d'Oliveira DOS RAMOS (since 12 January 2025)
Executive branch / cabinet: Council of Ministers proposed by the prime minister, appointed by the president
Executive branch / election/appointment process: president directly elected by absolute-majority popular vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); prime minister chosen by the National Assembly and approved by the president
Executive branch / most recent election date: 18 July 2021, with a runoff on 5 September 2021
Executive branch / election results: 2021: Carlos Manuel VILA NOVA elected president in the second round; percent of vote in the first round - Carlos Manuel VILA NOVA (IDA) 39.5%; Guilherme POSSER DA COSTA (MLSTP-PSD) 20.8%; Delfim NEVES (PCD-GR) 16.9%; Abel BOM JESUS (independent) 3.6%; Maria DAS NEVES (independent) 3.3%; other 15.9%; percent of the vote in second round - Carlos Manuel VILA NOVA 57.5%, Guilherme POSSER DA COSTA 42.5% 2016: Evaristo CARVALHO elected president; percent of vote - Evaristo CARVALHO (ADI) 49.8%, Manuel Pinto DA COSTA (independent) 24.8%, Maria DAS NEVES (MLSTP-PSD) 24.1%
Executive branch / expected date of next election: 2026
Legislative branch / legislature name: National Assembly (Assembleia Nacional)
Legislative branch / legislative structure: unicameral
Legislative branch / number of seats: 55 (all directly elected)
Legislative branch / electoral system: proportional representation
Legislative branch / scope of elections: full renewal
Legislative branch / term in office: 4 years
Legislative branch / most recent election date: 9/25/2022
Legislative branch / parties elected and seats per party: Independent Democratic Alliance (ADI) (30); Sao Tome and Principe Liberation Movement/Social Democratic Party (MLSTP - PSD) (18); Movement of Independent Citizens - Socialist Party (MCI - PS) - National Unity Party (PUN) (5); Other (2)
Legislative branch / percentage of women in chamber: 14.5%
Legislative branch / expected date of next election: September 2026
Judicial branch / highest court(s): Supreme Court or Supremo Tribunal Justica (consists of 5 judges); Constitutional Court or Tribunal Constitucional (consists of 5 judges, 3 of whom are from the Supreme Court)
Judicial branch / judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court judges appointed by the National Assembly; judge tenure NA; Constitutional Court judges nominated by the president and elected by the National Assembly for 5-year terms
Judicial branch / subordinate courts: Court of First Instance; Audit Court
Political parties: BASTA Movement Independent Democratic Action or ADI Movement for the Liberation of Sao Tome and Principe-Social Democratic Party or MLSTP-PSD Movement of Independent Citizens of São Tomé and Príncipe - Socialist Party or MCI-PS National Unity Party or PUN
Diplomatic representation in the US / chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant)
Diplomatic representation in the US / chancery: 122 East 42nd Street, Suite 1604 New York, NY 101168
Diplomatic representation in the US / telephone: [1] (212) 317-0533
Diplomatic representation in the US / FAX: [1] (212) 317-0580
Diplomatic representation in the US / email address and website: stp1@attglobal.net Sao Tome and Principe Permanent Mission to the United Nations
Diplomatic representation from the US / embassy: the US does not have an embassy in Sao Tome and Principe; the US Ambassador to Angola is accredited to Sao Tome and Principe
Diplomatic representation from the US / mailing address: 2290 Sao Tome Place, Washington DC 20521-2290
International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, AOSIS, AU, CD, CEMAC, CPLP, EITI (candidate country), FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), IPU, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NAM, OIF, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)
Independence: 12 July 1975 (from Portugal)
National holiday: Independence Day, 12 July (1975)
Flag: description: three horizontal bands of green (top), yellow (double-width), and green with two five-pointed black stars in the center of the yellow band and a red isosceles triangle based on the left side meaning: green stands for the country's rich vegetation, red for the struggle for independence, and yellow for cocoa, one of the country's main agricultural products; the two stars symbolize the main islands history: uses the colors of the Pan-African movement
National symbol(s): palm tree
National color(s): green, yellow, red, black
National anthem(s) / title: "Independencia total" (Total Independence)
National anthem(s) / lyrics/music: Alda Neves DA GRACA do Espirito Santo/Manuel dos Santos Barreto de Sousa e ALMEIDA
National anthem(s) / history: adopted 1975

## Economy
Economic overview: lower middle-income Central African island economy; falling cocoa production due to drought and mismanagement; joint oil venture with Nigeria; government owns 90% of land; high debt, partly from fuel subsidies; tourism gutted by COVID-19
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $1.291 billion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $1.279 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $1.275 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2024: 0.9% (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2023: 0.4% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2022: 0.2% (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2024: $5,500 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2023: $5,500 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2022: $5,600 (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $764.274 million (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024: 14.4% (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023: 21.3% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 18% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / agriculture: 12.8% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / industry: 2.9% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / services: 76.6% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / household consumption: 81.4% (2017 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / government consumption: 17.6% (2017 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in fixed capital: 33.4% (2017 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in inventories: 0% (2017 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / exports of goods and services: 7.9% (2017 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / imports of goods and services: -40.4% (2017 est.)
Agricultural products: plantains, oil palm fruit, taro, bananas, fruits, cocoa beans, yams, coconuts, cassava, vegetables (2023)
Industries: light construction, textiles, soap, beer, fish processing, timber
Industrial production growth rate: 3.2% (2024 est.)
Labor force: 34,500 (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2024: 9.2% (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2023: 9.1% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2022: 9% (2022 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / total: 8.6% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / male: 8% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / female: 9.2% (2024 est.)
Population below poverty line: 55.5% (2017 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income / Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2017: 40.7 (2017 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / lowest 10%: 2.6% (2017 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / highest 10%: 32.8% (2017 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2023: 1.5% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2022: 1.9% of GDP (2022 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2021: 2% of GDP (2021 est.)
Budget / revenues: $128.767 million (2022 est.)
Budget / expenditures: $165.95 million (2022 est.)
Public debt / Public debt 2016: 93.1% of GDP (2016 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2022: -$79.437 million (2022 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2021: -$95.248 million (2021 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2020: -$59.595 million (2020 est.)
Exports / Exports 2022: $96.977 million (2022 est.)
Exports / Exports 2021: $75.256 million (2021 est.)
Exports / Exports 2020: $49.337 million (2020 est.)
Exports - partners: Pakistan 54%, Germany 11%, Netherlands 7%, France 5%, UAE 3% (2023)
Exports - commodities: crude petroleum, cocoa beans, vehicle parts/accessories, palm oil, aircraft parts (2023)
Imports / Imports 2022: $219.322 million (2022 est.)
Imports / Imports 2021: $201.145 million (2021 est.)
Imports / Imports 2020: $160.097 million (2020 est.)
Imports - partners: Portugal 35%, Angola 13%, Gabon 11%, Japan 8%, China 6% (2023)
Imports - commodities: ships, refined petroleum, rice, electric generating sets, cars (2023)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023: $46.247 million (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $64.476 million (2022 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2021: $75.017 million (2021 est.)
Debt - external / Debt - external 2023: $327.248 million (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Currency: dobras (STD) per US dollar -
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2023: 22.658 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2022: 23.29 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2021: 20.71 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2020: 21.507 (2020 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2019: 21.885 (2019 est.)

## Energy
Electricity access / electrification - total population: 78% (2022 est.)
Electricity access / electrification - urban areas: 80%
Electricity access / electrification - rural areas: 73.7%
Electricity / installed generating capacity: 29,000 kW (2023 est.)
Electricity / consumption: 47.05 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / transmission/distribution losses: 40.95 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / fossil fuels: 93.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / hydroelectricity: 6.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Petroleum / refined petroleum consumption: 1,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Energy consumption per capita / Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 8.875 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

## Communications
Telephones - fixed lines / total subscriptions: 2,000 (2023 est.)
Telephones - fixed lines / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 1 (2023 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / total subscriptions: 152,000 (2023 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 87 (2022 est.)
Broadcast media: 1 state-owned TV station; 2 state-owned radio stations; 7 independent local radio stations; transmissions of multiple international broadcasters are available
Internet country code: .st
Internet users / percent of population: 62% (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / total: 6,000 (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 3 (2023 est.)

## Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: S9
Airports: 2 (2025)
Merchant marine / total: 25 (2023)
Merchant marine / by type: general cargo 15, oil tanker 4, other 6
Ports / total ports: 2 (2024)
Ports / large: 0
Ports / medium: 0
Ports / small: 0
Ports / very small: 2
Ports / ports with oil terminals: 0
Ports / key ports: Santo Antonio, Sao Tome

## Military and Security
Military and security forces: Armed Forces of Sao Tome and Principe (Forcas Armadas de Sao Tome e Principe, FASTP): Army, Coast Guard of Sao Tome e Principe (Guarda Costeira de Sao Tome e Principe, GCSTP), Presidential Guard, National Guard (2025)
Military and security service personnel strengths: approximately 500 active Armed Forces (2023)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the FASTP is lightly armed and has a small inventory of mostly older weapons and equipment (2023)
Military service age and obligation: limited information; 18 is the minimum age for compulsory military service (reportedly not enforced) and 17 years of age (with parental permission) for voluntary service (2024)
Military - note: the FASTP is one of the smallest militaries in Africa and consists of only a few companies of ground troops and some small patrol boats (2024)

## Transnational Issues

=== Tunisia ===

## Introduction
Background: Many empires have controlled Tunisia, including the Phoenicians (as early as the 12 century B.C.), Carthaginians, Romans, Vandals, Byzantines, various Arab and Berber kingdoms, and Ottomans (16th to late-19th centuries). Rivalry between French and Italian interests in Tunisia culminated in a French invasion in 1881 and the creation of a protectorate. Agitation for independence in the decades after World War I finally convinced the French to recognize Tunisia as an independent state in 1956. The country's first president, Habib BOURGUIBA, established a strict one-party state. He dominated the country for 31 years, repressing Islamic fundamentalism and establishing rights for women. In 1987, Zine el Abidine BEN ALI replaced BOURGUIBA in a bloodless coup. Street protests that began in Tunis in 2010 over high unemployment, corruption, widespread poverty, and high food prices escalated in 2011, culminating in rioting that led to hundreds of deaths and later became known as the start of the regional Arab Spring uprising. BEN ALI dismissed the government and fled the country, and a "national unity government" was formed. Elections for the new Constituent Assembly were held later that year, and human rights activist Moncef MARZOUKI was elected as interim president. The Assembly began drafting a new constitution in 2012 and, after several iterations and a months-long political crisis that stalled the transition, ratified the document in 2014. Parliamentary and presidential elections for a permanent government were held at the end of 2014. Beji CAID ESSEBSI was elected as the first president under the country's new constitution. After ESSEBSI’s death in office in 2019, Kais SAIED was elected. SAIED's term, as well as that of Tunisia's 217-member parliament, was set to expire in 2024. However, in 2021, SAIED used the exceptional powers allowed under Tunisia's constitution to dismiss the prime minister and suspend the legislature. Tunisians approved a new constitution through public referendum in 2022, expanding presidential powers and creating a new bicameral legislature.

## Geography
Location: Northern Africa, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Algeria and Libya
Geographic coordinates: 34 00 N, 9 00 E
Map references: Africa
Area / total: 163,610 sq km
Area / land: 155,360 sq km
Area / water: 8,250 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly larger than Georgia
Land boundaries / total: 1,495 km
Land boundaries / border countries: Algeria 1,034 km; Libya 461 km
Coastline: 1,148 km
Maritime claims / territorial sea: 12 nm
Maritime claims / contiguous zone: 24 nm
Maritime claims / exclusive economic zone: 12 nm
Climate: temperate in north with mild, rainy winters and hot, dry summers; desert in south
Terrain: mountains in north; hot, dry central plain; semiarid south merges into the Sahara
Elevation / highest point: Jebel ech Chambi 1,544 m
Elevation / lowest point: Shatt al Gharsah -17 m
Elevation / mean elevation: 246 m
Natural resources: petroleum, phosphates, iron ore, lead, zinc, salt
Land use / agricultural land: 62.4% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 18.2% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 13.6% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 30.6% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 4.5% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 33.1% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land: 3,920 sq km (2013)
Major aquifers: North Western Sahara Aquifer System
Population distribution: the overwhelming majority of the population is located in the northern half of the country; the south remains largely underpopulated, as shown in this population distribution map
Natural hazards: flooding; earthquakes; droughts
Geography - note: strategic location in central Mediterranean

## People and Society
Population / total: 11,962,995 (2025 est.)
Population / male: 5,926,741
Population / female: 6,036,254
Nationality / noun: Tunisian(s)
Nationality / adjective: Tunisian
Ethnic groups: Arab 98%, European 1%, Jewish and other 1%
Languages / Languages: Arabic (official, one of the languages of commerce), French (commerce), Tamazight
Languages / major-language sample(s): كتاب حقائق العالم، أحسن كتاب تتعلم به المعلومات الأساسية (Arabic) The World Factbook, une source indispensable d'informations de base. (French) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
Religions: Muslim (official; Sunni) 99%, other (includes Christian, Jewish, Shia Muslim, and Baha'i) <1%
Age structure / 0-14 years: 24.4% (male 1,516,871/female 1,426,522)
Age structure / 15-64 years: 65.2% (male 3,861,731/female 3,990,802)
Age structure / 65 years and over: 10.4% (2024 est.) (male 593,640/female 659,281)
Dependency ratios / total dependency ratio: 50.7 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / youth dependency ratio: 35.6 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / elderly dependency ratio: 15.1 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / potential support ratio: 6.6 (2025 est.)
Median age / total: 34.1 years (2025 est.)
Median age / male: 33.6 years
Median age / female: 35.1 years
Population growth rate: 0.38% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 11.35 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 6.4 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: -1.16 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution: the overwhelming majority of the population is located in the northern half of the country; the south remains largely underpopulated, as shown in this population distribution map
Urbanization / urban population: 70.5% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 1.34% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 2.475 million TUNIS (capital) (2023)
Sex ratio / at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 65 years and over: 0.9 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio: 36 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Infant mortality rate / total: 10.6 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Infant mortality rate / male: 12.7 deaths/1,000 live births
Infant mortality rate / female: 9.8 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth / total population: 77.3 years (2024 est.)
Life expectancy at birth / male: 75.7 years
Life expectancy at birth / female: 79.1 years
Total fertility rate: 1.59 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 0.77 (2025 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: urban: urban: 98.8% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: rural: rural: 93.4% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: total: total: 97.2% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: urban: urban: 1.2% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: rural: rural: 6.6% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: total: total: 2.8% of population (2022 est.)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 7% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 11.2% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density: 1.32 physicians/1,000 population (2021)
Hospital bed density: 2.4 beds/1,000 population (2021 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: urban: urban: 98.8% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: rural: rural: 99.4% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: total: total: 99% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: urban: urban: 1.2% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: rural: rural: 0.6% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: total: total: 1% of population (2022 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 26.9% (2016)
Alcohol consumption per capita / total: 1.51 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / beer: 0.99 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / wine: 0.32 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / spirits: 0.17 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / other alcohols: 0.03 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Tobacco use / total: 19% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / male: 37.6% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / female: 1.4% (2025 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 1.6% (2018 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49): 52.5% (2023 est.)
Child marriage / women married by age 15: 0% (2018)
Child marriage / women married by age 18: 1.5% (2018)
Child marriage / men married by age 18: 0% (2018)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% GDP): 6.7% of GDP (2023 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% national budget): 17.3% national budget (2025 est.)
Literacy / total population: 86.2% (2023 est.)
Literacy / male: 92.7% (2023 est.)
Literacy / female: 80.1% (2023 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / total: 14 years (2016 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / male: 14 years (2016 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / female: 15 years (2016 est.)

## Environment
Environmental issues: toxic and hazardous waste disposal; water pollution from raw sewage; limited freshwater resources; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification
International environmental agreements / party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
International environmental agreements / signed, but not ratified: Marine Life Conservation
Climate: temperate in north with mild, rainy winters and hot, dry summers; desert in south
Land use / agricultural land: 62.4% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 18.2% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 13.6% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 30.6% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 4.5% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 33.1% (2023 est.)
Urbanization / urban population: 70.5% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 1.34% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / total emissions: 24.645 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from coal and metallurgical coke: 4,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from petroleum and other liquids: 14.249 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from consumed natural gas: 10.392 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Particulate matter emissions: 26.5 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Methane emissions / energy: 88 kt (2022-2024 est.)
Methane emissions / agriculture: 94.5 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Methane emissions / waste: 97.9 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Methane emissions / other: 3 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Waste and recycling / municipal solid waste generated annually: 2.7 million tons (2024 est.)
Waste and recycling / percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 10.9% (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / municipal: 815.5 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / industrial: 61.9 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / agricultural: 2.71 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total renewable water resources: 4.615 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: Republic of Tunisia
Country name / conventional short form: Tunisia
Country name / local long form: Al Jumhuriyah at Tunisiyah
Country name / local short form: Tunis
Country name / etymology: the country name derives from the capital city of Tunis
Government type: parliamentary republic
Capital / name: Tunis
Capital / geographic coordinates: 36 48 N, 10 11 E
Capital / time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Capital / etymology: the origin of the ancient name is unclear; it is sometimes associated with the name of the Phoenician goddess Tanith
Administrative divisions: 24 governorates ( wilayat , singular - wilayah ); Beja (Bajah), Ben Arous (Bin 'Arus), Bizerte (Banzart), Gabes (Qabis), Gafsa (Qafsah), Jendouba (Jundubah), Kairouan (Al Qayrawan), Kasserine (Al Qasrayn), Kebili (Qibili), Kef (Al Kaf), L'Ariana (Aryanah), Mahdia (Al Mahdiyah), Manouba (Manubah), Medenine (Madanin), Monastir (Al Munastir), Nabeul (Nabul), Sfax (Safaqis), Sidi Bouzid (Sidi Bu Zayd), Siliana (Silyanah), Sousse (Susah), Tataouine (Tatawin), Tozeur (Tawzar), Tunis, Zaghouan (Zaghwan)
Legal system: mixed system of civil law, based on the French civil code and Islamic (sharia) law; Supreme Court reviews some legislative acts in joint session
Constitution / history: several previous; latest draft published by the president 30 June 2022, approved by referendum 25 July 2022, and adopted 27 July 2022
Constitution / amendment process: proposed by the president of the republic or one third of the Assembly of the Representatives of the People membership; following Constitutional Court review, approval to proceed requires an absolute majority vote in the Assembly, and final passage requires a two-thirds Assembly majority vote; the president can opt to submit an amendment to a referendum, which requires an absolute majority of votes cast for passage
International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Citizenship / citizenship by birth: no
Citizenship / citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Tunisia
Citizenship / dual citizenship recognized: yes
Citizenship / residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal except for active government security forces (including the police and the military), people with mental disabilities, people who have served more than three months in prison (criminal cases only), and people given a suspended sentence of more than six months
Executive branch / chief of state: President Kais SAIED (since 23 October 2019)
Executive branch / head of government: Prime Minister Sarra ZAAFRANI Zenzri (since 21 March 2025)
Executive branch / cabinet: prime minister appointed by the president; cabinet members appointed by the president in consultation with the prime minister
Executive branch / election/appointment process: president directly elected by absolute-majority popular vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term)
Executive branch / most recent election date: 6 October 2024
Executive branch / election results: 2024: Kais SAIED reelected president in first round - Kais SAIED (independent) 90.7%, Ayachi ZAMMEL (Long Live Tunisia) 7.3%, Zouhair MAGHZAOUI (People's Movement) 2% 2019: Kais SAIED elected president in second round; percent of vote in first round - Kais SAIED (independent) 18.4%, Nabil KAROUI (Heart of Tunisia) 15.6%, Abdelfattah MOUROU (Nahda Movement) 12.9%, Abdelkrim ZBIDI (independent) 10.7%, Youssef CHAHED (Long Live Tunisia) 7.4%, Safi SAID (independent) 7.1%, Lotfi MRAIHI (Republican People's Union) 6.6%, other 21.3%; percent of vote in second round - Kais SAIED 72.7%, Nabil KAROUI 27.3%
Executive branch / expected date of next election: 2029
Legislative branch / legislative structure: bicameral
Legislative branch - lower chamber / chamber name: Assembly of People's Representatives (Majlis Nawwab ash-Sha'ab)
Legislative branch - lower chamber / number of seats: 161 (all directly elected)
Legislative branch - lower chamber / electoral system: plurality/majority
Legislative branch - lower chamber / scope of elections: full renewal
Legislative branch - lower chamber / term in office: 5 years
Legislative branch - lower chamber / most recent election date: 12/17/2022 to 1/29/2023
Legislative branch - lower chamber / percentage of women in chamber: 15.8%
Legislative branch - lower chamber / expected date of next election: December 2027
Legislative branch - upper chamber / chamber name: National Council of Regions and Districts
Legislative branch - upper chamber / number of seats: 77 (all indirectly elected)
Legislative branch - upper chamber / scope of elections: full renewal
Legislative branch - upper chamber / term in office: 5 years
Legislative branch - upper chamber / most recent election date: 4/19/2024
Legislative branch - upper chamber / percentage of women in chamber: 13%
Legislative branch - upper chamber / expected date of next election: April 2029
Judicial branch / highest court(s): Court of Cassation (consists of the first president, chamber presidents, and magistrates; organized into 27 civil and 11 criminal chambers)
Judicial branch / judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court judges nominated by the Supreme Judicial Council, an independent 4-part body consisting mainly of elected judges and the remainder legal specialists; judge tenure based on terms of appointment; Constitutional Court (established in the 2014 and 2022 constitutions, but never implemented)
Judicial branch / subordinate courts: Courts of Appeal; administrative courts; Court of Audit; Housing Court; courts of first instance; lower district courts; military courts
Political parties: Afek Tounes Al Badil Al-Tounisi (The Tunisian Alternative) Al-Amal Party Call for Tunisia Party (Nidaa Tounes) Current of Love (formerly the Popular Petition party) Democratic Current Democratic Patriots' Unified Party Dignity Coalition or Al Karama Coalition Ennahda Movement (The Renaissance) Ettakatol Party Free Destourian Party or PDL Green Tunisia Party Harakat Hak Heart of Tunisia (Qalb Tounes) July 25 Movement Labor and Achievement Party Long Live Tunisia (Tahya Tounes) Movement of Socialist Democrats or MDS National Coalition Party National Salvation Front New Carthage Party Party of the Democratic Arab Vanguard People's Movement Republican Party (Al Joumhouri) The Movement Party (Hizb Harak) Third Republic Party Tunisian Ba'ath Movement Voice of the Republic Workers' Party
Diplomatic representation in the US / chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charg&eacute; d'Affaires Anis HAJRI (since 1 August 2025)
Diplomatic representation in the US / chancery: 1515 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20005
Diplomatic representation in the US / telephone: [1] (202) 862-1850
Diplomatic representation in the US / FAX: [1] (202) 862-1858
Diplomatic representation in the US / email address and website: AT.Washington@Tunisiaembassy.org https://www.tunisianembassy.org/
Diplomatic representation from the US / chief of mission: Ambassador Bill BAZZI (since 21 November 2025)
Diplomatic representation from the US / embassy: Les Berges du Lac, 1053 Tunis
Diplomatic representation from the US / mailing address: 6360 Tunis Place, Washington DC 20521-6360
Diplomatic representation from the US / telephone: [216] 71-107-000
Diplomatic representation from the US / FAX: [216] 71-107-090
Diplomatic representation from the US / email address and website: tuniswebsitecontact@state.gov https://tn.usembassy.gov/
International organization participation: ABEDA, AfDB, AFESD, AIIB, AMF, AMU, AU, BSEC (observer), CAEU, CD, EBRD, FAO, G-11, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAS, MIGA, MONUSCO, NAM, OAS (observer), OIC, OIF, OPCW, OSCE (partner), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNOCI, UNOOSA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Independence: 20 March 1956 (from France)
National holiday: Independence Day, 20 March (1956); Revolution and Youth Day, 14 January (2011)
Flag: description: red with a white disk in the center that displays a red crescent around a five-pointed red star meaning: red stands for martyrs' blood shed the fight against oppression, and white for peace; the crescent and star are traditional symbols of Islam history: resembles the Ottoman flag (red banner with white crescent and star), a reference to Tunisia's history as part of the Ottoman Empire
National symbol(s): red crescent moon and five-pointed star in a white circle
National color(s): red, white
National anthem(s) / title: "Humat Al Hima" (Defenders of the Homeland)
National anthem(s) / lyrics/music: Mustafa Sadik AL-RAFII and Aboul-Qacem ECHEBBI/Mohamad Abdel WAHAB
National anthem(s) / history: adopted 1957, replaced 1958, restored 1987; Mohamad Abdel WAHAB also composed the music for the anthem of the United Arab Emirates
National heritage / total World Heritage Sites: 9 (8 cultural, 1 natural)
National heritage / selected World Heritage Site locales: Amphitheatre of El Jem (c); Archaeological Site of Carthage (c); Medina of Tunis (c); Ichkeul National Park (n); Punic Town of Kerkuane (c); Kairouan (c); Medina of Sousse (c); Dougga / Thugga (c); Djerba: Testimony to a settlement pattern in an island territory (c)

## Economy
Economic overview: lower middle-income North African economy; drafting reforms for foreign lenders; high unemployment, especially for youth and women; hit hard by COVID-19; high public sector wages; high public debt; protectionist austerity measures; key EU trade partner
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $156.086 billion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $154.006 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $153.945 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2024: 1.4% (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2023: 0% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2022: 2.7% (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2024: $12,700 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2023: $12,600 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2022: $12,700 (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $53.41 billion (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024: 7.2% (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023: 9.3% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 8.3% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / agriculture: 9.3% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / industry: 23.6% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / services: 62.1% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / household consumption: 76.2% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / government consumption: 18.6% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in fixed capital: 13.4% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in inventories: 0% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / exports of goods and services: 48.4% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / imports of goods and services: -56.6% (2024 est.)
Agricultural products: milk, tomatoes, olives, onions, chillies/peppers, watermelons, potatoes, wheat, dates, oranges (2023)
Industries: petroleum, mining (particularly phosphate, iron ore), tourism, textiles, footwear, agribusiness, beverages
Industrial production growth rate: -2.5% (2024 est.)
Labor force: 4.247 million (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2024: 16.3% (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2023: 15.2% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2022: 15.3% (2022 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / total: 40.1% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / male: 41.1% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / female: 37.6% (2024 est.)
Population below poverty line: 16.6% (2021 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income / Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2021: 33.7 (2021 est.)
Average household expenditures / on food: 22.3% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Average household expenditures / on alcohol and tobacco: 3.3% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / lowest 10%: 3.1% (2021 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / highest 10%: 27% (2021 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2023: 6% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2022: 6.2% of GDP (2022 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2021: 6.3% of GDP (2021 est.)
Budget / revenues: $10.866 billion (2019 est.)
Budget / expenditures: $12.375 billion (2019 est.)
Public debt / Public debt 2016: 62.3% of GDP (2016 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2023: -$1.111 billion (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2022: -$3.969 billion (2022 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2021: -$2.77 billion (2021 est.)
Exports / Exports 2023: $19.732 billion (2023 est.)
Exports / Exports 2022: $17.254 billion (2022 est.)
Exports / Exports 2021: $14.054 billion (2021 est.)
Exports - partners: France 22%, Italy 17%, Germany 13%, USA 4%, Libya 4% (2023)
Exports - commodities: garments, insulated wire, olive oil, refined petroleum, crude petroleum (2023)
Imports / Imports 2023: $21.953 billion (2023 est.)
Imports / Imports 2022: $22.453 billion (2022 est.)
Imports / Imports 2021: $18.178 billion (2021 est.)
Imports - partners: Italy 13%, France 12%, China 10%, Russia 8%, Germany 7% (2023)
Imports - commodities: refined petroleum, natural gas, plastic products, cars, plastics (2023)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024: $9.344 billion (2024 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023: $9.24 billion (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $8.094 billion (2022 est.)
Debt - external / Debt - external 2023: $21.212 billion (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Currency: Tunisian dinars (TND) per US dollar -
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2024: 3.107 (2024 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2023: 3.106 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2022: 3.104 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2021: 2.794 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2020: 2.812 (2020 est.)

## Energy
Electricity access / electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)
Electricity access / electrification - urban areas: 100%
Electricity access / electrification - rural areas: 99.7%
Electricity / installed generating capacity: 6.639 million kW (2023 est.)
Electricity / consumption: 19.153 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / exports: 80 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / imports: 2.576 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / transmission/distribution losses: 4.629 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / fossil fuels: 96.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / solar: 2.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / wind: 1.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Coal / consumption: 2,000 metric tons (2022 est.)
Coal / exports: 28 metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / imports: 3,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum / total petroleum production: 35,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Petroleum / refined petroleum consumption: 104,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Petroleum / crude oil estimated reserves: 425 million barrels (2021 est.)
Natural gas / production: 1.313 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / consumption: 5.131 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / imports: 3.887 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / proven reserves: 65.129 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)
Energy consumption per capita / Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 33.754 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

## Communications
Telephones - fixed lines / total subscriptions: 1.863 million (2023 est.)
Telephones - fixed lines / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 15 (2023 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / total subscriptions: 14.4 million (2024 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 118 (2024 est.)
Broadcast media: 2 state-owned TV stations; 10 private local TV stations; satellite TV service available; state-owned radio network with 2 stations; several dozen private radio stations and community radio stations; transmissions of multiple international broadcasters available (2019)
Internet country code: .tn
Internet users / percent of population: 72% (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / total: 1.73 million (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 14 (2023 est.)

## Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: TS
Airports: 14 (2025)
Heliports: 11 (2025)
Railways / total: 2,173 km (2014) (1,991 in use)
Railways / standard gauge: 471 km (2014) 1.435-m gauge
Railways / narrow gauge: 1,694 km (2014) 1.000-m gauge (65 km electrified)
Railways / dual gauge: 8 km (2014) 1.435-1.000-m gauge
Merchant marine / total: 72 (2023)
Merchant marine / by type: container ship 1, general cargo 8, oil tanker 1, other 62
Ports / total ports: 16 (2024)
Ports / large: 0
Ports / medium: 3
Ports / small: 7
Ports / very small: 6
Ports / ports with oil terminals: 10
Ports / key ports: Ashtart Oil Terminal, Banzart, Didon Terminal, Gabes, La Goulette, Menzel Bourguiba, Mersa Sfax, Sousse, Tazerka Oil Terminal, Tunis

## Military and Security
Military and security forces: Tunisian Armed Forces (Forces Armées Tunisiennes, FAT): Tunisian Army (includes Air Defense Force), Tunisian Navy, Tunisia Air Force Ministry of Interior (MoI): Internal Security Forces (National Police, National Guard) (2025)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2024: 2.5% of GDP (2024 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2023: 2.5% of GDP (2023 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2022: 2.7% of GDP (2022 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2021: 3% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2020: 3% of GDP (2020 est.)
Military and security service personnel strengths: approximately 35,000 active-duty Armed Forces (2025)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the Tunisian military's inventory consists mostly of older or secondhand equipment from a variety of suppliers, including Austria, France, Italy, T&uuml;rkiye, and the US (2025)
Military service age and obligation: 18 years of age for voluntary service for men and women; men 20-35 years of age subject to 12 months of compulsory national service (2025)
Military deployments: 840 Central African Republic (MINUSCA) (2025)
Military - note: the Tunisian Armed Forces (FAT) are responsible for territorial defense and internal security; operational areas of focus include counterterrorism and assisting with securing the border regions, particularly along the frontiers with Algerian and Libya the FAT conducts bilateral and multinational training exercises with a variety of countries, including Algeria and other North African and Middle Eastern countries, France, and the US, as well as NATO; it also participates in UN peacekeeping operations; Tunisia has Major Non-NATO Ally (MNNA) status with the US, a designation under US law that provides foreign partners with certain benefits in the areas of defense trade and security cooperation (2025)

## Terrorism
Terrorist group(s): Ansar al-Sharia in Tunisia; Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS) network in Tunisia (known locally as Ajnad al-Khilafah or the Army of the Caliphate); al-Qa'ida in the Islamic Maghreb

## Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons / refugees: 12,575 (2024 est.)
Trafficking in persons / tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List — the government did not demonstrate overall increasing efforts to eliminate trafficking compared with the previous reporting period, therefore Tunisia was downgraded to Tier 2 Watch List; for more details, go to: https://www.state.gov/reports/2025-trafficking-in-persons-report/tunisia

=== Tanzania ===

## Introduction
Background: Tanzania contains some of Africa’s most iconic national parks and famous paleoanthropological sites, and its diverse cultural heritage reflects the multiple ethnolinguistic groups that live in the country. Its long history of integration into trade networks spanning the Indian Ocean and the African interior led to the development of Swahili as a common language in much of east Africa and the introduction of Islam into the region. A number of independent coastal and island trading posts in what is now Tanzania came under Portuguese control after 1498 when they began to take control of much of the coast and Indian Ocean trade. By 1700, the Sultanate of Oman had become the dominant power in the region after ousting the Portuguese, who were also facing a series of local uprisings. During the next hundred years, Zanzibar -- an archipelago off the coast that is now part of Tanzania -- became a hub of Indian Ocean trade, with Arab and Indian traders establishing and consolidating trade routes with communities in mainland Tanzania that contributed to the expansion of the slave trade. Zanzibar briefly became the capital of the Sultanate of Oman before it split into separate Omani and Zanzibar Sultanates in 1856. Beginning in the mid-1800s, European explorers, traders, and Christian missionaries became more active in the region. The Germans eventually established control over mainland Tanzania -- which they called Tanganyika -- and the British established control over Zanzibar. Tanganyika came under British administration after the German defeat in World War I. Tanganyika gained independence from Great Britain in 1961, and Zanzibar followed in 1963 as a constitutional monarchy. In Tanganyika, Julius NYERERE, a charismatic and idealistic socialist, established a one-party political system that centralized power and encouraged national self-reliance and rural development. In 1964, a popular uprising overthrew the Sultan in Zanzibar and either killed or expelled many of the Arabs and Indians who had dominated the isles for more than 200 years. Later that year, Tanganyika and Zanzibar combined to form the United Republic of Tanzania, but Zanzibar retained considerable autonomy. Their two ruling parties combined to form the Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party in 1977, which has since won every presidential election. Tanzania held its first multi-party elections in 1995, but CCM candidates have continued to dominate politics. The ruling party has claimed victory in four contentious elections since 1995, despite international observers' claims of voting irregularities. In 2001, 35 people died in Zanzibar when soldiers fired on protestors. John MAGUFULI won the 2015 and 2020 presidential elections, and the CCM won over two-thirds of the seats in Parliament in both elections. MAGUFULI died in 2021 while in office and was succeeded by his vice president, Samia Suluhu HASSAN.

## Geography
Location: Eastern Africa, bordering the Indian Ocean, between Kenya and Mozambique
Geographic coordinates: 6 00 S, 35 00 E
Map references: Africa
Area / total: 947,300 sq km
Area / land: 885,800 sq km
Area / water: 61,500 sq km
Area - comparative: more than six times the size of Georgia; slightly larger than twice the size of California
Land boundaries / total: 4,161 km
Land boundaries / border countries: Burundi 589 km; Democratic Republic of the Congo 479 km; Kenya 775 km; Malawi 512 km; Mozambique 840 km; Rwanda 222 km; Uganda 391 km; Zambia 353 km
Coastline: 1,424 km
Maritime claims / territorial sea: 12 nm
Maritime claims / exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate: varies from tropical along coast to temperate in highlands
Terrain: plains along coast; central plateau; highlands in north, south
Elevation / highest point: Kilimanjaro (highest point in Africa) 5,895 m
Elevation / lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
Elevation / mean elevation: 1,018 m
Natural resources: hydropower, tin, phosphates, iron ore, coal, diamonds, gemstones (including tanzanite, found only in Tanzania), gold, natural gas, nickel
Land use / agricultural land: 44.6% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 15.2% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 2.3% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 27.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 50.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 5.3% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land: 1,840 sq km (2012)
Major lakes (area sq km) / fresh water lake(s): Lake Victoria (shared with Uganda and Kenya) - 62,940 sq km; Lake Tanganyika (shared with Democratic Republic of Congo, Burundi, and Zambia) - 32,000 sq km; Lake Malawi (shared with Mozambique and Malawi) - 22,490
Major lakes (area sq km) / salt water lake(s): Lake Rukwa - 5,760 sq km
Major rivers (by length in km): Nile (shared with Rwanda [s], Uganda, South Sudan, Sudan, and Egypt [m]) - 6,650 km note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Major watersheds (area sq km) / Atlantic Ocean drainage: Congo (3,730,881 sq km), (Mediterranean Sea) Nile (3,254,853 sq km)
Major watersheds (area sq km) / Indian Ocean drainage: Zambezi (1,332,412 sq km)
Population distribution: the largest and most populous East African country; population distribution is extremely uneven, but greater population clusters occur in the northern half of country and along the east coast, as shown in this population distribution map
Natural hazards: flooding on the central plateau during the rainy season; drought volcanism: limited volcanic activity; Ol Doinyo Lengai (2,962 m) has emitted lava in recent years; other historically active volcanoes include Kieyo and Meru
Geography - note: Kilimanjaro is the highest point in Africa and one of only three mountain ranges on the continent that has glaciers (the others are Mount Kenya in Kenya and the Ruwenzori Mountains on the Uganda-Democratic Republic of the Congo border); Tanzania is bordered by three of the largest lakes on the continent: Lake Victoria (the world's second-largest freshwater lake) in the north, Lake Tanganyika (the world's second-deepest) in the west, and Lake Nyasa (Lake Malawi) in the southwest

## People and Society
Population / total: 69,145,464 (2025 est.)
Population / male: 34,597,449
Population / female: 34,548,015
Nationality / noun: Tanzanian(s)
Nationality / adjective: Tanzanian
Ethnic groups: mainland - African 99% (of which 95% are Bantu consisting of more than 130 tribes), other 1% (consisting of Asian, European, and Arab); Zanzibar - Arab, African, mixed Arab and African
Languages / Languages: Kiswahili or Swahili (official), Kiunguja (name for Swahili in Zanzibar), English (official, primary language of commerce, administration, and higher education), Arabic, many local languages
Languages / major-language sample(s): The World Factbook, Chanzo cha Lazima Kuhusu Habari ya Msingi. (Kiswahili) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
Religions: Christian 63.1%, Muslim 34.1%, folk religion 1.1%, Buddhist <1%, Hindu <1%, Jewish <1%, other <1%, unspecified 1.6% (2020 est.)
Age structure / 0-14 years: 41.2% (male 14,039,292/female 13,740,439)
Age structure / 15-64 years: 55.4% (male 18,677,388/female 18,708,390)
Age structure / 65 years and over: 3.4% (2024 est.) (male 975,224/female 1,321,388)
Dependency ratios / total dependency ratio: 81.8 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / youth dependency ratio: 76 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / elderly dependency ratio: 5.8 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / potential support ratio: 17.3 (2025 est.)
Median age / total: 18.8 years (2025 est.)
Median age / male: 18.8 years
Median age / female: 19.4 years
Population growth rate: 2.85% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 33.45 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 4.96 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution: the largest and most populous East African country; population distribution is extremely uneven, but greater population clusters occur in the northern half of country and along the east coast, as shown in this population distribution map
Urbanization / urban population: 37.4% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 4.89% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 262,000 Dodoma (legislative capital) (2018), 7.776 million DAR ES SALAAM (administrative capital), 1.311 million Mwanza, 800,000 Zanzibar (2023)
Sex ratio / at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 0-14 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 65 years and over: 0.74 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / total population: 1 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth: 19.9 years (2022 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio: 276 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Infant mortality rate / total: 28.4 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Infant mortality rate / male: 32.3 deaths/1,000 live births
Infant mortality rate / female: 26.9 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth / total population: 70.8 years (2024 est.)
Life expectancy at birth / male: 69 years
Life expectancy at birth / female: 72.6 years
Total fertility rate: 4.45 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 2.19 (2025 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: urban: urban: 81.1% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: rural: rural: 49% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: total: total: 60.8% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: urban: urban: 18.9% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: rural: rural: 51% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: total: total: 39.2% of population (2022 est.)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 3.4% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 5.1% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density: 0.13 physicians/1,000 population (2022)
Hospital bed density: 0.6 beds/1,000 population (2020 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: urban: urban: 89.6% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: rural: rural: 27.2% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: total: total: 50.1% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: urban: urban: 10.4% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: rural: rural: 72.8% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: total: total: 49.9% of population (2022 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 8.4% (2016)
Alcohol consumption per capita / total: 7.81 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / beer: 0.74 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / wine: 0.09 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / spirits: 0.38 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / other alcohols: 6.6 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Tobacco use / total: 6.5% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / male: 11.3% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / female: 2% (2025 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 11.4% (2022 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49): 59.2% (2022 est.)
Child marriage / women married by age 15: 5.2% (2022)
Child marriage / women married by age 18: 29.1% (2022)
Child marriage / men married by age 18: 3.5% (2022)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% GDP): 3.2% of GDP (2024 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% national budget): 13.4% national budget (2024 est.)
Literacy / total population: 78.2% (2022 est.)
Literacy / male: 84.2% (2022 est.)
Literacy / female: 73.1% (2022 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / total: 9 years (2021 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / male: 9 years (2021 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / female: 9 years (2021 est.)

## Environment
Environmental issues: water pollution; improper management of liquid waste; indoor air pollution from burning wood or charcoal for cooking and heating; soil degradation; deforestation; desertification; coral reef destruction; illegal hunting and animal trade, especially ivory; loss of biodiversity; solid waste disposal
International environmental agreements / party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
International environmental agreements / signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Climate: varies from tropical along coast to temperate in highlands
Land use / agricultural land: 44.6% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 15.2% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 2.3% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 27.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 50.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 5.3% (2023 est.)
Urbanization / urban population: 37.4% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 4.89% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / total emissions: 17.707 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from coal and metallurgical coke: 1.687 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from petroleum and other liquids: 12.066 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from consumed natural gas: 3.954 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Particulate matter emissions: 14.5 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Methane emissions / energy: 568.3 kt (2022-2024 est.)
Methane emissions / agriculture: 1,176.8 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Methane emissions / waste: 168.3 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Methane emissions / other: 1,226.8 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Waste and recycling / municipal solid waste generated annually: 9.277 million tons (2024 est.)
Waste and recycling / percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 12.3% (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / municipal: 527 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / industrial: 25 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / agricultural: 4.632 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total renewable water resources: 96.27 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Geoparks / total global geoparks and regional networks: 1
Geoparks / global geoparks and regional networks: Ngorongoro Lengai (2023)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: United Republic of Tanzania
Country name / conventional short form: Tanzania
Country name / local long form: Jamhuri ya Muungano wa Tanzania
Country name / local short form: Tanzania
Country name / former: German East Africa, Trust Territory of Tanganyika, Republic of Tanganyika, People's Republic of Zanzibar, United Republic of Tanganyika and Zanzibar
Country name / etymology: the country's name is a combination of the first letters of Tanganyika and Zanzibar, the two states that merged to form Tanzania in 1964
Government type: presidential republic
Capital / name: Dodoma
Capital / geographic coordinates: 6 48 S, 39 17 E
Capital / time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Capital / etymology: the name comes from the name of a nearby mountain; the origin of the mountain's name is unclear
Administrative divisions: 31 regions; Arusha, Dar es Salaam, Dodoma, Geita, Iringa, Kagera, Kaskazini Pemba (Pemba North), Kaskazini Unguja (Zanzibar North), Katavi, Kigoma, Kilimanjaro, Kusini Pemba (Pemba South), Kusini Unguja (Zanzibar Central/South), Lindi, Manyara, Mara, Mbeya, Mjini Magharibi (Zanzibar Urban/West), Morogoro, Mtwara, Mwanza, Njombe, Pwani (Coast), Rukwa, Ruvuma, Shinyanga, Simiyu, Singida, Songwe, Tabora, Tanga
Legal system: English common law; judicial review of legislative acts limited to matters of interpretation
Constitution / history: several previous; latest adopted 25 April 1977
Constitution / amendment process: proposed by the National Assembly; passage of amendments to constitutional articles including those on sovereignty of the United Republic, the authorities and powers of the government, the president, the Assembly, and the High Court requires two-thirds majority vote of the mainland Assembly membership and of the Zanzibar House of Representatives membership; House of Representatives approval of other amendments is not required
International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Citizenship / citizenship by birth: no
Citizenship / citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Tanzania; if a child is born abroad, the father must be a citizen of Tanzania
Citizenship / dual citizenship recognized: no
Citizenship / residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch / chief of state: President Samia Suluhu HASSAN (since 19 March 2021)
Executive branch / head of government: President Samia Suluhu HASSAN (since 19 March 2021)
Executive branch / cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president from among members of the National Assembly
Executive branch / election/appointment process: president and vice president directly elected on the same ballot by simple majority popular vote for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); prime minister appointed by the president
Executive branch / most recent election date: 29 October 2025
Executive branch / election results: 2025 : Samia Suluhu HASSAN reelected; percent of vote - Samia Suluhu HASSAN (CCM) 97.7%, others 2.3%
Executive branch / expected date of next election: October 2030
Legislative branch / legislature name: National Assembly (Bunge)
Legislative branch / legislative structure: unicameral
Legislative branch / number of seats: 403 (272 directly elected; 120 indirectly elected; 10 appointed; 1 other)
Legislative branch / electoral system: plurality/majority
Legislative branch / scope of elections: full renewal
Legislative branch / term in office: 5 years
Legislative branch / most recent election date: 10/29/2025
Legislative branch / parties elected and seats per party: Revolutionary Party of Tanzania (CCM) (383); ACT-Wazalendo (2)
Legislative branch / percentage of women in chamber: 39.5%
Legislative branch / expected date of next election: October 2030
Judicial branch / highest court(s): Court of Appeal of the United Republic of Tanzania (consists of the chief justice and 14 justices); High Court of the United Republic for Mainland Tanzania (consists of the principal judge and 30 judges organized into commercial, land, and labor courts); High Court of Zanzibar (consists of the chief justice and 10 justices)
Judicial branch / judge selection and term of office: Court of Appeal and High Court justices appointed by the national president after consultation with the Judicial Service Commission for Tanzania, a judicial body of high-level judges and 2 members appointed by the national president; Court of Appeal and High Court judges serve until mandatory retirement at age 60, but terms can be extended; High Court of Zanzibar judges appointed by the national president after consultation with the Judicial Commission of Zanzibar; judges can serve until mandatory retirement at age 65
Judicial branch / subordinate courts: Resident Magistrates Courts; Kadhi courts (for Islamic family matters); district and primary courts
Political parties: Alliance for Change and Transparency (Wazalendo) or ACT-Wazalendo Civic United Front (Chama Cha Wananchi) or CUF Party of Democracy and Development (Chama Cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo) or CHADEMA Revolutionary Party of Tanzania (Chama Cha Mapinduzi) or CCM
Diplomatic representation in the US / chief of mission: Ambassador Elsie Sia KANZA (since 1 December 2021)
Diplomatic representation in the US / chancery: 1232 22nd Street NW, Washington, DC 20037
Diplomatic representation in the US / telephone: [1] (202) 884-1080
Diplomatic representation in the US / FAX: [1] (202) 797-7408
Diplomatic representation in the US / email address and website: ubalozi@tanzaniaembassy-us.org https://us.tzembassy.go.tz/
Diplomatic representation from the US / chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charg&eacute; d&rsquo;Affaires Andrew LENTZ (since January 2025)
Diplomatic representation from the US / embassy: 686 Old Bagamoyo Road, Msasani, P.O. Box 9123, Dar es Salaam
Diplomatic representation from the US / mailing address: 2140 Dar es Salaam Place, Washington, DC 20521-2140
Diplomatic representation from the US / telephone: [255] (22) 229-4000
Diplomatic representation from the US / FAX: [255] (22) 229-4721
Diplomatic representation from the US / email address and website: DRSACS@state.gov https://tz.usembassy.gov/
International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, AU, C, CD, EAC, EADB, EITI, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MONUSCO, NAM, OPCW, SADC, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNISFA, UNMISS, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Independence: 26 April 1964 (Tanganyika united with Zanzibar to form the United Republic of Tanganyika and Zanzibar); 29 October 1964 (renamed United Republic of Tanzania); notable earlier dates: 9 December 1961 (Tanganyika became independent from UK-administered UN trusteeship); 10 December 1963 (Zanzibar became independent from UK)
National holiday: Union Day (Tanganyika and Zanzibar), 26 April (1964)
Flag: description: divided diagonally by a yellow-edged black band, from the lower left corner to the upper right corner; the upper triangle (left side) is green, and the lower is blue meaning: colors come from the flags of Tanganyika and Zanzibar; green stands for natural vegetation, gold for rich mineral deposits, black for the Swahili people, and blue for lakes and rivers, as well as the Indian Ocean
National symbol(s): Uhuru (freedom) torch, giraffe
National color(s): green, yellow, blue, black
National anthem(s) / title: "Mungu ibariki Afrika" (God Bless Africa)
National anthem(s) / lyrics/music: collective/Enoch Mankayi SONTONGA
National anthem(s) / history: adopted 1961; the anthem, which is also a popular African popular song in Africa, shares the melody of Zambia's anthem and is part of South Africa's anthem
National heritage / total World Heritage Sites: 7 (3 cultural, 3 natural, 1 mixed)
National heritage / selected World Heritage Site locales: Ngorongoro Conservation Area (m); Ruins of Kilwa Kisiwani and Songo Mnara (c); Serengeti National Park (n); Selous Game Reserve (n); Kilimanjaro National Park (n); Stone Town of Zanzibar (c); Kondoa Rock-Art Sites (c)

## Economy
Economic overview: emerging lower middle-income East African economy; resource-rich and growing tourism; strong post-pandemic recovery from hospitality, electricity, mining, and transit sectors; declining poverty; stable inflation; gender-based violence economic and labor force disruptions
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $246.706 billion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $233.786 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $222.506 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2024: 5.5% (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2023: 5.1% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2022: 4.6% (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2024: $3,700 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2023: $3,600 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2022: $3,500 (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $78.78 billion (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024: 3.1% (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023: 3.8% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 4.4% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / agriculture: 23.4% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / industry: 28.7% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / services: 28.4% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / household consumption: 52.9% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / government consumption: 9.2% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in fixed capital: 41.4% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in inventories: -1.6% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / exports of goods and services: 19.8% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / imports of goods and services: -21.7% (2024 est.)
Agricultural products: maize, cassava, sweet potatoes, bananas, milk, sugarcane, rice, vegetables, beans, sunflower seeds (2023)
Industries: agricultural processing (sugar, beer, cigarettes, sisal twine); mining (diamonds, gold, and iron), salt, soda ash; cement, oil refining, shoes, apparel, wood products, fertilizer
Industrial production growth rate: 5.2% (2024 est.)
Labor force: 32.983 million (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2024: 2.6% (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2023: 2.6% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2022: 2.6% (2022 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / total: 3.3% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / male: 2.6% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / female: 4.2% (2024 est.)
Population below poverty line: 26.4% (2018 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income / Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2018: 40.5 (2018 est.)
Average household expenditures / on food: 26.2% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Average household expenditures / on alcohol and tobacco: 1.3% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / lowest 10%: 2.9% (2018 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / highest 10%: 33.1% (2018 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2023: 1% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2022: 0.9% of GDP (2022 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2021: 0.8% of GDP (2021 est.)
Budget / revenues: $11.716 billion (2024 est.)
Budget / expenditures: $13.583 billion (2024 est.)
Public debt / Public debt 2016: 38% of GDP (2016 est.)
Taxes and other revenues: 11.5% (of GDP) (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2023: -$2.958 billion (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2022: -$5.482 billion (2022 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2021: -$2.374 billion (2021 est.)
Exports / Exports 2023: $13.98 billion (2023 est.)
Exports / Exports 2022: $11.986 billion (2022 est.)
Exports / Exports 2021: $9.874 billion (2021 est.)
Exports - partners: India 15%, UAE 14%, Uganda 12%, South Africa 10%, China 6% (2023)
Exports - commodities: gold, refined petroleum, dried legumes, refined copper, coal (2023)
Imports / Imports 2023: $16.059 billion (2023 est.)
Imports / Imports 2022: $16.674 billion (2022 est.)
Imports / Imports 2021: $11.61 billion (2021 est.)
Imports - partners: China 32%, India 13%, UAE 9%, Saudi Arabia 5%, Japan 4% (2023)
Imports - commodities: refined petroleum, plastics, garments, fertilizers, wheat (2023)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2018: $5.05 billion (2018 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2017: $5.888 billion (2017 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2016: $4.351 billion (2016 est.)
Debt - external / Debt - external 2023: $17.513 billion (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Currency: Tanzanian shillings (TZS) per US dollar -
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2024: 2,597.9 (2024 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2023: 2,383.043 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2022: 2,303.034 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2021: 2,297.764 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2020: 2,294.146 (2020 est.)

## Energy
Electricity access / electrification - total population: 45.8% (2022 est.)
Electricity access / electrification - urban areas: 74.7%
Electricity access / electrification - rural areas: 36%
Electricity / installed generating capacity: 1.818 million kW (2023 est.)
Electricity / consumption: 9.109 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / imports: 157.688 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / transmission/distribution losses: 2.039 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / fossil fuels: 74.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / solar: 0.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / hydroelectricity: 24.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / biomass and waste: 0.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Coal / production: 2.341 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / consumption: 740,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / exports: 1.602 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / imports: 21 metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / proven reserves: 1.41 billion metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum / refined petroleum consumption: 85,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Natural gas / production: 2.016 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / consumption: 2.016 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / proven reserves: 6.513 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)
Energy consumption per capita / Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 4.091 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

## Communications
Telephones - fixed lines / total subscriptions: 76,000 (2023 est.)
Telephones - fixed lines / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2023 est.) less than 1
Telephones - mobile cellular / total subscriptions: 86.8 million (2024 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 127 (2024 est.)
Broadcast media: about 45 TV stations, with 13 national that broadcast free-to-air TV; 196 radio stations, most operating at the district level, but also including 5 independent national stations and 1 state-owned national radio station; international broadcasts widely available through satellite TV; 3 major satellite TV providers (2020)
Internet country code: .tz
Internet users / percent of population: 29% (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / total: 1.66 million (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 2 (2023 est.)

## Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: 5H
Airports: 206 (2025)
Railways / total: 4,097 km (2022)
Railways / standard gauge: 421 km (2022)
Railways / narrow gauge: 969 km (2022) 1.067 m gauge
Railways / broad gauge: 2,707 km (2022) 1.000 m guage
Merchant marine / total: 381 (2023)
Merchant marine / by type: bulk carrier 4, container ship 17, general cargo 170, oil tanker 58, other 132
Ports / total ports: 8 (2024)
Ports / large: 0
Ports / medium: 1
Ports / small: 3
Ports / very small: 4
Ports / ports with oil terminals: 4
Ports / key ports: Chake Chake, Dar Es Salaam, Tanga, Zanzibar

## Military and Security
Military and security forces: Tanzania People's Defense Forces (TPDF or Jeshi la Wananchi la Tanzania, JWTZ): Land Forces, Naval Forces, Air Force, Nation Building Army (Jeshi la Kujenga Taifa, JKT), Reserve Forces Ministry of Home Affairs: Tanzania Police Force (Jeshi la Polisi Tanzania) (2025)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2024: 1.3% of GDP (2024 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2023: 1.2% of GDP (2023 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2022: 1.2% of GDP (2022 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2021: 1.1% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2020: 1.2% of GDP (2020 est.)
Military and security service personnel strengths: approximately 25,000 active Defense Forces (2025)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the TPDF's inventory includes mostly British, Chinese, and Russian/Soviet-era armaments (2025)
Military service age and obligation: generally 18-25 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women, but may go up to 35 years of age depending on education levels and for medical specialists; no conscription (2026)
Military deployments: 520 Central African Republic (MINUSCA); more than 1,000 Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO and Southern African Development Community regional force); 125 Lebanon (UNIFIL); approximately 300 Mozambique (under bi-lateral agreement to assist with combatting an insurgency) (2025)
Military - note: the chief concerns of the Tanzania Defense Forces (TDPF) are maritime piracy and smuggling, border security, terrorism, animal poaching, and spillover from instability in neighboring countries, particularly Mozambique and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC); it participates in multinational training exercises, regional peacekeeping deployments, and has ties with a variety of foreign militaries, including those of China, India, and the US; it has contributed troops to the UN&rsquo;s Force Intervention Brigade in the DRC; the TPDF also participated in the former Southern African Development Community intervention force in Mozambique, which assisted the Mozambique military in combating fighters affiliated with the Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS); the regional force withdrew in 2024, but the TPDF continues to maintain troops in Mozambique as part of a separate bilateral security agreement; since 2020, the TPDF has reinforced the border with Mozambique following several cross-border attacks by ISIS fighters (2025)

## Terrorism
Terrorist group(s): al-Shabaab; Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS)

## Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons / refugees: 218,123 (2024 est.)
Refugees and internally displaced persons / IDPs: 75,117 (2024 est.)

=== Uganda ===

## Introduction
Background: An ancient crossroads for various migrations, Uganda has as many as 65 ethnic groups that speak languages from three of Africa’s four major linguistic families. As early as 1200, fertile soils and regular rainfall in the south fostered the formation of several large, centralized kingdoms, including Buganda, from which the country derives its name. Muslim traders from Egypt reached northern Uganda in the 1820s, and Swahili merchants from the Indian Ocean coast arrived in the south by the 1840s. The area attracted the attention of British explorers seeking the source of the Nile River in the 1860s, and this influence expanded in subsequent decades with the arrival of Christian missionaries and trade agreements; Uganda was declared a British protectorate in 1894. Buganda and other southern kingdoms negotiated agreements with Britain to secure privileges and a level of autonomy that were rare during the colonial period in Africa. Uganda's colonial boundaries grouped together a wide range of ethnic groups with different political systems and cultures, and the disparities between how Britain governed southern and northern areas compounded these differences, complicating efforts to establish a cohesive independent country. Uganda gained independence in 1962 with one of the more developed economies and one of the strongest education systems in Sub-Saharan Africa, but it descended within a few years into political turmoil and internal conflict that lasted more than two decades. In 1966, Prime Minister Milton OBOTE suspended the constitution and violently deposed President Edward MUTESA, who was also the king of Buganda. Idi AMIN seized power in 1971 through a military coup and led the country into economic ruin and rampant mass atrocities that killed as many as 500,000 civilians. AMIN’s annexation of Tanzanian territory in 1979 provoked Tanzania to invade Uganda, depose AMIN, and install a coalition government. In the aftermath, Uganda continued to experience atrocities, looting, and political instability and had four different heads of state between 1979 and 1980. OBOTE regained the presidency in 1980 through a controversial election that sparked renewed guerrilla warfare, killing as an estimated 300,000 civilians. Gen. Tito OKELLO seized power in a coup in 1985, but his rule was short-lived, with Yoweri MUSEVENI becoming president in 1986 after his insurgency captured the capital. MUSEVENI is widely credited with restoring relative stability and economic growth to Uganda but has resisted calls to leave office. In 2017, parliament removed presidential age limits, making it possible for MUSEVENI to remain in office for life.

## Geography
Location: East-Central Africa, west of Kenya, east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Geographic coordinates: 1 00 N, 32 00 E
Map references: Africa
Area / total: 241,038 sq km
Area / land: 197,100 sq km
Area / water: 43,938 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly more than two times the size of Pennsylvania; slightly smaller than Oregon
Land boundaries / total: 2,729 km
Land boundaries / border countries: Democratic Republic of the Congo 877 km; Kenya 814 km; Rwanda 172 km; South Sudan 475 km; Tanzania 391 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
Climate: tropical; generally rainy with two dry seasons (December to February, June to August); semiarid in northeast
Terrain: mostly plateau with rim of mountains
Elevation / highest point: Margherita Peak on Mount Stanley 5,110 m
Elevation / lowest point: Albert Nile 614 m
Natural resources: copper, cobalt, hydropower, limestone, salt, arable land, gold
Land use / agricultural land: 71.9% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 34.4% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 11% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 26.5% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 12.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 16% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land: 105 sq km (2013)
Major lakes (area sq km) / fresh water lake(s): Lake Victoria (shared with Tanzania and Kenya) - 62,940 sq km; Lake Albert (shared with Democratic Republic of Congo) - 5,590 sq km; Lake Kyoga - 4,430 sq km; Lake Edward (shared with Democratic Republic of Congo) - 2,150 sq km
Major rivers (by length in km): Nile (shared with Rwanda [s], Tanzania, South Sudan, Sudan, and Egypt [m]) - 6,650 km note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Major watersheds (area sq km) / Atlantic Ocean drainage: Congo (3,730,881 sq km), (Mediterranean Sea) Nile (3,254,853 sq km)
Population distribution: population density is relatively high in comparison to other African nations; most of the population is concentrated in the central and southern parts of the country, particularly along the shores of Lake Victoria and Lake Albert; the northeast is least populated, as shown in this population distribution map
Natural hazards: droughts; floods; earthquakes; landslides; hailstorms
Geography - note: landlocked; fertile, well-watered country with many lakes and rivers; Lake Victoria, the world's largest tropical lake and second-largest freshwater lake, is shared among three countries: Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda

## People and Society
Population / total: 50,863,850 (2025 est.)
Population / male: 24,835,513
Population / female: 26,028,337
Nationality / noun: Ugandan(s)
Nationality / adjective: Ugandan
Ethnic groups: Baganda 16.5%, Banyankole 9.6%, Basoga 8.8%, Bakiga 7.1%, Iteso 7%, Langi 6.3%, Bagisu 4.9%, Acholi 4.4%, Lugbara 3.3%, other 32.1% (2014 est.)
Languages: English (official), Ganda or Luganda (most widely used of the Niger-Congo languages and the language used most often in the capital), other Niger-Congo languages, Nilo-Saharan languages, Swahili (official), Arabic
Religions: Protestant 45.1% (Anglican 32.0%, Pentecostal/Born Again/Evangelical 11.1%, Seventh Day Adventist 1.7%, Baptist .3%), Roman Catholic 39.3%, Muslim 13.7%, other 1.6%, none 0.2% (2014 est.)
Age structure / 0-14 years: 47% (male 11,747,745/female 11,427,932)
Age structure / 15-64 years: 50.6% (male 11,788,483/female 13,131,051)
Age structure / 65 years and over: 2.4% (2024 est.) (male 504,332/female 683,498)
Dependency ratios / total dependency ratio: 96.9 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / youth dependency ratio: 92.1 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / elderly dependency ratio: 4.8 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / potential support ratio: 20.8 (2025 est.)
Median age / total: 16.4 years (2025 est.)
Median age / male: 15.5 years
Median age / female: 17.1 years
Population growth rate: 3.13% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 38.91 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 4.61 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: -2.96 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution: population density is relatively high in comparison to other African nations; most of the population is concentrated in the central and southern parts of the country, particularly along the shores of Lake Victoria and Lake Albert; the northeast is least populated, as shown in this population distribution map
Urbanization / urban population: 26.8% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 5.41% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 3.846 million KAMPALA (capital) (2023)
Sex ratio / at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 0-14 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 15-64 years: 0.9 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 65 years and over: 0.74 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth: 19.4 years (2016 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio: 170 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Infant mortality rate / total: 27.5 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Infant mortality rate / male: 31.8 deaths/1,000 live births
Infant mortality rate / female: 25.1 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth / total population: 69.7 years (2024 est.)
Life expectancy at birth / male: 67.5 years
Life expectancy at birth / female: 72 years
Total fertility rate: 5.08 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 2.5 (2025 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: urban: urban: 80.3% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: rural: rural: 51.8% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: total: total: 59.3% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: urban: urban: 19.7% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: rural: rural: 48.2% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: total: total: 40.7% of population (2022 est.)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 4.7% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 4.9% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density: 0.19 physicians/1,000 population (2022)
Sanitation facility access / improved: urban: urban: 67.1% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: rural: rural: 27.9% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: total: total: 38.2% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: urban: urban: 32.9% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: rural: rural: 72.1% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: total: total: 61.8% of population (2022 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 5.3% (2016)
Alcohol consumption per capita / total: 6.82 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / beer: 0.85 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / wine: 0.01 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / spirits: 0.5 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / other alcohols: 5.46 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Tobacco use / total: 4.5% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / male: 7.8% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / female: 1.5% (2025 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 9.7% (2022 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49): 57.8% (2022 est.)
Child marriage / women married by age 15: 7.3% (2016)
Child marriage / women married by age 18: 34% (2016)
Child marriage / men married by age 18: 5.5% (2016)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% GDP): 2.6% of GDP (2022 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% national budget): 8.5% national budget (2022 est.)
Literacy / total population: 69.1% (2016 est.)
Literacy / male: 78.5% (2016 est.)
Literacy / female: 61% (2016 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / total: 9 years (2016 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / male: 10 years (2016 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / female: 9 years (2016 est.)

## Environment
Environmental issues: draining of wetlands for agricultural use; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; water pollution from industrial discharge and water hyacinth infestation in Lake Victoria; widespread poaching
International environmental agreements / party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
International environmental agreements / signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification
Climate: tropical; generally rainy with two dry seasons (December to February, June to August); semiarid in northeast
Land use / agricultural land: 71.9% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 34.4% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 11% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 26.5% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 12.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 16% (2023 est.)
Urbanization / urban population: 26.8% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 5.41% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / total emissions: 6.354 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from coal and metallurgical coke: -398 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from petroleum and other liquids: 6.354 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Particulate matter emissions: 31.3 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Waste and recycling / municipal solid waste generated annually: 7.045 million tons (2024 est.)
Waste and recycling / percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 24.1% (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / municipal: 328 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / industrial: 50 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / agricultural: 259 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total renewable water resources: 60.1 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: Republic of Uganda
Country name / conventional short form: Uganda
Country name / etymology: the name is derived from the Swahili word u , meaning "land" or "country," and the Ganda people; the origin of the Ganda name is unclear
Government type: presidential republic
Capital / name: Kampala
Capital / geographic coordinates: 0 19 N, 32 33 E
Capital / time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Capital / etymology: the name is said to come from an African antelope, the impala
Administrative divisions: 134 districts and 1 capital city*; Abim, Adjumani, Agago, Alebtong, Amolatar, Amudat, Amuria, Amuru, Apac, Arua, Budaka, Bududa, Bugiri, Bugweri, Buhweju, Buikwe, Bukedea, Bukomansimbi, Bukwo, Bulambuli, Buliisa, Bundibugyo, Bunyangabu, Bushenyi, Busia, Butaleja, Butambala, Butebo, Buvuma, Buyende, Dokolo, Gomba, Gulu, Hoima, Ibanda, Iganga, Isingiro, Jinja, Kaabong, Kabale, Kabarole, Kaberamaido, Kagadi, Kakumiro, Kalaki, Kalangala, Kaliro, Kalungu, Kampala*, Kamuli, Kamwenge, Kanungu, Kapchorwa, Kapelebyong, Karenga, Kasese, Kasanda, Katakwi, Kayunga, Kazo, Kibaale, Kiboga, Kibuku, Kikuube, Kiruhura, Kiryandongo, Kisoro, Kitagwenda, Kitgum, Koboko, Kole, Kotido, Kumi, Kwania, Kween, Kyankwanzi, Kyegegwa, Kyenjojo, Kyotera, Lamwo, Lira, Luuka, Luwero, Lwengo, Lyantonde, Madi-Okollo, Manafwa, Maracha, Masaka, Masindi, Mayuge, Mbale, Mbarara, Mitooma, Mityana, Moroto, Moyo, Mpigi, Mubende, Mukono, Nabilatuk, Nakapiripirit, Nakaseke, Nakasongola, Namayingo, Namisindwa, Namutumba, Napak, Nebbi, Ngora, Ntoroko, Ntungamo, Nwoya, Obongi, Omoro, Otuke, Oyam, Pader, Pakwach, Pallisa, Rakai, Rubanda, Rubirizi, Rukiga, Rukungiri, Rwampara, Sembabule, Serere, Sheema, Sironko, Soroti, Tororo, Wakiso, Yumbe, Zombo
Legal system: mixed system of English common law and customary law
Constitution / history: several previous; latest adopted 27 September 1995, promulgated 8 October 1995
Constitution / amendment process: proposed by the National Assembly; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote of the Assembly membership in the second and third readings; proposals affecting "entrenched clauses," including the sovereignty of the people, supremacy of the constitution, human rights and freedoms, the democratic and multiparty form of government, presidential term of office, independence of the judiciary, and the institutions of traditional or cultural leaders, also requires passage by referendum, ratification by at least two-thirds majority vote of district council members in at least two thirds of Uganda's districts, and assent of the president of the republic
International law organization participation: accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Citizenship / citizenship by birth: no
Citizenship / citizenship by descent only: at least one parent or grandparent must be a native-born citizen of Uganda
Citizenship / dual citizenship recognized: yes
Citizenship / residency requirement for naturalization: an aggregate of 20 years and continuously for the last 2 years prior to applying for citizenship
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch / chief of state: President Yoweri Kaguta MUSEVENI (since 26 January 1986)
Executive branch / head of government: Prime Minister Robinah NABBANJA (since 14 June 2021)
Executive branch / cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president from among elected members of Parliament or persons who qualify to be elected as members of Parliament
Executive branch / election/appointment process: president directly elected by absolute-majority popular vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a 5-year term (no term limits)
Executive branch / most recent election date: 14 January 2021
Executive branch / election results: 2021: Yoweri Kaguta MUSEVENI reelected president in the first round; percent of vote - Yoweri Kaguta MUSEVENI (NRM) 58.6%, Robert Kyagulanyi SSENTAMU (aka Bobi WINE) (NUP) 34.8%, Patrick Oboi AMURIAT (FDC) 3.2%, other 3.4%
Executive branch / expected date of next election: 2026
Legislative branch / legislature name: Parliament
Legislative branch / legislative structure: unicameral
Legislative branch / number of seats: 529 (499 directly elected; 30 indirectly elected)
Legislative branch / electoral system: plurality/majority
Legislative branch / scope of elections: full renewal
Legislative branch / term in office: 5 years
Legislative branch / most recent election date: 1/14/2021 to 1/18/2021
Legislative branch / parties elected and seats per party: National Resistance Movement (NRM) (336); National Unity Platform (NUP) (57); Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) (32); Independents (74); Other (30)
Legislative branch / percentage of women in chamber: 34.1%
Legislative branch / expected date of next election: January 2026
Judicial branch / highest court(s): Supreme Court of Uganda (consists of the chief justice and at least 6 justices)
Judicial branch / judge selection and term of office: justices appointed by the president of the republic in consultation with the Judicial Service Commission, an 8-member independent advisory body, and approved by the National Assembly; justices serve until mandatory retirement at age 70
Judicial branch / subordinate courts: Court of Appeal (also acts as the Constitutional Court); High Court (includes 12 High Court Circuits and 8 High Court Divisions); Industrial Court; Chief Magistrate Grade One and Grade Two Courts throughout the country; qadhis courts; local council courts; family and children courts
Political parties: Democratic Party or DP Forum for Democratic Change or FDC Justice Forum or JEEMA National Resistance Movement or NRM National Unity Platform People's Progressive Party or PPP Uganda People's Congress or UPC
Diplomatic representation in the US / chief of mission: Ambassador Robie KAKONGE (since 12 December 2022)
Diplomatic representation in the US / chancery: 5911 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20011
Diplomatic representation in the US / telephone: [1] (202) 726-7100
Diplomatic representation in the US / FAX: [1] (202) 726-1727
Diplomatic representation in the US / email address and website: washington@mofa.go.ug https://washington.mofa.go.ug/
Diplomatic representation from the US / chief of mission: Ambassador William W. POPP (since 20 September 2023)
Diplomatic representation from the US / embassy: 1577 Ggaba Road, Kampala
Diplomatic representation from the US / mailing address: 2190 Kampala Place, Washington DC 20521-2190
Diplomatic representation from the US / telephone: [256] (0) 312-306-001
Diplomatic representation from the US / FAX: [256] (0) 414-259-794
Diplomatic representation from the US / email address and website: KampalaWebContact@state.gov https://ug.usembassy.gov/
International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, ATMIS, AU, C, COMESA, EAC, EADB, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITC, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NAM, OIC, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCDF, UNCTAD, UNECA, UNDP, UNFPA, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNICEF, UNIDO, UNISFA, UNOCI, UNOPS, UNSOM, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFP, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Independence: 9 October 1962 (from the UK)
National holiday: Independence Day, 9 October (1962)
Flag: description: six equal horizontal bands of black (top), yellow, red, black, yellow, and red; a white disk is at the center and shows a grey crowned crane (the national symbol) meaning: black stands for the African people, yellow for sunshine and vitality, and red for African brotherhood
National symbol(s): grey crowned crane
National color(s): black, yellow, red
National anthem(s) / title: "O Uganda, Land of Beauty!"
National anthem(s) / lyrics/music: George Wilberforce KAKOMOA
National anthem(s) / history: adopted 1962; one of the shortest national anthems in the world
National heritage / total World Heritage Sites: 3 (1 cultural, 2 natural)
National heritage / selected World Heritage Site locales: Bwindi Impenetrable National Park (n); Rwenzori Mountains National Park (n); Tombs of Buganda Kings at Kasubi (c)

## Economy
Economic overview: low-income, primarily agrarian East African economy; COVID-19 hurt economic growth and poverty reduction; lower oil prices threaten prior sector investments; endemic corruption; natural resource rich; high female labor force participation but undervalued
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $144.137 billion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $135.803 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $128.923 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2024: 6.1% (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2023: 5.3% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2022: 4.6% (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2024: $2,900 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2023: $2,800 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2022: $2,700 (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $53.652 billion (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024: 3.3% (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023: 5.4% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 7.2% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / agriculture: 24.7% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / industry: 24.9% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / services: 43.1% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / household consumption: 66.3% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / government consumption: 10% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in fixed capital: 21.5% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in inventories: 0.8% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / exports of goods and services: 16.9% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / imports of goods and services: -24.6% (2024 est.)
Agricultural products: plantains, sugarcane, milk, maize, cassava, sweet potatoes, vegetables, beans, potatoes, tea (2023)
Industries: sugar processing, brewing, tobacco, cotton textiles; cement, steel production
Industrial production growth rate: 4.9% (2024 est.)
Labor force: 22.829 million (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2024: 3% (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2023: 2.8% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2022: 2.9% (2022 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / total: 4.5% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / male: 3.5% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / female: 5.5% (2024 est.)
Population below poverty line: 20.3% (2019 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income / Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2019: 42.7 (2019 est.)
Average household expenditures / on food: 38.6% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Average household expenditures / on alcohol and tobacco: 1.5% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / lowest 10%: 2.4% (2019 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / highest 10%: 34.5% (2019 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2023: 2.9% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2022: 2.7% of GDP (2022 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2021: 2.9% of GDP (2021 est.)
Budget / revenues: $7.616 billion (2023 est.)
Budget / expenditures: $10.043 billion (2023 est.)
Public debt / Public debt 2023: 53.1% of GDP (2023 est.)
Taxes and other revenues: 13% (of GDP) (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2023: -$3.766 billion (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2022: -$4.064 billion (2022 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2021: -$3.605 billion (2021 est.)
Exports / Exports 2023: $9.084 billion (2023 est.)
Exports / Exports 2022: $6.116 billion (2022 est.)
Exports / Exports 2021: $6.231 billion (2021 est.)
Exports - partners: India 21%, UAE 16%, Hong Kong 10%, South Sudan 8%, Kenya 6% (2023)
Exports - commodities: gold, coffee, fish, refined petroleum, tobacco (2023)
Imports / Imports 2023: $13.853 billion (2023 est.)
Imports / Imports 2022: $11.079 billion (2022 est.)
Imports / Imports 2021: $10.62 billion (2021 est.)
Imports - partners: China 19%, UAE 12%, Tanzania 11%, India 10%, Kenya 7% (2023)
Imports - commodities: refined petroleum, gold, plastics, packaged medicine, palm oil (2023)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2018: $3.359 billion (2018 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2017: $3.721 billion (2017 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2016: $3.098 billion (2016 est.)
Debt - external / Debt - external 2023: $10.469 billion (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Currency: Ugandan shillings (UGX) per US dollar -
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2024: 3,757.263 (2024 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2023: 3,726.14 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2022: 3,689.817 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2021: 3,587.052 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2020: 3,718.249 (2020 est.)

## Energy
Electricity access / electrification - total population: 47.1% (2022 est.)
Electricity access / electrification - urban areas: 72%
Electricity access / electrification - rural areas: 35.9%
Electricity / installed generating capacity: 1.452 million kW (2023 est.)
Electricity / consumption: 4.254 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / exports: 400.349 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / imports: 23.289 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / transmission/distribution losses: 1.116 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / fossil fuels: 2.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / solar: 2.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / hydroelectricity: 86.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / biomass and waste: 8.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Coal / consumption: 19 metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / exports: 100 metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / imports: 19 metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / proven reserves: 799.999 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum / refined petroleum consumption: 44,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Petroleum / crude oil estimated reserves: 2.5 billion barrels (2021 est.)
Natural gas / proven reserves: 14.158 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)
Energy consumption per capita / Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 2.252 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

## Communications
Telephones - fixed lines / total subscriptions: 116,000 (2023 est.)
Telephones - fixed lines / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2023 est.) less than 1
Telephones - mobile cellular / total subscriptions: 41.6 million (2024 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 83 (2024 est.)
Broadcast media: public broadcaster, Uganda Broadcasting Corporation (UBC), operates radio and TV networks; 31 Free-To-Air (FTA) TV stations, 2 digital terrestrial TV stations, 3 cable TV stations, and 5 digital satellite TV stations; 258 FM stations
Internet country code: .ug
Internet users / percent of population: 15% (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / total: 44,000 (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2023 est.) less than 1

## Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: 5X
Airports: 39 (2025)
Railways / total: 1,244 km (2014)
Railways / narrow gauge: 1,244 km (2014) 1.000-m gauge

## Military and Security
Military and security forces: Uganda People's Defense Force (UPDF): Land Force (includes marines), Air Force, Special Forces Command, Reserve Force Ministry of Internal Affairs: Uganda Police Force (2025)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2023: 2% of GDP (2023 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2022: 2.2% of GDP (2022 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2021: 2.5% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2020: 2.5% of GDP (2020 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2019: 1.7% of GDP (2019 est.)
Military and security service personnel strengths: approximately 45,000 active Defense Forces (2025)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: most of the UPDF's arms are of Russian/Soviet origin with smaller quantities from such suppliers as Bulgaria, China, Czechia, Israel, and South Africa, as well as some domestically produced items; Uganda has a small defense industry that assembles or manufactures light armored vehicles and performs maintenance on some military equipment, including its Russian-made helicopters (2025)
Military service age and obligation: 18-22 years of age for voluntary military duty for men and women; 9-year service obligation (2025)
Military deployments: estimated 3,000 Democratic Republic of Congo; up to 4,500 Somalia (African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia or AUSSOM) (2025)
Military - note: the responsibilities of the Uganda People's Defense Force (UPDF) include defending the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Uganda, assisting the civilian authorities in emergencies and natural disasters, contributing to regional security, participating in socio-economic development projects, conducting military diplomacy, and ensuring internal security, including against civil unrest, internal insurgency, and terrorism; in recent years it has beefed up its presence along the borders with the Democratic Republic of the Congo and South Sudan; the UPDF participates in African and UN peacekeeping missions and is a key contributor to the East Africa Standby Force; the UPDF is constitutionally granted seats in parliament and is widely viewed as a key constituency for MUSEVENI; it has been used to break up rallies, raid opposition offices, and surveil rival candidates the military traces its history back to the formation of the Uganda Rifles in 1895 under the British colonial government; the Uganda Rifles were merged with the Central Africa Regiment and the East Africa Rifles to form the King’s African Rifles (KAR) in 1902, which participated in both world wars, as well as the Mau Mau rebellion in Kenya (1952-1960); in 1962, the Ugandan battalion of the KAR was transformed into the country's first military force, the Uganda Rifles, which was subsequently renamed the Uganda Army; the UPDF was established in 1995 from the former rebel National Resistance Army following the enactment of the 1995 Constitution of Uganda (2025)

## Terrorism
Terrorist group(s): al-Shabaab; Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham - Democratic Republic of Congo (ISIS-DRC)

## Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons / refugees: 1,796,597 (2024 est.)
Refugees and internally displaced persons / IDPs: 22,209 (2024 est.)
Refugees and internally displaced persons / stateless persons: 10,284 (2024 est.)

=== Burkina Faso ===

## Introduction
Background: Many of Burkina Faso’s ethnic groups arrived in the region between the 12th and 15th centuries. The Gurma and Mossi peoples established several of the largest kingdoms in the area and used horse-mounted warriors in military campaigns. Of the various Mossi kingdoms, the most powerful were Ouagadougou and Yatenga. In the late 19th century, European states competed for control of the region. France eventually conquered the area and established it as a French protectorate. The country achieved independence from France in 1960 and changed its name to Burkina Faso in 1984. Repeated military coups were common in the country’s first few decades. In 1987 Blaise COMPAORE deposed the president, established a government, and ruled for 27 years. In 2014, COMPAORE resigned after protests against his repeated efforts to amend the constitution's two-term presidential limit. An interim administration led a year-long transition, organizing presidential and legislative elections. In 2015, Roch Marc Christian KABORE was elected president, and he was reelected in 2020. In 2022, the military conducted two takeovers: In January, army colonel Paul Henri DAMIBA overthrew KABORE in a coup d'etat, and then in September, army captain Ibrahim TRAORE deposed DAMIBA and declared himself transition president. The transition government planned to hold elections by July 2024, but they may be delayed due to security concerns. Terrorist groups -- including groups affiliated with Al-Qa’ida and the Islamic State -- began attacks in the country in 2016 and conducted attacks in the capital in 2016, 2017, and 2018. By early 2023, insecurity in Burkina Faso had displaced more than 2 million people and led to significant jumps in humanitarian needs and food insecurity. In addition to terrorism, the country faces a myriad of problems including high population growth, recurring drought, pervasive and perennial food insecurity, and limited natural resources. It is one of the world’s poorest countries.

## Geography
Location: Western Africa, north of Ghana
Geographic coordinates: 13 00 N, 2 00 W
Map references: Africa
Area / total: 274,200 sq km
Area / land: 273,800 sq km
Area / water: 400 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly larger than Colorado
Land boundaries / total: 3,611 km
Land boundaries / border countries: Benin 386 km; Cote d'Ivoire 545 km; Ghana 602 km; Mali 1325 km; Niger 622 km; Togo 131 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
Climate: three climate zones including a hot tropical savanna with a short rainy season in the southern half, a tropical hot semi-arid steppe climate typical of the Sahel region in the northern half, and small area of hot desert in the very north of the country bordering the Sahara Desert
Terrain: mostly flat to dissected, undulating plains; hills in the west and southeast; occupies an extensive plateau with savanna that is grassy in the north and gradually gives way to sparse forests in the south
Elevation / highest point: Tena Kourou 749 m
Elevation / lowest point: Mouhoun (Black Volta) River 200 m
Elevation / mean elevation: 297 m
Natural resources: gold, manganese, zinc, limestone, marble, phosphates, pumice, salt
Land use / agricultural land: 53.4% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 28.9% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 2.6% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 21.9% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 12.7% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 33.9% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land: 550 sq km (2016)
Major rivers (by length in km): Volta river source (shared with Ghana [m]) - 1,600 km note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Major watersheds (area sq km) / Atlantic Ocean drainage: Niger (2,261,741 sq km), Volta (410,991 sq km)
Population distribution: most of the population is located in the center and south; nearly one third lives in cities, including the capital city of Ouagadougou (Ouaga), as shown in this population distribution map (2019)
Natural hazards: recurring droughts
Geography - note: landlocked savanna cut by the three principal rivers, the Black, Red, and White Voltas

## People and Society
Population / total: 23,490,300 (2025 est.)
Population / male: 11,529,979
Population / female: 11,960,321
Nationality / noun: Burkinabe (singular and plural)
Nationality / adjective: Burkinabe
Ethnic groups: Mossi 53.7%, Fulani (Peuhl) 6.8%, Gurunsi 5.9%, Bissa 5.4%, Gurma 5.2%, Bobo 3.4%, Senufo 2.2%, Bissa 1.5%, Lobi 1.5%, Tuareg/Bella 0.1%, other 12.8%, foreign 0.7% (2021 est.)
Languages: Mossi 52.9%, Fula 7.8%, Gourmantche 6.8%, Dyula 5.7%, Bissa 3.3%, Gurunsi 3.2%, French (official) 2.2%, Bwamu 2%, Dagara 2%, San 1.7%, Marka 1.6%, Bobo 1.5%, Senufo 1.5%, Lobi 1.2%, other 6.6% (2019 est.)
Religions: Muslim 63.8%, Roman Catholic 20.1%, Animiste 9%, Protestant 6.2%, other 0.2%, none 0.7% (2019 est.)
Age structure / 0-14 years: 41.6% (male 4,868,488/female 4,727,316)
Age structure / 15-64 years: 55.1% (male 6,116,674/female 6,590,775)
Age structure / 65 years and over: 3.2% (2024 est.) (male 312,587/female 426,359)
Dependency ratios / total dependency ratio: 79 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / youth dependency ratio: 73.2 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / elderly dependency ratio: 5.8 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / potential support ratio: 17.3 (2025 est.)
Median age / total: 19 years (2025 est.)
Median age / male: 17.9 years
Median age / female: 19.5 years
Population growth rate: 2.39% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 31.74 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 7.24 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: -0.57 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution: most of the population is located in the center and south; nearly one third lives in cities, including the capital city of Ouagadougou (Ouaga), as shown in this population distribution map (2019)
Urbanization / urban population: 32.5% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 4.75% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 3.204 million OUAGADOUGOU (capital), 1.129 million Bobo-Dioulasso (2023)
Sex ratio / at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 0-14 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 15-64 years: 0.93 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 65 years and over: 0.73 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth: 20.1 years (2021 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio: 242 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Infant mortality rate / total: 48 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Infant mortality rate / male: 51.1 deaths/1,000 live births
Infant mortality rate / female: 42.7 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth / total population: 64.2 years (2024 est.)
Life expectancy at birth / male: 62.3 years
Life expectancy at birth / female: 66.1 years
Total fertility rate: 4.02 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 1.98 (2025 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: urban: urban: 80.9% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: rural: rural: 34.8% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: total: total: 49.5% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: urban: urban: 19.1% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: rural: rural: 65.2% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: total: total: 50.5% of population (2022 est.)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 6.4% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 8.4% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density: 0.15 physicians/1,000 population (2022)
Hospital bed density: 0.2 beds/1,000 population (2020 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: urban: urban: 91.2% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: rural: rural: 42.6% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: total: total: 58.1% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: urban: urban: 8.8% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: rural: rural: 57.4% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: total: total: 41.9% of population (2022 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 5.6% (2016)
Alcohol consumption per capita / total: 7.28 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / beer: 1 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / wine: 0.08 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / spirits: 0.31 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / other alcohols: 5.88 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Tobacco use / total: 12.4% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / male: 20.4% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / female: 4.6% (2025 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 16.9% (2021 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49): 74.3% (2021 est.)
Child marriage / women married by age 15: 8.9% (2015)
Child marriage / women married by age 18: 51.3% (2015)
Child marriage / men married by age 18: 1.6% (2015)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% GDP): 5.3% of GDP (2023 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% national budget): 20.3% national budget (2023 est.)
Literacy / total population: 41.4% (2023 est.)
Literacy / male: 48.4% (2023 est.)
Literacy / female: 35.7% (2023 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / total: 7 years (2023 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / male: 7 years (2023 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / female: 7 years (2023 est.)

## Environment
Environmental issues: droughts; desertification; overgrazing; soil degradation; deforestation (2019)
International environmental agreements / party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
International environmental agreements / signed, but not ratified: Nuclear Test Ban
Climate: three climate zones including a hot tropical savanna with a short rainy season in the southern half, a tropical hot semi-arid steppe climate typical of the Sahel region in the northern half, and small area of hot desert in the very north of the country bordering the Sahara Desert
Land use / agricultural land: 53.4% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 28.9% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 2.6% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 21.9% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 12.7% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 33.9% (2023 est.)
Urbanization / urban population: 32.5% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 4.75% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / total emissions: 5.243 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from coal and metallurgical coke: 7 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from petroleum and other liquids: 5.243 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Particulate matter emissions: 38.5 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Waste and recycling / municipal solid waste generated annually: 2.575 million tons (2024 est.)
Waste and recycling / percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 23% (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / municipal: 375.6 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / industrial: 21.7 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / agricultural: 420.7 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total renewable water resources: 13.5 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: none
Country name / conventional short form: Burkina Faso
Country name / local long form: none
Country name / local short form: Burkina Faso
Country name / former: Upper Volta, Republic of Upper Volta
Country name / etymology: name translates as "Land of the Worthy Men," from the Dyula words burkina , or "worthy," and faso , which means "land" or literally "father village," from fa , or "father," and so , or "village"
Government type: presidential republic
Capital / name: Ouagadougou
Capital / geographic coordinates: 12 22 N, 1 31 W
Capital / time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Capital / etymology: Ouagadougou is a Francophone spelling of the native name "Wogodogo," which may come from the personal name "Waga" or "Woga" and the Dyula word "dugu," meaning "village"
Administrative divisions: 13 regions; Boucle du Mouhoun, Cascades, Centre, Centre-Est, Centre-Nord, Centre-Ouest, Centre-Sud, Est, Hauts-Bassins, Nord, Plateau-Central, Sahel, Sud-Ouest
Legal system: civil law based on the French model and customary law
Constitution / history: several previous; latest approved by referendum 2 June 1991, adopted 11 June 1991, temporarily suspended late October to mid-November 2014; initial draft of a new constitution to usher in the new republic was completed in January 2017 and a final draft was submitted to the government in December 2017; a constitutional referendum originally scheduled for adoption in March 2019 was postponed; on 1 March 2022 a transition charter was adopted, allowing military authorities to rule for three years and barring the transitional president from being an electoral candidate after the transition
Constitution / amendment process: proposed by the president, by a majority of National Assembly membership, or by petition of at least 30,000 eligible voters submitted to the Assembly; passage requires at least three-fourths majority vote in the Assembly; failure to meet that threshold requires majority voter approval in a referendum; constitutional provisions on the form of government, the multiparty system, and national sovereignty cannot be amended
International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Citizenship / citizenship by birth: no
Citizenship / citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Burkina Faso
Citizenship / dual citizenship recognized: yes
Citizenship / residency requirement for naturalization: 10 years
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch / chief of state: Transitional President Capt. Ibrahim TRAORE (since 30 September 2022)
Executive branch / head of government: Prime Minister Rimtalba Jean Emmanuel OUEDRAOGO (since 9 December 2024)
Executive branch / cabinet: prior to the 2022 coups and ad hoc suspension of laws and constitutional provisions, Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister
Executive branch / election/appointment process: prior to the 2022 coups and ad hoc suspension of laws and constitutional provisions, president directly elected by absolute-majority popular vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); prime minister appointed by the president with consent of the National Assembly
Executive branch / most recent election date: 22 November 2020
Executive branch / election results: 2020: Roch Marc Christian KABORE reelected president in first round; percent of vote - Roch Marc Christian KABORE (MPP) 57.9%, Eddie KOMBOIGO (CDP) 15.5%, Zephirin DIABRE (UPC) 12.5%, other 14.1%
Executive branch / expected date of next election: were to be held by July 2024, but were delayed
Legislative branch / legislature name: Parliament (Parlement)
Legislative branch / legislative structure: unicameral
Legislative branch / chamber name: Transitional Legislative Assembly (Assembl&eacute;e l&eacute;gislative de la transition)
Legislative branch / number of seats: 71
Legislative branch / electoral system: proportional representation
Legislative branch / most recent election date: 11/11/2022
Legislative branch / percentage of women in chamber: 18.3%
Legislative branch / expected date of next election: June 2029
Judicial branch / highest court(s): Supreme Court of Appeals or Cour de Cassation (consists of NA judges); Council of State (consists of NA judges); Constitutional Council or Conseil Constitutionnel (consists of the council president and 9 members)
Judicial branch / judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court judge appointments mostly controlled by the president of Burkina Faso; judges have no term limits; Council of State judge appointment and tenure NA; Constitutional Council judges appointed by the president of Burkina Faso after a proposal from the minister of justice and the president of the National Assembly; judges appointed for 9-year terms with one-third of membership renewed every 3 years
Judicial branch / subordinate courts: Appeals Court; High Court; first instance tribunals; district courts; specialized courts relating to issues of labor, children, and juveniles; village (customary) courts
Political parties: Act Together African Democratic Rally/Alliance for Democracy and Federation or ADF/RDA Congress for Democracy and Progress or CDP Convergence for Progress and Solidarity-Generation 3 or CPS-G3 Movement for the Future Burkina Faso or MBF National Convention for Progress or CNP New Era for Democracy or NTD Pan-African Alliance for Refoundation or APR Party for Democracy and Socialism/Metba or PDS/Metba Party for Development and Change or PDC Patriotic Rally for Integrity or RPI Peoples Movement for Progress or MPP Progressives United for Renewal or PUR Union for Progress and Reform or UPC Union for Rebirth - Sankarist Party or UNIR-PS
Diplomatic representation in the US / chief of mission: Ambassador Kassoum COULIBALY (since 24 July 2025)
Diplomatic representation in the US / chancery: 2340 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation in the US / telephone: [1] (202) 332-5577
Diplomatic representation in the US / FAX: [1] (202) 667-1882
Diplomatic representation in the US / email address and website: contact@burkina-usa.org https://burkina-usa.org/
Diplomatic representation from the US / chief of mission: Ambassador Joann M. LOCKARD (since 28 June 2024)
Diplomatic representation from the US / embassy: Secteur 15, Ouaga 2000, Avenue Sembene Ousmane, Rue 15.873, Ouagadougou
Diplomatic representation from the US / mailing address: 2440 Ouagadougou Place, Washington, DC 20521-2440
Diplomatic representation from the US / telephone: (226) 25-49-53-00
Diplomatic representation from the US / FAX: (226) 25-49-56-23
Diplomatic representation from the US / email address and website: AmembOuaga@state.gov https://bf.usembassy.gov/
International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, AU (suspended), CD, EITI (compliant country), Entente, FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MINUSCA, MONUSCO, NAM, OIC, OIF, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNISFA, UNITAR, UNMISS, UNOOSA, UNWTO, UPU, WADB (regional), WAEMU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Independence: 5 August 1960 (from France)
National holiday: Republic Day, 11 December (1958)
Flag: description: two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and green, with a five-pointed yellow star in the center meaning: red stands for the country's struggle for independence, green for hope and abundance, and yellow for the country's mineral wealth history: uses the colors of the Pan-African movement
National symbol(s): white stallion
National color(s): red, yellow, green
National anthem(s) / title: "Le Ditanye" (Anthem of Victory)
National anthem(s) / lyrics/music: Thomas SANKARA
National anthem(s) / history: adopted 1974; also known as "Une Seule Nuit"(One Single Night) ; written by the country's former president, an avid guitar player
National heritage / total World Heritage Sites: 4 (3 cultural, 1 natural)
National heritage / selected World Heritage Site locales: Ruins of Loropéni (c); Ancient Ferrous Metallurgy Sites of Burkina Faso (c); W-Arly-Pendjari Complex (n); Royal Court of Tiébélé (c)

## Economy
Economic overview: highly agrarian, low-income economy; limited natural resources; widespread poverty; terrorism disrupting potential economic activity; improving trade balance via increases in gold exports; economy inflating after prior deflation; growing public debt but still manageable
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $60.001 billion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $57.152 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $55.508 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2024: 5% (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2023: 3% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2022: 1.5% (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2024: $2,500 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2023: $2,500 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2022: $2,500 (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $23.25 billion (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024: 4.2% (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023: 0.7% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 14.3% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / agriculture: 18.6% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / industry: 29.7% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / services: 40.2% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / household consumption: 60.6% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / government consumption: 18.8% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in fixed capital: 16.5% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in inventories: 10.6% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / exports of goods and services: 28.5% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / imports of goods and services: -34.9% (2024 est.)
Agricultural products: maize, sorghum, fruits, vegetables, millet, cowpeas, cotton, groundnuts, sugarcane, rice (2023)
Industries: cotton lint, beverages, agricultural processing, soap, cigarettes, textiles, gold
Industrial production growth rate: -5.4% (2024 est.)
Labor force: 6.461 million (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2024: 5.2% (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2023: 5.4% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2022: 5.4% (2022 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / total: 8.1% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / male: 7.8% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / female: 8.5% (2024 est.)
Population below poverty line: 43.2% (2021 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income / Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2021: 37.4 (2021 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / lowest 10%: 3% (2021 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / highest 10%: 30.2% (2021 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2023: 2.9% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2022: 2.8% of GDP (2022 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2021: 2.9% of GDP (2021 est.)
Budget / revenues: $5.174 billion (2023 est.)
Budget / expenditures: $6.308 billion (2023 est.)
Public debt / Public debt 2023: 61.3% of GDP (2023 est.)
Taxes and other revenues: 18.4% (of GDP) (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2023: -$1.017 billion (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2022: -$1.404 billion (2022 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2021: $77.255 million (2021 est.)
Exports / Exports 2023: $5.912 billion (2023 est.)
Exports / Exports 2022: $5.814 billion (2022 est.)
Exports / Exports 2021: $6.234 billion (2021 est.)
Exports - partners: Switzerland 72%, UAE 10%, India 3%, Mali 3%, Cote d'Ivoire 2% (2023)
Exports - commodities: gold, cotton, oil seeds, coconuts/brazil nuts/cashews, cement (2023)
Imports / Imports 2023: $6.834 billion (2023 est.)
Imports / Imports 2022: $6.761 billion (2022 est.)
Imports / Imports 2021: $5.835 billion (2021 est.)
Imports - partners: Cote d'Ivoire 14%, China 13%, Ghana 9%, Russia 9%, France 7% (2023)
Imports - commodities: refined petroleum, plastic products, cement, electricity, packaged medicine (2023)
Debt - external / Debt - external 2023: $3.565 billion (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Currency: Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar -
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2024: 606.345 (2024 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2023: 606.57 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2022: 623.76 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2021: 554.531 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2020: 575.586 (2020 est.)

## Energy
Electricity access / electrification - total population: 19.5% (2022 est.)
Electricity access / electrification - urban areas: 60.5%
Electricity access / electrification - rural areas: 3.4%
Electricity / installed generating capacity: 749,000 kW (2023 est.)
Electricity / consumption: 3.096 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / imports: 1.577 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / transmission/distribution losses: 212.254 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / fossil fuels: 82.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / solar: 5.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / hydroelectricity: 6.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / biomass and waste: 5.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Coal / exports: 1 metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / imports: 74 metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum / refined petroleum consumption: 37,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Energy consumption per capita / Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 3.481 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

## Communications
Telephones - fixed lines / total subscriptions: 72,700 (2022 est.)
Telephones - fixed lines / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2022 est.) less than 1
Telephones - mobile cellular / total subscriptions: 26.9 million (2022 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 119 (2022 est.)
Broadcast media: 14 digital TV channels, of which 2 are state-owned; over 140 national radio stations (commercial, religious, community), including a national and regional state-owned network; state-owned Radio Burkina and private Radio Omega are among the most widely available and broadcast in both French and local languages (2019)
Internet country code: .bf
Internet users / percent of population: 17% (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / total: 15,000 (2022 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2022 est.) less than 1

## Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: XT
Airports: 49 (2025)
Railways / total: 622 km (2014)
Railways / narrow gauge: 622 km (2014) 1.000-m gauge

## Military and Security
Military and security forces: Armed Forces of Burkina Faso (FABF; aka National Armed Forces (FAN), aka Defense and Security Forces (Forces de Défense et de Sécurité or FDS)): Army of Burkina Faso, Air Force of Burkina Faso, National Gendarmerie, National Fire Brigade (Brigade Nationale de Sapeurs-Pompiers or BNSP); Homeland Defense Volunteers (Forcés de Volontaires de Défense pour la Patrie or VDP) Ministry of Territorial Administration, Decentralization and Security (Ministère de l'Administration Territoriale, de la Décentralisation et de la Sécurité): National Police of Burkina Faso (includes Border Police, Judicial Police, and Intervention Units, as well as State and Public Security forces) (2025)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2024: 4.5% of GDP (2024 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2023: 4% of GDP (2023 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2022: 2.9% of GDP (2022 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2021: 2.4% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2020: 2.4% of GDP (2020 est.)
Military and security service personnel strengths: estimated 20,000 Armed Forces; estimated 50,000 Homeland Defense Volunteers (2025)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the FABF has a mix of older and some modern armaments from a variety of suppliers, including China, Egypt, France, Russia, South Africa, T&uuml;rkiye, the UK, and the UAE (2025)
Military service age and obligation: generally, 18-35 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women; citizens 18-77 years of age are eligible to volunteer for the VDP (2025)
Military - note: the Armed Forces of Burkina Faso (FABF) are responsible for external defense but also have an internal security role and can be called out to assist internal security forces in restoring public order, combating crime, securing the border, and conducting counterterrorism/counterinsurgency/internal defense operations; the FABF has a history of involvement in the country’s politics, having conducted eight coups since its formation in 1960-61, including the most recent in September 2022 the FABF's primary focus is combatting militants of the al-Qa'ida and Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS) terrorist groups, which have operated in Burkina Faso for more than a decade and control portions of the country; Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM), a coalition of al-Qa'ida linked militant groups that act as al-Qa'ida in the Land of the Islamic Magreb's (AQIM) arm in the Sahel, is strongest in the north but active in nearly all of the country's 13 provinces, while ISIS in the Greater Sahara (aka ISIS-Sahel) operates in the eastern part of the country (2025)

## Terrorism
Terrorist group(s): Ansarul Islam; Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham in the Greater Sahara (ISIS-GS); al-Mulathamun Battalion (al-Mourabitoun); Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM)

## Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons / refugees: 41,408 (2024 est.)
Refugees and internally displaced persons / IDPs: 2,065,358 (2024 est.)
Trafficking in persons / tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List — the government did not demonstrate overall increasing efforts to eliminate trafficking compared with the previous reporting period, therefore Burkina Faso remained on Tier 2 Watch List for the second consecutive year; for more details, go to: https://www.state.gov/reports/2025-trafficking-in-persons-report/burkina-faso/

=== Namibia ===

## Introduction
Background: Various ethnic groups occupied southwestern Africa prior to Germany establishing a colony over most of the territory in 1884. South Africa occupied the colony, then known as German South West Africa, in 1915 during World War I and administered it as a mandate until after World War II, when it annexed the territory. In 1966, the Marxist South-West Africa People's Organization (SWAPO) guerrilla group launched a war of independence for the area that became Namibia, but it was not until 1988 that South Africa agreed to end its administration in accordance with a UN peace plan for the entire region. Namibia gained independence in 1990, and SWAPO has governed it since, although the party has dropped much of its Marxist ideology. President Hage GEINGOB was elected in 2014 in a landslide victory, replacing Hifikepunye POHAMBA, who stepped down after serving two terms. SWAPO retained its parliamentary super majority in the 2014 elections. In 2019 elections, GEINGOB was reelected but by a substantially reduced majority, and SWAPO narrowly lost its super majority in parliament.

## Geography
Location: Southern Africa, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, between Angola and South Africa
Geographic coordinates: 22 00 S, 17 00 E
Map references: Africa
Area / total: 824,292 sq km
Area / land: 823,290 sq km
Area / water: 1,002 sq km
Area - comparative: almost seven times the size of Pennsylvania; slightly more than half the size of Alaska
Land boundaries / total: 4,220 km
Land boundaries / border countries: Angola 1,427 km; Botswana 1,544 km; South Africa 1,005 km; Zambia 244 km
Coastline: 1,572 km
Maritime claims / territorial sea: 12 nm
Maritime claims / contiguous zone: 24 nm
Maritime claims / exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate: desert; hot, dry; rainfall sparse and erratic
Terrain: mostly high plateau; Namib Desert along coast; Kalahari Desert in east
Elevation / highest point: Konigstein on Brandberg 2,573 m
Elevation / lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
Elevation / mean elevation: 1,141 m
Natural resources: diamonds, copper, uranium, gold, silver, lead, tin, lithium, cadmium, tungsten, zinc, salt, hydropower, fish
Land use / agricultural land: 47.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 1% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 0% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 46.2% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 9.8% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 43.1% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land: 80 sq km (2012)
Major rivers (by length in km): Zambezi (shared with Zambia [s]), Angola, Botswana, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique [m]) - 2,740 km; Orange river mouth (shared with Lesotho [s], and South Africa) - 2,092 km; Okavango (shared with Angola [s], and Botswana [m]) - 1,600 km note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Major watersheds (area sq km) / Atlantic Ocean drainage: Orange (941,351 sq km)
Major watersheds (area sq km) / Indian Ocean drainage: Zambezi (1,332,412 sq km)
Major watersheds (area sq km) / Internal (endorheic basin) drainage: Okavango Basin (863,866 sq km)
Major aquifers: Lower Kalahari-Stampriet Basin, Upper Kalahari-Cuvelai-Upper Zambezi Basin
Population distribution: population density is very low, with the largest clusters found in the extreme north-central area along the border with Angola, as shown in this population distribution map
Natural hazards: prolonged periods of drought
Geography - note: the Namib Desert, after which the country is named, is considered to be the oldest desert in the world; some 14% of the land is protected, including virtually the entire Namib Desert coastal strip

## People and Society
Population / total: 2,852,777 (2025 est.)
Population / male: 1,402,136
Population / female: 1,450,641
Nationality / noun: Namibian(s)
Nationality / adjective: Namibian
Ethnic groups: Ovambo 50%, Kavangos 9%, Herero 7%, Damara 7%, mixed European and African ancestry 6.5%, European 6%, Nama 5%, Caprivian 4%, San 3%, Baster 2%, Tswana 0.5%
Languages: Oshiwambo languages 49.7%, Nama/Damara 11%, Kavango languages 10.4%, Afrikaans 9.4%, Herero languages 9.2%, Zambezi languages 4.9%, English (official) 2.3%, other African languages 1.5%, other European languages 0.7%, other 1% (2016 est.)
Religions: Christian 97.5%, other 0.6% (includes Muslim, Baha'i, Jewish, Buddhist), unaffiliated 1.9% (2020 est.)
Age structure / 0-14 years: 34.1% (male 482,790/female 473,306)
Age structure / 15-64 years: 62% (male 846,810/female 890,099)
Age structure / 65 years and over: 3.9% (2024 est.) (male 47,686/female 62,969)
Dependency ratios / total dependency ratio: 60.5 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / youth dependency ratio: 54 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / elderly dependency ratio: 6.5 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / potential support ratio: 15.5 (2025 est.)
Median age / total: 23.1 years (2025 est.)
Median age / male: 22.1 years
Median age / female: 23.5 years
Population growth rate: 1.76% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 23.93 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 6.36 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution: population density is very low, with the largest clusters found in the extreme north-central area along the border with Angola, as shown in this population distribution map
Urbanization / urban population: 54.9% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 3.64% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 477,000 WINDHOEK (capital) (2023)
Sex ratio / at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 0-14 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 65 years and over: 0.76 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth: 21.6 years (2013 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio: 139 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Infant mortality rate / total: 27.1 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Infant mortality rate / male: 31 deaths/1,000 live births
Infant mortality rate / female: 24.7 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth / total population: 65.9 years (2024 est.)
Life expectancy at birth / male: 64.2 years
Life expectancy at birth / female: 67.6 years
Total fertility rate: 2.85 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 1.4 (2025 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: urban: urban: 96.2% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: rural: rural: 73.8% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: total: total: 85.9% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: urban: urban: 3.8% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: rural: rural: 26.2% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: total: total: 14.1% of population (2022 est.)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 9.4% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 11.7% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density: 0.55 physicians/1,000 population (2022)
Sanitation facility access / improved: urban: urban: 70.6% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: rural: rural: 23.6% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: total: total: 49% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: urban: urban: 29.4% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: rural: rural: 76.4% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: total: total: 51% of population (2022 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 17.2% (2016)
Alcohol consumption per capita / total: 2.38 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / beer: 1.37 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / wine: 0.16 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / spirits: 0.53 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / other alcohols: 0.32 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Tobacco use / total: 11.8% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / male: 20.5% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / female: 3.9% (2025 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49): 33.7% (2018 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% GDP): 9.1% of GDP (2024 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% national budget): 24.6% national budget (2025 est.)
Literacy / total population: 87.6% (2023 est.)
Literacy / male: 87.9% (2023 est.)
Literacy / female: 87.4% (2023 est.)

## Environment
Environmental issues: depletion and degradation of water and aquatic resources; desertification; land degradation; loss of biodiversity; wildlife poaching
International environmental agreements / party to: Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
International environmental agreements / signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Climate: desert; hot, dry; rainfall sparse and erratic
Land use / agricultural land: 47.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 1% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 0% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 46.2% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 9.8% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 43.1% (2023 est.)
Urbanization / urban population: 54.9% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 3.64% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / total emissions: 3.46 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from coal and metallurgical coke: 48,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from petroleum and other liquids: 3.412 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Particulate matter emissions: 11.8 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Methane emissions / energy: 2.1 kt (2022-2024 est.)
Methane emissions / agriculture: 193.6 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Methane emissions / waste: 13.7 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Methane emissions / other: 0.9 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Waste and recycling / municipal solid waste generated annually: 256,700 tons (2024 est.)
Waste and recycling / percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 19.6% (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / municipal: 61.568 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / industrial: 18.61 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / agricultural: 201 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total renewable water resources: 39.91 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: Republic of Namibia
Country name / conventional short form: Namibia
Country name / local long form: Republic of Namibia
Country name / local short form: Namibia
Country name / former: German South-West Africa (Deutsch-Suedwestafrika), South-West Africa
Country name / etymology: named for the coastal Namib Desert; the word namib comes from the local Nama language and means "an area where there is nothing"
Government type: presidential republic
Capital / name: Windhoek
Capital / geographic coordinates: 22 34 S, 17 05 E
Capital / time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Capital / etymology: the name is an Afrikaans word meaning "windy corner;" a local Khoikhoin chief first used the name in the 19th century and may have derived it from the name of his childhood South African village of Winterhoek
Administrative divisions: 14 regions; Erongo, Hardap, //Karas, Kavango East, Kavango West, Khomas, Kunene, Ohangwena, Omaheke, Omusati, Oshana, Oshikoto, Otjozondjupa, Zambezi
Legal system: mixed system of uncodified civil law based on Roman-Dutch law and customary law
Constitution / history: adopted 9 February 1990, entered into force 21 March 1990
Constitution / amendment process: passage requires majority vote of the National Assembly membership and of the National Council of Parliament and assent of the president of the republic; if the National Council fails to pass an amendment, the president can call for a referendum; passage by referendum requires two-thirds majority of votes cast; amendments that detract from or repeal constitutional articles on fundamental rights and freedoms cannot be amended, and the requisite majorities needed by Parliament to amend the constitution cannot be changed
International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Citizenship / citizenship by birth: no
Citizenship / citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Namibia
Citizenship / dual citizenship recognized: no
Citizenship / residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch / chief of state: President Netumbo NANDI-NDAITWAH (since 21 March 2025)
Executive branch / head of government: President Netumbo NANDI-NDAITWAH (since 21 March 2025)
Executive branch / cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president from among members of the National Assembly
Executive branch / election/appointment process: president directly elected by absolute-majority popular vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term)
Executive branch / most recent election date: 27 November 2024
Executive branch / election results: 2024: Netumbo NANDI-NDAITWAH elected president in the first round; percent of vote -Netumbo NANDI-NDAITWAH (SWAPO) 57%, Panduleni ITULA (IPC) 26%, McHenry VENAANI (PDM) 5.10%, Bernadus SWARTBOOI (LPM) 4.72%, Job AMUPANDA (AR) 1.80%, Hendrik GAOBEAB (UDF) 1.16%; other 3.31% 2019: Hage GEINGOB reelected president in the first round; percent of vote - Hage GEINGOB (SWAPO) 56.3%, Panduleni ITULA (independent) 29.4%, McHenry VENAANI (PDM) 5.3%, other .9%
Executive branch / expected date of next election: November 2029
Legislative branch / legislature name: Parliament
Legislative branch / legislative structure: bicameral
Legislative branch - lower chamber / chamber name: National Assembly
Legislative branch - lower chamber / number of seats: 104 (96 directly elected; 8 appointed)
Legislative branch - lower chamber / electoral system: proportional representation
Legislative branch - lower chamber / scope of elections: full renewal
Legislative branch - lower chamber / term in office: 5 years
Legislative branch - lower chamber / most recent election date: 11/27/2024 to 11/30/2024
Legislative branch - lower chamber / parties elected and seats per party: SWAPO Party (51); Independent Patriots of Change (IPC) (20); Affirmative Repositioning (AR) (6); Landless People's Movement (LPM) (5); Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) (5); Other (9)
Legislative branch - lower chamber / percentage of women in chamber: 42.3%
Legislative branch - lower chamber / expected date of next election: November 2029
Legislative branch - upper chamber / chamber name: National Council
Legislative branch - upper chamber / number of seats: 42 (all indirectly elected)
Legislative branch - upper chamber / electoral system: proportional representation
Legislative branch - upper chamber / term in office: 5 years
Legislative branch - upper chamber / most recent election date: 12/15/2020
Legislative branch - upper chamber / percentage of women in chamber: 14.3%
Legislative branch - upper chamber / expected date of next election: December 2025
Judicial branch / highest court(s): Supreme Court (consists of the chief justice and at least 3 judges in quorum sessions)
Judicial branch / judge selection and term of office: judges appointed by the president of Namibia on the recommendation of the Judicial Service Commission; judges serve until age 65, but terms can be extended by the president until age 70
Judicial branch / subordinate courts: High Court; Electoral Court, Labor Court; regional and district magistrates' courts; community courts
Political parties: All People's Party or APP Christian Democratic Voice or CDV Landless People's Movement or LPM National Unity Democratic Organization or NUDO Namibian Economic Freedom Fighters or NEFF Popular Democratic Movement or PDM (formerly Democratic Turnhalle Alliance or DTA) Rally for Democracy and Progress or RDP Republican Party or RP South West Africa National Union or SWANU South West Africa People's Organization or SWAPO United Democratic Front or UDF United People's Movement or UPM
Diplomatic representation in the US / chief of mission: Ambassador Wilbard HELLAO (since 16 December 2025)
Diplomatic representation in the US / chancery: 1605 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009
Diplomatic representation in the US / telephone: [1] (202) 986-0540
Diplomatic representation in the US / FAX: [1] (202) 986-0443
Diplomatic representation in the US / email address and website: info@namibiaembassyusa.org https://namibiaembassyusa.org/
Diplomatic representation from the US / chief of mission: Ambassador John GIORDANO (since 29 October 2025)
Diplomatic representation from the US / embassy: 38 Metje Street, Klein Windhoek, Windhoek
Diplomatic representation from the US / mailing address: 2540 Windhoek Place, Washington DC 20521-2540
Diplomatic representation from the US / telephone: [264] (61) 202-5000
Diplomatic representation from the US / FAX: [264] (61) 202-5219
Diplomatic representation from the US / email address and website: ConsularWindhoek@state.gov https://na.usembassy.gov/
International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, AU, C, CD, CPLP (associate observer), FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NAM, OPCW, SACU, SADC, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNHRC, UNIDO, UNISFA, UNMIL, UNMISS, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Independence: 21 March 1990 (from South African mandate)
National holiday: Independence Day, 21 March (1990)
Flag: description: a wide red stripe edged with narrow white stripes divides the flag diagonally from lower-left corner to upper-right corner; the upper triangle is blue and has a golden-yellow, 12-ray sunburst, and the lower triangle is green meaning: red stands for the heroism of the people and their determination to build a future of equal opportunity; white stands for peace, unity, tranquility, and harmony; blue stands for the sky and the Atlantic Ocean, the sun for power and existence, and green for vegetation and agricultural resources
National symbol(s): oryx (antelope)
National color(s): blue, red, green, white, yellow
National anthem(s) / title: "Namibia, Land of the Brave"
National anthem(s) / lyrics/music: Axali DOESEB
National anthem(s) / history: adopted 1991
National heritage / total World Heritage Sites: 2 (1 cultural, 1 natural)
National heritage / selected World Heritage Site locales: Twyfelfontein or /Ui-//aes (c); Namib Sand Sea (n)

## Economy
Economic overview: upper middle-income, export-driven Sub-Saharan economy; natural resource rich; Walvis Bay port expansion for trade; high potential for renewable power generation and energy independence; major nature-based tourist locale; natural resource rich; shortage of skilled labor
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $31.154 billion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $30.039 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $28.761 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2024: 3.7% (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2023: 4.4% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2022: 5.4% (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2024: $10,300 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2023: $10,100 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2022: $10,000 (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $13.372 billion (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024: 4.2% (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023: 5.9% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 6.1% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / agriculture: 7.3% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / industry: 28.9% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / services: 54.5% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / household consumption: 79.3% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / government consumption: 21.5% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in fixed capital: 23.7% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in inventories: 1.9% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / exports of goods and services: 41.6% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / imports of goods and services: -68% (2024 est.)
Agricultural products: root vegetables, milk, maize, beef, grapes, onions, wheat, fruits, pulses, vegetables (2023)
Industries: mining, tourism, fishing, agriculture
Industrial production growth rate: 1% (2024 est.)
Labor force: 1.131 million (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2024: 19.2% (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2023: 19.4% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2022: 19.7% (2022 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / total: 37.3% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / male: 36.7% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / female: 38% (2024 est.)
Population below poverty line: 17.4% (2015 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income / Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2015: 59.1 (2015 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / lowest 10%: 1% (2015 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / highest 10%: 47.2% (2015 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2024: 1.1% of GDP (2024 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2023: 1% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2022: 0.7% of GDP (2022 est.)
Budget / revenues: $4.415 billion (2023 est.)
Budget / expenditures: $4.779 billion (2023 est.)
Public debt / Public debt 2019: 4.64% of GDP (2019 est.)
Taxes and other revenues: 33% (of GDP) (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2024: -$2.055 billion (2024 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2023: -$1.893 billion (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2022: -$1.605 billion (2022 est.)
Exports / Exports 2024: $5.887 billion (2024 est.)
Exports / Exports 2023: $5.729 billion (2023 est.)
Exports / Exports 2022: $5.361 billion (2022 est.)
Exports - partners: South Africa 27%, China 12%, Botswana 8%, Belgium 7%, France 5% (2023)
Exports - commodities: gold, diamonds, radioactive chemicals, fish, refined petroleum (2023)
Imports / Imports 2024: $9.199 billion (2024 est.)
Imports / Imports 2023: $8.443 billion (2023 est.)
Imports / Imports 2022: $7.43 billion (2022 est.)
Imports - partners: South Africa 36%, China 9%, India 7%, UAE 4%, USA 3% (2023)
Imports - commodities: refined petroleum, copper ore, ships, electricity, trucks (2023)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024: $3.356 billion (2024 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023: $2.956 billion (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $2.803 billion (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Currency: Namibian dollars (NAD) per US dollar -
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2024: 18.329 (2024 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2023: 18.446 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2022: 16.356 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2021: 14.779 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2020: 16.463 (2020 est.)

## Energy
Electricity access / electrification - total population: 56.2% (2022 est.)
Electricity access / electrification - urban areas: 74.8%
Electricity access / electrification - rural areas: 33.2%
Electricity / installed generating capacity: 646,000 kW (2023 est.)
Electricity / consumption: 3.891 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / exports: 169 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / imports: 2.917 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / transmission/distribution losses: 747.409 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / fossil fuels: 1.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / solar: 26.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / wind: 1.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / hydroelectricity: 70% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Coal / consumption: 24,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / exports: 900 metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / imports: 26,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / proven reserves: 350 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum / refined petroleum consumption: 23,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Natural gas / proven reserves: 62.297 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)
Energy consumption per capita / Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 21.734 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

## Communications
Telephones - fixed lines / total subscriptions: 81,000 (2023 est.)
Telephones - fixed lines / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 3 (2023 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / total subscriptions: 2.58 million (2024 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 85 (2024 est.)
Broadcast media: 1 private and 1 state-run TV station; satellite and cable TV service available; state-run radio broadcasts in multiple languages; about a dozen private radio stations; transmissions of multiple international broadcasters available
Internet country code: .na
Internet users / percent of population: 64% (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / total: 104,000 (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 4 (2023 est.)

## Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: V5
Airports: 259 (2025)
Heliports: 1 (2025)
Railways / total: 2,628 km (2014)
Railways / narrow gauge: 2,628 km (2014) 1.067-m gauge
Merchant marine / total: 15 (2023)
Merchant marine / by type: general cargo 1, other 14
Ports / total ports: 2 (2024)
Ports / large: 0
Ports / medium: 0
Ports / small: 2
Ports / very small: 0
Ports / ports with oil terminals: 2
Ports / key ports: Luderitz Bay, Walvis Bay

## Military and Security
Military and security forces: Namibian Defense Force (NDF): Namibian Army, Namibian Navy, Namibian Air Force (2025)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2024: 2.8% of GDP (2024 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2023: 2.8% of GDP (2023 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2022: 3% of GDP (2022 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2021: 3% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2020: 3.4% of GDP (2020 est.)
Military and security service personnel strengths: estimated 12,000 active Namibian Defense Forces (2025)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the NDF's inventory consists mostly of Soviet-era weapons and equipment; over the past decade, it has received a limited number of newer weapons systems from China and South Africa; Namibia has a small defense industry that produces items such as armored personnel carriers (2025)
Military service age and obligation: 18-25 years of age for men and women for voluntary military service; no conscription (2026)
Military - note: the NDF’s primary responsibility is defending Namibia's territorial integrity and national interests; other responsibilities include support to civil authorities and participating in peace and stability missions under the African Union, Southern African Development Community, and the UN; Namibia has bilateral defense ties with several countries, including Botswana, India, South Africa, Tanzania, and Zambia the NDF was created in 1990, largely from demobilized former members of the People's Liberation Army of Namibia (PLAN) and the South West Africa Territorial Force (SWATF); the PLAN was the armed wing of the South West Africa People’s Organization (SWAPO), while SWATF was an auxiliary of the South African Defense Force and comprised the armed forces of the former South West Africa, 1977-1989; from 1990-1995, the British military assisted with the forming and training the NDF (2025)

## Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons / refugees: 6,575 (2024 est.)
Refugees and internally displaced persons / IDPs: 1,399 (2024 est.)
Refugees and internally displaced persons / stateless persons: 14,796 (2024 est.)

=== Western Sahara ===

## Introduction
Background: Western Sahara is a non-self-governing territory on the northwest coast of Africa bordered by Morocco, Mauritania, and Algeria. After Spain withdrew from its former colony of Spanish Sahara in 1976, Morocco annexed the northern two-thirds of Western Sahara and claimed the rest of the territory in 1979, following Mauritania's withdrawal. A guerrilla war with the Polisario Front contesting Morocco's sovereignty ended in a 1991 cease-fire and the establishment of a UN peacekeeping operation. As part of this effort, the UN sought to offer a choice to the peoples of Western Sahara between independence (favored by the Polisario Front) or integration into Morocco. A proposed referendum on the question of independence never took place due to lack of agreement on voter eligibility. The approximately 1,600 km- (almost 1,000 mi-) long defensive sand berm, built by the Moroccans from 1980 to 1987 and running the length of the territory, continues to separate the opposing forces, with Morocco controlling the roughly three-quarters of the territory west of the berm. There are periodic ethnic tensions between the native Sahrawi population and Moroccan immigrants. Morocco maintains a heavy security presence in the territory. The UN revived direct talks about the territory between Morocco, the Polisario Front, Algeria, and Mauritania in December 2018.

## Geography
Location: Northern Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Mauritania and Morocco
Geographic coordinates: 24 30 N, 13 00 W
Map references: Africa
Area / total: 266,000 sq km
Area / land: 266,000 sq km
Area / water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative: about the size of Colorado
Land boundaries / total: 2,049 km
Land boundaries / border countries: Algeria 41 km, Mauritania 1564 km, Morocco 444 km
Coastline: 1,110 km
Climate: hot, dry desert; rain is rare; cold offshore air currents produce fog and heavy dew
Terrain: mostly low, flat desert with large areas of rocky or sandy surfaces rising to small mountains in south and northeast
Elevation / mean elevation: 256 m
Elevation / lowest point: Sebjet Tah -55 m
Elevation / highest point: unnamed elevation 805 m
Natural resources: phosphates, iron ore
Land use / agricultural land: 18.8% (2011 est.)
Land use / arable land / permanent crops / permanent pasture: 0% (2011 est.) / 0% (2011 est.) / 18.8% (2011 est.)
Land use / forest: 2.7% (2011 est.)
Land use / other: 78.5% (2011 est.)
Irrigated land: 0 sq km (2012)
Population distribution: most of the population lives in the two-thirds of the area west of the berm (Moroccan-occupied) that divides the territory; about 40% of that populace resides in Laayoune as shown in this population distribution map
Natural hazards: hot, dry, dust/sand-laden sirocco wind can occur during winter and spring; widespread harmattan haze exists 60% of time, often severely restricting visibility
Environment - current issues: desertification; overgrazing; sparse water and lack of arable land
Geography - note: the waters off the coast are particularly rich fishing areas

## People and Society
Population: 652,271 (July 2020 est.)
Nationality / noun: Sahrawi(s), Sahraoui(s)
Nationality / adjective: Sahrawi, Sahrawian, Sahraouian
Ethnic groups: Arab, Berber
Languages: Standard Arabic, Hassaniya Arabic, Moroccan Arabic, Berber, Spanish, French
Religions: Muslim
Demographic profile: Western Sahara is a non-self governing territory; approximately 75% is under Moroccan control. It was inhabited almost entirely by Sahrawi pastoral nomads until the mid-20th century. Their traditional vast migratory ranges, based on following unpredictable rainfall, did not coincide with colonial and later international borders. Since the 1930s, most Sahrawis have been compelled to adopt a sedentary lifestyle and to live in urban settings as a result of fighting, the presence of minefields, job opportunities in the phosphate industry, prolonged drought, the closure of Western Sahara's border with Mauritania from 1979-2002, and the construction of the defensive berm separating Moroccan- and Polisario-controlled (Sahrawi liberalization movement) areas. Morocco supported rapid urbanization to facilitate surveillance and security. ++ Today more than 80% of Western Sahara's population lives in urban areas; more than 40% live in the administrative center Laayoune. Moroccan immigration has altered the composition and dramatically increased the size of Western Sahara's population. Morocco maintains a large military presence in Western Sahara and has encouraged its citizens to settle there, offering bonuses, pay raises, and food subsidies to civil servants and a tax exemption, in order to integrate Western Sahara into the Moroccan Kingdom and, Sahrawis contend, to marginalize the native population. ++ Western Saharan Sahrawis have been migrating to Europe, principally to former colonial ruler Spain, since the 1950s. Many who moved to refugee camps in Tindouf, Algeria, also have migrated to Spain and Italy, usually alternating between living in cities abroad with periods back at the camps. The Polisario claims that the population of the Tindouf camps is about 155,000, but this figure may include thousands of Arabs and Tuaregs from neighboring countries. Because international organizations have been unable to conduct an independent census in Tindouf, the UNHCR bases its aid on a figure of 90,000 refugees. Western Saharan coastal towns emerged as key migration transit points (for reaching Spain's Canary Islands) in the mid-1990s, when Spain's and Italy's tightening of visa restrictions and EU pressure on Morocco and other North African countries to control illegal migration pushed Sub-Saharan African migrants to shift their routes to the south.
Age structure / 0-14 years: 36.29% (male 119,719/female 116,997)
Age structure / 15-24 years: 19.44% (male 63,852/female 62,954)
Age structure / 25-54 years: 34.9% (male 112,301/female 115,313)
Age structure / 55-64 years: 5.27% (male 16,095/female 18,292)
Age structure / 65 years and over: 4.1% (male 11,802/female 14,946) (2020 est.)
Dependency ratios / total dependency ratio: 44.1
Dependency ratios / youth dependency ratio: 39.2
Dependency ratios / elderly dependency ratio: 4.9
Dependency ratios / potential support ratio: 20.4 (2020 est.)
Median age / total: 21.8 years
Median age / male: 21.4 years
Median age / female: 22.3 years (2020 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.54% (2020 est.)
Birth rate: 28 births/1,000 population (2020 est.)
Death rate: 7.7 deaths/1,000 population (2020 est.)
Net migration rate: 4.9 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2020 est.)
Population distribution: most of the population lives in the two-thirds of the area west of the berm (Moroccan-occupied) that divides the territory; about 40% of that populace resides in Laayoune as shown in this population distribution map
Urbanization / urban population: 86.8% of total population (2020)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 2.61% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 232,000 Laayoune (2018)
Sex ratio / at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 0-14 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 15-24 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 25-54 years: 0.97 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 55-64 years: 0.88 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 65 years and over: 0.79 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2020 est.)
Infant mortality rate / total: 47.9 deaths/1,000 live births
Infant mortality rate / male: 52.5 deaths/1,000 live births
Infant mortality rate / female: 43.1 deaths/1,000 live births (2020 est.)
Life expectancy at birth / total population: 64.5 years
Life expectancy at birth / male: 62.1 years
Life expectancy at birth / female: 67 years (2020 est.)
Total fertility rate: 3.65 children born/woman (2020 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths: NA
Education expenditures: NA

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: none
Country name / conventional short form: Western Sahara
Country name / former: Rio de Oro, Saguia el Hamra, Spanish Sahara
Country name / etymology: self-descriptive name specifying the territory's western location on the African continent's vast desert
Government type: legal status of territory and issue of sovereignty unresolved; territory contested by Morocco and Polisario Front (Popular Front for the Liberation of the Saguia el Hamra and Rio de Oro), which in February 1976 formally proclaimed a government-in-exile of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR), near Tindouf, Algeria, led by President Mohamed ABDELAZIZ until his death in May 2016; current President Brahim GHALI elected in July 2016; territory partitioned between Morocco and Mauritania in April 1976 when Spain withdrew, with Morocco acquiring northern two-thirds; Mauritania, under pressure from Polisario guerrillas, abandoned all claims to its portion in August 1979; Morocco moved to occupy that sector shortly thereafter and has since asserted administrative control; the Polisario's government-in-exile was seated as an Organization of African Unity (OAU) member in 1984; Morocco between 1980 and 1987 built a fortified sand berm delineating the roughly 75% of Western Sahara west of the barrier that currently is controlled by Morocco; guerrilla activities continued sporadically until a UN-monitored cease-fire was implemented on 6 September 1991 (Security Council Resolution 690) by the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO)
Capital / time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Capital / daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October
Administrative divisions: none officially; the territory west of the Moroccan berm falls under de facto Moroccan control; Morocco claims the territory of Western Sahara, the political status of which is considered undetermined by the US Government; portions of the regions Guelmim-Es Smara and Laayoune-Boujdour-Sakia El Hamra, as claimed by Morocco, lie within Western Sahara; Morocco also claims Oued Eddahab-Lagouira, another region that falls entirely within Western Sahara
Suffrage: none; (residents of Moroccan-controlled Western Sahara participate in Moroccan elections)
International organization participation: AU, WFTU (NGOs)

## Economy
Economic overview: Western Sahara has a small market-based economy whose main industries are fishing, phosphate mining, tourism, and pastoral nomadism. The territory's arid desert climate makes sedentary agriculture difficult, and much of its food is imported. The Moroccan Government administers Western Sahara's economy and is a key source of employment, infrastructure development, and social spending in the territory. ++ Western Sahara's unresolved legal status makes the exploitation of its natural resources a contentious issue between Morocco and the Polisario. Morocco and the EU in December 2013 finalized a four-year agreement allowing European vessels to fish off the coast of Morocco, including disputed waters off the coast of Western Sahara. As of April 2018, Moroccan and EU authorities were negotiating an amendment to renew the agreement. ++ Oil has never been found in Western Sahara in commercially significant quantities, but Morocco and the Polisario have quarreled over rights to authorize and benefit from oil exploration in the territory. Western Sahara's main long-term economic challenge is the development of a more diverse set of industries capable of providing greater employment and income to the territory. However, following King MOHAMMED VI's November 2015 visit to Western Sahara, the Government of Morocco announced a series of investments aimed at spurring economic activity in the region, while the General Confederation of Moroccan Enterprises announced a $609 million investment initiative in the region in March 2015.
GDP (purchasing power parity) - real: $906.5 million (2007 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): NA
GDP - per capita (PPP): $2,500 (2007 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / agriculture: NA (2007 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / industry: NA (2007 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / services: 40% (2007 est.)
Agriculture - products: fruits and vegetables (grown in the few oases); camels, sheep, goats (kept by nomads); fish
Industries: phosphate mining, handicrafts
Industrial production growth rate: NA
Labor force: 144,000 (2010 est.)
Labor force - by occupation / agriculture: 50%
Labor force - by occupation / industry: 50%
Labor force - by occupation / industry and services: 50% (2005 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA
Household income or consumption by percentage share / lowest 10%: NA
Household income or consumption by percentage share / highest 10%: NA
Budget / revenues: NA
Budget / expenditures: NA
Taxes and other revenues: NA
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-): NA
Fiscal year: calendar year
Exports - commodities: phosphates 62% (2012 est.)
Imports - commodities: fuel for fishing fleet, foodstuffs
Exchange rates: Moroccan dirhams (MAD) per US dollar - / 9.639 (2017 est.) / 9.7351 (2016 est.) / 9.7351 (2015) / 9.7351 (2014 est.) / 8.3798 (2013 est.)

## Energy
Electricity - production: 0 kWh NA (2016 est.)
Electricity - consumption: 0 kWh (2016 est.)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (2016 est.)
Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (2016 est.)
Electricity - installed generating capacity: 58,000 kW (2016 est.)
Electricity - from fossil fuels: 100% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)
Electricity - from nuclear fuels: 0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
Electricity - from hydroelectric plants: 0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
Electricity - from other renewable sources: 0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
Crude oil - production: 0 bbl/day (2018 est.)
Crude oil - exports: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Crude oil - imports: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Crude oil - proved reserves: 0 bbl (1 January 2018 est.)
Refined petroleum products - production: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Refined petroleum products - consumption: 1,700 bbl/day (2016 est.)
Refined petroleum products - exports: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Refined petroleum products - imports: 1,702 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Natural gas - production: 0 cu m (2017 est.)
Natural gas - consumption: 0 cu m (2017 est.)
Natural gas - exports: 0 cu m (2017 est.)
Natural gas - imports: 0 cu m (2017 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves: 0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy: 268,400 Mt (2017 est.)

## Communications
Telecommunication systems / general assessment: sparse and limited system
Telecommunication systems / international: country code - 212; tied into Morocco's system by microwave radio relay, tropospheric scatter, and satellite; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) linked to Rabat, Morocco
Broadcast media: Morocco's state-owned broadcaster, Radio-Television Marocaine (RTM), operates a radio service from Laayoune and relays TV service; a Polisario-backed radio station also broadcasts
Internet country code: .eh

## Transportation
Airports: 6 (2013)
Airports - with paved runways / total: 3 (2019)
Airports - with paved runways / 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3
Airports - with unpaved runways / total: 3 (2013)
Airports - with unpaved runways / 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2013)
Airports - with unpaved runways / 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2013)
Airports - with unpaved runways / under 914 m: 1 (2013)
Ports and terminals / major seaport(s): Ad Dakhla, Laayoune (El Aaiun)

## Military and Security
Military - note: the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) has operated in the Western Sahara since 1991 in accordance with settlement proposals accepted in 1988 by Morocco and the Frente Popular para la Liberación de Saguia el-Hamra y de Río de Oro (Frente POLISARIO); the Mission's responsibilities include monitoring the ceasefire, reducing the threat of mines and unexploded ordnance, and providing logistic support to the UNHCR-led Confidence Building Measures pending an agreement to resume those activities, which were suspended in June 2014; as of November 2019, MINURSO had about 460 personnel deployed ++

## Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: ++ many neighboring states reject Moroccan administration of Western Sahara; several states have extended diplomatic relations to the "Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic" represented by the Polisario Front in exile in Algeria, while others support Morocco's proposal to grant the territory autonomy as part of Morocco, although no state recognizes Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara; an estimated 100,000 Sahrawi refugees continue to be sheltered in camps in Tindouf, Algeria, which has hosted Sahrawi refugees since the 1980s

=== Eswatini ===

## Introduction
Background: A Swazi kingdom was founded in the mid-18th century and ruled by a series of kings, including MSWATI II, a 19th century ruler whose name was adopted for the country and its predominant ethnic group. European countries defined the kingdom’s modern borders during the late-19th century, and Swaziland (as it became known) was administered as a UK high commission territory from 1903 until its independence in 1968. A new constitution that came into effect in 2005 included provisions for a more independent parliament and judiciary, but the legal status of political parties remains unclear, and the kingdom is still considered an absolute monarchy. King MSWATI III renamed the country from Swaziland to Eswatini in 2018 to reflect the name most commonly used by its citizens. In 2021, MSWATI III used security forces to suppress prodemocracy protests. A national dialogue and reconciliation process agreed to in the wake of violence has not materialized. In November 2023, King MSWATI III appointed a new prime minister following peaceful national elections. Despite its classification as a lower-middle income country, Eswatini suffers from severe poverty, corruption, and high unemployment. Eswatini has the world's highest HIV/AIDS prevalence rate, although recent years have shown marked declines in new infections. Eswatini is the only country in Africa that recognizes Taiwan.

## Geography
Location: Southern Africa, between Mozambique and South Africa
Geographic coordinates: 26 30 S, 31 30 E
Map references: Africa
Area / total: 17,364 sq km
Area / land: 17,204 sq km
Area / water: 160 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly smaller than New Jersey
Land boundaries / total: 546 km
Land boundaries / border countries: Mozambique 108 km; South Africa 438 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
Climate: varies from tropical to near temperate
Terrain: mostly mountains and hills; some moderately sloping plains
Elevation / highest point: Emlembe 1,862 m
Elevation / lowest point: Great Usutu River 21 m
Elevation / mean elevation: 305 m
Natural resources: asbestos, coal, clay, cassiterite, hydropower, forests, small gold and diamond deposits, quarry stone, and talc
Land use / agricultural land: 69.5% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 10.3% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 1% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 58.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 25.4% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 5.2% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land: 500 sq km (2012)
Population distribution: because of its mountainous terrain, the population distribution is uneven throughout the country, concentrating primarily in valleys and plains as shown in this population distribution map
Natural hazards: drought
Geography - note: landlocked; almost completely surrounded by South Africa

## People and Society
Population / total: 1,137,268 (2025 est.)
Population / male: 557,204
Population / female: 580,064
Nationality / noun: liSwati (singular), emaSwati (plural); note - former term, Swazi(s), still used among English speakers
Nationality / adjective: Swati; note - former term, Swazi, still used among English speakers
Ethnic groups: predominantly Swazi; smaller populations of other African ethnic groups, including the Zulu, as well as people of European ancestry
Languages: English (official, used for government business), siSwati (official)
Religions: Christian 90% (Zionist - a blend of Christianity and traditional African religions - 40%, Roman Catholic 20%, other Christian 30% - includes Anglican, Methodist, Church of Jesus Christ, Jehovah's Witness), Muslim 2%, other 8% (includes Baha'i, Buddhist, Hindu, indigenous, Jewish) (2015 est.)
Age structure / 0-14 years: 31.6% (male 180,328/female 179,840)
Age structure / 15-64 years: 64.3% (male 341,298/female 390,884)
Age structure / 65 years and over: 4% (2024 est.) (male 16,974/female 28,765)
Dependency ratios / total dependency ratio: 52.2 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / youth dependency ratio: 44.7 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / elderly dependency ratio: 7.5 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / potential support ratio: 13.3 (2025 est.)
Median age / total: 24.8 years (2025 est.)
Median age / male: 23.4 years
Median age / female: 25.8 years
Population growth rate: 0.87% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 20.66 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 8.3 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: -3.68 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution: because of its mountainous terrain, the population distribution is uneven throughout the country, concentrating primarily in valleys and plains as shown in this population distribution map
Urbanization / urban population: 24.8% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 2.42% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 68,000 MBABANE (capital) (2018)
Sex ratio / at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 0-14 years: 1 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 15-64 years: 0.87 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 65 years and over: 0.59 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / total population: 0.9 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio: 118 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Infant mortality rate / total: 38 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Infant mortality rate / male: 40.7 deaths/1,000 live births
Infant mortality rate / female: 32.5 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth / total population: 60.7 years (2024 est.)
Life expectancy at birth / male: 58.7 years
Life expectancy at birth / female: 62.8 years
Total fertility rate: 2.64 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 1.3 (2025 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: urban: urban: 98% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: rural: rural: 65.5% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: total: total: 73.5% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: urban: urban: 2% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: rural: rural: 34.5% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: total: total: 26.5% of population (2022 est.)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 7% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 11.3% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density: 0.56 physicians/1,000 population (2023)
Sanitation facility access / improved: urban: urban: 92.4% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: rural: rural: 84.2% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: total: total: 86.2% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: urban: urban: 7.6% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: rural: rural: 15.8% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: total: total: 13.8% of population (2022 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 16.5% (2016)
Alcohol consumption per capita / total: 7.68 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / beer: 2.45 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / wine: 0.06 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / spirits: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / other alcohols: 5.17 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Tobacco use / total: 8.5% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / male: 16.1% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / female: 1.2% (2025 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 5% (2021 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49): 36.4% (2022 est.)
Child marriage / women married by age 15: 0.1% (2022)
Child marriage / women married by age 18: 1.9% (2022)
Child marriage / men married by age 18: 0% (2022)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% GDP): 6% of GDP (2024 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% national budget): 19.2% national budget (2025 est.)
Literacy / total population: 90.8% (2022 est.)
Literacy / male: 91.1% (2022 est.)
Literacy / female: 90.4% (2022 est.)

## Environment
Environmental issues: limited supplies of potable water; overhunting depleting wildlife; population growth, deforestation, and overgrazing lead to soil erosion and soil degradation
International environmental agreements / party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
International environmental agreements / signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Climate: varies from tropical to near temperate
Land use / agricultural land: 69.5% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 10.3% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 1% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 58.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 25.4% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 5.2% (2023 est.)
Urbanization / urban population: 24.8% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 2.42% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / total emissions: 1.326 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from coal and metallurgical coke: 410,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from petroleum and other liquids: 916,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Particulate matter emissions: 16.4 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Waste and recycling / municipal solid waste generated annually: 218,200 tons (2024 est.)
Waste and recycling / percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 17.3% (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / municipal: 41.3 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / industrial: 20.7 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / agricultural: 1.006 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total renewable water resources: 4.51 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: Kingdom of Eswatini
Country name / conventional short form: Eswatini
Country name / local long form: Umbuso weSwatini
Country name / local short form: eSwatini
Country name / former: Swaziland
Country name / etymology: the country name derives from 19th century King MSWATI II, under whose rule Swati territory was expanded and unified
Government type: absolute monarchy
Capital / name: Mbabane (administrative capital); Lobamba (royal and legislative capital)
Capital / geographic coordinates: 26 19 S, 31 08 E
Capital / time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Capital / etymology: the origin of the name is unclear; it may come from the Mbabane River next to the city, whose name is said to derive from the word lubabe , a type of shrub; another theory cites a local chief, Mbabane KUNENE, as the source of the name
Administrative divisions: 4 regions; Hhohho, Lubombo, Manzini, Shiselweni
Legal system: mixed system of civil, common, and customary law
Constitution / history: previous 1968, 1978; latest signed by the king 26 July 2005, effective 8 February 2006
Constitution / amendment process: proposed at a joint sitting of both houses of Parliament; passage requires majority vote by both houses and/or majority vote in a referendum, and assent of the king; passage of amendments affecting "specially entrenched" constitutional provisions requires at least three-fourths majority vote by both houses, passage by simple majority vote in a referendum, and assent of the king; passage of "entrenched" provisions requires at least two-thirds majority vote of both houses, passage in a referendum, and assent of the king
International law organization participation: accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; non-party state to the ICCt
Citizenship / citizenship by birth: no
Citizenship / citizenship by descent only: both parents must be citizens of Eswatini
Citizenship / dual citizenship recognized: no
Citizenship / residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years
Suffrage: 18 years of age
Executive branch / chief of state: King MSWATI III (since 25 April 1986)
Executive branch / head of government: Prime Minister Russell DLAMINI (since 6 November 2023)
Executive branch / cabinet: Cabinet recommended by the prime minister, confirmed by the monarch; at least one-half of the cabinet membership must be appointed from among elected members of the House of Assembly
Executive branch / election/appointment process: the monarchy is hereditary; prime minister appointed by the monarch from among members of the House of Assembly
Legislative branch / legislature name: Parliament (Libandla)
Legislative branch / legislative structure: bicameral
Legislative branch - lower chamber / chamber name: House of Assembly
Legislative branch - lower chamber / number of seats: 74 (59 directly elected; 4 indirectly elected; 10 appointed)
Legislative branch - lower chamber / electoral system: plurality/majority
Legislative branch - lower chamber / scope of elections: full renewal
Legislative branch - lower chamber / term in office: 5 years
Legislative branch - lower chamber / most recent election date: 9/29/2023
Legislative branch - lower chamber / percentage of women in chamber: 21.6%
Legislative branch - lower chamber / expected date of next election: September 2028
Legislative branch - upper chamber / chamber name: Senate
Legislative branch - upper chamber / number of seats: 30 (10 indirectly elected; 20 appointed)
Legislative branch - upper chamber / scope of elections: full renewal
Legislative branch - upper chamber / term in office: 5 years
Legislative branch - upper chamber / most recent election date: 11/6/2023
Legislative branch - upper chamber / percentage of women in chamber: 46.7%
Legislative branch - upper chamber / expected date of next election: November 2028
Judicial branch / highest court(s): Supreme Court (consists of the chief justice and at least 4 justices) and the High Court (consists of the chief justice ex officio and 4 justices)
Judicial branch / judge selection and term of office: justices of the Supreme Court and High Court appointed by the monarch on the advice of the Judicial Service Commission (JSC), a judicial advisory body consisting of the Supreme Court Chief Justice, 4 members appointed by the monarch, and the chairman of the Civil Service Commission; justices of both courts eligible for retirement at age 65 with mandatory retirement at age 75
Judicial branch / subordinate courts: magistrates' courts; National Swazi Courts for administering customary/traditional laws (jurisdiction restricted to customary law for Swazi citizens)
Political parties: political parties exist but conditions for their operations, particularly in elections, are undefined, legally unclear, or culturally restricted; the following are considered political associations: African United Democratic Party or AUDP Ngwane National Liberatory Congress or NNLC People's United Democratic Movement or PUDEMO Swazi Democratic Party or SWADEPA
Diplomatic representation in the US / chief of mission: Ambassador Kennedy Fitzgerald GROENING (7 June 2022)
Diplomatic representation in the US / chancery: 1712 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009
Diplomatic representation in the US / telephone: [1] (202) 234-5002
Diplomatic representation in the US / FAX: [1] (202) 234-8254
Diplomatic representation in the US / email address and website: swaziland@compuserve.com
Diplomatic representation from the US / chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant) Charg&eacute; d&rsquo;Affaires Marc WEINSTOCK (since August 2025)
Diplomatic representation from the US / embassy: Corner of MR 103 and Cultural Center Drive, Ezulwini, P.O. Box D202, The Gables, H106
Diplomatic representation from the US / mailing address: 2350 Mbabane Place, Washington DC 20521-2350
Diplomatic representation from the US / telephone: (268) 2417-9000
Diplomatic representation from the US / FAX: [268] 2416-3344
Diplomatic representation from the US / email address and website: ConsularMbabane@state.gov Homepage - U.S. Embassy in Eswatini (usembassy.gov)
International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, AU, C, COMESA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NAM, OPCW, PCA, SACU, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Independence: 6 September 1968 (from the UK)
National holiday: Independence Day (Somhlolo Day), 6 September (1968)
Flag: description: three horizontal bands of blue (top), red (triple-width), and blue; the red band is edged in yellow, with a large black-and-white shield in the center that covers two horizontal spears and a staff with feather tassels meaning: blue stands for peace and stability, red for past struggles, and yellow for the mineral resources of the country; the shield, spears, and staff symbolize protection from enemies, and the shield colors stand for ethnic groups living in peaceful coexistence
National symbol(s): lion, elephant
National color(s): blue, yellow, red
National coat of arms: the national coat of arms was adopted in 1968 after independence from the United Kingdom; two national symbols, the lion (representing the king of Eswatini) and the elephant (representing the queen mother), support a traditional Nguni shield; above the shield is the king's lidlabe , or crown of feathers, and at the bottom is Eswatini's motto, Siyinqaba , or "We are the fortress”
National anthem(s) / title: "Nkulunkulu Mnikati wetibusiso temaSwati" (O God, Bestower of the Blessings of the Swazi)
National anthem(s) / lyrics/music: Andrease Enoke Fanyana SIMELANE/David Kenneth RYCROFT
National anthem(s) / history: adopted 1968; uses elements of both ethnic Swazi and Western music styles

## Economy
Economic overview: landlocked southern African economy; South African trade dependent and currency pegging; CMA and SACU member state; COVID-19 economic slowdown; growing utilities inflation; persistent poverty and unemployment; HIV/AIDS labor force disruptions
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $12.885 billion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $12.553 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $12.135 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2024: 2.6% (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2023: 3.4% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2022: 1.1% (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2024: $10,400 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2023: $10,200 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2022: $10,000 (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $4.892 billion (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2019: 2.6% (2019 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2018: 4.8% (2018 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2017: 6.2% (2017 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / agriculture: 6.8% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / industry: 34.7% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / services: 51.7% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / household consumption: 64% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / government consumption: 19.5% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in fixed capital: 16.1% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in inventories: 3.1% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / exports of goods and services: 48.7% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / imports of goods and services: -51.4% (2023 est.)
Agricultural products: sugarcane, maize, root vegetables, grapefruits, oranges, milk, pineapples, bananas, beef, sweet potatoes (2023)
Industries: soft drink concentrates, coal, forestry, sugar processing, textiles, and apparel
Industrial production growth rate: 0.5% (2023 est.)
Labor force: 390,600 (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2024: 34.4% (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2023: 35.1% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2022: 35.4% (2022 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / total: 58.2% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / male: 56% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / female: 60.3% (2024 est.)
Population below poverty line: 58.9% (2016 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income / Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2016: 54.6 (2016 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / lowest 10%: 1.4% (2016 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / highest 10%: 42.7% (2016 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2023: 1.7% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2022: 2.7% of GDP (2022 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2021: 2.8% of GDP (2021 est.)
Budget / revenues: $1.217 billion (2021 est.)
Budget / expenditures: $1.439 billion (2021 est.)
Public debt / Public debt 2021: 35.9% of GDP (2021 est.)
Taxes and other revenues: 24.5% (of GDP) (2021 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2023: $107.534 million (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2022: -$140.972 million (2022 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2021: $125.318 million (2021 est.)
Exports / Exports 2023: $2.174 billion (2023 est.)
Exports / Exports 2022: $2.095 billion (2022 est.)
Exports / Exports 2021: $2.132 billion (2021 est.)
Exports - partners: South Africa 61%, Ireland 4%, Mozambique 4%, Kenya 4%, Nigeria 3% (2023)
Exports - commodities: scented mixtures, raw sugar, industrial acids/oils/alcohols, garments, wood (2023)
Imports / Imports 2023: $2.351 billion (2023 est.)
Imports / Imports 2022: $2.288 billion (2022 est.)
Imports / Imports 2021: $2.173 billion (2021 est.)
Imports - partners: South Africa 71%, China 8%, India 4%, USA 2%, Mozambique 1% (2023)
Imports - commodities: refined petroleum, electricity, plastic products, cotton fabric, garments (2023)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023: $479.261 million (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $452.352 million (2022 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2021: $572.282 million (2021 est.)
Debt - external / Debt - external 2023: $923.266 million (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Currency: emalangeni per US dollar -
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2024: 18.318 (2024 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2023: 18.454 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2022: 16.362 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2021: 14.783 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2020: 16.47 (2020 est.)

## Energy
Electricity access / electrification - total population: 82.3% (2022 est.)
Electricity access / electrification - urban areas: 86.1%
Electricity access / electrification - rural areas: 81.6%
Electricity / installed generating capacity: 285,000 kW (2023 est.)
Electricity / consumption: 1.308 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / imports: 928.237 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / transmission/distribution losses: 167.476 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / fossil fuels: 3.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / solar: 4.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / hydroelectricity: 54.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / biomass and waste: 37.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Coal / production: 253,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / consumption: 202,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / exports: 4,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / imports: 201,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / proven reserves: 4.644 billion metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum / refined petroleum consumption: 6,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Energy consumption per capita / Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 18.823 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

## Communications
Telephones - fixed lines / total subscriptions: 35,600 (2024 est.)
Telephones - fixed lines / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 3 (2024 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / total subscriptions: 1.74 million (2024 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 140 (2024 est.)
Broadcast media: 1 state-owned TV station; satellite dishes can access South African providers; state-owned radio network with 3 channels; 1 private radio station (2019)
Internet country code: .sz
Internet users / percent of population: 58% (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / total: 34,000 (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 3 (2023 est.)

## Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: 3DC
Airports: 16 (2025)
Heliports: 1 (2025)
Railways / total: 301 km (2014)
Railways / narrow gauge: 301 km (2014) 1.067-m gauge

## Military and Security
Military and security forces: Umbutfo Eswatini Defense Force (UEDF): Army (includes a small air wing); the Royal Eswatini Police Service (REPS) (2025)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2024: 1.4% of GDP (2024 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2023: 1.4% of GDP (2023 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2022: 1.6% of GDP (2022 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2021: 1.7% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2020: 1.8% of GDP (2020 est.)
Military and security service personnel strengths: estimated 3,000 active-duty Defense Force (2025)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the UEDF has a small inventory of mostly older light weapons and equipment originating from Europe, South Africa, Taiwan, and the US (2025)
Military service age and obligation: 18-35 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women; no conscription (2025)
Military - note: the UEDF&rsquo;s primary mission is external defense, which includes mostly securing the borders; it also has domestic security responsibilities, including protecting members of the royal family; the king is the UEDF commander in chief and holds the position of minister of defense, although the UEDF reports to the Army commander and principal undersecretary of defense for day-to-day operations; the Royal Eswatini Police Service (REPS) is responsible for maintaining internal security as well as migration and border crossing enforcement; it is under the prime minister, although the king is the force&rsquo;s titular commissioner in chief; the UEDF was originally created in 1973 as the Royal Swaziland Defense Force (2025)

## Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons / refugees: 4,459 (2024 est.)
Refugees and internally displaced persons / IDPs: 56 (2024 est.)

=== Zambia ===

## Introduction
Background: Bantu-speaking groups mainly from the Luba and Lunda Kingdoms in the Congo River Basin and from the Great Lakes region in East Africa settled in what is now Zambia beginning around A.D. 300, displacing and mixing with previous population groups in the region. The Mutapa Empire developed after the fall of Great Zimbabwe to the south in the 14th century and ruled the region, including large parts of Zambia, from the 14th to 17th century. The empire collapsed as a result of the growing slave trade and Portuguese incursions in the 16th and 17th centuries. The region was further influenced by migrants from the Zulu Kingdom to the south and the Luba and Lunda Kingdoms to the north, after invading colonial and African powers displaced local residents into the area around the Zambezi River, in what is now Zambia. In the 1880s, British companies began securing mineral and other economic concessions from local leaders. The companies eventually claimed control of the region and incorporated it as the protectorate of Northern Rhodesia in 1911. The UK took over administrative control from the British South Africa Company in 1924. During the 1920s and 1930s, advances in mining spurred British economic ventures and colonial settlement. Northern Rhodesia’s name was changed to Zambia upon independence from the UK in 1964, under independence leader and first President Kenneth KAUNDA. In the 1980s and 1990s, declining copper prices, economic mismanagement, and a prolonged drought hurt the economy. Elections in 1991 brought an end to one-party rule and propelled the Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) into power. The subsequent vote in 1996, however, saw increasing harassment of opposition parties and abuse of state media and other resources. Administrative problems marked the election in 2001, with three parties filing a legal petition challenging the election of ruling party candidate Levy MWANAWASA. MWANAWASA was reelected in 2006 in an election that was deemed free and fair. Upon his death in 2008, he was succeeded by his vice president, Rupiah BANDA, who won a special presidential byelection later that year. BANDA and the MMD lost to Michael SATA and the Patriotic Front (PF) in the 2011 general elections. SATA, however, presided over a period of haphazard economic management and attempted to silence opposition to PF policies. SATA died in 2014 and was succeeded by his vice president, Guy SCOTT, who served as interim president until 2015, when Edgar LUNGU won the presidential byelection and completed SATA's term. LUNGU then won a full term in the 2016 presidential elections. Hakainde HICHILEMA was elected president in 2021.

## Geography
Location: Southern Africa, east of Angola, south of the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Geographic coordinates: 15 00 S, 30 00 E
Map references: Africa
Area / total: 752,618 sq km
Area / land: 743,398 sq km
Area / water: 9,220 sq km
Area - comparative: almost five times the size of Georgia; slightly larger than Texas
Land boundaries / total: 6,043.15 km
Land boundaries / border countries: Angola 1,065 km; Botswana 0.15 km; Democratic Republic of the Congo 2,332 km; Malawi 847 km; Mozambique 439 km; Namibia 244 km; Tanzania 353 km; Zimbabwe 763 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
Climate: tropical; modified by altitude; rainy season (October to April)
Terrain: mostly high plateau with some hills and mountains
Elevation / highest point: Mafinga Central 2,330 m
Elevation / lowest point: Zambezi river 329 m
Elevation / mean elevation: 1,138 m
Natural resources: copper, cobalt, zinc, lead, coal, emeralds, gold, silver, uranium, hydropower
Land use / agricultural land: 32.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 5.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 0.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 26.9% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 60.6% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 7.3% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land: 1,560 sq km (2012)
Major lakes (area sq km) / fresh water lake(s): Lake Tanganyika (shared with Democratic Republic of Congo, Tanzania, and Burundi) - 32,000 sq km; Lake Mweru (shared with Democratic Republic of Congo) - 4,350 sq km; Lake Bangweulu - 4,000-15,000 sq km seasonal variation
Major rivers (by length in km): Congo river source (shared with Angola, Republic of Congo, and Democratic Republic of Congo [m]) - 4,700 km; Zambezi river source (shared with Angola, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique [m]) - 2,740 km note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Major watersheds (area sq km) / Atlantic Ocean drainage: Congo (3,730,881 sq km)
Major watersheds (area sq km) / Indian Ocean drainage: Zambezi (1,332,412 sq km)
Major aquifers: Upper Kalahari-Cuvelai-Upper Zambezi Basin
Population distribution: one of the highest levels of urbanization in Africa; high density in the central area, particularly around the cities of Lusaka, Ndola, Kitwe, and Mufulira, as shown in this population distribution map
Natural hazards: periodic drought; tropical storms (November to April)
Geography - note: landlocked; the Zambezi forms a natural river boundary with Zimbabwe; Lake Kariba on the Zambia-Zimbabwe border forms the world's largest reservoir by volume (180 cu km; 43 cu mi)

## People and Society
Population / total: 22,021,971 (2025 est.)
Population / male: 11,066,079
Population / female: 10,955,892
Nationality / noun: Zambian(s)
Nationality / adjective: Zambian
Ethnic groups: Bemba 21%, Tonga 13.6%, Chewa 7.4%, Lozi 5.7%, Nsenga 5.3%, Tumbuka 4.4%, Ngoni 4%, Lala 3.1%, Kaonde 2.9%, Namwanga 2.8%, Lunda (north Western) 2.6%, Mambwe 2.5%, Luvale 2.2%, Lamba 2.1%, Ushi 1.9%, Lenje 1.6%, Bisa 1.6%, Mbunda 1.2%, other 13.8%, unspecified 0.4% (2010 est.)
Languages: Bemba 33.4%, Nyanja 14.7%, Tonga 11.4%, Lozi 5.5%, Chewa 4.5%, Nsenga 2.9%, Tumbuka 2.5%, Lunda (North Western) 1.9%, Kaonde 1.8%, Lala 1.8%, Lamba 1.8%, English (official) 1.7%, Luvale 1.5%, Mambwe 1.3%, Namwanga 1.2%, Lenje 1.1%, Bisa 1%, other 9.7%, unspecified 0.2% (2010 est.)
Religions: Protestant 75.3%, Roman Catholic 20.2%, other 2.7% (includes Muslim, Buddhist, Hindu, and Baha'i), none 1.8% (2010 est.)
Age structure / 0-14 years: 42.1% (male 4,418,980/female 4,337,187)
Age structure / 15-64 years: 55.1% (male 5,726,265/female 5,736,732)
Age structure / 65 years and over: 2.8% (2024 est.) (male 262,008/female 317,944)
Dependency ratios / total dependency ratio: 75.8 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / youth dependency ratio: 71.3 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / elderly dependency ratio: 4.5 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / potential support ratio: 22.3 (2025 est.)
Median age / total: 19 years (2025 est.)
Median age / male: 18.2 years
Median age / female: 18.6 years
Population growth rate: 2.51% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 29.6 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 4.91 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: 0.4 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution: one of the highest levels of urbanization in Africa; high density in the central area, particularly around the cities of Lusaka, Ndola, Kitwe, and Mufulira, as shown in this population distribution map
Urbanization / urban population: 46.3% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 4.15% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 3.181 million LUSAKA (capital), 763,000 Kitwe (2023)
Sex ratio / at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 0-14 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 65 years and over: 0.82 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / total population: 1 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth: 19.2 years (2018 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio: 85 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Infant mortality rate / total: 30.1 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Infant mortality rate / male: 38.9 deaths/1,000 live births
Infant mortality rate / female: 32.1 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth / total population: 66.9 years (2024 est.)
Life expectancy at birth / male: 65.2 years
Life expectancy at birth / female: 68.7 years
Total fertility rate: 3.67 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 1.81 (2025 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: urban: urban: 88.6% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: rural: rural: 51.1% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: total: total: 68.2% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: urban: urban: 11.4% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: rural: rural: 48.9% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: total: total: 31.8% of population (2022 est.)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 6.6% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 8.9% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density: 0.32 physicians/1,000 population (2022)
Sanitation facility access / improved: urban: urban: 78.1% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: rural: rural: 40.9% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: total: total: 57.9% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: urban: urban: 21.9% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: rural: rural: 59.1% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: total: total: 42.1% of population (2022 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 8.1% (2016)
Alcohol consumption per capita / total: 3.82 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / beer: 1.26 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / wine: 0.04 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / spirits: 0.36 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / other alcohols: 2.16 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Tobacco use / total: 11.7% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / male: 21.4% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / female: 2.4% (2025 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 11.8% (2018 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49): 55.7% (2018 est.)
Child marriage / women married by age 15: 5.2% (2018)
Child marriage / women married by age 18: 29% (2018)
Child marriage / men married by age 18: 2.8% (2018)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% GDP): 4.1% of GDP (2023 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% national budget): 14.5% national budget (2025 est.)
Literacy / total population: 71.1% (2018 est.)
Literacy / male: 81.7% (2018 est.)
Literacy / female: 62.2% (2018 est.)

## Environment
Environmental issues: air pollution and acid rain in the mineral extraction and refining region; chemical runoff into watersheds; loss of biodiversity; poaching; deforestation; soil erosion; desertification; lack of adequate water treatment
International environmental agreements / party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
International environmental agreements / signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Climate: tropical; modified by altitude; rainy season (October to April)
Land use / agricultural land: 32.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 5.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 0.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 26.9% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 60.6% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 7.3% (2023 est.)
Urbanization / urban population: 46.3% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 4.15% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / total emissions: 9.877 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from coal and metallurgical coke: 4.835 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from petroleum and other liquids: 5.042 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Particulate matter emissions: 16.1 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Waste and recycling / municipal solid waste generated annually: 2.608 million tons (2024 est.)
Waste and recycling / percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 12.6% (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / municipal: 290 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / industrial: 130 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / agricultural: 1.152 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total renewable water resources: 104.8 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: Republic of Zambia
Country name / conventional short form: Zambia
Country name / former: Northern Rhodesia
Country name / etymology: name is derived from the Zambezi River, which flows through the western part of the country and forms the southern border with Zimbabwe
Government type: presidential republic
Capital / name: Lusaka
Capital / geographic coordinates: 15 25 S, 28 17 E
Capital / time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Capital / etymology: named after a village with a headman (chief) called LUSAAKAS
Administrative divisions: 10 provinces; Central, Copperbelt, Eastern, Luapula, Lusaka, Muchinga, Northern, North-Western, Southern, Western
Legal system: mixed system of English common law and customary law
Constitution / history: several previous; latest adopted 24 August 1991, promulgated 30 August 1991
Constitution / amendment process: proposed by the National Assembly; passage requires two-thirds majority vote by the Assembly in two separate readings at least 30 days apart; passage of amendments affecting fundamental rights and freedoms requires approval by at least one half of votes cast in a referendum prior to consideration and voting by the Assembly
International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Citizenship / citizenship by birth: only if at least one parent is a citizen of Zambia
Citizenship / citizenship by descent only: yes, if at least one parent was a citizen of Zambia
Citizenship / dual citizenship recognized: yes
Citizenship / residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years for those with an ancestor who was a citizen of Zambia, otherwise 10 years residency is required
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch / chief of state: President Hakainde HICHILEMA (since 24 August 2021)
Executive branch / head of government: President Hakainde HICHILEMA (since 24 August 2021)
Executive branch / cabinet: Cabinet appointed by president from among members of the National Assembly
Executive branch / election/appointment process: president directly elected by absolute-majority popular vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term)
Executive branch / most recent election date: 12 August 2021
Executive branch / election results: 2021 : Hakainde HICHILEMA elected president; percent of the vote - Hakainde HICHILEMA (UPND) 57.9%, Edgar LUNGU (PF) 37.3%, other 4.8% 2016 : Edgar LUNGU reelected president; percent of vote - Edgar LUNGU (PF) 50.4%, Hakainde HICHILEMA (UPND) 47.6%, other 2%; note - the president is both chief of state and head of government
Executive branch / expected date of next election: 2026
Legislative branch / legislature name: National Assembly
Legislative branch / legislative structure: unicameral
Legislative branch / number of seats: 167 (156 directly elected; 8 appointed)
Legislative branch / electoral system: plurality/majority
Legislative branch / scope of elections: full renewal
Legislative branch / term in office: 5 years
Legislative branch / most recent election date: 44420
Legislative branch / parties elected and seats per party: United Party for National Development (UPND) (82); Patriotic Front (PF) (60); Independents (13); Other (1)
Legislative branch / percentage of women in chamber: 15%
Legislative branch / expected date of next election: August 2026
Judicial branch / highest court(s): Supreme Court (consists of the chief justice, deputy chief justice, and at least 11 judges); Constitutional Court (consists of the court president, vice president, and 11 judges)
Judicial branch / judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court and Constitutional Court judges appointed by the president of the republic upon the advice of the 9-member Judicial Service Commission, which is headed by the chief justice, and ratified by the National Assembly; judges normally serve until age 65
Judicial branch / subordinate courts: Court of Appeal; High Court; Industrial Relations Court; subordinate courts (3 levels, based on upper limit of money involved); Small Claims Court; local courts (2 grades, based on upper limit of money involved)
Political parties: Alliance for Democracy and Development or ADD Forum for Democracy and Development or FDD Movement for Multiparty Democracy or MMD Party of National Unity and Progress or PNUP Patriotic Front or PF United Party for National Development or UPND
Diplomatic representation in the US / chief of mission: Ambassador Chibamba KANYAMA (since 30 June 2023)
Diplomatic representation in the US / chancery: 2200 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation in the US / telephone: [1] (202) 234-4009
Diplomatic representation in the US / FAX: [1] (202) 332-0826
Diplomatic representation in the US / email address and website: info@zambiaembassy.org https://www.zambiaembassy.org/
Diplomatic representation from the US / chief of mission: Ambassador Michael C. GONZALES (since 16 September 2022)
Diplomatic representation from the US / embassy: Eastern end of Kabulonga Road, Ibex Hill, Lusaka
Diplomatic representation from the US / mailing address: 2310 Lusaka Place, Washington DC 20521-2310
Diplomatic representation from the US / telephone: [260] (0) 211-357-000
Diplomatic representation from the US / FAX: [260] (0) 211-357-224
Diplomatic representation from the US / email address and website: ACSLusaka@state.gov https://zm.usembassy.gov/
International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, AU, C, COMESA, EITI (compliant country), FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MONUSCO, NAM, OPCW, PCA, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNDOF, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNISFA, UNMIL, UNMISS, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Independence: 24 October 1964 (from the UK)
National holiday: Independence Day, 24 October (1964)
Flag: description: green field with a soaring orange eagle in the upper-right corner; a panel of three vertical bands is under the eagle, in red (left side), black, and orange meaning: green stands for the country's natural resources and vegetation, red for the struggle for freedom, black for the people, and orange for the country's mineral wealth; the eagle represents the people's ability to rise above the nation's problems
National symbol(s): African fish eagle
National color(s): green, red, black, orange
National anthem(s) / title: "Lumbanyeni Zambia" (Stand and Sing of Zambia, Proud and Free)
National anthem(s) / lyrics/music: multiple/Enoch Mankayi SONTONGA
National anthem(s) / history: adopted 1964; the melody, which comes from the popular song "God Bless Africa," a popular song and anthem in southern Africa
National heritage / total World Heritage Sites: 1 (natural)
National heritage / selected World Heritage Site locales: Mosi-oa-Tunya/Victoria Falls

## Economy
Economic overview: lower-middle-income sub-Saharan economy; regional hydroelectricity producer; trade ties and infrastructure investments from China; IMF assistance to restructure debt burden; one of youngest and fastest-growing labor forces; systemic corruption; extreme rural poverty
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $79.207 billion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $76.129 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $72.251 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2024: 4% (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2023: 5.4% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2022: 5.2% (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2024: $3,700 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2023: $3,700 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2022: $3,600 (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $26.326 billion (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024: 15% (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023: 10.9% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 11% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / agriculture: 1.8% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / industry: 37.5% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / services: 55.1% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / household consumption: 47.1% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / government consumption: 13.3% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in fixed capital: 26.4% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in inventories: 5% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / exports of goods and services: 40.8% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / imports of goods and services: -37.4% (2023 est.)
Agricultural products: sugarcane, cassava, maize, soybeans, milk, vegetables, wheat, groundnuts, sweet potatoes, beef (2023)
Industries: copper mining and processing, emerald mining, construction, foodstuffs, beverages, chemicals, textiles, fertilizer, horticulture
Industrial production growth rate: 3.5% (2024 est.)
Labor force: 7.407 million (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2024: 6% (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2023: 6% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2022: 6% (2022 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / total: 9.9% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / male: 10.1% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / female: 9.6% (2024 est.)
Population below poverty line: 60% (2022 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income / Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2022: 51.5 (2022 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / lowest 10%: 1.5% (2022 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / highest 10%: 39.1% (2022 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2023: 0.9% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2022: 0.8% of GDP (2022 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2021: 1.1% of GDP (2021 est.)
Budget / revenues: $5.388 billion (2021 est.)
Budget / expenditures: $6.19 billion (2021 est.)
Public debt / Public debt 2021: 71.4% of GDP (2021 est.)
Taxes and other revenues: 16.8% (of GDP) (2021 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2023: -$582.715 million (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2022: $1.093 billion (2022 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2021: $2.63 billion (2021 est.)
Exports / Exports 2023: $11.454 billion (2023 est.)
Exports / Exports 2022: $12.444 billion (2022 est.)
Exports / Exports 2021: $11.728 billion (2021 est.)
Exports - partners: Switzerland 27%, China 15%, India 13%, UAE 12%, DRC 10% (2023)
Exports - commodities: raw copper, refined copper, gold, precious stones, electricity (2023)
Imports / Imports 2023: $10.854 billion (2023 est.)
Imports / Imports 2022: $10.022 billion (2022 est.)
Imports / Imports 2021: $7.691 billion (2021 est.)
Imports - partners: South Africa 25%, China 15%, UAE 10%, India 5%, Japan 5% (2023)
Imports - commodities: refined petroleum, fertilizers, trucks, sulphur, tractors (2023)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023: $3.173 billion (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $2.968 billion (2022 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2021: $2.754 billion (2021 est.)
Debt - external / Debt - external 2023: $16.597 billion (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Currency: Zambian kwacha (ZMK) per US dollar -
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2024: 26.166 (2024 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2023: 20.212 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2022: 16.938 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2021: 20.018 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2020: 18.344 (2020 est.)

## Energy
Electricity access / electrification - total population: 47.8% (2022 est.)
Electricity access / electrification - urban areas: 87%
Electricity access / electrification - rural areas: 14.5%
Electricity / installed generating capacity: 3.986 million kW (2023 est.)
Electricity / consumption: 14.399 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / exports: 3 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / imports: 180 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / transmission/distribution losses: 2.229 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / fossil fuels: 11% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / solar: 0.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / hydroelectricity: 87.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / biomass and waste: 0.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Coal / production: 2.091 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / consumption: 2.081 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / exports: 15,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / imports: 103,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / proven reserves: 945 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum / refined petroleum consumption: 34,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Energy consumption per capita / Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 8.265 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

## Communications
Telephones - fixed lines / total subscriptions: 81,000 (2023 est.)
Telephones - fixed lines / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2023 est.) less than 1
Telephones - mobile cellular / total subscriptions: 23.2 million (2024 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 109 (2024 est.)
Broadcast media: 47 state-controlled and private TV stations; state-owned Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC) has 2 TV channels, controls 1, and owns shares in 2 more; 137 radio stations, with 133 private and 4 state-owned (2019)
Internet country code: .zm
Internet users / percent of population: 33% (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / total: 99,000 (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2023 est.) less than 1

## Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: 9J
Airports: 120 (2025)
Heliports: 4 (2025)
Railways / total: 3,126 km (2014)
Railways / narrow gauge: 3,126 km (2014) 1.067-m gauge
Merchant marine / total: 2 (2023)
Merchant marine / by type: general cargo 1, oil tanker 1

## Military and Security
Military and security forces: Zambia Defense Force (ZDF): Zambia Army, Zambia Air Force, Zambia National Service Ministry of Home Affairs and Internal Security: Zambia Police (2025)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2024: 1.3% of GDP (2024 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2023: 1.3% of GDP (2023 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2022: 1.1% of GDP (2022 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2021: 1.1% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2020: 1.2% of GDP (2020 est.)
Military and security service personnel strengths: approximately 16,000 active Defense Forces (2025)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the ZDF's inventory is largely comprised of Chinese, Russian, and Soviet-era weapons and equipment along with smaller quantities of items from other suppliers such as Israel, South Africa, and the US (2025)
Military service age and obligation: 18-25 years of age (17 with parental consent) for voluntary military service for men and women; no conscription; initial service of 7 years followed by 5 in the Reserves (2025)
Military deployments: 930 Central African Republic (MINUSCA) (2025)
Military - note: the Zambia Defense Forces (ZDF) are responsible for territorial defense, border security, and providing support to African and UN peacekeeping operations; it also has some domestic security responsibilities in cases of national emergency and is involved in socio-economic support; in recent years, ZDF has been directed to assist in agricultural production; the ZDF is part of the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) Standby Force and participates in multinational training exercises; it has received training assistance from China and the US the ZDF traces its roots to the Northern Rhodesia Regiment, which was raised by the British colonial government to fight in World War II; the ZDF was established in 1964 from units of the dissolved Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland armed forces; it participated in a number of regional conflicts during the 1970s and 1980s; Zambia actively supported independence movements such as the Union for the Total Liberation of Angola (UNITA), the Zimbabwe African People's Union (ZAPU), the African National Congress of South Africa (ANC), and the South-West Africa People's Organization (SWAPO) (2025)

## Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons / refugees: 88,918 (2024 est.)
Refugees and internally displaced persons / IDPs: 131,349 (2024 est.)

=== Zimbabwe ===

## Introduction
Background: The hunter-gatherer San people first inhabited the area that eventually became Zimbabwe. Farming communities migrated to the area around A.D. 500 during the Bantu expansion, and Shona-speaking societies began to develop in the Limpopo valley and Zimbabwean highlands around the 9th century. These societies traded with Arab merchants on the Indian Ocean coast and organized under the Kingdom of Mapungubwe in the 11th century. A series of powerful trade-oriented Shona states succeeded Mapungubwe, including the Kingdom of Zimbabwe (ca. 1220-1450), Kingdom of Mutapa (ca. 1450-1760), and the Rozwi Empire. The Rozwi Empire expelled Portuguese colonists from the Zimbabwean plateau, but the Ndebele clan of Zulu King MZILIKAZI eventually conquered the area in 1838 during the era of conflict and population displacement known as the Mfecane. In the 1880s, colonists arrived with the British South Africa Company (BSAC) and obtained a written concession for mining rights from Ndebele King LOBENGULA. The king later disavowed the concession and accused the BSAC agents of deceit. The BSAC annexed Mashonaland and then conquered Matabeleland during the First Matabele War of 1893-1894, establishing company rule over the territory. In 1923, the UK annexed BSAC holdings south of the Zambezi River, which became the British colony of Southern Rhodesia. The 1930 Land Apportionment Act restricted Black land ownership and established rules that would favor the White minority for decades. A new constitution in 1961 further cemented White minority rule. In 1965, the government under White Prime Minister Ian SMITH unilaterally declared its independence from the UK. London did not recognize Rhodesia’s independence and demanded more voting rights for the Black majority in the country. International diplomacy and an uprising by Black Zimbabweans led to biracial elections in 1979 and independence (as Zimbabwe) in 1980. Robert MUGABE, who led the uprising and became the nation's first prime minister, was the country's only ruler (as president since 1987) from independence until 2017. In the mid-1980s, the government tortured and killed thousands of civilians in a crackdown on dissent known as the Gukurahundi campaign. Economic mismanagement and chaotic implementation of land redistribution policies periodically crippled the economy. General elections in 2002, 2008, and 2013 were severely flawed and widely condemned but allowed MUGABE to remain president. In 2017, Vice President Emmerson MNANGAGWA became president after a military intervention that forced MUGABE to resign, and MNANGAGWA cemented power by sidelining rival Grace MUGABE (Robert MUGABE’s wife). In 2018, MNANGAGWA won the presidential election, and he has maintained the government's longstanding practice of violently disrupting protests and politicizing institutions. Economic conditions remain dire under MNANGAGWA.

## Geography
Location: Southern Africa, between South Africa and Zambia
Geographic coordinates: 20 00 S, 30 00 E
Map references: Africa
Area / total: 390,757 sq km
Area / land: 386,847 sq km
Area / water: 3,910 sq km
Area - comparative: about four times the size of Indiana; slightly larger than Montana
Land boundaries / total: 3,229 km
Land boundaries / border countries: Botswana 834 km; Mozambique 1,402 km; South Africa 230 km; Zambia 763 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
Climate: tropical; moderated by altitude; rainy season (November to March)
Terrain: mostly high plateau with higher central plateau (high veld); mountains in east
Elevation / highest point: Inyangani 2,592 m
Elevation / lowest point: junction of the Runde and Save Rivers 162 m
Elevation / mean elevation: 961 m
Natural resources: coal, chromium ore, asbestos, gold, nickel, copper, iron ore, vanadium, lithium, tin, platinum group metals
Land use / agricultural land: 41.8% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 10.4% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 0.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 31.3% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 35.9% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 22.3% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land: 1,740 sq km (2012)
Major rivers (by length in km): Zambezi (shared with Zambia [s]), Angola, Namibia, Botswana, and Mozambique [m]) - 2,740 km; Limpopo (shared with South Africa [s], Botswana, and Mozambique [m]) - 1,800 km note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Major watersheds (area sq km) / Indian Ocean drainage: Zambezi (1,332,412 sq km)
Major watersheds (area sq km) / Internal (endorheic basin) drainage: Okavango Basin (863,866 sq km)
Major aquifers: Upper Kalahari-Cuvelai-Upper Zambezi Basin
Population distribution: aside from major urban agglomerations in Harare and Bulawayo, population distribution is fairly even, with slightly greater overall numbers in the eastern half, as shown in this population distribution map
Natural hazards: recurring droughts; floods and severe storms are rare
Geography - note: landlocked; the Zambezi forms a natural river boundary with Zambia; in full flood (February-April), the massive Victoria Falls on the river forms the world's largest curtain of falling water; Lake Kariba on the Zambia-Zimbabwe border forms the world's largest reservoir by volume (180 cu km; 43 cu mi)

## People and Society
Population / total: 17,472,752 (2025 est.)
Population / male: 8,503,108
Population / female: 8,969,644
Nationality / noun: Zimbabwean(s)
Nationality / adjective: Zimbabwean
Ethnic groups: African 99.6% (predominantly Shona; Ndebele is the second largest ethnic group), other (includes Caucasian, Asiatic, mixed race) 0.4% (2022 est.)
Languages: Shona (official, most widely spoken) 80.9%, Ndebele (official, second most widely spoken) 11.5%, English (official, traditionally used for official business) 0.3%, 13 minority languages (official; includes Chewa, Chibarwe, Kalanga, Koisan, Nambya, Ndau, Shangani, sign language, Sotho, Tonga, Tswana, Venda, and Xhosa) 7%, other 0.3% (2022 est.)
Religions: Apostolic Sect 40.3%, Pentecostal 17%, Protestant 13.8%, other Christian 7.8%, Roman Catholic 6.4%, African traditionalist 5%, other 1.5% (includes Muslim, Jewish, Hindu), none 8.3% (2022 est.)
Age structure / 0-14 years: 38.3% (male 3,315,075/female 3,254,643)
Age structure / 15-64 years: 57.8% (male 4,758,120/female 5,152,773)
Age structure / 65 years and over: 3.9% (2024 est.) (male 270,595/female 399,146)
Dependency ratios / total dependency ratio: 72.3 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / youth dependency ratio: 65.5 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / elderly dependency ratio: 6.8 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / potential support ratio: 14.7 (2025 est.)
Median age / total: 21.3 years (2025 est.)
Median age / male: 20.3 years
Median age / female: 22 years
Population growth rate: 1.82% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 28.18 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 6.4 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: -3.58 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution: aside from major urban agglomerations in Harare and Bulawayo, population distribution is fairly even, with slightly greater overall numbers in the eastern half, as shown in this population distribution map
Urbanization / urban population: 32.5% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 2.41% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 1.578 million HARARE (capital) (2023)
Sex ratio / at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 0-14 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 15-64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 65 years and over: 0.68 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth: 20.3 years (2015 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio: 358 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Infant mortality rate / total: 32.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Infant mortality rate / male: 37 deaths/1,000 live births
Infant mortality rate / female: 29.6 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth / total population: 67.2 years (2024 est.)
Life expectancy at birth / male: 65.6 years
Life expectancy at birth / female: 68.8 years
Total fertility rate: 3.42 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 1.68 (2025 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: urban: urban: 92.8% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: rural: rural: 47.7% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: total: total: 62.3% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: urban: urban: 7.2% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: rural: rural: 52.3% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: total: total: 37.7% of population (2022 est.)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 2.8% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 5.2% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density: 0.14 physicians/1,000 population (2023)
Sanitation facility access / improved: urban: urban: 97.5% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: rural: rural: 50.3% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: total: total: 65.6% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: urban: urban: 2.5% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: rural: rural: 49.7% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: total: total: 34.4% of population (2022 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 15.5% (2016)
Alcohol consumption per capita / total: 3.11 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / beer: 1.2 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / wine: 0.05 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / spirits: 0.39 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / other alcohols: 1.47 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Tobacco use / total: 8.4% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / male: 17.6% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / female: 0.7% (2025 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 9.6% (2024 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49): 62.2% (2022 est.)
Child marriage / women married by age 15: 5.4% (2019)
Child marriage / women married by age 18: 33.7% (2019)
Child marriage / men married by age 18: 1.9% (2019)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% GDP): 0.4% of GDP (2023 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% national budget): 17.9% national budget (2025 est.)
Literacy / total population: 93.2% (2019 est.)
Literacy / male: 93.1% (2019 est.)
Literacy / female: 93.4% (2019 est.)

## Environment
Environmental issues: deforestation; soil erosion; land degradation; air and water pollution; poaching; toxic waste and heavy metal pollution from mining
International environmental agreements / party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
International environmental agreements / signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Climate: tropical; moderated by altitude; rainy season (November to March)
Land use / agricultural land: 41.8% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 10.4% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 0.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 31.3% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 35.9% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 22.3% (2023 est.)
Urbanization / urban population: 32.5% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 2.41% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / total emissions: 12.578 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from coal and metallurgical coke: 7.629 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from petroleum and other liquids: 4.949 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Particulate matter emissions: 14.5 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Waste and recycling / municipal solid waste generated annually: 1.45 million tons (2024 est.)
Waste and recycling / percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 21.8% (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / municipal: 547.078 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / industrial: 81.352 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / agricultural: 4.281 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total renewable water resources: 20 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: Republic of Zimbabwe
Country name / conventional short form: Zimbabwe
Country name / former: Southern Rhodesia, Rhodesia, Zimbabwe-Rhodesia
Country name / etymology: takes its name from the Kingdom of Zimbabwe (13th-15th century) and its capital of Great Zimbabwe, which was built of stone; the name Zimbabwe comes from the Bantu phrase zimba we bahwe , meaning "houses of stones;" the former name, Rhodesia, was derived from the name of British colonial administrator Cecil RHODES
Government type: presidential republic
Capital / name: Harare
Capital / geographic coordinates: 17 49 S, 31 02 E
Capital / time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Capital / etymology: named after a village of Harare at the site of the present capital; the village name derived from a Shona chieftain, NE-HARAWA, whose name meant "he who does not sleep"
Administrative divisions: 8 provinces and 2 cities* with provincial status; Bulawayo*, Harare*, Manicaland, Mashonaland Central, Mashonaland East, Mashonaland West, Masvingo, Matabeleland North, Matabeleland South, Midlands
Legal system: mixed system of English common law, Roman-Dutch civil law, and customary law
Constitution / history: previous 1965 (at Rhodesian independence), 1979 (Lancaster House Agreement), 1980 (at Zimbabwean independence); latest final draft completed January 2013, approved by referendum 16 March 2013, approved by Parliament 9 May 2013, effective 22 May 2013
Constitution / amendment process: proposed by the Senate or by the National Assembly; passage requires two-thirds majority vote by the membership of both houses of Parliament and assent of the president of the republic; amendments to constitutional chapters on fundamental human rights and freedoms and on agricultural lands also require approval by a majority of votes cast in a referendum
International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt
Citizenship / citizenship by birth: no
Citizenship / citizenship by descent only: the father must be a citizen of Zimbabwe; in the case of a child born out of wedlock, the mother must be a citizen
Citizenship / dual citizenship recognized: no
Citizenship / residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch / chief of state: President Emmerson Dambudzo MNANGAGWA (since 4 September 2023)
Executive branch / head of government: Vice President Constantino CHIWENGA (since 11 September 2023)
Executive branch / cabinet: Cabinet appointed by president, responsible to National Assembly
Executive branch / election/appointment process: each presidential candidate nominated with a nomination paper signed by at least 10 registered voters (at least 1 candidate from each province) and directly elected by absolute-majority popular vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a 5-year term (no term limits); co-vice presidents drawn from party leadership
Executive branch / most recent election date: 23 August 2023
Executive branch / election results: 2023: Emmerson MNANGAGWA reelected president in first round; percent of vote - Emmerson MNANGAGWA (ZANU-PF) 52.6%, Nelson CHAMISA (MDC-T) 44%, Wilbert MUBAIWA (NPC) 1.2%, other 2.2% 2018: Emmerson MNANGAGWA elected president in first round; percent of vote - Emmerson MNANGAGWA (ZANU-PF) 50.7%, Nelson CHAMISA (MDC-T) 44.4%, Thokozani KHUPE (MDC-N) 0.9%, other 4%
Executive branch / expected date of next election: 2028
Legislative branch / legislature name: Parliament
Legislative branch / legislative structure: bicameral
Legislative branch - lower chamber / chamber name: National Assembly
Legislative branch - lower chamber / number of seats: 280 (all directly elected)
Legislative branch - lower chamber / electoral system: mixed system
Legislative branch - lower chamber / scope of elections: full renewal
Legislative branch - lower chamber / term in office: 5 years
Legislative branch - lower chamber / most recent election date: 45161
Legislative branch - lower chamber / parties elected and seats per party: ZANU-PF (175); Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) (104)
Legislative branch - lower chamber / percentage of women in chamber: 30.1%
Legislative branch - lower chamber / expected date of next election: August 2028
Legislative branch - upper chamber / chamber name: Senate
Legislative branch - upper chamber / number of seats: 80 (60 directly elected; 20 indirectly elected)
Legislative branch - upper chamber / electoral system: proportional representation
Legislative branch - upper chamber / scope of elections: full renewal
Legislative branch - upper chamber / term in office: 5 years
Legislative branch - upper chamber / most recent election date: 45161
Legislative branch - upper chamber / parties elected and seats per party: ZANU-PF (33); Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) (27)
Legislative branch - upper chamber / percentage of women in chamber: 44.3%
Legislative branch - upper chamber / expected date of next election: August 2028
Judicial branch / highest court(s): Supreme Court (consists of the chief justice and 4 judges); Constitutional Court (consists of the chief and deputy chief justices and 9 judges)
Judicial branch / judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court judges appointed by the president on recommendation of the Judicial Service Commission, an independent body consisting of the chief justice, Public Service Commission chairman, attorney general, and 2-3 members appointed by the president; judges normally serve until age 65 but can elect to serve until age 70; Constitutional Court judge appointment NA; judges serve nonrenewable 15-year terms
Judicial branch / subordinate courts: High Court; Labor Court; Administrative Court; regional magistrate courts; customary law courts; special courts
Political parties: Citizens Coalition for Change Movement for Democratic Change or MDC-T National People's Congress or NPC Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front or ZANU-PF Zimbabwe African Peoples Union or ZAPU
Diplomatic representation in the US / chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charg&eacute; d'Affaires Sarah BHOROMA (since 12 November 2024)
Diplomatic representation in the US / chancery: 1608 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009
Diplomatic representation in the US / telephone: [1] (202) 332-7100
Diplomatic representation in the US / FAX: [1] (202) 483-9326
Diplomatic representation in the US / email address and website: general@zimembassydc.org https://zimembassydc.org/
Diplomatic representation from the US / chief of mission: Ambassador Pamela M. TREMONT (since August 2024)
Diplomatic representation from the US / embassy: 2 Lorraine Drive, Bluffhill, Harare
Diplomatic representation from the US / mailing address: 2180 Harare Place, Washington DC 20521-2180
Diplomatic representation from the US / telephone: [263] 867-701-1000
Diplomatic representation from the US / FAX: [263] 24-233-4320
Diplomatic representation from the US / email address and website: consularharare@state.gov https://zw.usembassy.gov/
International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, ATMIS, AU, COMESA, FAO, G-15, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NAM, OPCW, PCA, SADC, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNISFA, UNMIL, UNMISS, UNOCI, UNSOM, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Independence: 18 April 1980 (from the UK)
National holiday: Independence Day, 18 April (1980)
Flag: description: seven equal horizontal bands of green (top), yellow, red, black, red, yellow, and green, with a white isosceles triangle edged in black based on the left side; in the middle of the triangle, a yellow bird is on top of a five-pointed red star meaning: the bird represents the long history of the country; white stands for peace, green for agriculture, yellow for mineral wealth, red for the blood shed to achieve independence, and black for the people
National symbol(s): Zimbabwe bird symbol, African fish eagle, flame lily
National color(s): green, yellow, red, black, white
National anthem(s) / title: "Kalibusiswe Ilizwe leZimbabwe" [Ndebele] "Simudzai Mureza WeZimbabwe" [Shona] (Blessed Be the Land of Zimbabwe)
National anthem(s) / lyrics/music: Solomon MUTSWAIRO/Fred Lecture CHANGUNDEGA
National anthem(s) / history: adopted 1994; lyrics in the country's three main languages were written by Zimbabwean poet and academic MUTSWAIRO
National heritage / total World Heritage Sites: 5 (3 cultural, 2 natural)
National heritage / selected World Heritage Site locales: Mana Pools National Park, Sapi, and Chewore Safari Areas (n); Great Zimbabwe National Monument (c); Khami Ruins National Monument (c); Mosi-oa-Tunya/Victoria Falls (n); Matobo Hills (c)

## Economy
Economic overview: low income Sub-Saharan economy; political instability and endemic corruption have prevented reforms and stalled debt restructuring; new Zimbabwe Gold (ZiG) currency latest effort to combat ongoing hyperinflation; reliant on natural resource extraction, agriculture and remittances
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $57.391 billion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $56.249 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $53.399 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2024: 2% (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2023: 5.3% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2022: 6.1% (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2024: $3,500 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2023: $3,400 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2022: $3,300 (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $44.188 billion (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 104.7% (2022 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021: 98.5% (2021 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2020: 557.2% (2020 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / agriculture: 5.4% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / industry: 31.8% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / services: 55.8% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / household consumption: 91.5% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / government consumption: 12.5% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in fixed capital: 3.6% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in inventories: 0.9% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / exports of goods and services: 22.1% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / imports of goods and services: -30.6% (2024 est.)
Agricultural products: sugarcane, beef, maize, cabbages, potatoes, tomatoes, milk, onions, bananas, wheat (2023)
Industries: mining (coal, gold, platinum, copper, nickel, tin, diamonds, clay, numerous metallic and nonmetallic ores), steel, wood products, cement, chemicals, fertilizer, clothing and footwear, foodstuffs, beverages
Industrial production growth rate: 2.7% (2024 est.)
Labor force: 6.386 million (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2024: 8.6% (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2023: 8.8% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2022: 10.1% (2022 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / total: 14% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / male: 12.9% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / female: 15.4% (2024 est.)
Population below poverty line: 38.3% (2019 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income / Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2020: 50.3 (2020 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / lowest 10%: 2.5% (2017 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / highest 10%: 34.8% (2017 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2023: 9.4% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2022: 9.4% of GDP (2022 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2021: 9.4% of GDP (2021 est.)
Budget / revenues: $17 million (2018 est.)
Budget / expenditures: $23 million (2018 est.)
Public debt / Public debt 2016: 69.9% of GDP (2016 est.)
Taxes and other revenues: 7.2% (of GDP) (2018 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2023: $133.877 million (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2022: $304.966 million (2022 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2021: $348.215 million (2021 est.)
Exports / Exports 2023: $7.603 billion (2023 est.)
Exports / Exports 2022: $7.453 billion (2022 est.)
Exports / Exports 2021: $6.575 billion (2021 est.)
Exports - partners: UAE 45%, China 18%, South Africa 15%, Mozambique 4%, Hong Kong 2% (2023)
Exports - commodities: gold, tobacco, nickel, minerals, diamonds (2023)
Imports / Imports 2023: $10.293 billion (2023 est.)
Imports / Imports 2022: $9.569 billion (2022 est.)
Imports / Imports 2021: $8.104 billion (2021 est.)
Imports - partners: South Africa 37%, China 15%, Bahamas, The 5%, Singapore 5%, UAE 4% (2023)
Imports - commodities: refined petroleum, fertilizers, trucks, soybean oil, stone processing machines (2023)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024: $484.973 million (2024 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023: $115.53 million (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $598.622 million (2022 est.)
Debt - external / Debt - external 2023: $6.671 billion (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Currency: Zimbabwean dollars (ZWD) per US dollar -
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2024: 3,266.332 (2024 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2023: 3,509.172 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2022: 374.954 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2021: 88.552 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2020: 51.329 (2020 est.)

## Energy
Electricity access / electrification - total population: 50.1% (2022 est.)
Electricity access / electrification - urban areas: 89%
Electricity access / electrification - rural areas: 33.7%
Electricity / installed generating capacity: 2.491 million kW (2023 est.)
Electricity / consumption: 8.346 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / exports: 395 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / imports: 2.297 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / transmission/distribution losses: 1.864 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / fossil fuels: 32.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / solar: 0.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / hydroelectricity: 65.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / biomass and waste: 1.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Coal / production: 7.968 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / consumption: 6.705 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / exports: 984,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / imports: 71,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / proven reserves: 502 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum / total petroleum production: 800 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Petroleum / refined petroleum consumption: 34,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Energy consumption per capita / Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 10.855 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

## Communications
Telephones - fixed lines / total subscriptions: 310,000 (2023 est.)
Telephones - fixed lines / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 2 (2023 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / total subscriptions: 15.7 million (2024 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 94 (2024 est.)
Broadcast media: government owns all local radio and TV stations; foreign shortwave broadcasts and satellite TV available; in rural areas, access to TV broadcasts is extremely limited; analog TV only, no digital service (2017)
Internet country code: .zw
Internet users / percent of population: 38% (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / total: 269,000 (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 2 (2023 est.)

## Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: Z
Airports: 144 (2025)
Heliports: 5 (2025)
Railways / total: 3,427 km (2014)
Railways / narrow gauge: 3,427 km (2014) 1.067-m gauge (313 km electrified)

## Military and Security
Military and security forces: Zimbabwe Defense Forces (ZDF): Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA), Air Force of Zimbabwe (AFZ) Ministry of Home Affairs: Zimbabwe Republic Police (2025)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2024: 0.4% of GDP (2024 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2023: 0.3% of GDP (2023 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2022: 0.9% of GDP (2022 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2021: 1.4% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2020: 1% of GDP (2020 est.)
Military and security service personnel strengths: approximately 30,000 active Zimbabwe Defense Forces (2025)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the ZDF inventory is comprised mostly of Russian/Soviet-era and Chinese armaments with smaller quantities of older or obsolescent material from countries such as Brazil, France, Italy, South Africa, the UK, and the US (2025)
Military service age and obligation: 18-22 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women (enlisted personnel); 18-24 for officer cadets; 18-30 for technical/specialist personnel; no conscription (2025)
Military - note: the primary responsibilities of the Zimbabwe Defense Forces (ZDF) are protecting the country’s sovereignty and territory and securing its borders; it also has a role in domestic security and socio-economic development projects and has continued to be active in the country’s politics since the 2017 military-assisted political transition; the ZDF is part of the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) Standby Force and provided troops for the SADC military deployment to Mozambique from 2021-2024; Zimbabwe has defense ties with China and Russia the ZDF was formed after independence from the former Rhodesian Army and the two guerrilla forces that opposed it during the Rhodesian Civil War (aka "Bush War") of the 1970s, the Zimbabwe African National Liberation Army (ZANLA) and the Zimbabwe People's Revolutionary Army (ZIPRA); the ZDF intervened in the Mozambique Civil War (1983-1992), the Democratic Republic of Congo during the Second Congo War (1998-2003), and the Angolan Civil War (1975-2002) during the late 1990s (2025)

## Space
Space agency/agencies: Zimbabwe National Geospatial and Space Agency (ZINGSA; established in 2019 and officially launched in 2021) (2025)
Space program overview: has a nascent program with the goal of using space technologies in economic development, including remote sensing capabilities to assist with monitoring or managing agriculture, food security, climate change, disease outbreaks, environmental hazards and disasters, and natural resources, as well as weather forecasting; has cooperated with Japan and Russia (2025)
Key space-program milestones: 2020 - began a program (BIRDS-5) sponsored by Japan to promote the development of a domestic space program by designing, building, testing, launching, and operating the first satellites for participating countries 2021 - established satellite ground communications station and completed national wetlands mapping project 2022 - first nano-sized remote sensing/educational satellite (ZIMSAT-1) built with Japan’s assistance and launched by Japan under the BIRDs-5 program 2024 - second RS satellite (ZIMSAT-2) built with Russian assistance and launched by Russia

## Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons / refugees: 22,432 (2024 est.)
Refugees and internally displaced persons / IDPs: 32,675 (2024 est.)
Trafficking in persons / tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List — the government did not demonstrate overall increasing efforts to eliminate trafficking compared with the previous reporting period, therefore Zimbabwe remained on Tier 2 Watch List for the second consecutive year; for more details, go to: https://www.state.gov/reports/2025-trafficking-in-persons-report/zimbabwe/

=== Antarctica ===

## Introduction
Background: Speculation over the existence of a "southern land" was confirmed in the early 1820s when British and American commercial operators and British and Russian national expeditions began exploring the Antarctic Peninsula region and other areas south of the Antarctic Circle. In 1840, it was finally established that Antarctica was indeed a continent and not merely a group of islands or an area of ocean. Several exploration "firsts" were achieved in the early 20th century, but the area saw little human activity. Following World War II, however, the continent experienced an upsurge in scientific research. A number of countries have set up a range of year-round and seasonal stations, camps, and refuges to support scientific research in Antarctica. Seven have made territorial claims, with two maintaining the basis for a claim, but most countries do not recognize these claims. In order to form a legal framework for countries' activities on the continent, an Antarctic Treaty was negotiated that neither denies nor recognizes existing territorial claims; it was signed in 1959 and entered into force in 1961. Also relevant to Antarctic governance are the Environmental Protocol to the Antarctic Treaty and the Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources.

## Geography
Location: continent mostly south of the Antarctic Circle
Geographic coordinates: 90 00 S, 0 00 E
Map references: Antarctic Region
Area / total: 14.2 million sq km
Area / land: 14.2 million sq km (285,000 sq km ice-free, 13.915 million sq km ice-covered) (est.)
Area - comparative: slightly less than 1.5 times the size of the US
Land boundaries: note: see entry on Disputes - international
Coastline: 17,968 km
Maritime claims: Australia, Chile, and Argentina claim Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) rights or similar over 200 nm extensions seaward from their continental claims, but like the claims themselves, these zones are not accepted by other countries; 22 of 29 Antarctic Treaty consultative parties have made no claims to Antarctic territory, although Russia and the United States have reserved the right to do so, and no country can make a new claim
Climate: the coldest, windiest, and driest continent on Earth; severe low temperatures vary with latitude, elevation, and distance from the ocean; East Antarctica is colder than West Antarctica because of its higher elevation; Antarctic Peninsula has the most moderate climate; higher temperatures occur in January along the coast and average slightly below freezing; summers characterized by continuous daylight, while winters bring continuous darkness; persistent high pressure over the interior brings dry, subsiding air that results in very little cloud cover
Terrain: about 99% thick continental ice sheet and 1% barren rock, with average elevations between 2,000 and 4,000 m; mountain ranges up to nearly 5,000 m; ice-free coastal areas include parts of southern Victoria Land, Wilkes Land, the Antarctic Peninsula area, and parts of Ross Island on McMurdo Sound; glaciers form ice shelves along about half of the coastline, and floating ice shelves constitute 11% of the area of the continent
Elevation / highest point: Vinson Massif 4,892 m
Elevation / lowest point: Denman Glacier more than -3,500 m (-11,500 ft) below sea level
Elevation / mean elevation: 2,300 m
Natural resources: iron ore, chromium, copper, gold, nickel, platinum and other minerals, and coal and hydrocarbons have been found in small noncommercial quantities; mineral exploitation except for scientific research is banned by the Environmental Protocol to the Antarctic Treaty; krill, icefish, toothfish, and crab have been taken by commercial fisheries, which are managed through the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR)
Land use / agricultural land: 0% (2018 est.)
Natural hazards: katabatic (gravity-driven) winds blow coastward from the high interior; frequent blizzards form near the foot of the plateau; cyclonic storms form over the ocean and move clockwise along the coast; large icebergs may calve from ice shelf volcanism: volcanic activity on Deception Island and isolated areas of West Antarctica; other seismic activity rare and weak
Geography - note: the coldest, windiest, highest (on average), and driest continent; during the summer, more solar radiation reaches the surface at the South Pole than is received at the equator in an equivalent period mostly uninhabitable, 99% of the land area is covered by the Antarctic ice sheet, the largest single mass of ice on Earth; it covers an area of 14 million sq km (5.4 million sq mi) and contains 26.5 million cu km (6.4 million cu mi) of ice (almost 62% of the world's fresh water)

## People and Society
Population: no permanent inhabitants, but staff is present at year-round and summer-only research stations note: 56 countries have signed the 1959 Antarctic Treaty; 30 of those operate a number of seasonal-only (summer) and year-round research stations on the continent and its nearby islands; the population varies from approximately 5,000 in summer to 1,100 in winter, with about 1,000 support personnel on ships nearby as of 2024, peak summer (December-February) maximum capacity in scientific stations - 4,713 total; Argentina 425, Australia 238, Belarus 15, Belgium 55, Brazil 64, Bulgaria 25, Chile 375, China 164, Czechia 32, Ecuador 35, Finland 16, France 136, France and Italy jointly 70, Germany 60, India 72, Italy 150, Japan 130, South Korea 158, New Zealand 85, Norway 60, Peru 30, Poland 41, Russia 211, South Africa 80, Spain 79, Sweden 16, Ukraine 15, United Kingdom 315, United States 1,495 , Uruguay 66 (2024) winter (June-August) maximum capacity in scientific stations - 1,056 total; Argentina 221, Australia 52, Brazil 15, Chile 114, China 32, France 24, France and Italy jointly 13, Germany 9, India 48, Japan 40, Netherlands 10, South Korea 25, NZ 11, Norway 7, Poland 16, Russia 125, South Africa 15, Ukraine 12, UK 44, US 215, Uruguay 8 (2024)

## Environment
Environmental issues: size of ozone hole over continent; ice loss
Climate: the coldest, windiest, and driest continent on Earth; severe low temperatures vary with latitude, elevation, and distance from the ocean; East Antarctica is colder than West Antarctica because of its higher elevation; Antarctic Peninsula has the most moderate climate; higher temperatures occur in January along the coast and average slightly below freezing; summers characterized by continuous daylight, while winters bring continuous darkness; persistent high pressure over the interior brings dry, subsiding air that results in very little cloud cover
Land use / agricultural land: 0% (2018 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / total emissions: 15,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from coal and metallurgical coke: 2,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from petroleum and other liquids: 13,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: none
Country name / conventional short form: Antarctica
Country name / etymology: name derived from two Greek words, anti and arktikos , meaning "opposite to the Arctic" or "opposite to the north"
Government type: the Antarctic Treaty and its follow-on agreements govern the use of Antarctica, ensuring it is used only for peaceful purposes and scientific research; signed in 1959 and in force since 1961, the original Treaty bans military activity, weapons testing, and nuclear waste disposal, while allowing military personnel to assist with research or other peaceful efforts; it promotes international cooperation in science, guarantees the free exchange of research, and freezes territorial claims; the Treaty covers all land and ice south of 60° south latitude, and allows Treaty nations to inspect any station or facility decisions are made by consensus at annual meetings, and member countries implement these decisions through their national laws (see “Legal system”); additional agreements have strengthened the Treaty system, including conventions to protect seals (1972) and other marine life (1980), as well as an environmental protocol (1991, took effect in 1998); the protocol bans mining and includes strict rules on environmental impact, waste, pollution, wildlife, and protected areas; as of December 2024, there are 58 member nations : 29 consultative members , including the 7 claimant countries (Argentina, Australia, Chile, France, New Zealand, Norway, and the UK), and 29 non-consultative members ; a permanent Antarctic Treaty Secretariat, established in 2004 in Buenos Aires, supports the system
Legal system: Antarctica is administered through annual Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meetings that include member nations, observer groups, and experts; decisions are made by consensus and enforced by each country through its own laws, applying to their citizens and operations in the region south of 60° south latitude, including all ice shelves and islands; in the US, the Antarctic Conservation Act prohibits actions like harming native wildlife, introducing non-native species, polluting, or entering protected areas without authorization; the US National Science Foundation and Department of Justice enforce these rules; US expeditions must also notify the Office of Ocean and Polar Affairs at the US Department of State, which informs other Treaty nations, as required under Public Law 95-541
Flag: description: two horizontal bands of navy and white, with a stylized white peak at the center; the peak casts a navy shadow in the shape of a compass arrow pointed south meaning: the bands represent the long days and nights at Antarctica's extreme latitude; the compass arrow is an homage to the continent's legacy of exploration; the peak and the arrow together create a diamond, symbolizing the hope that Antarctica will continue to be a center of peace, discovery, and cooperation history: the flag is unofficial; created in 2018, the True South flag has quickly become popular for its simple yet elegant design and has been used by national Antarctic programs, Antarctic nonprofits, and expedition teams

## Economy

## Energy
Coal / imports: 2,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum / refined petroleum consumption: 79 bbl/day (2023 est.)

## Communications
Internet country code: .aq
Internet users / percent of population: 100% (2021 est.)

## Transportation
Airports: 31 (2025)
Heliports: 5 (2025)
Ports / total ports: 8 (2024)
Ports / large: 0
Ports / medium: 0
Ports / small: 1
Ports / very small: 7
Ports / ports with oil terminals: 0
Ports / key ports: Admiralty Bay, Andersen Harbor, Ellefsen Harbor, McMurdo Station, Melchior Harbor, Port Foster, Port Lockroy, Scotia Bay
Transportation - note: US coastal stations include McMurdo (77 51 S, 166 40 E) and Palmer (64 43 S, 64 03 W); government use only; all ships are subject to inspection in accordance with Article 7 of the Antarctic Treaty; ships must comply with relevant legal instruments and authorization procedures under the Antarctic Treaty (see "Legal System"); The Hydrographic Commission on Antarctica (HCA), a commission of the International Hydrographic Organization (IHO), coordinates and facilitates provision of accurate and appropriate charts and other aids to navigation; membership in HCA is open to any IHO Member State whose government has acceded to the Antarctic Treaty and which contributes resources or data to IHO Chart coverage of the area

## Military and Security
Military - note: the Antarctic Treaty of 1961 prohibits any measures of a military nature, such as the establishment of military bases and fortifications, the carrying out of military maneuvers, or the testing of any type of weapon; it permits the use of military personnel or equipment for scientific research or for any other peaceful purposes

## Transnational Issues

=== Bouvet Island ===

## Introduction
Background: This uninhabited volcanic island in Antarctica is almost entirely covered by glaciers, making it difficult to approach. Bouvet Island is recognized as the most remote island on Earth because it is furthest from any other point of land (1,639 km from Antarctica). The island was named after the French naval officer who discovered it in 1739, although no country laid claim to it until 1825, when the British flag was raised. A few expeditions visited the island in the late 19th century. In 1929, the UK waived its claim in favor of Norway, which had occupied the island two years previously. In 1971, Norway designated Bouvet Island and the adjacent territorial waters as a nature reserve. Since 1977, Norway has run an automated meteorological station and studied foraging strategies and distribution of fur seals and penguins on the island. In 2006, an earthquake weakened the station's foundation, causing it to be blown out to sea in a winter storm. Norway erected a new research station in 2014 that can hold six people for periods of two to four months.

## Geography
Location: island in the South Atlantic Ocean, southwest of the Cape of Good Hope (South Africa)
Geographic coordinates: 54 26 S, 3 24 E
Map references: Antarctic Region
Area / total: 49 sq km
Area / land: 49 sq km
Area / water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative: about 0.3 times the size of Washington, D.C.
Land boundaries / total: 0 km
Coastline: 29.6 km
Maritime claims / territorial sea: 4 nm
Climate: antarctic
Terrain: volcanic; coast is mostly inaccessible
Elevation / highest point: Olavtoppen (Olav Peak) 780 m
Elevation / lowest point: South Atlantic Ocean 0 m
Natural resources: none
Land use / agricultural land: 0% (2018 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 0% (2018 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 0% (2018 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 0% (2018 est.)
Land use / forest: 0% (2018 est.)
Land use / other: 100% (2018 est.)
Natural hazards: occasional volcanism, rock slides; harsh climate, surrounded by pack ice in winter
Geography - note: almost entirely covered by glacial ice (93%); declared a nature reserve by Norway; the distance from Bouvet Island to Norway is 12,776 km, which is almost one-third the circumference of the earth

## People and Society
Population / total: uninhabited

## Environment
Climate: antarctic
Land use / agricultural land: 0% (2018 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 0% (2018 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 0% (2018 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 0% (2018 est.)
Land use / forest: 0% (2018 est.)
Land use / other: 100% (2018 est.)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: none
Country name / conventional short form: Bouvet Island
Country name / etymology: named after the French naval officer Jean-Baptiste Charles BOUVET who discovered the island in 1739
Dependency status: territory of Norway; administered by the Polar Department of the Ministry of Justice and Oslo Police
Legal system: the laws of Norway apply
Flag: the flag of Norway is used

## Economy

## Communications
Internet country code: .bv

## Transportation

## Transnational Issues

=== French Southern and Antarctic Lands ===

## Introduction
Background: In 2007, the Iles Eparses became an integral part of the French Southern and Antarctic Lands (TAAF). The Southern Lands are now divided into five administrative districts, two of which are archipelagos, the Iles Crozet and Iles Kerguelen; the third is a district composed of two volcanic islands, Ile Saint-Paul and Ile Amsterdam; the fourth, Iles Eparses, consists of five scattered tropical islands around Madagascar. They contain no permanent inhabitants and are visited only by researchers studying the native fauna, scientists at the various scientific stations, fishermen, and military personnel. The fifth district is the Antarctic portion, which consists of "Adelie Land," a thin slice of the Antarctic continent discovered and claimed by the French in 1840. Ile Amsterdam: Discovered but not named in 1522 by the Spanish, the island subsequently received the appellation of Nieuw Amsterdam from a Dutchman; it was claimed by France in 1843. A short-lived attempt at cattle farming began in 1871. A French meteorological station established on the island in 1949 is still in use. Ile Saint Paul: Claimed by France since 1893, the island was a fishing industry center from 1843 to 1914. In 1928, a spiny lobster cannery was established, but when the company went bankrupt in 1931, seven workers were abandoned. Only two survived until 1934 when rescue finally arrived. Iles Crozet: A large archipelago formed from the Crozet Plateau, Iles Crozet is divided into two main groups: L'Occidental (the West), which includes Ile aux Cochons, Ilots des Apotres, Ile des Pingouins, and the reefs Brisants de l'Heroine; and L'Oriental (the East), which includes Ile d'Est and Ile de la Possession, the largest island of the Crozets. Discovered and claimed by France in 1772, the islands were used for seal hunting and as a base for whaling. Originally administered as a dependency of Madagascar, they became part of the TAAF in 1955. Iles Kerguelen: This island group, discovered in 1772, consists of one large island (Ile Kerguelen) and about 300 smaller islands. A permanent group of 50 to 100 scientists resides at the main base at Port-aux-Francais. Adelie Land: The only non-insular district of the TAAF is the Antarctic claim known as "Adelie Land." The US Government does not recognize it as a French dependency. Bassas da India: A French possession since 1897, this atoll is a volcanic rock surrounded by reefs and is awash at high tide. Europa Island: This heavily wooded island has been a French possession since 1897; it is the site of a small military garrison that staffs a weather station. Glorioso Islands: A French possession since 1892, the Glorioso Islands are composed of two lushly vegetated coral islands (Ile Glorieuse and Ile du Lys) and three rock islets. A military garrison operates a weather and radio station on Ile Glorieuse. Juan de Nova Island: Named after a famous 15th-century Spanish navigator and explorer, the island has been a French possession since 1897. It has been exploited for its guano and phosphate. Presently a small military garrison oversees a meteorological station. Tromelin Island: First explored by the French in 1776, the island came under the jurisdiction of Reunion in 1814. At present, it serves as a sea turtle sanctuary and is the site of an important meteorological station.

## Geography
Location: southeast and east of Africa, islands in the southern Indian Ocean, some near Madagascar and others about equidistant between Africa, Antarctica, and Australia; note - French Southern and Antarctic Lands include Ile Amsterdam, Ile Saint-Paul, Iles Crozet, Iles Kerguelen, Bassas da India, Europa Island, Glorioso Islands, Juan de Nova Island, and Tromelin Island in the southern Indian Ocean, along with the French-claimed sector of Antarctica, "Adelie Land"; the US does not recognize the French claim to "Adelie Land"
Geographic coordinates: Ile Amsterdam (Ile Amsterdam et Ile Saint-Paul): 37 50 S, 77 32 E Ile Saint-Paul (Ile Amsterdam et Ile Saint-Paul): 38 72 S, 77 53 E Iles Crozet: 46 25 S, 51 00 E Iles Kerguelen: 49 15 S, 69 35 E Bassas da India (Iles Eparses): 21 30 S, 39 50 E Europa Island (Iles Eparses): 22 20 S, 40 22 E Glorioso Islands (Iles Eparses): 11 30 S, 47 20 E Juan de Nova Island (Iles Eparses): 17 03 S, 42 45 E Tromelin Island (Iles Eparses): 15 52 S, 54 25 E
Map references: Antarctic Region Africa
Area: Ile Amsterdam (Ile Amsterdam et Ile Saint-Paul): total - 55 sq km; land - 55 sq km; water - 0 sq km Ile Saint-Paul (Ile Amsterdam et Ile Saint-Paul): total - 7 sq km; land - 7 sq km; water - 0 sq km Iles Crozet: total - 352 sq km; land - 352 sq km; water - 0 sq km Iles Kerguelen: total - 7,215 sq km; land - 7,215 sq km; water - 0 sq km Bassas da India (Iles Eparses): total - 80 sq km; land - 0.2 sq km; water - 79.8 sq km (lagoon) Europa Island (Iles Eparses): total - 28 sq km; land - 28 sq km; water - 0 sq km Glorioso Islands (Iles Eparses): total - 5 sq km; land - 5 sq km; water - 0 sq km Juan de Nova Island (Iles Eparses): total - 4.4 sq km; land - 4.4 sq km; water - 0 sq km Tromelin Island (Iles Eparses): total - 1 sq km; land - 1 sq km; water - 0 sq km note: excludes "Adelie Land" claim of about 500,000 sq km in Antarctica that is not recognized by the US
Area - comparative: Ile Amsterdam (Ile Amsterdam et Ile Saint-Paul): less than one-half the size of Washington, D.C. Ile Saint-Paul (Ile Amsterdam et Ile Saint-Paul): more than 10 times the size of the National Mall in Washington, D.C. Iles Crozet: about twice the size of Washington, D.C. Iles Kerguelen: slightly larger than Delaware Bassas da India (Iles Eparses): land area about one-third the size of the National Mall in Washington, D.C. Europa Island (Iles Eparses): about one-sixth the size of Washington, D.C. Glorioso Islands (Iles Eparses): about eight times the size of the National Mall in Washington, D.C. Juan de Nova Island (Iles Eparses): about seven times the size of the National Mall in Washington, D.C. Tromelin Island (Iles Eparses): about 1.7 times the size of the National Mall in Washington, D.C.
Land boundaries / total: 0 km
Coastline: Ile Amsterdam (Ile Amsterdam et Ile Saint-Paul): 28 km Ile Saint-Paul (Ile Amsterdam et Ile Saint-Paul): Iles Kerguelen: 2,800 km Bassas da India (Iles Eparses): 35.2 km Europa Island (Iles Eparses): 22.2 km Glorioso Islands (Iles Eparses): 35.2 km Juan de Nova Island (Iles Eparses): 24.1 km Tromelin Island (Iles Eparses): 3.7 km
Maritime claims / territorial sea: 12 nm
Maritime claims / exclusive economic zone: 200 nm from Iles Kerguelen and Iles Eparses (does not include the rest of French Southern and Antarctic Lands); Juan de Nova Island and Tromelin Island claim a continental shelf of 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Climate: Ile Amsterdam et Ile Saint-Paul: oceanic with persistent westerly winds and high humidity Iles Crozet: windy, cold, wet, and cloudy Iles Kerguelen: oceanic, cold, overcast, windy Iles Eparses: tropical
Terrain: Ile Amsterdam (Ile Amsterdam et Ile Saint-Paul): a volcanic island with steep coastal cliffs; the center floor of the volcano is a large plateau Ile Saint-Paul (Ile Amsterdam et Ile Saint-Paul): triangular in shape, the island is the top of a volcano, rocky with steep cliffs on the eastern side; has active thermal springs Iles Crozet: a large archipelago formed from the Crozet Plateau is divided into two groups of islands Iles Kerguelen: the interior of the large island of Ile Kerguelen is composed of high mountains, hills, valleys, and plains with peninsulas stretching off its coasts Bassas da India (Iles Eparses): atoll, awash at high tide; shallow (15 m) lagoon Europa Island, Glorioso Islands, Juan de Nova Island: low, flat, and sandy Tromelin Island (Iles Eparses): low, flat, sandy; likely volcanic seamount
Elevation / highest point: Mont de la Dives on Ile Amsterdam (Ile Amsterdam et Ile Saint-Paul) 867 m
Elevation / lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
Natural resources: fish, crayfish, note, Glorioso Islands and Tromelin Island (Iles Eparses) have guano, phosphates, and coconuts
Natural hazards: Ile Amsterdam and Ile Saint-Paul are inactive volcanoes; Iles Éparses are subject to periodic cyclones; Bassas da India is a maritime hazard because it is under water for three hours before and after high tide volcanism: Reunion Island - Piton de la Fournaise (2,632 m), which has erupted many times in recent years, is one of the world's most active volcanoes; although rare, eruptions outside the volcano's caldera could threaten nearby cities
Geography - note: islands are widely scattered across remote locations in the southern Indian Ocean Bassas da India (Iles Éparses): atoll is a circular reef on top of a long-extinct, submerged volcano Europa Island and Juan de Nova Island (Iles Éparses): wildlife sanctuary for seabirds and sea turtles Glorioso Island (Iles Éparses): an extensive reef system surrounds the island Tromelin Island (Iles Éparses): climatologically important location for forecasting cyclones in the western Indian Ocean; wildlife sanctuary (seabirds, tortoises)

## People and Society
Population / total: no permanent inhabitants

## Environment
Environmental issues: problems from introduction of foreign species on Iles Crozet; overfishing of Patagonian toothfish around Iles Crozet and Iles Kerguelen
Climate: Ile Amsterdam et Ile Saint-Paul: oceanic with persistent westerly winds and high humidity Iles Crozet: windy, cold, wet, and cloudy Iles Kerguelen: oceanic, cold, overcast, windy Iles Eparses: tropical

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: Territory of the French Southern and Antarctic Lands
Country name / conventional short form: French Southern and Antarctic Lands
Country name / local long form: Terres australes et antarctiques fran&ccedil;aises
Country name / local short form: Terres Australes et Antarctiques Fran&ccedil;aises
Country name / abbreviation: TAAF
Country name / etymology: self-descriptive name specifying the territories' affiliation and location in the Southern Hemisphere
Dependency status: overseas territory of France since 1955
Administrative divisions: no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US government, but the 5 administrative districts are Iles Crozet, Iles &Eacute;parses, Iles Kerguelen, Ile Saint-Paul et Ile Amsterdam, and "Adelie Land," a claim in Antarctica that the US does not recognize
Legal system: the laws of France apply
Citizenship: see France
Executive branch / chief of state: President Emmanuel MACRON (since 14 May 2017), represented by Prefect Florence JEANBLANC-RISLER (since 5 October 2022)
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (overseas territory of France)
Diplomatic representation from the US / embassy: none (overseas territory of France)
International organization participation: UPU
Flag: the flag of France is used
National anthem(s) / title: "La Marseillaise" (The Song of Marseille)
National anthem(s) / lyrics/music: Claude-Joseph ROUGET de Lisle
National anthem(s) / history: official anthem, as a French territory

## Economy
Economic overview: very small, fishing-based, domestic economic activity; military base servicing
Exports - partners: France 47%, USA 34%, Poland 9%, Singapore 3%, Saudi Arabia 2% (2023)
Exports - commodities: fish (2023)
Imports - partners: France 41%, Ireland 15%, Germany 11%, Poland 7%, Netherlands 7% (2023)
Imports - commodities: scented mixtures, industrial acids/oils/alcohols, surveying equipment, fish, refined petroleum (2023)

## Communications
Internet country code: .tf

## Transportation
Airports: 4 (2025)
Heliports: 3 (2025)
Merchant marine / total: 2 (2023)
Merchant marine / by type: other 2

## Military and Security
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of France; the French military maintains a Foreign Legion detachment on Mayotte to maintain France&rsquo;s presence in the region and support French forces operating in the southern zone of the Indian Ocean and the east coast of Africa; the detachment regularly deploys to the outlying Glorioso Islands

## Transnational Issues

=== Heard Island and McDonald Islands ===

## Introduction
Background: American sailor John HEARD discovered Heard Island in 1853 while fellow American William MCDONALD discovered the McDonald Islands the following year. Starting in 1855, sealers lived on the islands and harvested elephant seal oil; by the time the practice was ended in 1877, most of the islands’ seals were killed. The UK formally claimed the islands in 1910, and Australian explorer Douglas MAWSON visited Heard Island in 1929. In 1947, the UK transferred the islands to Australia for its Antarctica research, but Australia closed the research station on Heard Island in 1954 when it opened a new research station on the Antarctic continent. McDonald Island has been an active volcano since it emerged from dormancy in 1992, and the island doubled in size after an eruption in 1996. In 1997, the islands were named a UNESCO World Heritage site. Populated by a large number of bird species, seals, and penguins, the islands are primarily used for research, with limited fishing permitted in the surrounding waters.

## Geography
Location: islands in the Indian Ocean, about two-thirds of the way from Madagascar to Antarctica
Geographic coordinates: 53 06 S, 72 31 E
Map references: Antarctic Region
Area / total: 412 sq km
Area / land: 412 sq km
Area / water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly more than two times the size of Washington, D.C.
Land boundaries / total: 0 km
Coastline: 101.9 km
Maritime claims / territorial sea: 12 nm
Maritime claims / exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
Climate: antarctic
Terrain: Heard Island - 80% ice-covered, bleak and mountainous, dominated by a large massif (Big Ben) and an active volcano (Mawson Peak); McDonald Islands - small and rocky
Elevation / highest point: Mawson Peak on Big Ben volcano 2,745 m
Elevation / lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
Natural resources: fish
Land use / agricultural land: 0% (2011 est.)
Land use / other: 100% (2018 est.)
Natural hazards: Mawson Peak, an active volcano, is on Heard Island
Geography - note: Mawson Peak on Heard Island is the highest Australian mountain; at 2,745 m (9,006 ft), Mawson is taller than Mt. Kosciuszko in mainland Australia), and one of only two active volcanoes located in Australian territory; in 1992, McDonald Island, the other active volcano, broke its dormancy and began erupting; it has erupted several times since

## People and Society
Population / total: uninhabited

## Environment
Climate: antarctic
Land use / agricultural land: 0% (2011 est.)
Land use / other: 100% (2018 est.)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: Territory of Heard Island and McDonald Islands
Country name / conventional short form: Heard Island and McDonald Islands
Country name / abbreviation: HIMI
Country name / etymology: named after US Captain John HEARD, who sighted the island on 25 November 1853, and US Captain William McDONALD, who discovered the islands on 4 January 1854
Dependency status: territory of Australia; administered from Canberra by the Department of Agriculture, Water, and the Environment (Australian Antarctic Division)
Legal system: the laws of Australia apply
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (territory of Australia)
Diplomatic representation from the US / embassy: none (territory of Australia)
Flag: the flag of Australia is used
National heritage / total World Heritage Sites: 1 (natural); note - excerpted from the Australia entry
National heritage / selected World Heritage Site locales: Heard Island and McDonald Islands

## Economy

## Communications
Internet country code: .hm

## Transportation
Heliports: 2 (2025)

## Military and Security
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of Australia

## Transnational Issues

=== American Samoa ===

## Introduction
Background: Tutuila -- the largest island in American Samoa -- was settled by 1000 B.C., and the island served as a refuge for exiled chiefs and defeated warriors from the other Samoan islands. The Manu’a Islands, which are also now part of American Samoa, developed a traditional chiefdom that maintained autonomy by controlling oceanic trade. In 1722, Dutch explorer Jacob ROGGEVEEN was the first European to sail through the Manu’a Islands, and he was followed by French explorer Louis Antoine DE BOUGAINVILLE in 1768. Whalers and missionaries arrived in American Samoa in the 1830s, but American and European traders tended to favor the port in Apia -- now in independent Samoa -- over the smaller and less-developed Pago Pago on Tutuila. In the mid-1800s, a dispute arose in Samoa over control of the Samoan archipelago, with different chiefs gaining support from Germany, the UK, and the US. In 1872, the high chief of Tutuila offered the US exclusive rights to Pago Pago in return for US protection, but the US rejected this offer. As fighting resumed, the US agreed to the chief’s request in 1878 and set up a coaling station at Pago Pago. In 1899, with continued disputes over succession, Germany and the US agreed to divide the Samoan islands, while the UK withdrew its claims in exchange for parts of the Solomon Islands. Local chiefs on Tutuila formally ceded their land to the US in 1900, followed by the chief of Manu’a in 1904. The territory was officially named “American Samoa” in 1911. The US administered the territory through the Department of the Navy. In 1949, there was an attempt to organize the territory, granting it formal self-government, but local chiefs helped defeat the measure in the US Congress. Administration was transferred to the Department of the Interior in 1951, and in 1967, American Samoa adopted a constitution that provides significant protections for traditional Samoan land-tenure rules, language, and culture. In 1977, after four attempts, voters approved a measure to directly elect their governor. Nevertheless, American Samoa officially remains an unorganized territory, and people born in American Samoa are US nationals rather than US citizens.

## Geography
Location: Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about halfway between Hawaii and New Zealand
Geographic coordinates: 14 20 S, 170 00 W
Map references: Oceania
Area / total: 224 sq km
Area / land: 224 sq km
Area / water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly larger than Washington, D.C.
Land boundaries / total: 0 km
Coastline: 116 km
Maritime claims / territorial sea: 12 nm
Maritime claims / exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate: tropical marine, moderated by southeast trade winds; annual rainfall averages about 3 m; rainy season (November to April), dry season (May to October); little seasonal temperature variation
Terrain: five volcanic islands with rugged peaks and limited coastal plains, two coral atolls (Rose Atoll, Swains Island)
Elevation / highest point: Lata Mountain 964 m
Elevation / lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
Natural resources: pumice, pumicite
Land use / agricultural land: 14.8% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 5.2% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 9.6% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 0% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 79.2% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 6% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land: 0 sq km (2022)
Natural hazards: cyclones common from December to March volcanism: limited volcanic activity on the Ofu and Olosega Islands; neither has erupted since the 19th century
Geography - note: Pago Pago has one of the best natural deepwater harbors in the South Pacific Ocean, sheltered by shape from rough seas and protected by peripheral mountains from high winds; strategic location in the South Pacific Ocean

## People and Society
Population / total: 43,268 (2025 est.)
Population / male: 21,478
Population / female: 21,790
Nationality / noun: American Samoan(s) (US nationals)
Nationality / adjective: American Samoan
Ethnic groups: Pacific Islander 88.7% (includes Samoan 83.2%, Tongan 2.2%, other 3.3%), Asian 5.8% (includes Filipino 3.4%, other 2.4%), mixed 4.4%, other 1.1% (2020 est.)
Languages: Samoan 87.9% (closely related to Hawaiian and other Polynesian languages), English 3.3%, Tongan 2.1%, other Pacific Islander 4.1%, Asian languages 2.1%, other 0.5% (2020 est.)
Religions: Christian 98.3%, other <1%, unaffiliated <1% (2020 est.)
Age structure / 0-14 years: 25.3% (male 5,738/female 5,387)
Age structure / 15-64 years: 66% (male 14,291/female 14,679)
Age structure / 65 years and over: 8.7% (2024 est.) (male 1,775/female 2,025)
Dependency ratios / total dependency ratio: 51.3 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / youth dependency ratio: 37.5 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / elderly dependency ratio: 13.8 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / potential support ratio: 7.2 (2025 est.)
Median age / total: 30.6 years (2025 est.)
Median age / male: 29.4 years
Median age / female: 30.6 years
Population growth rate: -1.33% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 15.3 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 6.4 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: -22.23 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Urbanization / urban population: 87.2% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 0.26% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 49,000 PAGO PAGO (capital) (2018)
Sex ratio / at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 0-14 years: 1.07 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 65 years and over: 0.88 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Infant mortality rate / total: 9.5 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Infant mortality rate / male: 11.7 deaths/1,000 live births
Infant mortality rate / female: 7.6 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth / total population: 75.8 years (2024 est.)
Life expectancy at birth / male: 73.4 years
Life expectancy at birth / female: 78.5 years
Total fertility rate: 1.99 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 0.96 (2025 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: total: total: 99.8% of population
Drinking water source / unimproved: total: total: 0.2% of population (2020 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: total: total: 98.5% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: total: total: 1.5% of population (2022 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49): 47.4% (2020 est.)

## Environment
Environmental issues: limited supply of drinking water; pollution; waste disposal; coastal and stream alteration; soil erosion
Climate: tropical marine, moderated by southeast trade winds; annual rainfall averages about 3 m; rainy season (November to April), dry season (May to October); little seasonal temperature variation
Land use / agricultural land: 14.8% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 5.2% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 9.6% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 0% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 79.2% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 6% (2023 est.)
Urbanization / urban population: 87.2% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 0.26% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / total emissions: 389,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from petroleum and other liquids: 389,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Waste and recycling / municipal solid waste generated annually: 19,000 tons (2024 est.)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: American Samoa
Country name / conventional short form: American Samoa
Country name / former: Eastern Samoa
Country name / abbreviation: AS
Country name / etymology: the name's meaning is disputed; according to one theory, sa means "sacred" and moa means "center," so the name can mean "Holy Center"; alternatively, some assert that the name can mean "place of the sacred moa bird" of Polynesian mythology; however, the name may pre-date the Polynesian era (before 1000 B.C.), with sa'a meaning "tribe or people" and moa meaning "deep sea," or "people of the deep sea"
Government type: unincorporated, unorganized Territory of the US with local self-government; republican form of territorial government with separate executive, legislative, and judicial branches
Dependency status: unincorporated, unorganized Territory of the US; administered by the Office of Insular Affairs, US Department of the Interior
Capital / name: Pago Pago
Capital / geographic coordinates: 14 16 S, 170 42 W
Capital / time difference: UTC-11 (6 hours behind Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Administrative divisions: no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US government, but 3 districts and 2 islands* are considered second-order; Eastern, Manu'a, Rose Island*, Swains Island*, Western
Legal system: mixed legal system of US common law and customary law
Constitution / history: adopted 17 October 1960; revised 1 July 1967
Constitution / amendment process: proposed by either house of the Legislative Assembly; passage requires three-fifths majority vote by the membership of each house, approval by simple majority vote in a referendum, approval by the US Secretary of the Interior, and only by an act of the US Congress
Citizenship: see United States note: in accordance with US Code Title 8, Section 1408, persons born in American Samoa are US nationals but not US citizens
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch / chief of state: President Donald J. TRUMP (since 20 January 2025)
Executive branch / head of government: Governor Nikolao PULA (since 3 January 2025)
Executive branch / cabinet: Cabinet consists of 12 department directors appointed by the governor with the consent of the Legislature or Fono
Executive branch / election/appointment process: president and vice president indirectly elected on the same ballot by an Electoral College of 'electors' chosen from each state to serve a 4-year term (eligible for a second term); under the US Constitution, residents of unincorporated territories such as American Samoa do not vote in elections for US president and vice president; however, they may vote in Democratic and Republican presidential primary elections; governor and lieutenant governor directly elected on the same ballot by absolute-majority popular vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a 4-year term (eligible for a second term)
Executive branch / most recent election date: 19 November 2024
Executive branch / election results: Lemanu Peleti MAUGA elected governor in first round; percent of vote - Lemanu Peleti MAUGA (independent) 60.3%, Gaoteote Palaie TOFAU (independent) 21.9%, I'aulualo Fa'afetai TALIA (independent) 12.3%
Executive branch / expected date of next election: November 2028
Judicial branch / highest court(s): High Court of American Samoa (consists of the chief justice, associate chief justice, and 6 Samoan associate judges and organized into trial, family, drug, and appellate divisions)
Judicial branch / judge selection and term of office: chief justice and associate chief justice appointed by the US Secretary of the Interior to serve for life; Samoan associate judges appointed by the governor to serve for life
Judicial branch / subordinate courts: district and village courts
Political parties: Democratic Party Republican Party
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (territory of the US)
Diplomatic representation from the US / embassy: none (territory of the US)
International organization participation: AOSIS (observer), Interpol (subbureau), IOC, PIF (observer), SPC
Independence: none (territory of the US)
National holiday: Flag Day, 17 April (1900)
Flag: description: a large white triangle edged in red is based on the right side and extends to the left side, and it is on a dark blue field; a bald eagle holding a Samoan war club ( fa'alaufa'i ) and a coconut-fiber fly whisk ( fue ) sits on the right side of the flag meaning: the war club and fly whisk are traditional Samoan symbols of authority; the eagle carrying two objects echoes the US Great Seal and reflects the relationship between the United States and American Samoa; the red, white, and blue colors are traditionally used by both countries
National symbol(s): a fue (coconut fiber fly whisk that represents wisdom) crossed with a to'oto'o (staff that represents authority)
National color(s): red, white, blue
National anthem(s) / title: "The Star-Spangled Banner"
National anthem(s) / lyrics/music: Francis Scott KEY/John Stafford SMITH
National anthem(s) / history: official anthem, as a US territory

## Economy
Economic overview: tourism, tuna, and government services-based territorial economy; sustained economic decline; vulnerable tuna canning industry; large territorial government presence; minimum wage increases to rise to federal standards by 2036
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2016: $658 million (2016 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2015: $674.9 million (2015 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2014: $666.9 billion (2014 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2022: 1.7% (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2021: -0.8% (2021 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2020: 4.4% (2020 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $871 million (2022 est.)
Agricultural products: bananas, coconuts, vegetables, taro, breadfruit, yams, copra, pineapples, papayas; dairy products, livestock
Industries: tuna canneries (largely supplied by foreign fishing vessels), handicrafts
Budget / revenues: $249 million (2016 est.)
Budget / expenditures: $262.5 million (2016 est.)
Exports / Exports 2022: $409 million (2022 est.)
Exports / Exports 2021: $332 million (2021 est.)
Exports / Exports 2020: $427 million (2020 est.)
Exports - partners: Australia 31%, UK 18%, Tanzania 9%, UAE 7%, Senegal 6% (2023)
Exports - commodities: animal meal, aluminum, refined petroleum, gas turbines, broadcasting equipment (2023)
Imports / Imports 2022: $677 million (2022 est.)
Imports / Imports 2021: $694 million (2021 est.)
Imports / Imports 2020: $686 million (2020 est.)
Imports - partners: Singapore 28%, NZ 15%, Fiji 14%, Taiwan 11%, Malaysia 11% (2023)
Imports - commodities: refined petroleum, fish, paper containers, wood, construction vehicles (2023)
Exchange rates: the US dollar is used

## Energy
Electricity / installed generating capacity: 50,000 kW (2023 est.)
Electricity / consumption: 157.697 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / transmission/distribution losses: 13.975 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / fossil fuels: 97.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / solar: 2.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Petroleum / refined petroleum consumption: 3,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Energy consumption per capita / Total energy consumption per capita 2019: 89.105 million Btu/person (2019 est.)

## Communications
Telephones - fixed lines / total subscriptions: 9,690 (2022 est.)
Telephones - fixed lines / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 20 (2022 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / total subscriptions: 2,250 (2004 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 4 (2004 est.)
Broadcast media: 3 TV stations; multi-channel pay TV services are available; about a dozen radio stations, some of which are repeater stations
Internet country code: .as
Internet users / percent of population: 40.3% (1990 est.)

## Transportation
Airports: 3 (2025)
Ports / total ports: 1 (2024)
Ports / large: 0
Ports / medium: 0
Ports / small: 1
Ports / very small: 0
Ports / ports with oil terminals: 1
Ports / key ports: Pago Pago Harbor

## Military and Security
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of the US

## Transnational Issues

=== Australia ===

## Introduction
Background: Aboriginal Australians arrived on the continent at least 60,000 years ago and developed complex hunter-gatherer societies and oral histories. Dutch navigators led by Abel TASMAN were the first Europeans to land in Australia in 1606, and they mapped the western and northern coasts. They named the continent New Holland but made no attempts to permanently settle it. In 1770, Englishman James COOK sailed to the east coast of Australia, named it New South Wales, and claimed it for Great Britain. In 1788 and 1825 respectively, Great Britain established New South Wales and then Tasmania as penal colonies. Great Britain and Ireland sent more than 150,000 convicts to Australia before ending the practice in 1868. As Europeans began settling areas away from the coasts, they came into more direct contact with Aboriginal Australians. Europeans also cleared land for agriculture, impacting Aboriginal Australians’ ways of life. These issues, along with disease and a policy in the 1900s that forcefully removed Aboriginal children from their parents, reduced the Aboriginal Australian population from more than 700,000 pre-European contact to a low of 74,000 in 1933. Four additional colonies were established in Australia in the mid-1800s: Western Australia (1829), South Australia (1836), Victoria (1851), and Queensland (1859). Gold rushes beginning in the 1850s brought thousands of new immigrants to New South Wales and Victoria, helping to reorient Australia away from its penal colony roots. In the second half of the 1800s, the colonies were all gradually granted self-government, and in 1901, they federated and became the Commonwealth of Australia. Australia contributed more than 400,000 troops to Allied efforts during World War I, and Australian troops played a large role in the defeat of Japanese troops in the Pacific in World War II. Australia severed most constitutional links with the UK in 1942 but remained part of the British Commonwealth. Australia’s post-war economy boomed and by the 1970s, racial policies that prevented most non-Whites from immigrating to Australia were removed, greatly increasing Asian immigration to the country. In recent decades, Australia has become an internationally competitive, advanced market economy due in large part to economic reforms adopted in the 1980s and its proximity to East and Southeast Asia. In the early 2000s, Australian politics became unstable with frequent attempts to oust party leaders, including five changes of prime minister between 2010 and 2018. As a result, both major parties instituted rules to make it harder to remove a party leader.

## Geography
Location: Oceania, continent between the Indian Ocean and the South Pacific Ocean
Geographic coordinates: 27 00 S, 133 00 E
Map references: Oceania
Area / total: 7,741,220 sq km
Area / land: 7,682,300 sq km
Area / water: 58,920 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly smaller than the 48 contiguous US states
Land boundaries / total: 0 km
Coastline: 25,760 km
Maritime claims / territorial sea: 12 nm
Maritime claims / contiguous zone: 24 nm
Maritime claims / exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Maritime claims / continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
Climate: generally arid to semiarid; temperate in south and east; tropical in north
Terrain: mostly low plateau with deserts; fertile plain in southeast
Elevation / highest point: Mount Kosciuszko 2,228 m
Elevation / lowest point: Lake Eyre -15 m
Elevation / mean elevation: 330 m
Natural resources: alumina, coal, iron ore, copper, lithium, tin, gold, silver, uranium, nickel, tungsten, rare earth elements, mineral sands, lead, zinc, diamonds, opals, natural gas, petroleum
Land use / agricultural land: 47.2% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 4% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 0.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 43.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 17.3% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 35.4% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land: 19,450 sq km (2022)
Major lakes (area sq km) / fresh water lake(s): Lake Alexandrina - 570 sq km
Major lakes (area sq km) / salt water lake(s): Lake Eyre - 9,690 sq km; Lake Torrens (ephemeral) - 5,780 sq km; Lake Gairdner - 4,470 sq km; Lake Mackay (ephemeral) - 3,494 sq km; Lake Frome - 2,410 sq km; Lake Amadeus (ephemeral) - 1,032 sq km
Major rivers (by length in km): River Murray - 2,508 km; Darling River - 1,545 km; Murrumbidgee River - 1,485 km; Lachlan River - 1,339 km; Cooper Creek - 1,113 km; Flinders River - 1,004 km
Major watersheds (area sq km) / Indian Ocean drainage: (Great Australian Bight) Murray-Darling (1,050,116 sq km)
Major watersheds (area sq km) / Internal (endorheic basin) drainage: Lake Eyre (1,212,198 sq km)
Major aquifers: Great Artesian Basin, Canning Basin
Population distribution: population is primarily located on the periphery, with the highest concentration of people residing in the east and southeast; a secondary population center is located in and around Perth in the west; of the states and territories, New South Wales has, by far, the largest population; the interior, or "outback," has a very sparse population
Natural hazards: cyclones along the coast; severe droughts; forest fires volcanism: volcanic activity on Heard and McDonald Islands
Geography - note: note 1: world's smallest continent but sixth-largest country; the largest country in Oceania, the largest country entirely in the Southern Hemisphere, and the largest country without land borders note 2: the Great Dividing Range that runs along eastern Australia is that continent’s longest mountain range and the third-longest land-based range in the world; the term "Great Dividing Range" refers to the fact that the mountains form a watershed crest from which all of the rivers of eastern Australia flow – east, west, north, and south note 3: Australia is the only continent without glaciers; it is the driest inhabited continent on earth; Perth on the west coast is home to the invigorating sea breeze known as the "Fremantle Doctor," one of the most consistent winds in the world; Australia hosts 10% of the world's biodiversity, and a great number of its flora and fauna exist nowhere else in the world

## People and Society
Population / total: 27,490,921 (2025 est.)
Population / male: 13,685,935
Population / female: 13,804,986
Nationality / noun: Australian(s)
Nationality / adjective: Australian
Ethnic groups: English 33%, Australian 29.9%, Irish 9.5%, Scottish 8.6%, Chinese 5.5%, Italian 4.4%, German 4%, Indian 3.1%, Australian Aboriginal 2.9%, Greek 1.7%, unspecified 4.7% (2021 est.)
Languages: English 72%, Mandarin 2.7%, Arabic 1.4%, Vietnamese 1.3%, Cantonese 1.2%, other 15.7%, unspecified 5.7% (2021 est.)
Religions: Roman Catholic 20%, Protestant 18.1% (Anglican 9.8%, Uniting Church 2.6%, Presbyterian and Reformed 1.6%, Baptist 1.4%, Pentecostal 1%, other Protestant 1.7%), other Christian 3.5%, Muslim 3.2%, Hindu 2.7%, Buddhist 2.4%, Orthodox 2.3% (Eastern Orthodox 2.1%, Oriental Orthodox 0.2%), other 2.1%, none 38.4%, unspecified 7.3% (2021 est.)
Age structure / 0-14 years: 18.3% (male 2,526,772/female 2,369,425)
Age structure / 15-64 years: 64.7% (male 8,688,023/female 8,640,671)
Age structure / 65 years and over: 17% (2024 est.) (male 2,090,315/female 2,453,392)
Dependency ratios / total dependency ratio: 53.3 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / youth dependency ratio: 26.7 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / elderly dependency ratio: 26.5 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / potential support ratio: 3.8 (2025 est.)
Median age / total: 38.5 years (2025 est.)
Median age / male: 36.9 years
Median age / female: 39.2 years
Population growth rate: 1.59% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 10.75 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 6.81 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: 11.98 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution: population is primarily located on the periphery, with the highest concentration of people residing in the east and southeast; a secondary population center is located in and around Perth in the west; of the states and territories, New South Wales has, by far, the largest population; the interior, or "outback," has a very sparse population
Urbanization / urban population: 86.6% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 1.27% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 5.235 million Melbourne, 5.121 million Sydney, 2.505 million Brisbane, 2.118 million Perth, 1.367 million Adelaide, 472,000 CANBERRA (capital) (2023)
Sex ratio / at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 0-14 years: 1.07 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 65 years and over: 0.85 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth: 28.7 years (2019 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio: 2 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Infant mortality rate / total: 3 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Infant mortality rate / male: 3.2 deaths/1,000 live births
Infant mortality rate / female: 2.7 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth / total population: 83.5 years (2024 est.)
Life expectancy at birth / male: 81.3 years
Life expectancy at birth / female: 85.7 years
Total fertility rate: 1.5 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 0.73 (2025 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: urban: urban: 100% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: rural: rural: 100% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: total: total: 100% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: urban: urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: rural: rural: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: total: total: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 10.5% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 20.2% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density: 4.09 physicians/1,000 population (2022)
Hospital bed density: 3.8 beds/1,000 population (2016 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: total: total: 100% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: total: total: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 29% (2016)
Alcohol consumption per capita / total: 9.51 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / beer: 3.71 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / wine: 3.67 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / spirits: 1.32 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / other alcohols: 0.81 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Tobacco use / total: 11.4% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / male: 13.6% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / female: 9.2% (2025 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49): 54% (2021 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% GDP): 5.1% of GDP (2022 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% national budget): 12.7% national budget (2022 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / total: 21 years (2023 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / male: 20 years (2023 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / female: 21 years (2023 est.)

## Environment
Environmental issues: soil erosion from overgrazing, deforestation, industrial development, urbanization, and poor farming practices; limited natural freshwater resources; soil salinity from use of poor-quality water, drought, desertification; habitat loss from agricultural clearing; floral extinctions; Great Barrier Reef preservation; overfishing; pollution; invasive species
International environmental agreements / party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protection, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling
International environmental agreements / signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Climate: generally arid to semiarid; temperate in south and east; tropical in north
Land use / agricultural land: 47.2% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 4% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 0.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 43.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 17.3% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 35.4% (2023 est.)
Urbanization / urban population: 86.6% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 1.27% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / total emissions: 394.653 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from coal and metallurgical coke: 146.81 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from petroleum and other liquids: 154.346 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from consumed natural gas: 93.497 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Particulate matter emissions: 9.1 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Methane emissions / energy: 2,146 kt (2022-2024 est.)
Methane emissions / agriculture: 2,382.2 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Methane emissions / waste: 587.8 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Methane emissions / other: 144.1 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Waste and recycling / municipal solid waste generated annually: 13.345 million tons (2024 est.)
Waste and recycling / percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 52.9% (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / municipal: 2.43 billion cubic meters (2022)
Total water withdrawal / industrial: 3.11 billion cubic meters (2022)
Total water withdrawal / agricultural: 11.19 billion cubic meters (2022)
Total renewable water resources: 492 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: Commonwealth of Australia
Country name / conventional short form: Australia
Country name / etymology: the name Australia derives from the Latin australis meaning "southern;" the Australian landmass was long referred to as "Terra Australis," or the Southern Land
Government type: federal parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy; a Commonwealth realm
Capital / name: Canberra
Capital / geographic coordinates: 35 16 S, 149 08 E
Capital / time difference: UTC+11 (16 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Capital / daylight saving time: +1hr, begins first Sunday in October; ends first Sunday in April
Capital / time zone note: Australia has six time zones, including Lord Howe Island (UTC+11)
Capital / etymology: the name may derive from the Aboriginal word nganbirra , meaning "meeting place"
Administrative divisions: 6 states and 2 territories*; Australian Capital Territory*, New South Wales, Northern Territory*, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, Western Australia
Dependent areas: Ashmore and Cartier Islands, Christmas Island, Cocos (Keeling) Islands, Coral Sea Islands, Heard Island and McDonald Islands, Jervis Bay, Norfolk Island (7)
Legal system: common law system based on the English model
Constitution / history: approved in a series of referenda from 1898 through 1900 and became law 9 July 1900, effective 1 January 1901
Constitution / amendment process: proposed by Parliament; passage requires approval of a referendum bill by absolute majority vote in both houses of Parliament, approval in a referendum by a majority of voters in at least four states and in the territories, and Royal Assent; proposals that would reduce a state&rsquo;s representation in either house or change a state&rsquo;s boundaries require that state&rsquo;s approval prior to Royal Assent
International law organization participation: accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Citizenship / citizenship by birth: no
Citizenship / citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen or permanent resident of Australia
Citizenship / dual citizenship recognized: yes
Citizenship / residency requirement for naturalization: 4 years
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Executive branch / chief of state: King CHARLES III (since 8 September 2022); represented by Governor General Samantha (Sam) MOSTYN (since 1 July 2024)
Executive branch / head of government: Prime Minister Anthony ALBANESE (since 23 May 2022)
Executive branch / cabinet: Cabinet nominated by the prime minister from among members of Parliament and sworn in by the governor general
Executive branch / election/appointment process: the monarchy is hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch on the recommendation of the prime minister; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or majority coalition is sworn in as prime minister by the governor general
Legislative branch / legislature name: Parliament
Legislative branch / legislative structure: bicameral
Legislative branch - lower chamber / chamber name: House of Representatives
Legislative branch - lower chamber / number of seats: 150 (all directly elected)
Legislative branch - lower chamber / electoral system: plurality/majority
Legislative branch - lower chamber / scope of elections: full renewal
Legislative branch - lower chamber / term in office: 3 years
Legislative branch - lower chamber / most recent election date: 5/3/2025
Legislative branch - lower chamber / parties elected and seats per party: Australian Labor Party (ALP) (94); Liberal National coalition (43); Independents (10); Other (3)
Legislative branch - lower chamber / percentage of women in chamber: 46%
Legislative branch - lower chamber / expected date of next election: May 2028
Legislative branch - upper chamber / chamber name: Senate
Legislative branch - upper chamber / number of seats: 76 (all directly elected)
Legislative branch - upper chamber / electoral system: proportional representation
Legislative branch - upper chamber / scope of elections: partial renewal
Legislative branch - upper chamber / term in office: 6 years
Legislative branch - upper chamber / most recent election date: 5/3/2025
Legislative branch - upper chamber / parties elected and seats per party: Australian Labor Party (ALP) (16); Liberal (6); The Greens (6); Liberal/Nationals (4); Pauline Hanson's One Nation (3); Liberal National Party of Queensland (2); Other (3)
Legislative branch - upper chamber / percentage of women in chamber: 56.6%
Legislative branch - upper chamber / expected date of next election: May 2028
Judicial branch / highest court(s): High Court of Australia (consists of 7 justices, including the chief justice); each of the 6 states, 2 territories, and Norfolk Island has a Supreme Court; the High Court is the final appellate court
Judicial branch / judge selection and term of office: justices appointed by the governor-general in council for life with mandatory retirement at age 70
Judicial branch / subordinate courts: subordinate courts: at the federal level: Federal Court; Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia; at the state and territory level: Local Court - New South Wales; Magistrates' Courts – Victoria, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia, Tasmania, Northern Territory, Australian Capital Territory; District Courts – New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia; County Court – Victoria; Family Court – Western Australia; Court of Petty Sessions – Norfolk Island
Political parties: Australian Greens Party or The Greens Australian Labor Party or ALP Australia's Voice Centre Alliance (formerly known as the Nick Xenophon Team or NXT) Jacqui Lambie Network or JLN Katter's Australian Party (KAP) Liberal Party of Australia The Nationals Pauline Hanson's One Nation or ONP United Australia Party
Diplomatic representation in the US / chief of mission: Ambassador Kevin Michael RUDD (since 19 April 2023)
Diplomatic representation in the US / chancery: 1601 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036
Diplomatic representation in the US / telephone: [1] (202) 797-3000
Diplomatic representation in the US / FAX: [1] (202) 797-3168
Diplomatic representation in the US / email address and website: info.us@dfat.gov.au https://usa.embassy.gov.au/
Diplomatic representation in the US / consulate(s) general: Chicago, Honolulu, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco
Diplomatic representation from the US / chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charg&eacute; d'Affaires Erika OLSON (since January 2025)
Diplomatic representation from the US / embassy: Moonah Place, Yarralumla, Australian Capital Territory 2600
Diplomatic representation from the US / mailing address: 7800 Canberra Place, Washington DC 20512-7800
Diplomatic representation from the US / telephone: [61] (02) 6214-5600
Diplomatic representation from the US / FAX: [61] (02) 9373-9184
Diplomatic representation from the US / email address and website: AskEmbassyCanberra@state.gov https://au.usembassy.gov/
Diplomatic representation from the US / consulate(s) general: Melbourne, Perth, Sydney
International organization participation: ADB, ANZUS, APEC, ARF, ASEAN (dialogue partner), Australia Group, BIS, C, CD, CP, EAS, EBRD, EITI (implementing country), FAO, FATF, G-20, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NEA, NSG, OECD, OPCW, OSCE (partner), Pacific Alliance (observer), Paris Club, PCA, PIF, SAARC (observer), Quad, SICA (observer), Sparteca, SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNMISS, UNMIT, UNOOSA, UNRWA, UNTSO, UNWTO, UPU, Wassenaar Arrangement, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
Independence: 1 January 1901 (from the federation of UK colonies)
National holiday: Australia Day (commemorates the arrival of the First Fleet of Australian settlers), 26 January (1788); ANZAC Day (commemorates the anniversary of the landing of troops of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps during World War I at Gallipoli, Turkey), 25 April (1915)
Flag: description: blue, with the UK flag in the upper-left quadrant and a large seven-pointed star in the lower-left quadrant; on the right half is a representation of the Southern Cross constellation in white, with one small five-pointed star and four larger seven-pointed stars meaning: the largest star is known as the Commonwealth or Federation Star and represents the federation of the Australian colonies in 1901; the star has one point for each of the six original states, plus one representing all of Australia's internal and external territories
National symbol(s): Commonwealth Star (seven-pointed Star of Federation), golden wattle tree ( Acacia pycnantha ), kangaroo, emu
National color(s): green, gold
National coat of arms: King George V of the United Kingdom granted the current Commonwealth Coat of Arms to Australia on 19 September 1912; the center of the shield has the symbols of Australia&rsquo;s six states; the kangaroo and the emu symbolize a nation moving forward, since neither animal can move backward easily; the gold Commonwealth star sits above the shield, with six points representing the Australian states and the seventh representing the territories; the gold and blue in the wreath under the star are the livery, or identifying, colors for the coat of arms; Australia&rsquo;s floral emblem, the golden wattle, frames the shield
National anthem(s) / title: "God Save the King"
National anthem(s) / lyrics/music: unknown
National anthem(s) / history: royal anthem, as a Commonwealth country
National heritage / total World Heritage Sites: 21 (5 cultural, 12 natural, 4 mixed)
National heritage / selected World Heritage Site locales: Great Barrier Reef (n); Greater Blue Mountains Area (n); Fraser Island (n); Gondwana Rainforests (n); Lord Howe Island Group (n); Royal Exhibition Building and Carlton Gardens (c); Shark Bay (n); Sydney Opera House (c); Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa National Park (m); Kakadu National Park (m); Murujuga Cultural Landscape (c)

## Economy
Economic overview: high-income and globally integrated economy; strong mining, manufacturing, and service sectors driving slow but steady growth; net exporter, driven by commodities to East Asian trade partners; weak productivity and aging population straining labor force participation
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $1.635 trillion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $1.611 trillion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $1.558 trillion (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2024: 1.4% (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2023: 3.4% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2022: 4.2% (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2024: $60,100 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2023: $60,500 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2022: $59,900 (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $1.752 trillion (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024: 3.2% (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023: 5.6% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 6.6% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / agriculture: 2.2% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / industry: 26% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / services: 65.5% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / household consumption: 51.2% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / government consumption: 22.2% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in fixed capital: 24.3% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in inventories: 0.1% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / exports of goods and services: 24.7% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / imports of goods and services: -22.6% (2024 est.)
Agricultural products: wheat, sugarcane, barley, rapeseed, milk, cotton, sorghum, beef, lentils, grapes (2023)
Industries: mining, industrial and transportation equipment, food processing, chemicals, steel
Industrial production growth rate: 0.5% (2024 est.)
Labor force: 14.912 million (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2024: 4.1% (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2023: 3.7% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2022: 3.8% (2022 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / total: 9.5% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / male: 10.2% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / female: 8.7% (2024 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income / Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2018: 34.3 (2018 est.)
Average household expenditures / on food: 9.9% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Average household expenditures / on alcohol and tobacco: 3.6% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / lowest 10%: 2.8% (2018 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / highest 10%: 26.2% (2018 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2024: 0.1% of GDP (2024 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2023: 0.1% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2022: 0.1% of GDP (2022 est.)
Budget / revenues: $431.27 billion (2022 est.)
Budget / expenditures: $453.105 billion (2022 est.)
Public debt / Public debt 2022: 58% of GDP (2022 est.)
Taxes and other revenues: 23.6% (of GDP) (2022 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2024: -$34.402 billion (2024 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2023: -$5.186 billion (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2022: $5.707 billion (2022 est.)
Exports / Exports 2024: $425.16 billion (2024 est.)
Exports / Exports 2023: $448.507 billion (2023 est.)
Exports / Exports 2022: $465.99 billion (2022 est.)
Exports - partners: China 37%, Japan 16%, S. Korea 6%, India 5%, Taiwan 5% (2023)
Exports - commodities: iron ore, coal, natural gas, gold, minerals (2023)
Imports / Imports 2024: $405.336 billion (2024 est.)
Imports / Imports 2023: $389.211 billion (2023 est.)
Imports / Imports 2022: $379.981 billion (2022 est.)
Imports - partners: China 26%, USA 11%, S. Korea 6%, Japan 6%, Thailand 5% (2023)
Imports - commodities: refined petroleum, cars, trucks, broadcasting equipment, garments (2023)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024: $60.404 billion (2024 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023: $61.703 billion (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $56.702 billion (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Currency: Australian dollars (AUD) per US dollar -
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2024: 1.515 (2024 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2023: 1.505 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2022: 1.442 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2021: 1.331 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2020: 1.453 (2020 est.)

## Energy
Electricity access / electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)
Electricity / installed generating capacity: 108.193 million kW (2023 est.)
Electricity / consumption: 267.818 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / transmission/distribution losses: 11.455 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / fossil fuels: 64.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / solar: 17.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / wind: 11.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / hydroelectricity: 5.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / biomass and waste: 1.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Coal / production: 445.077 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / consumption: 95.667 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / exports: 348.32 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / imports: 630,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / proven reserves: 149.472 billion metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum / total petroleum production: 386,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Petroleum / refined petroleum consumption: 1.151 million bbl/day (2024 est.)
Petroleum / crude oil estimated reserves: 2.446 billion barrels (2021 est.)
Natural gas / production: 151.307 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / consumption: 48.845 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / exports: 105.146 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / imports: 521.034 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / proven reserves: 3.228 trillion cubic meters (2021 est.)
Energy consumption per capita / Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 223.158 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

## Communications
Telephones - fixed lines / total subscriptions: 5.95 million (2024 est.)
Telephones - fixed lines / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 22 (2024 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / total subscriptions: 30.1 million (2024 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 113 (2024 est.)
Broadcast media: tradition of public broadcasting, but privately owned TV and radio have the biggest audiences; ownership of print and broadcast media is concentrated; Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) runs national and local public radio and TV; other main public broadcaster is the multilingual Special Broadcasting Service (SBS); national commercial TV is dominated by three big free-to-air networks; broadcasters must carry a minimum percentage of Australian-made programs; pay TV via cable, satellite, and IPTV has a strong foothold (2023)
Internet country code: .au
Internet users / percent of population: 97% (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / total: 9.63 million (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 36 (2023 est.)

## Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: VH
Airports: 2,257 (2025)
Heliports: 392 (2025)
Railways / total: 32,606 km (2022) 3,448 km electrified
Railways / standard gauge: 18,007 km (2022) 1.435 mm
Railways / narrow gauge: 11,914 km (2022) 1.067 mm
Railways / broad gauge: 2,685 km (2022) 1.600 mm
Merchant marine / total: 604 (2023)
Merchant marine / by type: bulk carrier 2, general cargo 76, oil tanker 6, other 520
Ports / total ports: 66 (2024)
Ports / large: 5
Ports / medium: 8
Ports / small: 24
Ports / very small: 29
Ports / ports with oil terminals: 38
Ports / key ports: Brisbane, Dampier, Darwin, Fremantle, Geelong, Hobart, Melbourne, Newcastle, Port Adelaide, Port Dalrymple, Port Kembla, Port Lincoln, Sydney

## Military and Security
Military and security forces: Australian Defense Force (ADF): Australian Army, Royal Australian Navy, Royal Australian Air Force (2025)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2024: 2% of GDP (2024 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2023: 2% of GDP (2023 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2022: 2% of GDP (2022 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2021: 2% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2020: 2% of GDP (2020 est.)
Military and security service personnel strengths: approximately 60,000 active ADF personnel (2025)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the military's inventory includes a mix of domestically produced and imported Western weapons systems; in recent years, the US has been the largest supplier of arms; the Australian defense industry produces a variety of land and sea weapons platforms; the defense industry also participates in joint development and production ventures with other Western countries, including the US and Canada (2025)
Military service age and obligation: 17 years of age (with parental consent; 18 years of age to deploy) for voluntary military service for men and women; no conscription (abolished 1972) (2025)
Military deployments: note: the number of Australian military forces varies by mission; since the 1990s, Australia has deployed more than 30,000 personnel on nearly 100 UN peacekeeping and coalition military operations around the World
Military - note: the ADF's missions include protecting Australia’s borders and maritime interests, responding to domestic natural disasters, and deploying overseas for humanitarian, peacekeeping, and other security-related missions; in 2024, it established a cyber command; the ADF regularly participates in bi-lateral and multi-lateral exercises with foreign militaries Australia has been part of the Australia, New Zealand, and US Security (ANZUS) Treaty since 1951; Australia is also a member of the Five Powers Defense Arrangements (FPDA), a series of mutual assistance agreements reached in 1971 embracing Australia, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore, and the UK Australia has long-standing bi-lateral defense and security ties to the UK, including defense and security cooperation treaties in 2024 and 2013; the Australia-UK Ministerial Consultations (AUKMIN) is their premier bilateral forum on foreign policy, defense, and security issues Australia also has a long-standing military relationship with the US; Australian and US forces first fought together in France in 1918 and have fought together in every major US conflict since; Australia and the US signed an agreement in 2014 that allowed for closer bi-lateral defense and security cooperation, including rotations of US military forces and equipment to Australia; Australian military forces train often with US forces; Australia has Major Non-NATO Ally (MNNA) status with the US, a designation under US law that provides foreign partners with certain benefits in the areas of defense trade and security cooperation in 2021, Australia, the UK, and the US announced an enhanced trilateral security partnership called “AUKUS” which would build on existing bilateral ties, including deeper integration of defense and security-related science, technology, industrial bases, and supply chains, as well as deeper cooperation on a range of defense and security capabilities (2025)

## Space
Space agency/agencies: Australian Space Agency (ASA; established 2018; headquarters opened in 2020) (2025)
Space launch site(s): Whalers Way Orbital Launch Complex (commercial site, South Australia); Arnhem Space Center (commercial site, Northern Territory); Bown Orbital Spaceport (commercial site, North Queensland) (2025)
Space program overview: has a history of involvement in space-related activities, including astronomy, rockets, satellites, and space tracking; develops, builds, operates, and tracks satellites, including communications, remote sensing (RS), and navigational, often in partnership with other countries; develops other space technologies, including communications, RS capabilities, and telescopes; encouraging growth in domestic commercial space-industry sector, including satellite launch vehicles; cooperates with a variety of foreign space agencies and industries, including those of China, the ESA, individual ESA member states, India, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, the UK, and the US; co-leads the Global Earth Observation System of Systems and hosts one of the telescopes for the international Square Kilometer Array radio telescope (2025)
Key space-program milestones: 1960 - built first space-tracking station outside the US 1967 - first domestically built satellite (WRSEA) launched on a US rocket from Australian test range 1981 - commissioned first national satellite system 1996 - first Australian in space on US Space Shuttle 2021 - announced intent to provide a robotic lunar lander for US Artemis project 2022 - launched a US NASA rocket from a commercial launch site; joint Australia-US space surveillance telescope based in Western Australia became operational 2025 - first attempted launch of Australian-designed and -manufactured orbital launch vehicle failed to reach orbit

## Terrorism
Terrorist group(s): Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS)

## Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons / refugees: 120,789 (2024 est.)
Refugees and internally displaced persons / IDPs: 185 (2024 est.)
Refugees and internally displaced persons / stateless persons: 6,922 (2024 est.)

=== Ashmore and Cartier Islands ===

## Introduction
Background: Indonesian fishermen have long fished in the area around Ashmore Reef and Cartier Island. British explorers were the first Europeans to see Cartier Island and Ashmore Reef in 1800 and 1811, respectively. American whalers frequently sailed by the islands in the 1850s and later settled to mine the phosphate deposits on Ashmore Reef, which were exhausted by 1891. The UK disputed US access to Ashmore Reef and formally annexed it in 1878. Cartier Island was annexed in 1909. In 1931, the UK transferred the islands to Australia, which accepted them in 1934 as part of Western Australia. In 1938, Australia transferred governance to the Northern Territory. During World War II, Cartier Island was used as a bombing range. In 1978, governance of Ashmore and Cartier Islands was moved to the federal government. Ashmore Reef and Cartier Island became marine reserves in 1983 and 2000 respectively. In 1974, Australia and Indonesia signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to allow Indonesian fishermen to continue fishing around the islands. The MOU also allows Indonesian fishermen to visit the graves of past fishermen, replenish their fresh water, and shelter in the West Island Lagoon of Ashmore Reef. In the 1990s, Indonesia challenged Australia’s claim to the islands, which was settled in a maritime boundary treaty in 1997. The islands were a popular first point of contact for migrants and refugees seeking to enter Australia, so in 2001, Australia declared the islands to be outside the Australian migration zone.

## Geography
Location: Southeastern Asia, islands in the Indian Ocean, midway between northwestern Australia and Timor island; Ashmore Reef is 840 km west of Darwin and 610 km north of Broome; Cartier Islet is 70 km east of Ashmore Reef
Geographic coordinates: 12 25 S, 123 20 E
Map references: Southeast Asia
Area / total: 5 sq km
Area / land: 5 sq km
Area / water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative: about eight times the size of the National Mall in Washington, D.C.
Land boundaries / total: 0 km
Coastline: 74.1 km
Maritime claims / territorial sea: 12 nm
Maritime claims / contiguous zone: 24 nm
Maritime claims / continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Maritime claims / exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
Climate: tropical
Terrain: low with sand and coral
Elevation / highest point: Cartier Island 5 m
Elevation / lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
Natural resources: fish
Land use / agricultural land: 0% (2018 est.)
Natural hazards: surrounded by shoals and reefs that can pose maritime hazards
Geography - note: Ashmore Reef National Nature Reserve established in 1983; Cartier Island Marine Reserve established in 2000

## People and Society
Population / total: no permanent inhabitants

## Environment
Environmental issues: illegal killing of protected wildlife; overfishing; sea-level rise, changes in sea temperature, and ocean acidification; marine debris
Climate: tropical
Land use / agricultural land: 0% (2018 est.)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: Territory of Ashmore and Cartier Islands
Country name / conventional short form: Ashmore and Cartier Islands
Country name / etymology: named after British Captain Samuel ASHMORE, who first sighted the island in 1811, and after the ship Cartier , from which the second island was discovered in 1800
Dependency status: territory of Australia; administered from Canberra by the Department of Regional Australia, Local Government, Arts and Sport
Legal system: the laws of the Commonwealth of Australia and the laws of the Northern Territory of Australia, where applicable, apply
Citizenship: see Australia
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (territory of Australia)
Diplomatic representation from the US / embassy: none (territory of Australia)
Flag: the flag of Australia is used

## Economy

## Communications

## Transportation

## Military and Security
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of Australia

## Transnational Issues

=== Solomon Islands ===

## Introduction
Background: Settlers from Papua arrived on the Solomon Islands around 30,000 years ago. About 6,000 years ago, Austronesian settlers came to the islands, and the two groups mixed extensively. Despite significant inter-island trade, no attempts were made to unite the islands into a single political entity. In 1568, a Spanish explorer became the first European to spot the islands. After a failed Spanish attempt at creating a permanent European settlement in the late 1500s, the Solomon Islands remained free of European contact until a British explorer arrived in 1767. European explorers and US and British whaling ships regularly visited the islands into the 1800s. Germany declared a protectorate over the northern Solomon Islands in 1885, and the UK established a protectorate over the southern islands in 1893. In 1899, Germany transferred its islands to the UK in exchange for the UK relinquishing all claims in Samoa. In 1942, Japan invaded the islands, and the Guadalcanal Campaign (August 1942-February 1943) proved a turning point in the Pacific theater of WWII. The fighting destroyed large parts of the Solomon Islands, and a nationalist movement emerged near the end of the war. By 1960, the British allowed some local autonomy. The islands were granted self-government in 1976 and independence two years later under Prime Minister Sir Peter KENILOREA. In 1999, longstanding tensions between ethnic Guale in Honiara and ethnic Malaitans in Honiara’s suburbs erupted in civil war, leading thousands of Malaitans to take refuge in Honiara and prompting Guale to flee the city. In 2000, newly elected Prime Minister Manasseh SOGAVARE focused on peace agreements and distributing resources equally among groups, but his actions bankrupted the government in 2001 and led to his ouster. In 2003, the Solomon Islands requested international assistance to reestablish law and order; the Australian-led Regional Assistance Mission to the Solomon Islands, which ended in 2017, improved the security situation. In 2006, however, riots broke out in Honiara, and the city’s Chinatown was burned amid allegations that the prime minister took money from China. SOGAVARE was reelected prime minister for a fourth time in 2019. When a small group of protestors, mostly from the island of Malaita, approached parliament to lodge a petition calling for SOGAVARE’s removal and more development in Malaita in 2021, police fired tear gas into the crowd which sparked rioting and looting in Honiara.

## Geography
Location: Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, east of Papua New Guinea
Geographic coordinates: 8 00 S, 159 00 E
Map references: Oceania
Area / total: 28,896 sq km
Area / land: 27,986 sq km
Area / water: 910 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly smaller than Maryland
Land boundaries / total: 0 km
Coastline: 5,313 km
Maritime claims / territorial sea: 12 nm
Maritime claims / exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Maritime claims / continental shelf: 200 nm
Climate: tropical monsoon; few temperature and weather extremes
Terrain: mostly rugged mountains with some low coral atolls
Elevation / highest point: Mount Popomanaseu 2,335 m
Elevation / lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
Natural resources: fish, forests, gold, bauxite, phosphates, lead, zinc, nickel
Land use / agricultural land: 3.9% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 0.8% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 2.8% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 0.3% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 89.9% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 6.2% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land: 0 sq km (2022)
Population distribution: most of the population lives along the coastal regions; about one in five live in urban areas, and of these about two thirds reside in Honiara, the largest town and chief port
Natural hazards: tropical cyclones, but rarely destructive; geologically active region with frequent earthquakes, tremors, and volcanic activity; tsunamis volcanism: Tinakula (851 m) has frequent eruption activity, and an eruption of Savo (485 m) could affect the capital Honiara on nearby Guadalcanal
Geography - note: strategic location on sea routes between the South Pacific Ocean, the Solomon Sea, and the Coral Sea; Rennell Island, the southernmost in the Solomon Islands chain, is one of the world&rsquo;s largest raised coral atolls; the island&rsquo;s Lake Tegano, formerly a lagoon on the atoll, is the largest lake in the insular Pacific (15,500 hectares; 38,300 acres)

## People and Society
Population / total: 738,774 (2025 est.)
Population / male: 377,067
Population / female: 361,707
Nationality / noun: Solomon Islander(s)
Nationality / adjective: Solomon Islander
Ethnic groups: Melanesian 95.3%, Polynesian 3.1%, Micronesian 1.2%, other 0.3% (2009 est.)
Languages: Melanesian pidgin (lingua franca in much of the country), English (official but spoken by only 1%-2% of the population), 120 indigenous languages
Religions: Protestant 73.4% (Church of Melanesia 31.9%, South Sea Evangelical 17.1%, Seventh Day Adventist 11.7%, United Church 10.1%, Christian Fellowship Church 2.5%), Roman Catholic 19.6%, other Christian 2.9%, other 4%, unspecified 0.1% (2009 est.)
Age structure / 0-14 years: 30.6% (male 114,246/female 108,020)
Age structure / 15-64 years: 64.2% (male 238,708/female 227,636)
Age structure / 65 years and over: 5.3% (2024 est.) (male 18,016/female 20,173)
Dependency ratios / total dependency ratio: 55.1 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / youth dependency ratio: 46.7 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / elderly dependency ratio: 8.4 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / potential support ratio: 12 (2025 est.)
Median age / total: 25.5 years (2025 est.)
Median age / male: 25 years
Median age / female: 25.4 years
Population growth rate: 1.62% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 21.57 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 3.94 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: -1.47 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution: most of the population lives along the coastal regions; about one in five live in urban areas, and of these about two thirds reside in Honiara, the largest town and chief port
Urbanization / urban population: 26% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 3.57% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 82,000 HONIARA (capital) (2018)
Sex ratio / at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 15-64 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 65 years and over: 0.89 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / total population: 1.04 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth: 22.6 years (2015 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio: 123 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Infant mortality rate / total: 18.6 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Infant mortality rate / male: 22.7 deaths/1,000 live births
Infant mortality rate / female: 15.2 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth / total population: 77.2 years (2024 est.)
Life expectancy at birth / male: 74.6 years
Life expectancy at birth / female: 80 years
Total fertility rate: 2.72 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 1.33 (2025 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: rural: rural: 59.4% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: total: total: 73.1% of population
Drinking water source / unimproved: rural: rural: 40.6% of population (2022 est.)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 4.8% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 9.7% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density: 0.24 physicians/1,000 population (2023)
Sanitation facility access / improved: rural: rural: 22.6% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: rural: rural: 77.4% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: total: total: 59.4% of population
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 22.5% (2016)
Alcohol consumption per capita / total: 1.19 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / beer: 1.1 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / wine: 0.06 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / spirits: 0.02 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / other alcohols: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Tobacco use / total: 36.8% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / male: 54.5% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / female: 18.8% (2025 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49): 64.5% (2019 est.)
Child marriage / women married by age 15: 5.6% (2015)
Child marriage / women married by age 18: 21.3% (2015)
Child marriage / men married by age 18: 4.4% (2015)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% GDP): 8.3% of GDP (2023 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% national budget): 25.2% national budget (2024 est.)

## Environment
Environmental issues: deforestation; soil erosion; damage to coral reefs
International environmental agreements / party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Whaling
International environmental agreements / signed, but not ratified: Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban
Climate: tropical monsoon; few temperature and weather extremes
Land use / agricultural land: 3.9% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 0.8% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 2.8% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 0.3% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 89.9% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 6.2% (2023 est.)
Urbanization / urban population: 26% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 3.57% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / total emissions: 318,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from petroleum and other liquids: 318,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Particulate matter emissions: 8.8 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Waste and recycling / municipal solid waste generated annually: 180,000 tons (2024 est.)
Waste and recycling / percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 6.1% (2022 est.)
Total renewable water resources: 44.7 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: none
Country name / conventional short form: Solomon Islands
Country name / local long form: none
Country name / local short form: Solomon Islands
Country name / former: British Solomon Islands
Country name / etymology: Spanish explorer Alvaro de MENDANA named the isles in 1568 after the wealthy biblical King SOLOMON in the mistaken belief that the islands contained great riches
Government type: parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy; a Commonwealth realm
Capital / name: Honiara
Capital / geographic coordinates: 9 26 S, 159 57 E
Capital / time difference: UTC+11 (16 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Capital / etymology: the name derives from the local term nagho ni ara , meaning "place of the east wind" or "facing the trade winds"
Administrative divisions: 9 provinces and 1 city*; Central, Choiseul, Guadalcanal, Honiara*, Isabel, Makira and Ulawa, Malaita, Rennell and Bellona, Temotu, Western
Legal system: mixed system of English common law and customary law
Constitution / history: adopted 31 May 1978, effective 7 July 1978
Constitution / amendment process: proposed by the National Parliament; passage of constitutional sections, including those on fundamental rights and freedoms, the legal system, Parliament, alteration of the constitution and the ombudsman, requires three-fourths majority vote by Parliament and assent of the governor general; passage of other amendments requires two-thirds majority vote and assent of the governor general
International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt
Citizenship / citizenship by birth: no
Citizenship / citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of the Solomon Islands
Citizenship / dual citizenship recognized: no
Citizenship / residency requirement for naturalization: 7 years
Suffrage: 21 years of age; universal
Executive branch / chief of state: King CHARLES III (since 8 September 2022); represented by Governor General David Tiva KAPU (since 7 July 2024)
Executive branch / head of government: Prime Minister Jeremiah MANELE (since 2 May 2024)
Executive branch / cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister
Executive branch / election/appointment process: the monarchy is hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch on the advice of the National Parliament for up to 5 years (eligible for a second term); following legislative elections, the National Parliament usually elects the leader of the majority party or majority coalition as prime minister; deputy prime minister appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister
Legislative branch / legislature name: National Parliament
Legislative branch / legislative structure: unicameral
Legislative branch / number of seats: 50 (all directly elected)
Legislative branch / electoral system: plurality/majority
Legislative branch / scope of elections: full renewal
Legislative branch / term in office: 4 years
Legislative branch / most recent election date: 4/17/2024
Legislative branch / parties elected and seats per party: Ownership Unity and Responsibility (OUR Party) (15); Solomon Islands Democratic Party (SIDP) (11); Solomon Islands United Party (UP) (6); Solomon Islands People First Party (SIPFP) (3); Independents (11); Other (4)
Legislative branch / percentage of women in chamber: 6%
Legislative branch / expected date of next election: April 2028
Judicial branch / highest court(s): Court of Appeal (consists of the court president and ex officio members including the High Court chief justice and puisne judges); High Court (consists of the chief justice and puisne judges)
Judicial branch / judge selection and term of office: Court of Appeal and High Court president, chief justices, and puisne judges appointed by the governor general on recommendation of the Judicial and Legal Service Commission, chaired by the chief justice and includes 5 members, mostly judicial officials and legal professionals; all judges serve until retirement at age 60
Judicial branch / subordinate courts: Magistrates' Courts; Customary Land Appeal Court; local courts
Political parties: Democratic Alliance Party or DAP Kadere Party of Solomon Islands or KAD Ownership, Unity, and Responsibility Party (OUR Party) Solomon Islands People First Party or SIPFP Solomon Islands Democratic Party or SIDP Solomon Islands Party for Rural Advancement or SIPRA Solomon Islands United Party or UP United for Change Party or U4C Coalition for Accountability Reform and Empowerment (CARE) (includes DAP, SIDP, and U4C)
Diplomatic representation in the US / chief of mission: Ambassador Jane Mugafalu Kabui WAETARA (since 16 September 2022); note - also Permanent Representative to the UN
Diplomatic representation in the US / chancery: 685 Third Avenue, 11th Floor, Suite 1102, New York, NY 10017
Diplomatic representation in the US / telephone: [1] (212) 599-6192
Diplomatic representation in the US / FAX: [1] (212) 661-8925
Diplomatic representation in the US / email address and website: simun@solomons.com
Diplomatic representation from the US / chief of mission: Ambassador Ann Marie YASTISHOCK (since 14 March 2024); note - also accredited to the Papua New Guinea and Vanuatu, based in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea
Diplomatic representation from the US / embassy: BJS Building Commonwealth Avenue Honiara, Solomon Islands
Diplomatic representation from the US / telephone: [677] 23426
Diplomatic representation from the US / FAX: [677] 27429
Diplomatic representation from the US / email address and website: EmbassyHoniara@state.gov https://pg.usembassy.gov/
International organization participation: ACP, ADB, AOSIS, C, EITI (candidate country), ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IOC, ITU, MIGA, OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WMO, WTO
Independence: 7 July 1978 (from the UK)
National holiday: Independence Day, 7 July (1978)
Flag: description: divided diagonally by a yellow stripe from the lower-left corner; the upper triangle (left side) is blue with five five-pointed white stars in an "X" pattern; the lower triangle is green meaning: blue stands for the ocean, green for the land, and yellow for sunshine; the five stars stand for the main island groups
National color(s): blue, yellow, green, white
National anthem(s) / title: "God Save the King"
National anthem(s) / lyrics/music: unknown
National anthem(s) / history: in use since 1745
National heritage / total World Heritage Sites: 1 (natural)
National heritage / selected World Heritage Site locales: East Rennell

## Economy
Economic overview: lower middle-income Pacific island economy; natural resource rich but environmentally fragile; key agrarian sector; growing Chinese economic relationship; infrastructure damage due to social unrest; metal mining operations
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $2.07 billion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $2.019 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $1.967 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2024: 2.5% (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2023: 2.7% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2022: 2.4% (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2024: $2,500 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2023: $2,500 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2022: $2,500 (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $1.761 billion (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023: 5.9% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 5.5% (2022 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021: -0.1% (2021 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / agriculture: 33.8% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / industry: 18.7% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / services: 47.3% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / household consumption: 61.7% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / government consumption: 29.2% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in fixed capital: 24.4% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in inventories: -1% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / exports of goods and services: 26.3% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / imports of goods and services: -51.7% (2022 est.)
Agricultural products: oil palm fruit, coconuts, sweet potatoes, yams, taro, fruits, pulses, vegetables, cocoa beans, cassava (2023)
Industries: fish (tuna), mining, timber
Industrial production growth rate: 4.7% (2022 est.)
Labor force: 435,600 (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2024: 1.5% (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2023: 1.5% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2022: 1.5% (2022 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / total: 3% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / male: 2.6% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / female: 3.4% (2024 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2024: 5.4% of GDP (2024 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2023: 5.1% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2022: 5.2% of GDP (2022 est.)
Budget / revenues: $436.174 million (2022 est.)
Budget / expenditures: $482.24 million (2022 est.)
Public debt / Public debt 2022: 15.4% of GDP (2022 est.)
Taxes and other revenues: 20.7% (of GDP) (2022 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2024: -$66.231 million (2024 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2023: -$178.197 million (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2022: -$218.534 million (2022 est.)
Exports / Exports 2024: $642.877 million (2024 est.)
Exports / Exports 2023: $546.025 million (2023 est.)
Exports / Exports 2022: $411.359 million (2022 est.)
Exports - partners: China 56%, Australia 11%, Italy 10%, Spain 5%, Netherlands 4% (2023)
Exports - commodities: wood, fish, gold, precious metal ore, palm oil (2023)
Imports / Imports 2024: $857.128 million (2024 est.)
Imports / Imports 2023: $883.611 million (2023 est.)
Imports / Imports 2022: $764.641 million (2022 est.)
Imports - partners: China 42%, Singapore 13%, Australia 13%, Taiwan 5%, Malaysia 5% (2023)
Imports - commodities: refined petroleum, plastic products, fish, broadcasting equipment, iron structures (2023)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023: $688.22 million (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $661.604 million (2022 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2021: $694.515 million (2021 est.)
Debt - external / Debt - external 2023: $184.191 million (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Currency: Solomon Islands dollars (SBD) per US dollar -
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2024: 8.455 (2024 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2023: 8.376 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2022: 8.156 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2021: 8.03 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2020: 8.213 (2020 est.)

## Energy
Electricity access / electrification - total population: 76% (2022 est.)
Electricity access / electrification - urban areas: 79%
Electricity access / electrification - rural areas: 75.4%
Electricity / installed generating capacity: 37,000 kW (2023 est.)
Electricity / consumption: 91.031 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / transmission/distribution losses: 19.969 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / fossil fuels: 90.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / solar: 5.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / hydroelectricity: 0.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / biomass and waste: 3.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Petroleum / refined petroleum consumption: 2,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Energy consumption per capita / Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 5.655 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

## Communications
Telephones - fixed lines / total subscriptions: 7,000 (2021 est.)
Telephones - fixed lines / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 1 (2022 est.) less than 1
Telephones - mobile cellular / total subscriptions: 485,000 (2022 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 62 (2022 est.)
Broadcast media: multi-channel pay-TV is available; Solomon Islands Broadcasting Corporation (SIBC) operates 2 national radio stations and 2 provincial stations; 2 local commercial radio stations; Radio Australia is available via satellite (2019)
Internet country code: .sb
Internet users / percent of population: 43% (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / total: 1,000 (2022 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2022 est.) less than 1

## Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: H4
Airports: 36 (2025)
Heliports: 2 (2025)
Merchant marine / total: 25 (2023)
Merchant marine / by type: general cargo 8, oil tanker 1, other 16
Ports / total ports: 6 (2024)
Ports / large: 0
Ports / medium: 0
Ports / small: 2
Ports / very small: 4
Ports / ports with oil terminals: 1
Ports / key ports: Gizo Harbor, Honiara, Port Noro, Ringgi Cove, Tulaghi, Yandina

## Military and Security
Military and security forces: Ministry of Police, National Security and Correctional Services (MPNSCS): the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) (2025)
Military - note: in 2017, the Solomon Islands and Australia signed a security treaty allowing Australian police, defense, and associated civilian personnel to deploy rapidly to Solomon Islands should the need arise and where both countries consent; the treaty was activated for the first time in November 2021 following civil unrest in Honiara; Australia was the first country Solomon Islands called upon for support, and from November 2021, Australia deployed police and defense personnel to work alongside partners from Fiji, Papua New Guinea, and New Zealand to restore law and order in Honiara in 2022, the Solomon Islands Government has also signed a police and security agreement with China (2025)

## Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons / IDPs: 1,638 (2023 est.)
Trafficking in persons / tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List — Solomon Islands does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking, but the government has devoted sufficient resources to a written plan that, if implemented, would constitute significant efforts to meet the minimum standards; therefore, Solomon Islands was granted a waiver per the Trafficking Victims Protection Act from an otherwise required downgrade to Tier 3 and remained on Tier 2 Watch List for the third consecutive year; for more details, go to: https://www.state.gov/reports/2025-trafficking-in-persons-report/solomon-islands/

=== Cocos (Keeling) Islands ===

## Introduction
Background: British sea captain William KEELING discovered the Cocos (Keeling) Islands in 1609, and they were named for their coconut trees in 1622. Some maps began referring to them as the Keeling Islands in 1703. In 1825, Scottish trader John CLUNIES-ROSS was trying to get to Christmas Island but was blown off course and landed on Cocos (Keeling) Islands. The next year, a British trader hired CLUNIES-ROSS's brother to bring slaves and a harem of Malay women to create the first permanent settlement on the island. By the 1830s, the Clunies-Ross family had firmly established themselves as the leaders of the islands, and they ruled Cocos (Keeling) Islands in a feudal style until 1978. The UK annexed the islands in 1857 and administered them from Ceylon after 1878 and from Singapore after 1886. The Cocos (Keeling) Islands hosted a cable relaying station and was attacked by the Germans in World War I. The Japanese similarly attacked the islands in World War II. The UK transferred the islands to Australia in 1955, when they were officially named the Cocos (Keeling) Islands, and in 1978, Australia bought all the land held by the Clunies-Ross family, ending their control of the islands. In a referendum in 1984, most islanders voted to integrate with Australia, and Western Australian laws have applied on the islands since 1992.

## Geography
Location: Southeastern Asia, group of islands in the Indian Ocean, southwest of Indonesia, about halfway between Australia and Sri Lanka
Geographic coordinates: 12 30 S, 96 50 E
Map references: Southeast Asia
Area / total: 14 sq km
Area / land: 14 sq km
Area / water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative: about 24 times the size of the National Mall in Washington, D.C.
Land boundaries / total: 0 km
Coastline: 26 km
Maritime claims / territorial sea: 12 nm
Maritime claims / exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
Climate: tropical with high humidity, moderated by the southeast trade winds for about nine months of the year
Terrain: flat, low-lying coral atolls
Elevation / highest point: South Point on South Island 9 m
Elevation / lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
Natural resources: fish
Land use / agricultural land: 0% (2018 est.)
Land use / forest: 0% (2018 est.)
Land use / other: 100% (2018 est.)
Irrigated land: NA
Population distribution: only Home Island and West Island are populated
Natural hazards: cyclone season is October to April
Geography - note: there are 27 coral islands in the group; apart from North Keeling Island, which lies 30 km north of the main group, the islands form a horseshoe-shaped atoll around a lagoon

## People and Society
Population / total: 593 (2021 est.)
Population / male: 301
Population / female: 292
Nationality / noun: Cocos Islander(s)
Nationality / adjective: Cocos Islander
Ethnic groups: Europeans, Cocos Malays
Languages / Languages: Malay (Cocos dialect) 68.8%, English 22.3%, unspecified 8.9%; note - data represent language spoken at home (2016 est.)
Languages / major-language sample(s): Buku Fakta Dunia, sumber yang diperlukan untuk maklumat asas. (Malay) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
Religions: Muslim (predominantly Sunni) 75%, Anglican 3.5%, Roman Catholic 2.2%, none 12.9%, unspecified 6.3% (2016 est.)
Age structure / 0-14 years: 21.2%
Age structure / 15-64 years: 61.5%
Age structure / 65 years and over: 17.3% (2021)
Median age / total: 40 years (2021 est.)
Death rate: 8.89 deaths/1,000 population (2021 est.)
Population distribution: only Home Island and West Island are populated

## Environment
Environmental issues: limited freshwater resources; illegal fishing
Climate: tropical with high humidity, moderated by the southeast trade winds for about nine months of the year
Land use / agricultural land: 0% (2018 est.)
Land use / forest: 0% (2018 est.)
Land use / other: 100% (2018 est.)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: Territory of Cocos (Keeling) Islands
Country name / conventional short form: Cocos (Keeling) Islands
Country name / etymology: the name refers to the abundant coconut trees on the islands and to English Captain William KEELING, the first European to sight the islands in 1609
Government type: non-self-governing overseas territory of Australia
Dependency status: non-self-governing territory of Australia; administered from Canberra by the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Cities & Regional Development
Capital / name: West Island
Capital / geographic coordinates: 12 10 S, 96 50 E
Capital / time difference: UTC+6.5 (11.5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Legal system: common law based on the Australian model
Constitution / history: 23 November 1955 (Cocos (Keeling) Islands Act 1955)
Citizenship: see Australia
Suffrage: 18 years of age
Executive branch / chief of state: King CHARLES III (since 8 September 2022); represented by Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia General Sam MOSTYN (since 1 July 2024)
Executive branch / head of government: Administrator Farzian ZAINAL (since 11 May 2023)
Executive branch / cabinet: NA
Executive branch / election/appointment process: the monarchy is hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch on the recommendation of the Australian prime minister; administrator appointed by the governor-general for a 2-year term and represents the monarch and Australia
Legislative branch / legislature name: Cocos (Keeling) Islands Shire Council
Legislative branch / legislative structure: unicameral
Legislative branch / number of seats: 7 (directly elected)
Legislative branch / electoral system: plurality/majority
Legislative branch / scope of elections: partial renewal
Legislative branch / term in office: 4 years
Legislative branch / most recent election date: 10/21/2023
Legislative branch / percentage of women in chamber: 16.7%
Legislative branch / expected date of next election: October 2025
Judicial branch / highest court(s): under the terms of the Territorial Law Reform Act 1992, Western Australia provides court services as needed for the island including the Supreme Court and subordinate courts (District Court, Magistrate Court, Family Court, Children's Court, and Coroners' Court)
Political parties: none
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (territory of Australia)
Diplomatic representation from the US / embassy: none (territory of Australia)
International organization participation: none
Independence: none (territory of Australia)
National holiday: Australia Day (commemorates the arrival of the First Fleet of Australian settlers), 26 January (1788)
Flag: the flag of Australia is used
National anthem(s) / title: "God Save the King"
National anthem(s) / lyrics/music: unknown
National anthem(s) / history: royal anthem, as an Australian territory

## Economy
Agricultural products: vegetables, bananas, pawpaws, coconuts
Industries: copra products, tourism
Exports - partners: USA 31%, Singapore 29%, UK 12%, Australia 3%, Brazil 3% (2023)
Exports - commodities: ships (2023)
Imports - partners: Australia 87%, USA 3%, Philippines 2%, Sweden 2%, Brazil 1% (2023)
Imports - commodities: iron structures, special purpose motor vehicles, cars, ships, aluminum structures (2023)
Exchange rates / Currency: Australian dollars (AUD) per US dollar -
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2024: 1.515 (2024 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2023: 1.505 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2022: 1.442 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2021: 1.331 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2020: 1.453 (2020 est.)

## Communications
Broadcast media: 1 local radio station staffed by community volunteers; satellite broadcasts of several Australian radio and TV stations available (2017)
Internet country code: .cc
Internet users / percent of population: 13.4% (2021 est.)

## Transportation
Airports: 1 (2025)

## Military and Security
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of Australia

## Transnational Issues

=== Northern Mariana Islands ===

## Introduction
Background: Austronesian people settled the Northern Mariana Islands around 1500 B.C. These people became the indigenous Chamorro and were influenced by later migrations, including Micronesians in the first century A.D. and island Southeast Asians around 900. Spanish explorer Ferdinand MAGELLAN sailed through the Mariana Islands in 1521, and Spain claimed them in 1565. Spain formally colonized the Mariana Islands in 1668 and administered the archipelago from Guam. Spain’s brutal repression of the Chamorro, along with new diseases and intermittent warfare, reduced the indigenous population by about 90% in the 1700s. With a similar dynamic occurring on Guam, Spain forced the Chamorro from the Northern Mariana Islands to resettle there. By the time they returned, many other Micronesians, including Chuukese and Yapese, had already settled on their islands. In 1898, Spain ceded Guam to the US after the Spanish-American War but sold the Northern Mariana Islands to Germany under the German-Spanish Treaty of 1899. Germany administered the territory from German New Guinea but took a hands-off approach to day-to-day life. Following World War I, Japan administered the islands under a League of Nations mandate. Japan focused on sugar production and brought in thousands of Japanese laborers, who quickly outnumbered the Chamorro on the islands. During World War II, Japan invaded Guam from the Northern Mariana Islands and used Marianan Chamorro as translators with Guamanian Chamorro, creating friction between the two Chamorro communities that continues to this day. The US captured the Northern Mariana Islands in 1944 after the Battle of Saipan and later administered them as part of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands (TTPI). On four occasions in the 1950s and 1960s, voters opted for integration with Guam, which Guam rejected in 1969. In 1978, the Northern Mariana Islands was granted self-governance separate from the rest of the TTPI, and in 1986, islanders were granted US citizenship, with the territory coming under US sovereignty as the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI). In 2009, the CNMI became the final US territory to elect a nonvoting delegate to the US Congress.

## Geography
Location: Oceania, islands in the North Pacific Ocean, about three-quarters of the way from Hawaii to the Philippines
Geographic coordinates: 15 12 N, 145 45 E
Map references: Oceania
Area / total: 464 sq km
Area / land: 464 sq km
Area / water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative: 2.5 times the size of Washington, D.C.
Land boundaries / total: 0 km
Coastline: 1,482 km
Maritime claims / territorial sea: 12 nm
Maritime claims / exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate: tropical marine; moderated by northeast trade winds, little seasonal temperature variation; dry season December to June, rainy season July to October
Terrain: the southern islands in this north-south trending archipelago are limestone, with fringing coral reefs; the northern islands are volcanic, with active volcanoes on several islands
Elevation / highest point: Agrihan Volcano 965 m
Elevation / lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
Natural resources: arable land, fish
Land use / agricultural land: 1.2% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 0.2% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 0.2% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 0.8% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 53% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 45.9% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land: 1 sq km (2012)
Population distribution: approximately 90% of the population lives on the island of Saipan
Natural hazards: active volcanoes on Pagan and Agrihan; typhoons (especially August to November)
Geography - note: strategic location in the North Pacific Ocean

## People and Society
Population / total: 51,118 (2024 est.)
Population / male: 27,044
Population / female: 24,074
Nationality / noun: NA (US citizens)
Nationality / adjective: NA
Ethnic groups: Asian 50% (includes Filipino 35.3%, Chinese 6.8%, Korean 4.2%, and other Asian 3.7%), Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander 34.9% (includes Chamorro 23.9%, Carolinian 4.6%, and other Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 6.4%), other 2.5%, two or more ethnicities or races 12.7% (2010 est.)
Languages: Philippine languages 32.8%, Chamorro (official) 24.1%, English (official) 17%, other Pacific island languages 10.1% (includes Carolinian (official), Chinese 6.8%, other Asian languages 7.3%, other 1.9% (2010 est.)
Religions: Christian (Roman Catholic majority, although traditional beliefs and taboos may still be found)
Age structure / 0-14 years: 22.1% (male 6,066/female 5,231)
Age structure / 15-64 years: 67.7% (male 18,206/female 16,377)
Age structure / 65 years and over: 10.2% (2024 est.) (male 2,772/female 2,466)
Dependency ratios / total dependency ratio: 47.8 (2024 est.)
Dependency ratios / youth dependency ratio: 32.7 (2024 est.)
Dependency ratios / elderly dependency ratio: 15.1 (2024 est.)
Dependency ratios / potential support ratio: 6.6 (2024 est.)
Median age / total: 32.6 years (2025 est.)
Median age / male: 31.8 years
Median age / female: 33.2 years
Population growth rate: -0.33% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 15.8 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 5.91 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: -13.21 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution: approximately 90% of the population lives on the island of Saipan
Urbanization / urban population: 92.1% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 0.36% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 51,000 SAIPAN (capital) (2018)
Sex ratio / at birth: 1.17 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 0-14 years: 1.16 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 15-64 years: 1.11 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 65 years and over: 1.12 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / total population: 1.12 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Infant mortality rate / total: 11.6 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Infant mortality rate / male: 14.4 deaths/1,000 live births
Infant mortality rate / female: 9 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth / total population: 77.1 years (2024 est.)
Life expectancy at birth / male: 75 years
Life expectancy at birth / female: 79.5 years
Total fertility rate: 2.53 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 1.17 (2025 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: total: total: 100% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: total: total: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: total: total: 99.4% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: total: total: 0.6% of population (2022 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49): 38.2% (2020 est.)

## Environment
Environmental issues: contamination of groundwater on Saipan; clean-up of landfill; protection of endangered species
Climate: tropical marine; moderated by northeast trade winds, little seasonal temperature variation; dry season December to June, rainy season July to October
Land use / agricultural land: 1.2% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 0.2% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 0.2% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 0.8% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 53% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 45.9% (2023 est.)
Urbanization / urban population: 92.1% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 0.36% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Waste and recycling / municipal solid waste generated annually: 32,800 tons (2024 est.)
Waste and recycling / percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 36% (2016 est.)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands
Country name / conventional short form: Northern Mariana Islands
Country name / former: Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, Mariana Islands District
Country name / abbreviation: CNMI
Country name / etymology: Spain named the islands in 1667 in honor of the Spanish Queen, MARIANA of Austria
Government type: a commonwealth in political union with and under the sovereignty of the US; republican form of government with separate executive, legislative, and judicial branches
Dependency status: commonwealth in political union with and under the sovereignty of the US; federal funds administered by the US Department of the Interior, Office of Insular Affairs
Capital / name: Saipan
Capital / geographic coordinates: 15 12 N, 145 45 E
Capital / time difference: UTC+10 (15 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Capital / etymology: the origin of the name is unclear; it probably comes from a local word meaning "deserted" or "uninhabited," but stories vary on how it came to be used
Administrative divisions: no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US government, but 4 municipalities are considered second-order: Northern Islands, Rota, Saipan, Tinian
Legal system: the laws of the US apply, except for customs and some aspects of taxation
Constitution / history: partially effective 9 January 1978 (Constitution of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands); fully effective 4 November 1986 (Covenant Agreement)
Constitution / amendment process: proposed by constitutional convention, by public petition, or by the Legislature; ratification of proposed amendments requires approval by voters at the next general election or special election; amendments proposed by constitutional convention or by petition become effective if approved by a majority of voters and at least two-thirds majority of voters in each of two senatorial districts; amendments proposed by the Legislature are effective if approved by majority vote
Citizenship: see United States
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch / chief of state: President Donald J. TRUMP (since 20 January 2025)
Executive branch / head of government: Governor David M. APATANG (since 24 July 2025)
Executive branch / cabinet: Sworn in by CNMI Chief Justice Alexandro Castro on Thursday, 24 July 2025
Executive branch / election/appointment process: president and vice president indirectly elected on the same ballot by an Electoral College of electors chosen from each state; president and vice president serve a 4-year term (eligible for a second term); under the US Constitution, residents of the Northern Mariana Islands do not vote in elections for US president and vice president; however, they may vote in Democratic and Republican party presidential primary elections; governor directly elected by absolute majority vote in 2 rounds, if needed
Executive branch / most recent election date: 8 November 2022, with a runoff held on 25 November 2022
Executive branch / election results: 2022: Arnold PALACIOS elected governor in second round; percent of vote in first round - Ralph TORRES (Republican) 38.8%; Arnold PALACIOS (independent) 32.2%, Tina SABLAN (Democrat) 28%; percent of vote in second round - Arnold PALACIOS 54%, Ralph TORRES 46%; David APATANG (independent) elected lieutenant governor 2018: Ralph TORRES elected governor; percent of vote - Ralph TORRES (Republican) 62.2%, Juan BABAUTA (independent) 37.8%; Arnold PALACIOS elected lieutenant governor
Executive branch / expected date of next election: 2026
Judicial branch / highest court(s): Supreme Court of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) (consists of the chief justice and 2 associate justices); US Federal District Court (consists of 1 judge)
Judicial branch / judge selection and term of office: CNMI Supreme Court judges appointed by the governor and confirmed by the CNMI Senate; judges appointed for 8-year terms and another term if directly elected in a popular election; US Federal District Court judges appointed by the US president and confirmed by the US Senate; judges appointed for renewable 10-year terms
Judicial branch / subordinate courts: Superior Court
Political parties: Democratic Party Republican Party
Diplomatic representation from the US / embassy: none (commonwealth in political union with the US)
International organization participation: PIF (observer), SPC, UPU
Independence: none (commonwealth in political union with the US)
National holiday: Commonwealth Day, 8 January (1978)
Flag: description: blue with a five-pointed white star on a gray latte stone (a traditional foundation stone) in the center, surrounded by a mwáár or head lei (wreath) meaning: blue stands for the Pacific Ocean, the star for the Commonwealth, and the latte stone and mwáár for Marianas culture; the mwáár is made from four kinds of flowers: flores mayo ( Plumeria ), ylang-ylang or langilang ( Cananga odorata ), angagha or peacock flower ( Caesalpinia pulcherrima ), and teibwo or Pacific basil ( Ocimum tenuiflorum )
National symbol(s): latte stone
National color(s): blue, white
National anthem(s) / title: "The Star-Spangled Banner"
National anthem(s) / lyrics/music: Francis Scott KEY/John Stafford SMITH
National anthem(s) / history: official anthem, as a US commonwealth

## Economy
Economic overview: US Pacific island commonwealth economy; growing Chinese and Korean tourist destination; hit hard by 2018 typhoon; dependent on energy imports; exempt from some US labor and immigration laws; longstanding garment production
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2016: $1.242 billion (2016 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2015: $933 million (2015 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2014: $845 million (2014 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2022: 16.6% (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2021: 5% (2021 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2020: -29.1% (2020 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $1.096 billion (2022 est.)
Agricultural products: vegetables and melons, fruits and nuts; ornamental plants; livestock, poultry, eggs; fish and aquaculture products
Industries: tourism, banking, construction, fishing, handicrafts, other services
Budget / revenues: $389.6 million (2016 est.)
Budget / expenditures: $344 million (2015 est.)
Exports / Exports 2022: $244 million (2022 est.)
Exports / Exports 2021: $55 million (2021 est.)
Exports / Exports 2020: $128 million (2020 est.)
Exports - partners: Sweden 21%, Singapore 20%, Hong Kong 12%, UK 8%, India 7% (2023)
Exports - commodities: scrap iron, refined petroleum, scrap copper, hydraulic engines, integrated circuits (2021)
Imports / Imports 2022: $777 million (2022 est.)
Imports / Imports 2021: $666 million (2021 est.)
Imports / Imports 2020: $556 million (2020 est.)
Imports - partners: Singapore 63%, Japan 12%, Hong Kong 8%, Taiwan 4%, Philippines 3% (2023)
Imports - commodities: refined petroleum, cars, jewelry, trunks and cases, flavored water (2023)
Exchange rates: the US dollar is used

## Energy
Electricity access / electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)

## Communications
Telephones - fixed lines / total subscriptions: 20,000 (2021 est.)
Telephones - fixed lines / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 42 (2022 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / total subscriptions: 20,474 (2004 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 28 (2004)
Broadcast media: 1 TV station on Saipan; multi-channel cable TV services are available on Saipan; 9 licensed radio stations (2009)
Internet country code: .mp
Internet users / percent of population: 25.1% (2021 est.)

## Transportation
Airports: 4 (2025)
Heliports: 7 (2025)
Ports / total ports: 3 (2024)
Ports / large: 0
Ports / medium: 0
Ports / small: 1
Ports / very small: 2
Ports / ports with oil terminals: 1
Ports / key ports: Rota, Saipan, Tinian

## Military and Security
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of the US

## Transnational Issues

=== Coral Sea Islands ===

## Introduction
Background: The widely scattered Coral Sea Islands were first charted in 1803, but they were too small to host permanent human habitation. The 1870s and 1880s saw attempts at guano mining, but these were soon abandoned. The islands became an Australian territory in 1969, and the boundaries were extended in 1997. A small meteorological staff has operated on the Willis Islets since 1921, and several other islands host unmanned weather stations, beacons, and lighthouses. Much of the territory lies within national marine nature reserves.

## Geography
Location: Oceania, islands in the Coral Sea, northeast of Australia
Geographic coordinates: 18 00 S, 152 00 E
Map references: Oceania
Area / total: 3 sq km less than
Area / land: 3 sq km less than
Area / water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative: about four times the size of the National Mall in Washington, D.C.
Land boundaries / total: 0 km
Coastline: 3,095 km
Maritime claims / territorial sea: 3 nm
Maritime claims / exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
Climate: tropical
Terrain: sand and coral reefs and islands (cays)
Elevation / highest point: unnamed location on Cato Island 9 m
Elevation / lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
Natural resources: fish
Land use / agricultural land: 0% (2018 est.)
Land use / other: 100% (2018 est.)
Natural hazards: occasional tropical cyclones
Geography - note: important nesting area for birds and turtles

## People and Society
Population / total: no permanent inhabitants

## Environment
Environmental issues: no permanent freshwater resources; damaging activities include coral mining, fishing practices (overfishing, blast fishing)
Climate: tropical
Land use / agricultural land: 0% (2018 est.)
Land use / other: 100% (2018 est.)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: Coral Sea Islands Territory
Country name / conventional short form: Coral Sea Islands
Country name / etymology: self-descriptive name to reflect the islands' position in the Coral Sea off the northeastern coast of Australia
Dependency status: territory of Australia; administered from Canberra by the Department of Regional Australia, Local Government, Arts and Sport
Legal system: the common law system of Australia applies
Citizenship: see Australia
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (territory of Australia)
Diplomatic representation from the US / embassy: none (territory of Australia)
Flag: the flag of Australia is used

## Economy

## Communications

## Transportation

## Military and Security
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of Australia

## Transnational Issues

=== Cook Islands ===

## Introduction
Background: Polynesians from Tahiti were probably the first people to settle Rarotonga -- the largest of the Cook Islands -- around A.D. 900. Over time, Samoans and Tongans also settled in Rarotonga, and Rarotongans voyaged to the northern Cook Islands, settling Manihiki and Rakahanga. Pukapuka and Penrhyn in the northern Cook Islands were settled directly from Samoa. Prior to European contact, there was considerable travel and trade between inhabitants of the different islands and atolls, but they were not united in a single political entity. Spanish navigators were the first Europeans to spot the northern Cook Islands in 1595, followed by the first landing in 1606, but no further European contact occurred until the 1760s. In 1773, British explorer James COOK spotted Manuae in the southern Cook Islands, and Russian mapmakers named the islands after COOK in the 1820s. Fearing France would militarily occupy the islands as it did in Tahiti, Rarotongans asked the UK for protectorate status in the 1840s and 1860s, a request the UK ignored. In 1888, Queen MAKEA TAKAU of Rarotonga formally petitioned for protectorate status, to which the UK reluctantly agreed. In 1901, the UK placed Rarotonga and the rest of the islands in the New Zealand Colony, and in 1915, the Cook Islands Act organized the islands into one political entity. It remained a protectorate until 1965, when New Zealand granted the Cook Islands self-governing status. The Cook Islands has a great deal of local autonomy and is an independent member of international organizations, but it is in free association with New Zealand, which is responsible for its defense and foreign affairs. In September 2023, the US recognized the Cook Islands as a sovereign and independent state.

## Geography
Location: Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about halfway between Hawaii and New Zealand
Geographic coordinates: 21 14 S, 159 46 W
Map references: Oceania
Area / total: 236 sq km
Area / land: 236 sq km
Area / water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative: 1.3 times the size of Washington, D.C.
Land boundaries / total: 0 km
Coastline: 120 km
Maritime claims / territorial sea: 12 nm
Maritime claims / exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Maritime claims / continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
Climate: tropical oceanic; moderated by trade winds; a dry season from April to November and a more humid season from December to March
Terrain: low coral atolls in north; volcanic, hilly islands in south
Elevation / highest point: Te Manga 652 m
Elevation / lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
Natural resources: coconuts (copra)
Land use / agricultural land: 7.9% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 2.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 5.8% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 0% (2022 est.)
Land use / forest: 65% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 27.1% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land: NA
Population distribution: most of the population is found on the island of Rarotonga
Natural hazards: tropical cyclones (November to March)
Geography - note: the northern Cook Islands are seven low-lying, sparsely populated, coral atolls; the southern Cook Islands, where most of the population lives, consist of eight elevated, fertile, volcanic isles, including the largest, Rarotonga, at 67 sq km

## People and Society
Population / total: 7,592 (2025 est.)
Population / male: 3,890
Population / female: 3,702
Nationality / noun: Cook Islander(s)
Nationality / adjective: Cook Islander
Ethnic groups: Cook Island Maori 77.4%, part Cook Island Maori 8.3%, Fijian 3.6%, New Zealand Maori/European 3.4%, Filipino 2.9%, other Pacific Islands 1.8%, other 2.6% (2021 est.)
Languages: English (official) 86.4%, Cook Islands Maori (Rarotongan) (official) 76.2%, other 8.3% (2011 est.)
Religions: Protestant 55% (Cook Islands Christian Church 43.1%, Seventh Day Adventist 8.3%, Assemblies of God 3.6%), Roman Catholic 16.7%, Church of Jesus Christ 3.9%, Jehovah's Witness 2.2%, Apostolic Church 2.1%, other 4.5%, none/unspecified 15.6% (2021 est.)
Age structure / 0-14 years: 18.2% (male 738/female 671)
Age structure / 15-64 years: 65.9% (male 2,634/female 2,479)
Age structure / 65 years and over: 16% (2024 est.) (male 608/female 631)
Dependency ratios / total dependency ratio: 53 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / youth dependency ratio: 27.4 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / elderly dependency ratio: 25.5 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / potential support ratio: 3.9 (2025 est.)
Median age / total: 41.5 years (2025 est.)
Median age / male: 40.7 years
Median age / female: 41.4 years
Population growth rate: -2.15% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 11.85 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 9.48 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: -23.84 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution: most of the population is found on the island of Rarotonga
Urbanization / urban population: 76.2% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 0.52% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Sex ratio / at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 0-14 years: 1.1 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 15-64 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 65 years and over: 0.96 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / total population: 1.05 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio: 0 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Infant mortality rate / total: 14.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Infant mortality rate / male: 19 deaths/1,000 live births
Infant mortality rate / female: 11.1 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth / total population: 77.6 years (2024 est.)
Life expectancy at birth / male: 74.8 years
Life expectancy at birth / female: 80.6 years
Total fertility rate: 1.99 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 0.97 (2025 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: urban: urban: NA
Drinking water source / improved: rural: rural: NA
Drinking water source / improved: total: total: 100% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: urban: urban: NA
Drinking water source / unimproved: rural: rural: NA
Drinking water source / unimproved: total: total: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 3.2% of GDP (2020)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 11.9% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density: 1.67 physicians/1,000 population (2020)
Hospital bed density: 8.2 beds/1,000 population (2021 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: total: total: 96.8% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: total: total: 3.2% of population (2022 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 55.9% (2016)
Alcohol consumption per capita / total: 12.97 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / beer: 3.62 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / wine: 2.28 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / spirits: 7.07 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / other alcohols: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Tobacco use / total: 24% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / male: 28.6% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / female: 20.1% (2025 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49): 53.2% (2021 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% GDP): 3.4% of GDP (2024 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% national budget): 9.2% national budget (2025 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / total: 15 years (2023 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / male: 15 years (2023 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / female: 15 years (2023 est.)

## Environment
Environmental issues: solid- and liquid-waste disposal; soil degradation; deforestation; use of pesticides; improper disposal of pollutants; overfishing and destructive fishing practices; over-dredging of lagoons and coral rubble beds; unregulated building
International environmental agreements / party to: Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution
International environmental agreements / signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Climate: tropical oceanic; moderated by trade winds; a dry season from April to November and a more humid season from December to March
Land use / agricultural land: 7.9% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 2.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 5.8% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 0% (2022 est.)
Land use / forest: 65% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 27.1% (2023 est.)
Urbanization / urban population: 76.2% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 0.52% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / total emissions: 103,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from petroleum and other liquids: 103,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Particulate matter emissions: 7.8 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: none
Country name / conventional short form: Cook Islands
Country name / former: Hervey Islands
Country name / etymology: named after Captain James COOK, the British explorer who visited the islands in 1773 and 1777
Government type: parliamentary democracy
Dependency status: self-governing in free association with New Zealand; Cook Islands is fully responsible for internal affairs and conducts its own international relations, including establishing diplomatic relationships with foreign countries; New Zealand has a constitutional responsibility to respond to requests for assistance with foreign affairs, disasters, and defense
Capital / name: Avarua
Capital / geographic coordinates: 21 12 S, 159 46 W
Capital / time difference: UTC-10 (5 hours behind Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Capital / etymology: translates as "two harbors" in Maori
Legal system: common law similar to New Zealand common law
Constitution / history: 4 August 1965 (Cook Islands Constitution Act 1964)
Constitution / amendment process: proposed by Parliament; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote by the Parliament membership in each of several readings and assent of the chief of state&rsquo;s representative; passage of amendments relating to the chief of state also requires two-thirds majority approval in a referendum
International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration (New Zealand normally retains responsibility for external affairs); accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch / chief of state: King CHARLES III (since 8 September 2022); represented by Sir Tom J. MARSTERS (since 9 August 2013); New Zealand High Commissioner Catherine GRAHAM (since 8 September 2024)
Executive branch / head of government: Prime Minister Mark BROWN (since 1 October 2020)
Executive branch / cabinet: Cabinet chosen by the prime minister
Executive branch / election/appointment process: the monarchy is hereditary; UK representative appointed by the monarch; New Zealand high commissioner appointed by the New Zealand Government; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or majority coalition usually becomes prime minister
Legislative branch / legislature name: Parliament
Legislative branch / legislative structure: unicameral
Legislative branch / number of seats: 24 (directly elected)
Legislative branch / electoral system: plurality/majority
Legislative branch / scope of elections: full renewal
Legislative branch / term in office: 4 years
Legislative branch / most recent election date: 8/1/2022
Legislative branch / parties elected and seats per party: CIP (12); Demo (5); Cook Islands United Party (3); OCI (1); independent (3)
Legislative branch / percentage of women in chamber: 25%
Legislative branch / expected date of next election: 2026
Judicial branch / highest court(s): Court of Appeal (consists of the chief justice and 3 judges of the High Court); High Court (consists of the chief justice and at least 4 judges and organized into civil, criminal, and land divisions)
Judicial branch / judge selection and term of office: High Court chief justice appointed by the Queen's Representative on the advice of the Executive Council tendered by the prime minister; other judges appointed by the Queen's Representative, on the advice of the Executive Council tendered by the chief justice, High Court chief justice, and the minister of justice; chief justice and judges appointed for 3-year renewable terms
Judicial branch / subordinate courts: justices of the peace
Political parties: Cook Islands Party or CIP Democratic Party or Demo One Cook Islands or OCI
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (self-governing in free association with New Zealand)
Diplomatic representation from the US / embassy: none (self-governing in free association with New Zealand)
International organization participation: ACP, ADB, AOSIS, FAO, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IFAD, IFRCS, IMO, IMSO, IOC, ITUC (NGOs), OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WMO
Independence: 4 August 1965 (Cook Islands became self-governing state in free association with New Zealand)
National holiday: Constitution Day, the first Monday in August (1965)
Flag: description: blue with the UK flag in the upper-left quadrant and a large circle of 15 five-pointed white stars (one for each island) centered in the right half of the flag
National symbol(s): a circle of 15 five-pointed white stars on a blue field, tiare maori flower ( Gardenia taitensis )
National color(s): green, white
National coat of arms: the coat of arms was designed by Papa Motu Kora, a mataiapo (traditional chief) from the Matavera village in Rarotonga; the shield with a circle of 15 five-pointed white stars represents the protection of the people and the country; on each side of the shield is a flying fish ( maroro ) and a white tern ( kakaia ); a Rarotongan orator club above the fish represents local traditions, and a cross above the tern symbolizes Christianity; a red-feathered Ariki headdress ( pare kura ) at the top of the shield represents the country’s traditional ranking system
National anthem(s) / title: "God Save the King"
National anthem(s) / lyrics/music: unknown
National anthem(s) / history: royal anthem

## Economy
Economic overview: high-income self-governing New Zealand territorial economy; tourism-based activity but diversifying; severely curtailed by COVID-19 pandemic; copra and tropical fruit exporter; Asian Development Bank aid recipient
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $401.155 million (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $364.686 million (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $306.285 million (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2022: 10.5% (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2021: -24.5% (2021 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2020: -5.2% (2020 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2024: $29,800 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2023: $25,700 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2022: $19,700 (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $409.077 million (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 10.6% (2022 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021: 1.9% (2021 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2020: 1% (2020 est.)
Agricultural products: coconuts, vegetables, papayas, pork, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, fruits, mangoes/guavas, watermelons, chicken (2023)
Industries: fishing, fruit processing, tourism, clothing, handicrafts
Budget / revenues: $113.687 million (2022 est.)
Budget / expenditures: $143.391 million (2022 est.)
Exports - partners: Japan 33%, Thailand 15%, Greece 15%, France 11%, China 8% (2023)
Exports - commodities: fish, ships, garments, shellfish (2023)
Imports - partners: NZ 44%, Italy 26%, Fiji 9%, China 7%, Australia 3% (2023)
Imports - commodities: ships, refined petroleum, cars, plastic products, additive manufacturing machines (2023)
Exchange rates / Currency: New Zealand dollars (NZD) per US dollar -
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2024: 1.652 (2024 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2023: 1.628 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2022: 1.577 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2021: 1.414 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2020: 1.542 (2020 est.)

## Energy
Electricity / installed generating capacity: 17,000 kW (2023 est.)
Electricity / consumption: 37.5 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / transmission/distribution losses: 3.2 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / fossil fuels: 60.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / solar: 39.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Coal / imports: 1 metric tons (2022 est.)
Petroleum / refined petroleum consumption: 700 bbl/day (2023 est.)

## Communications
Telephones - fixed lines / total subscriptions: 6,990 (2022 est.)
Telephones - fixed lines / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 48 (2022 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / total subscriptions: 18,100 (2022 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 123 (2022 est.)
Broadcast media: 1 privately owned TV station in Rarotonga provides a mix of local news and overseas-sourced programs (2019)
Internet country code: .ck
Internet users / percent of population: 64.8% (2021 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / total: 2,700 (2018 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 15 (2018 est.)

## Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: E5
Airports: 10 (2025)
Merchant marine / total: 190 (2023)
Merchant marine / by type: bulk carrier 19, general cargo 44, oil tanker 58, other 69
Ports / total ports: 1 (2024)
Ports / large: 0
Ports / medium: 0
Ports / small: 0
Ports / very small: 1
Ports / ports with oil terminals: 1
Ports / key ports: Avatiu

## Military and Security
Military and security forces: no regular military forces; Cook Islands Police Service
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of New Zealand in consultation with the Cook Islands and at its request the Cook Islands have a "shiprider" agreement with the US, which allows local maritime law enforcement officers to embark on US Coast Guard (USCG) and US Navy (USN) vessels, including to board and search vessels suspected of violating laws or regulations within its designated exclusive economic zone (EEZ) or on the high seas; "shiprider" agreements also enable USCG personnel and USN vessels with embarked USCG law enforcement personnel to work with host nations to protect critical regional resources (2025)

## Transnational Issues

=== Fiji ===

## Introduction
Background: Austronesians settled Fiji around 1000 B.C., followed by successive waves of Melanesians starting around the first century A.D. Fijians traded with Polynesian groups in Samoa and Tonga, and by about 900, much of Fiji was in the Tu’i Tongan Empire’s sphere of influence. The Tongan influence declined significantly by 1200, while Melanesian seafarers continued to periodically arrive in Fiji, further mixing Melanesian and Polynesian cultural traditions. The first European spotted Fiji in 1643 and by the 1800s, European merchants, missionaries, traders, and whalers frequented the islands. Rival kings and chiefs competed for power, at times aided by Europeans, and in 1865, Seru Epenisa CAKOBAU united many groups into the Confederacy of Independent Kingdoms of Viti. The arrangement proved weak, however, and in 1871 CAKOBAU formed the Kingdom of Fiji in an attempt to centralize power. Fearing a hostile takeover by a foreign power as the kingdom’s economy began to falter, CAKOBAU ceded Fiji to the UK in 1874. The first British governor set up a plantation-style economy and brought in more than 60,000 Indians as indentured laborers, most of whom chose to stay in Fiji rather than return to India when their contracts expired. In the early 1900s, society was divided along ethnic lines, with iTaukei (indigenous Fijians), Europeans, and Indo-Fijians living in separate areas and maintaining their own languages and traditions. ITaukei fears of an Indo-Fijian takeover of government delayed independence through the 1960s; Fiji achieved independence in 1970 with agreements to allocate parliamentary seats by ethnic groups. After two coups in 1987, a new constitution in 1990 cemented iTaukei control of politics, leading thousands of Indo-Fijians to leave. A reformed constitution in 1997 was more equitable and led to the election of an Indo-Fijian prime minister in 1999, who was ousted in a coup the following year. In 2005, the new prime minister put forward a bill that would grant pardons to the coup perpetrators, leading Josaia Voreqe "Frank" BAINIMARAMA to launch a coup in 2006. BAINIMARAMA appointed himself prime minister in 2007 and retained the position after elections in 2014 and 2018 that international observers deemed credible. BAINIMARAMA's party lost control of the prime minister position after elections in 2022 with former opposition leader Sitiveni Ligamamada RABUKA winning the office by a narrow margin.

## Geography
Location: Oceania, island group in the South Pacific Ocean, about two-thirds of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand
Geographic coordinates: 18 00 S, 175 00 E
Map references: Oceania
Area / total: 18,274 sq km
Area / land: 18,274 sq km
Area / water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly smaller than New Jersey
Land boundaries / total: 0 km
Coastline: 1,129 km
Maritime claims / territorial sea: 12 nm
Maritime claims / contiguous zone: 24 nm
Maritime claims / exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Maritime claims / continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Climate: tropical marine; only slight seasonal temperature variation
Terrain: mostly mountains of volcanic origin
Elevation / highest point: Tomanivi 1,324 m
Elevation / lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
Natural resources: timber, fish, gold, copper, offshore oil potential, hydropower
Land use / agricultural land: 17.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 4.2% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 3.4% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 9.5% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 61.7% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 21.2% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land: 40 sq km (2012)
Population distribution: approximately 70% of the population lives on the island of Viti Levu; roughly half of the population lives in urban areas
Natural hazards: cyclonic storms can occur from November to January
Geography - note: consists of 332 islands, approximately 110 of which are inhabited, and more than 500 islets

## People and Society
Population / total: 951,611 (2024 est.)
Population / male: 482,304
Population / female: 469,307
Nationality / noun: Fijian(s)
Nationality / adjective: Fijian
Ethnic groups: iTaukei 56.8% (predominantly Melanesian with a Polynesian admixture), Indo-Fijian 37.5%, Rotuman 1.2%, other 4.5% (European, part European, other Pacific Islanders, Chinese) (2007 est.)
Languages: English (official), iTaukei (official), Fiji Hindi (official)
Religions: Protestant 45% (Methodist 34.6%, Assembly of God 5.7%, Seventh Day Adventist 3.9%, and Anglican 0.8%), Hindu 27.9%, other Christian 10.4%, Roman Catholic 9.1%, Muslim 6.3%, Sikh 0.3%, other 0.3%, none 0.8% (2007 est.)
Age structure / 0-14 years: 24.7% (male 119,910/female 114,904)
Age structure / 15-64 years: 66.4% (male 323,339/female 308,921)
Age structure / 65 years and over: 8.9% (2024 est.) (male 39,055/female 45,482)
Dependency ratios / total dependency ratio: 50.5 (2024 est.)
Dependency ratios / youth dependency ratio: 37.1 (2024 est.)
Dependency ratios / elderly dependency ratio: 13.4 (2024 est.)
Dependency ratios / potential support ratio: 7.5 (2024 est.)
Median age / total: 32 years (2025 est.)
Median age / male: 31.4 years
Median age / female: 31.8 years
Population growth rate: 0.38% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 15.63 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 6.58 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: -5.3 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution: approximately 70% of the population lives on the island of Viti Levu; roughly half of the population lives in urban areas
Urbanization / urban population: 58.7% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 1.37% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 178,000 SUVA (capital) (2018)
Sex ratio / at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 15-64 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 65 years and over: 0.86 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio: 30 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Infant mortality rate / total: 9.4 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Infant mortality rate / male: 11.1 deaths/1,000 live births
Infant mortality rate / female: 8.1 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth / total population: 74.8 years (2024 est.)
Life expectancy at birth / male: 72.2 years
Life expectancy at birth / female: 77.6 years
Total fertility rate: 2.18 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 1.06 (2025 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: urban: urban: 98.7% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: rural: rural: 91.1% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: total: total: 95.5% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: urban: urban: 1.3% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: rural: rural: 8.9% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: total: total: 4.5% of population (2022 est.)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 5.4% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 10.3% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density: 0.81 physicians/1,000 population (2015)
Hospital bed density: 1.9 beds/1,000 population (2017 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: urban: urban: 100% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: rural: rural: 100% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: total: total: 100% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: urban: urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: rural: rural: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: total: total: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 30.2% (2016)
Alcohol consumption per capita / total: 2.71 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / beer: 1.64 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / wine: 0.29 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / spirits: 0.79 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / other alcohols: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Tobacco use / total: 26.8% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / male: 40.8% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / female: 12.9% (2025 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 4.6% (2021 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49): 59.2% (2021 est.)
Child marriage / women married by age 15: 0.2% (2021)
Child marriage / women married by age 18: 4% (2021)
Child marriage / men married by age 18: 1.7% (2021)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% GDP): 4.2% of GDP (2023 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% national budget): 13.8% national budget (2025 est.)
Literacy / female: 92.4% (2021 est.)

## Environment
Environmental issues: air pollution from waste incineration and vehicle emissions; deforestation and soil erosion; soil erosion from clearing land by bush burning
International environmental agreements / party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands
International environmental agreements / signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Climate: tropical marine; only slight seasonal temperature variation
Land use / agricultural land: 17.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 4.2% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 3.4% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 9.5% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 61.7% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 21.2% (2023 est.)
Urbanization / urban population: 58.7% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 1.37% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / total emissions: 1.432 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from coal and metallurgical coke: 12 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from petroleum and other liquids: 1.432 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Particulate matter emissions: 8.1 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Waste and recycling / municipal solid waste generated annually: 189,400 tons (2024 est.)
Waste and recycling / percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 16.1% (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / municipal: 25.3 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / industrial: 9.6 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / agricultural: 50 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total renewable water resources: 28.55 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: Republic of Fiji
Country name / conventional short form: Fiji
Country name / local long form: Republic of Fiji (English)/ Matanitu ko Viti (Fijian)
Country name / local short form: Fiji (English)/ Viti (Fijian)
Country name / etymology: the Fijians called their home Viti, but the neighboring Tongans called it Fisi; in the Anglicized spelling of the Tongan pronunciation -- promulgated by explorer Captain James COOK -- the designation became Fiji
Government type: parliamentary republic
Capital / name: Suva (on Viti Levu)
Capital / geographic coordinates: 18 08 S, 178 25 E
Capital / time difference: UTC+12 (17 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Capital / etymology: the name means "little hill" in the native Fijian language and may refer to a mound where a temple once stood
Administrative divisions: 14 provinces and 1 dependency*; Ba, Bua, Cakaudrove, Kadavu, Lau, Lomaiviti, Macuata, Nadroga and Navosa, Naitasiri, Namosi, Ra, Rewa, Rotuma*, Serua, Tailevu
Legal system: common law system based on the English model
Constitution / history: several previous; latest signed into law 6 September 2013
Constitution / amendment process: proposed as a bill by Parliament and supported by at least three quarters of its members, followed by referral to the president and then to the Electoral Commission, which conducts a referendum; passage requires approval by at least three-quarters of registered voters and assent by the president
International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Citizenship / citizenship by birth: no
Citizenship / citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Fiji
Citizenship / dual citizenship recognized: yes
Citizenship / residency requirement for naturalization: at least 5 years residency out of the 10 years preceding application
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch / chief of state: President Ratu Naiqama LALABALAVU (since 12 November 2024)
Executive branch / head of government: Prime Minister Sitiveni Ligamamada RABUKA (since 24 December 2022)
Executive branch / cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the prime minister from among members of Parliament and is responsible to Parliament
Executive branch / election/appointment process: president elected by Parliament for a 3-year term (eligible for a second term); prime minister endorsed by the president
Executive branch / most recent election date: 31 October 2024
Executive branch / election results: 2024: Ratu Naiqama LALABALAVU elected president (People's Alliance) 35 votes, Meli Tora TAVAIQIA (Fiji First) 14 votes 2021: Ratu Wiliame KATONIVERE elected president; Wiliame KATONIVERE (People's Alliance) 28 votes, Teimumu KEPA (SODELPA) 23 votes
Executive branch / expected date of next election: 2027
Legislative branch / legislature name: Parliament
Legislative branch / legislative structure: unicameral
Legislative branch / number of seats: 55 (all directly elected)
Legislative branch / electoral system: proportional representation
Legislative branch / scope of elections: full renewal
Legislative branch / term in office: 4 years
Legislative branch / most recent election date: 12/14/2022
Legislative branch / parties elected and seats per party: FijiFirst (26); People's Alliance (21); National Federation Party (NFP) (5); Social Democratic Liberal Party (Soldelpa) (3)
Legislative branch / percentage of women in chamber: 9.1%
Legislative branch / expected date of next election: December 2026
Judicial branch / highest court(s): Supreme Court (consists of the chief justice, all justices of the Court of Appeal, and judges appointed specifically as Supreme Court judges); Court of Appeal (consists of the court president, all puisne judges of the High Court, and judges specifically appointed to the Court of Appeal); High Court (chaired by the chief justice and includes a minimum of 10 puisne judges; High Court organized into civil, criminal, family, employment, and tax divisions)
Judicial branch / judge selection and term of office: chief justice appointed by the president of Fiji on the advice of the prime minister following consultation with the parliamentary leader of the opposition; judges of the Supreme Court, the president of the Court of Appeal, the justices of the Court of Appeal, and puisne judges of the High Court appointed by the president of Fiji on the nomination of the Judicial Service Commission after consulting with the cabinet minister and the House of Representatives committee responsible for the administration of justice; the chief justice, Supreme Court judges, and justices of Appeal generally required to retire at age 70, but this requirement may be waived for one or more sessions of the court; puisne judges appointed for not less than 4 years or more than 7 years, with mandatory retirement at age 65
Judicial branch / subordinate courts: Magistrates' Court (organized into civil, criminal, juvenile, and small claims divisions)
Political parties: Fiji First Fiji Labor Party or FLP Freedom Alliance (formerly Fiji United Freedom Party or FUFP) National Federation Party or NFP People's Alliance Peoples Democratic Party or PDP Social Democratic Liberal Party or SODELPA Unity Fiji
Diplomatic representation in the US / chief of mission: Ambassador Ilisoni VUIDREKETI (since 17 June 2024)
Diplomatic representation in the US / chancery: 1707 L Street NW, Suite 200, Washington, DC 20036
Diplomatic representation in the US / telephone: [1] (917) 208-4560
Diplomatic representation in the US / FAX: [1] (202) 466-8325
Diplomatic representation in the US / email address and website: info@FijiEmbassyDC.com https://www.fijiembassydc.com/
Diplomatic representation from the US / chief of mission: Ambassador Marie DAMOUR (since 24 November 2022); note - also accredited to Kiribati, Nauru, Tonga, and Tuvalu
Diplomatic representation from the US / embassy: 158 Princes Road, Tamavua, Suva
Diplomatic representation from the US / mailing address: 4290 Suva Place, Washington DC 20521-4290
Diplomatic representation from the US / telephone: [679] 331-4466
Diplomatic representation from the US / FAX: [679] 330-2267
Diplomatic representation from the US / email address and website: SuvaACS@state.gov https://fj.usembassy.gov/
International organization participation: ACP, ADB, AOSIS, C, CP, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, OPCW, PCA, PIF, Sparteca (suspended), SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNDOF, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNISFA, UNMISS, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Independence: 10 October 1970 (from the UK)
National holiday: Fiji (Independence) Day, 10 October (1970)
Flag: description: light blue with the UK flag in the upper-left quadrant and the Fijian shield centered on the right half of the flag; the shield shows a yellow lion holding a coconut above a white field quartered by the cross of Saint George; the four quarters depict sugarcane, a palm tree, a banana bunch, and a white dove meaning: blue symbolizes the Pacific Ocean
National symbol(s): Fijian canoe
National color(s): light blue
National anthem(s) / title: "God Bless Fiji" (Let Us Show Pride)
National anthem(s) / lyrics/music: Michael Francis Alexander PRESCOTT/C. Austin MILES (adapted by Michael Francis Alexander PRESCOTT)
National anthem(s) / history: adopted 1970; known in Fijian as "Meda Dau Doka" (Let Us Show Pride); adapted from the hymn, "Dwelling in Beulah Land," the anthem's English lyrics are usually used, although they differ in meaning from the official Fijian lyrics
National heritage / total World Heritage Sites: 1 (cultural)
National heritage / selected World Heritage Site locales: Levuka Historical Port Town

## Economy
Economic overview: upper-middle income, tourism-based Pacific island economy; susceptible to ocean rises; key energy and infrastructure investments; post-pandemic tourism resurgence; improved debt standing; limited workforce
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $13.1 billion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $12.617 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $11.734 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2024: 3.8% (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2023: 7.5% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2022: 19.8% (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2024: $14,100 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2023: $13,700 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2022: $12,800 (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $5.841 billion (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024: 4.5% (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023: 2.3% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 4.3% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / agriculture: 8.4% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / industry: 14.1% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / services: 56.2% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / household consumption: 71.7% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / government consumption: 20.8% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in fixed capital: 18.6% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in inventories: 1.2% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / exports of goods and services: 57% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / imports of goods and services: -69.2% (2023 est.)
Agricultural products: sugarcane, cassava, taro, vegetables, chicken, coconuts, eggs, ginger, milk, sweet potatoes (2023)
Industries: tourism, sugar processing, clothing, copra, gold, silver, lumber
Industrial production growth rate: 7.3% (2024 est.)
Labor force: 387,800 (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2024: 4.4% (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2023: 4.4% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2022: 4.5% (2022 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / total: 15.5% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / male: 11.8% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / female: 22.5% (2024 est.)
Population below poverty line: 24.1% (2019 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income / Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2019: 30.7 (2019 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / lowest 10%: 3.5% (2019 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / highest 10%: 24.2% (2019 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2023: 9.2% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2022: 9.2% of GDP (2022 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2021: 9.1% of GDP (2021 est.)
Budget / revenues: $1.345 billion (2023 est.)
Budget / expenditures: $1.562 billion (2023 est.)
Public debt / Public debt 2016: 47.5% of GDP (2016 est.)
Taxes and other revenues: 20.7% (of GDP) (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2022: -$865.665 million (2022 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2021: -$686.577 million (2021 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2020: -$614.13 million (2020 est.)
Exports / Exports 2022: $2.376 billion (2022 est.)
Exports / Exports 2021: $1.171 billion (2021 est.)
Exports / Exports 2020: $1.23 billion (2020 est.)
Exports - partners: USA 32%, Australia 12%, Tonga 6%, NZ 6%, Samoa 4% (2023)
Exports - commodities: water, fish, raw sugar, refined petroleum, garments (2023)
Imports / Imports 2022: $3.434 billion (2022 est.)
Imports / Imports 2021: $2.344 billion (2021 est.)
Imports / Imports 2020: $1.977 billion (2020 est.)
Imports - partners: Singapore 25%, China 16%, Australia 15%, NZ 14%, USA 5% (2023)
Imports - commodities: refined petroleum, medical instruments, cars, broadcasting equipment, plastics (2023)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024: $1.6 billion (2024 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023: $1.548 billion (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $1.557 billion (2022 est.)
Debt - external / Debt - external 2023: $1.397 billion (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Currency: Fijian dollars (FJD) per US dollar -
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2024: 2.268 (2024 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2023: 2.25 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2022: 2.201 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2021: 2.071 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2020: 2.169 (2020 est.)

## Energy
Electricity access / electrification - total population: 92% (2022 est.)
Electricity access / electrification - urban areas: 97.6%
Electricity access / electrification - rural areas: 86.8%
Electricity / installed generating capacity: 427,000 kW (2023 est.)
Electricity / consumption: 1.048 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / transmission/distribution losses: 102.047 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / fossil fuels: 36.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / solar: 1.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / wind: 0.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / hydroelectricity: 52.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / biomass and waste: 10% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Coal / consumption: 6 metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / imports: 2 metric tons (2022 est.)
Petroleum / refined petroleum consumption: 10,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Energy consumption per capita / Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 25.375 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

## Communications
Telephones - fixed lines / total subscriptions: 49,000 (2021 est.)
Telephones - fixed lines / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 4 (2022 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / total subscriptions: 5.33 million (2024 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 574 (2024 est.)
Broadcast media: Fiji TV, a publicly traded company, operates a free-to-air channel; Digicel Fiji operates the Sky Fiji and Sky Pacific multi-channel pay-TV services; state-owned commercial company, Fiji Broadcasting Corporation, Ltd, operates 6 radio stations, including 2 public broadcasters and 4 commercial broadcasters with multiple repeaters; 5 radio stations with repeaters operated by Communications Fiji, Ltd; transmissions of multiple international broadcasters are available
Internet country code: .fj
Internet users / percent of population: 79% (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / total: 23,000 (2022 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 3 (2022 est.)

## Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: DQ
Airports: 26 (2025)
Heliports: 2 (2025)
Railways / total: 597 km (2008)
Railways / narrow gauge: 597 km (2008) 0.600-m gauge
Merchant marine / total: 74 (2023)
Merchant marine / by type: general cargo 21, oil tanker 4, other 49
Ports / total ports: 5 (2024)
Ports / large: 0
Ports / medium: 0
Ports / small: 2
Ports / very small: 3
Ports / ports with oil terminals: 4
Ports / key ports: Lautoka Harbor, Levuka, Malai, Savusavu Bay, Suva Harbor

## Military and Security
Military and security forces: Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF): Land Force, Republic of Fiji Navy (2025)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2024: 1.4% of GDP (2024 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2023: 1.1% of GDP (2023 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2022: 1.2% of GDP (2022 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2021: 1.5% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2020: 1.4% of GDP (2020 est.)
Military and security service personnel strengths: approximately 4,000 active Republic of Fiji Military Forces (2025)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the RFMF is lightly armed and equipped; Australia has provided patrol boats and a few armored personnel carriers; it also provides logistical support for RFMF regional or UN operations; in recent years, China and the US have provided small amounts of equipment (2025)
Military service age and obligation: 18-25 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women (2026)
Military deployments: 170 Egypt (MFO); 160 Iraq (UNAMI); 150 Golan Heights (UNDOF) (2025)
Military - note: the Fiji Military Forces (RFMF) are responsible for external security but can be assigned some domestic security responsibilities in specific circumstances; the RFMF has a history of intervening in the country’s politics, and it continues to have significant political power; it also has a tradition of participating in UN peacekeeping operations, which have offered experience and a source of financial support; Fiji has sent troops on nearly 20 such missions since first deploying personnel to South Lebanon in 1978 Fiji has a "shiprider" agreement with the US, which allows local maritime law enforcement officers to embark on US Coast Guard (USCG) and US Navy (USN) vessels, including to board and search vessels suspected of violating laws or regulations within Fiji's designated exclusive economic zone (EEZ) or on the high seas; "shiprider" agreements also enable USCG personnel and USN vessels with embarked USCG law enforcement personnel to work with host nations to protect critical regional resources (2025)

## Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons / refugees: 25 (2024 est.)
Refugees and internally displaced persons / IDPs: 259 (2024 est.)
Trafficking in persons / tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List — the government did not demonstrate overall increasing efforts to eliminate trafficking compared with the previous reporting period, therefore Fiji remained on Tier 2 Watch List for the second consecutive year; for more details, go to: https://www.state.gov/reports/2025-trafficking-in-persons-report/fiji/

=== none ===

## Introduction
Background: Each of the four states that compose the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) -- Chuuk, Kosrae, Pohnpei, and Yap -- has its own unique history and cultural traditions. The first humans arrived in what is now the FSM in the second millennium B.C. In the 800s A.D., construction of the artificial islets at the Nan Madol complex in Pohnpei began, with the main architecture being built around 1200. At its height, Nan Madol united the approximately 25,000 people of Pohnpei under the Saudeleur Dynasty. By 1250, Kosrae was united in a kingdom centered in Leluh. Yap’s society became strictly hierarchical, with chiefs receiving tributes from islands up to 1,100 km (700 mi) away. Widespread human settlement in Chuuk began in the 1300s, and the different islands in the Chuuk Lagoon were frequently at war with one another. Portuguese and Spanish explorers visited a few of the islands in the 1500s, and Spain began exerting nominal, but not day-to-day, control over some of the islands -- which they named the Caroline Islands -- in the 1600s. In 1899, Spain sold all of the FSM to Germany. Japan seized the islands in 1914 and was granted a League of Nations mandate to administer them in 1920. During WWII, Japan built military bases across most of the islands and headquartered their Pacific naval operations in Chuuk. The US bombed Chuuk in 1944 but largely bypassed the other islands in its leapfrog campaign across the Pacific. In 1947, the FSM came under US administration as part of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, which comprised six districts: Chuuk, the Marshall Islands, the Northern Mariana Islands, Palau, Pohnpei, and Yap; Kosrae was separated from Pohnpei into a separate district in 1977. In 1979, Chuuk, Kosrae, Pohnpei, and Yap ratified the FSM Constitution and declared independence while the other three districts opted to pursue separate political status. There are significant inter-island rivalries stemming from their different histories and cultures. Chuuk, the most populous but poorest state, has pushed for secession, but an independence referendum has been repeatedly postponed.

## Geography
Location: Oceania, island group in the North Pacific Ocean, about three-quarters of the way from Hawaii to Indonesia
Geographic coordinates: 6 55 N, 158 15 E
Map references: Oceania
Area / total: 702 sq km
Area / land: 702 sq km
Area / water: 0 sq km (fresh water only)
Area - comparative: four times the size of Washington, D.C. (land area only)
Land boundaries / total: 0 km
Coastline: 6,112 km
Maritime claims / territorial sea: 12 nm
Maritime claims / exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate: tropical; heavy year-round rainfall, especially in the eastern islands; located on southern edge of the typhoon belt with occasionally severe damage
Terrain: islands vary geologically from high mountainous islands to low, coral atolls; volcanic outcroppings on Pohnpei, Kosrae, and Chuuk
Elevation / highest point: Nanlaud on Pohnpei 782 m
Elevation / lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
Natural resources: timber, marine products, deep-seabed minerals, phosphate
Land use / agricultural land: 7.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 2.9% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 0% (2022 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 4.3% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 92.2% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 0.7% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land: 0 sq km (2022)
Population distribution: the majority of the population lives in the coastal areas of the high islands; the mountainous interior is largely uninhabited; less than half of the population lives in urban areas
Natural hazards: typhoons (June to December)
Geography - note: composed of four major island groups totaling 607 islands

## People and Society
Population / total: 99,603 (2024 est.)
Population / male: 48,708
Population / female: 50,895
Nationality / noun: Micronesian(s)
Nationality / adjective: Micronesian; Chuukese, Kosraen(s), Pohnpeian(s), Yapese
Ethnic groups: Chuukese/Mortlockese 49.3%, Pohnpeian 29.8%, Kosraean 6.3%, Yapese 5.7%, Yap outer islanders 5.1%, Polynesian 1.6%, Asian 1.4%, other 0.8% (2010 est.)
Languages: English (official and common language), Chuukese, Kosrean, Pohnpeian, Yapese, Ulithian, Woleaian, Nukuoro, Kapingamarangi
Religions: Roman Catholic 54.7%, Protestant 41.1% (includes Congregational 38.5%, Baptist 1.1%, Seventh Day Adventist 0.8%, Assembly of God 0.7%), Church of Jesus Christ 1.5%, other 1.9%, none 0.7%, unspecified 0.1% (2010 est.)
Age structure / 0-14 years: 27% (male 13,673/female 13,239)
Age structure / 15-64 years: 67.3% (male 32,527/female 34,487)
Age structure / 65 years and over: 5.7% (2024 est.) (male 2,508/female 3,169)
Dependency ratios / total dependency ratio: 48.6 (2024 est.)
Dependency ratios / youth dependency ratio: 40.2 (2024 est.)
Dependency ratios / elderly dependency ratio: 8.5 (2024 est.)
Dependency ratios / potential support ratio: 11.8 (2024 est.)
Median age / total: 28.7 years (2025 est.)
Median age / male: 27.3 years
Median age / female: 29.1 years
Population growth rate: -0.77% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 17.55 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 4.23 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: -20.98 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution: the majority of the population lives in the coastal areas of the high islands; the mountainous interior is largely uninhabited; less than half of the population lives in urban areas
Urbanization / urban population: 23.4% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 1.52% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 7,000 PALIKIR (capital) (2018)
Sex ratio / at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 0-14 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 15-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 65 years and over: 0.79 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio: 129 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Infant mortality rate / total: 20.4 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Infant mortality rate / male: 23.8 deaths/1,000 live births
Infant mortality rate / female: 17.8 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth / total population: 75 years (2024 est.)
Life expectancy at birth / male: 72.9 years
Life expectancy at birth / female: 77.2 years
Total fertility rate: 2.17 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 1.06 (2025 est.)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 11% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 1.9% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density: 0.97 physicians/1,000 population (2020)
Sanitation facility access / improved: total: total: 88.3% of population
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 45.8% (2016)
Alcohol consumption per capita / total: 1.59 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / beer: 0.92 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / wine: 0.13 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / spirits: 0.52 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / other alcohols: 0.01 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49): 51.7% (2023 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% GDP): 11.6% of GDP (2020 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% national budget): 18.6% national budget (2020 est.)

## Environment
Environmental issues: overfishing; sea-level rise; water and toxic pollution from mining; solid waste disposal
International environmental agreements / party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection
International environmental agreements / signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Climate: tropical; heavy year-round rainfall, especially in the eastern islands; located on southern edge of the typhoon belt with occasionally severe damage
Land use / agricultural land: 7.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 2.9% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 0% (2022 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 4.3% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 92.2% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 0.7% (2023 est.)
Urbanization / urban population: 23.4% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 1.52% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / total emissions: 121,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from petroleum and other liquids: 121,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Particulate matter emissions: 8.1 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Waste and recycling / municipal solid waste generated annually: 26,000 tons (2024 est.)
Waste and recycling / percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 15.2% (2022 est.)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: Federated States of Micronesia
Country name / conventional short form: none
Country name / local long form: Federated States of Micronesia
Country name / local short form: none
Country name / former: New Philippines; Caroline Islands; Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, Ponape, Truk, and Yap Districts
Country name / abbreviation: FSM
Country name / etymology: the name is a 19th-century construct of two Greek words, mikros (small) and nesoi (islands), and refers to its thousands of small islands in the western Pacific Ocean
Government type: federal republic in free association with the US
Capital / name: Palikir
Capital / geographic coordinates: 6 55 N, 158 09 E
Capital / time difference: UTC+11 (16 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Capital / time zone note: Micronesia has two time zones
Administrative divisions: 4 states; Chuuk (Truk), Kosrae (Kosaie), Pohnpei (Ponape), Yap
Legal system: mixed system of common and customary law
Constitution / history: drafted June 1975, ratified 1 October 1978, entered into force 10 May 1979
Constitution / amendment process: proposed by Congress, by a constitutional convention, or by public petition; passage requires approval by at least three-fourths majority vote in at least three fourths of the states
International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt
Citizenship / citizenship by birth: no
Citizenship / citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of FSM
Citizenship / dual citizenship recognized: no
Citizenship / residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch / chief of state: President Wesley W. SIMINA (since 12 May 2023)
Executive branch / head of government: President Wesley W. SIMINA (since 12 May 2023)
Executive branch / cabinet: Cabinet includes the vice president and the heads of the 8 executive departments
Executive branch / election/appointment process: president and vice president indirectly elected by Congress from among the 4 'at large' senators for a 4-year term (eligible for a second term)
Executive branch / most recent election date: 12 May 2023
Executive branch / expected date of next election: 2027
Legislative branch / legislature name: Congress
Legislative branch / legislative structure: unicameral
Legislative branch / number of seats: 14 (all directly elected)
Legislative branch / electoral system: plurality/majority
Legislative branch / scope of elections: partial renewal
Legislative branch / term in office: 2 years
Legislative branch / most recent election date: 3/4/2025
Legislative branch / percentage of women in chamber: 21.4%
Legislative branch / expected date of next election: March 2027
Judicial branch / highest court(s): Federated States of Micronesia Supreme Court (consists of the chief justice and not more than 5 associate justices and organized into appellate and criminal divisions)
Judicial branch / judge selection and term of office: justices appointed by the FSM president with the approval of two-thirds of Congress; justices appointed for life
Judicial branch / subordinate courts: the highest state-level courts are: Chuuk Supreme Court; Korsae State Court; Pohnpei State Court; Yap State Court
Political parties: no formal parties
Diplomatic representation in the US / chief of mission: Ambassador Jackson T. SORAM (since 27 February 2024)
Diplomatic representation in the US / chancery: 1725 N Street NW, Washington, DC 20036
Diplomatic representation in the US / telephone: [1] (202) 223-4383
Diplomatic representation in the US / FAX: [1] (202) 223-4391
Diplomatic representation in the US / email address and website: dcmission@fsmembassy.fm https://fsmembassy.fm/
Diplomatic representation in the US / consulate(s) general: Honolulu, Portland (OR), Tamuning (Guam)
Diplomatic representation from the US / chief of mission: Ambassador Jennifer L. JOHNSON (since 13 September 2023)
Diplomatic representation from the US / embassy: 1286 US Embassy Place, Kolonia, Pohnpei, FM 96941
Diplomatic representation from the US / mailing address: 4120 Kolonia Place, Washington, D.C. 20521-4120
Diplomatic representation from the US / telephone: [691] 320-2187
Diplomatic representation from the US / FAX: [691] 320-2186
Diplomatic representation from the US / email address and website: koloniaacs@state.gov https://fm.usembassy.gov/
International organization participation: ACP, ADB, AOSIS, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, IMF, IOC, IOM, IPU, ITSO, ITU, MIGA, OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, WHO, WMO
Independence: 3 November 1986 (from the US-administered UN trusteeship)
National holiday: Constitution Day, 10 May (1979)
Flag: description: light blue with four five-pointed white stars centered and arranged in a diamond pattern meaning: blue stands for the Pacific Ocean, and the stars for the four island groups of Chuuk, Kosrae, Pohnpei, and Yap
National symbol(s): four five-pointed white stars on a light blue field, hibiscus flower
National color(s): light blue, white
National anthem(s) / title: "Patriots of Micronesia"
National anthem(s) / lyrics/music: unknown
National anthem(s) / history: adopted 1991
National heritage / total World Heritage Sites: 1 (cultural)
National heritage / selected World Heritage Site locales: Nan Madol: Ceremonial Center of Eastern Micronesia

## Economy
Economic overview: lower middle-income Pacific island economy; US aid reliance, sunsetting in 2024; low entrepreneurship; mostly fishing and farming; US dollar user; no patent laws; tourism remains underdeveloped; significant corruption
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $432.679 million (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $429.59 million (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $427.529 million (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2024: 0.7% (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2023: 0.5% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2022: -2.9% (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2024: $3,800 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2023: $3,800 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2022: $3,800 (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $471.425 million (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 5.4% (2022 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021: 3.2% (2021 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2020: 0.6% (2020 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / agriculture: 23.3% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / industry: 5% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / services: 69.2% (2023 est.)
Agricultural products: coconuts, cassava, vegetables, sweet potatoes, bananas, pork, plantains, fruits, beef, eggs (2023)
Industries: tourism, construction; specialized aquaculture, craft items (shell and wood)
Industrial production growth rate: 0.8% (2023 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2023: 5.3% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2022: 5.6% of GDP (2022 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2021: 6% of GDP (2021 est.)
Budget / revenues: $137.795 million (2020 est.)
Budget / expenditures: $111.963 million (2020 est.)
Public debt / Public debt 2020: 27.8% of GDP (2020 est.)
Taxes and other revenues: 7% (of GDP) (2020 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2017: $12 million (2017 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2016: $11 million (2016 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2014: $22.408 million (2014 est.)
Exports / Exports 2024: $129.5 million (2024 est.)
Exports / Exports 2023: $125.789 million (2023 est.)
Exports / Exports 2022: $90.466 million (2022 est.)
Exports - partners: Thailand 64%, China 16%, Philippines 11%, Japan 5%, Ecuador 1% (2023)
Exports - commodities: fish, diamonds, garments (2023)
Imports / Imports 2024: $325.9 million (2024 est.)
Imports / Imports 2023: $310.669 million (2023 est.)
Imports / Imports 2022: $274.334 million (2022 est.)
Imports - partners: USA 35%, China 20%, Japan 13%, Taiwan 6%, Philippines 4% (2023)
Imports - commodities: poultry, fish, plastic products, cars, prepared meat (2023)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2021: $497.434 million (2021 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2020: $451.913 million (2020 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2019: $397.158 million (2019 est.)
Exchange rates: the US dollar is used

## Energy
Electricity access / electrification - total population: 85.3% (2022 est.)
Electricity access / electrification - urban areas: 98.6%
Electricity access / electrification - rural areas: 79.4%
Petroleum / refined petroleum consumption: 800 bbl/day (2023 est.)

## Communications
Telephones - fixed lines / total subscriptions: 7,000 (2021 est.)
Telephones - fixed lines / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 6 (2022 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / total subscriptions: 22,000 (2021 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 19 (2021 est.)
Broadcast media: no TV broadcast stations; each state has a multi-channel cable service with TV transmissions carrying roughly 95% imported programming and 5% local programming; about half a dozen radio stations (2009)
Internet country code: .fm
Internet users / percent of population: 41% (2022 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / total: 7,000 (2022 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 6 (2022 est.)

## Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: V6
Airports: 7 (2025)
Merchant marine / total: 38 (2023)
Merchant marine / by type: general cargo 17, oil tanker 4, other 17
Ports / total ports: 4 (2024)
Ports / large: 0
Ports / medium: 0
Ports / small: 1
Ports / very small: 3
Ports / ports with oil terminals: 3
Ports / key ports: Colonia, Lele Harbor, Moen, Pohnpei Harbor

## Military and Security
Military and security forces: no military forces; Federated States of Micronesia National Police (includes a maritime wing)
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of the US; in 1982, the FSM signed a Compact of Free Association (COFA) with the US, which granted the FSM financial assistance and access to many US domestic programs in exchange for exclusive US military access and defense responsibilities; the COFA entered into force in 1986; Micronesians can serve in the US armed forces the FSM has a "shiprider" agreement with the US, which allows local maritime law enforcement officers to embark on US Coast Guard (USCG) and US Navy (USN) vessels, including to board and search vessels suspected of violating laws or regulations within the FSM's designated exclusive economic zone (EEZ) or on the high seas; "shiprider" agreements also enable USCG personnel and USN vessels with embarked USCG law enforcement personnel to work with host nations to protect critical regional resources (2025)

## Transnational Issues

=== French Polynesia ===

## Introduction
Background: French Polynesia consists of five archipelagos -- the Austral Islands, the Gambier Islands, the Marquesas Islands, the Society Islands, and the Tuamotu Archipelago. The Marquesas were first settled around 200 B.C. and the Society Islands around A.D. 300. Raiatea in the Society Islands became a center for religion and culture. Exploration of the other islands emanated from Raiatea, and by 1000, there were small permanent settlements in all the island groups. Ferdinand MAGELLAN was the first European to see the islands of French Polynesia in 1520. In 1767, British explorer Samuel WALLIS was the first European to visit Tahiti, followed by French navigator Louis Antoine de BOUGAINVILLE in 1768 and British explorer James COOK in 1769. King POMARE I united Tahiti and surrounding islands into the Kingdom of Tahiti in 1788. Protestant missionaries arrived in 1797, and POMARE I’s successor converted in the 1810s, along with most Tahitians. In the 1830s, Queen POMARE IV refused to allow French Catholic missionaries to operate, leading France to declare a protectorate over Tahiti and fight the French-Tahitian War of the 1840s in an attempt to annex the islands. In 1880, King POMARE V ceded Tahiti and its possessions to France, changing its status into a colony. France then claimed the Gambier Islands and Tuamotu Archipelago and by 1901 had incorporated all five island groups into its establishments in Oceania. A Tahitian nationalist movement formed in 1940, leading France to grant French citizenship to the islanders in 1946 and change it to an overseas territory. In 1957, the islands’ name was changed to French Polynesia, and the following year, 64% of voters chose to stay part of France when they approved a new constitution. Uninhabited Mururoa Atoll was established as a French nuclear test site in 1962, and tests were conducted between 1966 and 1992 (underground beginning in 1975). France also conducted tests at Fangataufa Atoll, including its last nuclear test in 1996. France granted French Polynesia partial internal autonomy in 1977 and expanded autonomy in 1984. French Polynesia was converted into an overseas collectivity in 2003 and renamed an overseas territory in 2004. Pro-independence politicians won a surprise majority in local elections that same year, but in subsequent elections, they have been relegated to a vocal minority. In 2013, French Polynesia was relisted on the UN List of Non-Self-Governing Territories.

## Geography
Location: Oceania, five archipelagoes (Archipel des Tuamotu, Iles Gambier, Iles Marquises, Iles Tubuai, Society Islands) in the South Pacific Ocean about halfway between South America and Australia
Geographic coordinates: 15 00 S, 140 00 W
Map references: Oceania
Area / total: 4,167 sq km (118 islands and atolls; 67 are inhabited)
Area / land: 3,827 sq km
Area / water: 340 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly less than one-third the size of Connecticut
Land boundaries / total: 0 km
Coastline: 2,525 km
Maritime claims / territorial sea: 12 nm
Maritime claims / exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate: tropical, but moderate
Terrain: mixture of rugged high islands and low islands with reefs
Elevation / highest point: Mont Orohena 2,241 m
Elevation / lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
Natural resources: timber, fish, cobalt, hydropower
Land use / agricultural land: 8.7% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 0.7% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 7.5% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 0.5% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 43.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 48.3% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land: 10 sq km (2012)
Population distribution: the majority of the population lives in the Society Islands, one of five archipelagos that includes the most populous island, Tahiti, with approximately 70% of the nation's population
Natural hazards: occasional cyclonic storms in January
Geography - note: includes five archipelagoes: four volcanic (Iles Gambier, Iles Marquises, Iles Tubuai, Society Islands) and one coral (Archipel des Tuamotu); the Tuamotu Archipelago forms the largest group of atolls in the world -- 78 in total, 48 inhabited; Makatea in the Tuamotu Archipelago is one of the three great phosphate rock islands in the Pacific Ocean -- the others are Banaba (Ocean Island) in Kiribati and Nauru

## People and Society
Population / total: 305,507 (2025 est.)
Population / male: 156,084
Population / female: 149,423
Nationality / noun: French Polynesian(s)
Nationality / adjective: French Polynesian
Ethnic groups: Polynesian 78%, Chinese 12%, local French 6%, metropolitan French 4%
Languages / Languages: French (official) 73.5%, Tahitian 20.1%, Marquesan 2.6%, Austral languages 1.2%, Paumotu 1%, other 1.6% (2017 est.)
Languages / major-language sample(s): The World Factbook, une source indispensable d'informations de base. (French) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
Religions: Protestant 54%, Roman Catholic 30%, other 10%, no religion 6%
Age structure / 0-14 years: 20.3% (male 31,659/female 30,006)
Age structure / 15-64 years: 68.7% (male 107,162/female 101,228)
Age structure / 65 years and over: 11% (2024 est.) (male 16,317/female 17,168)
Dependency ratios / total dependency ratio: 46 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / youth dependency ratio: 29.3 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / elderly dependency ratio: 16.8 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / potential support ratio: 6 (2025 est.)
Median age / total: 35.8 years (2025 est.)
Median age / male: 35 years
Median age / female: 35.6 years
Population growth rate: 0.63% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 12.7 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 5.84 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: -0.56 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution: the majority of the population lives in the Society Islands, one of five archipelagos that includes the most populous island, Tahiti, with approximately 70% of the nation's population
Urbanization / urban population: 62.3% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 0.65% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 136,000 PAPEETE (capital) (2018)
Sex ratio / at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 15-64 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 65 years and over: 0.95 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / total population: 1.05 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Infant mortality rate / total: 4.2 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Infant mortality rate / male: 5.2 deaths/1,000 live births
Infant mortality rate / female: 3.4 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth / total population: 78.9 years (2024 est.)
Life expectancy at birth / male: 76.6 years
Life expectancy at birth / female: 81.3 years
Total fertility rate: 1.78 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 0.87 (2025 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: total: total: 100% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: total: total: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Physician density: 0.02 physicians/1,000 population (2023)
Sanitation facility access / improved: total: total: 97% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: total: total: 3% of population (2022 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49): 66.8% (2017 est.)

## Environment
Environmental issues: sea-level rise; cyclones, storms, and tsunamis producing floods, landslides, erosion, and reef damage; droughts; fresh water scarcity
Climate: tropical, but moderate
Land use / agricultural land: 8.7% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 0.7% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 7.5% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 0.5% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 43.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 48.3% (2023 est.)
Urbanization / urban population: 62.3% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 0.65% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / total emissions: 1.01 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from petroleum and other liquids: 1.01 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Waste and recycling / municipal solid waste generated annually: 147,000 tons (2024 est.)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: Overseas Lands of French Polynesia
Country name / conventional short form: French Polynesia
Country name / local long form: Pays d'outre-mer de la Polyn&eacute;sie fran&ccedil;aise
Country name / local short form: Polyn&eacute;sie Fran&ccedil;aise
Country name / former: Establishments in Oceania, French Establishments in Oceania
Country name / etymology: the term "Polynesia" is an 18th-century construct composed of two Greek words, poly (many) and nesoi (islands), and refers to the more than 1,000 islands scattered over the central and southern Pacific Ocean
Government type: parliamentary democracy (Assembly of French Polynesia); an overseas collectivity of France
Dependency status: overseas country of France
Capital / name: Papeete (located on Tahiti)
Capital / geographic coordinates: 17 32 S, 149 34 W
Capital / time difference: UTC-10 (5 hours behind Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Capital / etymology: the name derives from the Tahitian words pape (water) and ete (basket), referring to a place where people came to get water
Administrative divisions: 5 administrative subdivisions ( subdivisions administratives , singular - subdivision administrative ): Iles Australes (Austral Islands), Iles du Vent (Windward Islands), Iles Marquises (Marquesas Islands), Iles Sous-le-Vent (Leeward Islands), Iles Tuamotu-Gambier
Legal system: the laws of France apply
Constitution / history: 4 October 1958 (French Constitution)
Constitution / amendment process: French constitution amendment procedures apply
Citizenship: see France
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch / chief of state: President Emmanuel MACRON (since 14 May 2017), represented by High Commissioner of the Republic Alexander ROCHATTE (since 1 September 2025)
Executive branch / head of government: President of French Polynesia Moetai BROTHERSON (since 12 May 2023)
Executive branch / cabinet: Council of Ministers approved by the Assembly from a list of its members submitted by the president
Executive branch / election/appointment process: French president directly elected by absolute-majority popular vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); high commissioner appointed by the French president on the advice of the French Ministry of Interior; French Polynesia president indirectly elected by Assembly of French Polynesia for a 5-year term (no term limits)
Legislative branch / legislature name: Assembly of French Polynesia (Assembl&eacute;e de la Polyn&eacute;sie fran&ccedil;aise)
Legislative branch / legislative structure: unicameral
Legislative branch / number of seats: 57 (directly elected)
Legislative branch / electoral system: proportional representation
Legislative branch / scope of elections: full renewal
Legislative branch / term in office: 5 years
Legislative branch / most recent election date: 4/30/2023
Legislative branch / parties elected and seats per party: People's Servant People (38); List of the People (15); I Love Polynesia (3); Rally of the Mahoi People (1)
Legislative branch / percentage of women in chamber: 49.1%
Legislative branch / expected date of next election: 2028
Judicial branch / highest court(s): Court of Appeal or Cour d'Appel (composition NA)
Judicial branch / judge selection and term of office: judges assigned from France for 3 years
Judicial branch / subordinate courts: Court of the First Instance or Tribunal de Premi&egrave;re Instance; Court of Administrative Law or Tribunal Administratif
Political parties: I Love Polynesia (A here la Porinetia) List of the People (Tapura Huiraatira) People's Servant Party (Tavini Huiraatira) Rally of the Maohi People (Amuitahiraʻa o te Nunaʻa Maohi) (formerly known as Popular Rally (Tahoeraa Huiraatira))
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (overseas lands of France)
Diplomatic representation from the US / embassy: none (overseas lands of France)
International organization participation: ITUC (NGOs), PIF, SPC, UPU, WMO
Independence: none (overseas land of France)
National holiday: Fête de la Fédération, 14 July (1790)
Flag: description: two horizontal red bands flank 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 Polynesian canoe on the disk has a crew of five, represented by five stars meaning: the stars symbolize the five island groups; red and white are traditional Polynesian colors
National symbol(s): outrigger canoe, Tahitian gardenia flower ( Gardenia taitensis )
National color(s): red, white
National anthem(s) / title: "La Marseillaise" (The Song of Marseille)
National anthem(s) / lyrics/music: Claude-Joseph ROUGET de Lisle
National anthem(s) / history: official anthem, as a French territory
National heritage / total World Heritage Sites: 2 (1 cultural, 1 mixed); note - excerpted from the France entry
National heritage / selected World Heritage Site locales: Taputapuātea (c); Te Henua Enata – The Marquesas Islands (m)
Government - note: French Polynesia has acquired autonomy from France in all areas except those relating to police, monetary policy, tertiary education, immigration, and defense and foreign affairs; the duties of its president are similar to those of the French prime minister

## Economy
Economic overview: small, territorial-island tourism-based economy; large French financing; lower EU import duties; Pacific Islands Forum member; fairly resilient from COVID-19; oil-dependent infrastructure
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $6.007 billion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $5.935 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $5.892 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2023: 3% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2022: 4.5% (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2021: 2.1% (2021 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2024: $23,300 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2023: $22,800 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2022: $20,700 (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $6.563 billion (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 6.4% (2022 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021: 0.5% (2021 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2020: -0.1% (2020 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / agriculture: 2.2% (2020 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / industry: 10.6% (2020 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / services: 75.9% (2020 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / household consumption: 70.4% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / government consumption: 30.5% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in fixed capital: 21.7% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in inventories: 0% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / exports of goods and services: 23.1% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / imports of goods and services: -45.6% (2023 est.)
Agricultural products: coconuts, fruits, cassava, sugarcane, pineapples, eggs, tropical fruits, watermelons, tomatoes, pork (2023)
Industries: tourism, pearls, agricultural processing, handicrafts, phosphates
Labor force: 119,100 (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2024: 11.8% (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2023: 11.8% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2022: 11.9% (2022 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / total: 36.9% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / male: 33.5% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / female: 41.5% (2024 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2023: 9.1% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2022: 10% of GDP (2022 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2021: 9.5% of GDP (2021 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2016: $411.963 million (2016 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2015: $291.182 million (2015 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2014: $264.32 million (2014 est.)
Exports / Exports 2021: $162 million (2021 est.)
Exports / Exports 2020: $94.4 million (2020 est.)
Exports / Exports 2019: $184 million (2019 est.)
Exports - partners: Japan 44%, USA 15%, France 12%, Netherlands 9%, China 5% (2023)
Exports - commodities: pearls, fish, aircraft parts, gas turbines, vanilla (2023)
Imports / Imports 2021: $1.66 billion (2021 est.)
Imports / Imports 2020: $1.75 billion (2020 est.)
Imports / Imports 2019: $2.24 billion (2019 est.)
Imports - partners: France 26%, China 11%, USA 10%, NZ 7%, Malaysia 4% (2023)
Imports - commodities: cars, packaged medicine, refined petroleum, poultry, broadcasting equipment (2023)
Exchange rates / Currency: Comptoirs Francais du Pacifique francs (XPF) per US dollar -
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2024: 110.306 (2024 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2023: 110.347 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2022: 113.474 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2021: 100.88 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2020: 104.711 (2020 est.)

## Energy
Electricity access / electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)
Electricity / installed generating capacity: 345,000 kW (2023 est.)
Electricity / consumption: 669.5 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / transmission/distribution losses: 42.663 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / fossil fuels: 66% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / solar: 7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / hydroelectricity: 27% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Coal / imports: 1 metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum / refined petroleum consumption: 7,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

## Communications
Telephones - fixed lines / total subscriptions: 66,000 (2023 est.)
Telephones - fixed lines / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 24 (2023 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / total subscriptions: 334,000 (2023 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 119 (2023 est.)
Broadcast media: French public overseas broadcaster R&eacute;seau Outre-Mer provides 2 TV channels and 1 radio station; 1 government-owned TV station; a small number of privately owned radio stations (2019)
Internet country code: .pf
Internet users / percent of population: 73% (2017 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / total: 78,000 (2022 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 28 (2022 est.)

## Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: F-OH
Airports: 54 (2025)
Merchant marine / total: 24 (2023)
Merchant marine / by type: general cargo 14
Ports / total ports: 6 (2024)
Ports / large: 0
Ports / medium: 0
Ports / small: 1
Ports / very small: 5
Ports / ports with oil terminals: 1
Ports / key ports: Atuona, Baie Taiohae, Papeete, Port Rikitea, Uturoa, Vaitape

## Military and Security
Military and security forces: no regular military forces
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of France, and it maintains a military garrison in French Polynesia (Forces Arm&eacute;es en Polyn&eacute;sie Fran&ccedil;aise, FAPF)

## Transnational Issues

=== Guam ===

## Introduction
Background: Guam was settled by Austronesian people around 1500 B.C. These people became the indigenous Chamorro and were influenced by later migrations, including the Micronesians in the first millennium A.D., and island Southeast Asians around 900. Society was stratified, with higher classes living along the coast and lower classes living inland. Spanish explorer Ferdinand MAGELLAN was the first European to see Guam in 1521, and Spain claimed the island in 1565 because it served as a refueling stop for ships between Mexico and the Philippines. Spain formally colonized Guam in 1668. Spain’s brutal repression of the Chamorro, along with new diseases and intermittent warfare, reduced the indigenous population from more than 100,000 to less than 5,000 by the 1700s. Spain tried to repopulate the island by forcing people from nearby islands to settle on Guam and preventing them from escaping. Guam became a hub for whalers and traders in the western Pacific in the early 1800s. During the 1898 Spanish-American War, the US Navy occupied Guam and set up a military administration. The US Navy opposed local control of government despite repeated petitions from the Chamorro. Japan invaded Guam in 1941 and instituted a repressive regime. During the US recapture of Guam in 1944, the island’s two largest villages were destroyed. After World War II, political pressure from local Chamorro leaders led to Guam being established as an unincorporated organized US territory in 1950, with US citizenship granted to all Chamorro. In a referendum in 1982, more than 75% of voters chose closer relations with the US over independence, although no change in status was made because of disagreements on the future right of Chamorro self-determination. The US military holds about 29% of Guam’s land and stations several thousand troops on the island. The installations are some of the most strategically important US bases in the Pacific; they also constitute the island’s most important source of income and economic stability.

## Geography
Location: Oceania, island in the North Pacific Ocean, about three-quarters of the way from Hawaii to the Philippines
Geographic coordinates: 13 28 N, 144 47 E
Map references: Oceania
Area / total: 544 sq km
Area / land: 544 sq km
Area / water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative: three times the size of Washington, D.C.
Land boundaries / total: 0 km
Coastline: 125.5 km
Maritime claims / territorial sea: 12 nm
Maritime claims / exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate: tropical marine; generally warm and humid, moderated by northeast trade winds; dry season (January to June), rainy season (July to December); little seasonal temperature variation
Terrain: volcanic origin, surrounded by coral reefs; relatively flat coralline limestone plateau (source of most fresh water), with steep coastal cliffs and narrow coastal plains in north, low hills in center, mountains in south
Elevation / highest point: Mount Lamlam 406 m
Elevation / lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
Natural resources: aquatic wildlife (supporting tourism), fishing (largely undeveloped)
Land use / agricultural land: 29.6% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 1.9% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 13% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 14.8% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 52.4% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 18% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land: 2 sq km (2012)
Population distribution: no large cities exist on the island; large villages (municipalities) attract much of the population; the largest of these is Dededo
Natural hazards: frequent squalls during rainy season; relatively rare but potentially destructive typhoons (June to December)
Geography - note: largest and southernmost island in the Mariana Islands archipelago and the largest island in Micronesia; strategic location in western North Pacific Ocean

## People and Society
Population / total: 169,532 (2024 est.)
Population / male: 87,345
Population / female: 82,187
Nationality / noun: Guamanian(s) (US citizens)
Nationality / adjective: Guamanian
Ethnic groups: Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander 46.1% (Chamorro 32.8%, Chuukese 6.7%, Palauan 1.4%, Pohnpeian 1.4%, Yapese 1%, other Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander 2.8%), Asian 35.5% (Filipino 29.1%, Korean 2.2%, Japanese 1.4%, Chinese (except Taiwanese) 1.3%, other Asian 1.5%), White 6.8%, African descent or African-American 0.9%, Indigenous 0.1%, other 0.6%, mixed 10% (2020 est.)
Languages: English 43.3%, Filipino 24.9%, Chamorro 16%, other Pacific Island languages 9.4%, Asian languages 6.5% (2020 est.)
Religions: Christian (predominantly Roman Catholic) 94.2%, folk religions 1.5%, Buddhist 1.1%, other 1.6%, unaffiliated 1.7% (2020 est.)
Age structure / 0-14 years: 26.4% (male 23,139/female 21,632)
Age structure / 15-64 years: 62.7% (male 55,591/female 50,741)
Age structure / 65 years and over: 10.9% (2024 est.) (male 8,615/female 9,814)
Dependency ratios / total dependency ratio: 59.4 (2024 est.)
Dependency ratios / youth dependency ratio: 42.1 (2024 est.)
Dependency ratios / elderly dependency ratio: 17.3 (2024 est.)
Dependency ratios / potential support ratio: 5.8 (2024 est.)
Median age / total: 30.5 years (2025 est.)
Median age / male: 29.6 years
Median age / female: 31.1 years
Population growth rate: 0.08% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 17.9 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 6.18 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: -10.92 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution: no large cities exist on the island; large villages (municipalities) attract much of the population; the largest of these is Dededo
Urbanization / urban population: 95.2% of total population (2022)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 0.84% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 147,000 HAGATNA (capital) (2018)
Sex ratio / at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 0-14 years: 1.07 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 15-64 years: 1.1 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 65 years and over: 0.88 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / total population: 1.06 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Infant mortality rate / total: 10.7 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Infant mortality rate / male: 11 deaths/1,000 live births
Infant mortality rate / female: 10.9 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth / total population: 78 years (2024 est.)
Life expectancy at birth / male: 75.6 years
Life expectancy at birth / female: 80.5 years
Total fertility rate: 2.7 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 1.31 (2025 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: total: total: 99.7% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: total: total: 0.3% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: total: total: 99.2% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: total: total: 0.8% of population (2022 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49): 40.4% (2020 est.)

## Environment
Environmental issues: freshwater scarcity; reef damage; inadequate sewage treatment; rapid proliferation of the non-native brown tree snake
Climate: tropical marine; generally warm and humid, moderated by northeast trade winds; dry season (January to June), rainy season (July to December); little seasonal temperature variation
Land use / agricultural land: 29.6% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 1.9% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 13% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 14.8% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 52.4% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 18% (2023 est.)
Urbanization / urban population: 95.2% of total population (2022)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 0.84% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / total emissions: 1.819 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from petroleum and other liquids: 1.819 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Waste and recycling / municipal solid waste generated annually: 141,500 tons (2024 est.)
Waste and recycling / percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 17.9% (2011 est.)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: none
Country name / conventional short form: Guam
Country name / local long form: none
Country name / local short form: Guahan
Country name / abbreviation: GU
Country name / etymology: the native Chamorro name for the island, Guahan (meaning "we have"), was changed to Guam in the 1898 Treaty of Paris, when Spain relinquished Guam, Cuba, Puerto Rico, and the Philippines to the US
Government type: unincorporated organized territory of the US with local self-government; republican form of territorial government with separate executive, legislative, and judicial branches
Dependency status: unincorporated, organized territory of the US, with policy relations between Guam and the Federal government under the jurisdiction of the Office of Insular Affairs, US Department of the Interior
Capital / name: Hagatna (Agana)
Capital / geographic coordinates: 13 28 N, 144 44 E
Capital / time difference: UTC+10 (15 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Capital / etymology: the name Hagatna is derived from the Chamorro word haga , meaning "life's blood" and referring to the town's role as the center of government for the island
Legal system: common law modeled on US system; US federal laws apply
Constitution / history: effective 1 July 1950 (Guam Act of 1950 serves as a constitution)
Citizenship: see United States
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch / chief of state: President Donald J. TRUMP (since 20 January 2025)
Executive branch / head of government: Governor Lourdes LEON GUERRERO (since 7 January 2019)
Executive branch / cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor with the consent of the Legislature
Executive branch / election/appointment process: president and vice president indirectly elected on the same ballot by an Electoral College of electors chosen from each state to serve a 4-year term (eligible for a second term); under the US Constitution, residents of unincorporated territories, such as Guam, do not vote in elections for US president and vice president, but they can vote in Democratic and Republican presidential primary elections; governor and lieutenant governor elected on the same ballot by absolute majority vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a 4-year term (eligible for 2 consecutive terms)
Executive branch / most recent election date: gubernatorial: 8 November 2022
Executive branch / election results: 2022: Lourdes LEON GUERRERO reelected governor; percent of vote - Lourdes LEON GUERRERO (Democratic Party) 55%, Felix CAMACHO (Republican Party) 44%; Josh TENORIO (Democratic Party) elected lieutenant governor 2018: Lourdes LEON GUERRERO elected governor; percent of vote - Lourdes LEON GUERRERO (Democratic Party) 50.7%, Ray TENORIO (Republican Party) 26.4%; Josh TENORIO (Democratic Party) elected lieutenant governor
Executive branch / expected date of next election: gubernatorial: 3 November 2026
Legislative branch / legislature name: Legislature of Guam (Liheslaturan Guahan)
Legislative branch / legislative structure: unicameral
Legislative branch / number of seats: 15 (directly elected)
Legislative branch / electoral system: plurality/majority
Legislative branch / scope of elections: full renewal
Legislative branch / term in office: 2 years
Legislative branch / most recent election date: 11/8/2022
Legislative branch / parties elected and seats per party: Democratic Party (9); Republican Party (6)
Legislative branch / percentage of women in chamber: 40%
Legislative branch / expected date of next election: November 2024
Judicial branch / highest court(s): Supreme Court of Guam (consists of 3 justices)
Judicial branch / judge selection and term of office: justices appointed by the governor and confirmed by the Guam legislature; justices appointed for life but subject to retention election every 10 years
Judicial branch / subordinate courts: Superior Court of Guam (includes several divisions); US Federal District Court for the District of Guam (a US territorial court; appeals beyond this court are heard before the US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit)
Political parties: Democratic Party Republican Party
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (territory of the US)
Diplomatic representation from the US / embassy: none (territory of the US)
International organization participation: AOSIS (observer), IOC, PIF (observer), SPC, UPU
Independence: none (territory of the US)
National holiday: Discovery Day (or Magellan Day), first Monday in March (1521)
Flag: description: 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 ( outrigger canoe with sail), and a palm tree; the word GUAM in red is centered in the ellipse; the proa is sailing in Agana Bay with the promontory of Puntan Dos Amantes in the background meaning: blue stands for the sea and red for the blood shed in the fight against oppression; the central emblem is shaped like a Chamorro sling stone (a weapon for defense or hunting)
National symbol(s): coconut tree
National color(s): deep blue, red
National anthem(s) / title: "The Star-Spangled Banner"
National anthem(s) / lyrics/music: Francis Scott KEY/John Stafford SMITH
National anthem(s) / history: official anthem, as a US territory; played before "Stand, Ye Guamanians"

## Economy
Economic overview: small Pacific island US territorial economy; upper income, tourism-based economy; hard-hit by COVID-19 disruptions; relaunched many industries via vaccination tourism; domestic economy relies on multiple military bases; environmentally fragile economy
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2022: 5.1% (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2021: 2.1% (2021 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2020: -10.5% (2020 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2016: $35,600 (2016 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2015: $35,200 (2015 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2014: $34,400 (2014 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $6.91 billion (2022 est.)
Agricultural products: fruits, copra, vegetables; eggs, pork, poultry, beef
Industries: national defense, tourism, construction, transshipment services, concrete products, printing and publishing, food processing, textiles
Labor force: 77,700 (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2024: 5.6% (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2023: 5.4% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2022: 5.5% (2022 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / total: 13.7% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / male: 13.3% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / female: 14.1% (2024 est.)
Average household expenditures / on food: 34.6% of household expenditures (2021 est.)
Average household expenditures / on alcohol and tobacco: 1.3% of household expenditures (2021 est.)
Budget / revenues: $1.24 billion (2016 est.)
Budget / expenditures: $1.299 billion (2016 est.)
Public debt / Public debt 2013: 32.1% of GDP (2013)
Exports / Exports 2022: $545 million (2022 est.)
Exports / Exports 2021: $193 million (2021 est.)
Exports / Exports 2020: $379 million (2020 est.)
Exports - partners: Taiwan 42%, Hong Kong 12%, Philippines 11%, Italy 8%, Australia 6% (2023)
Exports - commodities: scrap iron, scrap copper, trunks and cases (2023)
Imports / Imports 2022: $4.421 billion (2022 est.)
Imports / Imports 2021: $3.662 billion (2021 est.)
Imports / Imports 2020: $3.388 billion (2020 est.)
Imports - partners: Singapore 52%, Japan 15%, Malaysia 6%, Taiwan 4%, Greece 4% (2023)
Imports - commodities: refined petroleum, cars, trunks and cases, gas turbines, flavored water (2023)
Exchange rates: the US dollar is used

## Energy
Electricity access / electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)
Electricity / installed generating capacity: 525,000 kW (2023 est.)
Electricity / consumption: 1.715 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / transmission/distribution losses: 90.023 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / fossil fuels: 92.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / solar: 7.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / wind: 0.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Petroleum / refined petroleum consumption: 11,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Energy consumption per capita / Total energy consumption per capita 2019: 150.555 million Btu/person (2019 est.)

## Communications
Telephones - fixed lines / total subscriptions: 70,000 (2021 est.)
Telephones - fixed lines / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 43 (2022 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / total subscriptions: 98,000 (2009 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 62 (2009 est.)
Broadcast media: about a dozen TV channels, including digital; multi-channel cable TV services are available; roughly 20 radio stations
Internet country code: .gu
Internet users / percent of population: 81% (2017 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / total: 3,000 (2022 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 2 (2022 est.)

## Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: N
Airports: 3 (2025)
Heliports: 2 (2025)
Merchant marine / total: 3 (2023)
Merchant marine / by type: other 3
Ports / total ports: 1 (2024)
Ports / large: 0
Ports / medium: 1
Ports / small: 0
Ports / very small: 0
Ports / ports with oil terminals: 1
Ports / key ports: Apra Harbor

## Military and Security
Military and security forces: Guam Police Department (GPD); Guam (US) National Guard
Military - note: the US military maintains thousands of active-duty uniformed personnel and several bases and installations on the island

## Transnational Issues

=== Kiribati ===

## Introduction
Background: Kiribati is made up of three distinct island groups -- the Gilbert Islands, the Line Islands, and the Phoenix Islands. The first Austronesian voyagers arrived in the Gilbert Islands as early as 3000 B.C., but these islands were not widely settled until about A.D. 200 by Micronesians. Around 1300, Samoans and Tongans invaded the southern Gilbert Islands, then known as Tungaru, bringing Polynesian cultural elements with them. Later arrivals of Fijians brought Melanesian elements to the Gilbert Islands, and extensive intermarriage between the Micronesian, Polynesian, and Melanesian people led to the creation of what would become Gilbertese cultural traditions by the time Europeans spotted the islands in the 1600s. The Phoenix Islands and Line Islands were both visited by various Melanesian and Polynesian peoples, but their isolation and lack of natural resources meant that long-term settlements were not possible. Both island groups were uninhabited by the time of European contact. Kiribati experienced sustained European contact by the 1760s; all three island groups were named and charted by 1826. American whaling ships frequently passed through the islands, and the UK declared a protectorate over the Gilbert and nearby Ellice Islands in 1892, in an attempt to block growing US influence. Phosphate-rich Banaba Island was annexed to the protectorate in 1900. In 1916, the protectorate became a colony, and some Line Islands were added in 1916 and 1919, with the final ones added in 1972. The Phoenix Islands were added to the colony in 1937, and the UK agreed to share jurisdiction of some with the US because of their strategic location for aviation. During World War II, the islands were occupied by Japanese forces but were ejected by US amphibious assaults. The Ellice Islands became its own colony in 1974 and was renamed Tuvalu for “eight standing together” in 1975. The Gilbert Islands became fully self-governing in 1977 and independent in 1979 under the new name of Kiribati, the Gilbertese spelling of Gilberts. The US relinquished all claims to the sparsely inhabited Phoenix and Line Islands in a 1979 treaty of friendship. In 2012, Kiribati purchased a 22 sq km (8.5 sq mi) plot of land in Fiji for potential eventual resettlement of its population because of climate change, and in 2014 Fijian Prime Minister Voreqe BAINIMARAMA said residents of Kiribati would be welcome to relocate to Fiji if their country is swamped by rising sea levels.

## Geography
Location: Oceania, group of 32 coral atolls and one raised coral island in the Pacific Ocean, straddling the Equator; the capital Tarawa is about halfway between Hawaii and Australia
Geographic coordinates: 1 25 N, 173 00 E
Map references: Oceania
Area / total: 811 sq km
Area / land: 811 sq km
Area / water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative: four times the size of Washington, D.C.
Land boundaries / total: 0 km
Coastline: 1,143 km
Maritime claims / territorial sea: 12 nm
Maritime claims / exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate: tropical; marine, hot and humid, moderated by trade winds
Terrain: mostly low-lying coral atolls surrounded by extensive reefs
Elevation / highest point: unnamed elevation on Banaba 81 m
Elevation / lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
Elevation / mean elevation: 2 m
Natural resources: phosphate (production discontinued in 1979), coconuts (copra), fish
Land use / agricultural land: 42% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 2.5% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 39.5% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 0% (2022 est.)
Land use / forest: 1.3% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 56.7% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land: 0 sq km (2022)
Population distribution: consists of three archipelagos spread out over an area roughly the size of India; the eastern Line Islands and central Phoenix Islands are sparsely populated, but the western Gilbert Islands are some of the most densely settled places on earth, with the main island of South Tarawa boasting a population density similar to Tokyo or Hong Kong
Natural hazards: typhoons can occur any time, but usually November to March; occasional tornadoes; low level of some of the islands make them sensitive to changes in sea level
Geography - note: 21 of the 33 islands are inhabited; Banaba (Ocean Island) in Kiribati is one of the three great phosphate rock islands in the Pacific Ocean -- the others are Makatea in French Polynesia, and Nauru; Kiribati is the only country in the world to fall into all four hemispheres (northern, southern, eastern, and western)

## People and Society
Population / total: 116,545 (2024 est.)
Population / male: 56,364
Population / female: 60,181
Nationality / noun: I-Kiribati (singular and plural)
Nationality / adjective: Kiribati
Ethnic groups: I-Kiribati 95.78%, I-Kiribati/mixed 3.8%, Tuvaluan 0.2%, other 1.7% (2020 est.)
Languages: Gilbertese, English (official)
Religions: Roman Catholic 58.9%, Kiribati Uniting Church 21.2%, Kiribati Protestant Church 8.4%, Church of Jesus Christ 5.6%, Seventh Day Adventist 2.1%, Baha'i 2.1%, other 1.7% (2020 est.)
Age structure / 0-14 years: 26.8% (male 15,895/female 15,304)
Age structure / 15-64 years: 67.9% (male 38,046/female 41,059)
Age structure / 65 years and over: 5.4% (2024 est.) (male 2,423/female 3,818)
Dependency ratios / total dependency ratio: 47.3 (2024 est.)
Dependency ratios / youth dependency ratio: 39.4 (2024 est.)
Dependency ratios / elderly dependency ratio: 7.9 (2024 est.)
Dependency ratios / potential support ratio: 12.7 (2024 est.)
Median age / total: 27.7 years (2025 est.)
Median age / male: 26.4 years
Median age / female: 28.2 years
Population growth rate: 0.98% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 19.4 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 6.88 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: -2.75 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution: consists of three archipelagos spread out over an area roughly the size of India; the eastern Line Islands and central Phoenix Islands are sparsely populated, but the western Gilbert Islands are some of the most densely settled places on earth, with the main island of South Tarawa boasting a population density similar to Tokyo or Hong Kong
Urbanization / urban population: 57.8% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 2.77% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 64,000 TARAWA (capital) (2018)
Sex ratio / at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 15-64 years: 0.93 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 65 years and over: 0.63 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth: 23.1 years (2009 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio: 80 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Infant mortality rate / total: 30.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Infant mortality rate / male: 33.5 deaths/1,000 live births
Infant mortality rate / female: 29.4 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth / total population: 68.5 years (2024 est.)
Life expectancy at birth / male: 65.9 years
Life expectancy at birth / female: 71.3 years
Total fertility rate: 2.13 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 1.04 (2025 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: urban: urban: 87.9% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: rural: rural: 59.5% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: total: total: 75.7% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: urban: urban: 12.1% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: rural: rural: 40.5% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: total: total: 24.3% of population (2022 est.)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 14.8% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 9.7% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density: 0.2 physicians/1,000 population (2013)
Hospital bed density: 1.9 beds/1,000 population (2016 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: urban: urban: 72.6% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: rural: rural: 48.1% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: total: total: 62.1% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: urban: urban: 27.4% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: rural: rural: 51.9% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: total: total: 37.9% of population (2022 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 46% (2016)
Alcohol consumption per capita / total: 0.43 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / beer: 0.26 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / wine: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / spirits: 0.17 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / other alcohols: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Tobacco use / total: 35.4% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / male: 48.4% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / female: 23.6% (2025 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 6.9% (2018 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49): 67.4% (2020 est.)
Child marriage / women married by age 15: 2.4% (2019)
Child marriage / women married by age 18: 18.4% (2019)
Child marriage / men married by age 18: 8.6% (2019)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% GDP): 16.4% of GDP (2023 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% national budget): 20.1% national budget (2024 est.)
Literacy / total population: 98.6% (2020 est.)
Literacy / male: 98.6% (2020 est.)
Literacy / female: 98.9% (2020 est.)

## Environment
Environmental issues: heavy pollution in lagoon of south Tarawa atoll due to overcrowding mixed with traditional practices such as lagoon latrines and open-pit dumping; coastal erosion
International environmental agreements / party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
International environmental agreements / signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Climate: tropical; marine, hot and humid, moderated by trade winds
Land use / agricultural land: 42% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 2.5% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 39.5% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 0% (2022 est.)
Land use / forest: 1.3% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 56.7% (2023 est.)
Urbanization / urban population: 57.8% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 2.77% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / total emissions: 81,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from petroleum and other liquids: 81,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Particulate matter emissions: 8 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Waste and recycling / municipal solid waste generated annually: 35,700 tons (2024 est.)
Waste and recycling / percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 15.4% (2022 est.)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: Republic of Kiribati
Country name / conventional short form: Kiribati
Country name / local long form: Republic of Kiribati
Country name / local short form: Kiribati
Country name / former: Gilbert Islands
Country name / etymology: the name is the local pronunciation of "Gilbert," the former designation of the islands; originally named after explorer Thomas GILBERT, who mapped many of the islands in 1788
Government type: presidential republic
Capital / name: Tarawa
Capital / geographic coordinates: 1 21 N, 173 02 E
Capital / time difference: UTC+12 (17 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Capital / time zone note: Kiribati has three time zones: the Gilbert Islands group at UTC+12, the Phoenix Islands at UTC+13, and the Line Islands at UTC+14
Capital / etymology: the name is said to derive from the I-Kiribati words te (the) and rawa (run), referring to a channel through a nearby reef
Administrative divisions: 3 geographical units: Gilbert Islands, Line Islands, Phoenix Islands; there are no first-order administrative divisions, but the 6 districts are Banaba, Central Gilberts, Line Islands, Northern Gilberts, Southern Gilberts, Tarawa, with 21 island councils on Abaiang, Abemama, Aranuka, Arorae, Banaba, Beru, Butaritari, Kanton, Kiritimati, Kuria, Maiana, Makin, Marakei, Nikunau, Nonouti, Onotoa, Tabiteuea, Tabuaeran, Tamana, Tarawa, Teraina
Legal system: English common law supplemented by customary law
Constitution / history: The Gilbert and Ellice Islands Order in Council 1915, The Gilbert Islands Order in Council 1975 (pre-independence); latest promulgated 12 July 1979 (at independence)
Constitution / amendment process: proposed by the House of Assembly; passage requires two-thirds majority vote by the Assembly membership; passage of amendments affecting the constitutional section on amendment procedures and parts of the constitutional chapter on citizenship requires deferral of the proposal to the next Assembly meeting where approval is required by at least two-thirds majority vote of the Assembly membership and support of the nominated or elected Banaban member of the Assembly; amendments affecting the protection of fundamental rights and freedoms also requires approval by at least two-thirds majority in a referendum
International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt
Citizenship / citizenship by birth: no
Citizenship / citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a native-born citizen of Kiribati
Citizenship / dual citizenship recognized: no
Citizenship / residency requirement for naturalization: 7 years
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch / chief of state: President Taneti MAAMAU (since 11 March 2016)
Executive branch / head of government: President Taneti MAAMAU (since 11 March 2016)
Executive branch / cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president from among House of Assembly members
Executive branch / election/appointment process: president directly elected for a 4-year term (eligible for 2 additional terms) by simple-majority popular vote, after candidates are nominated from among House of Assembly members; vice president appointed by the president
Executive branch / most recent election date: 25 October 2024
Executive branch / election results: 2024: Taneti MAAMAU reelected president; percent of vote - Taneti MAAMAU (TKP) 55%, Kaotitaake KOKORIA (independent) 42%, Bautaake BEIA (TKP) 3% 2020: Taneti MAAMAU reelected president; percent of vote - Taneti MAAMAU (TKP) 59.3%, Banuera BERINA (BKM) 40.7%
Executive branch / expected date of next election: 2028
Legislative branch / legislature name: House of Assembly (Maneaba Ni Maungatabu)
Legislative branch / legislative structure: unicameral
Legislative branch / number of seats: 45 (44 directly elected; 1 appointed)
Legislative branch / electoral system: plurality/majority
Legislative branch / scope of elections: full renewal
Legislative branch / term in office: 4 years
Legislative branch / most recent election date: 8/14/2024 to 8/19/2024
Legislative branch / percentage of women in chamber: 11.1%
Legislative branch / expected date of next election: August 2028
Judicial branch / highest court(s): High Court (consists of a chief justice and other judges as prescribed by the president)
Judicial branch / judge selection and term of office: chief justice appointed by the president on the advice of the cabinet in consultation with the Public Service Commission (PSC); other judges appointed by the president on the advice of the chief justice along with the PSC
Judicial branch / subordinate courts: Court of Appeal; magistrates' courts
Political parties: Boutokaan Kiribati Moa Party or BKM Kiribati Moa Party or KMP Kamanoan Kiribati Party or KKP Tobwaan Kiribati Party or TKP
Diplomatic representation in the US / chief of mission: Ambassador Teburoro TITO (since 24 January 2018); note - also Permanent Representative to the UN
Diplomatic representation in the US / chancery: 685 Third Avenue, Suite 1109, New York, NY 10017
Diplomatic representation in the US / telephone: [1] (212) 867-3310
Diplomatic representation in the US / FAX: [1] (212) 867-3320
Diplomatic representation in the US / email address and website: Kimission.newyork@mfa.gov.ki
Diplomatic representation from the US / chief of mission: Ambassador Marie DAMOUR (since 6 December 2022); note - Ambassador DAMOUR is based in the US Embassy in the Republic of Fiji and is accredited to Kiribati as well as Nauru, Tonga, and Tuvalu
International organization participation: ABEDA, ACP, ADB, AOSIS, C, FAO, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IOC, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNDP, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO
Independence: 12 July 1979 (from the UK)
National holiday: Independence Day, 12 July (1979)
Flag: description: the upper half is red with a yellow frigatebird flying over a yellow rising sun, and the lower half is blue with three wavy horizontal white stripes to represent the Pacific Ocean meaning: the white stripes represent the Gilbert, Line, and Phoenix island groups; the 17 rays of the sun represent the 16 Gilbert Islands and Banaba (formerly Ocean Island); the frigatebird symbolizes authority and freedom
National symbol(s): frigatebird
National color(s): red, white, blue, yellow
National anthem(s) / title: "Teirake kaini Kiribati" (Stand Up, Kiribati)
National anthem(s) / lyrics/music: Urium Tamuera IOTEBA
National anthem(s) / history: adopted 1979
National heritage / total World Heritage Sites: 1 (natural)
National heritage / selected World Heritage Site locales: Phoenix Islands Protected Area

## Economy
Economic overview: lower-middle income, Pacific island economy; environmentally fragile; sizable remittances; key phosphate mining fund; tourism and fishing industries; public sector-dominated economy; recent withdrawal from Pacific Islands Forum; ongoing constitutional crisis
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $438.143 million (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $416.221 million (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $405.468 million (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2024: 5.3% (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2023: 2.7% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2022: 4.6% (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2024: $3,300 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2023: $3,100 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2022: $3,100 (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $307.863 million (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023: 9.3% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 5.3% (2022 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021: 2.1% (2021 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / agriculture: 27.8% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / industry: 9.9% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / services: 65.7% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / household consumption: 101.2% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / government consumption: 61.7% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in fixed capital: 19.1% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in inventories: 1.3% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / exports of goods and services: 7.6% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / imports of goods and services: -100.5% (2022 est.)
Agricultural products: coconuts, bananas, vegetables, taro, tropical fruits, pork, chicken, nuts, eggs, pork offal (2023)
Industries: fishing, handicrafts
Industrial production growth rate: -6.2% (2022 est.)
Population below poverty line: 21.9% (2019 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income / Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2019: 27.8 (2019 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / lowest 10%: 4% (2019 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / highest 10%: 22.8% (2019 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2023: 4% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2022: 10.4% of GDP (2022 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2021: 4.7% of GDP (2021 est.)
Budget / revenues: $260.557 million (2023 est.)
Budget / expenditures: $264.736 million (2023 est.)
Public debt / Public debt 2016: 22.9% of GDP (2016 est.)
Taxes and other revenues: 17.7% (of GDP) (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2023: -$5.117 million (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2022: -$32.523 million (2022 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2021: $20.251 million (2021 est.)
Exports / Exports 2023: $17.099 million (2023 est.)
Exports / Exports 2022: $20.58 million (2022 est.)
Exports / Exports 2021: $10.754 million (2021 est.)
Exports - partners: Thailand 85%, Japan 6%, Philippines 3%, UAE 2%, Fiji 1% (2023)
Exports - commodities: fish, coconut oil (2023)
Imports / Imports 2023: $293.624 million (2023 est.)
Imports / Imports 2022: $272.004 million (2022 est.)
Imports / Imports 2021: $201.984 million (2021 est.)
Imports - partners: China 24%, Australia 20%, Fiji 15%, Japan 7%, NZ 6% (2023)
Imports - commodities: ships, centrifuges, refined petroleum, rice, raw sugar (2023)
Exchange rates / Currency: Australian dollars (AUD) per US dollar -
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2024: 1.515 (2024 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2023: 1.505 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2022: 1.442 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2021: 1.331 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2020: 1.453 (2020 est.)

## Energy
Electricity access / electrification - total population: 94.4% (2022 est.)
Electricity access / electrification - urban areas: 86%
Electricity access / electrification - rural areas: 94.3% (2020 est.)
Electricity / installed generating capacity: 12,000 kW (2023 est.)
Electricity / consumption: 27.388 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / transmission/distribution losses: 5 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / fossil fuels: 81.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / solar: 18.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Petroleum / refined petroleum consumption: 500 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Energy consumption per capita / Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 8.578 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

## Communications
Telephones - fixed lines / total subscriptions: 0 (2023 est.)
Telephones - fixed lines / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2023 est.) less than 1
Telephones - mobile cellular / total subscriptions: 70,000 (2023 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 49 (2022 est.)
Broadcast media: multi-channel TV packages provide access to Australian and US stations; 1 government-operated radio station broadcasts on AM, FM, and shortwave (2017)
Internet country code: .ki
Internet users / percent of population: 88% (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / total: 0 (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2023 est.) less than 1

## Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: T3
Airports: 21 (2025)
Merchant marine / total: 74 (2023)
Merchant marine / by type: bulk carrier 2, general cargo 24, oil tanker 11, other 37
Ports / total ports: 3 (2024)
Ports / large: 0
Ports / medium: 0
Ports / small: 0
Ports / very small: 3
Ports / ports with oil terminals: 0
Ports / key ports: Canton Island, English Harbor, Tarawa Atoll

## Military and Security
Military and security forces: Kiribati Police Service (includes Maritime Police) (2025)
Military - note: Australia, NZ, and the US have provided security assistance; Kiribati has a "ship rider" agreement with the US, which allows local maritime law enforcement officers to embark on US Coast Guard (USCG) and US Navy (USN) vessels, including to board and search vessels suspected of violating laws or regulations within Kiribati's designated exclusive economic zone (EEZ) or on the high seas; ship rider agreements also enable USCG personnel and USN vessels with embarked USCG law enforcement personnel to work with host nations to protect critical regional resources (2025)

## Transnational Issues

=== Christmas Island ===

## Introduction
Background: Although Europeans sighted Christmas Island in 1615, it was named for the day of its rediscovery in 1643. Steep cliffs and dense jungle hampered attempts to explore the island over the next two centuries. The discovery of phosphate on the island in 1887 led to the UK annexing it the following year. In 1898, 200 Chinese indentured servants were brought in to work the mines, along with Malays, Sikhs, and a small number of Europeans. The UK administered Christmas Island from Singapore. Japan invaded the island in 1942, but islanders sabotaged Japanese mining operations, making the mines relatively unproductive. After World War II, Australia and New Zealand bought the company mining the phosphate, and in 1958, the UK transferred sovereignty from Singapore to Australia in exchange for $20 million to compensate for the loss of future phosphate income. In 1980, Australia set up the Christmas Island National Park and expanded its boundaries throughout the 1980s until it covered more than 60% of the island’s territory. The phosphate mine was closed in 1987 because of environmental concerns, and Australia has rejected several efforts to reopen it. In the 1980s, boats of asylum seekers started landing on Christmas Island, and the migrants claimed refugee status because they were on Australian territory. In 2001, Australia declared Christmas Island to be outside the Australian migration zone and built an immigration detention center on the island. Completed in 2008, the controversial detention center was closed in 2018 but then reopened in 2019. In 2020, the center served as a coronavirus quarantine facility for Australian citizens evacuated from China.

## Geography
Location: Southeastern Asia, island in the Indian Ocean, south of Indonesia
Geographic coordinates: 10 30 S, 105 40 E
Map references: Southeast Asia
Area / total: 135 sq km
Area / land: 135 sq km
Area / water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative: about three-quarters the size of Washington, D.C.
Land boundaries / total: 0 km
Coastline: 138.9 km
Maritime claims / territorial sea: 12 nm
Maritime claims / contiguous zone: 12 nm
Maritime claims / exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
Climate: tropical with a wet season (December to April) and dry season; heat and humidity moderated by trade winds
Terrain: steep cliffs along coast rise abruptly to central plateau
Elevation / highest point: Murray Hill 361 m
Elevation / lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
Natural resources: phosphate, beaches
Land use / agricultural land: 0% (2018 est.)
Land use / other: 100% (2018 est.)
Irrigated land: NA
Population distribution: majority of the population lives on the northern tip of the island
Natural hazards: the narrow fringing reef surrounding the island can be a maritime hazard
Geography - note: located along major sea lanes of the Indian Ocean

## People and Society
Population / total: 1,692 (2021 est.)
Population / male: 1,007
Population / female: 685
Nationality / noun: Christmas Islander(s)
Nationality / adjective: Christmas Island
Ethnic groups: Chinese 70%, European 20%, Malay 10% (2001)
Languages: English (official) 27.6%, Mandarin 17.2%, Malay 17.1%, Cantonese 3.9%, Min Nan 1.6%, Tagalog 1%, other 4.5%, unspecified 27.1% (2016 est.)
Religions: Muslim 19.4%, Buddhist 18.3%, Roman Catholic 8.8%, Protestant 6.5% (includes Anglican 3.6%, Uniting Church 1.2%, other 1.7%), other Christian 3.3%, other 0.6%, none 15.3%, unspecified 27.7% (2016 est.)
Age structure / 0-14 years: 16.6%
Age structure / 15-64 years: 70.4%
Age structure / 65 years and over: 13% (2021)
Median age / total: 38 years (2021 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.11% (2014 est.)
Population distribution: majority of the population lives on the northern tip of the island

## Environment
Environmental issues: loss of rainforest; impact of phosphate mining
Climate: tropical with a wet season (December to April) and dry season; heat and humidity moderated by trade winds
Land use / agricultural land: 0% (2018 est.)
Land use / other: 100% (2018 est.)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: Territory of Christmas Island
Country name / conventional short form: Christmas Island
Country name / etymology: named by English Captain William MYNORS for the day of its rediscovery, Christmas Day (25 December 1643); Europeans had sighted the island as early as 1615
Government type: non-self-governing overseas territory of Australia
Dependency status: non-self-governing territory of Australia; administered from Canberra by the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Cities & Regional Development
Capital / name: The Settlement (Flying Fish Cove)
Capital / geographic coordinates: 10 25 S, 105 43 E
Capital / time difference: UTC+7 (12 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Capital / etymology: Flying Fish Cove was named after a British explorer's ship in 1886
Legal system: system is under the authority of the governor general of Australia and Australian law
Constitution / history: 1 October 1958 (Christmas Island Act 1958)
Citizenship: see Australia
Suffrage: 18 years of age
Executive branch / chief of state: King CHARLES III (since 8 September 2022); represented by Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia General Sam MOSTYN (since 1 July 2024)
Executive branch / head of government: Administrator Farzian ZAINAL (since 11 May 2023)
Executive branch / cabinet: NA
Executive branch / election/appointment process: the monarchy is hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch on the recommendation of the Australian prime minister; administrator appointed by the governor-general of Australia for a 2-year term and represents the monarch and Australia
Legislative branch / legislature name: Christmas Island Shire Council
Legislative branch / legislative structure: unicameral
Legislative branch / number of seats: 9 (directly elected)
Legislative branch / electoral system: plurality/majority
Legislative branch / scope of elections: partial renewal
Legislative branch / term in office: 4 years
Legislative branch / most recent election date: 10/2023
Legislative branch / parties elected and seats per party: independent (9)
Legislative branch / percentage of women in chamber: 13%
Legislative branch / expected date of next election: October 2025
Judicial branch / highest court(s): under the terms of the Territorial Law Reform Act 1992, Western Australia provides court services as needed for the island, including the Supreme Court and subordinate courts (District Court, Magistrate Court, Family Court, Children's Court, and Coroners' Court)
Political parties: none
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (territory of Australia)
Diplomatic representation from the US / embassy: none (territory of Australia)
International organization participation: none
Independence: none (territory of Australia)
National holiday: Australia Day (commemorates the arrival of the First Fleet of Australian settlers), 26 January (1788)
Flag: description: territorial flag; divided diagonally from upper left to lower right; the upper triangle is green with a yellow silhouette of the golden bosun bird; the lower triangle is blue and shows the Southern Cross constellation, representing Australia; a centered yellow disk displays a green outline of the island
National symbol(s): golden bosun bird
National anthem(s) / title: "God Save the King"
National anthem(s) / lyrics/music: unknown
National anthem(s) / history: royal anthem, as an Australian territory

## Economy
Economic overview: high-income Australian territorial economy; development through government services and phosphate mining; operates Australia&rsquo;s Immigration Detention Centre; increasing tourism and government investments; sustained environmental protections
Industries: tourism, phosphate extraction (near depletion)
Exports - partners: Indonesia 30%, USA 26%, Malaysia 12%, Ireland 8%, UK 7% (2023)
Exports - commodities: fertilizers, paintings, amine compounds (2023)
Imports - partners: USA 58%, Australia 40%, Malaysia 1%, Fiji 0%, Singapore 0% (2023)
Imports - commodities: aircraft, refined petroleum, cars, air conditioners, plastic products (2023)
Exchange rates / Currency: Australian dollars (AUD) per US dollar -
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2024: 1.515 (2024 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2023: 1.505 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2022: 1.442 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2021: 1.331 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2020: 1.453 (2020 est.)

## Communications
Broadcast media: 1 community radio station; satellite broadcasts of several Australian radio and TV stations (2017)
Internet country code: .cx
Internet users / percent of population: 78.6% (2016 est.)

## Transportation
Airports: 1 (2025)
Railways / total: 18 km (2017)
Railways / standard gauge: 18 km (2017) 1.435-m (not in operation)
Ports / total ports: 1 (2024)
Ports / large: 0
Ports / medium: 1
Ports / small: 0
Ports / very small: 0
Ports / ports with oil terminals: 0
Ports / key ports: Flying Fish Cove

## Military and Security
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of Australia

## Transnational Issues

=== New Caledonia ===

## Introduction
Background: The first humans settled in New Caledonia around 1600 B.C. The Lapita were skilled navigators, and evidence of their pottery around the Pacific has served as a guide for understanding human expansion in the region. Successive waves of migrants from other islands in Melanesia intermarried with the Lapita, giving rise to the Kanak ethnic group considered indigenous to New Caledonia. British explorer James COOK was the first European to visit New Caledonia in 1774, giving it the Latin name for Scotland. Missionaries first landed in New Caledonia in 1840. In 1853, France annexed New Caledonia to preclude any British attempt to claim the island. France declared it a penal colony in 1864 and sent more than 20,000 prisoners to New Caledonia in the ensuing three decades. Nickel was discovered in 1864, and French prisoners were directed to mine it. France brought in indentured servants and enslaved labor from elsewhere in Southeast Asia to work the mines, blocking Kanaks from accessing the most profitable part of the local economy. In 1878, High Chief ATAI led a rebellion against French rule. The Kanaks were relegated to reservations, leading to periodic smaller uprisings and culminating in a large revolt in 1917 that colonial authorities brutally suppressed. During World War II, New Caledonia became an important base for Allied troops, and the US moved its South Pacific headquarters to the island in 1942. Following the war, France made New Caledonia an overseas territory and granted French citizenship to all inhabitants in 1953, thereby permitting the Kanaks to move off the reservations. The Kanak nationalist movement began in the 1950s, but most voters chose to remain a territory in an independence referendum in 1958. The European population of New Caledonia boomed in the 1970s with a renewed focus on nickel mining, reigniting Kanak nationalism. Key Kanak leaders were assassinated in the early 1980s, leading to escalating violence and dozens of fatalities. The Matignon Accords of 1988 provided for a 10-year transition period. The Noumea Accord of 1998 transferred increasing governing responsibility from France to New Caledonia over a 20-year period and provided for three independence referenda. In the first held in 2018, voters rejected independence by 57% to 43%; in the second held in 2020, voters rejected independence 53% to 47%. In the third referendum held in 2021, voters rejected independence 96% to 4%; however, a boycott by key Kanak groups spurred challenges about the legitimacy of the vote. Pro-independence parties subsequently won a majority in the New Caledonian Government for the first time. France and New Caledonia officials remain in talks about the status of the territory.

## Geography
Location: Oceania, islands in the South Pacific Ocean, east of Australia
Geographic coordinates: 21 30 S, 165 30 E
Map references: Oceania
Area / total: 18,575 sq km
Area / land: 18,275 sq km
Area / water: 300 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly smaller than New Jersey
Land boundaries / total: 0 km
Coastline: 2,254 km
Maritime claims / territorial sea: 12 nm
Maritime claims / exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate: tropical; modified by southeast trade winds; hot, humid
Terrain: coastal plains with interior mountains
Elevation / highest point: Mont Panie 1,628 m
Elevation / lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
Natural resources: nickel, chrome, iron, cobalt, manganese, silver, gold, lead, copper
Land use / agricultural land: 10.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 0.3% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 0.2% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 9.5% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 48.8% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 41.1% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land: 100 sq km (2012)
Population distribution: most of the populace lives in the southern part of the main island, in and around the capital of Noumea
Natural hazards: cyclones, most frequent from November to March volcanism: Matthew and Hunter Islands are historically active
Geography - note: consists of the main island of New Caledonia (one of the largest in the Pacific Ocean), the archipelago of Iles Loyaut&eacute;, and numerous small, sparsely populated islands and atolls

## People and Society
Population / total: 307,612 (2025 est.)
Population / male: 153,036
Population / female: 154,576
Nationality / noun: New Caledonian(s)
Nationality / adjective: New Caledonian
Ethnic groups: Kanak 39.1%, European 27.1%, Wallisian, Futunian 8.2%, Tahitian 2.1%, Indonesian 1.4%, Ni-Vanuatu 1%, Vietnamese 0.9%, other 17.7%, unspecified 2.5% (2014 est.)
Languages / Languages: French (official), 33 Melanesian-Polynesian dialects
Languages / major-language sample(s): The World Factbook, une source indispensable d'informations de base. (French) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
Religions: Christian 85.2%, Muslim 2.8%, other 1.6%, unaffiliated 10.4% (2020 est.)
Age structure / 0-14 years: 20.7% (male 32,238/female 30,858)
Age structure / 15-64 years: 68.4% (male 104,825/female 103,349)
Age structure / 65 years and over: 10.8% (2024 est.) (male 14,326/female 18,571)
Dependency ratios / total dependency ratio: 46.2 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / youth dependency ratio: 30 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / elderly dependency ratio: 16.2 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / potential support ratio: 6.2 (2025 est.)
Median age / total: 34.6 years (2025 est.)
Median age / male: 33.5 years
Median age / female: 35.1 years
Population growth rate: 1.11% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 13.6 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 6 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: 3.54 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution: most of the populace lives in the southern part of the main island, in and around the capital of Noumea
Urbanization / urban population: 72.7% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 1.72% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 198,000 NOUMEA (capital) (2018)
Sex ratio / at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 65 years and over: 0.77 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Infant mortality rate / total: 4.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Infant mortality rate / male: 5.8 deaths/1,000 live births
Infant mortality rate / female: 3.9 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth / total population: 79.3 years (2024 est.)
Life expectancy at birth / male: 75.4 years
Life expectancy at birth / female: 83.3 years
Total fertility rate: 1.82 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 0.89 (2025 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: total: total: 99.5% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: total: total: 0.5% of population (2022 est.)
Physician density: 0.24 physicians/1,000 population (2018)
Sanitation facility access / improved: total: total: 100% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: total: total: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49): 46.4% (2019 est.)

## Environment
Environmental issues: preservation of coral reefs; prevention of invasive species; limiting erosion caused by nickel mining and forest fires
Climate: tropical; modified by southeast trade winds; hot, humid
Land use / agricultural land: 10.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 0.3% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 0.2% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 9.5% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 48.8% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 41.1% (2023 est.)
Urbanization / urban population: 72.7% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 1.72% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / total emissions: 4.887 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from coal and metallurgical coke: 2.312 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from petroleum and other liquids: 2.575 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Waste and recycling / municipal solid waste generated annually: 108,200 tons (2024 est.)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: Territory of New Caledonia and Dependencies
Country name / conventional short form: New Caledonia
Country name / local long form: Territoire des Nouvelle-Cal&eacute;donie et d&eacute;pendances
Country name / local short form: Nouvelle-Cal&eacute;donie
Country name / etymology: the name came from British explorer Captain James COOK in 1774 and uses the Latin name for Scotland, Caledonia
Government type: parliamentary democracy (Territorial Congress); an overseas collectivity of France
Dependency status: special collectivity of France
Capital / name: Noumea
Capital / geographic coordinates: 22 16 S, 166 27 E
Capital / time difference: UTC+11 (16 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Capital / etymology: established in 1854 as Port-de-France, the settlement was renamed Noumea in 1866 to avoid confusion with Fort-de-France in Martinique; the name Noumea may come from the local name of the peninsula the city was founded on
Administrative divisions: 3 provinces; Province Iles (Islands Province), Province Nord (North Province), and Province Sud (South Province)
Legal system: civil law system based on French civil law
Constitution / history: 4 October 1958 (French Constitution with changes as reflected in the Noumea Accord of 5 May 1998)
Constitution / amendment process: French constitution amendment procedures apply
Citizenship: see France
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch / chief of state: President Emmanuel MACRON (since 14 May 2017); represented by High Commissioner Jacques BILLANT (since 3 May 2025)
Executive branch / head of government: President of the Government Alcide PONGA (since 8 January 2025)
Executive branch / cabinet: Cabinet elected from and by the Territorial Congress
Executive branch / election/appointment process: French president directly elected by absolute-majority popular vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); high commissioner appointed by the French president on the advice of the French Ministry of Interior; president of New Caledonia elected by Territorial Congress for a 5-year term (no term limits)
Executive branch / most recent election date: 8 July 2021
Executive branch / election results: 2025: Alcide PONGA (The Republicans) elected president by Territorial Congress with 6 of 11 votes 2021: Louis MAPOU (PALIKA) elected president by Territorial Congress with 6 of 11 votes
Executive branch / expected date of next election: 2026
Legislative branch / legislature name: Territorial Congress (Congr&egrave;s du Territoire)
Legislative branch / legislative structure: unicameral
Legislative branch / number of seats: 54 (indirectly elected)
Legislative branch / electoral system: proportional representation
Legislative branch / scope of elections: full renewal
Legislative branch / term in office: 5 years
Legislative branch / most recent election date: 5/12/2019
Legislative branch / parties elected and seats per party: Future With Confidence 18, UNI 9, UC 9, CE 7, FLNKS 6, Oceanic Awakening 3, PT 1, LKS 1 (Anti-Independence 28, Pro-Independence 26)
Legislative branch / expected date of next election: December 2025
Judicial branch / highest court(s): Court of Appeal or Cour d'Appel; organized into civil, commercial, social, and pre-trial investigation chambers; court bench normally includes the court president and 2 counselors); Administrative Court (number of judges NA)
Judicial branch / judge selection and term of office: judge appointment and tenure based on France's judicial system
Judicial branch / subordinate courts: Courts of First Instance include: civil, juvenile, commercial, labor, police, criminal, assizes, and also a pre-trial investigation chamber; Joint Commerce Tribunal; administrative courts
Political parties: Caledonia Together or CE Caledonian Union or UC Future With Confidence or AEC Kanak Socialist Front for National Liberation or FLNKS (alliance includes PALIKA, UNI, UC, and UPM) Labor Party or PT National Union for Independence or UNI Oceanian Awakening Party of Kanak Liberation or PALIKA Socialist Kanak Liberation or LKS The Republicans (formerly The Rally or UMP)
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (overseas territory of France)
Diplomatic representation from the US / embassy: none (overseas territory of France)
International organization participation: ITUC (NGOs), PIF, SPC, UPU, WFTU (NGOs), WMO
Independence: none (overseas collectivity of France)
National holiday: Fête de la Fédération, 14 July (1790)
Flag: description: the country has two official flags with equal status, the flag of France and the Kanak (ethnic Melanesian) flag; the latter consists of three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), red, and green; a large yellow disk shifted slightly to the left side is edged in black and displays a black fleche faîtière symbol, a native rooftop adornment
National symbol(s): fl&egrave;che fa&icirc;ti&egrave;re (native rooftop adornment), kagu bird
National color(s): grey, red
National coat of arms: the emblem features two symbols of the local Kanak people: the fl&egrave;che fa&icirc;ti&egrave;re, which is a common rooftop adornment on houses, and the nautilus shell, which represents the sea; the third part of the emblem is a stylized representation of a New Caledonia pine tree
National anthem(s) / title: "La Marseillaise" (The Song of Marseille)
National anthem(s) / lyrics/music: Claude-Joseph ROUGET de Lisle
National anthem(s) / history: official anthem, as a self-governing French territory
National heritage / total World Heritage Sites: 1 (natural); note - excerpted from the France entry
National heritage / selected World Heritage Site locales: Lagoons of New Caledonia

## Economy
Economic overview: upper-middle-income French Pacific territorial economy; enormous nickel reserves; ongoing French independence negotiations; large Chinese nickel exporter; luxury eco-tourism destination; large French aid recipient; high cost-of-living; lingering wealth disparities
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $8.469 billion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $8.642 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $8.678 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2022: 3.5% (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2021: -2.1% (2021 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2020: -2.4% (2020 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2024: $34,600 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2023: $35,000 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2022: $33,500 (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $10.129 billion (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 3.7% (2022 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021: 0.6% (2021 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2020: -0.5% (2020 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / agriculture: 1.8% (2019 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / industry: 22.3% (2019 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / services: 65.2% (2019 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / household consumption: 65.6% (2017 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / government consumption: 23.5% (2017 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in fixed capital: 27.9% (2017 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in inventories: -0.1% (2017 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / exports of goods and services: 21% (2017 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / imports of goods and services: -37.9% (2017 est.)
Agricultural products: coconuts, vegetables, fruits, pork, beef, maize, eggs, bananas, yams, oranges (2023)
Industries: nickel mining and smelting
Labor force: 130,800 (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2024: 11.2% (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2023: 11% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2022: 10.8% (2022 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / total: 32.7% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / male: 30.2% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / female: 35.7% (2024 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2022: 6.5% of GDP (2022 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2021: 6.2% of GDP (2021 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2020: 6.6% of GDP (2020 est.)
Budget / revenues: $1.995 billion (2015 est.)
Budget / expenditures: $1.993 billion (2015 est.)
Public debt / Public debt 2014: 6.5% of GDP (2014 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2016: -$654.237 million (2016 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2015: -$1.119 billion (2015 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2014: -$1.3 billion (2014 est.)
Exports / Exports 2021: $1.92 billion (2021 est.)
Exports / Exports 2020: $1.8 billion (2020 est.)
Exports / Exports 2019: $1.79 billion (2019 est.)
Exports - partners: China 75%, Japan 9%, Taiwan 3%, India 3%, France 2% (2023)
Exports - commodities: iron alloys, nickel, nickel ore, processed crustaceans, shellfish (2023)
Imports / Imports 2021: $2.26 billion (2021 est.)
Imports / Imports 2020: $2.1 billion (2020 est.)
Imports / Imports 2019: $2.48 billion (2019 est.)
Imports - partners: France 36%, Singapore 16%, Australia 15%, China 6%, NZ 3% (2023)
Imports - commodities: refined petroleum, coal, cars, aircraft, packaged medicine (2023)
Exchange rates / Currency: Comptoirs Francais du Pacifique francs (XPF) per US dollar -
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2024: 110.306 (2024 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2023: 110.347 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2022: 113.474 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2021: 100.88 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2020: 104.711 (2020 est.)

## Energy
Electricity access / electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)
Electricity / installed generating capacity: 1.174 million kW (2023 est.)
Electricity / consumption: 3.02 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / transmission/distribution losses: 66.3 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / fossil fuels: 73.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / solar: 7.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / wind: 1.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / hydroelectricity: 17.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Coal / consumption: 1.026 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / imports: 1.001 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / proven reserves: 2 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum / refined petroleum consumption: 17,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

## Communications
Telephones - fixed lines / total subscriptions: 46,000 (2021 est.)
Telephones - fixed lines / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 16 (2022 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / total subscriptions: 263,000 (2022 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 92 (2022 est.)
Broadcast media: the publicly owned French Overseas Network (RFO), which operates in France's overseas departments and territories, broadcasts over the RFO Nouvelle-Cal&eacute;donie TV and radio stations; a small number of privately owned radio stations also broadcast
Internet country code: .nc
Internet users / percent of population: 82% (2017 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / total: 56,000 (2022 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 19 (2022 est.)

## Transportation
Airports: 21 (2025)
Heliports: 2 (2025)
Merchant marine / total: 23 (2023)
Merchant marine / by type: general cargo 5, oil tanker 1, other 17
Ports / total ports: 3 (2024)
Ports / large: 0
Ports / medium: 0
Ports / small: 1
Ports / very small: 2
Ports / ports with oil terminals: 1
Ports / key ports: Baie de Kouaoua, Baie Ugue, Noumea

## Military and Security
Military and security forces: no regular military forces; Territorial Directorate of the National Police of New Caledonia (DTPN), Gendarmerie of New Caledonia (2025)
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of France, which bases land, air, and naval forces on New Caledonia (Forces Arm&eacute;es de la Nouvelle-Cal&eacute;donie, FANC)

## Transnational Issues

=== Niue ===

## Introduction
Background: Voyagers from Samoa first settled on Niue around A.D. 900, and a second main group of settlers came from Tonga around 1500. With only one reliable source of fresh water, conflict was high on the island. Samoan and Tongan customs heavily influenced Niuean culture, including the formation of an island-wide elected kingship system in the early 1700s. In 1774, British explorer James COOK landed on the island and named it Savage Island because of the Niueans' hostility. Missionaries arrived in 1830 but were also largely unsuccessful at staying on the island until 1846, when a Niuean trained as a Samoan missionary returned to the island and provided a space from which the missionaries could work. In addition to converting the population, the missionaries worked to stop the violent conflicts and helped establish the first parliament in 1849. Great Britain established a protectorate over Niue in 1900. The following year, Niue was annexed to New Zealand and included as part of the Cook Islands. Niue’s remoteness and cultural and linguistic differences with the Cook Islands led New Zealand to separate Niue into its own administration in 1904. The island became internally self-governing in 1974; it is an independent member of international organizations but is in free association with New Zealand, which is responsible for defense and foreign affairs. In September 2023, the US recognized Niue as a sovereign and independent state.

## Geography
Location: Oceania, island in the South Pacific Ocean, east of Tonga
Geographic coordinates: 19 02 S, 169 52 W
Map references: Oceania
Area / total: 260 sq km
Area / land: 260 sq km
Area / water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative: 1.5 times the size of Washington, D.C.
Land boundaries / total: 0 km
Coastline: 64 km
Maritime claims / territorial sea: 12 nm
Maritime claims / exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate: tropical; modified by southeast trade winds
Terrain: steep limestone cliffs along coast, central plateau
Elevation / highest point: unnamed elevation 1.4 km east of Hikutavake 80 m
Elevation / lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
Natural resources: arable land, fish
Land use / agricultural land: 18.5% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 3.8% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 10.8% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 3.8% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 72.6% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 9% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land: 0 sq km (2022)
Population distribution: population distributed around the peripheral coastal areas of the island
Natural hazards: tropical cyclones
Geography - note: one of world's largest coral islands; the only major break in the surrounding coral reef occurs in the central western part of the coast

## People and Society
Population / total: 1,815 (2024 est.)
Population / male: 877 (2024 est.)
Population / female: 938 (2024 est.)
Nationality / noun: Niuean(s)
Nationality / adjective: Niuean
Ethnic groups: Niuean 65.4%, part-Niuean 14%, non-Niuean 20.6% (2017 est.)
Languages: Niuean 46% (official, a Polynesian language closely related to Tongan and Samoan), Niuean and English 32%, English (official) 11%, Niuean and others 5%, other 6% (2011 est.)
Religions: Ekalesia Niue 61.7%, Latter Day Saints 8.7%, Roman Catholic 8.4%, other 8.2%, not stated 5.1%, none 3.7%, Jehovah's Witnesses 2.7%, Seventh Day Adventist 1.4% (2017 est.)
Dependency ratios / total dependency ratio: 64.6 (2024)
Dependency ratios / youth dependency ratio: 38.2 (2024)
Dependency ratios / elderly dependency ratio: 26.4 (2024)
Dependency ratios / potential support ratio: 3.8 (2024)
Population growth rate: -0.03% (2021 est.)
Population distribution: population distributed around the peripheral coastal areas of the island
Urbanization / urban population: 48.2% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 1.43% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 1,000 ALOFI (capital) (2018)
Life expectancy at birth / male: 71.8 years (2016)
Life expectancy at birth / female: 75.7 years (2016 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: total: total: 97% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: total: total: 3% of population (2022 est.)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 7.8% of GDP (2020)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 6.9% of national budget (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: total: total: 97.4% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: total: total: 2.6% of population (2022 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 50% (2016)
Alcohol consumption per capita / total: 8.5 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / beer: 4.28 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / wine: 1.89 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / spirits: 2.33 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / other alcohols: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Education expenditure: 5.6% national budget (2025 est.)
Literacy / total population: 99.5% (2022 est.)
Literacy / male: 100% (2022 est.)
Literacy / female: 100% (2022 est.)

## Environment
Environmental issues: increasing attention to conservationist practices to counter loss of soil fertility from traditional slash-and-burn agriculture
International environmental agreements / party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution
International environmental agreements / signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Climate: tropical; modified by southeast trade winds
Land use / agricultural land: 18.5% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 3.8% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 10.8% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 3.8% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 72.6% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 9% (2023 est.)
Urbanization / urban population: 48.2% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 1.43% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / total emissions: 9,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from petroleum and other liquids: 9,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Particulate matter emissions: 6.7 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: none
Country name / conventional short form: Niue
Country name / former: Savage Island
Country name / etymology: the origin of the name is obscure; in Niuean, the word translates as "behold the coconut;" the former name, Savage Island, was the result of an acrimonious meeting in 1774 between English explorer Captain James COOK and local people
Government type: parliamentary democracy
Dependency status: self-governing in free association with New Zealand since 1974; Niue is fully responsible for internal affairs; under the Niue Constitution Act of 1974, New Zealand provides necessary economic and administrative assistance to Niue, as well as assistance with foreign affairs, defense, and security if requested
Capital / name: Alofi
Capital / geographic coordinates: 19 01 S, 169 55 W
Capital / time difference: UTC-11 (6 hours behind Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Capital / etymology: a traditional name for an area of the island; became the name for the newly declared capital in the 20th century
Administrative divisions: no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US government, but 14 villages are considered second-order
Legal system: English common law
Constitution / history: several previous (New Zealand colonial statutes); latest 19 October 1974 (Niue Constitution Act 1974)
Constitution / amendment process: proposed by the Assembly; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote of the Assembly membership in each of three readings and approval by at least two-thirds majority votes in a referendum; passage of amendments to a number of sections, including Niue&rsquo;s self-governing status, British nationality and New Zealand citizenship, external affairs and defense, economic and administrative assistance by New Zealand, and amendment procedures, requires at least two-thirds majority vote by the Assembly and at least two thirds of votes in a referendum
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch / chief of state: King CHARLES III (since 8 September 2022); represented by Governor-General of New Zealand Cindy KIRO (since 21 October 2021); the UK and New Zealand are represented by New Zealand High Commissioner Mark GIBBS (since 5 March 2024)
Executive branch / head of government: Prime Minister Dalton TAGELAGI; also referred to as premier (since 10 June 2020)
Executive branch / cabinet: Cabinet chosen by the prime minister
Executive branch / election/appointment process: the monarchy is hereditary; prime minister indirectly elected by the Legislative Assembly for a 3-year term
Executive branch / most recent election date: 8 May 2023
Executive branch / election results: Dalton TAGELAGI reelected prime minister; Legislative Assembly vote - Dalton TAGELAGI (independent) 16, O'Love JACOBSEN (independent) 4
Executive branch / expected date of next election: 2026
Legislative branch / legislature name: Niue Assembly (Fono Ekepule)
Legislative branch / legislative structure: unicameral
Legislative branch / number of seats: 20
Legislative branch / electoral system: plurality/majority
Legislative branch / scope of elections: full renewal
Legislative branch / term in office: 3 years
Legislative branch / most recent election date: 29 April 2023
Legislative branch / parties elected and seats per party: independents (20)
Legislative branch / percentage of women in chamber: 15%
Legislative branch / expected date of next election: April 2026
Judicial branch / highest court(s): Court of Appeal (consists of the chief justice and up to 3 judges)
Judicial branch / judge selection and term of office: Niue chief justice appointed by the governor general on the advice of the Cabinet and tendered by the premier; other judges appointed by the governor general on the advice of the Cabinet and tendered by the chief justice and the minister of justice; judges serve until age 68
Judicial branch / subordinate courts: High Court
Political parties: none
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (self-governing territory in free association with New Zealand)
Diplomatic representation from the US / embassy: none (self-governing territory in free association with New Zealand)
International organization participation: ACP, AOSIS, FAO, IFAD, OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO
Independence: 19 October 1974 (Niue became a self-governing state in free association with New Zealand)
National holiday: Waitangi Day (Treaty of Waitangi established British sovereignty over New Zealand), 6 February (1840)
Flag: description: yellow with the UK flag in the upper-left quadrant; the UK flag has five yellow five-pointed stars, with a large star on a blue disk in the center and smaller stars on each arm of the red cross meaning: the large star represents Niue, and the smaller stars symbolize links with New Zealand; yellow stands for sunshine, as well as the warmth and friendship between Niue and New Zealand
National symbol(s): yellow five-pointed star
National color(s): yellow
National anthem(s) / title: "God Save the King"
National anthem(s) / lyrics/music: unknown
National anthem(s) / history: in use since 1745

## Economy
Economic overview: upper-middle-income self-governing New Zealand territorial economy; environmentally fragile; massive emigration; post-pandemic tourism rebound; postage stamps, small-scale agricultural processing, and subsistence farming; most recent Asian Development Bank member
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2021: $18.7 million (2021 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2020: $19.9 million (2020 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2019: $20.9 million (2019 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2021: $11,100 (2021 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2020: $11,800 (2020 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2019: $12,400 (2019 est.)
Agricultural products: coconuts, taro, fruits, sweet potatoes, tropical fruits, yams, vegetables, lemons/limes, bananas, pork (2023)
Industries: handicrafts, food processing
Exports - partners: USA 54%, Germany 8%, Canada 5%, UK 5%, Guatemala 4% (2023)
Exports - commodities: abrasive powder, coin (2023)
Imports - partners: NZ 87%, Fiji 6%, UAE 2%, Slovakia 1%, Australia 1% (2023)
Imports - commodities: refined petroleum, plastic products, machine parts, construction vehicles, cars (2023)
Exchange rates / Currency: New Zealand dollars (NZD) per US dollar -
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2024: 1.652 (2024 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2023: 1.628 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2022: 1.577 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2021: 1.414 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2020: 1.542 (2020 est.)

## Energy
Electricity / installed generating capacity: 3,000 kW (2023 est.)
Electricity / consumption: 3 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / transmission/distribution losses: 400,000 kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / fossil fuels: 100% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Petroleum / refined petroleum consumption: 61 bbl/day (2023 est.)

## Communications
Telephones - fixed lines / total subscriptions: 1,000 (2021 est.)
Telephones - fixed lines / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 52 (2021 est.)
Broadcast media: 1 state-owned TV station, with many of the programs supplied by Television New Zealand; 1 state-owned radio station broadcasting in AM and FM (2019)
Internet country code: .nu
Internet users / percent of population: 80% (2024 est.)

## Transportation
Airports: 1 (2025)
Merchant marine / total: 70 (2023)
Merchant marine / by type: bulk carrier 5, container ship 2, general cargo 29, oil tanker 4, other 30
Ports / total ports: 1 (2024)
Ports / large: 0
Ports / medium: 0
Ports / small: 0
Ports / very small: 1
Ports / ports with oil terminals: 0
Ports / key ports: Alofi

## Military and Security
Military and security forces: no regular indigenous military forces; Niue Police Department
Military - note: under the Niue Constitution Act of 1974, New Zealand provides assistance with foreign affairs, defense, and security if requested by the Niue government

## Transnational Issues

=== Norfolk Island ===

## Introduction
Background: Polynesians lived on Norfolk Island between 1200 and 1500, but the remote island was uninhabited by the time British explorer James COOK landed on the island in 1774. Two British attempts at establishing the island as a penal colony (1788-1814 and 1825-55) were ultimately abandoned. In 1856, almost 200 Pitcairn Islanders -- descendants of the Bounty mutineers and their Tahitian companions -- were relocated to Norfolk Island because of overcrowding on the Pitcairn Islands. Some returned to the Pitcairn Islands over the next few years, but most settled permanently on Norfolk Island and recreated their previous land tenure and governance structures. Norfolk Island retained a great degree of local control until 1897, when it became a dependency of New South Wales. During World War II, Norfolk Island was an airbase and an important refueling stop in the South Pacific. In 1976, an Australian judge recommended Norfolk Island be incorporated fully into Australia, which Norfolk Islanders rejected. After an appeal to the UN, Australia granted limited self-government to Norfolk Island in 1979. With growing financial troubles during the 2000s, Australia abolished the Norfolk Island Legislative Assembly in 2015, reduced Norfolk Island’s autonomy in 2016, and suspended the local council in 2020. Most services are provided by a mix of the Australian Capital Territory and the states of New South Wales and Queensland. These moves were unpopular on Norfolk Island, which has sought to have its self-government restored and as of 2024, the Australian Government was working with Norfolk Island to establish a new local governing body.

## Geography
Location: Oceania, island in the South Pacific Ocean, east of Australia
Geographic coordinates: 29 02 S, 167 57 E
Map references: Oceania
Area / total: 36 sq km
Area / land: 36 sq km
Area / water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative: about 0.2 times the size of Washington, D.C.
Land boundaries / total: 0 km
Coastline: 32 km
Maritime claims / territorial sea: 12 nm
Maritime claims / contiguous zone: 24 nm
Maritime claims / exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
Climate: subtropical; mild, little seasonal temperature variation
Terrain: volcanic island with mostly rolling plains
Elevation / highest point: Mount Bates 319 m
Elevation / lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
Natural resources: fish
Land use / agricultural land: 25% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 0% (2022 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 0% (2022 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 25% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 12.2% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 62.8% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land: 0 sq km (2022)
Population distribution: population concentrated around the capital of Kingston
Natural hazards: tropical cyclones (especially May to July)
Geography - note: most of the 32-km (20-mi) coastline consists of almost inaccessible cliffs, but the land slopes down to the sea in one small southern area on Sydney Bay, where the capital of Kingston is located

## People and Society
Population / total: 1,739 (2021)
Population / male: 823
Population / female: 916
Nationality / noun: Norfolk Islander(s)
Nationality / adjective: Norfolk Islander(s)
Ethnic groups: Australian 22.8%, English 22.4%, Pitcairn Islander 20%, Scottish 6%, Irish 5.2% (2011 est.)
Languages: English (official) 44.9%, Norfolk (official, a mixture of 18th century English and ancient Tahitian) 40.3%, Fijian 1.8%, other 6.8%, unspecified 6.2% (2016 est.)
Religions: Protestant 46.8% (Anglican 29.2%, Uniting Church in Australia 9.8%, Presbyterian 2.9%, Seventh Day Adventist 2.7%, other 2.2%), Roman Catholic 12.6%, other Christian 2.9%, other 1.4%, none 26.7%, unspecified 9.5% (2016 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.01% (2014 est.)
Population distribution: population concentrated around the capital of Kingston

## Environment
Environmental issues: inadequate solid-waste management; most freshwater obtained through rainwater catchment; preservation of unique ecosystem
Climate: subtropical; mild, little seasonal temperature variation
Land use / agricultural land: 25% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 0% (2022 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 0% (2022 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 25% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 12.2% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 62.8% (2023 est.)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: Territory of Norfolk Island
Country name / conventional short form: Norfolk Island
Country name / etymology: named by British explorer Captain James COOK after Edward HOWARD, the ninth Duke of Norfolk, in 1774
Government type: administered as an overseas territory of Australia
Dependency status: administered as a territory of Australia; administered by the Australian Government through the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Cities, & Regional Development
Capital / name: Kingston
Capital / geographic coordinates: 29 03 S, 167 58 E
Capital / time difference: UTC+11 (16 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Capital / daylight saving time: +1hr, begins first Sunday in October; ends first Sunday in April
Capital / etymology: the name blends the words "king's" and "town;" the English king at the time of the town's settlement in the late 18th century was GEORGE III
Legal system: English common law and the laws of Australia
Constitution / history: previous 1913, 1957; latest effective 7 August 1979
Citizenship: see Australia
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch / chief of state: King CHARLES III (since 8 September 2022); represented by Governor General of the Commonwealth of Australia General Sam MOSTYN (since 1 July 2024)
Executive branch / head of government: Administrator George PLANT (since 1 June 2023)
Executive branch / election/appointment process: the monarchy is hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch; administrator appointed by the governor general of Australia for a 2-year term and represents the monarch and Australia
Legislative branch / legislature name: Norfolk Island Regional Council
Legislative branch / legislative structure: unicameral
Legislative branch / number of seats: 5 (directly elected)
Legislative branch / electoral system: plurality/majority
Legislative branch / scope of elections: full renewal
Legislative branch / term in office: 4 years
Legislative branch / most recent election date: 5/28/2016
Legislative branch / parties elected and seats per party: independent (5)
Legislative branch / percentage of women in chamber: 20%
Legislative branch / expected date of next election: March 2021 (postponed)
Judicial branch / highest court(s): Supreme Court of Norfolk Island (consists of the chief justice and several justices)
Judicial branch / judge selection and term of office: justices appointed by the governor general of Australia from among justices of the Federal Court of Australia; justices serve until mandatory retirement at age 70
Judicial branch / subordinate courts: Petty Court of Sessions; specialized courts, including a Coroner's Court and the Employment Tribunal
Political parties: Norfolk Island Labor Party Norfolk Liberals
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (territory of Australia)
Diplomatic representation from the US / embassy: none (territory of Australia)
International organization participation: UPU
Independence: none (territory of Australia)
National holiday: Bounty Day (commemorates the arrival of Pitcairn Islanders), 8 June (1856)
Flag: description: three vertical bands of green (left side), white, and green, with a large green Norfolk Island pine tree centered on the white band meaning: green stands for the island's rich vegetation, and the native pine tree is an island symbol
National symbol(s): Norfolk Island pine
National coat of arms: Norfolk Island is part of the Commonwealth of Australia, and in 1980, Queen Elizabeth II granted it a separate coat of arms (pictured); in the center is the island&rsquo;s symbol, the Norfolk Island Pine, with Britain&rsquo;s lion and Australia&rsquo;s kangaroo supporting the shield; the island&rsquo;s motto, &ldquo;Inasmuch,&rdquo; comes from a verse in the Bible&rsquo;s Gospel of Matthew
National anthem(s) / title: "God Save the King"
National anthem(s) / lyrics/music: unknown
National anthem(s) / history: royal anthem, as an Australian overseas territory

## Economy
Economic overview: high-income Australian territorial economy; key tourism and re-exportation industries; small labor force and declining participation creating more part-time jobs; former tax haven; increasing medical cannabis exporter; little transportation infrastructure
Agricultural products: Norfolk Island pine seed, Kentia palm seed, cereals, vegetables, fruit; cattle, poultry
Industries: tourism, light industry, ready mixed concrete
Exports - partners: USA 31%, Belgium 9%, Philippines 7%, Israel 6%, Singapore 6% (2023)
Exports - commodities: pine seeds, lumber, cars and vehicle parts, soybeans, lactose syrup (2021)
Imports - partners: Australia 52%, Fiji 13%, NZ 12%, Saudi Arabia 12%, Malaysia 5% (2023)
Imports - commodities: refined petroleum, plastics, electrical lighting/signalling equipment, cars, machinery (2023)
Exchange rates / Currency: Australian dollars (AUD) per US dollar -
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2024: 1.515 (2024 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2023: 1.505 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2022: 1.442 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2021: 1.331 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2020: 1.453 (2020 est.)

## Communications
Broadcast media: 1 local radio station; broadcasts of several Australian radio and TV stations available via satellite (2009)
Internet country code: .nf
Internet users / percent of population: 46.1% (2021 est.)

## Transportation
Airports: 1 (2025)
Ports / total ports: 1 (2024)
Ports / large: 0
Ports / medium: 0
Ports / small: 0
Ports / very small: 1
Ports / ports with oil terminals: 1
Ports / key ports: Kingston

## Military and Security
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of Australia

## Transnational Issues

=== Vanuatu ===

## Introduction
Background: Austronesian speakers from the Solomon Islands first settled Vanuatu around 2000 B.C. By around 1000, localized chieftain systems began to develop on the islands. Around 1600, Melanesian Chief ROI MATA united some of the islands of modern-day Vanuatu under his rule. In 1606, a Portuguese explorer was the first European to see Vanuatu's Banks Islands and Espiritu Santo, setting up a short-lived settlement on the latter. The next European explorers arrived in the 1760s, and the islands -- then known as the New Hebrides -- were frequented by whalers in the 1800s. European interest in harvesting the islands’ sandalwood trees caused conflict with the inhabitants. In the 1860s, European planters in Australia, Fiji, New Caledonia, and Samoa needed labor and kidnapped almost half the adult males on the islands to work as indentured servants. With growing and overlapping interests in the islands, France and the UK agreed that the New Hebrides would be neutral in 1878 and established a joint naval commission in 1887. In 1906, the two countries created the UK-France condominium to jointly administer the islands, with separate laws, police forces, currencies, and education and health systems. The condominium arrangement was dysfunctional, and the UK used France’s initial defeat in World War II to assert greater control over the islands. During the war, the US stationed up to 50,000 soldiers in Vanuatu. In 1945, they withdrew and sold their equipment, leading to the rise of political and religious movements known as "cargo cults," such as the John Frum movement. The UK-France condominium was reestablished after World War II. The UK was interested in moving the condominium toward independence in the 1960s, but France was hesitant. Political parties agitating for independence began to form, largely divided along linguistic lines. France eventually relented, and elections were held in 1974, with independence granted to the newly named Vanuatu in 1980 under English-speaking Prime Minister Walter LINI. The Nagriamel Movement, with support from French-speaking landowners, then declared the island of Espiritu Santo independent from Vanuatu, but the short-lived state was dissolved 12 weeks later. Linguistic divisions have lessened over time, but highly fractious political parties have led to weak coalition governments that require support from both Anglophone and Francophone parties. Since 2008, prime ministers have been ousted more than a dozen times through no-confidence motions or temporary procedural issues.

## Geography
Location: Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about three-quarters of the way from Hawaii to Australia
Geographic coordinates: 16 00 S, 167 00 E
Map references: Oceania
Area / total: 12,189 sq km
Area / land: 12,189 sq km
Area / water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly larger than Connecticut
Land boundaries / total: 0 km
Coastline: 2,528 km
Maritime claims / territorial sea: 12 nm
Maritime claims / contiguous zone: 24 nm
Maritime claims / exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Maritime claims / continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
Climate: tropical; moderated by southeast trade winds from May to October; moderate rainfall from November to April; may be affected by cyclones from December to April
Terrain: mostly mountainous islands of volcanic origin; narrow coastal plains
Elevation / highest point: Tabwemasana 1,877 m
Elevation / lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
Natural resources: manganese, hardwood forests, fish
Land use / agricultural land: 15.3% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 1.6% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 10.3% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 3.4% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 74.8% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 9.8% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land: 0 sq km (2022)
Population distribution: three quarters of the population lives in rural areas; the urban populace lives primarily in two cities, Port-Vila and Lugenville; the three largest islands -- Espiritu Santo, Malakula, and Efate -- accommodate over half of the populace
Natural hazards: tropical cyclones (January to April); volcanic activity; volcanism also causes minor earthquakes; tsunamis volcanism: significant volcanic activity with multiple eruptions in recent years; Yasur (361 m), one of the world's most active volcanoes, has experienced continuous activity in recent centuries; other historically active volcanoes include Aoba, Ambrym, Epi, Gaua, Kuwae, Lopevi, Suretamatai, and Traitor's Head
Geography - note: a Y-shaped chain of four main islands and 80 smaller islands; several of the islands have active volcanoes, including several underwater volcanoes

## People and Society
Population / total: 318,007 (2024 est.)
Population / male: 157,932
Population / female: 160,075
Nationality / noun: Ni-Vanuatu (singular and plural)
Nationality / adjective: Ni-Vanuatu
Ethnic groups: Ni-Vanuatu 99%, other 1% (European, Asian, other Melanesian, Polynesian, Micronesian, other) (2020 est.)
Languages: indigenous languages (more than 100) 82.6%, Bislama (official; creole) 14.5%, English (official) 2.1%, French (official) 0.8% (2020 est.)
Religions: Protestant 39.9% (Presbyterian 27.2%, Seventh Day Adventist 14.8%, Anglican 12%, Churches of Christ 5%, Assemblies of God 4.9%, Neil Thomas Ministry/Inner Life Ministry 3.2%), Roman Catholic 12.1%, Apostolic 2.3%, Church of Jesus Christ 1.8%, customary beliefs (including Jon Frum cargo cult) 3.1%, other 12%, none 1.4%, unspecified 0.1% (2020 est.)
Age structure / 0-14 years: 31.1% (male 50,584/female 48,475)
Age structure / 15-64 years: 63.8% (male 99,496/female 103,425)
Age structure / 65 years and over: 5% (2024 est.) (male 7,852/female 8,175)
Dependency ratios / total dependency ratio: 56.7 (2024 est.)
Dependency ratios / youth dependency ratio: 48.8 (2024 est.)
Dependency ratios / elderly dependency ratio: 7.9 (2024 est.)
Dependency ratios / potential support ratio: 12.7 (2024 est.)
Median age / total: 24.9 years (2025 est.)
Median age / male: 24.1 years
Median age / female: 25 years
Population growth rate: 1.51% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 20.36 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 4.02 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: -1.24 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution: three quarters of the population lives in rural areas; the urban populace lives primarily in two cities, Port-Vila and Lugenville; the three largest islands -- Espiritu Santo, Malakula, and Efate -- accommodate over half of the populace
Urbanization / urban population: 26% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 2.55% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 53,000 PORT-VILA (capital) (2018)
Sex ratio / at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 65 years and over: 0.96 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio: 100 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Infant mortality rate / total: 13.4 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Infant mortality rate / male: 15 deaths/1,000 live births
Infant mortality rate / female: 12.3 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth / total population: 75.7 years (2024 est.)
Life expectancy at birth / male: 74 years
Life expectancy at birth / female: 77.4 years
Total fertility rate: 2.46 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 1.2 (2025 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: urban: urban: 99.2% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: rural: rural: 88.6% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: total: total: 91.3% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: urban: urban: 0.8% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: rural: rural: 11.4% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: total: total: 8.7% of population (2022 est.)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 4.4% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 3.9% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density: 0.16 physicians/1,000 population (2019)
Sanitation facility access / improved: urban: urban: 94% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: rural: rural: 66.9% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: total: total: 73.9% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: urban: urban: 6% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: rural: rural: 33.1% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: total: total: 26.1% of population (2022 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 25.2% (2016)
Alcohol consumption per capita / total: 1.6 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / beer: 0.34 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / wine: 0.39 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / spirits: 0.87 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / other alcohols: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Tobacco use / total: 17.8% (2020 est.)
Tobacco use / male: 33% (2020 est.)
Tobacco use / female: 2.6% (2020 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49): 68.6% (2020 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% GDP): 7.6% of GDP (2023 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% national budget): 20.1% national budget (2024 est.)
Literacy / total population: 88% (2023 est.)
Literacy / male: 87.7% (2023 est.)
Literacy / female: 88.2% (2023 est.)

## Environment
Environmental issues: water pollution; limited potable water; inadequate sanitation; deforestation
International environmental agreements / party to: Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
International environmental agreements / signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Climate: tropical; moderated by southeast trade winds from May to October; moderate rainfall from November to April; may be affected by cyclones from December to April
Land use / agricultural land: 15.3% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 1.6% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 10.3% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 3.4% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 74.8% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 9.8% (2023 est.)
Urbanization / urban population: 26% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 2.55% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / total emissions: 292,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from petroleum and other liquids: 292,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Particulate matter emissions: 9.1 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Waste and recycling / municipal solid waste generated annually: 70,200 tons (2024 est.)
Waste and recycling / percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 52.9% (2022 est.)
Total renewable water resources: 10 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: Republic of Vanuatu
Country name / conventional short form: Vanuatu
Country name / local long form: Ripablik blong Vanuatu
Country name / local short form: Vanuatu
Country name / former: New Hebrides
Country name / etymology: the name means "Our land forever" in several of the Austronesian languages spoken on the islands; the former name, New Hebrides, was given by Captain James COOK in 1774 because he thought they looked similar to the Hebrides islands off the coast of Scotland
Government type: parliamentary republic
Capital / name: Port-Vila (on Efate)
Capital / geographic coordinates: 17 44 S, 168 19 E
Capital / time difference: UTC+11 (16 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Capital / etymology: the local name of Vila is sometimes used alone for the the port town; its meaning is unknown
Administrative divisions: 6 provinces; Malampa, Penama, Sanma, Shefa, Tafea, Torba
Legal system: mixed system of English common law, French law, and customary law
Constitution / history: draft completed August 1979, finalized by constitution conference 19 September 1979, ratified by French and British Governments 23 October 1979, effective 30 July 1980 at independence
Constitution / amendment process: proposed by the prime minister or by the Parliament membership; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote by Parliament in special session with at least three fourths of the membership; passage of amendments affecting the national and official languages, or the electoral and parliamentary system also requires approval in a referendum
International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Citizenship / citizenship by birth: no
Citizenship / citizenship by descent only: both parents must be citizens of Vanuatu; in the case of only one parent, it must be the father who is a citizen
Citizenship / dual citizenship recognized: no
Citizenship / residency requirement for naturalization: 10 years
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch / chief of state: President Nikenike VUROBARAVU (since 23 July 2022)
Executive branch / head of government: Prime Minister Jotham NAPAT (since 11 February 2025)
Executive branch / cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister, responsible to Parliament
Executive branch / election/appointment process: president indirectly elected by an electoral college consisting of Parliament and presidents of the 6 provinces; national president serves a 5-year term; following legislative elections, the Parliament usually elects the leader of the majority party or majority coalition (who must also be a member of Parliament) as prime minister
Executive branch / most recent election date: 23 July 2022
Executive branch / election results: 2022: Nikenike VUROBARAVU elected president in eighth round; electoral college vote - Nikenike VUROBARAVU (VP) 48 votes, Solas MOLISA (VP) 4 votes
Executive branch / expected date of next election: 2027
Legislative branch / legislature name: Parliament
Legislative branch / legislative structure: unicameral
Legislative branch / number of seats: 52 (all directly elected)
Legislative branch / electoral system: proportional representation
Legislative branch / scope of elections: full renewal
Legislative branch / term in office: 4 years
Legislative branch / most recent election date: 1/16/2025
Legislative branch / parties elected and seats per party: Leaders Party of Vanuatu (LPV) (9); Vanua'aku Pati (VP) (7); Iauko Group (IG) (6); Union of Moderate Parties (UMP) (6); Rural Development Party (RDP) (6); Graon mo Jastis Pati (Land and Justice Party, GJP) (5); Reunification Movement for Change (RMC) (5); Other (8)
Legislative branch / percentage of women in chamber: 1.9%
Legislative branch / expected date of next election: January 2029
Judicial branch / highest court(s): Court of Appeal (consists of 2 or more judges of the Supreme Court designated by the chief justice); Supreme Court (consists of the chief justice and 6 puisne judges -- 3 local and 3 expatriate)
Judicial branch / judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court chief justice appointed by the president after consultation with the prime minister and the leader of the opposition; other judges appointed by the president on the advice of the Judicial Service Commission, a 4-member advisory body; judges serve until the age of retirement
Judicial branch / subordinate courts: Magistrates Courts; Island Courts
Political parties: Iauko Group (Eagle Party) or IG Land and Justice Party (Graon mo Jastis Pati or GJP) Leaders Party of Vanuatu or LPV Rural Development Party or RDP Reunification of Movement for Change or RMC Union of Moderate Parties or UMP Vanua'aku Pati (Our Land Party) or VP
Diplomatic representation in the US / chief of mission: Ambassador Odo TEVI (since 8 September 2017) note - also Permanent Representative to the UN
Diplomatic representation in the US / chancery: 800 Second Avenue, Suite 400B, New York, NY 10017
Diplomatic representation in the US / telephone: [1] (212) 661-4303
Diplomatic representation in the US / FAX: [1] (212) 422-3427
Diplomatic representation in the US / email address and website: vanunmis@aol.com https://www.un.int/vanuatu/
Diplomatic representation from the US / chief of mission: Ambassador Ann Marie YASTISHOCK (since 16 April 2024); note - also accredited to the Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands, based in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea
Diplomatic representation from the US / embassy: Port Vila
Diplomatic representation from the US / email address and website: https://vt.usembassy.gov/
International organization participation: ACP, ADB, AOSIS, C, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, IOC, IOM, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NAM, OAS (observer), OIF, OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Independence: 30 July 1980 (from France and the UK)
National holiday: Independence Day, 30 July (1980)
Flag: description: two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and green with a black isosceles triangle (based on the left side); a black-edged yellow stripe in the shape of a horizontal "Y" faces the left side and encloses the triangle; a boar's tusk in the triangle circles two crossed namele fern fronds, all in yellow meaning: red stands for unity and the blood of men and boars, green for the richness of the islands, and black for the ni-Vanuatu people; the yellow "Y" reflects the islands' layout in the Pacific Ocean and symbolizes the light of the Gospel; the boar's tusk is a symbol of prosperity; the ferns represent peace
National symbol(s): boar's tusk with crossed fern fronds
National color(s): red, black, green, yellow
National anthem(s) / title: "Yumi, Yumi, Yumi" (We, We, We)
National anthem(s) / lyrics/music: Francois Vincent AYSSAV
National anthem(s) / history: adopted 1980; the anthem is written in the native Bislama
National heritage / total World Heritage Sites: 1 (cultural)
National heritage / selected World Heritage Site locales: Chief Roi Mata&rsquo;s Domain

## Economy
Economic overview: lower-middle income Pacific island economy; extremely reliant on subsistence agriculture and tourism; environmentally fragile; struggling post-pandemic and Tropical Cyclone Harold rebound; sizeable inflation; road infrastructure aid from Australia
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $1.039 billion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $999.162 million (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $1.009 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2024: 4% (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2023: -1% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2022: 5.2% (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2024: $3,200 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2023: $3,100 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2022: $3,200 (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $1.161 billion (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023: 11.2% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 6.7% (2022 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021: 2.3% (2021 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / agriculture: 24.9% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / industry: 7.5% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / services: 60.4% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / household consumption: 77.2% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / government consumption: 23.9% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in fixed capital: 38.8% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in inventories: 0.4% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / exports of goods and services: 9.6% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / imports of goods and services: -55.5% (2022 est.)
Agricultural products: coconuts, oranges, yams, cabbages, taro, bananas, chillies/peppers, chestnuts, sweet potatoes, cassava (2023)
Industries: food and fish freezing, wood processing, meat canning
Industrial production growth rate: -19.7% (2022 est.)
Labor force: 118,100 (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2024: 5.1% (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2023: 5.1% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2022: 5.2% (2022 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / total: 11.6% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / male: 9.6% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / female: 14% (2024 est.)
Population below poverty line: 15.9% (2019 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income / Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2019: 32.3 (2019 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / lowest 10%: 3% (2019 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / highest 10%: 24.7% (2019 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2023: 12.9% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2022: 19.2% of GDP (2022 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2021: 20.3% of GDP (2021 est.)
Budget / revenues: $386.577 million (2023 est.)
Budget / expenditures: $378.659 million (2023 est.)
Public debt / Public debt 2023: 71.7% of GDP (2023 est.)
Taxes and other revenues: 17.4% (of GDP) (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2022: -$127.432 million (2022 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2021: -$75.451 million (2021 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2020: -$57.858 million (2020 est.)
Exports / Exports 2022: $152.087 million (2022 est.)
Exports / Exports 2021: $82.08 million (2021 est.)
Exports / Exports 2020: $132.943 million (2020 est.)
Exports - partners: Thailand 49%, Japan 19%, Cote d'Ivoire 10%, China 7%, USA 3% (2023)
Exports - commodities: fish, ships, perfume plants, wood, copra (2023)
Imports / Imports 2022: $579.347 million (2022 est.)
Imports / Imports 2021: $520.391 million (2021 est.)
Imports / Imports 2020: $438.373 million (2020 est.)
Imports - partners: China 26%, Australia 15%, Angola 11%, Fiji 9%, NZ 8% (2023)
Imports - commodities: refined petroleum, ships, plastic products, poultry, trucks (2023)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024: $614.65 million (2024 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023: $643.768 million (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $638.537 million (2022 est.)
Debt - external / Debt - external 2023: $299.746 million (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Currency: vatu (VUV) per US dollar -
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2024: 119.167 (2024 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2023: 119.112 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2022: 115.354 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2021: 109.452 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2020: 115.38 (2020 est.)

## Energy
Electricity access / electrification - total population: 70% (2022 est.)
Electricity access / electrification - urban areas: 97%
Electricity access / electrification - rural areas: 60.7%
Electricity / installed generating capacity: 39,000 kW (2023 est.)
Electricity / consumption: 74.766 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / transmission/distribution losses: 5.264 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / fossil fuels: 74.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / solar: 8.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / wind: 5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / hydroelectricity: 11.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / biomass and waste: 0.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Petroleum / refined petroleum consumption: 2,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Energy consumption per capita / Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 12.934 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

## Communications
Telephones - fixed lines / total subscriptions: 3,000 (2022 est.)
Telephones - fixed lines / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 1 (2022 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / total subscriptions: 256,000 (2022 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 78 (2022 est.)
Broadcast media: 1 state-owned TV station; multi-channel pay TV available; state-owned Radio Vanuatu has 2 radio stations; 2 privately owned radio broadcasters; multiple international broadcasts available (2023)
Internet country code: .vu
Internet users / percent of population: 46% (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / total: 4,000 (2022 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 1 (2022 est.)

## Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: YJ
Airports: 31 (2025)
Merchant marine / total: 338 (2023)
Merchant marine / by type: bulk carrier 11, container ship 3, general cargo 101, other 223
Ports / total ports: 3 (2024)
Ports / large: 0
Ports / medium: 0
Ports / small: 1
Ports / very small: 2
Ports / ports with oil terminals: 2
Ports / key ports: Forari Bay, Luganville, Port Vila

## Military and Security
Military and security forces: no regular military forces; Vanuatu Police Force (VPF)
Military - note: the separate British and French police forces were unified in 1980 as the New Hebrides Constabulary, which was commanded by Ni-Vanuatu officers while retaining some British and French officers as advisors; the Constabulary was subsequently renamed the Vanuatu Police Force later in 1980 the Vanuatu Mobile Force has received training and other support from Australia, China, France, New Zealand, and the US Vanuatu has a "shiprider" agreement with the US, which allows local maritime law enforcement officers to embark on US Coast Guard (USCG) and US Navy (USN) vessels, including to board and search vessels suspected of violating laws or regulations within Vanuatu's designated exclusive economic zone (EEZ) or on the high seas; "shiprider" agreements also enable USCG personnel and USN vessels with embarked USCG law enforcement personnel to work with host nations to protect critical regional resources (2025)

## Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons / IDPs: 2,336 (2024 est.)
Trafficking in persons / tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List — Vanuatu does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking, but the government has devoted sufficient resources to a written plan that, if implemented, would constitute significant efforts to meet the minimum standards; therefore, Vanuatu was granted a waiver per the Trafficking Victims Protection Act from an otherwise required downgrade to Tier 3 and remained on Tier 2 Watch List for the third consecutive year; for more details, go to: https://www.state.gov/reports/2025-trafficking-in-persons-report/vanuatu/

=== Nauru ===

## Introduction
Background: By 1000 B.C., Micronesian and Polynesian settlers inhabited Nauru, and the island was divided among 12 clans. Nauru developed in relative isolation because ocean currents made landfall on the island difficult. As a result, the Nauruan language does not clearly resemble any other in the Pacific region. In 1798, a British mariner was the first European to spot the island and by 1830, European whalers used Nauru as a supply stop, trading firearms for food. A civil war in 1878 reduced the population by more than a third. Germany forcibly annexed Nauru in 1888 by holding the 12 chiefs under house arrest until they consented to the annexation. Phosphate was discovered in 1900 and was heavily mined, although Nauru and Nauruans earned about one tenth of one percent of the profits from the phosphate deposits. Australian forces captured Nauru from Germany during World War I, and in 1919, it was placed under a joint Australian-British-New Zealand mandate with Australian administration. Japan occupied Nauru during World War II and used its residents as forced labor elsewhere in the Pacific while destroying much of the infrastructure on the island. After the war, Nauru became a UN trust territory under Australian administration. In 1962, recognizing the phosphate stocks would eventually be depleted, Australian Prime Minister Robert MENZIES offered to resettle all Nauruans on Curtis Island in Queensland, but Nauruans rejected that plan and opted for independence, which was achieved in 1968. In 1970, Nauru purchased the phosphate mining assets, and income from the mines made Nauruans among the richest people in the world. However, a series of unwise investments led to near bankruptcy by 2000. Widespread phosphate mining officially ceased in 2006. As its economy faltered, Nauru briefly tried to rebrand itself as an offshore banking haven, an initiative that ended in 2005, and the country made a successful bid for Russian humanitarian aid in 2008. In 2001, Australia set up the Nauru Regional Processing Center (NRPC), an offshore refugee detention facility, paying Nauru per person at the center. The NRPC closed in 2008 but reopened in 2012. The number of refugees steadily declined after 2014, and in 2020, the remaining people were moved to Brisbane, Australia, effectively shuttering the NRPC. However, in 2023, Australia agreed to continue funding NRPC for two years and restarted settling asylees in the center in mid-2023. The center remains the Government of Nauru’s largest source of income.

## Geography
Location: Oceania, island in the South Pacific Ocean, south of the Marshall Islands
Geographic coordinates: 0 32 S, 166 55 E
Map references: Oceania
Area / total: 21 sq km
Area / land: 21 sq km
Area / water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative: about 0.1 times the size of Washington, D.C.
Land boundaries / total: 0 km
Coastline: 30 km
Maritime claims / territorial sea: 12 nm
Maritime claims / contiguous zone: 24 nm
Maritime claims / exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate: tropical with a monsoonal pattern; rainy season (November to February)
Terrain: sandy beach rises to fertile ring around raised coral reefs with phosphate plateau in center
Elevation / highest point: Command Ridge 70 m
Elevation / lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
Natural resources: phosphates, fish
Land use / agricultural land: 20% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 0% (2022 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 20% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 0% (2022 est.)
Land use / forest: 0% (2022 est.)
Land use / other: 80% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land: 0 sq km (2022)
Population distribution: most people live in the fertile coastal areas, especially along the southwest coast
Natural hazards: periodic droughts
Geography - note: Nauru is the third-smallest country in the world behind the Holy See (Vatican City) and Monaco; it is the smallest country in the Pacific Ocean, the smallest country outside Europe, the world's smallest island country, and the world's smallest independent republic; situated just 53 km south of the equator, Nauru is one of the three great phosphate rock islands in the Pacific Ocean -- the others are Banaba (Ocean Island) in Kiribati and Makatea in French Polynesia

## People and Society
Population / total: 9,930 (2025 est.)
Population / male: 4,874
Population / female: 5,056
Nationality / noun: Nauruan(s)
Nationality / adjective: Nauruan
Ethnic groups: Nauruan 94.6%, I-Kiribati 2.2%, Fijian 1.3%, other 1.9% (2021 est.)
Languages: Nauruan 93% (official, a distinct Pacific Island language), English 2% (widely understood, spoken, and used for most government and commercial purposes), other 5% (includes Gilbertese 2% and Chinese 2%) (2011 est.)
Religions: Protestant 60.4% (Nauruan Congregational 34.7%, Assemblies of God 11.6%, Pacific Light House 6.3%, Nauru Independent 3.6%, Baptist 1.5, Seventh Day Adventist 1.3%, other Protestant 1.4%), Roman Catholic 33.9%, other 4.2%, none 1.3%, no answer 0.3% (2021 est.)
Age structure / 0-14 years: 29.6% (male 1,493/female 1,433)
Age structure / 15-64 years: 66% (male 3,220/female 3,309)
Age structure / 65 years and over: 4.4% (2024 est.) (male 143/female 294)
Dependency ratios / total dependency ratio: 50.7 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / youth dependency ratio: 43.7 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / elderly dependency ratio: 7 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / potential support ratio: 14.4 (2025 est.)
Median age / total: 28.2 years (2025 est.)
Median age / male: 27.3 years
Median age / female: 28.4 years
Population growth rate: 0.37% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 19.64 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 6.55 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: -9.37 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution: most people live in the fertile coastal areas, especially along the southwest coast
Urbanization / urban population: 100% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 0.18% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Sex ratio / at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 65 years and over: 0.49 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio: 273 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Infant mortality rate / total: 7.5 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Infant mortality rate / male: 9.8 deaths/1,000 live births
Infant mortality rate / female: 5.3 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth / total population: 68.6 years (2024 est.)
Life expectancy at birth / male: 65 years
Life expectancy at birth / female: 72.3 years
Total fertility rate: 2.52 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 1.24 (2025 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: total: total: 100% of population
Drinking water source / unimproved: urban: urban: 0% of population
Drinking water source / unimproved: total: total: 0% of population (2020 est.)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 13.1% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 11.8% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density: 1.27 physicians/1,000 population (2015)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 61% (2016)
Alcohol consumption per capita / total: 2.44 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / beer: 0.54 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / wine: 0.09 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / spirits: 1.81 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / other alcohols: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Tobacco use / total: 47.7% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / male: 49.3% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / female: 46.1% (2025 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 3.8% (2023 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49): 57.7% (2021 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% GDP): 5.7% of GDP (2023 est.) NA
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% national budget): 6.6% national budget (2025 est.)
Literacy / total population: 96.6% (2023 est.)
Literacy / male: 93.4% (2023 est.)
Literacy / female: 99.7% (2023 est.)

## Environment
Environmental issues: limited natural freshwater resources; effects of intensive phosphate mining that left the central 90% of Nauru a wasteland; air and water pollution from cadmium residue, phosphate dust, and other contaminants; rising sea levels
International environmental agreements / party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Ozone Layer Protection, Whaling
International environmental agreements / signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Climate: tropical with a monsoonal pattern; rainy season (November to February)
Land use / agricultural land: 20% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 0% (2022 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 20% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 0% (2022 est.)
Land use / forest: 0% (2022 est.)
Land use / other: 80% (2023 est.)
Urbanization / urban population: 100% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 0.18% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / total emissions: 86,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from petroleum and other liquids: 86,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Particulate matter emissions: 7.4 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Waste and recycling / municipal solid waste generated annually: 6,200 tons (2024 est.)
Total renewable water resources: 10 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: Republic of Nauru
Country name / conventional short form: Nauru
Country name / local long form: Republic of Nauru
Country name / local short form: Nauru
Country name / former: Pleasant Island
Country name / etymology: the island name may derive from the Nauruan word "anaoero" meaning "I go to the beach"; the former name, Pleasant Island, came from British navigator John Frean, who visited in 1798
Government type: parliamentary republic
Capital / name: no official capital; government offices in the Yaren District
Capital / time difference: UTC+12 (17 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Administrative divisions: 14 districts; Aiwo, Anabar, Anetan, Anibare, Baitsi, Boe, Buada, Denigomodu, Ewa, Ijuw, Meneng, Nibok, Uaboe, Yaren
Legal system: mixed system of common law based on the English model and customary law
Constitution / history: effective 29 January 1968
Constitution / amendment process: proposed by Parliament; passage requires two-thirds majority vote of Parliament; amendments to constitutional articles, such as the republican form of government, protection of fundamental rights and freedoms, the structure and authorities of the executive and legislative branches, also require two-thirds majority of votes in a referendum
International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Suffrage: 20 years of age; universal and compulsory
Executive branch / chief of state: President David ADEANG (since 30 October 2023)
Executive branch / head of government: President David ADEANG (since 30 October 2023)
Executive branch / cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president from among members of Parliament
Executive branch / election/appointment process: president indirectly elected by Parliament for 3-year term (eligible for a second term)
Executive branch / most recent election date: 14 October 2025
Executive branch / election results: 2025: David ADEAGN elected president (unopposed) 2023: David ADEAGN elected president over Delvin THOMA, 10-8
Executive branch / expected date of next election: 2028
Legislative branch / legislature name: Parliament
Legislative branch / legislative structure: unicameral
Legislative branch / number of seats: 19 (all directly elected)
Legislative branch / electoral system: plurality/majority
Legislative branch / scope of elections: Full renewal
Legislative branch / term in office: 3 years
Legislative branch / most recent election date: 10/11/2025
Legislative branch / percentage of women in chamber: 10.5%
Legislative branch / expected date of next election: October 2028
Judicial branch / highest court(s): Supreme Court (consists of the chief justice and several justices)
Judicial branch / judge selection and term of office: judges appointed by the president to serve until age 65
Judicial branch / subordinate courts: District Court, Family Court
Political parties: Nauru does not have formal political parties; alliances within the government are often formed based on extended family ties
Diplomatic representation in the US / chief of mission: Ambassador Lara Erab DANIEL (since 13 January 2025); note - also Permanent Representative to the UN
Diplomatic representation in the US / chancery: 801 2nd Avenue, Third Floor, New York, NY 10017
Diplomatic representation in the US / telephone: [1] (212) 937-0074
Diplomatic representation in the US / FAX: [1] (212) 937-0079
Diplomatic representation in the US / email address and website: nauru@onecommonwealth.org https://www.un.int/nauru/
Diplomatic representation from the US / embassy: the US does not have an embassy in Nauru; the US Ambassador to Fiji is accredited to Nauru
International organization participation: ACP, ADB, AOSIS, C, FAO, G-77, ICAO, ICCt, IFAD, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WMO
Independence: 31 January 1968 (from the Australia-, NZ-, and UK-administered UN trusteeship)
National holiday: Independence Day, 31 January (1968)
Flag: description: blue with a narrow horizontal gold stripe across the center and a large white 12-pointed star below the stripe on the left side meaning: blue stands for the Pacific Ocean; the star indicates the country's location in relation to the equator (the gold stripe), and the 12 points stand for the original tribes of Nauru; the star's white color represents phosphate, the basis of the island's wealth
National symbol(s): frigatebird, calophyllum flower
National color(s): blue, yellow, white
National anthem(s) / title: "Nauru Bwiema" (Nauru, Our Homeland)
National anthem(s) / lyrics/music: Margaret HENDRIE/Laurence Henry HICKS
National anthem(s) / history: adopted 1968

## Economy
Economic overview: upper-middle-income Pacific island country; phosphate resource exhaustion made island interior uninhabitable; licenses fishing rights; houses Australia&rsquo;s Regional Processing Centre; former tax haven; largely dependent on foreign subsidies
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $150.581 million (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $147.976 million (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $147.026 million (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2024: 1.8% (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2023: 0.6% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2022: 3% (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2024: $12,600 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2023: $12,500 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2022: $12,500 (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $160.351 million (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 2.6% (2022 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021: 2.4% (2021 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2020: 1.8% (2020 est.)
Agricultural products: coconuts, tropical fruits, pork, eggs, pork offal, pork fat, chicken, papayas, vegetables, cabbages (2023)
Industries: phosphate mining, offshore banking, coconut products
Remittances / Remittances 2023: 0.6% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2022: 0.6% of GDP (2022 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2021: 0.7% of GDP (2021 est.)
Budget / revenues: $199.74 million (2020 est.)
Budget / expenditures: $157.86 million (2020 est.)
Public debt / Public debt 2016: 65% of GDP (2016 est.)
Taxes and other revenues: 44.4% (of GDP) (2020 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2023: $1.923 million (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2022: $2.966 million (2022 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2021: $6.597 million (2021 est.)
Exports / Exports 2023: $64.931 million (2023 est.)
Exports / Exports 2022: $78.383 million (2022 est.)
Exports / Exports 2021: $54.403 million (2021 est.)
Exports - partners: Thailand 78%, Philippines 11%, NZ 5%, Japan 1%, Canada 1% (2023)
Exports - commodities: fish, phosphates (2023)
Imports / Imports 2023: $150.193 million (2023 est.)
Imports / Imports 2022: $165.371 million (2022 est.)
Imports / Imports 2021: $141.185 million (2021 est.)
Imports - partners: Australia 50%, Japan 11%, Fiji 9%, Senegal 9%, China 9% (2023)
Imports - commodities: ships, titanium ore, refined petroleum, plastic products, other foods (2023)
Exchange rates / Currency: Australian dollars (AUD) per US dollar -
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2024: 1.515 (2024 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2023: 1.505 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2022: 1.442 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2021: 1.331 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2020: 1.453 (2020 est.)

## Energy
Electricity access / electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)
Electricity / installed generating capacity: 19,000 kW (2023 est.)
Electricity / consumption: 37.893 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / transmission/distribution losses: 3.922 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / fossil fuels: 88% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / solar: 12% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Petroleum / refined petroleum consumption: 500 bbl/day (2023 est.)

## Communications
Telephones - fixed lines / total subscriptions: 0 (2019 est.) 0
Telephones - fixed lines / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2022 est.) less than 1
Telephones - mobile cellular / total subscriptions: 10,300 (2022 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 87 (2022 est.)
Broadcast media: 1 state-owned TV station broadcasting programs from New Zealand; 1 state-owned radio station, broadcasting on AM and FM, uses Australian and British programs (2019)
Internet country code: .nr
Internet users / percent of population: 82% (2020 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / total: 1,000 (2022 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 10 (2022 est.)

## Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: C2
Airports: 1 (2025)
Merchant marine / total: 6 (2023)
Merchant marine / by type: other 6
Ports / total ports: 1 (2024)
Ports / large: 0
Ports / medium: 0
Ports / small: 0
Ports / very small: 1
Ports / ports with oil terminals: 1
Ports / key ports: Nauru

## Military and Security
Military and security forces: no regular military forces; Nauru Police Force
Military - note: under the terms of a security deal signed in December 2024, Australia and Nauru agreed to “deepen and expand security cooperation” and “consult and consider” in the event of threats; Nauru pledged to seek Australia’s agreement before it signed any bilateral accords on maritime security, defense, and policing, and would receive Australian financial assistance in support of Nauru's police and security needs Nauru has a "shiprider" agreement with the US, which allows local maritime law enforcement officers to embark on US Coast Guard (USCG) and US Navy (USN) vessels, including to board and search vessels suspected of violating laws or regulations within Nauru's designated exclusive economic zone (EEZ) or on the high seas; "shiprider" agreements also enable USCG personnel and USN vessels with embarked USCG law enforcement personnel to work with host nations to protect critical regional resources (2025)

## Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons / refugees: 95 (2024 est.)

=== New Zealand ===

## Introduction
Background: Polynesians settled New Zealand between the late 1200s and the mid-1300s. They called the land Aotearoa, which legend holds is the name of the canoe that Kupe, the first Polynesian in New Zealand, used to sail to the country; the name Aotearoa is now in widespread use as the local Maori name for the country. By the 1500s, competition for land and resources led to intermittent fighting between different Maori tribes as large game became extinct. Dutch explorer Abel TASMAN was the first European to see the islands in 1642 but left after an encounter with local Maori. British sea captain James COOK arrived in 1769, followed by whalers, sealers, and traders. The UK only nominally claimed New Zealand and included it as part of New South Wales in Australia. Concerns about increasing lawlessness led the UK to appoint its first British Resident in New Zealand in 1832, although the position had few legal powers. In 1835, some Maori tribes from the North Island declared independence. Fearing an impending French settlement and takeover, the majority of Maori chiefs signed the Treaty of Waitangi with the British in 1840. Land tenure issues stemming from the treaty are still being actively negotiated in New Zealand. The UK declared New Zealand a separate colony in 1841 and granted limited self-government in 1852. Different traditions of authority and land use led to a series of wars between Europeans and various Maori tribes from the 1840s to the 1870s. Along with disease, these conflicts halved the Maori population. In the 1890s, New Zealand initially expressed interest in joining independence talks with Australia but ultimately opted against it and changed its status to an independent dominion in 1907. New Zealand provided more than 100,000 troops during each World War, many of whom fought as part of the Australia and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC). New Zealand reaffirmed its independence in 1947 and signed the Australia, New Zealand, and US (ANZUS) Treaty in 1951. Beginning in 1984, New Zealand began to adopt nuclear-free policies, contributing to a dispute with the US over naval ship visits that led the US to suspend its defense obligations to New Zealand in 1986, but bilateral relations and military ties have been revitalized since the 2010s with new security agreements. A key challenge for Auckland that has emerged over the past decade is balancing concerns over China’s growing influence in the Pacific region with its role as New Zealand's largest export destination. New Zealand has close ties with Australia based to a large extent on the two nations’ common origins as British colonies and their shared military history.

## Geography
Location: Oceania, islands in the South Pacific Ocean, southeast of Australia
Geographic coordinates: 41 00 S, 174 00 E
Map references: Oceania
Area / total: 268,838 sq km
Area / land: 264,537 sq km
Area / water: 4,301 sq km
Area - comparative: almost twice the size of North Carolina; about the size of Colorado
Land boundaries / total: 0 km
Coastline: 15,134 km
Maritime claims / territorial sea: 12 nm
Maritime claims / contiguous zone: 24 nm
Maritime claims / exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Maritime claims / continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
Climate: temperate with sharp regional contrasts
Terrain: predominately mountainous with large coastal plains
Elevation / highest point: Aoraki/Mount Cook 3,724 m; note - the mountain's height was 3,764 m until 14 December 1991 when it lost about 10 m in an avalanche of rock and ice; erosion of the ice cap since then has brought the height down another 30 m
Elevation / lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
Elevation / mean elevation: 388 m
Natural resources: natural gas, iron ore, sand, coal, timber, hydropower, gold, limestone
Land use / agricultural land: 36.9% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 2% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 0.3% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 34.6% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 38.6% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 24.5% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land: 7,000 sq km (2014)
Major lakes (area sq km) / fresh water lake(s): Lake Taupo - 610 sq km
Population distribution: over three quarters of New Zealanders, including the Maori, live on the North Island, primarily in urban areas
Natural hazards: earthquakes are common, though usually not severe; volcanic activity volcanism: significant volcanism on North Island; Ruapehu (2,797 m) has a history of large eruptions in the past century; Taranaki has the potential to produce dangerous avalanches and lahars; other historically active volcanoes include Okataina, Raoul Island, Tongariro, and White Island; see note 2 under "Geography - note"
Geography - note: note 1: consists of two main islands and a number of smaller islands; South Island, the larger main island, is the 12th-largest island in the world and is divided along its length by the Southern Alps; North Island is the 14th-largest island in the world and is not as mountainous, but it is marked by volcanism note 2: New Zealand lies along the Ring of Fire, which is a belt bordering the Pacific Ocean that contains about 75% of the world's volcanoes and up to 90% of the world's earthquakes note 3: almost 90% of the population lives in cities and over three-quarters on North Island; Wellington is the southernmost national capital in the world

## People and Society
Population / total: 5,161,211 (2024 est.)
Population / male: 2,584,607
Population / female: 2,576,604
Nationality / noun: New Zealander(s)
Nationality / adjective: New Zealand
Ethnic groups: European 64.1%, Maori 16.5%, Chinese 4.9%, Indian 4.7%, Samoan 3.9%, Tongan 1.8%, Cook Islands Maori 1.7%, English 1.5%, Filipino 1.5%, New Zealander 1%, other 13.7% (2018 est.)
Languages: English (de facto official) 95.4%, Maori (de jure official) 4%, Samoan 2.2%, Northern Chinese 2%, Hindi 1.5%, French 1.2%, Yue 1.1%, New Zealand Sign Language (de jure official) 0.5%, other or not stated 17.2% (2018 est.)
Religions: Christian 37.3% (Catholic 10.1%, Anglican 6.8%, Presbyterian and Congregational 5.2%, Pentecostal 1.8%, Methodist 1.6%, Church of Jesus Christ 1.2%, other 10.7%), Hindu 2.7%, Maori 1.3%, Muslim, 1.3%, Buddhist 1.1%, other religion 1.6% (includes Judaism, Spiritualism and New Age religions, Baha'i, Asian religions other than Buddhism), no religion 48.6%, objected to answering 6.7% (2018 est.)
Age structure / 0-14 years: 19% (male 503,120/female 475,490)
Age structure / 15-64 years: 64.2% (male 1,674,407/female 1,638,276)
Age structure / 65 years and over: 16.9% (2024 est.) (male 407,080/female 462,838)
Dependency ratios / total dependency ratio: 55.8 (2024 est.)
Dependency ratios / youth dependency ratio: 29.5 (2024 est.)
Dependency ratios / elderly dependency ratio: 26.3 (2024 est.)
Dependency ratios / potential support ratio: 3.8 (2024 est.)
Median age / total: 38.1 years (2025 est.)
Median age / male: 37.2 years
Median age / female: 38.6 years
Population growth rate: 0.83% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 12.4 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 6.93 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: 2.83 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution: over three quarters of New Zealanders, including the Maori, live on the North Island, primarily in urban areas
Urbanization / urban population: 87% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 0.92% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 1.673 million Auckland, 422,000 WELLINGTON (capital) (2023)
Sex ratio / at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 65 years and over: 0.88 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / total population: 1 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth: 27.8 years
Maternal mortality ratio: 7 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Infant mortality rate / total: 3.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Infant mortality rate / male: 3.5 deaths/1,000 live births
Infant mortality rate / female: 3.1 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth / total population: 82.9 years (2024 est.)
Life expectancy at birth / male: 81.2 years
Life expectancy at birth / female: 84.8 years
Total fertility rate: 1.84 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 0.9 (2025 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: urban: urban: 100% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: rural: rural: 100% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: total: total: 100% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: urban: urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: rural: rural: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: total: total: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 10% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 19.8% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density: 3.61 physicians/1,000 population (2022)
Hospital bed density: 2.7 beds/1,000 population (2021 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: urban: urban: 100% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: rural: rural: 100% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: total: total: 100% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: urban: urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: rural: rural: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: total: total: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 30.8% (2016)
Alcohol consumption per capita / total: 9.17 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / beer: 3.41 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / wine: 2.88 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / spirits: 1.62 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / other alcohols: 1.26 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Tobacco use / total: 10% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / male: 11.2% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / female: 8.9% (2025 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49): 57.7% (2018 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% GDP): 5.3% of GDP (2023 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% national budget): 12.7% national budget (2023 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / total: 19 years (2023 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / male: 19 years (2023 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / female: 20 years (2023 est.)

## Environment
Environmental issues: water quality and availability; rapid urbanization; deforestation; soil erosion and degradation; native flora and fauna hard-hit by invasive species
International environmental agreements / party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protection, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling
International environmental agreements / signed, but not ratified: Antarctic Seals, Marine Life Conservation
Climate: temperate with sharp regional contrasts
Land use / agricultural land: 36.9% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 2% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 0.3% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 34.6% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 38.6% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 24.5% (2023 est.)
Urbanization / urban population: 87% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 0.92% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / total emissions: 33.506 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from coal and metallurgical coke: 4.24 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from petroleum and other liquids: 21.836 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from consumed natural gas: 7.43 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Particulate matter emissions: 8.7 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Methane emissions / energy: 95.4 kt (2022-2024 est.)
Methane emissions / agriculture: 1,105.6 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Methane emissions / waste: 158.8 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Methane emissions / other: 6.2 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Waste and recycling / municipal solid waste generated annually: 3.405 million tons (2024 est.)
Waste and recycling / percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 22% (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / municipal: 547 million cubic meters (2022)
Total water withdrawal / industrial: 1.184 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / agricultural: 3.207 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total renewable water resources: 327 billion cubic meters (2022)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: none
Country name / conventional short form: New Zealand
Country name / former: Nieuw Zeeland
Country name / abbreviation: NZ
Country name / etymology: the name is an anglicized form of the Dutch name Nieuw Zeeland, or "New Sea Land," which was first used in 1643 in honor of the Dutch province of Zeeland
Government type: parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy; a Commonwealth realm
Capital / name: Wellington
Capital / geographic coordinates: 41 18 S, 174 47 E
Capital / time difference: UTC+12 (17 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Capital / daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in September; ends first Sunday in April
Capital / time zone note: New Zealand has two time zones: New Zealand standard time (UTC+12) and Chatham Islands time (45 minutes in advance of New Zealand standard time; UTC+12:45)
Capital / etymology: named in 1840 after Arthur WELLESLEY, the first Duke of Wellington, who was famous for his victory at Waterloo in 1815 and was a benefactor of the New Zealand Company that settled North Island
Administrative divisions: 16 regions and 1 territory*; Auckland, Bay of Plenty, Canterbury, Chatham Islands*, Gisborne, Hawke's Bay, Manawatu-Wanganui, Marlborough, Nelson, Northland, Otago, Southland, Taranaki, Tasman, Waikato, Wellington, West Coast
Dependent areas: Tokelau (1)
Legal system: common law system, based on English model, with special legislation and land courts for the Maori
Constitution / history: New Zealand has no single constitution document; the Constitution Act 1986, effective 1 January 1987, includes only part of the uncodified constitution; others include a collection of statutes or "acts of Parliament," the Treaty of Waitangi, Orders in Council, letters patent, court decisions, and unwritten conventions
Constitution / amendment process: proposed as bill by Parliament or by referendum called either by the government or by citizens; passage of a bill as an act normally requires two separate readings with committee reviews in between to make changes and corrections, a third reading approved by the House of Representatives membership or by the majority of votes in a referendum, and assent of the governor-general; passage of amendments to reserved constitutional provisions affecting the term of Parliament, electoral districts, and voting restrictions requires approval by 75% of the House membership or the majority of votes in a referendum
International law organization participation: accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Citizenship / citizenship by birth: no
Citizenship / citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of New Zealand
Citizenship / dual citizenship recognized: yes
Citizenship / residency requirement for naturalization: 3 years
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch / chief of state: King CHARLES III (since 8 September 2022); represented by Governor-General Dame Cindy KIRO (since 21 October 2021)
Executive branch / head of government: Prime Minister Christopher LUXON (since 27 November 2023)
Executive branch / cabinet: Executive Council appointed by the governor-general on the recommendation of the prime minister
Executive branch / election/appointment process: the monarchy is hereditary; governor-general appointed by the monarch on the advice of the prime minister; following legislative elections, the governor-general appoints the leader of the majority party or majority coalition as prime minister; deputy prime minister also appointed by the governor-general
Legislative branch / legislature name: House of Representatives
Legislative branch / legislative structure: unicameral
Legislative branch / number of seats: 120 (all directly elected)
Legislative branch / electoral system: mixed system
Legislative branch / scope of elections: full renewal
Legislative branch / term in office: 3 years
Legislative branch / most recent election date: 10/14/2023
Legislative branch / parties elected and seats per party: National Party (49); Labour Party (34); Green Party (14); ACT New Zealand (11); New Zealand First (8); Te Pāti Māori (4); Others (2)
Legislative branch / percentage of women in chamber: 45.1%
Legislative branch / expected date of next election: September 2026
Judicial branch / highest court(s): Supreme Court (consists of 5 justices, including the chief justice)
Judicial branch / judge selection and term of office: justices appointed by the governor-general upon the recommendation of the attorney- general; justices appointed until compulsory retirement at age 70
Judicial branch / subordinate courts: Court of Appeal; High Court; tribunals and authorities; district courts; specialized courts for issues related to employment, environment, family, Maori lands, youth, military; tribunals
Political parties: ACT New Zealand Green Party New Zealand First Party or NZ First Labor Party National Party Te Pāti Māori
Diplomatic representation in the US / chief of mission: Ambassador Rosemary BANKS (since 17 June 2024)
Diplomatic representation in the US / chancery: 37 Observatory Circle NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation in the US / telephone: [1] (202) 328-4800
Diplomatic representation in the US / FAX: [1] (202) 667-5277
Diplomatic representation in the US / email address and website: wshinfo@mfat.govt.nz https://www.mfat.govt.nz/en/countries-and-regions/americas/united-states-of-america/
Diplomatic representation in the US / consulate(s) general: Honolulu, Los Angeles, New York
Diplomatic representation from the US / chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charg&eacute; d&rsquo;Affaires David GEHRENBECK (since January 2025); note - also accredited to Samoa
Diplomatic representation from the US / embassy: 29 Fitzherbert Terrace, Thorndon, Wellington 6011
Diplomatic representation from the US / mailing address: 4370 Auckland Place, Washington DC 20521-4370
Diplomatic representation from the US / telephone: [64] (4) 462-6000
Diplomatic representation from the US / FAX: [64] (4) 499-0490
Diplomatic representation from the US / email address and website: AucklandACS@state.gov https://nz.usembassy.gov/
Diplomatic representation from the US / consulate(s) general: Auckland
International organization participation: ADB, ANZUS, APEC, ARF, ASEAN (dialogue partner), Australia Group, BIS, C, CD, CP, EAS, EBRD, FAO, FATF, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NSG, OECD, OPCW, Pacific Alliance (observer), Paris Club (associate), PCA, PIF, SICA (observer), Sparteca, SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMISS, UNOOSA, UNTSO, UPU, Wassenaar Arrangement, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Independence: 26 September 1907 (from the UK)
National holiday: Waitangi Day, 6 February (1840); Anzac Day, 25 April (1915)
Flag: description: blue with the UK flag in the upper-left quadrant, with four five-pointed red stars edged in white centered in the right half of the flag meaning: the stars represent the Southern Cross constellation
National symbol(s): Southern Cross constellation (four five-pointed stars), kiwi (bird), silver fern
National color(s): black, white, red (ochre)
National coat of arms: the first quarter of the shield shows four stars that represent the Southern Cross constellation and three ships that symbolize New Zealand's sea trade; in the second quarter, a fleece represents the sheep farming industry; the wheat sheaf in the third quarter represents the agricultural industry; the crossed hammers in the fourth quarter represent mining; the Māori chieftain holds a taiaha (a Māori war weapon) and a European woman holds the New Zealand flag; St. Edward's crown, shown above the shield, symbolizes the British monarch
National anthem(s) / title: "God Save the King"
National anthem(s) / lyrics/music: unknown
National anthem(s) / history: royal anthem and one of two official national anthems; usually played only when a member of the royal family or a representative is present or when allegiance to the crown is demonstrated
National heritage / total World Heritage Sites: 3 (2 natural, 1 mixed)
National heritage / selected World Heritage Site locales: Te Wahipounamu – South West New Zealand (n); Tongariro National Park (m); New Zealand Sub-Antarctic Islands (n)

## Economy
Economic overview: high-income, globally integrated Pacific island economy; strong agriculture, manufacturing, and tourism sectors; reliant on Chinese market for exports; recovery trajectory following deep post-pandemic recession; challenges of fiscal deficits, below-average productivity, cost of living, and drop in net migration
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $257.117 billion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $257.443 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $253.903 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2024: -0.1% (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2023: 1.4% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2022: 3.5% (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2024: $48,200 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2023: $49,100 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2022: $49,600 (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $260.236 billion (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024: 2.9% (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023: 5.7% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 7.2% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / agriculture: 4.6% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / industry: 19.6% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / services: 67.4% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / household consumption: 57.5% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / government consumption: 20.9% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in fixed capital: 25.4% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in inventories: 0.9% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / exports of goods and services: 24% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / imports of goods and services: -29.4% (2022 est.)
Agricultural products: milk, beef, kiwifruit, apples, grapes, lamb/mutton, potatoes, wheat, barley, chicken (2023)
Industries: agriculture, forestry, fishing, logs and wood articles, manufacturing, mining, construction, financial services, real estate services, tourism
Industrial production growth rate: -1% (2023 est.)
Labor force: 3.124 million (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2024: 4.9% (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2023: 3.8% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2022: 3.3% (2022 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / total: 14.3% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / male: 14.6% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / female: 14% (2024 est.)
Average household expenditures / on food: 12.8% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Average household expenditures / on alcohol and tobacco: 4.7% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2023: 0.3% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2022: 0.2% of GDP (2022 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2021: 0.3% of GDP (2021 est.)
Budget / revenues: $83.167 billion (2022 est.)
Budget / expenditures: $91.782 billion (2022 est.)
Public debt / Public debt 2022: 54% of GDP (2022 est.)
Taxes and other revenues: 29.6% (of GDP) (2022 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2024: -$15.978 billion (2024 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2023: -$17.065 billion (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2022: -$21.627 billion (2022 est.)
Exports / Exports 2024: $61.799 billion (2024 est.)
Exports / Exports 2023: $59.029 billion (2023 est.)
Exports / Exports 2022: $57.485 billion (2022 est.)
Exports - partners: China 28%, USA 12%, Australia 12%, Japan 6%, S. Korea 3% (2023)
Exports - commodities: milk, wood, beef, butter, sheep and goat meat (2023)
Imports / Imports 2024: $67.998 billion (2024 est.)
Imports / Imports 2023: $68.412 billion (2023 est.)
Imports / Imports 2022: $71.35 billion (2022 est.)
Imports - partners: China 20%, Australia 11%, USA 9%, S. Korea 7%, Japan 7% (2023)
Imports - commodities: refined petroleum, cars, gas turbines, broadcasting equipment, trucks (2023)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024: $22.065 billion (2024 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023: $15.487 billion (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $14.4 billion (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Currency: New Zealand dollars (NZD) per US dollar -
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2024: 1.652 (2024 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2023: 1.628 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2022: 1.577 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2021: 1.414 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2020: 1.542 (2020 est.)

## Energy
Electricity access / electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)
Electricity / installed generating capacity: 10.643 million kW (2023 est.)
Electricity / consumption: 40.794 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / transmission/distribution losses: 3.058 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / fossil fuels: 12.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / solar: 0.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / wind: 8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / hydroelectricity: 59.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / geothermal: 17.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / biomass and waste: 1.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Coal / production: 3.011 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / consumption: 2.696 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / exports: 906,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / imports: 283,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / proven reserves: 6.75 billion metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum / total petroleum production: 12,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Petroleum / refined petroleum consumption: 154,000 bbl/day (2024 est.)
Petroleum / crude oil estimated reserves: 40.993 million barrels (2021 est.)
Natural gas / production: 3.97 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / consumption: 3.891 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / proven reserves: 31.149 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)
Energy consumption per capita / Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 121.647 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

## Communications
Telephones - fixed lines / total subscriptions: 660,000 (2023 est.)
Telephones - fixed lines / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 13 (2023 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / total subscriptions: 6.56 million (2023 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 115 (2022 est.)
Broadcast media: state-owned Television New Zealand operates multiple TV networks; state-owned Radio New Zealand operates 3 radio networks and an external shortwave radio service to the South Pacific region; a small number of national commercial TV and radio stations and many regional commercial TV and radio stations are available; cable and satellite TV systems are available (2019)
Internet country code: .nz
Internet users / percent of population: 96% (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / total: 1.93 million (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 37 (2023 est.)

## Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: ZK
Airports: 206 (2025)
Heliports: 62 (2025)
Railways / total: 4,128 km (2018)
Railways / narrow gauge: 4,128 km (2018) 1.067-m gauge (506 km electrified)
Merchant marine / total: 117 (2023)
Merchant marine / by type: container ship 2, general cargo 12, oil tanker 3, other 100
Ports / total ports: 22 (2024)
Ports / large: 2
Ports / medium: 1
Ports / small: 10
Ports / very small: 9
Ports / ports with oil terminals: 14
Ports / key ports: Auckland, Bluff Harbor, Gisborne, Manukau Harbor, Napier, Nelson, New Plymouth, Otago Harbor, Picton, Tauranga, Timaru, Wellington, Whangarei

## Military and Security
Military and security forces: New Zealand Defense Force (NZDF): New Zealand Army, Royal New Zealand Navy, Royal New Zealand Air Force (2025)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2024: 1.2% of GDP (2024 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2023: 1.3% of GDP (2023 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2022: 1.3% of GDP (2022 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2021: 1.3% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2020: 1.5% of GDP (2020 est.)
Military and security service personnel strengths: approximately 8,800 active (Regular Force) New Zealand Defense Forces (4,300 Army; 2,100 Navy; 2,400 Air Force) (2025)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the NZDF's inventory is comprised of domestically produced and Western-supplied weapons and equipment, including from Australia, Canada, the UK, and the US (2025)
Military service age and obligation: 17 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women; soldiers cannot be deployed until the age of 18; no conscription (2025)
Military deployments: small numbers of NZ military personnel are deployed on a variety of international missions in Africa, Antarctica, the Asia-Pacific region, and the Middle East (2025)
Military - note: the NZDF is responsible for protecting New Zealand’s sovereignty, promoting its interests, safeguarding peace and security, and conducting peacekeeping, humanitarian, and other international missions New Zealand is a member of the Five Powers Defense Arrangements (FPDA), a series of mutual assistance agreements reached in 1971 embracing Australia, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore, and the UK; the FPDA commits the members to consult with one another in the event or threat of an armed attack on any of the members and to mutually decide what measures should be taken, jointly or separately; there is no specific obligation to intervene militarily New Zealand has been part of the Australia, New Zealand, and US Security (ANZUS) Treaty since 1951; however, the US suspended its ANZUS security obligations to New Zealand in 1986 after Auckland implemented a policy barring nuclear-armed and nuclear-powered warships from its ports; the US and New Zealand signed the Wellington Declaration in 2010, which reaffirmed close ties between the two countries, and in 2012 signed the Washington Declaration, which provided a framework for future security cooperation and defense dialogues; in 2016, a US naval ship conducted the first bilateral warship visit to New Zealand since the 1980s; New Zealand has Major Non-NATO Ally (MNNA) status with the US, a designation under US law that provides foreign partners with certain benefits in the areas of defense trade and security cooperation (2025)

## Space
Space agency/agencies: New Zealand Space Agency (NZSA; established 2016 under the Ministry of Business, Innovation, and Employment) (2025)
Space launch site(s): Mahia Peninsula Launch Complex (Hawke's Bay) (2025)
Space program overview: has a national space program focused largely on the development of a commercial space sector, particularly in the field of satellites and satellite launch vehicles (SLV); manufactures and launches commercial satellites and SLVs; researches and develops a range of other space-related technologies, including propulsion systems; participates in international programs and partners with a range of foreign space agencies and industries, including those of Australia, Canada, the EU, the ESA, individual European countries, South Africa, and the US; has a growing commercial space sector (2025)
Key space-program milestones: 2009 - launched a 2-stage suborbital sounding rocket (Atea-1) 2018 - placed satellite in orbit on rocket built by a New Zealand-US commercial company and launched from a privately owned domestic launch site 2019 - began operations of the Kiwi Space Radar, which is designed to track debris in low Earth orbit 2021 - signed the US-led Artemis Accords for space and lunar exploration 2024 - first domestically made science payload sent to International Space Station on US rocket

## Terrorism
Terrorist group(s): Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS)

## Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons / refugees: 5,622 (2024 est.)
Refugees and internally displaced persons / IDPs: 26 (2024 est.)
Refugees and internally displaced persons / stateless persons: 29 (2024 est.)

=== Pitcairn Islands ===

## Introduction
Background: Polynesians were the first settlers on the four tiny islands that are now called the Pitcairn Islands, but all four were uninhabited by the time Europeans discovered them in 1606. Pitcairn Island -- the only one now inhabited -- was rediscovered by a British explorer in 1767. In 1789, Fletcher CHRISTIAN led a mutiny on the HMS Bounty, and after several months of searching for Pitcairn Island, he landed on it with eight other mutineers and their Tahitian companions. They lived in isolation and evaded detection by English authorities until 1808, when only one man, 10 women, and 23 children remained. In 1831, with the population of 87 proving too big for the island, the British attempted to move all the islanders to Tahiti, but they were soon returned to Pitcairn Island. The island became an official British colony in 1838, and in 1856, the British again determined that the population of 193 was too high and relocated all the residents to Norfolk Island. Several families returned in 1858 and 1864, bringing the island’s population to 43, and almost all of the island’s current population are descendants of these returnees. The UK annexed the nearby uninhabited islands of Henderson, Oeno, and Ducie in 1902 and incorporated them into the Pitcairn Islands colony in 1938. The population peaked at 233 in 1937 as outmigration, primarily to New Zealand, has since thinned the population. Only two children were born between 1986 and 2012, and in 2005, a couple became the first outsiders to obtain citizenship in more than a century. Since 2013, the Pitcairn Islands has tried to attract new migrants but has had no applicants because it requires prospective migrants to front significant sums of money and prohibits employment during a two-year trial period, at which point the local council can deny long-term resident status.

## Geography
Location: Oceania, islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about midway between Peru and New Zealand
Geographic coordinates: 25 04 S, 130 06 W
Map references: Oceania
Area / total: 47 sq km
Area / land: 47 sq km
Area / water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative: about three-tenths the size of Washington, D.C.
Land boundaries / total: 0 km
Coastline: 51 km
Maritime claims / territorial sea: 12 nm
Maritime claims / exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate: tropical; hot and humid; modified by southeast trade winds; rainy season (November to March)
Terrain: rugged volcanic formation; rocky coastline with cliffs
Elevation / highest point: Palwala Valley Point on Big Ridge 347 m
Elevation / lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
Natural resources: miro trees (used for handicrafts), fish
Land use / agricultural land: 0% (2022 est.)
Land use / forest: 74.5% (2022 est.)
Land use / other: 25.5% (2022 est.)
Irrigated land: 0 sq km (2022)
Population distribution: a handful of inhabitants, most residing near the village of Adamstown
Natural hazards: occasional tropical cyclones (especially November to March), but generally only heavy tropical storms; landslides
Geography - note: Britain's most isolated dependency; only the larger island of Pitcairn is inhabited, but it has no port or natural harbor; supplies must be transported by longboat from larger ships stationed offshore

## People and Society
Population / total: 50 (2025 est.)
Nationality / noun: Pitcairn Islander(s)
Nationality / adjective: Pitcairn Islander
Ethnic groups: descendants of the Bounty mutineers and their Tahitian wives
Languages: English (official), Pitkern (mixture of an 18th century English dialect and a Tahitian dialect)
Religions: Seventh Day Adventist 100%
Population growth rate: 0% (2014 est.)
Population distribution: a handful of inhabitants, most residing near the village of Adamstown

## Environment
Environmental issues: deforestation (only a small portion of the original forest remains because of burning and clearing for settlement)
Climate: tropical; hot and humid; modified by southeast trade winds; rainy season (November to March)
Land use / agricultural land: 0% (2022 est.)
Land use / forest: 74.5% (2022 est.)
Land use / other: 25.5% (2022 est.)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: Pitcairn, Henderson, Ducie, and Oeno Islands
Country name / conventional short form: Pitcairn Islands
Country name / etymology: named after English midshipman Robert PITCAIRN, who first sighted the island in 1767
Government type: parliamentary democracy
Dependency status: overseas territory of the UK
Capital / name: Adamstown
Capital / geographic coordinates: 25 04 S, 130 05 W
Capital / time difference: UTC-9 (4 hours behind Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Capital / etymology: named after John ADAMS (1767&ndash;1829), the last survivor of the Bounty mutineers who settled on Pitcairn Island in 1790
Legal system: local island by-laws
Constitution / history: several previous; latest drafted 10 February 2010, presented 17 February 2010, effective 4 March 2010
Citizenship: see United Kingdom
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal with three years of residency
Executive branch / chief of state: King CHARLES III (since 8 September 2022); represented by UK High Commissioner to New Zealand and Governor (nonresident) of the Pitcairn Islands Iona THOMAS (since 9 August 2022)
Executive branch / head of government: Mayor and Chairman of the Island Council Shawn CHRISTIAN (since 5 November 2025)
Executive branch / cabinet: none
Executive branch / election/appointment process: the monarchy is hereditary; governor and commissioner appointed by the monarch; island mayor directly elected by majority popular vote for a 3-year term
Executive branch / most recent election date: 5 November 2025
Executive branch / election results: Shawn CHRISTIAN elected mayor and chairman of the Island Council
Executive branch / expected date of next election: November 2028
Legislative branch / legislature name: Island Council
Legislative branch / legislative structure: unicameral
Legislative branch / number of seats: 10 (directly elected and appointed)
Legislative branch / electoral system: plurality/majority
Legislative branch / scope of elections: full renewal
Legislative branch / term in office: 2 years note: the councilors and the deputy mayor serve 2-year terms, the mayor serves a 3-year term, and the administrator is appointed by the governor for an indefinite term
Legislative branch / most recent election date: 6 November 2019
Legislative branch / parties elected and seats per party: independent (5)
Legislative branch / percentage of women in chamber: 60%
Legislative branch / expected date of next election: N/A
Judicial branch / highest court(s): Pitcairn Court of Appeal (consists of the court president, 2 judges, and the Supreme Court chief justice, an ex-officio member); Pitcairn Supreme Court (consists of the chief justice and 2 judges)
Judicial branch / judge selection and term of office: all judges of both courts appointed by the governor of the Pitcairn Islands on the instructions of the British monarch through the Secretary of State; all judges can serve until retirement, normally at age 75
Judicial branch / subordinate courts: Magistrate's Court
Political parties: none
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (overseas territory of the UK)
Diplomatic representation from the US / embassy: none (overseas territory of the UK)
International organization participation: SPC, UPU
Independence: none (overseas territory of the UK)
National holiday: Official birthday of King Charles III, usually celebrated the second Saturday in June (1948); Discovery Day (Pitcairn Day), 2 July (1767)
Flag: description: blue with the UK flag in the upper-left quadrant and the Pitcairn Islander coat of arms centered on the right half of the flag; the green field features a yellow anchor with a Bible over it (both were on the HMS Bounty ); a Pitcairn Island wheelbarrow is on the crest, with a flowering twig of miro (a local plant) meaning: the green, yellow, and blue of the shield represents the island rising from the ocean
National anthem(s) / title: "God Save the King"
National anthem(s) / lyrics/music: unknown
National anthem(s) / history: official anthem, as a UK overseas territory

## Economy
Economic overview: small South Pacific British island territorial economy; exports primarily postage stamps, handicraft goods, honey, and tinctures; extremely limited infrastructure; dependent upon UK and EU aid; recent border reopening post-COVID-19
Agricultural products: honey; wide variety of fruits and vegetables; goats, chickens; fish
Industries: postage stamps, handicrafts, beekeeping, honey
Exports - partners: UK 21%, Canada 19%, Tanzania 12%, Colombia 11%, Spain 8% (2023)
Exports - commodities: fertilizers, sulfur, refined petroleum, excavation machinery, ethylene polymers (2022)
Imports - partners: USA 59%, NZ 37%, Italy 2%, UAE 1%, Brazil 1% (2023)
Imports - commodities: construction vehicles, refined petroleum, beef, computers, other foods (2023)
Exchange rates / Currency: New Zealand dollars (NZD) per US dollar -
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2024: 1.652 (2024 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2023: 1.628 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2022: 1.577 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2021: 1.414 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2020: 1.542 (2020 est.)

## Communications
Telephones - mobile cellular: No traditional public cellular network. Satellite-based internet (Starlink) and VoIP apps (WhatsApp, Viber) are available.
Broadcast media: satellite TV from Fiji-based Sky Pacific offering a wide range of international channels
Internet country code: .pn
Internet users / percent of population: 96.2% (2021 est.)

## Transportation

## Military and Security
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of the UK

## Transnational Issues

=== Palau ===

## Introduction
Background: Humans arrived in the Palauan archipelago from Southeast Asia around 1000 B.C. and developed a complex, highly organized matrilineal society where high-ranking women picked the chiefs. The islands were the westernmost part of the widely scattered Pacific islands north of New Guinea that Spanish explorers named the Caroline Islands in the 17th century. The 18th and 19th centuries saw occasional visits of whalers and traders as Spain gained some influence in the islands and administered it from the Philippines. Spain sold Palau to Germany in 1899 after losing the Philippines in the Spanish-American War. Japan seized Palau in 1914, was granted a League of Nations mandate to administer the islands in 1920, and made Koror the capital of its South Seas Mandate in 1922. By the outbreak of World War II, there were four times as many Japanese living in Koror as Palauans. In 1944, the US invasion of the island of Peleliu was one of the bloodiest island fights of the Pacific War. After the war, Palau became part of the US-administered Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands. Palau voted against joining the Federated States of Micronesia in 1978 and adopted its own constitution in 1981, which stated that Palau was a nuclear-free country. In 1982, Palau signed a Compact of Free Association (COFA) with the US, which granted Palau financial assistance and access to many US domestic programs in exchange for exclusive US military access and defense responsibilities. However, many Palauans saw the COFA as incompatible with the Palauan Constitution because of the US military’s nuclear arsenal, and seven referenda failed to achieve ratification. Following a constitutional amendment and eighth referendum in 1993, the COFA was ratified and entered into force in 1994 when the islands gained their independence. Its funding was renewed in 2010. Palau has been on the frontlines of combatting climate change and protecting marine resources. In 2011, Palau banned commercial shark fishing and created the world’s first shark sanctuary. In 2017, Palau began stamping the Palau Pledge into passports, reminding visitors to act in ecologically and culturally responsible ways. In 2020, Palau banned coral reef-toxic sunscreens and expanded its fishing prohibition to include 80% of its exclusive economic zone.

## Geography
Location: Oceania, group of islands in the North Pacific Ocean, southeast of the Philippines
Geographic coordinates: 7 30 N, 134 30 E
Map references: Oceania
Area / total: 459 sq km
Area / land: 459 sq km
Area / water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly more than 2.5 times the size of Washington, D.C.
Land boundaries / total: 0 km
Coastline: 1,519 km
Maritime claims / territorial sea: 12 nm
Maritime claims / contiguous zone: 24 nm
Maritime claims / exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Maritime claims / continental shelf: 200 nm
Climate: tropical; hot and humid; wet season May to November
Terrain: varying topography from the high, mountainous main island of Babelthuap to low, coral islands usually fringed by large barrier reefs
Elevation / highest point: Mount Ngerchelchuus 242 m
Elevation / lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
Natural resources: forests, minerals (especially gold), marine products, deep-seabed minerals
Land use / agricultural land: 9.3% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 0.7% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 4.3% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 4.3% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 90.6% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 0% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land: 0 sq km (2022)
Population distribution: most of the population is located on the southern end of the main island of Babelthuap
Natural hazards: typhoons (June to December)
Geography - note: westernmost archipelago in the Caroline chain, consists of six island groups totaling more than 300 islands; includes world-famous Rock Islands

## People and Society
Population / total: 21,947 (2025 est.)
Population / male: 11,257
Population / female: 10,690
Nationality / noun: Palauan(s)
Nationality / adjective: Palauan
Ethnic groups: Palauan (Micronesian with Malayan and Melanesian admixtures) 70.6%, Carolinian 1.2%, Asian 26.5%, other 1.7% (2020 est.)
Languages: Palauan (official on most islands) 65.2%, other Micronesian 1.9%, English (official) 19.1%, Filipino 9.9%, Chinese 1.2%, other 2.8% (2015 est.)
Religions: Roman Catholic 46.9%, Protestant 30.9% (Evangelical 24.6%, Seventh Day Adventist 5%, other Protestant 1.4%), Modekngei 5.1% (indigenous to Palau), Muslim 4.9%, other 12.3% (2020 est.)
Age structure / 0-14 years: 17.5% (male 1,976/female 1,849)
Age structure / 15-64 years: 71.3% (male 8,647/female 6,935)
Age structure / 65 years and over: 11.2% (2024 est.) (male 612/female 1,845)
Dependency ratios / total dependency ratio: 41.6 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / youth dependency ratio: 24.9 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / elderly dependency ratio: 16.7 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / potential support ratio: 6 (2025 est.)
Median age / total: 35.5 years (2025 est.)
Median age / male: 34.1 years
Median age / female: 37.4 years
Population growth rate: 0.38% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 11.53 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 8.52 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: 0.77 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution: most of the population is located on the southern end of the main island of Babelthuap
Urbanization / urban population: 82.4% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 1.59% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 277 NGERULMUD (capital) (2018)
Sex ratio / at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 0-14 years: 1.07 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 15-64 years: 1.25 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 65 years and over: 0.33 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / total population: 1.06 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio: 89 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Infant mortality rate / total: 10.6 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Infant mortality rate / male: 12.7 deaths/1,000 live births
Infant mortality rate / female: 8.8 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth / total population: 75.2 years (2024 est.)
Life expectancy at birth / male: 72 years
Life expectancy at birth / female: 78.5 years
Total fertility rate: 1.7 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 0.83 (2025 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: urban: urban: 99.6% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: rural: rural: 99.4% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: total: total: 99.6% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: urban: urban: 0.4% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: rural: rural: 0.6% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: total: total: 0.4% of population (2022 est.)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 16.4% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 9.5% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density: 1.81 physicians/1,000 population (2023)
Sanitation facility access / improved: urban: urban: 99.1% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: rural: rural: 98.4% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: total: total: 99% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: urban: urban: 0.9% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: rural: rural: 1.6% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: total: total: 1% of population (2022 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 55.3% (2016)
Tobacco use / total: 16.3% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / male: 25.2% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / female: 6.8% (2025 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49): 48.3% (2020 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% GDP): 3.5% of GDP (2023 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% national budget): 9.8% national budget (2023 est.)
Literacy / total population: 100% (2020 est.)
Literacy / male: 100% (2020 est.)
Literacy / female: 100% (2020 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / total: 15 years (2023 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / male: 14 years (2023 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / female: 16 years (2023 est.)

## Environment
Environmental issues: inadequate facilities for disposal of solid waste; threats to the marine ecosystem from sand and coral dredging, illegal fishing practices, and overfishing; rising sea level; coral bleaching; drought
International environmental agreements / party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
International environmental agreements / signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Climate: tropical; hot and humid; wet season May to November
Land use / agricultural land: 9.3% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 0.7% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 4.3% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 4.3% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 90.6% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 0% (2023 est.)
Urbanization / urban population: 82.4% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 1.59% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Particulate matter emissions: 7.9 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Waste and recycling / municipal solid waste generated annually: 9,400 tons (2024 est.)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: Republic of Palau
Country name / conventional short form: Palau
Country name / local long form: Beluu er a Belau
Country name / local short form: Belau
Country name / former: Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, Palau District
Country name / etymology: from the Palauan name for the islands, Belau, which likely derives from the Palauan word beluu , meaning "village"
Government type: presidential republic in free association with the US
Capital / name: Ngerulmud
Capital / geographic coordinates: 7 30 N, 134 37 E
Capital / time difference: UTC+9 (14 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Capital / etymology: the name comes from a Palauan term meaning "place of fermented angelfish;" the site of the capital was the traditional location for women to gather and offer fermented angelfish to the gods
Administrative divisions: 16 states; Aimeliik, Airai, Angaur, Hatohobei, Kayangel, Koror, Melekeok, Ngaraard, Ngarchelong, Ngardmau, Ngatpang, Ngchesar, Ngeremlengui, Ngiwal, Peleliu, Sonsorol
Legal system: mixed system of civil, common, and customary law
Constitution / history: ratified 9 July 1980, effective 1 January 1981
Constitution / amendment process: proposed by a constitutional convention (held at least once every 15 years with voter approval), by public petition of at least 25% of eligible voters, or by a resolution adopted by at least three fourths of National Congress members; passage requires approval by a majority of votes in at least three fourths of the states in the next regular general election
International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt
Citizenship / citizenship by birth: no
Citizenship / citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Palau
Citizenship / dual citizenship recognized: no
Citizenship / residency requirement for naturalization: note - no procedure for naturalization
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch / chief of state: President Surangel WHIPPS, Jr. (since 21 January 2021)
Executive branch / head of government: President Surangel WHIPPS, Jr. (since 21 January 2021)
Executive branch / cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president with the advice and consent of the Senate; also includes the vice president; the Council of Chiefs consists of chiefs from each of the states who advise the president on issues concerning traditional laws, customs, and their relationship to the constitution and laws
Executive branch / election/appointment process: president and vice president directly elected on separate ballots by absolute-majority popular vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a 4-year term (eligible for a second term)
Executive branch / most recent election date: 5 November 2024
Executive branch / election results: 2024: Surangel WHIPPS, Jr. elected president in second round; percent of vote - Surangel WHIPPS, Jr. (independent) 57.7%, Tommy REMENGESAU (independent) 42.1%, other 0.2% 2020: Surangel WHIPPS, Jr. elected president in second round; percent of vote - Surangel WHIPPS, Jr. (independent) 56.7%, Raynold OILUCH (independent) 43.3%
Executive branch / expected date of next election: November 2028
Legislative branch / legislature name: National Congress (Olbiil Era Kelulau)
Legislative branch / legislative structure: bicameral
Legislative branch - lower chamber / chamber name: House of Delegates
Legislative branch - lower chamber / number of seats: 16 (all directly elected)
Legislative branch - lower chamber / electoral system: plurality/majority
Legislative branch - lower chamber / scope of elections: full renewal
Legislative branch - lower chamber / term in office: 4 years
Legislative branch - lower chamber / most recent election date: 11/5/2024
Legislative branch - lower chamber / percentage of women in chamber: 25%
Legislative branch - lower chamber / expected date of next election: November 2028
Legislative branch - upper chamber / chamber name: Senate
Legislative branch - upper chamber / number of seats: 15 (all directly elected)
Legislative branch - upper chamber / electoral system: plurality/majority
Legislative branch - upper chamber / scope of elections: full renewal
Legislative branch - upper chamber / term in office: 4 years
Legislative branch - upper chamber / most recent election date: 11/5/2024
Legislative branch - upper chamber / percentage of women in chamber: 13.3%
Legislative branch - upper chamber / expected date of next election: November 2028
Judicial branch / highest court(s): Supreme Court (consists of the chief justice and 3 associate justices organized into appellate trial divisions; the Supreme Court organization also includes the Common Pleas and Land Courts)
Judicial branch / judge selection and term of office: justices nominated by a 7-member independent body consisting of judges, presidential appointees, and lawyers and appointed by the president; judges can serve until mandatory retirement at age 65
Judicial branch / subordinate courts: National Court and other inferior courts
Political parties: although not expressly forbidden by law, Palau does not have political parties or coalitions
Diplomatic representation in the US / chief of mission: Ambassador Hersey KYOTA (since 12 November 1997)
Diplomatic representation in the US / chancery: 1701 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Suite 200, Washington, DC 20006
Diplomatic representation in the US / telephone: [1] (202) 349-8598
Diplomatic representation in the US / FAX: [1] (202) 452-6281
Diplomatic representation in the US / email address and website: info@palauembassy.org https://www.palauembassy.org/
Diplomatic representation in the US / consulate(s): Tamuning (Guam)
Diplomatic representation from the US / chief of mission: Ambassador Joel EHRENDREICH (since 29 September 2023)
Diplomatic representation from the US / embassy: Omsangel/Beklelachieb, Airai 96940
Diplomatic representation from the US / mailing address: 4260 Koror Place, Washington, DC 20521-4260
Diplomatic representation from the US / telephone: [680] 587-2920
Diplomatic representation from the US / FAX: [680] 587-2911
Diplomatic representation from the US / email address and website: ConsularKoror@state.gov https://pw.usembassy.gov/
International organization participation: ACP, ADB, AOSIS, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, IOC, IPU, MIGA, OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, WHO, WIPO
Independence: 1 October 1994 (from the US-administered UN trusteeship)
National holiday: Constitution Day, 9 July (1981); Independence Day, 1 October (1994)
Flag: description: light blue with a large yellow disk to the left side meaning: blue stands for the ocean, and the disk for the moon, which is considered a symbol of peace, love, and tranquility
National symbol(s): bai (native meeting house)
National color(s): blue, yellow
National anthem(s) / title: "Belau rekid" (Our Palau)
National anthem(s) / lyrics/music: multiple/Ymesei O. EZEKIEL
National anthem(s) / history: adopted 1980
National heritage / total World Heritage Sites: 1 (mixed)
National heritage / selected World Heritage Site locales: Rock Islands Southern Lagoon

## Economy
Economic overview: high-income Pacific island economy; environmentally fragile; subsistence agriculture and fishing industries; US aid reliance; rebounding post-pandemic tourism industry and services sector; very high living standard and low unemployment
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $280.025 million (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $274.866 million (2022 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2021: $278.538 million (2021 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2023: 1.9% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2022: -1.3% (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2021: -13.8% (2021 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2023: $15,800 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2022: $15,500 (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2021: $15,700 (2021 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $281.849 million (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024: 2.2% (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023: 12.8% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 12.4% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / agriculture: 3% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / industry: 9.9% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / services: 76.7% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / household consumption: 77.8% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / government consumption: 36.3% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in fixed capital: 36.6% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in inventories: 1.8% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / exports of goods and services: 13.5% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / imports of goods and services: -74.3% (2022 est.)
Agricultural products: coconuts, cassava (manioc, tapioca), sweet potatoes; fish, pigs, chickens, eggs, bananas, papaya, breadfruit, calamansi, soursop, Polynesian chestnuts, Polynesian almonds, mangoes, taro, guava, beans, cucumbers, squash/pumpkins (various), eggplant, green onions, kangkong (watercress), cabbages (various), radishes, betel nuts, melons, peppers, noni, okra
Industries: tourism, fishing, subsistence agriculture
Industrial production growth rate: -19.5% (2023 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2023: 0.7% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2022: 0.8% of GDP (2022 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2021: 0.8% of GDP (2021 est.)
Budget / revenues: $127.757 million (2020 est.)
Budget / expenditures: $152.398 million (2020 est.)
Public debt / Public debt 2019: 85.2% of GDP (2019 est.)
Taxes and other revenues: 18.1% (of GDP) (2020 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2022: -$135.428 million (2022 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2021: -$115.739 million (2021 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2020: -$115.61 million (2020 est.)
Exports / Exports 2022: $24.48 million (2022 est.)
Exports / Exports 2021: $10.566 million (2021 est.)
Exports / Exports 2020: $52.897 million (2020 est.)
Exports - partners: India 41%, Turkey 26%, Taiwan 10%, USA 9%, Japan 5% (2023)
Exports - commodities: ships, refined petroleum (2023)
Imports / Imports 2022: $216.681 million (2022 est.)
Imports / Imports 2021: $169.938 million (2021 est.)
Imports / Imports 2020: $207.224 million (2020 est.)
Imports - partners: Italy 32%, China 25%, USA 11%, Turkey 10%, Japan 6% (2023)
Imports - commodities: ships, refined petroleum, additive manufacturing machines, cars, plastic products (2023)
Exchange rates: the US dollar is used

## Energy
Electricity access / electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)
Electricity access / electrification - urban areas: 99.9%
Electricity access / electrification - rural areas: 100%

## Communications
Telephones - fixed lines / total subscriptions: 8,000 (2023 est.)
Telephones - fixed lines / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 45 (2023 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / total subscriptions: 24,000 (2023 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 135 (2023 est.)
Broadcast media: no broadcast TV stations; a cable TV network covers the major islands and provides access to 4 local cable stations, rebroadcasts (on a delayed basis) of a number of US stations, as well as access to a number of real-time satellite TV channels; about a half dozen radio stations (1 government-owned) (2019)
Internet country code: .pw
Internet users / percent of population: 27% (2004 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / total: 1,000 (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 7 (2023 est.)

## Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: T8
Airports: 3 (2025)
Merchant marine / total: 427 (2023)
Merchant marine / by type: bulk carrier 49, container ship 8, general cargo 200, oil tanker 52, other 118
Ports / total ports: 1 (2024)
Ports / large: 0
Ports / medium: 0
Ports / small: 0
Ports / very small: 1
Ports / ports with oil terminals: 1
Ports / key ports: Malakal Harbor

## Military and Security
Military and security forces: no regular military forces; the Bureau of Public Safety (Ministry of Justice) has divisions for police functions and maritime security (2025)
Military - note: under the Compact of Free Association between Palau and the US, the US is responsible for the defense of Palau, and the US military is granted access to the islands; the COFA also allows citizens of Palau to serve in the US armed forces Palau has a "shiprider" agreement with the US, which allows local maritime law enforcement officers to embark on US Coast Guard (USCG) and US Navy (USN) vessels, including to board and search vessels suspected of violating laws or regulations within Palau's designated exclusive economic zone (EEZ) or on the high seas; "shiprider" agreements also enable USCG personnel and USN vessels with embarked USCG law enforcement personnel to work with host nations to protect critical regional resources (2025)

## Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons / refugees: 5 (2024 est.)

=== Marshall Islands ===

## Introduction
Background: Humans arrived in the Marshall Islands in the first millennium B.C. and gradually created permanent settlements on the various atolls. The early inhabitants were skilled navigators who frequently traveled between atolls using stick charts to map the islands. Society became organized under two paramount chiefs, one each for the Ratak (Sunrise) Chain and the Ralik (Sunset) Chain. Spain formally claimed the islands in 1592. Germany established a supply station on Jaluit Atoll and bought the islands from Spain in 1884, although paramount chiefs continued to rule. Japan seized the Marshall Islands in 1914 and was granted a League of Nations Mandate to administer the islands in 1920. The US captured the islands in heavy fighting during World War II, and the islands came under US administration as part of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands (TTPI) in 1947. Between 1946 and 1958, the US resettled populations from Bikini and Enewetak Atolls and conducted 67 nuclear tests; people from Ailinginae, Rongelap, and Utrik Atolls were also evacuated because of nuclear fallout, and Bikini and Rongelap remain largely uninhabited. In 1979, the Marshall Islands drafted a constitution separate from the rest of the TTPI and declared independence under President Amata KABUA, a paramount chief. In 2000, Kessai NOTE became the first commoner elected president. In 2016, Hilda HEINE was the first woman elected president.

## Geography
Location: Oceania, consists of 29 atolls and five isolated islands in the North Pacific Ocean, about halfway between Hawaii and Australia; the atolls and islands are situated in two, almost-parallel island chains - the Ratak (Sunrise) group and the Ralik (Sunset) group; the total number of islands and islets is about 1,225; 22 of the atolls and four of the islands are uninhabited
Geographic coordinates: 9 00 N, 168 00 E
Map references: Oceania
Area / total: 181 sq km
Area / land: 181 sq km
Area / water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative: about the size of Washington, D.C.
Land boundaries / total: 0 km
Coastline: 370.4 km
Maritime claims / territorial sea: 12 nm
Maritime claims / contiguous zone: 24 nm
Maritime claims / exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate: tropical; hot and humid; wet season May to November; islands border typhoon belt
Terrain: low coral limestone and sand islands
Elevation / highest point: East-central Airik Island, Maloelap Atoll 14 m
Elevation / lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
Elevation / mean elevation: 2 m
Natural resources: coconut products, marine products, deep seabed minerals
Land use / agricultural land: 38.9% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 2.8% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 36.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 0% (2022 est.)
Land use / forest: 53.9% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 7.2% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land: 0 sq km (2022)
Population distribution: most people live in urban clusters on many of the country's islands; more than two thirds of the population lives on the atolls of Majuro and Ebeye
Natural hazards: infrequent typhoons
Geography - note: Kwajalein atoll surrounds the world's largest lagoon; the island city of Ebeye is the second largest settlement in the Marshall Islands, after the capital of Majuro, and one of the most densely populated locations in the Pacific

## People and Society
Population / total: 82,011 (2024 est.)
Population / male: 41,581
Population / female: 40,430
Nationality / noun: Marshallese (singular and plural)
Nationality / adjective: Marshallese
Ethnic groups: Marshallese 95.6%, Filipino 1.1%, other 3.3% (2021 est.)
Languages / Languages: Marshallese (official) 98.2%, other languages 1.8% (1999)
Languages / major-language sample(s): Bok eo an Lalin kin Melele ko Rejimwe ej jikin ebōk melele ko raurōk. (Marshallese) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
Religions: Protestant 79.3% (United Church of Christ 47.9%, Assembly of God 14.1%, Full Gospel 5%, Bukot Nan Jesus 3%, Salvation Army 2.3%, Reformed Congressional Church 2.2%, Seventh Day Adventist 1.7%, New Beginning Church 1.4%, other Protestant 1.6%), Roman Catholic 9.3%, Church of Jesus Christ 5.7%, Jehovah's Witness 1.3%, other 3.3%, none 1.1% (2021 est.)
Age structure / 0-14 years: 30% (male 12,538/female 12,072)
Age structure / 15-64 years: 64.3% (male 26,750/female 25,944)
Age structure / 65 years and over: 5.7% (2024 est.) (male 2,293/female 2,414)
Dependency ratios / total dependency ratio: 55.6 (2024 est.)
Dependency ratios / youth dependency ratio: 46.7 (2024 est.)
Dependency ratios / elderly dependency ratio: 8.9 (2024 est.)
Dependency ratios / potential support ratio: 11.2 (2024 est.)
Median age / total: 25.9 years (2025 est.)
Median age / male: 25.4 years
Median age / female: 25.6 years
Population growth rate: 1.22% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 20.81 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 4.37 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: -4.2 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution: most people live in urban clusters on many of the country's islands; more than two thirds of the population lives on the atolls of Majuro and Ebeye
Urbanization / urban population: 78.9% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 0.61% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 31,000 MAJURO (capital) (2018)
Sex ratio / at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 65 years and over: 0.95 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio: 155 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Infant mortality rate / total: 20.1 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Infant mortality rate / male: 24 deaths/1,000 live births
Infant mortality rate / female: 17.1 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth / total population: 75.2 years (2024 est.)
Life expectancy at birth / male: 73 years
Life expectancy at birth / female: 77.5 years
Total fertility rate: 2.62 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 1.28 (2025 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: urban: urban: 84.5% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: rural: rural: 87.2% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: total: total: 85.1% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: urban: urban: 15.5% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: rural: rural: 12.8% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: total: total: 14.9% of population (2022 est.)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 12.5% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 6.7% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density: 0.47 physicians/1,000 population (2012)
Sanitation facility access / improved: urban: urban: 92.8% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: rural: rural: 70.4% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: total: total: 88% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: urban: urban: 7.2% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: rural: rural: 29.6% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: total: total: 12% of population (2022 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 52.9% (2016)
Tobacco use / total: 30.9% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / male: 52.9% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / female: 8.5% (2025 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 11.9% (2017 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49): 68.3% (2022 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% GDP): 7.7% of GDP (2022 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% national budget): 11.3% national budget (2022 est.)
Literacy / total population: 95.8% (2021 est.)
Literacy / male: 95.7% (2021 est.)
Literacy / female: 96.4% (2021 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / total: 14 years (2022 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / male: 14 years (2022 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / female: 15 years (2022 est.)

## Environment
Environmental issues: inadequate potable water; pollution of Majuro lagoon from household waste and discharges from fishing vessels; sea-level rise
International environmental agreements / party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
International environmental agreements / signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Climate: tropical; hot and humid; wet season May to November; islands border typhoon belt
Land use / agricultural land: 38.9% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 2.8% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 36.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 0% (2022 est.)
Land use / forest: 53.9% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 7.2% (2023 est.)
Urbanization / urban population: 78.9% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 0.61% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions: 293,700 metric tonnes of CO2 (2017 est.)
Particulate matter emissions: 7.2 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Waste and recycling / municipal solid waste generated annually: 8,600 tons (2024 est.)
Waste and recycling / percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 39.7% (2022 est.)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: Republic of the Marshall Islands
Country name / conventional short form: Marshall Islands
Country name / local long form: Republic of the Marshall Islands
Country name / local short form: Marshall Islands
Country name / former: Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, Marshall Islands District
Country name / abbreviation: RMI
Country name / etymology: named after British Captain John MARSHALL, who charted many of the islands in 1788
Government type: mixed presidential-parliamentary system in free association with the US
Capital / name: Majuro
Capital / geographic coordinates: 7 06 N, 171 23 E
Capital / time difference: UTC+12 (17 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Capital / etymology: Majuro means "two openings" or "two eyes" and refers to the two major passages through the atoll into the Majuro lagoon
Administrative divisions: 24 municipalities; Ailinglaplap, Ailuk, Arno, Aur, Bikini & Kili, Ebon, Enewetak & Ujelang, Jabat, Jaluit, Kwajalein, Lae, Lib, Likiep, Majuro, Maloelap, Mejit, Mili, Namorik, Namu, Rongelap, Ujae, Utrik, Wotho, Wotje
Legal system: mixed system of US and English common law, customary law, and local statutes
Constitution / history: effective 1 May 1979
Constitution / amendment process: proposed by the National Parliament or by a constitutional convention; passage by Parliament requires at least two-thirds majority vote of the total membership in each of two readings and approval by a majority of votes in a referendum; amendments submitted by a constitutional convention require approval of at least two thirds of votes in a referendum
International law organization participation: accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Citizenship / citizenship by birth: no
Citizenship / citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of the Marshall Islands
Citizenship / dual citizenship recognized: no
Citizenship / residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch / chief of state: President Hilda C. HEINE (since 3 January 2023)
Executive branch / head of government: President Hilda C. HEINE (since 3 January 2023)
Executive branch / cabinet: Cabinet nominated by the president from among members of the Nitijela, appointed by Nitijela speaker
Executive branch / election/appointment process: president indirectly elected by the Nitijela from among its members for a 4-year term (no term limits)
Executive branch / most recent election date: 2 January 2023
Executive branch / election results: 2023: Hilda C. HEINE elected president; National Parliament vote - Hilda C. HEINE (independent) 17, David KABUA (independent) 16 2020: David KABUA elected president; National Parliament vote - David KABUA (independent) 20, Hilda C. HEINE (independent) 12
Executive branch / expected date of next election: 2027
Legislative branch / legislature name: Parliament (Nitijela)
Legislative branch / legislative structure: unicameral
Legislative branch / number of seats: 33 (all directly elected)
Legislative branch / electoral system: plurality/majority
Legislative branch / scope of elections: full renewal
Legislative branch / term in office: 4 years
Legislative branch / most recent election date: 11/20/2023
Legislative branch / percentage of women in chamber: 12.1%
Legislative branch / expected date of next election: November 2027
Judicial branch / highest court(s): Supreme Court (consists of the chief justice and 2 associate justices)
Judicial branch / judge selection and term of office: judges appointed by the Cabinet on the recommendation of the Judicial Service Commission (consists of the chief justice of the High Court, the attorney general and a private citizen selected by the Cabinet) and upon approval of the Nitijela; the current chief justice, appointed in 2013, serves for 10 years; Marshallese citizens appointed as justices serve until retirement at age 72
Judicial branch / subordinate courts: High Court; District Courts; Traditional Rights Court; Community Courts
Political parties: traditionally there have been no formally organized political parties; what has existed more closely resembles factions or interest groups because they do not have party headquarters, formal platforms, or party structures
Diplomatic representation in the US / chief of mission: Ambassador Charles Rudolph PAUL (since 27 February 2024)
Diplomatic representation in the US / chancery: 2433 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation in the US / telephone: [1] (202) 234-5414
Diplomatic representation in the US / FAX: [1] (202) 232-3236
Diplomatic representation in the US / email address and website: info@rmiembassyus.org
Diplomatic representation in the US / consulate(s) general: Honolulu, Springdale (AR)
Diplomatic representation from the US / chief of mission: Ambassador Laura M. STONE (since 12 July 2024)
Diplomatic representation from the US / embassy: Mejen Weto, Ocean Side, Majuro
Diplomatic representation from the US / mailing address: 4380 Majuro Place, Washington DC 20521-4380
Diplomatic representation from the US / telephone: [692] 247-4011
Diplomatic representation from the US / FAX: [692] 247-4012
Diplomatic representation from the US / email address and website: MAJConsular@state.gov https://mh.usembassy.gov/
International organization participation: ACP, ADB, AOSIS, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHRC, WHO
Independence: 21 October 1986 (from the US-administered UN trusteeship)
National holiday: Constitution Day, 1 May (1979)
Flag: description: blue with an orange stripe and a white stripe radiating from the lower-left corner to the upper-right corner; a white star with four large rays and 20 small rays appears on the left side above the two stripes meaning: blue stands for the Pacific Ocean, orange for the Ralik Chain (or sunset and courage), and white for the Ratak Chain (or sunrise and peace); the star symbolizes the Christian cross, with a small ray for each electoral district and a larger ray for the principal cultural centers of Majuro, Jaluit, Wotje, and Ebeye; the diagonal stripes can also be interpreted as representing the equator, with the star showing the archipelago's position
National symbol(s): a 24-rayed star
National color(s): blue, white, orange
National anthem(s) / title: "Forever Marshall Islands"
National anthem(s) / lyrics/music: Amata KABUA
National anthem(s) / history: adopted 1981; words and music written by the first president of the Marshall Islands
National heritage / total World Heritage Sites: 1 (cultural)
National heritage / selected World Heritage Site locales: Bikini Atoll Nuclear Test Site

## Economy
Economic overview: upper middle-income Pacific island economy; US aid reliance; large public sector; coconut oil production as diesel fuel substitute; growing offshore banking locale; fishing rights seller; import-dependent
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $270.809 million (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $263.507 million (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $274.3 million (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2024: 2.8% (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2023: -3.9% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2022: -1.1% (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2024: $7,200 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2023: $6,800 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2022: $6,800 (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $280.358 million (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 6.2% (2022 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021: 2.6% (2021 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2020: -0.7% (2020 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / agriculture: 19.5% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / industry: 11.1% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / services: 70.5% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / household consumption: 70.7% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / government consumption: 53.5% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in fixed capital: 20.2% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in inventories: -0.5% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / exports of goods and services: 38.9% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / imports of goods and services: -71.2% (2023 est.)
Agricultural products: coconuts (2023)
Industries: copra, tuna processing, tourism, craft items (from seashells, wood, and pearls)
Industrial production growth rate: -2.8% (2023 est.)
Population below poverty line: 7.2% (2019 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income / Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2019: 35.5 (2019 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / lowest 10%: 2.8% (2019 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / highest 10%: 27.5% (2019 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2023: 13.3% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2022: 13.6% of GDP (2022 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2021: 13.3% of GDP (2021 est.)
Budget / revenues: $171.267 million (2020 est.)
Budget / expenditures: $159.095 million (2020 est.)
Public debt / Public debt 2019: 41.6% of GDP (2019 est.)
Taxes and other revenues: 17.2% (of GDP) (2020 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2021: $76.263 million (2021 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2020: $90.281 million (2020 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2019: $86.133 million (2019 est.)
Exports / Exports 2021: $130.016 million (2021 est.)
Exports / Exports 2020: $88.042 million (2020 est.)
Exports / Exports 2019: $91.394 million (2019 est.)
Exports - partners: UK 16%, Germany 13%, Denmark 10%, Ghana 9%, Cyprus 9% (2023)
Exports - commodities: ships, refined petroleum, fish, natural gas, stone processing machines (2023)
Imports / Imports 2021: $206.025 million (2021 est.)
Imports / Imports 2020: $132.845 million (2020 est.)
Imports / Imports 2019: $129.682 million (2019 est.)
Imports - partners: China 47%, Japan 15%, Germany 5%, Brazil 4%, Cyprus 4% (2023)
Imports - commodities: ships, refined petroleum, additive manufacturing machines, iron structures, crude petroleum (2023)
Exchange rates: the US dollar is used

## Energy
Electricity access / electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)
Electricity access / electrification - urban areas: 96.1%
Electricity access / electrification - rural areas: 100%

## Communications
Telephones - fixed lines / total subscriptions: 2,000 (2014 est.)
Telephones - fixed lines / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 5 (2022 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / total subscriptions: 16,000 (2021 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 38 (2021 est.)
Broadcast media: no TV broadcast station; a cable network is available on Majuro with programming via videotape replay and satellite relays; 4 radio broadcast stations; US Armed Forces Radio and Television Service (AFRTS) provides satellite radio and TV service to Kwajalein Atoll (2019)
Internet country code: .mh
Internet users / percent of population: 66% (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / total: 1,000 (2022 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 2 (2022 est.)

## Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: V7
Airports: 33 (2025)
Merchant marine / total: 4,180 (2023)
Merchant marine / by type: bulk carrier 1,939, container ship 277, general cargo 66, oil tanker 1039, other 859
Ports / total ports: 3 (2024)
Ports / large: 0
Ports / medium: 0
Ports / small: 0
Ports / very small: 3
Ports / ports with oil terminals: 2
Ports / key ports: Enitwetak Island, Kwajalein, Majuro Atoll

## Military and Security
Military and security forces: Marshall Islands Police Department (includes a Sea Patrol Division)
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of the US; in 1982, the Marshall Islands signed a Compact of Free Association (COFA) with the US, which granted the Marshall Islands financial assistance and access to many US domestic programs in exchange for exclusive US military access and defense responsibilities; the COFA entered into force in 1986; the Marshall Islands hosts a US Army missile test site the Marshall Islands has a "shiprider" agreement with the US, which allows local maritime law enforcement officers to embark on US Coast Guard (USCG) and US Navy (USN) vessels, including to board and search vessels suspected of violating laws or regulations within its designated exclusive economic zone (EEZ) or on the high seas; "shiprider" agreements also enable USCG personnel and USN vessels with embarked USCG law enforcement personnel to work with host nations to protect critical regional resources (2025)

## Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons / IDPs: 35 (2024 est.)

=== Tokelau ===

## Introduction
Background: Tokelau is composed of three atolls (Fakaofo, Atafu, and Nukunonu), and it was first settled by Polynesians around A.D. 1000. The atolls operated relatively independently, but Fakaofo Atoll eventually subjugated the others. British explorers first saw the atolls in 1765 and 1791. Catholic and Protestant missionaries arrived in the 1840s and converted the population on the islands on which they landed. In 1863 Peruvian slave raiders abducted many islanders, and roughly contemporary outbreaks of disease reduced the population to about 200. Settlers of diverse nationalities subsequently intermarried with Tokelauans. In the same period, local governance moved to a system based on a Council of Elders, which still exists today. British interest began in the late 1870s, and Tokelau became a British protectorate in 1889, and in 1916 under the name Union Group, Tokelau became part of the Gilbert and Ellice Islands Colony. In 1925, the UK placed Tokelau under New Zealand administration. The Tokelau Islands Act of 1948 formally transferred sovereignty from the UK to New Zealand, and Tokelauans were granted New Zealand citizenship. In 1979, the US relinquished its claim to Tokelau in the Treaty of Tokehega, and Tokelau relinquished its claim to Swains Island, which is part of American Samoa. Economic opportunities in Tokelau are sparse, and about 80% of Tokelauans live in New Zealand. Tokelau held self-governance referendums in 2006 and 2007 in which more than 60% of voters chose free association with New Zealand; however, the referendums failed to achieve the two-thirds majority necessary to enact a status change.

## Geography
Location: Oceania, group of three atolls in the South Pacific Ocean, about one-half of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand
Geographic coordinates: 9 00 S, 172 00 W
Map references: Oceania
Area / total: 12 sq km
Area / land: 12 sq km
Area / water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative: about 17 times the size of the National Mall in Washington, D.C.
Land boundaries / total: 0 km
Coastline: 101 km
Maritime claims / territorial sea: 12 nm
Maritime claims / exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate: tropical; moderated by trade winds (April to November)
Terrain: low-lying coral atolls enclosing large lagoons
Elevation / highest point: unnamed location 5 m
Elevation / lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
Natural resources: fish
Land use / agricultural land: 60% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 0% (2022 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 60% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 0% (2022 est.)
Land use / forest: 0% (2022 est.)
Land use / other: 40% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land: 0 sq km (2022)
Population distribution: the small population is fairly evenly distributed among the three atolls
Natural hazards: lies in Pacific cyclone belt
Geography - note: consists of three atolls (Atafu, Fakaofo, Nukunonu), each with a lagoon surrounded by a number of reef-bound islets of varying length and rising to over 3 m (10 ft) above sea level

## People and Society
Population / total: 2,453 (2024 est.)
Population / male: 1,201 (2024 est.)
Population / female: 1,252 (2024 est.)
Nationality / noun: Tokelauan(s)
Nationality / adjective: Tokelauan
Ethnic groups: Tokelauan 64.5%, part Tokelauan/Samoan 9.7%, part Tokelauan/Tuvaluan 2.8%, Tuvaluan 7.5%, Samoan 5.8%, other Pacific Islander 3.4%, other 5.6%, unspecified 0.8% (2016 est.)
Languages: Tokelauan 88.1% (a Polynesian language), English 48.6%, Samoan 26.7%, Tuvaluan 11.2%, Kiribati 1.5%, other 2.8%, none 2.8%, unspecified 0.8% (2016 ests.)
Religions: Congregational Christian Church 50.4%, Roman Catholic 38.7%, Presbyterian 5.9%, other Christian 4.2%, unspecified 0.8% (2016 est.)
Dependency ratios / total dependency ratio: 52.7 (2024)
Dependency ratios / youth dependency ratio: 40 (2024)
Dependency ratios / elderly dependency ratio: 12.6 (2024)
Dependency ratios / potential support ratio: 7.9 (2024)
Population growth rate: -0.01% (2019 est.)
Net migration rate: -3.84 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2021 est.)
Population distribution: the small population is fairly evenly distributed among the three atolls
Urbanization / urban population: 0% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 0% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: rural: rural: 99.7% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: total: total: 99.7% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: rural: rural: 0.3% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: total: total: 0.3% of population (2022 est.)
Physician density: 1.67 physicians/1,000 population (2021)
Sanitation facility access / improved: rural: rural: 100% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: total: total: 100% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: rural: rural: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: total: total: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Literacy / total population: 100% (2022 est.)
Literacy / male: 100% (2022 est.)
Literacy / female: 100% (2022 est.)

## Environment
Environmental issues: overfishing; damage to forest resources; pollution of freshwater and coastal waters from improper disposal of chemicals
Climate: tropical; moderated by trade winds (April to November)
Land use / agricultural land: 60% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 0% (2022 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 60% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 0% (2022 est.)
Land use / forest: 0% (2022 est.)
Land use / other: 40% (2023 est.)
Urbanization / urban population: 0% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 0% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: none
Country name / conventional short form: Tokelau
Country name / former: Union Islands, Tokelau Islands
Country name / etymology: the name comes from the Polynesian word tokelau , meaning "north wind;" the name "Tokelau Islands" was adopted in 1946, and the shortened form in 1976
Government type: parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy
Dependency status: Tokelau is a non-self-governing territory of New Zealand and part of the Realm of New Zealand; Tokelau has its own political institutions, judicial system, public services (including telecommunications and shipping), and budget control
Capital / time difference: UTC+13 (18 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Legal system: common law system of New Zealand
Constitution / history: many previous; latest effective 1 January 1949 (Tokelau Act 1948 of New Zealand)
Constitution / amendment process: proposed as a resolution by the General Fono; passage requires support by each village and approval by the General Fono
Citizenship: see New Zealand
Suffrage: 21 years of age; universal
Executive branch / chief of state: King CHARLES III (since 8 September 2022); represented by Governor-General of New Zealand Dame Cindy KIRO (since 21 September 2021); New Zealand is represented by Administrator Don HIGGINS (since June 2022)
Executive branch / head of government: (Ulu o Tokelau) Esera Fofō Filipo Tuisano TUISANO (since 17 March 2025)
Executive branch / cabinet: Council for the Ongoing Government of Tokelau (or Tokelau Council) functions as a cabinet; consists of 3 village leaders (Faipule) and 3 village mayors (Pulenuku)
Executive branch / election/appointment process: the monarchy is hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch; administrator appointed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade in New Zealand; head of government chosen from the Council of Faipule to serve a 1-year term
Legislative branch / legislature name: General Fono (Fono Fakamua)
Legislative branch / legislative structure: unicameral
Legislative branch / number of seats: 20
Legislative branch / electoral system: plurality/majority
Legislative branch / scope of elections: full renewal
Legislative branch / term in office: 3 years
Legislative branch / most recent election date: 26 January 2023
Legislative branch / parties elected and seats per party: independents (20)
Legislative branch / percentage of women in chamber: 15%
Legislative branch / expected date of next election: January 2026
Judicial branch / highest court(s): Court of Appeal (in New Zealand) (consists of the court president and 8 judges sitting in 3- or 5-judge panels, depending on the case)
Judicial branch / judge selection and term of office: judges nominated by the Judicial Selection Committee and approved by three-quarters majority of the Parliament; judges serve for life
Judicial branch / subordinate courts: High Court (in New Zealand); Council of Elders or Taupulega
Political parties: none
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (territory of New Zealand)
Diplomatic representation from the US: none (territory of New Zealand)
International organization participation: PIF (associate member), SPC, UNESCO (associate), UPU
Independence: none (territory of New Zealand)
National holiday: Waitangi Day, 6 February (1840)
Flag: description: a stylized yellow Tokelauan canoe on a dark blue field sails toward four white five-pointed stars on the left side meaning: the stars are the Southern Cross constellation and represent the role of Christianity in Tokelauan culture; the stars and canoe together symbolize the country navigating into the future; yellow stands for happiness and peace, and blue for the ocean
National symbol(s): tuluma (fishing tackle box)
National color(s): blue, yellow, white
National anthem(s) / title: "God Save the King"
National anthem(s) / lyrics/music: unknown
National anthem(s) / history: official anthem, as a territory of New Zealand; normally played only when a member of the royal family or the governor-general is present

## Economy
Economic overview: small New Zealand territorial island economy; labor force can work in New Zealand or Australia; significant remittances; largely solar-powered infrastructure; reliant on New Zealand funding; stamp, coin, and crafts producer
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2017: $7,711,583 (2017 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2017: $6,004 (2017 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2016: $4,855 (2016 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2015: $4,292 (2015 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $12.658 million (2017 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2020: 4% (2020 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2019: 2.5% (2019 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2017: 11% (2017 est.)
Agricultural products: coconuts, root vegetables, tropical fruits, pork, bananas, eggs, chicken (2023)
Industries: small-scale enterprises for copra production, woodworking, plaited craft goods; stamps, coins; fishing
Budget / revenues: $24,324,473 (2017 est.)
Budget / expenditures: $11,666,542 (2017 est.)
Exports - partners: Czechia 92%, Singapore 2%, Brazil 1%, South Africa 1%, Sri Lanka 1% (2023)
Exports - commodities: cars, telephones, garments, iron fasteners, fabric (2023)
Imports - partners: Samoa 31%, Italy 23%, France 21%, Netherlands 16%, Germany 2% (2023)
Imports - commodities: integrated circuits, stone processing machines, refined petroleum, gas turbines, plastic products (2023)
Exchange rates / Currency: New Zealand dollars (NZD) per US dollar -
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2024: 1.652 (2024 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2023: 1.628 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2022: 1.577 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2021: 1.414 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2020: 1.542 (2020 est.)

## Energy

## Communications
Telephones - fixed lines / total subscriptions: 300 (2010 est.)
Telephones - fixed lines / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 22 (2010 est.)
Broadcast media: Sky TV access for about a third of the population; each atoll operates a radio service with shipping news and weather reports (2019)
Internet country code: .tk
Internet users / percent of population: 58.3% (2021 est.)

## Transportation

## Military and Security
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of New Zealand

## Transnational Issues

=== Tonga ===

## Introduction
Background: The first humans arrived in Tonga around 1000 B.C. The islands’ politics were highly centralized under the Tu’i Tonga, or Tongan king, by A.D. 950, and by 1200, the Tu’i Tonga had expanded his influence throughout Polynesia and into Melanesia and Micronesia. The Tongan Empire began to decline in the 1300s, with civil wars, a military defeat to Samoa, and internal political strife. By the mid-1500s, some Tu’i Tongans were ethnic Samoan, and day-to-day administration of Tonga was transferred to a new position occupied by ethnic Tongans. Dutch navigators explored the islands in the 1600s, followed by the British in the 1770s, who named them the Friendly Islands. Between 1799 and 1852 Tonga went through a period of war and disorder. In the 1830s, a low-ranking chief from Ha’apai began to consolidate control over the islands and was crowned King George TUPOU I in 1845, establishing the only still-extant Polynesian monarchy. During TUPOU's reign (1845–93), Tonga became a unified and independent country with a modern constitution (1875), legal code, and administrative structure. In separate treaties, Germany (1876), Great Britain (1879), and the US (1888) recognized Tonga’s independence. His son and successor, King George TUPOU II, agreed to enter a protectorate agreement with the UK in 1900 after rival Tongan chiefs tried to overthrow him. As a protectorate, Tonga never completely lost its indigenous governance, but it did become more isolated and the social hierarchy became more stratified between a group of nobles and a large class of commoners. Today, about one third of parliamentary seats are reserved for nobles. Tonga regained full control of domestic and foreign affairs and became a fully independent nation within the Commonwealth in 1970. A pro-democracy movement gained steam in the early 2000s, led by ‘Akilisi POHIVA, and in 2006, riots broke out in Nuku’alofa to protest the lack of progress on reform. To appease the activists, in 2008, King George TUPOU V announced he was relinquishing most of his powers leading up to parliamentary elections in 2010 and henceforth most of the monarch’s governmental decisions, except those relating to the judiciary, were to be made in consultation with the prime minister. The 2010 Legislative Assembly was called Tonga’s first democratically elected Parliament. King George TUPOU V died in 2012 and was succeeded by his brother Crown Prince Tupouto‘a Lavaka who ruled as George TUPOU VI. In 2015, ‘Akalisi POHIVA became Tonga’s first non-noble prime minister.

## Geography
Location: Oceania, archipelago in the South Pacific Ocean, about two-thirds of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand
Geographic coordinates: 20 00 S, 175 00 W
Map references: Oceania
Area / total: 747 sq km
Area / land: 717 sq km
Area / water: 30 sq km
Area - comparative: four times the size of Washington, D.C.
Land boundaries / total: 0 km
Coastline: 419 km
Maritime claims / territorial sea: 12 nm
Maritime claims / exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Maritime claims / continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Climate: tropical; modified by trade winds; warm season (December to May), cool season (May to December)
Terrain: mostly flat islands with limestone bedrock formed from uplifted coral formation; others have limestone overlying volcanic rock
Elevation / highest point: Kao Volcano on Kao Island 1,046 m
Elevation / lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
Natural resources: arable land, fish
Land use / agricultural land: 48.6% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 27.8% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 15.3% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 5.6% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 12.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 39.3% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land: 0 sq km (2022)
Population distribution: over two thirds of the population lives on the island of Tongatapu; only 45 of the nation's 171 islands are occupied
Natural hazards: cyclones (October to April); earthquakes and volcanic activity on Fonuafo'ou volcanism: moderate volcanic activity; Fonualei (180 m) has had frequent activity in recent years, and Niuafo'ou (260 m) has forced evacuations; other historically active volcanoes include Late and Tofua
Geography - note: the western islands (making up the Tongan Volcanic Arch) are all of volcanic origin; the eastern islands are nonvolcanic and are composed of coral limestone and sand

## People and Society
Population / total: 104,519 (2025 est.)
Population / male: 52,421
Population / female: 52,098
Nationality / noun: Tongan(s)
Nationality / adjective: Tongan
Ethnic groups: Tongan 96.5%, other (European, Fijian, Samoan, Indian, Chinese, other Pacific Islander, other Asian, other) 3.5% (2021 est.)
Languages: Tongan only 85%, Tongan and other language 13.9%, Tongan not used at home 1.1% (2021 est.)
Religions: Protestant 63.9% (Free Wesleyan Church 34.2%, Free Church of Tonga 11.3%, Church of Tonga 6.8%, Seventh Day Adventist 2.5%, Assembly of God 2.5%, Tokaikolo/Maamafo'ou 1.5%, Constitutional Church of Tonga 1.2%, other Protestant 4%), Church of Jesus Christ 19.7%, Roman Catholic 13.7%, other 2.1%, none 0.6%, no answer 0.1% (2021 est.)
Age structure / 0-14 years: 29.3% (male 15,627/female 15,142)
Age structure / 15-64 years: 63.2% (male 33,445/female 32,867)
Age structure / 65 years and over: 7.4% (2024 est.) (male 3,534/female 4,274)
Dependency ratios / total dependency ratio: 57.2 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / youth dependency ratio: 45.2 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / elderly dependency ratio: 11.9 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / potential support ratio: 8.4 (2025 est.)
Median age / total: 26.4 years (2025 est.)
Median age / male: 25.4 years
Median age / female: 26.4 years
Population growth rate: -0.37% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 19.43 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 4.98 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: -18.18 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution: over two thirds of the population lives on the island of Tongatapu; only 45 of the nation's 171 islands are occupied
Urbanization / urban population: 23.2% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 0.99% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 23,000 NUKU'ALOFA (2018)
Sex ratio / at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 0-14 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 65 years and over: 0.83 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth: 24.9 years (2012 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio: 67 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Infant mortality rate / total: 11.5 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Infant mortality rate / male: 12.8 deaths/1,000 live births
Infant mortality rate / female: 10.8 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth / total population: 78 years (2024 est.)
Life expectancy at birth / male: 76.4 years
Life expectancy at birth / female: 79.7 years
Total fertility rate: 2.59 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 1.28 (2025 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: urban: urban: 99.6% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: rural: rural: 98.6% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: total: total: 98.8% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: urban: urban: 0.4% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: rural: rural: 1.4% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: total: total: 1.2% of population (2022 est.)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 6.3% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 8.7% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density: 1.01 physicians/1,000 population (2021)
Sanitation facility access / improved: urban: urban: 99.6% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: rural: rural: 99.7% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: total: total: 99.6% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: urban: urban: 0.4% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: rural: rural: 0.3% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: total: total: 0.4% of population (2022 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 48.2% (2016)
Alcohol consumption per capita / total: 0.31 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / beer: 0.03 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / wine: 0.17 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / spirits: 0.11 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / other alcohols: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Tobacco use / total: 30.5% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / male: 46.1% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / female: 15.8% (2025 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 0.8% (2019 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49): 50.7% (2021 est.)
Child marriage / women married by age 15: 0.4% (2019)
Child marriage / women married by age 18: 10.1% (2019)
Child marriage / men married by age 18: 2.8% (2019)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% GDP): 5.3% of GDP (2022 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% national budget): 9.3% national budget (2024 est.)
Literacy / total population: 91.1% (2019 est.)
Literacy / male: 83.8% (2019 est.)
Literacy / female: 97.6% (2019 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / total: 18 years (2020 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / male: 16 years (2020 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / female: 19 years (2020 est.)

## Environment
Environmental issues: deforestation from land being cleared for agriculture and settlement; soil exhaustion; water pollution due to salinization, sewage, and toxic chemicals from farming activities; coral reefs and marine populations threatened
International environmental agreements / party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution
International environmental agreements / signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Climate: tropical; modified by trade winds; warm season (December to May), cool season (May to December)
Land use / agricultural land: 48.6% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 27.8% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 15.3% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 5.6% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 12.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 39.3% (2023 est.)
Urbanization / urban population: 23.2% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 0.99% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / total emissions: 174,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from petroleum and other liquids: 174,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Particulate matter emissions: 7.4 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Waste and recycling / municipal solid waste generated annually: 17,200 tons (2024 est.)
Waste and recycling / percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 12.2% (2022 est.)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: Kingdom of Tonga
Country name / conventional short form: Tonga
Country name / local long form: Pule'anga Fakatu'i 'o Tonga
Country name / local short form: Tonga
Country name / former: Friendly Islands
Country name / etymology: the name is of local origin and is said to mean "island;" the former name, the Friendly Islands, came from Captain James COOK in 1773, based on the welcome he received from the inhabitants
Government type: constitutional monarchy
Capital / name: Nuku'alofa
Capital / geographic coordinates: 21 08 S, 175 12 W
Capital / time difference: UTC+13 (18 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Capital / daylight saving time: +1hr, begins first Sunday in November; ends second Sunday in January
Capital / etymology: name is said to be composed of the local words nuku , meaning "residence or abode," and alofa , meaning "love;" it may also mean "the south," describing Tonga's position in relation to most other Polynesian islands
Administrative divisions: 5 island divisions; 'Eua, Ha'apai, Ongo Niua, Tongatapu, Vava'u
Legal system: English common law
Constitution / history: adopted 4 November 1875, revised 1988, 2016
Constitution / amendment process: proposed by the Legislative Assembly; passage requires approval by the Assembly in each of three readings, the unanimous approval of the Privy Council (a high-level advisory body to the monarch), the Cabinet, and assent to by the monarch
International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt
Citizenship / citizenship by birth: no
Citizenship / citizenship by descent only: the father must be a citizen of Tonga; if a child is born out of wedlock, the mother must be a citizen of Tonga
Citizenship / dual citizenship recognized: yes
Citizenship / residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years
Suffrage: 21 years of age; universal
Executive branch / chief of state: King TUPOU VI (since 18 March 2012)
Executive branch / head of government: Prime Minister Fatafehi FAKAFANUA (since 18 December 2025)
Executive branch / cabinet: Cabinet nominated by the prime minister and appointed by the monarch
Executive branch / election/appointment process: the monarchy is hereditary; prime minister and deputy prime minister indirectly elected by the Legislative Assembly and appointed by the monarch
Executive branch / most recent election date: 15 December 2025
Executive branch / election results: 2025: Fatafehi FAKAFANUA elected prime minister by the Legislative Assembly; Fatafehi FAKAFANUA (Independent) 16 votes, Aisake Valu EKE (Independent) 10 votes 2024: Aisake Valu EKE elected prime minister by the Legislative Assembly; Aisake Valu EKE (Independent) 16 votes, Viliami LATU (Independent) 8
Legislative branch / legislature name: Legislative Assembly (Fale Alea)
Legislative branch / legislative structure: unicameral
Legislative branch / number of seats: 30 (17 directly elected; 9 indirectly elected)
Legislative branch / electoral system: plurality/majority
Legislative branch / scope of elections: full renewal
Legislative branch / term in office: 4 years
Legislative branch / most recent election date: 11/20/2025
Legislative branch / percentage of women in chamber: 3.8%
Legislative branch / expected date of next election: November 2025
Judicial branch / highest court(s): Court of Appeal (consists of the court president and a number of judges determined by the monarch)
Judicial branch / judge selection and term of office: judge appointments and tenures made by the King in Privy Council and subject to consent of the Legislative Assembly
Judicial branch / subordinate courts: Supreme Court; Magistrates' Courts; Land Courts
Political parties: Democratic Party of the Friendly Islands or DPFI or PTOA Tonga People's Party (Paati ʻa e Kakai ʻo Tonga) or PAK or TPPI
Diplomatic representation in the US / chief of mission: Ambassador Viliana Va&rsquo;inga TONE (since 20 April 2021)
Diplomatic representation in the US / chancery: 250 East 51st Street, New York, NY 10022
Diplomatic representation in the US / telephone: [1] (917) 369-1025
Diplomatic representation in the US / FAX: [1] (917) 369-1024
Diplomatic representation in the US / email address and website: tongaconsnot@gmail.com
Diplomatic representation in the US / consulate(s) general: San Francisco
Diplomatic representation from the US / chief of mission: Ambassador Marie DAMOUR (since 6 December 2022); note - Ambassador DAMOUR is based in the US Embassy in the Republic of Fiji and is accredited to Tonga as well as Kiribati, Nauru, and Tuvalu
Diplomatic representation from the US / embassy: although the US opened an embassy in Tonga on 9 May 2023, the US Ambassador to Fiji is accredited to Tonga while the Embassy is being staffed
International organization participation: ACP, ADB, AOSIS, C, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Independence: 4 June 1970 (from UK protectorate status)
National holiday: Official birthday of King TUPOU VI, 4 July (1959)
Flag: description: red with a red cross on a white rectangle in the upper-left corner meaning: the cross stands for Christianity in Tonga, red for Christ's blood and sacrifice, and white for purity
National symbol(s): red cross on white field
National color(s): red, white
National anthem(s) / title: "Ko e fasi 'o e tu'i 'o e 'Otu Tonga" (Song of the King of the Tonga Islands)
National anthem(s) / lyrics/music: Uelingatoni Ngu TUPOUMALOHI/Karl Gustavus SCHMITT
National anthem(s) / history: in use since 1874; more commonly known as "Fasi Fakafonua" (National Song)

## Economy
Economic overview: upper middle-income Pacific island economy; enormous diaspora and remittance reliance; key tourism and agricultural sectors; major fish exporter; rapidly growing Chinese infrastructure investments; rising methamphetamine hub
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $740.082 million (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $724.972 million (2022 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2021: $742.114 million (2021 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2023: 2.1% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2022: -2.3% (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2021: 0.4% (2021 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2023: $7,100 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2022: $6,900 (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2021: $7,000 (2021 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $508.735 million (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024: 3.2% (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023: 6.4% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 11% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / agriculture: 17.5% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / industry: 13.5% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / services: 50.2% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / household consumption: 107.6% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / government consumption: 29.1% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in fixed capital: 27.3% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in inventories: -0.3% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / exports of goods and services: 18.8% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / imports of goods and services: -75.4% (2023 est.)
Agricultural products: coconuts, pumpkins/squash, cassava, sweet potatoes, vegetables, yams, taro, root vegetables, plantains, lemons/limes (2023)
Industries: tourism, construction, fishing
Industrial production growth rate: -11.1% (2023 est.)
Labor force: 34,800 (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2024: 2.2% (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2023: 2.3% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2022: 2.4% (2022 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / total: 6.3% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / male: 3.9% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / female: 10% (2024 est.)
Population below poverty line: 20.6% (2021 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income / Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2021: 27.1 (2021 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / lowest 10%: 4% (2021 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / highest 10%: 22% (2021 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2023: 50% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2022: 41.9% of GDP (2022 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2021: 42% of GDP (2021 est.)
Budget / revenues: $276.025 million (2023 est.)
Budget / expenditures: $244.97 million (2023 est.)
Public debt / Public debt 2020: 43.9% of GDP (2020 est.)
Taxes and other revenues: 23.8% (of GDP) (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2024: -$21.165 million (2024 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2023: -$30.087 million (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2022: -$27.749 million (2022 est.)
Exports / Exports 2024: $119.511 million (2024 est.)
Exports / Exports 2023: $95.345 million (2023 est.)
Exports / Exports 2022: $59.926 million (2022 est.)
Exports - partners: Guyana 17%, USA 17%, NZ 15%, Australia 15%, UAE 12% (2023)
Exports - commodities: refined petroleum, gold, processed fruits and nuts, cassava, fish (2023)
Imports / Imports 2024: $392.888 million (2024 est.)
Imports / Imports 2023: $383.475 million (2023 est.)
Imports / Imports 2022: $330.306 million (2022 est.)
Imports - partners: Fiji 27%, NZ 24%, China 21%, Australia 8%, USA 5% (2023)
Imports - commodities: refined petroleum, plastic products, poultry, cars, sheep and goat meat (2023)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024: $377.299 million (2024 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023: $396.53 million (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $375.564 million (2022 est.)
Debt - external / Debt - external 2023: $159.276 million (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Currency: pa'anga (TOP) per US dollar -
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2024: 2.373 (2024 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2023: 2.364 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2022: 2.328 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2021: 2.265 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2020: 2.3 (2020 est.)

## Energy
Electricity access / electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)
Electricity / installed generating capacity: 34,000 kW (2023 est.)
Electricity / consumption: 67.01 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / transmission/distribution losses: 5.99 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / fossil fuels: 89% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / solar: 9.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / wind: 1.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Petroleum / refined petroleum consumption: 1,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Energy consumption per capita / Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 23.272 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

## Communications
Telephones - fixed lines / total subscriptions: 11,000 (2021 est.)
Telephones - fixed lines / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 3 (2022 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / total subscriptions: 64,800 (2022 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 62 (2022 est.)
Broadcast media: 1 state-owned TV station and 3 privately owned TV stations; satellite and cable TV services available; 1 state-owned and 5 privately owned radio stations; Radio Australia available via satellite (2019)
Internet country code: .to
Internet users / percent of population: 59% (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / total: 9,000 (2022 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 8 (2022 est.)

## Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: A3
Airports: 6 (2025)
Merchant marine / total: 29 (2023)
Merchant marine / by type: container ship 1, general cargo 13, oil tanker 1, other 14
Ports / total ports: 3 (2024)
Ports / large: 0
Ports / medium: 0
Ports / small: 0
Ports / very small: 3
Ports / ports with oil terminals: 0
Ports / key ports: Neiafu, Nuku Alofa, Pangai

## Military and Security
Military and security forces: His Majesty's Armed Forces Tonga (HMAF; aka Tonga Defense Services): Tonga Royal Guard, Tonga Land Force (Royal Tongan Marines), Tonga Navy, Air Wing Ministry of Police and Fire Services: Tonga Police Force (2025)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2024: 1.8% of GDP (2024 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2023: 1.6% of GDP (2023 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2022: 1.6% of GDP (2022 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2021: 1.5% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2020: 2.1% of GDP (2020 est.)
Military and security service personnel strengths: approximately 600 active Armed Forces (2025)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the military's inventory consists of light weapons, as well as some naval patrol vessels acquired from Australia (2025)
Military service age and obligation: 16-25 years of age for men and women to apply for trainee soldier; no conscription (2025)
Military - note: the military's primary missions are defending Tonga's sovereignty, providing maritime security, and protecting the King; it is also responsible for humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, search and rescue operations, monitoring against illegal fishing, and delivering supplies to the outer islands; the military has contributed limited numbers of personnel to multinational military operations in Afghanistan, Iraq, and the Solomon Islands; Australia, New Zealand, and the US are key partners Tonga has a "shiprider" agreement with the US, which allows local maritime law enforcement officers to embark on US Coast Guard (USCG) and US Navy (USN) vessels, including to board and search vessels suspected of violating laws or regulations within Tonga's designated exclusive economic zone (EEZ) or on the high seas Tonga participated in World War I as part of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force, but the Tonga Defense Force (TDF) was not established until 1939 at the beginning of World War II; in 1943, New Zealand helped train about 2,000 Tongan troops who saw action in the Solomon Islands; the TDF was disbanded at the end of the war, but was reactivated in 1946 as the Tonga Defense Services (TDS); in 2013, the name of the TDS was changed to His Majesty’s Armed Forces of Tonga (HMAF) (2025)

## Transnational Issues

=== Tuvalu ===

## Introduction
Background: Voyagers from either Samoa or Tonga first populated Tuvalu in the first millennium A.D., and the islands provided a stepping-stone for various Polynesian communities that subsequently settled in Melanesia and Micronesia. Tuvalu eventually came under Samoan and Tongan spheres of influence, although proximity to Micronesia allowed some Micronesian communities to flourish in Tuvalu, in particular on Nui Atoll. In the late 1700s and early 1800s, a series of American, British, Dutch, and Russian ships visited the islands, which were named the Ellice Islands in 1819. The UK declared a protectorate over islands in 1892 and merged them with the Micronesian Gilbert Islands. The Gilbert and Ellice Islands Protectorate became a colony in 1916. During World War II, the US set up military bases on a few islands, and in 1943, after Japan captured many of the northern Gilbert Islands, the UK transferred administration of the colony southward to Funafuti. After the war, Tarawa in the Gilbert Islands was once again made the colony’s capital, and the center of power was firmly in the Gilbert Islands, including the colony’s only secondary school. Amid growing tensions with the Gilbertese, Tuvaluans voted to secede from the colony in 1974, were granted self-rule in 1975, and gained independence in 1978 as Tuvalu. In 1979, the US relinquished its claims to the Tuvaluan islands in a treaty of friendship.

## Geography
Location: Oceania, island group consisting of nine coral atolls in the South Pacific Ocean, about half way from Hawaii to Australia
Geographic coordinates: 8 00 S, 178 00 E
Map references: Oceania
Area / total: 26 sq km
Area / land: 26 sq km
Area / water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative: about the size of Washington, D.C.
Land boundaries / total: 0 km
Coastline: 24 km
Maritime claims / territorial sea: 12 nm
Maritime claims / contiguous zone: 24 nm
Maritime claims / exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate: tropical; moderated by easterly trade winds (March to November); westerly gales and heavy rain (November to March)
Terrain: low-lying and narrow coral atolls
Elevation / highest point: unnamed location 5 m
Elevation / lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
Elevation / mean elevation: 2 m
Natural resources: fish, coconut (copra)
Land use / agricultural land: 60% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 0% (2022 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 60% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 0% (2022 est.)
Land use / forest: 34.3% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 5.7% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land: 0 sq km (2022)
Population distribution: over half of the population resides on the atoll of Funafuti
Natural hazards: severe tropical storms are usually rare, but in 1997 there were three cyclones; low levels of islands make them sensitive to changes in sea level
Geography - note: one of the smallest and most remote countries on earth; six of the nine coral atolls -- Nanumea, Nui, Vaitupu, Nukufetau, Funafuti, and Nukulaelae -- have lagoons open to the ocean; Nanumaya and Niutao have landlocked lagoons; Niulakita does not have a lagoon

## People and Society
Population / total: 11,824 (2025 est.)
Population / male: 5,865
Population / female: 5,959
Nationality / noun: Tuvaluan(s)
Nationality / adjective: Tuvaluan
Ethnic groups: Tuvaluan 97%, Tuvaluan/I-Kiribati 1.6%, Tuvaluan/other 0.8%, other 0.6% (2017 est.)
Languages: Tuvaluan (official), English (official), Samoan, Kiribati (on the island of Nui)
Religions: Protestant 92.7% (Congregational Christian Church of Tuvalu 85.9%, Brethren 2.8%, Seventh Day Adventist 2.5%, Assemblies of God 1.5%), Baha'i 1.5%, Jehovah's Witness 1.5%, other 3.9%, none or refused 0.4% (2017 est.)
Age structure / 0-14 years: 29.2% (male 1,754/female 1,672)
Age structure / 15-64 years: 63.2% (male 3,736/female 3,675)
Age structure / 65 years and over: 7.6% (2024 est.) (male 326/female 570)
Dependency ratios / total dependency ratio: 59 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / youth dependency ratio: 46.4 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / elderly dependency ratio: 12.6 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / potential support ratio: 7.9 (2025 est.)
Median age / total: 28.1 years (2025 est.)
Median age / male: 26.8 years
Median age / female: 28.8 years
Population growth rate: 0.75% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 21.57 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 7.78 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: -6.26 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution: over half of the population resides on the atoll of Funafuti
Urbanization / urban population: 66.2% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 2.08% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 7,000 FUNAFUTI (capital) (2018)
Sex ratio / at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 65 years and over: 0.57 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio: 170 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Infant mortality rate / total: 27.2 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Infant mortality rate / male: 31.3 deaths/1,000 live births
Infant mortality rate / female: 24 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth / total population: 69 years (2024 est.)
Life expectancy at birth / male: 66.5 years
Life expectancy at birth / female: 71.6 years
Total fertility rate: 2.76 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 1.34 (2025 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: urban: urban: 99% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: rural: rural: 99.7% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: total: total: 99.3% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: urban: urban: 1% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: rural: rural: 0.3% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: total: total: 0.7% of population (2022 est.)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 20% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 11.2% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density: 1.35 physicians/1,000 population (2020)
Sanitation facility access / improved: urban: urban: 96.7% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: rural: rural: 93.9% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: total: total: 95.8% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: urban: urban: 3.3% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: rural: rural: 6.1% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: total: total: 4.2% of population (2022 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 51.6% (2016)
Alcohol consumption per capita / total: 0.93 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / beer: 0.01 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / wine: 0.69 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / spirits: 0.22 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / other alcohols: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Tobacco use / total: 32.4% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / male: 46.2% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / female: 18.1% (2025 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 2.9% (2019 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49): 64.2% (2020 est.)
Child marriage / women married by age 15: 0% (2020)
Child marriage / women married by age 18: 1.8% (2020)
Child marriage / men married by age 18: 1.7% (2020)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% GDP): 12.8% of GDP (2023 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% national budget): 16.8% national budget (2025 est.)
Literacy / total population: 100% (2022 est.)
Literacy / male: 100% (2022 est.)
Literacy / female: 100% (2022 est.)

## Environment
Environmental issues: limited freshwater resources; beach erosion; deforestation; damage to coral reefs; rising sea levels
International environmental agreements / party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Whaling
International environmental agreements / signed, but not ratified: Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban
Climate: tropical; moderated by easterly trade winds (March to November); westerly gales and heavy rain (November to March)
Land use / agricultural land: 60% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 0% (2022 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 60% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 0% (2022 est.)
Land use / forest: 34.3% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 5.7% (2023 est.)
Urbanization / urban population: 66.2% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 2.08% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Particulate matter emissions: 6.8 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Waste and recycling / municipal solid waste generated annually: 4,000 tons (2024 est.)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: none
Country name / conventional short form: Tuvalu
Country name / local long form: none
Country name / local short form: Tuvalu
Country name / former: Ellice Islands
Country name / etymology: the name in the local language means "group of eight" or "eight standing together," referring to eight of the country's nine islands; the remaining island, Nui, was left out of the original grouping because its inhabitants spoke a different language; the former name was given in honor of Canadian shipping company owner Alexander Ellice, who owned a ship that visited the islands in 1819
Government type: parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy; a Commonwealth realm
Capital / name: Funafuti
Capital / geographic coordinates: 8 31 S, 179 13 E
Capital / time difference: UTC+12 (17 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Capital / etymology: the town has the same name as the island it is located on; the name may either come from the Polynesian word futi (banana) or the name Futi, one of the wives of a local ruler, with the word funa added as a feminine prefix
Administrative divisions: 7 island councils and 1 town council*; Funafuti*, Nanumaga, Nanumea, Niutao, Nui, Nukufetau, Nukulaelae, Vaitupu
Legal system: mixed system of English common law and local customary law
Constitution / history: previous 1978 (at independence); latest effective 1 October 1986
Constitution / amendment process: proposed by the House of Assembly; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote by the Assembly membership in the final reading
International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt
Citizenship / citizenship by birth: yes
Citizenship / citizenship by descent only: yes; for a child born abroad, at least one parent must be a citizen of Tuvalu
Citizenship / dual citizenship recognized: yes
Citizenship / residency requirement for naturalization: na
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch / chief of state: King CHARLES III (since 8 September 2022); represented by Governor General Tofiga Vaevalu FALANI (since 29 August 2021)
Executive branch / head of government: Prime Minister Feleti Penitala TEO (since 27 February 2024)
Executive branch / cabinet: Cabinet members selected by the prime minister
Executive branch / election/appointment process: the monarchy is hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch on recommendation of the prime minister and the parliament; prime minister and deputy prime minister elected by and from members of House of Assembly following parliamentary elections
Executive branch / election results: 2024: TEO was the only candidate nominated by the House of Assembly 2019: Kausea NATANO elected prime minister by House of Assembly; House of Assembly vote - 10 to 6
Legislative branch / legislature name: Parliament (Palamene)
Legislative branch / legislative structure: unicameral
Legislative branch / chamber name: Parliament of Tuvalu (Palamene o Tuvalu)
Legislative branch / number of seats: 16 (all directly elected)
Legislative branch / electoral system: plurality/majority
Legislative branch / scope of elections: full renewal
Legislative branch / term in office: 4 years
Legislative branch / most recent election date: 1/26/2024
Legislative branch / percentage of women in chamber: 0%
Legislative branch / expected date of next election: January 2028
Judicial branch / highest court(s): Court of Appeal (consists of the chief justice and not less than 3 appeals judges); High Court (consists of the chief justice); appeals beyond the Court of Appeal are heard by the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (in London)
Judicial branch / judge selection and term of office: Court of Appeal judges appointed by the governor general on the advice of the Cabinet; judge tenure based on terms of appointment; High Court chief justice appointed by the governor general on the advice of the Cabinet; chief justice serves for life; other judges appointed by the governor general on the advice of the Cabinet after consultation with chief justice; judge tenure set by terms of appointment
Judicial branch / subordinate courts: magistrates' courts; island courts; land courts
Political parties: note: no political parties, but members of parliament usually align in informal groupings
Diplomatic representation in the US / chief of mission: Ambassador Tapugao FALEFOU (since 19 April 2023); note - also Permanent Representative to UN
Diplomatic representation in the US / chancery: 685 Third Avenue, Suite 1104, New York, NY 10017
Diplomatic representation in the US / telephone: [1] (212) 490-0534
Diplomatic representation in the US / FAX: [1] (212) 808-4975
Diplomatic representation in the US / email address and website: tuvalumission.un@gmail.com tuvalu.unmission@gov.tv https://www.un.int/tuvalu/about
Diplomatic representation from the US / embassy: the US does not have an embassy in Tuvalu; the US Ambassador to Fiji is accredited to Tuvalu
International organization participation: ACP, ADB, AOSIS, C, FAO, IBRD, IDA, IFAD, IFRCS (observer), ILO, IMF, IMO, IOC, ITU, OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO
Independence: 1 October 1978 (from the UK)
National holiday: Independence Day, 1 October (1978)
Flag: description: light blue with the UK flag in the upper-left quadrant; the right half of the flag has nine five-pointed yellow stars meaning: the stars represent a map of the country, with each symbolizing an atoll in the ocean
National symbol(s): maneapa (native meeting house)
National color(s): light blue, yellow
National anthem(s) / title: "God Save the King"
National anthem(s) / lyrics/music: unknown
National anthem(s) / history: used since 1745

## Economy
Economic overview: upper middle-income Pacific island economy; extremely environmentally fragile; currency pegged to Australian dollar; large international aid recipient; subsistence agrarian sector; Te Kakeega sustainable development; domain name licensing incomes
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $57.055 million (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $54.938 million (2022 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2021: $54.568 million (2021 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2023: 3.9% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2022: 0.7% (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2021: 1.8% (2021 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2023: $5,800 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2022: $5,500 (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2021: $5,400 (2021 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $62.28 million (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 11.5% (2022 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021: 6.2% (2021 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2020: 1.9% (2020 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / agriculture: 15.9% (2015 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / industry: 7% (2015 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / services: 70% (2012 est.)
Agricultural products: coconuts, vegetables, tropical fruits, bananas, root vegetables, pork, chicken, eggs, pork fat, pork offal (2023)
Industries: fishing
Remittances / Remittances 2023: 4.2% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2022: 4.2% of GDP (2022 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2021: 4.9% of GDP (2021 est.)
Budget / revenues: $87 million (2019 est.)
Budget / expenditures: $88 million (2019 est.)
Public debt / Public debt 2016: 47.2% of GDP (2016 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2022: $2.713 million (2022 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2021: $14.533 million (2021 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2020: $8.46 million (2020 est.)
Exports / Exports 2022: $2.232 million (2022 est.)
Exports / Exports 2021: $2.745 million (2021 est.)
Exports / Exports 2020: $3.089 million (2020 est.)
Exports - partners: Thailand 88%, Japan 6%, Philippines 3%, Ireland 1%, USA 1% (2023)
Exports - commodities: fish (2023)
Imports / Imports 2022: $57.388 million (2022 est.)
Imports / Imports 2021: $63.962 million (2021 est.)
Imports / Imports 2020: $56.947 million (2020 est.)
Imports - partners: China 42%, Fiji 24%, Japan 11%, Australia 11%, NZ 4% (2023)
Imports - commodities: ships, refined petroleum, iron structures, fish, hand tools (2023)
Exchange rates / Currency: Tuvaluan dollars or Australian dollars (AUD) per US dollar -
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2024: 1.515 (2024 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2023: 1.505 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2022: 1.442 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2021: 1.331 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2020: 1.453 (2020 est.)

## Energy
Electricity access / electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)
Electricity access / electrification - urban areas: 100%
Electricity access / electrification - rural areas: 99.1%

## Communications
Telephones - fixed lines / total subscriptions: 2,000 (2021 est.)
Telephones - fixed lines / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 21 (2022 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / total subscriptions: 9,880 (2022 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 99 (2022 est.)
Broadcast media: no TV stations; many households use satellite dishes to watch foreign TV; 1 state-owned radio station, Radio Tuvalu, includes relays from international broadcasters (2019)
Internet country code: .tv
Internet users / percent of population: 74% (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / total: 0 (2022 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 5 (2022 est.)

## Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: T2
Airports: 1 (2025)
Merchant marine / total: 270 (2023)
Merchant marine / by type: bulk carrier 21, container ship 3, general cargo 29, oil tanker 19, other 198
Ports / total ports: 1 (2024)
Ports / large: 0
Ports / medium: 0
Ports / small: 0
Ports / very small: 1
Ports / ports with oil terminals: 1
Ports / key ports: Funafuti Atoll

## Military and Security
Military and security forces: no regular military forces; Tuvalu Police Force
Military - note: as part of the Falepili Union treaty between Australia and Tuvalu, which entered into force in August 2024, Australia committed to assist Tuvalu in response to a major natural disaster, health pandemic, or military aggression; Tuvalu pledged to mutually agree with Australia any partnership, arrangement, or engagement with any other State or entity on security and defense-related matters in Tuvalu Tuvalu has a "shiprider" agreement with the US, which allows local maritime law enforcement officers to embark on US Coast Guard (USCG) and US Navy (USN) vessels, including to board and search vessels suspected of violating laws or regulations within Tuvalu's designated exclusive economic zone (EEZ) or on the high seas; "shiprider" agreements also enable USCG personnel and USN vessels with embarked USCG law enforcement personnel to work with host nations to protect critical regional resources (2025)

## Transnational Issues

=== Baker Island, Howland Island, Jarvis Island, Johnston Atoll, Kingman Reef, Midway Islands, Palmyra Atoll ===

## Introduction
Background: All of the following US Pacific Island territories except Midway Atoll constitute the Pacific Remote Islands National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) Complex and as such are managed by the Fish and Wildlife Service of the US Department of the Interior. Midway Atoll NWR has been included in a Refuge Complex with the Hawaiian Islands NWR and also designated as part of Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument. These remote refuges are the most widespread collection of marine- and terrestrial-life protected areas on the planet under a single country's jurisdiction. They sustain many endemic species including corals, fish, shellfish, marine mammals, seabirds, water birds, land birds, insects, and vegetation not found elsewhere. Baker Island: The US took possession of the island in 1857. US and British companies mined its guano deposits during the second half of the 19th century. In 1935, a short-lived attempt at colonization began but was disrupted by World War II, and the island was thereafter abandoned. Baker Island was declared a National Wildlife Refuge in 1974. Howland Island: The US discovered the island early in the 19th century and officially claimed it in 1857. Both US and British companies mined guano on the island until about 1890. Earhart Light, a day beacon near the middle of the west coast, was partially destroyed during World War II but subsequently rebuilt; it is named in memory of famed aviatrix Amelia EARHART. The US Department of the Interior administers the island as a National Wildlife Refuge. Jarvis Island: First discovered by the British in 1821, the uninhabited island was annexed by the US in 1858 but abandoned in 1879 after tons of guano deposits were removed for use in producing fertilizer. The UK annexed the island in 1889 but never carried out plans for further exploitation. The US occupied and reclaimed the island in 1935. Abandoned after World War II, the island is currently a National Wildlife Refuge administered by the US Department of the Interior. Johnston Atoll: Both the US and the Kingdom of Hawaii annexed Johnston Atoll in 1858, but it was the US that mined the guano deposits until the late 1880s. Johnston Atoll was designated a wildlife refuge in 1926. The US Navy took over the atoll in 1934, and the US Air Force assumed control in 1948. The site was used for high-altitude nuclear tests in the 1950s and 1960s, and until 2000, the atoll was maintained as a storage and disposal site for chemical weapons. Cleanup and closure of the weapons facility ended in 2005. Kingman Reef: The US annexed Kingman Reef in 1922. Its sheltered lagoon served as a way station for flying boats on Hawaii-to-American Samoa flights during the late 1930s. There are no terrestrial plants on the reef, which is frequently awash, but it does support abundant and diverse marine fauna and flora. In 2001, the waters surrounding the reef out to 12 nm were designated a US National Wildlife Refuge. Midway Islands: The US took formal possession of the Midway Islands in 1867. The laying of the trans-Pacific cable, which passed through the islands, brought the first residents in 1903. Between 1935 and 1947, Midway was used as a refueling stop for trans-Pacific flights. The US naval victory over a Japanese fleet off Midway in 1942 was one of the turning points of World War II. The islands continued to serve as a naval station until 1993. Today the islands are a US National Wildlife Refuge. The refuge was open to the public from 1996 to 2002 and again from 2008 to 2012, but it is now closed. Palmyra Atoll: The Kingdom of Hawaii claimed the atoll in 1862, and the US included it among the Hawaiian Islands when it annexed the archipelago in 1898. The Hawaii Statehood Act of 1959 did not include Palmyra Atoll, which is now partly privately owned by the Nature Conservancy and partly US Government-owned and administered as a nature preserve. The lagoons and surrounding waters within the 12-nautical-mile US territorial seas were transferred to the US Fish and Wildlife Service and were designated a National Wildlife Refuge in 2001.

## Geography
Location: Oceania Baker Island: atoll in the North Pacific Ocean 3,390 km southwest of Honolulu, about halfway between Hawaii and Australia Howland Island: island in the North Pacific Ocean 3,360 km southwest of Honolulu, about halfway between Hawaii and Australia Jarvis Island: island in the South Pacific Ocean 2,415 km south of Honolulu, about halfway between Hawaii and Cook Islands Johnston Atoll: atoll in the North Pacific Ocean 1,330 km southwest of Honolulu, about one-third of the way from Hawaii to the Marshall Islands Kingman Reef: reef in the North Pacific Ocean 1,720 km south of Honolulu, about halfway between Hawaii and American Samoa Midway Islands: atoll in the North Pacific Ocean 2,335 km northwest of Honolulu near the end of the Hawaiian Archipelago, about one-third of the way from Honolulu to Tokyo Palmyra Atoll: atoll in the North Pacific Ocean 1,780 km south of Honolulu, about halfway between Hawaii and American Samoa
Geographic coordinates: Baker Island: 0 13 N, 176 28 W Howland Island: 0 48 N, 176 38 W Jarvis Island: 0 23 S, 160 01 W Johnston Atoll: 16 45 N, 169 31 W Kingman Reef: 6 23 N, 162 25 W Midway Islands: 28 12 N, 177 22 W Palmyra Atoll: 5 53 N, 162 05 W
Map references: Oceania
Area / land: 6,959.41 sq km (emergent land - 22.41 sq km; submerged - 6,937 sq km)
Area - comparative: Baker Island: about 2.5 times the size of the National Mall in Washington, D.C. Howland Island: about three times the size of the National Mall in Washington, D.C. Jarvis Island: about eight times the size of the National Mall in Washington, D.C. Johnston Atoll: about 4.5 times the size of the National Mall in Washington, D.C. Kingman Reef: a little more than 1.5 times the size of the National Mall in Washington, D.C. Midway Islands: about nine times the size of the National Mall in Washington, D.C. Palmyra Atoll: about 20 times the size of the National Mall in Washington, D.C.
Land boundaries / total: 0 km
Coastline: Baker Island: 4.8 km Howland Island: 6.4 km Jarvis Island: 8 km Johnston Atoll: 34 km Kingman Reef: 3 km Midway Islands: 15 km Palmyra Atoll: 14.5 km
Maritime claims / territorial sea: 12 nm
Maritime claims / exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate: Baker, Howland, and Jarvis Islands: equatorial; scant rainfall, constant wind, burning sun Johnston Atoll and Kingman Reef: tropical, but generally dry; consistent northeast trade winds with little seasonal temperature variation Midway Islands: subtropical with cool, moist winters (December to February) and warm, dry summers (May to October); moderated by prevailing easterly winds; most of the 107 cm of annual rainfall occurs during the winter Palmyra Atoll: equatorial, hot; located within the low pressure area of the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) where the northeast and southeast trade winds meet, it is extremely wet with between 400-500 cm of rainfall each year
Terrain: low and nearly flat sandy coral islands with narrow fringing reefs that have developed at the top of submerged volcanic mountains, which in most cases rise steeply from the ocean floor
Elevation / highest point: Baker Island, unnamed location 8 m; Howland Island, unnamed location 3 m; Jarvis Island, unnamed location 7 m; Johnston Atoll, Sand Island 10 m; Kingman Reef, unnamed location 2 m; Midway Islands, unnamed location less than 13 m; Palmyra Atoll, unnamed location 3 m
Elevation / lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
Natural resources: terrestrial and aquatic wildlife
Land use / other: 100% (2018 est.)
Natural hazards: Baker, Howland, and Jarvis Islands: the narrow fringing reef around the island poses a maritime hazard Kingman Reef: wet or awash most of the time; maximum elevation of less than 2 m makes the reef a maritime hazard
Geography - note: Baker, Howland, and Jarvis Islands: scattered vegetation consisting of grasses, vines, and low-growing shrubs; primarily a nesting, roosting, and foraging habitat for seabirds, shorebirds, and marine wildlife; closed to the public Johnston Atoll: Johnston Island and Sand Island are natural islands that have been expanded by coral dredging; North Island (Akau) and East Island (Hikina) are manmade islands formed from coral dredging; the egg-shaped reef is 34 km (21 mi) in circumference; closed to the public Kingman Reef: barren coral atoll with deep interior lagoon; closed to the public Midway Islands: a coral atoll managed as a National Wildlife Refuge and open to the public for wildlife observation and photography Palmyra Atoll: high rainfall and lush vegetation make the environment of this atoll unique among the US Pacific Island territories; supports a large undisturbed stand of Pisonia beach forest

## People and Society
Population: note : entry is only allowed through a Special Use Permit when the activity is deemed appropriate with purposes to the refuge establishment.

## Environment
Environmental issues: Baker Island: no natural freshwater resources Howland Island: no natural freshwater resources Jarvis Island : no natural freshwater resources Johnston Atoll: no natural freshwater resources; invasion of non-native species Midway Islands: pollution from plastic; predominantly non-native plant species Kingman Reef: none Palmyra Atoll: none
Climate: Baker, Howland, and Jarvis Islands: equatorial; scant rainfall, constant wind, burning sun Johnston Atoll and Kingman Reef: tropical, but generally dry; consistent northeast trade winds with little seasonal temperature variation Midway Islands: subtropical with cool, moist winters (December to February) and warm, dry summers (May to October); moderated by prevailing easterly winds; most of the 107 cm of annual rainfall occurs during the winter Palmyra Atoll: equatorial, hot; located within the low pressure area of the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) where the northeast and southeast trade winds meet, it is extremely wet with between 400-500 cm of rainfall each year
Land use / other: 100% (2018 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / total emissions: 294,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from petroleum and other liquids: 294,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: none
Country name / conventional short form: Baker Island, Howland Island, Jarvis Island, Johnston Atoll, Kingman Reef, Midway Islands, Palmyra Atoll
Country name / etymology: self-descriptive name specifying the territories' affiliation and location
Dependency status: with the exception of Palmyra Atoll, the constituent islands are unincorporated, unorganized territories of the US; administered by the Fish and Wildlife Service of the US Department of the Interior as part of the National Wildlife Refuge System
Legal system: the laws of the US apply
Diplomatic representation from the US: none (territories of the US)
Flag: the US flag is used

## Economy

## Energy
Coal / imports: 108,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum / refined petroleum consumption: 2,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

## Communications

## Transportation
Airports: 2 (2025)

## Military and Security
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of the US

## Transnational Issues

=== Wallis and Futuna ===

## Introduction
Background: Around 800 B.C., the first settlers arrived on the islands of Wallis and Futuna, which are a natural midpoint between Fiji and Samoa. Around A.D. 1500, Tongans invaded Wallis, and a chiefdom system resembling Tonga’s formal hierarchy developed on the island. Tongans attempted to settle Futuna but were repeatedly rebuffed. Samoans settled Futuna in the 1600s, and a slightly less centralized chiefdom system formed. Dutch explorers were the first Europeans to see the islands in 1616, followed intermittently by other Europeans, including British explorer Samuel WALLIS in 1767. French Catholic missionaries were the first Europeans to permanently settle Wallis and Futuna in 1837, and they converted most of the population of both islands by 1846. The missionaries and newly converted King LAVELUA of Uvea on Wallis asked France for a protectorate in 1842 following a local rebellion. France agreed, although the protectorate status would not be ratified until 1887. In 1888, King MUSULAMU of Alo and King TAMOLE of Sigave, both on Futuna, signed a treaty establishing a French protectorate; the Wallis and Futuna protectorate was integrated into the territory of New Caledonia the same year. France renegotiated the terms of the protectorate with the territory’s three kings in 1910, expanding French authority. Wallis and Futuna was the only French colony to side with the Vichy regime during World War II, until the arrival of Free French and US troops in 1942. In 1959, inhabitants of the islands voted to separate from New Caledonia, becoming a French overseas territory in 1961. Despite the split, a significant Wallisian and Futunan community still lives in New Caledonia. In 2003, Wallis and Futuna became a French overseas collectivity. The islands joined the Pacific Islands Forum as an associate member in 2018, two years after France’s other Pacific territories became full members of the organization.

## Geography
Location: Oceania, islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about two-thirds of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand
Geographic coordinates: 13 18 S, 176 12 W
Map references: Oceania
Area / total: 142 sq km
Area / land: 142 sq km
Area / water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative: 1.5 times the size of Washington, D.C.
Land boundaries / total: 0 km
Coastline: 129 km
Maritime claims / territorial sea: 12 nm
Maritime claims / exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate: tropical; hot, rainy season (November to April); cool, dry season (May to October); rains 250-300 cm per year (80% humidity); average temperature 26.6 degrees Celsius
Terrain: volcanic origin; low hills
Elevation / highest point: Mont Singavi (on Futuna) 522 m
Elevation / lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
Natural resources: NEGL
Land use / agricultural land: 42.3% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 7% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 35.2% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 0% (2022 est.)
Land use / forest: 74.9% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 0% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land: 0.6 sq km (2022)
Natural hazards: cyclones; tsunamis
Geography - note: both island groups have fringing reefs; Wallis contains several prominent crater lakes

## People and Society
Population / total: 15,998 (2025 est.)
Population / male: 8,217
Population / female: 7,781
Nationality / noun: Wallisian(s), Futunan(s), or Wallis and Futuna Islanders
Nationality / adjective: Wallisian, Futunan, or Wallis and Futuna Islander
Ethnic groups: Polynesian
Languages: Wallisian (indigenous Polynesian language) 58.9%, Futunian 30.1%, French (official) 10.8%, other 0.2% (2003 est.)
Religions: Roman Catholic 99%, other 1%
Age structure / 0-14 years: 19.8% (male 1,643/female 1,511)
Age structure / 15-64 years: 67.5% (male 5,535/female 5,247)
Age structure / 65 years and over: 12.7% (2024 est.) (male 1,023/female 1,005)
Dependency ratios / total dependency ratio: 48.7 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / youth dependency ratio: 29 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / elderly dependency ratio: 19.7 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / potential support ratio: 5.1 (2025 est.)
Median age / total: 36.9 years (2025 est.)
Median age / male: 35.5 years
Median age / female: 37.3 years
Population growth rate: 0.19% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 11.63 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 6.13 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: -3.56 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Urbanization / urban population: 0% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 0% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 1,000 MATA-UTU (capital) (2018)
Sex ratio / at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 0-14 years: 1.09 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 15-64 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 65 years and over: 1.02 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / total population: 1.06 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Infant mortality rate / total: 3.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Infant mortality rate / male: 3.8 deaths/1,000 live births
Infant mortality rate / female: 3.9 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth / total population: 81.1 years (2024 est.)
Life expectancy at birth / male: 78.2 years
Life expectancy at birth / female: 84.2 years
Total fertility rate: 1.71 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 0.84 (2025 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: rural: rural: 99.3% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: total: total: 99.3% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: urban: urban: NA
Drinking water source / unimproved: rural: rural: 0.7% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: total: total: 0.7% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: rural: rural: 94.2% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: total: total: 94.2% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: rural: rural: 5.8% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: total: total: 5.8% of population (2022 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49): 57.2% (2018 est.)
Literacy / total population: 99.8% (2023 est.)
Literacy / male: 99.9% (2023 est.)
Literacy / female: 100% (2023 est.)

## Environment
Environmental issues: deforestation (only small portions of the original forests remain) due to wood as the main fuel source; soil erosion; lack of natural freshwater resources; lack of soil fertility on the islands of Uvea and Futuna
Climate: tropical; hot, rainy season (November to April); cool, dry season (May to October); rains 250-300 cm per year (80% humidity); average temperature 26.6 degrees Celsius
Land use / agricultural land: 42.3% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 7% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 35.2% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 0% (2022 est.)
Land use / forest: 74.9% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 0% (2023 est.)
Urbanization / urban population: 0% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 0% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: Territory of the Wallis and Futuna Islands
Country name / conventional short form: Wallis and Futuna
Country name / local long form: Territoire des Iles Wallis et Futuna
Country name / local short form: Wallis et Futuna
Country name / former: Hoorn Islands is the former name of the Futuna Islands
Country name / etymology: Wallis Island is named after British Captain Samuel WALLIS, who visited in 1767; Futuna is a local name, and the meaning is unclear
Government type: parliamentary democracy (Territorial Assembly); overseas collectivity of France
Dependency status: overseas collectivity of France
Capital / name: Mata-Utu (on Ile Uvea)
Capital / geographic coordinates: 13 57 S, 171 56 W
Capital / time difference: UTC+12 (17 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Administrative divisions: 3 administrative precincts ( circonscriptions , singular - circonscription ) Alo, Sigave, Uvea
Legal system: French civil law
Constitution / history: 4 October 1958 (French Constitution)
Constitution / amendment process: French constitution amendment procedures apply
Citizenship: see France
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch / chief of state: President Emmanuel MACRON (since 14 May 2017); represented by Administrator Superior Jean-Fran&ccedil;ois de MANHEULLE (since 17 November 2025)
Executive branch / head of government: President of the Territorial Assembly Munipoese MULI'AKA'AKA (since 20 March 2022)
Executive branch / cabinet: Council of the Territory appointed by the administrator superior on the advice of the Territorial Assembly
Executive branch / election/appointment process: French president elected by absolute-majority popular vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); administrator superior appointed by the French president on the advice of the French Ministry of the Interior; the presidents of the Territorial Government and the Territorial Assembly elected by assembly members
Legislative branch / legislature name: Territorial Assembly (Assembl&eacute;e territoriale)
Legislative branch / legislative structure: unicameral
Legislative branch / number of seats: 20 (directly elected)
Legislative branch / electoral system: proportional representation
Legislative branch / scope of elections: full renewal
Legislative branch / term in office: 5 years
Legislative branch / most recent election date: 3/20/2022
Legislative branch / parties elected and seats per party: Ofa mo'oni ki tou fenua (2); Mauli fetokoniaki (2); 1 seat each from 16 other lists
Judicial branch / highest court(s): Court of Assizes or Cour d'Assizes (consists of 1 judge; court hears primarily serious criminal cases)
Judicial branch / judge selection and term of office: NA
Judicial branch / subordinate courts: courts of first instance; labor court
Political parties: Left Radical Party or PRG (formerly Radical Socialist Party or PRS and the Left Radical Movement or MRG) Lua Kae Tahi (Giscardians) Rally for Wallis and Futuna-The Republicans (Rassemblement pour Wallis and Futuna) or RPWF-LR Socialist Party or PS Taumu'a Lelei Union Pour la Democratie Francaise or UDF
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (overseas territory of France)
Diplomatic representation from the US: none (overseas collectivity of France)
International organization participation: PIF (observer), SPC, UPU
Independence: none (overseas collectivity of France)
National holiday: Fête de la Fédération, 14 July (1790)
Flag: description: unofficial local flag has a red field with four white isosceles triangles in the middle; the apexes of the triangles are oriented inward and at right angles to each other; a small flag of France, outlined in white on two sides, is in the upper-left corner meaning: the triangles represent the three native kings of the islands and the French administrator history: the design is derived from a red flag with a white cross that French missionaries introduced in the 19th century
National symbol(s): red saltire (Saint Andrew's Cross) on a white square on a red field
National color(s): red, white
National anthem(s) / title: "La Marseillaise" (The Song of Marseille)
National anthem(s) / lyrics/music: Claude-Joseph ROUGET de Lisle
National anthem(s) / history: official anthem, as a French territory

## Economy
Economic overview: lower-middle-income, agrarian French dependency economy; heavily reliant on French subsidies; licenses fishing rights to Japan and South Korea; major remittances from New Caledonia; aging workforce; import-dependent; deforestation-fueled fragility
Agricultural products: coconuts, breadfruit, yams, taro, bananas; pigs, goats; fish
Industries: copra, handicrafts, fishing, lumber
Budget / revenues: $32.54 million (2015 est.)
Budget / expenditures: $34.18 million (2015 est.)
Exports - partners: Denmark 35%, Sweden 14%, Netherlands 14%, Pakistan 9%, Poland 7% (2023)
Exports - commodities: seats (2023)
Imports - partners: Fiji 35%, France 32%, NZ 11%, Australia 6%, China 4% (2023)
Imports - commodities: refined petroleum, prepared meat, poultry, iron pipe fittings, animal food (2023)
Exchange rates / Currency: Comptoirs Francais du Pacifique francs (XPF) per US dollar -
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2024: 110.31 (2024 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2023: 110.347 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2022: 113.474 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2021: 100.88 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2020: 104.711 (2020 est.)

## Communications
Telephones - fixed lines / total subscriptions: 3,000 (2021 est.)
Telephones - fixed lines / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 26 (2021 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / total subscriptions: 12,200 (2023)
Telephones - mobile cellular / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 107 (2023)
Broadcast media: publicly owned French Overseas Network (RFO), which broadcasts to France's overseas departments, collectivities, and territories, is carried on the RFO Wallis and Fortuna TV and radio stations (2019)
Internet country code: .wf
Internet users / percent of population: 45.8% (2021 est.)

## Transportation
Airports: 2 (2025)
Merchant marine / total: 1 (2023)
Merchant marine / by type: general cargo 1
Ports / total ports: 1 (2024)
Ports / large: 0
Ports / medium: 0
Ports / small: 0
Ports / very small: 1
Ports / ports with oil terminals: 0
Ports / key ports: Mata-Utu

## Military and Security
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of France

## Transnational Issues

=== Wake Island ===

## Introduction
Background: Early Micronesian and Polynesian settlers probably visited Wake Island, and oral legends tell of periodic voyages to the islands by people from the Marshall Islands. Wake Island was uninhabited when Spanish explorer Alvaro de Mendana de NEYRA became the first European to see it in 1568 and still had no inhabitants when English captain Samuel WAKE sailed by it in 1796. The United States Exploring Expedition visited the island in 1841, and the US annexed it in 1899 to use as a cable and refueling station for its newly acquired Pacific territories of Hawaii, the Philippines, and Guam. In the 1930s, Pan American Airways built facilities on Wake Island so that it could be used as a stopover for flights from the US to China. In 1941, the US began to install military assets on Wake Island, and Japan then captured the island and held it until the end of World War II. In 1946, commercial airlines resumed using Wake Island as a refueling stop. In 1973, the Marshall Islands claimed Wake Island, based on the oral legends, although the US has not recognized these claims. In 1974, the US military took exclusive control of the island’s airstrip and restricted visitors. In 1978, Bikini Islanders from the Marshall Islands, who were evacuated in the 1950s and 1960s because of US nuclear tests, considered rehoming on Wake Island, but the US military rejected that plan. Since the 1970s, the island has been important for missile defense testing. In 2009, Wake Island was included in the Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument.

## Geography
Location: Oceania, atoll in the North Pacific Ocean, about two-thirds of the way from Hawaii to the Northern Mariana Islands
Geographic coordinates: 19 17 N, 166 39 E
Map references: Oceania
Area / total: 7 sq km
Area / land: 6.5 sq km
Area / water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative: about 11 times the size of the National Mall in Washington, D.C.
Land boundaries / total: 0 km
Coastline: 19.3 km
Maritime claims / territorial sea: 12 nm
Maritime claims / exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate: tropical
Terrain: atoll of three low coral islands, Peale, Wake, and Wilkes, built up on an underwater volcano; central lagoon is former crater, islands are part of the rim
Elevation / highest point: unnamed location 8 m
Elevation / lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
Natural resources: none
Land use / agricultural land: 0% (2018 est.)
Land use / other: 100% (2018 est.)
Irrigated land: 0 sq km (2022)
Natural hazards: subject to occasional typhoons
Geography - note: strategic location in the North Pacific Ocean

## People and Society
Population / total: no permanent inhabitants

## Environment
Environmental issues: limited potable water; hazardous waste disposal
Climate: tropical
Land use / agricultural land: 0% (2018 est.)
Land use / other: 100% (2018 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / total emissions: 1.214 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from petroleum and other liquids: 1.214 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: none
Country name / conventional short form: Wake Island
Country name / etymology: the name comes from one of two explorers who sighted the islands in the late 1700s; British Captain William WAKE visited in 1792, as did his relative, British Captain Samuel WAKE, in 1796, and sources disagree on which captain claimed the honor of naming the island
Dependency status: unincorporated, unorganized territory of the US; administered by the Department of the Interior; the 11th US Air Force currently conducts activities on the atoll, and it is managed from Pacific Air Force Support Center
Legal system: US common law
Citizenship: see United States
Independence: none (territory of the US)
Flag: the US flag is used

## Economy

## Energy
Electricity access / electrification - total population: 100% (2021)
Petroleum / refined petroleum consumption: 8,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

## Communications
Broadcast media: US Armed Forces Radio and Television Service (AFRTS) provides satellite radio/TV broadcasts (2018)

## Transportation
Airports: 1 (2025)
Ports / total ports: 1 (2024)
Ports / large: 0
Ports / medium: 0
Ports / small: 0
Ports / very small: 1
Ports / ports with oil terminals: 1
Ports / key ports: Wake Island

## Military and Security
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of the US; the island serves as a trans-Pacific refueling stop for military aircraft and supports US Missile Defense Agency (MDA) testing activities; Wake is managed by the US Air Force (2025)

## Transnational Issues

=== Samoa ===

## Introduction
Background: The first Austronesian settlers arrived in Samoa around 1000 B.C., and early Samoans traded and intermarried with Fijian and Tongan nobility. The fa’amatai system of titles and nobility developed, which dominates Samoan politics to this day; all but two seats in the legislature are reserved for matai, or heads of families. A Dutch explorer was the first European to spot the islands in 1722. Christian missionaries arrived in the 1830s and were followed by an influx of American and European settlers and influence. By the 1880s, Germany, the UK, and the US had trading posts and claimed parts of the kingdom. In 1886, an eight-year civil war broke out, with rival matai factions fighting over royal succession and the three foreign powers providing support to the factions. Germany, the UK, and the US all sent warships to Apia in 1889 and came close to conflict, but a cyclone damaged or destroyed the ships of all three navies. At the end of the civil war in 1894, Malietoa LAUPEPA was installed as king, but upon his death in 1898, a second civil war over succession broke out. When the war ended in 1899, the Western powers abolished the monarchy, giving the western Samoan islands to Germany and the eastern Samoan islands to the US. The UK abandoned claims in Samoa and received former German territory in the Solomon Islands. New Zealand occupied Samoa during World War I but was accused of negligence and opposed by many Samoans, particularly an organized political movement called the Mau (“Strongly Held View”) that advocated for independence. During the 1918-1919 influenza pandemic, about 20% of the population died. In 1929, New Zealand police shot into a crowd of peaceful Mau protestors, killing 11, in an event known as Black Sunday. In 1962, Samoa became the first Polynesian nation to reestablish its independence as Western Samoa but dropped the “Western” from its name in 1997. The Human Rights Protection Party dominated politics from 1982 until Prime Minister FIAME Naomi Mata'afa's Fa'atuatua i le Atua Samoa ua Tasi (FAST) party gained a majority in elections in 2021.

## Geography
Location: Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about halfway between Hawaii and New Zealand
Geographic coordinates: 13 35 S, 172 20 W
Map references: Oceania
Area / total: 2,831 sq km
Area / land: 2,821 sq km
Area / water: 10 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly smaller than Rhode Island
Land boundaries / total: 0 km
Coastline: 403 km
Maritime claims / territorial sea: 12 nm
Maritime claims / contiguous zone: 24 nm
Maritime claims / exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate: tropical; rainy season (November to April), dry season (May to October)
Terrain: two main islands (Savaii, Upolu) and several smaller islands and uninhabited islets; narrow coastal plain with volcanic, rugged mountains in interior
Elevation / highest point: Mount Silisili 1,857 m
Elevation / lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
Natural resources: hardwood forests, fish, hydropower
Land use / agricultural land: 17.6% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 3.9% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 11.4% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 2.3% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 57.8% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 24.6% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land: 0 sq km (2022)
Population distribution: about three quarters of the population lives on the island of Upolu
Natural hazards: occasional cyclones; active volcanism volcanism: Savai'I Island (1,858 m) is historically active
Geography - note: occupies an almost central position within Polynesia

## People and Society
Population / total: 210,223 (2025 est.)
Population / male: 106,542
Population / female: 103,681
Nationality / noun: Samoan(s)
Nationality / adjective: Samoan
Ethnic groups: Samoan 96%, Samoan/New Zealander 2%, other 1.9% (2011 est.)
Languages: Samoan (Polynesian) (official) 91.1%, Samoan/English 6.7%, English (official) 0.5%, other 0.2%, unspecified 1.6% (2006 est.)
Religions: Protestant 54.9% (Congregationalist 29%, Methodist 12.4%, Assembly of God 6.8%, Seventh Day Adventist 4.4%, other Protestant 2.3%), Roman Catholic 18.8%, Church of Jesus Christ 16.9%, Worship Centre 2.8%, other Christian 3.6%, other 2.9% (includes Baha'i, Muslim), none 0.2% (2016 est.)
Age structure / 0-14 years: 26.9% (male 28,952/female 27,173)
Age structure / 15-64 years: 65.9% (male 70,225/female 67,427)
Age structure / 65 years and over: 7.2% (2024 est.) (male 6,743/female 8,333)
Dependency ratios / total dependency ratio: 51.6 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / youth dependency ratio: 40.2 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / elderly dependency ratio: 11.4 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / potential support ratio: 8.8 (2025 est.)
Median age / total: 27.8 years (2025 est.)
Median age / male: 27 years
Median age / female: 27.8 years
Population growth rate: 0.66% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 18.53 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 5.41 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: -6.57 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution: about three quarters of the population lives on the island of Upolu
Urbanization / urban population: 17.5% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: -0.03% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 36,000 APIA (capital) (2018)
Sex ratio / at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 0-14 years: 1.07 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 15-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 65 years and over: 0.81 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio: 101 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Infant mortality rate / total: 17.2 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Infant mortality rate / male: 20.9 deaths/1,000 live births
Infant mortality rate / female: 13.6 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth / total population: 75.7 years (2024 est.)
Life expectancy at birth / male: 72.8 years
Life expectancy at birth / female: 78.7 years
Total fertility rate: 2.29 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 1.12 (2025 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: urban: urban: 100% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: rural: rural: 98.8% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: total: total: 99% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: urban: urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: rural: rural: 1.2% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: total: total: 1% of population (2022 est.)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 6.8% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 15.2% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density: 0.56 physicians/1,000 population (2021)
Sanitation facility access / improved: urban: urban: 99.7% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: rural: rural: 98.9% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: total: total: 99% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: urban: urban: 0.3% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: rural: rural: 1.1% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: total: total: 1% of population (2022 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 47.3% (2016)
Alcohol consumption per capita / total: 2.18 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / beer: 2.01 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / wine: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / spirits: 0.17 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / other alcohols: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Tobacco use / total: 20.5% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / male: 28.6% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / female: 12.3% (2025 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 3.4% (2019 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49): 62% (2020 est.)
Child marriage / women married by age 15: 0.9% (2020)
Child marriage / women married by age 18: 7.4% (2020)
Child marriage / men married by age 18: 2% (2020)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% GDP): 5.5% of GDP (2024 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% national budget): 11.7% national budget (2025 est.)
Literacy / total population: 98% (2019 est.)
Literacy / male: 98.3% (2019 est.)
Literacy / female: 97.7% (2019 est.)

## Environment
Environmental issues: soil erosion; deforestation; invasive species; overfishing
International environmental agreements / party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
International environmental agreements / signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Climate: tropical; rainy season (November to April), dry season (May to October)
Land use / agricultural land: 17.6% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 3.9% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 11.4% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 2.3% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 57.8% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 24.6% (2023 est.)
Urbanization / urban population: 17.5% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: -0.03% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / total emissions: 335,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from petroleum and other liquids: 335,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Particulate matter emissions: 7.8 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Waste and recycling / municipal solid waste generated annually: 27,400 tons (2024 est.)
Waste and recycling / percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 57.6% (2022 est.)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: Independent State of Samoa
Country name / conventional short form: Samoa
Country name / local long form: Malo Sa'oloto Tuto'atasi o Samoa
Country name / local short form: Samoa
Country name / former: Western Samoa
Country name / etymology: the name's meaning and origin are unclear; some assert that it can mean "place of the moa bird" of Polynesian mythology, or it could be a local chieftain's name
Government type: parliamentary republic
Capital / name: Apia
Capital / geographic coordinates: 13 49 S, 171 46 W
Capital / time difference: UTC+13 (18 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Administrative divisions: 11 districts; A'ana, Aiga-i-le-Tai, Atua, Fa'asaleleaga, Gaga'emauga, Gagaifomauga, Palauli, Satupa'itea, Tuamasaga, Va'a-o-Fonoti, Vaisigano
Legal system: mixed system of English common law and customary law; judicial review of legislative acts involving fundamental citizen rights
Constitution / history: several previous (pre-independence); latest 1 January 1962
Constitution / amendment process: proposed as an act by the Legislative Assembly; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote by the Assembly membership in the third reading, provided at least 90 days have elapsed since the second reading, and assent of the chief of state; passage of amendments affecting constitutional articles on customary land or constitutional amendment procedures also requires at least two-thirds majority approval in a referendum
International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Citizenship / citizenship by birth: no
Citizenship / citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Samoa
Citizenship / dual citizenship recognized: no
Citizenship / residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years
Suffrage: 21 years of age; universal
Executive branch / chief of state: TUIMALEALI'IFANO Va&rsquo;aletoa Sualauvi II (since 21 July 2017)
Executive branch / head of government: Prime Minister LA'AULIALEMALIETOA La'auli Leuatea Schmidt (since 16 September 2025)
Executive branch / cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the chief of state on the advice of the prime minister
Executive branch / election/appointment process: chief of state indirectly elected by the Legislative Assembly to serve a 5-year term (2-term limit); following legislative elections, the chief of state usually appoints the leader of the majority party as prime minister, with the approval of the Legislative Assembly
Executive branch / most recent election date: 23 August 2022
Executive branch / election results: TUIMALEALI'IFANO Va&rsquo;aletoa Sualauvi II (independent) unanimously reelected by the Legislative Assembly
Executive branch / expected date of next election: 2026
Legislative branch / legislature name: Legislative Assembly (Fono)
Legislative branch / legislative structure: unicameral
Legislative branch / number of seats: 51 (all directly elected)
Legislative branch / electoral system: plurality/majority
Legislative branch / scope of elections: full renewal
Legislative branch / term in office: 5 years
Legislative branch / most recent election date: 8/29/2025
Legislative branch / parties elected and seats per party: Faatuatua ile Atua Samoa ua Tasi (FAST) (32); Human Rights Protection Party (HRPP) (22), Sāmoa Uniting Party (SUP) (3), Independents (4)
Legislative branch / percentage of women in chamber: 9.8%
Legislative branch / expected date of next election: August 2030
Judicial branch / highest court(s): Court of Appeal (consists of the chief justice and 2 Supreme Court judges and meets once or twice a year); Supreme Court (consists of the chief justice and several judges)
Judicial branch / judge selection and term of office: chief justice appointed by the chief of state on the advice of the prime minister; other Supreme Court judges appointed by the Judicial Service Commission, a 3-member body chaired by the chief justice and includes the attorney general and an appointee of the Minister of Justice; judges normally serve until retirement at age 68
Judicial branch / subordinate courts: District Court; Magistrates' Courts; Land and Titles Courts; village chief councils
Political parties: Fa'atuatua i le Atua Samoa ua Tasi or FAST Human Rights Protection Party or HRPP Sāmoa Uniting Party (SUP) Tautua Samoa Party or TSP
Diplomatic representation in the US / chief of mission: Ambassador Pa’olelei LUTERU (since 7 July 2021); note - also Permanent Representative to the UN
Diplomatic representation in the US / chancery: 685 Third Avenue, 44th Street, 11th Floor, Suite 1102, New York, NY 10017
Diplomatic representation in the US / telephone: [1] (212) 599-6196
Diplomatic representation in the US / FAX: [1] (212) 599-0797
Diplomatic representation in the US / email address and website: samoa@samoanymission.ws About | Samoa Permanent Mission to the United Nations
Diplomatic representation in the US / consulate(s) general: Pago Pago (American Samoa)
Diplomatic representation from the US / chief of mission: the US Ambassador to New Zealand is accredited to Samoa
Diplomatic representation from the US / embassy: 5th Floor, Accident Corporation Building, Matafele Apia
Diplomatic representation from the US / mailing address: 4400 Apia Place, Washington DC 20521-4400
Diplomatic representation from the US / telephone: [685] 21-436
Diplomatic representation from the US / FAX: [685] 22-030
Diplomatic representation from the US / email address and website: ApiaConsular@state.gov https://ws.usembassy.gov/
International organization participation: ACP, ADB, AOSIS, C, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Independence: 1 January 1962 (from New Zealand-administered UN trusteeship)
National holiday: Independence Day Celebration, 1 June (1962)
Flag: description: red with a blue rectangle in the upper-left quadrant; on the rectangle are five five-pointed white stars that represent the Southern Cross constellation meaning: red stands for courage, blue for freedom, and white for purity
National symbol(s): Southern Cross constellation (five five-pointed stars)
National color(s): red, white, blue
National anthem(s) / title: "O le Fu'a o le Sa'olotoga o Samoa" (The Banner of Freedom)
National anthem(s) / lyrics/music: Sauni Liga KURESA
National anthem(s) / history: adopted 1962; also known as "Samoa Tula'i" (Samoa Arise)

## Economy
Economic overview: ower middle-income Pacific island economy; enormous fishing and agriculture industries; significant remittances; growing offshore financial hub; recently hosted Pacific Games to drive tourism and infrastructure growth
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $1.503 billion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $1.374 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $1.258 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2024: 9.4% (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2023: 9.2% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2022: -5.3% (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2024: $6,900 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2023: $6,300 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2022: $5,800 (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $1.068 billion (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024: 2.2% (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023: 7.9% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 11% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / agriculture: 11% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / industry: 10.9% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / services: 72.5% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / household consumption: 80.8% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / government consumption: 18.2% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in fixed capital: 30.5% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in inventories: 2.3% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / exports of goods and services: 29.3% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / imports of goods and services: -53.8% (2024 est.)
Agricultural products: coconuts, bananas, taro, tropical fruits, pineapples, mangoes/guavas, papayas, root vegetables, milk, avocados (2023)
Industries: food processing, building materials, auto parts
Industrial production growth rate: 4.2% (2024 est.)
Labor force: 57,200 (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2024: 4.6% (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2023: 5% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2022: 5.1% (2022 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / total: 11.9% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / male: 7.4% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / female: 20.9% (2024 est.)
Population below poverty line: 21.9% (2018 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2024: 26.4% of GDP (2024 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2023: 28.2% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2022: 33.6% of GDP (2022 est.)
Budget / revenues: $371.764 million (2023 est.)
Budget / expenditures: $326.052 million (2023 est.)
Public debt / Public debt 2016: 52.6% of GDP (2016 est.)
Taxes and other revenues: 26.7% (of GDP) (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2024: $64.616 million (2024 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2023: $40.177 million (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2022: -$74.039 million (2022 est.)
Exports / Exports 2024: $369.73 million (2024 est.)
Exports / Exports 2023: $346.187 million (2023 est.)
Exports / Exports 2022: $175.377 million (2022 est.)
Exports - partners: India 26%, NZ 14%, USA 12%, American Samoa 10%, Australia 9% (2023)
Exports - commodities: refined petroleum, integrated circuits, coconut oil, fish, insulated wire (2023)
Imports / Imports 2024: $575.749 million (2024 est.)
Imports / Imports 2023: $560.776 million (2023 est.)
Imports / Imports 2022: $512.021 million (2022 est.)
Imports - partners: NZ 20%, Singapore 19%, China 17%, Australia 10%, Fiji 9% (2023)
Imports - commodities: refined petroleum, poultry, cars, plastic products, milk (2023)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024: $507.74 million (2024 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023: $447.09 million (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $321.163 million (2022 est.)
Debt - external / Debt - external 2023: $269.974 million (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Currency: tala (SAT) per US dollar -
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2024: 2.754 (2024 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2023: 2.738 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2022: 2.689 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2021: 2.556 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2020: 2.665 (2020 est.)

## Energy
Electricity access / electrification - total population: 98.3% (2022 est.)
Electricity access / electrification - urban areas: 100%
Electricity access / electrification - rural areas: 97.9%
Electricity / installed generating capacity: 54,000 kW (2023 est.)
Electricity / consumption: 141.846 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / transmission/distribution losses: 17.284 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / fossil fuels: 59.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / solar: 15.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / wind: 0.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / hydroelectricity: 18.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / biomass and waste: 6.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Petroleum / refined petroleum consumption: 2,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Energy consumption per capita / Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 23.476 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

## Communications
Telephones - fixed lines / total subscriptions: 5,000 (2022 est.)
Telephones - fixed lines / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 2 (2022 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / total subscriptions: 134,000 (2022 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 62 (2022 est.)
Broadcast media: state-owned TV station privatized in 2008; 4 privately owned TV stations; about a half-dozen privately owned radio stations and one state-owned; TV and radio broadcasts of several stations from American Samoa are available (2019)
Internet country code: .ws
Internet users / percent of population: 58% (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / total: 2,000 (2022 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 1 (2022 est.)

## Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: 5W
Airports: 4 (2025)
Merchant marine / total: 13 (2023)
Merchant marine / by type: general cargo 3, oil tanker 1, other 9
Ports / total ports: 1 (2024)
Ports / large: 0
Ports / medium: 0
Ports / small: 0
Ports / very small: 1
Ports / ports with oil terminals: 1
Ports / key ports: Apia

## Military and Security
Military and security forces: no regular military forces; Samoa Police Service (includes a maritime unit) (2025)
Military - note: informal defense ties exist with New Zealand, which pledged to afford assistance to Samoa in the conduct of its international relations under the 1962 Treaty of Friendship; New Zealand naval vessels patrol Samoan waters Samoa has a "shiprider" agreement with the US, which allows local maritime law enforcement officers to embark on US Coast Guard (USCG) and US Navy (USN) vessels, including to board and search vessels suspected of violating laws or regulations within Somoa's designated exclusive economic zone (EEZ) or on the high seas; "shiprider" agreements also enable USCG personnel and USN vessels with embarked USCG law enforcement personnel to work with host nations to protect critical regional resources (2025)

## Transnational Issues

=== Aruba ===

## Introduction
Background: Discovered and claimed for Spain in 1499, Aruba was acquired by the Dutch in 1636. Three main industries have since dominated the island's economy: gold mining, oil refining, and tourism. A 19th-century gold rush was followed by prosperity brought on by the opening of an oil refinery in 1924. The last decades of the 20th century saw a boom in the tourism industry. Aruba seceded from the Netherlands Antilles in 1986 and became a separate, semi-autonomous member of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Movement toward full independence was halted at Aruba's request in 1990.

## Geography
Location: Caribbean, island in the Caribbean Sea, north of Venezuela
Geographic coordinates: 12 30 N, 69 58 W
Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
Area / total: 180 sq km
Area / land: 180 sq km
Area / water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly larger than Washington, D.C.
Land boundaries / total: 0 km
Coastline: 68.5 km
Maritime claims / territorial sea: 12 nm
Maritime claims / exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate: tropical marine; little seasonal temperature variation
Terrain: flat with a few hills; scant vegetation
Elevation / highest point: Ceru Jamanota 188 m
Elevation / lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
Natural resources: NEGL; white sandy beaches foster tourism
Land use / agricultural land: 11.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 11.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 0% (2022 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 0% (2022 est.)
Land use / forest: 2.7% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 86.2% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land: NA
Population distribution: most residents live in or around Oranjestad and San Nicolaas; most settlements tend to be located on the less mountainous western side of the island
Natural hazards: hurricanes; lies outside the Caribbean hurricane belt and is rarely threatened
Geography - note: a flat, riverless island known for its white sand beaches; its tropical climate is moderated by constant trade winds from the Atlantic Ocean; the temperature is almost constant at about 27 degrees Celsius (81 degrees Fahrenheit)

## People and Society
Population / total: 125,063 (2024 est.)
Population / male: 59,101
Population / female: 65,962
Nationality / noun: Aruban(s)
Nationality / adjective: Aruban; Dutch
Ethnic groups: Dutch 78.7%, Colombian 6.6%, Venezuelan 5.5%, Dominican 2.8%, Haitian 1.3%, other 5.1% (2020 est.)
Languages: Papiamento (official) (a creole language that mixes Portuguese, Spanish, Dutch, English, French, African languages, and Arawak) 69.4%, Spanish 13.7%, English (widely spoken) 7.1%, Dutch (official) 6.1%, Chinese 1.5%, other 1.7%, unspecified 0.4% (2010 est.)
Religions: Roman Catholic 75.3%, Protestant 4.9% (includes Methodist 0.9%, Adventist 0.9%, Anglican 0.4%, other Protestant 2.7%), Jehovah's Witness 1.7%, other 12%, none 5.5%, unspecified 0.5% (2010 est.)
Age structure / 0-14 years: 17.2% (male 10,815/female 10,747)
Age structure / 15-64 years: 65.7% (male 39,621/female 42,487)
Age structure / 65 years and over: 17.1% (2024 est.) (male 8,665/female 12,728)
Dependency ratios / total dependency ratio: 52.3 (2024 est.)
Dependency ratios / youth dependency ratio: 26.3 (2024 est.)
Dependency ratios / elderly dependency ratio: 26.1 (2024 est.)
Dependency ratios / potential support ratio: 3.8 (2024 est.)
Median age / total: 41.2 years (2025 est.)
Median age / male: 39.3 years
Median age / female: 42.4 years
Population growth rate: 1.05% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 11.44 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 8.85 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: 7.91 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution: most residents live in or around Oranjestad and San Nicolaas; most settlements tend to be located on the less mountainous western side of the island
Urbanization / urban population: 44.3% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 0.77% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 30,000 ORANJESTAD (capital) (2018)
Sex ratio / at birth: 1.02 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 0-14 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 15-64 years: 0.93 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 65 years and over: 0.68 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / total population: 0.9 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Infant mortality rate / total: 11.2 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Infant mortality rate / male: 15.6 deaths/1,000 live births
Infant mortality rate / female: 7.3 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth / total population: 78.5 years (2024 est.)
Life expectancy at birth / male: 75.4 years
Life expectancy at birth / female: 81.6 years
Total fertility rate: 1.82 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 0.9 (2025 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: total: total: 98.8% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: total: total: 1.2% of population (2022 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49): 46.8% (2020 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% GDP): 3.6% of GDP (2021 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% national budget): 11% national budget (2021 est.)

## Environment
Environmental issues: difficulty in properly disposing waste from tourists; air pollution from waste-burning; water pollution from plastics
Climate: tropical marine; little seasonal temperature variation
Land use / agricultural land: 11.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 11.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 0% (2022 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 0% (2022 est.)
Land use / forest: 2.7% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 86.2% (2023 est.)
Urbanization / urban population: 44.3% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 0.77% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / total emissions: 1.163 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from petroleum and other liquids: 1.163 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Waste and recycling / municipal solid waste generated annually: 88,100 tons (2024 est.)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: Country of Aruba
Country name / conventional short form: Aruba
Country name / local long form: Land Aruba (Dutch); Pais Aruba (Papiamento)
Country name / local short form: Aruba
Country name / etymology: the origin of the island's name is unclear; according to tradition, the name comes from the Spanish phrase oro hubo ("there was gold"), but no gold was ever found on the island; other possible sources are either the local word oruba ("well-situated") or a combination of two Carib Indian words, ora and oubao ("shell" and "island," respectively)
Government type: parliamentary democracy; part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands
Dependency status: one of four constituent countries of the Kingdom of the Netherlands; full autonomy in internal affairs obtained in 1986 upon separation from the Netherlands Antilles; Dutch government responsible for defense and foreign affairs
Capital / name: Oranjestad
Capital / geographic coordinates: 12 31 N, 70 02 W
Capital / time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Capital / etymology: translates as "orange city" in Dutch; in 1824, the city was named after the royal family of the Netherlands, the House of Orange-Nassau
Legal system: civil law system based on the Dutch civil code
Constitution / history: previous 1947, 1955; latest drafted and approved August 1985, enacted 1 January 1986 (regulates governance of Aruba but is subordinate to the Charter for the Kingdom of the Netherlands); in 1986, Aruba became a semi-autonomous entity within the Kingdom of the Netherlands
Citizenship: see the Netherlands
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch / chief of state: King WILLEM-ALEXANDER of the Netherlands (since 30 April 2013); represented by Governor General Alfonso BOEKHOUDT (since 1 January 2017)
Executive branch / head of government: Prime Minister Mike EMAN (since 28 March 2025)
Executive branch / cabinet: Council of Ministers elected by the Legislature (Staten)
Executive branch / election/appointment process: the monarchy is hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch for a 6-year term; prime minister and deputy prime minister indirectly elected by the Staten for 4-year term
Executive branch / most recent election date: 6 December 2024
Executive branch / election results: Mike EMAN (AVP) elected prime minister; percent of Staten vote - NA
Executive branch / expected date of next election: by December 2028
Legislative branch / legislature name: Legislature (Staten)
Legislative branch / legislative structure: unicameral
Legislative branch / number of seats: 21
Legislative branch / electoral system: proportional representation
Legislative branch / scope of elections: full renewal
Legislative branch / term in office: 4 years
Legislative branch / most recent election date: 6 December 2024
Legislative branch / parties elected and seats per party: AVP (9); MEP (8); FUTURO (3); PPA (1)
Legislative branch / percentage of women in chamber: 38.1%
Legislative branch / expected date of next election: by December 2028
Judicial branch / highest court(s): Joint Court of Justice of Aruba, Curacao, Sint Maarten, and of Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba or "Joint Court of Justice" (sits as a 3-judge panel); final appeals heard by the Supreme Court in The Hague, Netherlands
Judicial branch / judge selection and term of office: Joint Court judges appointed for life by the monarch
Judicial branch / subordinate courts: Court in First Instance
Political parties: Accion21 Aruban People's Party or AVP Democratic Network or RED FUTURO Movimiento Aruba Soberano (Aruban Sovereignty Movement) or MAS Partido Patriotico di Aruba (Aruban Patriotic Party) or APP People's Electoral Movement Party or MEP Pueblo Orguyoso y Respeta or POR RAIZ (ROOTS)
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (represented by the Kingdom of the Netherlands)
Diplomatic representation from the US / embassy: the US does not have an embassy in Aruba; the Consul General to Curacao is accredited to Aruba
International organization participation: ACS (associate), Caricom (observer), FATF, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, ITUC (NGOs), UNESCO (associate), UNWTO (associate), UPU
Independence: none (part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands)
National holiday: National Anthem and Flag Day, 18 March (1976)
Flag: description: blue, with two narrow, horizontal yellow stripes across the lower portion and a red four-pointed star outlined in white in the upper-left corner meaning: the star stands for Aruba's red soil and white beaches, and its four points for the major languages (Papiamento, Dutch, Spanish, English) and the points of a compass, to indicate that its inhabitants come from all over the world; blue symbolizes Caribbean waters and skies; the stripes represent the island's two main industries, tourism and mining
National symbol(s): Hooiberg (Haystack) Hill
National color(s): blue, yellow, red, white
National anthem(s) / title: &ldquo;Het Wilhelmus&rdquo;
National anthem(s) / lyrics/music: Philips VAN MARNIX van Sint Aldegonde (presumed)/unknown
National anthem(s) / history: official anthem, as part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands

## Economy
Economic overview: small, tourism-dependent, territorial-island economy; very high public debt; COVID-19 crippled economic activity; partial recovery underway via tourism, benefitting from its high amount of timeshare residences; considering reopening oil refinery
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $4.35 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $4.172 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2021: $3.844 billion (2021 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2023: 4.3% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2022: 8.5% (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2021: 24.1% (2021 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2023: $40,500 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2022: $38,900 (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2021: $35,700 (2021 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $3.649 billion (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2019: 4.3% (2019 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2018: 3.6% (2018 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2017: -1% (2017 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / agriculture: 0% (2019 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / industry: 11.4% (2019 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / services: 78.3% (2019 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / household consumption: 52.1% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / government consumption: 19.6% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in fixed capital: 21.5% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in inventories: 0% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / exports of goods and services: 88.3% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / imports of goods and services: -81.5% (2023 est.)
Agricultural products: aloes; livestock; fish
Industries: tourism, petroleum transshipment facilities, banking
Remittances / Remittances 2023: 1.1% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2022: 1.2% of GDP (2022 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2021: 1.2% of GDP (2021 est.)
Budget / revenues: $793 million (2019 est.)
Budget / expenditures: $782 million (2019 est.)
Public debt / Public debt 2016: 84.7% of GDP (2016 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2023: $194.498 million (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2022: $230.556 million (2022 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2021: $79.257 million (2021 est.)
Exports / Exports 2023: $3.153 billion (2023 est.)
Exports / Exports 2022: $2.853 billion (2022 est.)
Exports / Exports 2021: $2.201 billion (2021 est.)
Exports - partners: Jordan 34%, Colombia 31%, USA 7%, Guyana 5%, Slovakia 5% (2023)
Exports - commodities: tobacco, gas turbines, refined petroleum, steam turbines, heating machinery (2023)
Imports / Imports 2023: $2.565 billion (2023 est.)
Imports / Imports 2022: $2.429 billion (2022 est.)
Imports / Imports 2021: $1.947 billion (2021 est.)
Imports - partners: USA 53%, Netherlands 15%, China 6%, Colombia 3%, Brazil 3% (2023)
Imports - commodities: refined petroleum, tobacco, cars, garments, jewelry (2023)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023: $1.468 billion (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $1.544 billion (2022 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2021: $1.513 billion (2021 est.)
Exchange rates / Currency: Aruban guilders/florins per US dollar -
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2024: 1.79 (2024 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2023: 1.79 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2022: 1.79 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2021: 1.79 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2020: 1.79 (2020 est.)

## Energy
Electricity access / electrification - total population: 99.9% (2022 est.)
Electricity access / electrification - urban areas: 100%
Electricity access / electrification - rural areas: 100%
Electricity / installed generating capacity: 305,000 kW (2023 est.)
Electricity / consumption: 824.036 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / transmission/distribution losses: 166.766 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / fossil fuels: 83.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / solar: 2.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / wind: 13.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Coal / imports: 1 metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum / refined petroleum consumption: 8,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Energy consumption per capita / Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 153.952 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

## Communications
Telephones - fixed lines / total subscriptions: 35,000 (2021 est.)
Telephones - fixed lines / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 32 (2022 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / total subscriptions: 140,815 (2022 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 131 (2022 est.)
Broadcast media: freedom of the press respected, as guaranteed under Dutch law; newspapers are in the Papiamento language; 2 commercial TV stations, with a cable TV subscription service providing access to foreign channels; wide range of commercial radio stations available (2023)
Internet country code: .aw
Internet users / percent of population: 97% (2017 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / total: 19,000 (2022 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 17 (2022 est.)

## Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: P4
Airports: 1 (2025)
Merchant marine / total: 1 (2023)
Merchant marine / by type: other 1
Ports / total ports: 2 (2024)
Ports / large: 0
Ports / medium: 0
Ports / small: 1
Ports / very small: 1
Ports / ports with oil terminals: 1
Ports / key ports: Paardenbaai (Oranjestad), Sint Nicolaas Baai

## Military and Security
Military and security forces: no regular military forces; Aruban Militia (ARUMIL); Police Department for local law enforcement, supported by the Royal Netherlands Marechaussee (Gendarmerie), the Dutch Caribbean Police Force (Korps Politie Caribisch Nederland, KPCN), and the Dutch Caribbean Coast Guard (DCCG or Kustwacht Caribisch Gebied (KWCARIB)) (2025)
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of the Kingdom of the Netherlands; the Aruba security services focus on organized crime and terrorism; the Dutch Government controls foreign and defense policy; the Dutch Caribbean Coast Guard (DCCG) provides maritime security; the Dutch military maintains a presence on Aruba, including a marine company and a naval base (2024)

## Transnational Issues

=== Antigua and Barbuda ===

## Introduction
Background: The Siboney were the first people to inhabit the islands of Antigua and Barbuda in 2400 B.C., but the Arawaks populated the islands when Christopher COLUMBUS landed on his second voyage in 1493. Early Spanish and French settlements were succeeded by an English colony in 1667. Slavery, which provided labor on the sugar plantations on Antigua, was abolished in 1834. The islands became an independent state within the British Commonwealth of Nations in 1981. In 2017, Hurricane Irma passed over the island of Barbuda, devastating the island and forcing the evacuation of the population to Antigua. Almost all of the structures on Barbuda were destroyed and the vegetation stripped, but Antigua was spared the worst.

## Geography
Location: Caribbean, islands between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east-southeast of Puerto Rico
Geographic coordinates: 17 03 N, 61 48 W
Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
Area / total: 443 sq km (Antigua 280 sq km; Barbuda 161 sq km)
Area / land: 443 sq km
Area / water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative: 2.5 times the size of Washington, D.C.
Land boundaries / total: 0 km
Coastline: 153 km
Maritime claims / territorial sea: 12 nm
Maritime claims / contiguous zone: 24 nm
Maritime claims / exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Maritime claims / continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
Climate: tropical maritime; little seasonal temperature variation
Terrain: mostly low-lying limestone and coral islands, with some higher volcanic areas
Elevation / highest point: Mount Obama 402 m
Elevation / lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
Natural resources: NEGL; pleasant climate fosters tourism
Land use / agricultural land: 20.5% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 9.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 2.3% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 9.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 18% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 61.5% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land: 1.3 sq km (2012)
Population distribution: the island of Antigua is home to approximately 97% of the population; nearly the entire population of Barbuda lives in Codrington
Natural hazards: hurricanes and tropical storms (July to October); periodic droughts
Geography - note: Antigua has a deeply indented shoreline with many natural harbors and beaches; Barbuda has a large western harbor

## People and Society
Population / total: 102,634 (2024 est.)
Population / male: 48,311
Population / female: 54,323
Nationality / noun: Antiguan(s), Barbudan(s)
Nationality / adjective: Antiguan, Barbudan
Ethnic groups: African descent 87.3%, mixed 4.7%, Hispanic 2.7%, White 1.6%, other 2.7%, unspecified 0.9% (2011 est.)
Languages: English (official), Antiguan Creole (an English-based creole)
Religions: Protestant 68.3% (Anglican 17.6%, Seventh Day Adventist 12.4%, Pentecostal 12.2%, Moravian 8.3%, Methodist 5.6%, Wesleyan Holiness 4.5%, Church of God 4.1%, Baptist 3.6%), Roman Catholic 8.2%, other 12.2%, unspecified 5.5%, none 5.9% (2011 est.)
Age structure / 0-14 years: 21.8% (male 11,384/female 11,034)
Age structure / 15-64 years: 67.6% (male 32,312/female 37,094)
Age structure / 65 years and over: 10.5% (2024 est.) (male 4,615/female 6,195)
Dependency ratios / total dependency ratio: 47.9 (2024 est.)
Dependency ratios / youth dependency ratio: 32.3 (2024 est.)
Dependency ratios / elderly dependency ratio: 15.6 (2024 est.)
Dependency ratios / potential support ratio: 6.4 (2024 est.)
Median age / total: 34.1 years (2025 est.)
Median age / male: 31.9 years
Median age / female: 35.7 years
Population growth rate: 1.09% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 14.7 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 5.77 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: 1.97 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution: the island of Antigua is home to approximately 97% of the population; nearly the entire population of Barbuda lives in Codrington
Urbanization / urban population: 24.3% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 0.87% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 21,000 SAINT JOHN'S (capital) (2018)
Sex ratio / at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 0-14 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 15-64 years: 0.87 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 65 years and over: 0.74 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / total population: 0.89 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio: 35 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Infant mortality rate / total: 13.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Infant mortality rate / male: 16.4 deaths/1,000 live births
Infant mortality rate / female: 10.7 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth / total population: 78.3 years (2024 est.)
Life expectancy at birth / male: 76.1 years
Life expectancy at birth / female: 80.5 years
Total fertility rate: 1.92 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 0.94 (2025 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: urban: urban: 98.4% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: rural: rural: 98.3% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: total: total: 98.4% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: urban: urban: 1.6% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: rural: rural: 1.7% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: total: total: 1.6% of population (2022 est.)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 5.9% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 14% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density: 2.92 physicians/1,000 population (2017)
Hospital bed density: 3.3 beds/1,000 population (2020 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: urban: urban: 95.4% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: rural: rural: 98% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: total: total: 97.4% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: urban: urban: 4.6% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: rural: rural: 2% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: total: total: 2.6% of population (2022 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 18.9% (2016)
Alcohol consumption per capita / total: 11.88 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / beer: 2.97 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / wine: 3.95 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / spirits: 4.55 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / other alcohols: 0.41 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% GDP): 3.1% of GDP (2023 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% national budget): 5.9% national budget (2025 est.)

## Environment
Environmental issues: limited natural freshwater resources; water management hampered by tree-clearing to increase crop production, causing rapid rainfall runoff
International environmental agreements / party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
International environmental agreements / signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Climate: tropical maritime; little seasonal temperature variation
Land use / agricultural land: 20.5% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 9.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 2.3% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 9.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 18% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 61.5% (2023 est.)
Urbanization / urban population: 24.3% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 0.87% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / total emissions: 725,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from petroleum and other liquids: 725,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Particulate matter emissions: 8.3 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Waste and recycling / municipal solid waste generated annually: 30,600 tons (2024 est.)
Waste and recycling / percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 15.3% (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / municipal: 7.2 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / industrial: 2.5 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / agricultural: 1.8 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total renewable water resources: 52 million cubic meters (2022)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: Antigua and Barbuda
Country name / conventional short form: Antigua and Barbuda
Country name / etymology: antiguo is Spanish for "ancient" or "old;" Christopher COLUMBUS named the island in 1493, after the church of Santa Maria la Antigua (Old Saint Mary's) in Seville, Spain; barbuda is Spanish for "bearded" and may refer to the island's lichen-covered fig trees
Government type: parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy; a Commonwealth realm
Capital / name: Saint John's
Capital / geographic coordinates: 17 07 N, 61 51 W
Capital / time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Capital / etymology: named after Saint John the Apostle
Administrative divisions: 6 parishes and 2 dependencies*; Barbuda*, Redonda*, Saint George, Saint John, Saint Mary, Saint Paul, Saint Peter, Saint Philip
Legal system: common law based on the English model
Constitution / history: several previous; latest presented 31 July 1981, effective 31 October 1981 (The Antigua and Barbuda Constitution Order 1981)
Constitution / amendment process: proposed by either house of Parliament; passage of amendments to constitutional sections such as citizenship, fundamental rights and freedoms, the establishment, power, and authority of the executive and legislative branches, the Supreme Court Order, and the procedure for amending the constitution requires approval by at least two-thirds majority vote of the membership of both houses, approval by at least two-thirds majority in a referendum, and assent to by the governor general; passage of other amendments requires only two-thirds majority vote by both houses
International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Citizenship / citizenship by birth: yes
Citizenship / citizenship by descent only: yes
Citizenship / dual citizenship recognized: yes
Citizenship / residency requirement for naturalization: 7 years
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch / chief of state: King CHARLES III (since 8 September 2022); represented by Governor General Rodney WILLIAMS (since 14 August 2014)
Executive branch / head of government: Prime Minister Gaston BROWNE (since 13 June 2014)
Executive branch / cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister
Executive branch / election/appointment process: the monarchy is hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch on the advice of the prime minister; following legislative elections, the governor general usually appoints the leader of the majority party or majority coalition as prime minister
Legislative branch / legislature name: Parliament
Legislative branch / legislative structure: bicameral
Legislative branch - lower chamber / chamber name: House of Representatives
Legislative branch - lower chamber / number of seats: 18 (all directly elected)
Legislative branch - lower chamber / electoral system: plurality/majority
Legislative branch - lower chamber / scope of elections: full renewal
Legislative branch - lower chamber / term in office: 5 years
Legislative branch - lower chamber / most recent election date: 1/18/2023
Legislative branch - lower chamber / parties elected and seats per party: Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party (ABLP) (9); United Progressive Party (UPP) (6); Barbuda People's Movement (BPM) (1); Independents (1); (1); Republican Force (1)
Legislative branch - lower chamber / percentage of women in chamber: 5.6%
Legislative branch - lower chamber / expected date of next election: January 2028
Legislative branch - upper chamber / chamber name: Senate
Legislative branch - upper chamber / number of seats: 17 (all appointed)
Legislative branch - upper chamber / scope of elections: full renewal
Legislative branch - upper chamber / term in office: 5 years
Legislative branch - upper chamber / most recent election date: 2/17/2023
Legislative branch - upper chamber / percentage of women in chamber: 41.2%
Legislative branch - upper chamber / expected date of next election: February 2028
Judicial branch / highest court(s): the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (ECSC) is the superior court of the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States; the ECSC is headquartered on St. Lucia and consists of the Court of Appeal -- headed by the chief justice and 4 judges -- and the High Court with 18 judges; the Court of Appeal travels to member states on a schedule to hear appeals from the High Court and subordinate courts
Judicial branch / judge selection and term of office: chief justice of Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court appointed by the British monarch; other justices and judges appointed by the Judicial and Legal Services Commission; Court of Appeal justices appointed for life with mandatory retirement at age 65; High Court judges appointed for life with mandatory retirement at age 62
Judicial branch / subordinate courts: Industrial Court; Magistrates' Courts
Political parties: Antigua Labor Party or ABLP Barbuda People's Movement or BPM Democratic National Alliance or DNA Go Green for Life or GGL United Progressive Party or UPP
Diplomatic representation in the US / chief of mission: Ambassador Sir Ronald SANDERS (since 17 September 2015)
Diplomatic representation in the US / chancery: 3216 New Mexico Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20016
Diplomatic representation in the US / telephone: [1] (202) 362-5122
Diplomatic representation in the US / FAX: [1] (202) 362-5225
Diplomatic representation in the US / email address and website: embantbar@aol.com https://www.antigua-barbuda.org/Aghome01.htm
Diplomatic representation in the US / consulate(s) general: Miami, New York
Diplomatic representation from the US / embassy: the US does not have an embassy in Antigua and Barbuda; the US Ambassador to Barbados is accredited to Antigua and Barbuda
International organization participation: ACP, ACS, AOSIS, C, Caricom, CDB, CELAC, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (subscriber), ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NAM (observer), OAS, OECS, OPANAL, OPCW, Petrocaribe, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Independence: 1 November 1981 (from the UK)
National holiday: Independence Day, 1 November (1981)
Flag: description: red, with an inverted isosceles triangle in the center that spans the flag from top to bottom; the triangle contains three horizontal bands of black (top), light blue, and white, with a yellow rising sun in the black band meaning: the sun stands for the dawn of a new era, black for the African heritage of most of the population, blue for hope, and red for the dynamism of the people; the "V" shape of the triangle stands for victory; the yellow, blue, and white colors are also meant to evoke the country's tourist attractions of sun, sea, and sand
National symbol(s): fallow deer
National color(s): red, white, blue, black, yellow
National anthem(s) / title: "God Save the King"
National anthem(s) / lyrics/music: unknown
National anthem(s) / history: royal anthem, as a Commonwealth country
National heritage / total World Heritage Sites: 1 (cultural)
National heritage / selected World Heritage Site locales: Antigua Naval Dockyard (Nelson's Dockyard)

## Economy
Economic overview: dual island-tourism and construction-driven economy; emerging &ldquo;blue economy&rdquo;; limited water supply and susceptibility to hurricanes limit activity; improving road infrastructure; friendly to foreign direct investment; looking at financial innovation in cryptocurrency and blockchain technologies
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $2.772 billion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $2.657 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $2.594 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2024: 4.3% (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2023: 2.4% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2022: 9.1% (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2024: $29,600 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2023: $28,500 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2022: $27,900 (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $2.225 billion (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024: 6.2% (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023: 5.1% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 7.5% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / agriculture: 1.9% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / industry: 19% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / services: 69.1% (2023 est.)
Agricultural products: tropical fruits, milk, mangoes/guavas, eggs, lemons/limes, pumpkins/squash, sweet potatoes, vegetables, cucumbers/gherkins, yams (2023)
Industries: tourism, construction, light manufacturing (clothing, alcohol, household appliances)
Industrial production growth rate: 1% (2023 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2024: 1.2% of GDP (2024 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2023: 1.7% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2022: 1.9% of GDP (2022 est.)
Budget / revenues: $251.418 million (2014 est.)
Budget / expenditures: $266.044 million (2014 est.)
Public debt / Public debt 2016: 86.2% of GDP (2016 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2024: -$181.366 million (2024 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2023: -$271.047 million (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2022: -$291.674 million (2022 est.)
Exports / Exports 2024: $1.314 billion (2024 est.)
Exports / Exports 2023: $1.185 billion (2023 est.)
Exports / Exports 2022: $1.111 billion (2022 est.)
Exports - partners: Suriname 29%, Poland 21%, USA 8%, Dominican Republic 7%, Australia 5% (2023)
Exports - commodities: refined petroleum, ships, soybean meal, shellfish, paintings (2023)
Imports / Imports 2024: $1.282 billion (2024 est.)
Imports / Imports 2023: $1.273 billion (2023 est.)
Imports / Imports 2022: $1.227 billion (2022 est.)
Imports - partners: USA 43%, Poland 6%, China 5%, UK 4%, Germany 4% (2023)
Imports - commodities: ships, refined petroleum, cars, plastic products, furniture (2023)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024: $358.441 million (2024 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023: $364.367 million (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $396.506 million (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Currency: East Caribbean dollars (XCD) per US dollar -
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2024: 2.7 (2024 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2023: 2.7 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2022: 2.7 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2021: 2.7 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2020: 2.7 (2020 est.)

## Energy
Electricity access / electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)
Electricity / installed generating capacity: 148,000 kW (2023 est.)
Electricity / consumption: 322.923 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / transmission/distribution losses: 38.121 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / fossil fuels: 93.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / solar: 6.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Coal / imports: 25 metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum / refined petroleum consumption: 5,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Energy consumption per capita / Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 110.114 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

## Communications
Telephones - fixed lines / total subscriptions: 27,000 (2021 est.)
Telephones - fixed lines / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 29 (2022 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / total subscriptions: 186,182 (2022 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 201 (2022 est.)
Broadcast media: state-controlled Antigua and Barbuda Broadcasting Service (ABS) operates 1 TV station; multi-channel cable TV subscription services are available; ABS operates 1 radio station; roughly 20 radio stations (2024)
Internet country code: .ag
Internet users / percent of population: 78% (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / total: 10,000 (2022 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 11 (2022 est.)

## Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: V2
Airports: 4 (2025)
Heliports: 2 (2025)
Merchant marine / total: 614 (2023)
Merchant marine / by type: bulk carrier 24, container ship 109, general cargo 425, oil tanker 6, other 50
Ports / total ports: 1 (2024)
Ports / large: 0
Ports / medium: 1
Ports / small: 0
Ports / very small: 0
Ports / ports with oil terminals: 1
Ports / key ports: St. John's

## Military and Security
Military and security forces: Antigua and Barbuda Defense Force (ABDF): Antigua and Barbuda Regiment, Air Wing, Coast Guard Royal Police Force of Antigua and Barbuda (RPFAB) (2025)
Military and security service personnel strengths: approximately 300 active Defense Force personnel (2025)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the ABDF's equipment inventory is limited to small arms, light weapons, and soft-skin vehicles; the Coast Guard maintains ex-US patrol vessels and some smaller boats (2025)
Military service age and obligation: 18-23 years of age for voluntary military service for both men and women; no conscription (2025)
Military - note: the ABDF’s responsibilities include providing for internal security and support to the police in maintaining law and order, interdicting narcotics smuggling, responding to natural disasters, and monitoring the country’s territorial waters and maritime resources; established in 1981 from colonial forces originally created in 1897, it is one of the world’s smallest militaries the country has been a member of the Caribbean Regional Security System (RSS) since its creation in 1982; RSS signatories (Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines) agreed to prepare contingency plans and assist one another, on request, in national emergencies, prevention of smuggling, search and rescue, immigration control, fishery protection, customs and excise control, maritime policing duties, protection of off-shore installations, pollution control, national and other disasters, and threats to national security (2025)

## Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons / refugees: 5 (2024 est.)

=== Anguilla ===

## Introduction
Background: English settlers from Saint Kitts first colonized Anguilla in 1650. Great Britain administered the island until the early 19th century, when -- against the wishes of the inhabitants -- Anguilla was incorporated into a single British dependency along with Saint Kitts and Nevis. Several attempts at separation failed. In 1971, two years after a revolt, Anguilla was finally allowed to secede; this arrangement was formally recognized in 1980, when Anguilla became a separate British dependency. In 2017, Hurricane Irma caused extensive damage on the island, particularly to communications and residential and business infrastructure.

## Geography
Location: Caribbean, islands between the Caribbean Sea and North Atlantic Ocean, east of Puerto Rico
Geographic coordinates: 18 15 N, 63 10 W
Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
Area / total: 91 sq km
Area / land: 91 sq km
Area / water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative: about one-half the size of Washington, D.C.
Land boundaries / total: 0 km
Coastline: 61 km
Maritime claims / territorial sea: 12 nm
Maritime claims / exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Maritime claims / exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
Climate: tropical; moderated by northeast trade winds
Terrain: flat and low-lying island of coral and limestone
Elevation / highest point: Crocus Hill 73 m
Elevation / lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
Natural resources: salt, fish, lobster
Land use / agricultural land: 0% (2022 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 0% (2018 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 0% (2018 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 0% (2018 est.)
Land use / forest: 61.1% (2022 est.)
Land use / other: 38.9% (2022 est.)
Irrigated land: 0 sq km (2020)
Population distribution: most of the population is concentrated in The Valley in the center of the island; settlement is fairly uniform in the southwest, but rather sparse in the northeast
Natural hazards: frequent hurricanes and other tropical storms (July to October)
Geography - note: the most northerly of the Leeward Islands in the Lesser Antilles

## People and Society
Population / total: 19,416 (2024 est.)
Population / male: 9,107
Population / female: 10,309
Nationality / noun: Anguillan(s)
Nationality / adjective: Anguillan
Ethnic groups: African/Black 85.3%, Hispanic 4.9%, mixed 3.8%, White 3.2%, East Indian/Indian 1%, other 1.6%, unspecified 0.3% (2011 est.)
Languages: English (official)
Religions: Protestant 73.2% (includes Anglican 22.7%, Methodist 19.4%, Pentecostal 10.5%, Seventh Day Adventist 8.3%, Baptist 7.1%, Church of God 4.9%, Presbyterian 0.2%, Brethren 0.1%), Roman Catholic 6.8%, Jehovah's Witness 1.1%, other Christian 10.9%, other 3.2%, unspecified 0.3%, none 4.5% (2011 est.)
Age structure / 0-14 years: 20.8% (male 2,056/female 1,992)
Age structure / 15-64 years: 67.5% (male 5,958/female 7,147)
Age structure / 65 years and over: 11.7% (2024 est.) (male 1,093/female 1,170)
Dependency ratios / total dependency ratio: 48.2 (2024 est.)
Dependency ratios / youth dependency ratio: 30.9 (2024 est.)
Dependency ratios / elderly dependency ratio: 17.3 (2024 est.)
Dependency ratios / potential support ratio: 5.8 (2024 est.)
Median age / total: 37.5 years (2025 est.)
Median age / male: 34.8 years
Median age / female: 39 years
Population growth rate: 1.71% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 11.69 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 4.76 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: 10.13 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution: most of the population is concentrated in The Valley in the center of the island; settlement is fairly uniform in the southwest, but rather sparse in the northeast
Urbanization / urban population: 100% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 0.47% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 1,000 THE VALLEY (capital) (2018)
Sex ratio / at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 0-14 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 15-64 years: 0.83 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 65 years and over: 0.93 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / total population: 0.88 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Infant mortality rate / total: 2.9 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Infant mortality rate / male: 3.9 deaths/1,000 live births
Infant mortality rate / female: 2.1 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth / total population: 82.6 years (2024 est.)
Life expectancy at birth / male: 80 years
Life expectancy at birth / female: 85.3 years
Total fertility rate: 1.72 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 0.85 (2025 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: total: total: 97.5% of population
Physician density: 1.51 physicians/1,000 population (2018)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% GDP): 2.5% of GDP (2022 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% national budget): 10.3% national budget (2024 est.)

## Environment
Environmental issues: inadequate potable water
Climate: tropical; moderated by northeast trade winds
Land use / agricultural land: 0% (2022 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 0% (2018 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 0% (2018 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 0% (2018 est.)
Land use / forest: 61.1% (2022 est.)
Land use / other: 38.9% (2022 est.)
Urbanization / urban population: 100% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 0.47% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: none
Country name / conventional short form: Anguilla
Country name / etymology: in 1493, Christopher COLUMBUS named the island Anguilla, meaning "eel" in Spanish, because of the island's elongated shape
Government type: parliamentary democracy (House of Assembly); self-governing overseas territory of the UK
Dependency status: overseas territory of the UK
Capital / name: The Valley
Capital / geographic coordinates: 18 13 N, 63 03 W
Capital / time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Capital / etymology: name may derive from the capital's location among several hills
Legal system: common law based on the English model
Constitution / history: several previous; latest 1 April 1982
Citizenship: see United Kingdom
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch / chief of state: King CHARLES III (since 8 September 2022); represented by Governor Julia CROUCH (since 11 September 2023)
Executive branch / head of government: Premier Cora RICHARDSON-HODGE (since 27 February 2025)
Executive branch / cabinet: Executive Council appointed by the governor from among elected members of the House of Assembly
Executive branch / election/appointment process: the monarchy is hereditary; governor appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the governor usually appoints the leader of the majority party or majority coalition as premier
Legislative branch / legislature name: House of Assembly
Legislative branch / legislative structure: unicameral
Legislative branch / number of seats: 11 (7 directly elected, 2 appointed, 2 ex-officio members)
Legislative branch / electoral system: plurality/majority
Legislative branch / scope of elections: full renewal
Legislative branch / term in office: 5 years
Legislative branch / most recent election date: 6/29/2020
Legislative branch / parties elected and seats per party: APM (7); AUF (4)
Legislative branch / percentage of women in chamber: 27.3%
Judicial branch / highest court(s): the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (ECSC) is the superior court of the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States; the ECSC is headquartered on St. Lucia and consists of the Court of Appeal -- headed by the chief justice and 4 judges -- and the High Court with 18 judges; the Court of Appeal travels to member states on a schedule to hear appeals from the High Court and subordinate courts
Judicial branch / judge selection and term of office: Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court chief justice appointed by the British monarch; other justices and judges appointed by the Judicial and Legal Services Commission; Court of Appeal justices appointed for life with mandatory retirement at age 65; High Court judges appointed for life with mandatory retirement at age 62
Judicial branch / subordinate courts: Magistrate's Court; Juvenile Court
Political parties: Anguilla Progressive Movement or APM; (formerly Anguilla United Movement or AUM) Anguilla United Front or AUF
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (overseas territory of the UK)
Diplomatic representation from the US / embassy: none (overseas territory of the UK); alternate contact is the US Embassy in Barbados [1] (246) 227-4000
International organization participation: Caricom (associate), CDB, Interpol (subbureau), OECS, UNESCO (associate), UPU
Independence: none (overseas territory of the UK)
National holiday: Anguilla Day, 30 May (1967)
Flag: description: blue, with the UK flag in the upper-left quadrant and the Anguillan coat of arms centered on the outer half of the flag; the coat of arms shows three orange dolphins in an interlocking circular design on a white background, with a turquoise-blue field below meaning: the white on the coat of arms stands for peace; the blue base for the sea, faith, youth, and hope; and the three dolphins for endurance, unity, and strength
National symbol(s): dolphin
National coat of arms: the Anguillan coat of arms features three interlocking dolphins jumping out of seawater; they represent endurance, unity, and strength, and their circular motion stands for continuity; the white background symbolizes peace and tranquility, and the turquoise-blue base represents the sea, as well as faith, youth, and hope
National anthem(s) / title: "God Save the King"
National anthem(s) / lyrics/music: unknown
National anthem(s) / history: official anthem, as an overseas UK territory

## Economy
Economic overview: small, tourism-dependent, territorial-island economy; very high public debt; COVID-19 crippled economic activity; partial recovery underway via tourism, benefitting from its high amount of timeshare residences; considering reopening oil refinery
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $362.499 million (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $345.238 million (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $336.924 million (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2024: $31,000 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2023: $28,900 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2022: $27,400 (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $452.73 million (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 3% (2022 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021: 1.8% (2021 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2020: -0.5% (2020 est.)
Agricultural products: small quantities of tobacco, vegetables; cattle raising
Industries: tourism, boat building, offshore financial services
Budget / revenues: $81.925 million (2017 est.)
Budget / expenditures: $72.352 million (2017 est.)
Public debt / Public debt 2014: 20.8% of GDP (2014 est.)
Exports / Exports 2017: $7.9 million (2017 est.)
Exports / Exports 2016: $3.9 million (2016 est.)
Exports - partners: Chile 60%, Netherlands 8%, Brazil 5%, Hungary 4%, USA 4% (2023)
Exports - commodities: packaged medicine, garments, vehicle parts/accessories, vaccines, cars (2023)
Imports - partners: Chile 50%, USA 27%, Botswana 15%, Japan 1%, Dominican Republic 1% (2023)
Imports - commodities: poultry, copper ore, natural gas, refined petroleum, fish (2023)
Exchange rates / Currency: East Caribbean dollars (XCD) per US dollar -
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2024: 2.7 (2024 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2023: 2.7 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2022: 2.7 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2021: 2.7 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2020: 2.7 (2020 est.)

## Energy
Electricity access / electrification - total population: 100% (2020)

## Communications
Telephones - fixed lines / total subscriptions: 6,000 (2021 est.)
Telephones - fixed lines / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 38 (2021 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / total subscriptions: 25,870 (2022 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 163 (2022 est.)
Broadcast media: 1 private TV station; multi-channel cable TV subscription services are available; about 10 radio stations, one of which is government-owned (2024)
Internet country code: .ai
Internet users / percent of population: 81.6% (2021 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / total: 5,000 (2018 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 35 (2018 est.)

## Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: VP-A
Airports: 1 (2025)
Merchant marine / total: 2 (2023)
Merchant marine / by type: other 2

## Military and Security
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of the UK

## Transnational Issues

=== Barbados ===

## Introduction
Background: Barbados was uninhabited when first settled by the British in 1627. Enslaved Africans worked the sugar plantations established on the island, which initially dominated the Caribbean sugar industry. By 1720, Barbados was no longer a dominant force within the sugar industry, having been surpassed by the Leeward Islands and Jamaica. Slavery was abolished in 1834. The Barbadian economy remained heavily dependent on sugar, rum, and molasses production through most of the 20th century. The gradual introduction of social and political reforms in the 1940s and 1950s led to independence from the UK in 1966. In the 1990s, tourism and manufacturing surpassed the sugar industry in economic importance. Barbados became a republic in 2021, with the former Governor-General Sandra MASON elected as the first president.

## Geography
Location: Caribbean, island in the North Atlantic Ocean, northeast of Venezuela
Geographic coordinates: 13 10 N, 59 32 W
Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
Area / total: 430 sq km
Area / land: 430 sq km
Area / water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative: 2.5 times the size of Washington, D.C.
Land boundaries / total: 0 km
Coastline: 97 km
Maritime claims / territorial sea: 12 nm
Maritime claims / exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate: tropical; rainy season (June to October)
Terrain: relatively flat; rises gently to central highland region
Elevation / highest point: Mount Hillaby 336 m
Elevation / lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
Natural resources: petroleum, fish, natural gas
Land use / agricultural land: 23.3% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 16.3% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 2.3% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 4.7% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 14.7% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 62.1% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land: 50 sq km (2012)
Population distribution: most densely populated country in the eastern Caribbean; approximately one third of the population lives in urban areas
Natural hazards: infrequent hurricanes; periodic landslides
Geography - note: easternmost Caribbean island

## People and Society
Population / total: 304,139 (2024 est.)
Population / male: 146,587
Population / female: 157,552
Nationality / noun: Barbadian(s) or Bajan (colloquial)
Nationality / adjective: Barbadian or Bajan (colloquial)
Ethnic groups: African descent 92.4%, mixed 3.1%, White 2.7%, East Indian 1.3%, other 0.2%, unspecified 0.3% (2010 est.)
Languages: English (official), Bajan (English-based creole language, widely spoken in informal settings)
Religions: Protestant 66.4% (includes Anglican 23.9%, other Pentecostal 19.5%, Adventist 5.9%, Methodist 4.2%, Wesleyan 3.4%, Nazarene 3.2%, Church of God 2.4%, Baptist 1.8%, Moravian 1.2%, other Protestant 0.9%), Roman Catholic 3.8%, other Christian 5.4% (includes Jehovah's Witness 2.0%, other 3.4%), Rastafarian 1%, other 1.5%, none 20.6%, unspecified 1.2% (2010 est.)
Age structure / 0-14 years: 16.6% (male 25,273/female 25,284)
Age structure / 15-64 years: 67% (male 100,328/female 103,536)
Age structure / 65 years and over: 16.3% (2024 est.) (male 20,986/female 28,732)
Dependency ratios / total dependency ratio: 49.2 (2024 est.)
Dependency ratios / youth dependency ratio: 24.8 (2024 est.)
Dependency ratios / elderly dependency ratio: 24.4 (2024 est.)
Dependency ratios / potential support ratio: 4.1 (2024 est.)
Median age / total: 42.2 years (2025 est.)
Median age / male: 40.3 years
Median age / female: 42.5 years
Population growth rate: -0.42% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 8.02 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 11.96 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: -0.3 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution: most densely populated country in the eastern Caribbean; approximately one third of the population lives in urban areas
Urbanization / urban population: 31.4% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 0.46% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 89,000 BRIDGETOWN (capital) (2018)
Sex ratio / at birth: 1.01 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 0-14 years: 1 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 65 years and over: 0.73 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / total population: 0.93 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio: 35 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Infant mortality rate / total: 15.1 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Infant mortality rate / male: 11.1 deaths/1,000 live births
Infant mortality rate / female: 8.1 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth / total population: 79 years (2024 est.)
Life expectancy at birth / male: 76.3 years
Life expectancy at birth / female: 81.8 years
Total fertility rate: 1.24 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 0.62 (2025 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: total: total: 98.5% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: total: total: 1.5% of population (2022 est.)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 8.1% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 8.7% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density: 2.96 physicians/1,000 population (2022)
Hospital bed density: 5.7 beds/1,000 population (2020 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: total: total: 100% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: total: total: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 23.1% (2016)
Alcohol consumption per capita / total: 9.94 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / beer: 3.66 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / wine: 1.36 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / spirits: 4.75 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / other alcohols: 0.17 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Tobacco use / total: 6.2% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / male: 11.4% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / female: 1.5% (2025 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49): 57.2% (2021 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% GDP): 3.6% of GDP (2024 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% national budget): 14.2% national budget (2025 est.)

## Environment
Environmental issues: pollution of coastal waters from waste disposal by ships; soil erosion; illegal solid-waste disposal
International environmental agreements / party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
International environmental agreements / signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Climate: tropical; rainy season (June to October)
Land use / agricultural land: 23.3% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 16.3% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 2.3% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 4.7% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 14.7% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 62.1% (2023 est.)
Urbanization / urban population: 31.4% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 0.46% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / total emissions: 1.348 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from coal and metallurgical coke: 2 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from petroleum and other liquids: 1.284 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from consumed natural gas: 64,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Particulate matter emissions: 9.8 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Waste and recycling / municipal solid waste generated annually: 174,800 tons (2024 est.)
Waste and recycling / percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 10.6% (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / municipal: 20 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / industrial: 6.2 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / agricultural: 54.8 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total renewable water resources: 80 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: none
Country name / conventional short form: Barbados
Country name / etymology: the name is the plural of the Spanish word barbado and means "the bearded ones," which could refer either to the beard-like leaves of the island's fig trees or to the beards of Carib inhabitants
Government type: parliamentary republic; a Commonwealth realm
Capital / name: Bridgetown
Capital / geographic coordinates: 13 06 N, 59 37 W
Capital / time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Capital / etymology: originally named Indian Bridge in 1628 for a bridge built beside Carlisle Bay, then called St. Michael's Town until the 19th century; now named after a bridge built over the Constitution River that flows through the center of the city
Administrative divisions: 11 parishes and 1 city*; Bridgetown*, Christ Church, Saint Andrew, Saint George, Saint James, Saint John, Saint Joseph, Saint Lucy, Saint Michael, Saint Peter, Saint Philip, Saint Thomas
Legal system: English common law; no judicial review of legislative acts
Constitution / history: adopted 22 November 1966, effective 30 November 1966; Constitution (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill, 2021 establishes Barbados as a republic and revokes the earlier Order in Council
Constitution / amendment process: proposed by Parliament; passage of amendments to constitutional sections such as citizenship, fundamental rights and freedoms, and the organization and authorities of the branches of government requires two-thirds majority vote by the membership of both houses of Parliament; passage of other amendments only requires a majority vote of both houses
International law organization participation: accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Citizenship / citizenship by birth: yes
Citizenship / citizenship by descent only: yes
Citizenship / dual citizenship recognized: yes
Citizenship / residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch / chief of state: President Jeffrey Davidson BOSTIC (since 30 November 2025)
Executive branch / head of government: Prime Minister Mia MOTTLEY (since 25 May 2018)
Executive branch / cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president on the advice of the prime minister
Executive branch / election/appointment process: president elected by an electoral college of both Houses of Parliament for a 4-year renewable term; following legislative elections, the president usually appoints the leader of the majority party or leader of the majority coalition as prime minister; the prime minister recommends the deputy prime minister
Executive branch / most recent election date: 7 October 2025
Executive branch / election results: Jeffrey Davidson BOSTIC elected as the country's second president
Executive branch / expected date of next election: NA
Legislative branch / legislature name: Parlement de Barbade (Parliament of Barbados)
Legislative branch / legislative structure: bicameral
Legislative branch - lower chamber / chamber name: House of Assembly
Legislative branch - lower chamber / number of seats: 30 (all directly elected)
Legislative branch - lower chamber / electoral system: plurality/majority
Legislative branch - lower chamber / scope of elections: full renewal
Legislative branch - lower chamber / term in office: 5 years
Legislative branch - lower chamber / most recent election date: 1/19/2022
Legislative branch - lower chamber / parties elected and seats per party: Barbados Labour Party (BLP) (30)
Legislative branch - lower chamber / percentage of women in chamber: 26.7%
Legislative branch - lower chamber / expected date of next election: January 2027
Legislative branch - upper chamber / chamber name: Senate
Legislative branch - upper chamber / number of seats: 21 (all appointed)
Legislative branch - upper chamber / scope of elections: full renewal
Legislative branch - upper chamber / term in office: 5 years
Legislative branch - upper chamber / most recent election date: 2/4/2022
Legislative branch - upper chamber / percentage of women in chamber: 33.3%
Legislative branch - upper chamber / expected date of next election: February 2027
Judicial branch / highest court(s): Supreme Court (consists of the High Court with 8 justices) and the Court of Appeal (consists of the High Court chief justice and president of the court and 4 justices; Caribbean Court of Justice is the final court of appeal
Judicial branch / judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court chief justice appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister and opposition leader of Parliament; other justices appointed by the president on the recommendation of the Judicial and Legal Service Commission, a 5-member independent body consisting of the Supreme Court chief justice, the commission head, and presidential appointees recommended by the prime minister; justices serve until mandatory retirement at age 65
Judicial branch / subordinate courts: Magistrates' Courts
Political parties: Alliance Party for Progress or APP Barbados Labor Party or BLP Democratic Labor Party or DLP
Diplomatic representation in the US / chief of mission: Ambassador Victor Anthony FERNANDES (since 18 September 2024)
Diplomatic representation in the US / chancery: 2144 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation in the US / telephone: [1] (202) 939-9200
Diplomatic representation in the US / FAX: [1] (202) 332-7467
Diplomatic representation in the US / email address and website: washington@foreign.gov.bb https://www.foreign.gov.bb/embassies-high-commissions-and-permanent-missions/
Diplomatic representation in the US / consulate(s) general: Miami, New York
Diplomatic representation from the US / chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charg&eacute; d'Affaires Karin B. SULLIVAN (since January 2025); note - also accredited to Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Diplomatic representation from the US / embassy: Wildey Business Park, St. Michael BB 14006, Barbados, W.I.
Diplomatic representation from the US / mailing address: 3120 Bridgetown Place, Washington DC 20521-3120
Diplomatic representation from the US / telephone: (246) 227-4000
Diplomatic representation from the US / FAX: (246) 431-0179
Diplomatic representation from the US / email address and website: bridgetownpublicaffairs@state.gov https://bb.usembassy.gov/
International organization participation: ACP, ACS, AOSIS, C, Caricom, CDB, CELAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAES, MIGA, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Independence: 30 November 1966 (from the UK)
National holiday: Independence Day, 30 November (1966)
Flag: description: three equal vertical bands of ultramarine blue (left side), gold, and ultramarine blue with a black trident head centered on the gold band meaning: blue stands for the sea and sky, and gold for the beaches; the trident head represents independence and a break with the past
National symbol(s): Neptune's trident, pelican, red bird of paradise flower (also known as "Pride of Barbados")
National color(s): blue, yellow, black
National anthem(s) / title: "The National Anthem of Barbados"
National anthem(s) / lyrics/music: Irving BURGIE/C. Van Roland EDWARDS
National anthem(s) / history: adopted 1966
National heritage / total World Heritage Sites: 1 (cultural)
National heritage / selected World Heritage Site locales: Historic Bridgetown and its Garrison

## Economy
Economic overview: high-income Eastern Caribbean economy; high standard of living among regional peers; key tourism, construction, and financial sectors driving recent GDP growth; declining but still very high public debt leading to IMF support programs; susceptible to natural disasters and reliance on import partners
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $5.634 billion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $5.428 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $5.214 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2024: 3.8% (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2023: 4.1% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2022: 17.8% (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2024: $19,900 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2023: $19,200 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2022: $18,500 (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $7.165 billion (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024: -0.5% (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023: 9.8% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2019: 4.1% (2019 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / agriculture: 1.9% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / industry: 13.2% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / services: 75.4% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / household consumption: 75.6% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / government consumption: 11.8% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in fixed capital: 16.5% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in inventories: 0.2% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / exports of goods and services: 34.3% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / imports of goods and services: -42.2% (2022 est.)
Agricultural products: sugarcane, chicken, vegetables, milk, eggs, sweet potatoes, pork, coconuts, tropical fruits, pulses (2023)
Industries: tourism, sugar, light manufacturing, component assembly for export
Industrial production growth rate: -1.3% (2023 est.)
Labor force: 147,200 (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2024: 7.6% (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2023: 7.9% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2022: 8.4% (2022 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / total: 23.7% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / male: 27.5% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / female: 19.6% (2024 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income / Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2016: 34.1 (2016 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / lowest 10%: 2.5% (2016 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / highest 10%: 25.8% (2016 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2023: 1.3% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2022: 1.4% of GDP (2022 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2021: 1.6% of GDP (2021 est.)
Budget / revenues: $1.269 billion (2015 est.)
Budget / expenditures: $1.664 billion (2015 est.)
Public debt / Public debt 2016: 133.2% of GDP (2016 est.)
Taxes and other revenues: 24.9% (of GDP) (2016 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2017: -$296.396 million (2017 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2016: -$452.39 million (2016 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2015: -$98.732 million (2015 est.)
Exports / Exports 2017: $2.228 billion (2017 est.)
Exports / Exports 2016: $2.41 billion (2016 est.)
Exports / Exports 2015: $2.358 billion (2015 est.)
Exports - partners: USA 22%, Jamaica 17%, Trinidad & Tobago 8%, Canada 6%, Guyana 6% (2023)
Exports - commodities: liquor, refined petroleum, packaged medicine, margarine, baked goods (2023)
Imports / Imports 2021: $2.12 billion (2021 est.)
Imports / Imports 2017: $2.213 billion (2017 est.)
Imports / Imports 2016: $2.238 billion (2016 est.)
Imports - partners: USA 32%, Trinidad & Tobago 19%, Netherlands 6%, UK 6%, Guyana 5% (2023)
Imports - commodities: refined petroleum, crude petroleum, cars, plastic products, ships (2023)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023: $1.606 billion (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $1.52 billion (2022 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2021: $1.673 billion (2021 est.)
Exchange rates / Currency: Barbadian dollars (BBD) per US dollar -
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2024: 2 (2024 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2023: 2 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2022: 2 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2021: 2 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2020: 2 (2020 est.)

## Energy
Electricity access / electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)
Electricity / installed generating capacity: 320,000 kW (2023 est.)
Electricity / consumption: 1.025 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / transmission/distribution losses: 64.586 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / fossil fuels: 91.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / solar: 7.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / biomass and waste: 0.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Coal / exports: 4 metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / imports: 57 metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum / total petroleum production: 2,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Petroleum / refined petroleum consumption: 8,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Petroleum / crude oil estimated reserves: 1.978 million barrels (2021 est.)
Natural gas / production: 7.957 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / consumption: 32.593 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / imports: 24.636 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / proven reserves: 113.267 million cubic meters (2021 est.)
Energy consumption per capita / Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 68.293 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

## Communications
Telephones - fixed lines / total subscriptions: 121,000 (2022 est.)
Telephones - fixed lines / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 43 (2022 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / total subscriptions: 323,482 (2022 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 115 (2022 est.)
Broadcast media: government-owned Caribbean Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) operates the lone terrestrial TV station; CBC also has a multi-channel cable TV subscription service; roughly a dozen CBC-operated radio stations operate alongside privately owned radio stations (2019)
Internet country code: .bb
Internet users / percent of population: 80% (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / total: 106,000 (2022 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 37 (2022 est.)

## Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: 8P
Airports: 1 (2025)
Heliports: 1 (2025)
Merchant marine / total: 272 (2023)
Merchant marine / by type: bulk carrier 90, general cargo 149, oil tanker 5, other 28
Ports / total ports: 1 (2024)
Ports / large: 0
Ports / medium: 0
Ports / small: 1
Ports / very small: 0
Ports / ports with oil terminals: 1
Ports / key ports: Bridgetown

## Military and Security
Military and security forces: Barbados Defense Force (BDF): The Barbados Regiment, The Barbados Coast Guard (2025)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2024: 0.7% of GDP (2024 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2023: 0.7% of GDP (2023 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2022: 0.8% of GDP (2022 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2021: 0.9% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2020: 0.9% of GDP (2020 est.)
Military and security service personnel strengths: approximately 600 active BDF personnel (2025)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the BDF's major equipment inventory is comprised mostly of donated items from China, the Netherlands, and the US (2025)
Military service age and obligation: 18-25 for voluntary active service at the start of recruit training; 18-30 for reserves (2025)
Military - note: formed in 1979, the Barbados Defense Force (BDF) is responsible for protecting national security, but it may also be called up to maintain internal public order in times of crisis, emergency, or other specific needs, such as special joint patrols with the police; it also provides humanitarian assistance and disaster response operations both domestically and regionally; other duties include assisting with national development, such as through the training of the country's youth with the units of the Barbados Cadet Corps Barbados has been a member of the Caribbean Regional Security System (RSS) since its creation in 1982; RSS signatories (Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines) agreed to prepare contingency plans and assist one another, on request, in national emergencies, prevention of smuggling, search and rescue, immigration control, fishery protection, customs and excise control, maritime policing duties, protection of off-shore installations, pollution control, national and other disasters, and threats to national security; the RSS is headquartered in Barbados (2025)

## Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons / refugees: 13 (2024 est.)
Trafficking in persons / tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List — Barbados did not demonstrate overall increasing efforts to eliminate trafficking compared with the previous reporting period and was downgraded to Tier 2 Watch List; for more details, go to: https://www.state.gov/reports/2025-trafficking-in-persons-report/barbados/

=== The Bahamas ===

## Introduction
Background: Lucayan Indians inhabited the Bahama islands when Christopher COLUMBUS first set foot in the New World in 1492. British settlement of the islands began in 1647; the islands became a colony in 1783. Piracy thrived in the 17th and 18th centuries because of The Bahamas' close proximity to shipping lanes. Since gaining independence from the UK in 1973, The Bahamas has prospered through tourism, international banking, and investment management, which comprise up to 85% of GDP. Because of its proximity to the US -- the nearest Bahamian landmass is only 80 km (50 mi) from Florida -- the country is a major transshipment point for illicit trafficking to the US mainland, as well as to Europe. US law enforcement agencies cooperate closely with The Bahamas; the Drug Enforcement Administration, US Coast Guard, and US Customs and Border Protection assist Bahamian authorities with maritime security and law enforcement through Operation Bahamas, Turks and Caicos, or OPBAT.

## Geography
Location: chain of islands in the North Atlantic Ocean, southeast of Florida, northeast of Cuba; note - although The Bahamas does not border the Caribbean Sea, geopolitically it is often designated as a Caribbean nation
Geographic coordinates: 24 15 N, 76 00 W
Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
Area / total: 13,880 sq km
Area / land: 10,010 sq km
Area / water: 3,870 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly smaller than Connecticut
Land boundaries / total: 0 km
Coastline: 3,542 km
Maritime claims / territorial sea: 12 nm
Maritime claims / exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate: tropical marine; moderated by warm waters of Gulf Stream
Terrain: long, flat coral formations with some low rounded hills
Elevation / highest point: 1.3 km NE of Old Bight on Cat Island 64 m
Elevation / lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
Natural resources: salt, aragonite, timber, arable land
Land use / agricultural land: 1.3% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 0.8% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 0.3% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 0.2% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 50.9% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 47.8% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land: 10 sq km (2012)
Population distribution: most of the population lives in urban areas, with two thirds living on New Providence Island where Nassau is located
Natural hazards: hurricanes and other tropical storms cause extensive flood and wind damage
Geography - note: strategic location adjacent to US and Cuba; extensive island chain of which 30 are inhabited

## People and Society
Population / total: 415,306 (2025 est.)
Population / male: 192,055
Population / female: 223,251
Nationality / noun: Bahamian(s)
Nationality / adjective: Bahamian
Ethnic groups: African descent 90.6%, White 4.7%, mixed 2.1%, other 1.9%, unspecified 0.7% (2010 est.)
Languages: English (official), Creole (among Haitian immigrants)
Religions: Protestant 69.9% (includes Baptist 34.9%, Anglican 13.7%, Pentecostal 8.9% Seventh Day Adventist 4.4%, Methodist 3.6%, Church of God 1.9%, Plymouth Brethren 1.6%, other Protestant 0.9%), Roman Catholic 12%, other Christian 13% (includes Jehovah's Witness 1.1%), other 0.6%, none 1.9%, unspecified 2.6% (2010 est.)
Age structure / 0-14 years: 21.4% (male 41,675/female 46,363)
Age structure / 15-64 years: 70% (male 132,626/female 154,866)
Age structure / 65 years and over: 8.6% (2024 est.) (male 15,799/female 19,533)
Dependency ratios / total dependency ratio: 43.2 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / youth dependency ratio: 30.2 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / elderly dependency ratio: 13 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / potential support ratio: 7.7 (2025 est.)
Median age / total: 31.1 years (2025 est.)
Median age / male: 30.6 years
Median age / female: 30.7 years
Population growth rate: 1.08% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 13.1 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 5.44 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: 3.15 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution: most of the population lives in urban areas, with two thirds living on New Providence Island where Nassau is located
Urbanization / urban population: 83.6% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 1.02% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 280,000 NASSAU (capital) (2018)
Sex ratio / at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 0-14 years: 0.9 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 15-64 years: 0.86 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 65 years and over: 0.81 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / total population: 0.86 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio: 76 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Infant mortality rate / total: 9.2 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Infant mortality rate / male: 10.5 deaths/1,000 live births
Infant mortality rate / female: 8.2 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth / total population: 76.7 years (2024 est.)
Life expectancy at birth / male: 75.1 years
Life expectancy at birth / female: 78.4 years
Total fertility rate: 1.45 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 0.71 (2025 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: total: total: 98.9% of population
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 7.1% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 15.8% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density: 1.9 physicians/1,000 population (2017)
Hospital bed density: 2.7 beds/1,000 population (2021 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 31.6% (2016)
Alcohol consumption per capita / total: 9.48 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / beer: 3.66 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / wine: 1.43 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / spirits: 4.08 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / other alcohols: 0.31 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Tobacco use / total: 10.8% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / male: 20.8% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / female: 1.9% (2025 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% GDP): 2.7% of GDP (2023 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% national budget): 10.6% national budget (2025 est.)

## Environment
Environmental issues: coral reef decay; solid waste disposal
International environmental agreements / party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
International environmental agreements / signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Climate: tropical marine; moderated by warm waters of Gulf Stream
Land use / agricultural land: 1.3% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 0.8% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 0.3% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 0.2% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 50.9% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 47.8% (2023 est.)
Urbanization / urban population: 83.6% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 1.02% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / total emissions: 2.99 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from coal and metallurgical coke: 2,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from petroleum and other liquids: 2.966 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from consumed natural gas: 23,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Particulate matter emissions: 5.2 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Waste and recycling / municipal solid waste generated annually: 264,000 tons (2024 est.)
Waste and recycling / percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 24.9% (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / municipal: 31 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total renewable water resources: 700 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: Commonwealth of The Bahamas
Country name / conventional short form: The Bahamas
Country name / etymology: name may be derived from the Spanish baha mar , meaning "low sea," which describes the shallow waters of the Bahama Banks; alternatively, it may be a form of the local name Guanahani, which is of unknown origin and meaning
Government type: parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy; a Commonwealth realm
Capital / name: Nassau
Capital / geographic coordinates: 25 05 N, 77 21 W
Capital / time difference: UTC-5 (same time as Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Capital / daylight saving time: +1hr, begins second Sunday in March; ends first Sunday in November
Capital / etymology: named after King WILLIAM III of England (1650-1702), who was a member of the House of Orange-Nassau
Administrative divisions: 31 districts; Acklins Islands, Berry Islands, Bimini, Black Point, Cat Island, Central Abaco, Central Andros, Central Eleuthera, City of Freeport, Crooked Island and Long Cay, East Grand Bahama, Exuma, Grand Cay, Harbour Island, Hope Town, Inagua, Long Island, Mangrove Cay, Mayaguana, Moore's Island, North Abaco, North Andros, North Eleuthera, Ragged Island, Rum Cay, San Salvador, South Abaco, South Andros, South Eleuthera, Spanish Wells, West Grand Bahama
Legal system: common-law system based on the English model
Constitution / history: previous 1964 (pre-independence); latest adopted 20 June 1973, effective 10 July 1973
Constitution / amendment process: proposed as an "Act" by Parliament; passage of amendments to articles such as the organization and composition of the branches of government requires approval by at least two-thirds majority of the membership of both houses of Parliament and majority approval in a referendum; passage of amendments to constitutional articles such as fundamental rights and individual freedoms, the powers, authorities, and procedures of the branches of government, or changes to the Bahamas Independence Act 1973 requires approval by at least three-fourths majority of the membership of both houses and majority approval in a referendum
International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt
Citizenship / citizenship by birth: no
Citizenship / citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of The Bahamas
Citizenship / dual citizenship recognized: no
Citizenship / residency requirement for naturalization: 6-9 years
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch / chief of state: King CHARLES III (since 8 September 2022); represented by Governor-General Cynthia A. PRATT (since 1 September 2023)
Executive branch / head of government: Prime Minister Philip Edward DAVIS (since 17 September 2021)
Executive branch / cabinet: Cabinet appointed by governor-general on recommendation of prime minister
Executive branch / election/appointment process: the monarchy is hereditary; governor-general appointed by the monarch on the advice of the prime minister; following legislative elections, the governor-general appoints the leader of the majority party or majority coalition as prime minister; the prime minister recommends the deputy prime minister
Legislative branch / legislature name: Parliament
Legislative branch / legislative structure: bicameral
Legislative branch - lower chamber / chamber name: House of Assembly
Legislative branch - lower chamber / number of seats: 39 (all directly elected)
Legislative branch - lower chamber / electoral system: plurality/majority
Legislative branch - lower chamber / scope of elections: full renewal
Legislative branch - lower chamber / term in office: 5 years
Legislative branch - lower chamber / most recent election date: 9/16/2021
Legislative branch - lower chamber / parties elected and seats per party: Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) (32); Free National Movement (FNM) (7)
Legislative branch - lower chamber / percentage of women in chamber: 17.9%
Legislative branch - lower chamber / expected date of next election: September 2026
Legislative branch - upper chamber / chamber name: Senate
Legislative branch - upper chamber / number of seats: 16 (all appointed)
Legislative branch - upper chamber / scope of elections: full renewal
Legislative branch - upper chamber / term in office: 5 years
Legislative branch - upper chamber / most recent election date: 10/6/2021
Legislative branch - upper chamber / percentage of women in chamber: 31.3%
Legislative branch - upper chamber / expected date of next election: October 2026
Judicial branch / highest court(s): Court of Appeal (consists of the court president and 6 justices, organized in 3-member panels); Supreme Court (consists of the chief justice and 19 justices)
Judicial branch / judge selection and term of office: Court of Appeal president and Supreme Court chief justice appointed by the governor-general on the advice of the prime minister after consultation with the leader of the opposition party; other Court of Appeal and Supreme Court justices appointed by the governor general upon recommendation of the Judicial and Legal Services Commission, a 5-member body headed by the chief justice; Court of Appeal justices appointed for life with mandatory retirement normally at age 68 but can be extended until age 70; Supreme Court justices appointed for life with mandatory retirement normally at age 65 but can be extended until age 67
Judicial branch / subordinate courts: Industrial Tribunal; Magistrates' Courts; Family Island Administrators (can also serve as magistrates)
Political parties: Coalition of Independents Party or COI Democratic National Alliance or DNA Free National Movement or FNM Progressive Liberal Party or PLP
Diplomatic representation in the US / chief of mission: Ambassador Wendall Kermith JONES (since 19 April 2022)
Diplomatic representation in the US / chancery: 600 New Hampshire Ave NW, Suite 530, Washington, DC 20037
Diplomatic representation in the US / telephone: [1] (202) 319-2660
Diplomatic representation in the US / FAX: [1] (202) 319-2668
Diplomatic representation in the US / email address and website: embassy@bahamasembdc.org https://www.bahamasembdc.org/
Diplomatic representation in the US / consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Miami, New York
Diplomatic representation from the US / chief of mission: Ambassador Herschel WALKER (since 9 December 2025)
Diplomatic representation from the US / embassy: 42 Queen Street, Nassau
Diplomatic representation from the US / mailing address: 3370 Nassau Place, Washington, DC 20521-3370
Diplomatic representation from the US / telephone: [1] (242) 322-1181
Diplomatic representation from the US / FAX: [1] (242) 356-7174
Diplomatic representation from the US / email address and website: acsnassau@state.gov https://bs.usembassy.gov/
International organization participation: ACP, ACS, AOSIS, C, Caricom, CDB, CELAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, LAES, MIGA, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, Petrocaribe, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)
Independence: 10 July 1973 (from the UK)
National holiday: Independence Day, 10 July (1973)
Flag: description: three equal horizontal bands of aquamarine (top), gold, and aquamarine, with a black equilateral triangle based on the left side meaning: the band colors represent the islands' golden beaches surrounded by the aquamarine sea; black stands for the vigor and force of a united people, and the triangle for the people's enterprise and determination
National symbol(s): blue marlin, flamingo, yellow elderflower
National color(s): aquamarine, yellow, black
National coat of arms: the motto on the Bahamas coat of arms is “Forward, Upward, Onward Together;” the flamingo and marlin supporting the shield are national animals that represent respectively the land and sea; the pink conch shell symbolizes the marine life of the islands, and the green palm fronds represent the natural vegetation; the Santa Maria , Christopher Columbus’s flagship, also appears; the sun signifies the world-famous climate and the bright future of the islands
National anthem(s) / title: "God Save the King"
National anthem(s) / lyrics/music: unknown
National anthem(s) / history: royal anthem, as a Commonwealth country

## Economy
Economic overview: high-income tourism and financial services economy; major income inequality; strong US bilateral relations; several tax relief programs; targeted investment in agriculture, energy, light manufacturing, and technology industries
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $14.544 billion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $14.069 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $13.653 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2024: 3.4% (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2023: 3% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2022: 10.9% (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2024: $36,200 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2023: $35,200 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2022: $34,300 (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $15.833 billion (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024: 0.4% (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023: 3.1% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 5.6% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / agriculture: 0.5% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / industry: 9.6% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / services: 77.2% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / household consumption: 64.3% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / government consumption: 12.9% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in fixed capital: 25.7% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in inventories: 1.1% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / exports of goods and services: 37.8% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / imports of goods and services: -41.5% (2024 est.)
Agricultural products: sugarcane, grapefruits, vegetables, bananas, tomatoes, chicken, tropical fruits, oranges, coconuts, mangoes/guavas (2023)
Industries: tourism, banking, oil bunkering, maritime industries, transshipment and logistics, salt, aragonite, pharmaceuticals
Industrial production growth rate: 12.5% (2024 est.)
Labor force: 237,100 (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2024: 8.5% (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2023: 8.7% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2022: 9.3% (2022 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / total: 17.8% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / male: 17.8% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / female: 17.8% (2024 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2024: 0.4% of GDP (2024 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2023: 0.4% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2022: 0.4% of GDP (2022 est.)
Budget / revenues: $2.855 billion (2023 est.)
Budget / expenditures: $3.389 billion (2023 est.)
Public debt / Public debt 2023: 73.7% of GDP (2023 est.)
Taxes and other revenues: 16.2% (of GDP) (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2024: -$1.053 billion (2024 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2023: -$1.069 billion (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2022: -$1.233 billion (2022 est.)
Exports / Exports 2024: $6.771 billion (2024 est.)
Exports / Exports 2023: $6.011 billion (2023 est.)
Exports / Exports 2022: $5.425 billion (2022 est.)
Exports - partners: USA 36%, Zimbabwe 16%, Cote d'Ivoire 14%, Germany 8%, Guyana 8% (2023)
Exports - commodities: refined petroleum, ships, aluminum, shellfish, plastics (2023)
Imports / Imports 2024: $7.069 billion (2024 est.)
Imports / Imports 2023: $6.273 billion (2023 est.)
Imports / Imports 2022: $5.843 billion (2022 est.)
Imports - partners: USA 60%, Germany 13%, China 5%, Japan 3%, Brazil 2% (2023)
Imports - commodities: refined petroleum, ships, aircraft, cars, crude petroleum (2023)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023: $2.512 billion (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $2.609 billion (2022 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2021: $2.433 billion (2021 est.)
Exchange rates / Currency: Bahamian dollars (BSD) per US dollar -
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2024: 1 (2024 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2023: 1 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2022: 1 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2021: 1 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2020: 1 (2020 est.)

## Energy
Electricity access / electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)
Electricity / installed generating capacity: 608,000 kW (2023 est.)
Electricity / consumption: 2.036 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / transmission/distribution losses: 10 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / fossil fuels: 99.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / solar: 0.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Coal / imports: 600 metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum / refined petroleum consumption: 20,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Natural gas / consumption: 14.13 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / imports: 14.13 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
Energy consumption per capita / Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 104.409 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

## Communications
Telephones - fixed lines / total subscriptions: 93,100 (2024 est.)
Telephones - fixed lines / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 23 (2024 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / total subscriptions: 388,000 (2024 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 97 (2024 est.)
Broadcast media: 4 major TV providers; 1 TV station is operated by government-owned, commercially run Broadcasting Corporation of the Bahamas (BCB) and competes with 4 privately owned TV stations; multi-channel cable TV subscription service is widely available; 32 licensed broadcast (radio) service providers, with 31 privately owned FM radio stations; the BCB operates a multi-channel radio network with national coverage; the sector is regulated by the Utilities Regulation and Competition Authority (2019)
Internet country code: .bs
Internet users / percent of population: 95% (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / total: 95,000 (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 24 (2023 est.)

## Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: C6
Airports: 54 (2025)
Heliports: 9 (2025)
Merchant marine / total: 1,274 (2023)
Merchant marine / by type: bulk carrier 345, container ship 39, general cargo 58, oil tanker 193, other 639
Ports / total ports: 6 (2024)
Ports / large: 0
Ports / medium: 1
Ports / small: 1
Ports / very small: 4
Ports / ports with oil terminals: 4
Ports / key ports: Clifton Pier, Cockburn Town, Freeport, Matthew Town, Nassau, South Riding Point

## Military and Security
Military and security forces: Royal Bahamas Defense Force (RBDF): includes land, air, maritime elements; Royal Bahamas Police Force (RBPF) (2025)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2024: 0.7% of GDP (2024 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2023: 0.8% of GDP (2023 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2022: 0.8% of GDP (2022 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2021: 0.9% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2020: 0.9% of GDP (2020 est.)
Military and security service personnel strengths: approximately 1,500-1,800 active RBDF (2025)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: most of the RBDF's major equipment inventory has been acquired from the Netherlands or the US (2025)
Military service age and obligation: 18-30 years of age for voluntary service for men and women (18-60 for Reserves); no conscription (2025)
Military - note: the RBDF was established in 1980; its primary responsibilities are maritime security and safeguarding the territorial integrity of the Bahamas, providing disaster relief and humanitarian assistance, and supporting internal law and order in cooperation with other law enforcement agencies; the RBDF is a naval force with a few light aircraft, coastal patrol craft, and patrol boats, as well as a lightly-armed marine infantry/commando squadron for base and internal security; the RBDF has training relationships with the UK and the US (2025)

## Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons / refugees: 30 (2024 est.)
Refugees and internally displaced persons / IDPs: 30 (2024 est.)
Illicit drugs / USG identification: major illicit drug-producing and/or drug-transit country (2025)

=== Belize ===

## Introduction
Background: Belize was the site of several Mayan city states until their decline at the end of the first millennium A.D. The British and Spanish disputed the region in the 17th and 18th centuries; it formally became the colony of British Honduras in 1862. Territorial disputes between the UK and Guatemala delayed the independence of Belize until 1981. Guatemala refused to recognize the new nation until 1992, and the two countries are still involved in an ongoing border dispute. Tourism has become the mainstay of the economy. Current concerns include the country's heavy foreign debt burden, high crime rates, high unemployment combined with a majority youth population, growing involvement in the Mexican and South American drug trade, and one of the highest HIV/AIDS prevalence rates in Central America.

## Geography
Location: Central America, bordering the Caribbean Sea, between Guatemala and Mexico
Geographic coordinates: 17 15 N, 88 45 W
Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
Area / total: 22,966 sq km
Area / land: 22,806 sq km
Area / water: 160 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly smaller than Massachusetts
Land boundaries / total: 542 km
Land boundaries / border countries: Guatemala 266 km; Mexico 276 km
Coastline: 386 km
Maritime claims / territorial sea: 12 nm in the north, 3 nm in the south
Maritime claims / exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate: tropical; very hot and humid; rainy season (May to November); dry season (February to May)
Terrain: flat, swampy coastal plain; low mountains in south
Elevation / highest point: Doyle's Delight 1,124 m
Elevation / lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
Elevation / mean elevation: 173 m
Natural resources: arable land potential, timber, fish, hydropower
Land use / agricultural land: 8% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 4.4% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 1.4% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 2.2% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 58.3% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 33.7% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land: 35 sq km (2012)
Population distribution: approximately 25% to 30% of the population lives in the former capital, Belize City; over half of the overall population is rural; population density is slightly higher in the north and east
Natural hazards: frequent, devastating hurricanes (June to November) and coastal flooding (especially in south)
Geography - note: only country in Central America without a coastline on the North Pacific Ocean

## People and Society
Population / total: 421,960 (2025 est.)
Population / male: 208,844
Population / female: 213,116
Nationality / noun: Belizean(s)
Nationality / adjective: Belizean
Ethnic groups: Mestizo 52.9%, Creole 25.9%, Maya 11.3%, Garifuna 6.1%, East Indian 3.9%, Mennonite 3.6%, White 1.2%, Asian 1%, other 1.2%, unknown 0.3% (2010 est.)
Languages / Languages: English 62.9% (official), Spanish 56.6%, Creole 44.6%, Maya 10.5%, German 3.2%, Garifuna 2.9%, other 1.8%, unknown 0.5% (2010 est.)
Languages / major-language sample(s): The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information. (English) La Libreta Informativa del Mundo, la fuente indispensable de información básica. (Spanish)
Religions: Roman Catholic 40.1%, Protestant 31.5% (includes Pentecostal 8.4%, Seventh Day Adventist 5.4%, Anglican 4.7%, Mennonite 3.7%, Baptist 3.6%, Methodist 2.9%, Nazarene 2.8%), Jehovah's Witness 1.7%, other 10.5% (includes Baha'i, Buddhist, Hindu, Church of Jesus Christ, Muslim, Rastafarian, Salvation Army), unspecified 0.6%, none 15.5% (2010 est.)
Age structure / 0-14 years: 27.7% (male 58,529/female 56,811)
Age structure / 15-64 years: 66.7% (male 135,903/female 141,503)
Age structure / 65 years and over: 5.5% (2024 est.) (male 11,463/female 11,580)
Dependency ratios / total dependency ratio: 49.4 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / youth dependency ratio: 40.8 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / elderly dependency ratio: 8.6 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / potential support ratio: 11.6 (2025 est.)
Median age / total: 27.2 years (2025 est.)
Median age / male: 26.4 years
Median age / female: 27.2 years
Population growth rate: 1.47% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 17.44 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 4.87 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: 2.17 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution: approximately 25% to 30% of the population lives in the former capital, Belize City; over half of the overall population is rural; population density is slightly higher in the north and east
Urbanization / urban population: 46.6% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 2.3% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 23,000 BELMOPAN (capital) (2018)
Sex ratio / at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 0-14 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 65 years and over: 0.99 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio: 67 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Infant mortality rate / total: 11.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Infant mortality rate / male: 12.4 deaths/1,000 live births
Infant mortality rate / female: 10.1 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth / total population: 74.3 years (2024 est.)
Life expectancy at birth / male: 72.6 years
Life expectancy at birth / female: 76.1 years
Total fertility rate: 2.02 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 0.99 (2025 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: urban: urban: 98.9% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: rural: rural: 98% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: total: total: 98.4% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: urban: urban: 1.1% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: rural: rural: 2% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: total: total: 1.6% of population (2022 est.)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 5% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 11.5% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density: 1.09 physicians/1,000 population (2018)
Hospital bed density: 1 beds/1,000 population (2018 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: urban: urban: 99.1% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: rural: rural: 95.7% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: total: total: 97.3% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: urban: urban: 0.9% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: rural: rural: 4.3% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: total: total: 2.7% of population (2022 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 24.1% (2016)
Alcohol consumption per capita / total: 5.93 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / beer: 3.88 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / wine: 0.68 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / spirits: 1.19 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / other alcohols: 0.17 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Tobacco use / total: 8.3% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / male: 14.8% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / female: 1.8% (2025 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 4.6% (2015/16)
Child marriage / women married by age 15: 6.3% (2016)
Child marriage / women married by age 18: 33.5% (2016)
Child marriage / men married by age 18: 22.2% (2016)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% GDP): 4.6% of GDP (2024 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% national budget): 18.9% national budget (2024 est.)
Literacy / total population: 87.9% (2022 est.)
Literacy / male: 87.9% (2022 est.)
Literacy / female: 87.9% (2022 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / total: 12 years (2023 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / male: 12 years (2023 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / female: 12 years (2023 est.)

## Environment
Environmental issues: deforestation; water pollution from sewage, industrial effluents, agricultural runoff; inability to properly dispose of solid waste
International environmental agreements / party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
International environmental agreements / signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Climate: tropical; very hot and humid; rainy season (May to November); dry season (February to May)
Land use / agricultural land: 8% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 4.4% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 1.4% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 2.2% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 58.3% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 33.7% (2023 est.)
Urbanization / urban population: 46.6% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 2.3% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / total emissions: 662,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from coal and metallurgical coke: 3 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from petroleum and other liquids: 662,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Particulate matter emissions: 10.5 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Waste and recycling / municipal solid waste generated annually: 101,400 tons (2024 est.)
Waste and recycling / percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 10.4% (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / municipal: 11.4 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / industrial: 21.2 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / agricultural: 68.4 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total renewable water resources: 21.734 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: none
Country name / conventional short form: Belize
Country name / former: British Honduras
Country name / etymology: traditionally believed to be derived from the Spanish pronunciation of the last name of Scottish explorer Peter Wallace, who settled in the area in 1638; alternatively, may be named for the Belize River, whose name possibly derives from the Maya word "belix," meaning "muddy-watered"
Government type: parliamentary democracy (National Assembly) under a constitutional monarchy; a Commonwealth realm
Capital / name: Belmopan
Capital / geographic coordinates: 17 15 N, 88 46 W
Capital / time difference: UTC-6 (1 hour behind Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Capital / etymology: the name is formed from two words: "Belize," the name of the longest river in the country, and "Mopan," one of the rivers in the area that empties into the Belize River
Administrative divisions: 6 districts; Belize, Cayo, Corozal, Orange Walk, Stann Creek, Toledo
Legal system: English common law
Constitution / history: previous 1954, 1963 (pre-independence); latest signed and entered into force 21 September 1981
Constitution / amendment process: proposed and adopted by two-thirds majority vote of the National Assembly House of Representatives except for amendments relating to rights and freedoms, changes to the Assembly, and to elections and judiciary matters, which require at least three-quarters majority vote of the House; both types of amendments require assent of the governor general
International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Citizenship / citizenship by birth: yes
Citizenship / citizenship by descent only: yes
Citizenship / dual citizenship recognized: yes
Citizenship / residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch / chief of state: King CHARLES III (since 8 September 2022); represented by Governor-General Froyla TZALAM (since 27 May 2021)
Executive branch / head of government: Prime Minister John BRICE&Ntilde;O (since 12 November 2020)
Executive branch / cabinet: governor general appoints Cabinet from among members of the National Assembly, on the advice of the prime minister
Executive branch / election/appointment process: the monarchy is hereditary; governor-general appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or majority coalition usually appointed prime minister by the governor-general; prime minister recommends the deputy prime minister
Legislative branch / legislature name: National Assembly
Legislative branch / legislative structure: bicameral
Legislative branch - lower chamber / chamber name: House of Representatives
Legislative branch - lower chamber / number of seats: 32 (all directly elected)
Legislative branch - lower chamber / electoral system: plurality/majority
Legislative branch - lower chamber / scope of elections: full renewal
Legislative branch - lower chamber / term in office: 5 years
Legislative branch - lower chamber / most recent election date: 3/12/2025
Legislative branch - lower chamber / parties elected and seats per party: People's United Party (PUP) (26); United Democratic Party (UDP) (5)
Legislative branch - lower chamber / percentage of women in chamber: 12.5%
Legislative branch - lower chamber / expected date of next election: March 2030
Legislative branch - upper chamber / chamber name: Senate
Legislative branch - upper chamber / number of seats: 13 (all appointed)
Legislative branch - upper chamber / scope of elections: full renewal
Legislative branch - upper chamber / term in office: 5 years
Legislative branch - upper chamber / most recent election date: 5/9/2025
Legislative branch - upper chamber / percentage of women in chamber: 35.7%
Legislative branch - upper chamber / expected date of next election: May 2030
Judicial branch / highest court(s): Supreme Court of Judicature (consists of the Court of Appeal with the court president and 3 justices, and the Supreme Court with the chief justice and 10 justices); the Caribbean Court of Justice is the final court of appeal
Judicial branch / judge selection and term of office: Court of Appeal president and justices appointed by the governor-general upon advice of the prime minister after consultation with the National Assembly opposition leader; justices' tenures vary by terms of appointment; Supreme Court chief justice appointed by the governor-general upon the advice of the prime minister and the National Assembly opposition leader; other judges appointed by the governor-general upon the advice of the Judicial and Legal Services Section of the Public Services Commission and with the concurrence of the prime minister after consultation with the National Assembly opposition leader; judges can be appointed beyond age 65 but must retire by age 75
Judicial branch / subordinate courts: Magistrates' Courts; Family Court
Political parties: Belize People’s Front or BPF Belize Progressive Party or BPP (formed in 2015 from a merger of the People's National Party, elements of the Vision Inspired by the People, and other smaller political groups) People's United Party or PUP United Democratic Party or UDP Vision Inspired by the People or VIP
Diplomatic representation in the US / chief of mission: Ambassador Lynn Raymond YOUNG (since 7 July 2021)
Diplomatic representation in the US / chancery: 2535 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008-2826
Diplomatic representation in the US / telephone: [1] (202) 332-9636
Diplomatic representation in the US / FAX: [1] (202) 332-6888
Diplomatic representation in the US / email address and website: reception.usa@mfa.gov.bz https://www.belizeembassyusa.mfa.gov.bz/
Diplomatic representation in the US / consulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami, New York
Diplomatic representation from the US / chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charg&eacute; d'Affaires Katharine BEAMER (since 23 August 2025)
Diplomatic representation from the US / embassy: 4 Floral Park Road, Belmopan, Cayo
Diplomatic representation from the US / mailing address: 3050 Belmopan Place, Washington DC 20521-3050
Diplomatic representation from the US / telephone: (501) 822-4011
Diplomatic representation from the US / FAX: (501) 822-4012
Diplomatic representation from the US / email address and website: ACSBelize@state.gov https://bz.usembassy.gov/
International organization participation: ACP, ACS, AOSIS, C, Caricom, CD, CDB, CELAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, LAES, MIGA, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, Petrocaribe, SICA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Independence: 21 September 1981 (from the UK)
National holiday: Battle of St. George's Caye Day (National Day), 10 September (1798); Independence Day, 21 September (1981)
Flag: description: royal blue with a narrow red stripe along the top and the bottom edges; the coat of arms is on a large white disk at the center and shows a shield flanked by two workers in front of a mahogany tree, with the motto SUB UMBRA FLOREO (I Flourish in the Shade) on a scroll at the bottom; a green garland of 50 mahogany leaves rings the coat of arms meaning: the figures, the mahogany tree, and the garland refer to the logging industry that led the British to settle Belize; blue and red are the colors of the two main political parties
National symbol(s): Baird's tapir (a large forest-dwelling mammal), keel-billed toucan, black orchid
National color(s): red, blue
National anthem(s) / title: "God Save the King"
National anthem(s) / lyrics/music: unknown
National anthem(s) / history: royal anthem, as a Commonwealth country
National heritage / total World Heritage Sites: 1 (natural)
National heritage / selected World Heritage Site locales: Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System

## Economy
Economic overview: tourism- and agriculture-driven economy; strong post-pandemic rebound; innovative and ecological bond restructuring that significantly lowered public debt and expanded marine protections; central bank offering USD-denominated treasury notes; high mobility across borders
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $5.538 billion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $5.12 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $5.062 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2024: 8.2% (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2023: 1.1% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2022: 9.7% (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2024: $13,300 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2023: $12,500 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2022: $12,600 (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $3.516 billion (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024: 3.3% (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023: 4.4% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 6.3% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / agriculture: 8.1% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / industry: 14.3% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / services: 62.4% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / household consumption: 62.9% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / government consumption: 15.7% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in fixed capital: 20.6% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in inventories: -2.3% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / exports of goods and services: 55.3% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / imports of goods and services: -51.2% (2023 est.)
Agricultural products: sugarcane, maize, bananas, sorghum, soybeans, chicken, rice, oranges, fruits, plantains (2023)
Industries: garment production, food processing, tourism, construction, oil
Industrial production growth rate: 4.8% (2024 est.)
Labor force: 190,000 (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2024: 7% (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2023: 8.3% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2022: 8.8% (2022 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / total: 16.3% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / male: 10.6% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / female: 25.6% (2024 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income / Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2018: 39.9 (2018 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / lowest 10%: 2.2% (2018 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / highest 10%: 30% (2018 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2024: 4.4% of GDP (2024 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2023: 4.9% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2022: 5% of GDP (2022 est.)
Budget / revenues: $554.405 million (2017 est.)
Budget / expenditures: $506.316 million (2017 est.)
Public debt / Public debt 2017: 99% of GDP (2017 est.)
Taxes and other revenues: 21.3% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2024: -$51.762 million (2024 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2023: -$19.761 million (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2022: -$235.566 million (2022 est.)
Exports / Exports 2024: $1.64 billion (2024 est.)
Exports / Exports 2023: $1.536 billion (2023 est.)
Exports / Exports 2022: $1.369 billion (2022 est.)
Exports - partners: USA 22%, UK 14%, Spain 9%, Guatemala 7%, Portugal 5% (2023)
Exports - commodities: raw sugar, bananas, fish, shellfish, refined petroleum (2023)
Imports / Imports 2024: $1.724 billion (2024 est.)
Imports / Imports 2023: $1.573 billion (2023 est.)
Imports / Imports 2022: $1.574 billion (2022 est.)
Imports - partners: USA 37%, China 17%, Guatemala 10%, Mexico 8%, Costa Rica 6% (2023)
Imports - commodities: refined petroleum, orthopedic appliances, ships, garments, tobacco (2023)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024: $498.087 million (2024 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023: $473.729 million (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $482.146 million (2022 est.)
Debt - external / Debt - external 2023: $1.235 billion (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Currency: Belizean dollars (BZD) per US dollar -
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2024: 2 (2024 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2023: 2 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2022: 2 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2021: 2 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2020: 2 (2020 est.)

## Energy
Electricity access / electrification - total population: 98.6% (2022 est.)
Electricity access / electrification - urban areas: 98.4%
Electricity access / electrification - rural areas: 97.1%
Electricity / installed generating capacity: 220,000 kW (2023 est.)
Electricity / consumption: 595.389 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / imports: 283.8 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / transmission/distribution losses: 140.519 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / fossil fuels: 12% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / solar: 2.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / hydroelectricity: 52.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / biomass and waste: 32.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Coal / imports: 32 metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum / total petroleum production: 800 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Petroleum / refined petroleum consumption: 5,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Petroleum / crude oil estimated reserves: 6.7 million barrels (2021 est.)
Energy consumption per capita / Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 30.752 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

## Communications
Telephones - fixed lines / total subscriptions: 17,800 (2022 est.)
Telephones - fixed lines / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 4 (2022 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / total subscriptions: 271,000 (2022 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 67 (2022 est.)
Broadcast media: 8 privately owned TV stations; multi-channel cable TV provides access to foreign stations; about 25 radio stations broadcasting on roughly 50 different frequencies; state-run radio was privatized in 1998 (2019)
Internet country code: .bz
Internet users / percent of population: 72% (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / total: 39,000 (2022 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 10 (2022 est.)

## Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: V3
Airports: 27 (2025)
Heliports: 5 (2025)
Merchant marine / total: 774 (2023)
Merchant marine / by type: bulk carrier 49, general cargo 410, oil tanker 64, other 251
Ports / total ports: 2 (2024)
Ports / large: 0
Ports / medium: 0
Ports / small: 1
Ports / very small: 0
Ports / size unknown: 1
Ports / ports with oil terminals: 1
Ports / key ports: Belize City, Big Creek

## Military and Security
Military and security forces: Belize Defense Force (BDF): Army, Air Wing; Belize Coast Guard (BCG) (2025)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2024: 1% of GDP (2024 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2023: 0.9% of GDP (2023 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2022: 1.1% of GDP (2022 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2021: 1.3% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2020: 1.5% of GDP (2020 est.)
Military and security service personnel strengths: approximately 1,500 BDF personnel (2025)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the military has a small inventory consisting mostly of UK- and US-origin equipment (2025)
Military service age and obligation: 18-23 years of age for voluntary military service; laws allow for conscription only if volunteers are insufficient, but conscription has never been implemented; initial service obligation is 12 years (2025)
Military - note: the Belize Defense Force (BDF) is responsible for external security but also provides some support to civilian authorities; it has limited powers of arrest within land and shoreline areas, while the Coast Guard has arrest powers and jurisdiction within coastal and maritime areas; the BDF traces its history back to the Prince Regent Royal Honduras Militia, a volunteer force established in 1817; the BDF was established in 1978 from the disbanded Police Special Force and the Belize Volunteer Guard to assist the resident British forces with the defense of Belize against Guatemala the British Army has maintained a presence in Belize since its independence; the presence consists of a small training support unit that provides jungle training to troops from the UK and international partners (2025)

## Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons / refugees: 2,287 (2024 est.)
Refugees and internally displaced persons / IDPs: 8 (2024 est.)
Illicit drugs / USG identification: major illicit drug-producing and/or drug-transit country (2025)

=== Navassa Island ===

## Introduction
Background: The US claimed uninhabited Navassa Island in 1857 for its guano. Mining took place between 1865 and 1898. The lighthouse, built in 1917, was shut down in 1996, and administration of Navassa Island was transferred from the US Coast Guard to the Department of the Interior, Office of Insular Affairs. A 1998 scientific expedition to the island described it as a "unique preserve of Caribbean biodiversity." The following year it became a National Wildlife Refuge, and annual scientific expeditions have continued.

## Geography
Location: Caribbean, island in the Caribbean Sea, 30 nm west of Tiburon Peninsula of Haiti
Geographic coordinates: 18 25 N, 75 02 W
Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
Area / total: 5 sq km
Area / land: 5.4 sq km
Area / water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative: about nine times the size of the National Mall in Washington, D.C.
Land boundaries / total: 0 km
Coastline: 8 km
Maritime claims / territorial sea: 12 nm
Maritime claims / exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate: marine, tropical
Terrain: raised flat to undulating coral and limestone plateau; ringed by vertical white cliffs (9 to 15 m high)
Elevation / highest point: 200 m NNW of lighthouse 85 m
Elevation / lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
Natural resources: guano (mining discontinued in 1898)
Land use / other: 100% (2018 est.)
Natural hazards: hurricanes
Geography - note: strategic location 160 km south of the US Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba; mostly exposed rock with numerous solution holes (limestone sinkholes) but with enough grassland to support goat herds; dense stands of fig trees, scattered cactus

## People and Society
Population / total: uninhabited

## Environment
Environmental issues: some coral bleaching
Climate: marine, tropical
Land use / other: 100% (2018 est.)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: none
Country name / conventional short form: Navassa Island
Country name / etymology: the flat island was named "Navaza" by sailors with the Christopher COLUMBUS expedition in 1504; the name derives from the Spanish word nava , meaning "flat land or level ground"
Dependency status: unorganized, unincorporated territory of the US; administered by the Fish and Wildlife Service, US Department of the Interior, from the Caribbean Islands National Wildlife Refuge in Boqueron, Puerto Rico; Haiti has claimed the island since the 19th century
Legal system: the laws of the US apply
Diplomatic representation from the US / embassy: none (territory of the US)
Flag: the flag of the US is used

## Economy

## Communications

## Transportation

## Military and Security
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of the US

## Transnational Issues

=== Cayman Islands ===

## Introduction
Background: The British colonized the Cayman Islands during the 18th and 19th centuries, and Jamaica -- also a British colony at the time -- administered the islands after 1863. In 1959, the islands became a territory within the Federation of the West Indies. When the Federation dissolved in 1962, the Cayman Islands chose to remain a British dependency. The territory has transformed itself into a significant offshore financial center.

## Geography
Location: Caribbean, three-island group (Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac, Little Cayman) in Caribbean Sea, 240 km south of Cuba and 268 km northwest of Jamaica
Geographic coordinates: 19 30 N, 80 30 W
Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
Area / total: 264 sq km
Area / land: 264 sq km
Area / water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative: 1.5 times the size of Washington, D.C.
Land boundaries / total: 0 km
Coastline: 160 km
Maritime claims / territorial sea: 12 nm
Maritime claims / exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Maritime claims / exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
Climate: tropical marine; warm, rainy summers (May to October) and cool, relatively dry winters (November to April)
Terrain: low-lying limestone base surrounded by coral reefs
Elevation / highest point: 1 km SW of The Bluff on Cayman Brac 50 m
Elevation / lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
Natural resources: fish, climate and beaches that foster tourism
Land use / agricultural land: 11.2% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 0.8% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 2.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 8.3% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 53% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 35.8% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land: NA
Population distribution: majority of the population resides on Grand Cayman
Natural hazards: hurricanes (July to November)
Geography - note: important location between Cuba and Central America

## People and Society
Population / total: 66,653 (2024 est.)
Population / male: 32,379
Population / female: 34,274
Nationality / noun: Caymanian(s)
Nationality / adjective: Caymanian
Ethnic groups: Cayman Islander 35.4%, Jamaican 24.8%, Filipino 5.5%, British 5.3%, American 5.2%, Honduran 4.2%, Canadian 3.3%, Indian 2.1%, Cuban 1.6%, Nicaraguan 1%, other 11.1%, unspecified 0.5% (2021 est.)
Languages: English (official) 88.8%, Spanish 3.9%, Filipino 3.8%, other 2.8%, unspecified 0.7% (2021 est.)
Religions: Protestant 60.8% (includes Church of God 19.5%, Seventh Day Adventist 8.7%, non-denominational 8.3%, Baptist 6.9%, Pentecostal 6.8%, Presbyterian/United Church 5.7%, Anglican 2.8%, Wesleyan Holiness 1.5%, Methodist 0.5%), Roman Catholic 13.6%, Hindu 1.7%, Jehovah's Witness 0.9%, other 4.8%, none 16.7%, unspecified 1.4% (2021 est.)
Age structure / 0-14 years: 17.4% (male 5,845/female 5,767)
Age structure / 15-64 years: 65.9% (male 21,480/female 22,456)
Age structure / 65 years and over: 16.7% (2024 est.) (male 5,054/female 6,051)
Dependency ratios / total dependency ratio: 51.7 (2024 est.)
Dependency ratios / youth dependency ratio: 26.4 (2024 est.)
Dependency ratios / elderly dependency ratio: 25.3 (2024 est.)
Dependency ratios / potential support ratio: 4 (2024 est.)
Median age / total: 41.3 years (2025 est.)
Median age / male: 40.3 years
Median age / female: 42 years
Population growth rate: 1.71% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 11.41 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 6.24 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: 11.91 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution: majority of the population resides on Grand Cayman
Urbanization / urban population: 100% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 1.13% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 35,000 GEORGE TOWN (capital) (2018)
Sex ratio / at birth: 1.02 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 0-14 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 65 years and over: 0.84 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Infant mortality rate / total: 7.1 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Infant mortality rate / male: 8.8 deaths/1,000 live births
Infant mortality rate / female: 5.7 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth / total population: 82.5 years (2024 est.)
Life expectancy at birth / male: 79.8 years
Life expectancy at birth / female: 85.2 years
Total fertility rate: 1.81 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 0.9 (2025 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: urban: urban: 95.5% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: total: total: 95.5% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: urban: urban: 4.5% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: total: total: 4.5% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: urban: urban: 93.5% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: total: total: 93.5% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: urban: urban: 6.5% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: total: total: 6.5% of population (2022 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% GDP): 1.6% of GDP (2023 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% national budget): 15% national budget (2019 est.)

## Environment
Environmental issues: no natural freshwater resources; trash washing up or being deposited on beaches; no recycling or waste-treatment facilities; deforestation
Climate: tropical marine; warm, rainy summers (May to October) and cool, relatively dry winters (November to April)
Land use / agricultural land: 11.2% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 0.8% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 2.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 8.3% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 53% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 35.8% (2023 est.)
Urbanization / urban population: 100% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 1.13% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / total emissions: 737,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from petroleum and other liquids: 737,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Waste and recycling / municipal solid waste generated annually: 60,000 tons (2024 est.)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: none
Country name / conventional short form: Cayman Islands
Country name / etymology: Spanish explorers named the islands in the early 16th century, using the Carib word for marine crocodiles, caiman
Government type: parliamentary democracy; self-governing overseas territory of the UK
Dependency status: overseas territory of the UK
Capital / name: George Town (on Grand Cayman)
Capital / geographic coordinates: 19 18 N, 81 23 W
Capital / time difference: UTC-5 (same time as Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Capital / etymology: originally named Hogstyes, the town was renamed in honor of English King GEORGE III (1738-1820) around 1800
Administrative divisions: 6 districts; Bodden Town, Cayman Brac and Little Cayman, East End, George Town, North Side, West Bay
Legal system: English common law and local statutes
Constitution / history: several previous; latest approved 10 June 2009, entered into force 6 November 2009 (The Cayman Islands Constitution Order 2009)
Citizenship: see United Kingdom
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch / chief of state: King CHARLES III (since 8 September 2022); represented by Governor Jane OWEN (since 21 April 2023)
Executive branch / head of government: Premier Andr&eacute; Martin EBANKS (since 6 May 2025)
Executive branch / cabinet: Cabinet selected from the Parliament and appointed by the governor on the advice of the premier
Executive branch / election/appointment process: the monarchy is hereditary; governor appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the governor appoints the leader of the majority party or majority coalition as premier
Legislative branch / legislature name: Parliament
Legislative branch / legislative structure: unicameral
Legislative branch / number of seats: 21 (directly elected and appointed)
Legislative branch / scope of elections: full renewal
Legislative branch / term in office: 4 years
Legislative branch / most recent election date: 4/14/2021
Legislative branch / parties elected and seats per party: independent (12); PPM (7)
Legislative branch / percentage of women in chamber: 23.8%
Legislative branch / expected date of next election: 2025
Judicial branch / highest court(s): Court of Appeal (consists of the court president and at least 2 judges); Grand Court (consists of the court president and at least 2 judges)
Judicial branch / judge selection and term of office: Court of Appeal and Grand Court judges appointed by the governor on the advice of the Judicial and Legal Services Commission, an 8-member independent body consisting of governor appointees, Court of Appeal president, and attorneys; Court of Appeal judges' tenure based on their individual instruments of appointment; Grand Court judges normally appointed until retirement at age 65 but can be extended until age 70
Judicial branch / subordinate courts: Summary Court
Political parties: Cayman Islands Peoples Party or CIPP People's Progressive Movement or PPM
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (overseas territory of the UK)
Diplomatic representation from the US / embassy: none (overseas territory of the UK); consular services provided through the US Embassy in Jamaica
International organization participation: Caricom (associate), CDB, Interpol (subbureau), IOC, UNESCO (associate), UPU
Independence: none (overseas territory of the UK)
National holiday: Constitution Day, the first Monday in July (1959)
Flag: description: a blue field with the UK flag in the upper-left quadrant and the Caymanian coat of arms centered on the right half of the flag; the coat of arms has a pineapple, a turtle, a shield with a golden lion and three green stars, and a scroll below the shield with the motto HE HATH FOUNDED IT UPON THE SEAS meaning: the pineapple represents ties to Jamaica; the turtle represents the Caymans' seafaring tradition; the lion symbolizes Great Britain; the green stars represent the three islands; the white and blue wavy lines on the coat of arms represent the sea
National symbol(s): green sea turtle
National coat of arms: the Queen of England approved the Cayman Islands' coat of arms -- which was designed with input from the public -- in 1958; the shield features the lion of England and three green stars that symbolize the three islands of Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac, and Little Cayman; the green turtle stands for the islands’ seafaring history, the rope under it for the thatch-rope industry, and the pineapple for historical ties with Jamaica; the motto comes from Psalms 24, acknowledging the Caymans’ Christian heritage
National anthem(s) / title: "God Save the King"
National anthem(s) / lyrics/music: unknown
National anthem(s) / history: official anthem, as an overseas UK territory

## Economy
Economic overview: dominant offshore banking territory; services sector accounts for over 85% of economic activity; recently adopted a fiscal responsibility framework to combat tax evasion and money laundering; large tourism sector; does not have any welfare system; high standard of living
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $5.705 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $5.467 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2021: $5.199 billion (2021 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2023: 4.4% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2022: 5.2% (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2021: 4.9% (2021 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2023: $78,100 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2022: $76,400 (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2021: $74,200 (2021 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $7.139 billion (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2017: 2% (2017 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2016: -0.6% (2016 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2015: -2.3% (2015 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / agriculture: 0.5% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / industry: 8.2% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / services: 85.4% (2022 est.)
Agricultural products: vegetables, fruit; livestock; turtle farming
Industries: tourism, banking, insurance and finance, construction, construction materials, furniture
Industrial production growth rate: 3.4% (2022 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2023: 0.2% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2022: 0.2% of GDP (2022 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2021: 0.2% of GDP (2021 est.)
Budget / revenues: $874.5 million (2017 est.)
Budget / expenditures: $766.6 million (2017 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2023: -$712.684 million (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2022: -$749.482 million (2022 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2021: -$794.205 million (2021 est.)
Exports / Exports 2023: $4.6 billion (2023 est.)
Exports / Exports 2022: $4.215 billion (2022 est.)
Exports / Exports 2021: $3.542 billion (2021 est.)
Exports - partners: UK 40%, Cyprus 21%, Germany 9%, Grenada 8%, Italy 5% (2023)
Exports - commodities: aircraft, ships, refined petroleum, natural gas, broadcasting equipment (2023)
Imports / Imports 2023: $3.444 billion (2023 est.)
Imports / Imports 2022: $3.287 billion (2022 est.)
Imports / Imports 2021: $2.808 billion (2021 est.)
Imports - partners: Germany 30%, USA 29%, Italy 20%, Turkey 5%, China 5% (2023)
Imports - commodities: ships, refined petroleum, cars, furniture, jewelry (2023)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023: $234 million (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $225.4 million (2022 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2021: $228.3 million (2021 est.)
Exchange rates / Currency: Caymanian dollars (KYD) per US dollar -
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2024: 0.833 (2024 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2023: 0.833 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2022: 0.833 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2021: 0.833 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2020: 0.833 (2020 est.)

## Energy
Electricity access / electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)
Electricity / installed generating capacity: 176,000 kW (2023 est.)
Electricity / consumption: 698.767 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / transmission/distribution losses: 2.117 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / fossil fuels: 96.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / solar: 3.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / wind: 0.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Petroleum / refined petroleum consumption: 5,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Energy consumption per capita / Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 143.149 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

## Communications
Telephones - fixed lines / total subscriptions: 36,000 (2021 est.)
Telephones - fixed lines / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 50 (2022 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / total subscriptions: 99,737 (2022 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 139 (2022 est.)
Broadcast media: 4 TV stations; cable and satellite subscription services offer international programming; government-owned Radio Cayman operates 2 networks broadcasting on 5 stations; 10 privately owned radio stations operate alongside Radio Cayman
Internet country code: .ky
Internet users / percent of population: 81% (2017 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / total: 40,000 (2022 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 56 (2022 est.)

## Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: VP-C
Airports: 3 (2025)
Heliports: 5 (2025)
Merchant marine / total: 130 (2023)
Merchant marine / by type: bulk carrier 29, container ship 3, general cargo 1, oil tanker 20, other 77
Ports / total ports: 2 (2024)
Ports / large: 0
Ports / medium: 0
Ports / small: 0
Ports / very small: 2
Ports / ports with oil terminals: 2
Ports / key ports: Cayman Brac, Georgetown

## Military and Security
Military and security forces: no regular military forces; Royal Cayman Islands Police Service
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of the UK

## Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons / refugees: 65 (2024 est.)

=== Costa Rica ===

## Introduction
Background: Although explored by the Spanish early in the 16th century, initial attempts at colonizing Costa Rica proved unsuccessful due to a combination of factors, including disease from mosquito-infested swamps, brutal heat, resistance from Indigenous populations, and pirate raids. It was not until 1563 that a permanent settlement of Cartago was established in the cooler, fertile central highlands. The area remained a colony for some two-and-a-half centuries. In 1821, Costa Rica was one of several Central American provinces that jointly declared independence from Spain. Two years later it joined the United Provinces of Central America, but this federation disintegrated in 1838, at which time Costa Rica proclaimed its sovereignty and independence. Since the late 19th century, only two brief periods of violence have marred the country's democratic development. General Federico TINOCO Granados led a coup in 1917, but the threat of US intervention pushed him to resign in 1919. In 1948, landowner Jose FIGUERES Ferrer raised his own army and rebelled against the government. The brief civil war ended with an agreement to allow FIGUERES to remain in power for 18 months, then step down in favor of the previously elected Otilio ULATE. FIGUERES was later elected twice in his own right, in 1953 and 1970. Costa Rica experienced destabilizing waves of refugees from Central American civil wars in the 1970s and 1980s, but peace in the region has since helped the economy rebound. Although it still maintains a large agricultural sector, Costa Rica has expanded its economy to include strong technology and tourism industries.

## Geography
Location: Central America, bordering both the Caribbean Sea and the North Pacific Ocean, between Nicaragua and Panama
Geographic coordinates: 10 00 N, 84 00 W
Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
Area / total: 51,100 sq km
Area / land: 51,060 sq km
Area / water: 40 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly smaller than West Virginia
Land boundaries / total: 661 km
Land boundaries / border countries: Nicaragua 313 km; Panama 348 km
Coastline: 1,290 km
Maritime claims / territorial sea: 12 nm
Maritime claims / exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Maritime claims / continental shelf: 200 nm
Climate: tropical and subtropical; dry season (December to April); rainy season (May to November); cooler in highlands
Terrain: coastal plains separated by rugged mountains including over 100 volcanic cones, of which several are major active volcanoes
Elevation / highest point: Cerro Chirripo 3,819 m
Elevation / lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
Elevation / mean elevation: 746 m
Natural resources: hydropower
Land use / agricultural land: 33.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 3.3% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 7.4% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 22.5% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 58.4% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 8.4% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land: 1,015 sq km (2012)
Population distribution: roughly half of the nation's population resides in urban areas; the capital of San Jose is the largest city and home to approximately one fifth of the population
Natural hazards: occasional earthquakes, hurricanes along Atlantic coast; frequent flooding of lowlands at onset of rainy season and landslides; active volcanoes volcanism: Arenal (1,670 m) is the most active volcano in Costa Rica; a 1968 eruption destroyed the town of Tabacon; Irazu (3,432 m), situated just east of San Jose, has the potential to spew ash over the capital city, as it did between 1963 and 1965; other historically active volcanoes include Miravalles, Poas, Rincon de la Vieja, and Turrialba
Geography - note: four volcanoes, two of them active, rise near the capital of San Jose in the center of the country; one of the volcanoes, Irazu, erupted destructively in 1963-65

## People and Society
Population / total: 5,304,932 (2025 est.)
Population / male: 2,654,314
Population / female: 2,650,618
Nationality / noun: Costa Rican(s)
Nationality / adjective: Costa Rican
Ethnic groups: White or Mestizo 83.6%, Mulatto 6.7%, Indigenous 2.4%, Black or African descent 1.1%, other 1.1%, none 2.9%, unspecified 2.2% (2011 est.)
Languages / Languages: Spanish (official), English
Languages / major-language sample(s): La Libreta Informativa del Mundo, la fuente indispensable de información básica. (Spanish) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
Religions: Roman Catholic 47.5%, Evangelical and Pentecostal 19.8%, Jehovah's Witness 1.4%, other Protestant 1.2%, other 3.1%, none 27% (2021 est.)
Age structure / 0-14 years: 18.8% (male 506,041/female 482,481)
Age structure / 15-64 years: 70.2% (male 1,862,872/female 1,832,024)
Age structure / 65 years and over: 11.1% (2024 est.) (male 266,568/female 315,589)
Dependency ratios / total dependency ratio: 42.7 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / youth dependency ratio: 26.2 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / elderly dependency ratio: 16.5 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / potential support ratio: 6.1 (2025 est.)
Median age / total: 36 years (2025 est.)
Median age / male: 34.9 years
Median age / female: 36.1 years
Population growth rate: 0.75% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 10.86 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 5.24 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: 1.89 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution: roughly half of the nation's population resides in urban areas; the capital of San Jose is the largest city and home to approximately one fifth of the population
Urbanization / urban population: 82.6% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 1.5% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 1.462 million SAN JOSE (capital) (2023)
Sex ratio / at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 65 years and over: 0.84 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / total population: 1 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio: 24 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Infant mortality rate / total: 6.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Infant mortality rate / male: 7 deaths/1,000 live births
Infant mortality rate / female: 6.3 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth / total population: 80.3 years (2024 est.)
Life expectancy at birth / male: 77.7 years
Life expectancy at birth / female: 82.9 years
Total fertility rate: 1.45 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 0.71 (2025 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: urban: urban: 99.8% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: rural: rural: 99.6% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: total: total: 99.8% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: urban: urban: 0.2% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: rural: rural: 0.4% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: total: total: 0.2% of population (2022 est.)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 7.6% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 25.8% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density: 2.69 physicians/1,000 population (2022)
Hospital bed density: 1.2 beds/1,000 population (2021 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: urban: urban: 99.2% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: rural: rural: 97.6% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: total: total: 98.9% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: urban: urban: 0.8% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: rural: rural: 2.4% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: total: total: 1.1% of population (2022 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 25.7% (2016)
Alcohol consumption per capita / total: 3.07 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / beer: 2.17 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / wine: 0.15 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / spirits: 0.36 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / other alcohols: 0.39 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Tobacco use / total: 8.1% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / male: 12.2% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / female: 4.1% (2025 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 2.9% (2018 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49): 41.7% (2022 est.)
Child marriage / women married by age 15: 2% (2018)
Child marriage / women married by age 18: 17.1% (2018)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% GDP): 6.2% of GDP (2021 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% national budget): 31.2% national budget (2021 est.)
Literacy / female: 94.1% (2018 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / total: 16 years (2019 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / male: 15 years (2019 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / female: 16 years (2019 est.)

## Environment
Environmental issues: deforestation, largely from clearing land for cattle ranching and agriculture; soil erosion; coastal marine pollution; fisheries protection; solid waste management; air pollution
International environmental agreements / party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling
International environmental agreements / signed, but not ratified: Marine Life Conservation
Climate: tropical and subtropical; dry season (December to April); rainy season (May to November); cooler in highlands
Land use / agricultural land: 33.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 3.3% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 7.4% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 22.5% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 58.4% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 8.4% (2023 est.)
Urbanization / urban population: 82.6% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 1.5% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / total emissions: 7.91 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from coal and metallurgical coke: 58,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from petroleum and other liquids: 7.852 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Particulate matter emissions: 15.1 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Waste and recycling / municipal solid waste generated annually: 1.46 million tons (2024 est.)
Waste and recycling / percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 5.4% (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / municipal: 1.109 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / industrial: 245.34 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / agricultural: 2.093 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total renewable water resources: 113 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: Republic of Costa Rica
Country name / conventional short form: Costa Rica
Country name / local long form: Rep&uacute;blica de Costa Rica
Country name / local short form: Costa Rica
Country name / etymology: the name means "rich coast" in Spanish; Christopher COLUMBUS named it in 1502, referring to the region's abundant vegetation and water
Government type: presidential republic
Capital / name: San Jos&eacute;
Capital / geographic coordinates: 9 56 N, 84 05 W
Capital / time difference: UTC-6 (1 hour behind Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Capital / etymology: Spanish settlers originally named the city Villa Nueva in 1736; it was later renamed for Saint Joseph
Administrative divisions: 7 provinces ( provincias , singular - provincia ); Alajuela, Cartago, Guanacaste, Heredia, Limon, Puntarenas, San Jose
Legal system: civil law system based on Spanish civil code; Supreme Court reviews legislative acts
Constitution / history: many previous; latest effective 8 November 1949
Constitution / amendment process: proposals require the signatures of at least 10 Legislative Assembly members or petition of at least 5% of qualified voters; consideration of proposals requires two-thirds majority approval in each of three readings by the Assembly, followed by preparation of the proposal as a legislative bill and its approval by simple majority of the Assembly; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote of the Assembly membership; a referendum is required only if approved by at least two thirds of the Assembly
International law organization participation: accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Citizenship / citizenship by birth: yes
Citizenship / citizenship by descent only: yes
Citizenship / dual citizenship recognized: yes
Citizenship / residency requirement for naturalization: 7 years
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Executive branch / chief of state: President Rodrigo CHAVES Robles (since 8 May 2022)
Executive branch / head of government: President Rodrigo CHAVES Robles (since 8 May 2022)
Executive branch / cabinet: Cabinet selected by the president
Executive branch / election/appointment process: president and vice presidents directly elected on the same ballot by modified majority popular vote (40% threshold) for a 4-year term (eligible for non-consecutive terms)
Executive branch / most recent election date: 6 February 2022, with a runoff on 3 April 2022
Executive branch / election results: 2022: Rodrigo CHAVES Robles elected president in second round; percent of vote in first round - Jose Maria FIGUERES Olsen (PLN) 27.3%, Rodrigo CHAVES Robles (PPSD) 16.8%, Fabricio ALVARADO Munoz (PNR) 14.9%, Eliecer FEINZAIG Mintz (PLP) 12.4%, Lineth SABORIO Chaverri (PUSC) 12.4%, Jose Maria VILLALTA Florez-Estrada 8.7% (PFA), other 7.5%; percent of vote in second round - Rodrigo CHAVES Robles (PPSD) 52.8%, Jose Maria FIGUERES Olsen (PLN) 47.2% 2018: Carlos ALVARADO Quesada elected president in second round; percent of vote in first round - Fabricio ALVARADO Munoz (PRN) 25%; Carlos ALVARADO Quesada (PAC) 21.6%; Antonio ALVAREZ (PLN) 18.6%; Rodolfo PIZA (PUSC) 16%; Juan Diego CASTRO (PIN) 9.5%; Rodolfo HERNANDEZ (PRSC) 4.9%, other 4.4%; percent of vote in second round - Carlos ALVARADO Quesada (PAC) 60.7%; Fabricio ALVARADO Munoz (PRN) 39.3%
Executive branch / expected date of next election: 1 February 2026 (a runoff, if needed, will take place in April 2026)
Legislative branch / legislature name: Legislative Assembly (Asamblea Legislativa)
Legislative branch / legislative structure: unicameral
Legislative branch / number of seats: 57 (all directly elected)
Legislative branch / electoral system: proportional representation
Legislative branch / scope of elections: full renewal
Legislative branch / term in office: 4 years
Legislative branch / most recent election date: 2/6/2022
Legislative branch / parties elected and seats per party: National Liberation Party (PLN) (19); Democratic Social Progress Party (PPSD) (10); Christian Social Unity Party (USC) (9); New Republic Party (NR) (7); Broad Front (FA) (6); Progressive Liberal Party (LP) (6)
Legislative branch / percentage of women in chamber: 49.1%
Legislative branch / expected date of next election: February 2026
Judicial branch / highest court(s): Supreme Court of Justice (consists of 22 judges organized into 3 cassation chambers each with 5 judges and the Constitutional Chamber with 7 judges)
Judicial branch / judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court of Justice judges elected by the National Assembly for 8-year terms with renewal decided by the National Assembly
Judicial branch / subordinate courts: appellate courts; trial courts; first instance and justice of the peace courts; Superior Electoral Tribunal
Political parties: Accessibility Without Exclusion or PASE Broad Front (Frente Amplio) or PFA Citizen Action Party or PAC Costa Rican Renewal Party or PRC Here Costa Rica Commands Party or ACRM Liberal Progressive Party or PLP Libertarian Movement Party or ML National Integration Party or PIN National Liberation Party or PLN National Restoration Party or PRN New Generation or PNG New Republic Party or PNR Social Christian Republican Party or PRSC Social Christian Unity Party or PUSC of UNIDAD Social Democratic Progress Party or PPSD
Diplomatic representation in the US / chief of mission: Ambassador Catalina CRESPO SANCHO (since 19 April 2023)
Diplomatic representation in the US / chancery: 2114 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation in the US / telephone: [1] (202) 499-2980
Diplomatic representation in the US / FAX: [1] (202) 265-4795
Diplomatic representation in the US / email address and website: embcr-us@rree.go.cr https://www.embassycr.org/
Diplomatic representation in the US / consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Washington DC
Diplomatic representation from the US / chief of mission: Ambassador-designate Melinda HILDEBRAND (since 3 December 2025); Charg&eacute; d&rsquo;Affaires Jennifer SAVAGE (since August 2025)
Diplomatic representation from the US / embassy: Calle 98 Via 104, Pavas, San Jose
Diplomatic representation from the US / mailing address: 3180 St. George's Place, Washington DC 20521-3180
Diplomatic representation from the US / telephone: [506] 2519-2000
Diplomatic representation from the US / FAX: [506] 2519-2305
Diplomatic representation from the US / email address and website: acssanjose@state.gov https://cr.usembassy.gov/
International organization participation: ACS, BCIE, CACM, CD, CELAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAES, LAIA (observer), MIGA, NAM (observer), OAS, OIF (observer), OPANAL, OPCW, Pacific Alliance (observer), PCA, SICA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNOOSA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Independence: 15 September 1821 (from Spain)
National holiday: Independence Day, 15 September (1821)
Flag: description: five horizontal bands of blue (top), white, red (double-width), white, and blue, with the coat of arms in a white elliptical disk placed toward the left side of the red band meaning: the blue is said to stand for the sky, opportunity, and perseverance; the white for peace, happiness, and wisdom; and the red for the blood shed for freedom, as well as Costa Ricans' generosity and vibrancy history: Costa Rica retained the earlier blue-white-blue flag of Central America until 1848 when, in response to revolutions in Europe, it was decided to incorporate the French colors by adding a central red stripe
National symbol(s): yiguirro (clay-colored thrush)
National color(s): blue, white, red
National coat of arms: the Costa Rican coat of arms highlights the country&rsquo;s natural beauty and history; three volcanoes, each topped with a white cloud, are surrounded with water, symbolizing the seaports of the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans; the rising sun in the background stands for the birth of a new nation, and the seven white stars for the country's provinces; the two merchant ships carrying Costa Rica&rsquo;s flag are a reminder of the maritime trade that shaped the country's history
National anthem(s) / title: "Himno Nacional de Costa Rica" (National Anthem of Costa Rica)
National anthem(s) / lyrics/music: Jose Maria ZELEDON Brenes/Manuel Maria GUTIERREZ
National anthem(s) / history: adopted 1949; the music was originally written for a welcome ceremony in 1852 for the US and UK diplomatic missions; the lyrics were added in 1900
National heritage / total World Heritage Sites: 4 (1 cultural, 3 natural)
National heritage / selected World Heritage Site locales: Guanacaste Conservation Area (n); Cocos Island National Park (n); Precolumbian Stone Spheres (c); La Amistad International Park (n)

## Economy
Economic overview: trade-based upper middle-income economy; green economy leader, having reversed deforestation; investing in blue economy infrastructure; declining poverty until hard impacts of COVID-19; lingering inequality and growing government debts have prompted a liquidity crisis
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $138.371 billion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $132.64 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $126.189 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2024: 4.3% (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2023: 5.1% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2022: 4.6% (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2024: $27,000 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2023: $26,000 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2022: $24,800 (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $95.35 billion (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024: -0.4% (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023: 0.5% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 8.3% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / agriculture: 3.6% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / industry: 19.7% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / services: 68.8% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / household consumption: 63.9% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / government consumption: 14.7% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in fixed capital: 15.8% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in inventories: -0.1% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / exports of goods and services: 38.5% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / imports of goods and services: -32.8% (2024 est.)
Agricultural products: sugarcane, pineapples, bananas, oil palm fruit, milk, fruits, oranges, chicken, cassava, beef (2023)
Industries: medical equipment, food processing, textiles and clothing, construction materials, fertilizer, plastic products
Industrial production growth rate: 4.1% (2024 est.)
Labor force: 2.357 million (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2024: 7.9% (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2023: 8.4% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2022: 11.4% (2022 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / total: 23% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / male: 20.7% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / female: 26.2% (2024 est.)
Population below poverty line: 24.4% (2023 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income / Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2024: 45.8 (2024 est.)
Average household expenditures / on food: 21.3% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Average household expenditures / on alcohol and tobacco: 1.7% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / lowest 10%: 1.7% (2024 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / highest 10%: 34.2% (2024 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2024: 0.8% of GDP (2024 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2023: 0.8% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2022: 0.9% of GDP (2022 est.)
Budget / revenues: $26.333 billion (2023 est.)
Budget / expenditures: $25.953 billion (2023 est.)
Public debt / Public debt 2017: 48.9% of GDP (2017 est.)
Taxes and other revenues: 13.9% (of GDP) (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2024: -$1.291 billion (2024 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2023: -$1.239 billion (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2022: -$2.272 billion (2022 est.)
Exports / Exports 2024: $36.77 billion (2024 est.)
Exports / Exports 2023: $33.683 billion (2023 est.)
Exports / Exports 2022: $29.392 billion (2022 est.)
Exports - partners: USA 40%, Netherlands 6%, China 5%, Guatemala 4%, Belgium 3% (2023)
Exports - commodities: medical instruments, integrated circuits, orthopedic appliances, bananas, tropical fruits (2023)
Imports / Imports 2024: $30.459 billion (2024 est.)
Imports / Imports 2023: $28.413 billion (2023 est.)
Imports / Imports 2022: $27.095 billion (2022 est.)
Imports - partners: USA 38%, China 15%, Mexico 6%, Brazil 3%, Guatemala 3% (2023)
Imports - commodities: refined petroleum, plastic products, cars, medical instruments, broadcasting equipment (2023)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024: $14.177 billion (2024 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023: $13.225 billion (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $8.554 billion (2022 est.)
Debt - external / Debt - external 2023: $15.574 billion (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Currency: Costa Rican colones (CRC) per US dollar -
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2024: 515.11 (2024 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2023: 544.051 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2022: 647.136 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2021: 620.785 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2020: 584.901 (2020 est.)

## Energy
Electricity access / electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)
Electricity / installed generating capacity: 3.751 million kW (2023 est.)
Electricity / consumption: 9.957 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / exports: 774 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / imports: 54 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / transmission/distribution losses: 1.039 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / fossil fuels: 0.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / solar: 0.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / wind: 12.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / hydroelectricity: 72.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / geothermal: 13.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / biomass and waste: 0.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Coal / consumption: 23,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / imports: 24,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum / total petroleum production: 400 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Petroleum / refined petroleum consumption: 60,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Energy consumption per capita / Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 30.725 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

## Communications
Telephones - fixed lines / total subscriptions: 610,000 (2024 est.)
Telephones - fixed lines / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 12 (2024 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / total subscriptions: 6.98 million (2024 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 136 (2024 est.)
Broadcast media: over two dozen privately owned TV stations and 1 publicly owned TV station; cable network services are widely available; more than 100 privately owned radio stations and a public radio network (2022)
Internet country code: .cr
Internet users / percent of population: 85% (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / total: 1.15 million (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 23 (2023 est.)

## Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: TI
Airports: 132 (2025)
Heliports: 8 (2025)
Railways / total: 278 km (2014)
Railways / narrow gauge: 278 km (2014) 1.067-m gauge
Merchant marine / total: 11 (2023)
Merchant marine / by type: other 11
Ports / total ports: 6 (2024)
Ports / large: 0
Ports / medium: 0
Ports / small: 1
Ports / very small: 5
Ports / ports with oil terminals: 4
Ports / key ports: Golfito, Puerto Caldera, Puerto Limon, Puerto Moin, Puerto Quepos, Puntarenas

## Military and Security
Military and security forces: Ministry of Public Security (Ministerio de Seguridad Pública de Costa Rica): National Police (Fuerza Pública), Air Surveillance Service (Servicio de Vigilancia Aérea), National Coast Guard Service (Servicio Nacional de Guardacostas), Drug Control Police (Policía Control de Drogas), Border Police (Policia de Fronteras), Professional Migration Police (Policía Profesional de Migración) Ministry of Presidency: Directorate of Intelligence and Security (DIS), Special Intervention Unit (UEI) (2025)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2024: 0.6% of GDP (2024 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2023: 0.6% of GDP (2023 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2022: 0.6% of GDP (2022 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2021: 0.7% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2020: 0.7% of GDP (2020 est.)
Military and security service personnel strengths: approximately 10-15,000 Ministry of Public Security personnel (2025)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the National Police are lightly armed although small special units are trained and equipped for tactical operations; the US has provided equipment and support to forces such as the Coast Guard, including secondhand US vessels and aircraft (2025)
Military - note: Costa Rica relies on specialized paramilitary units within the Ministry of Public Security (MPS) for internal security missions and countering transnational threats such as narcotics smuggling and organized crime, as well as for participating in regional security operations and exercises; MPS forces have received advisory and training support from the US (2025)

## Space
Space agency/agencies: Costa Rican Space Agency (ACE; established by legislation in 2021) (2025)
Space program overview: has a small, recently established program focused on using space to develop the country&rsquo;s economy and industry, including acquiring and using satellites; has built a remote sensing (RS) cube satellite; has relations with US space agencies and commercial space industries, as well as with the ESA and the Latin American and Caribbean Space Agency (2025)
Key space-program milestones: 2018 - first domestically produced remote sensing cube satellite (Irazú) for monitoring tropical forests and climate change launched by US and deployed from the International Space Station 2021 - signed protocols for newly established Latin American and Caribbean Space Agency; opened US commercial company’s space radar facility for mapping and space situational awareness 2022 - domestically produced scientific device (Proyecto Musa or Musa Project) launched on European rocket 2024 - participated in first China-Latin America and the Caribbean Space Cooperation Forum

## Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons / refugees: 249,521 (2024 est.)
Refugees and internally displaced persons / IDPs: 58 (2024 est.)
Refugees and internally displaced persons / stateless persons: 345 (2024 est.)
Illicit drugs / USG identification: major illicit drug-producing and/or drug-transit country major precursor-chemical producer (2025)

=== Cuba ===

## Introduction
Background: The native Amerindian population of Cuba began to decline after the arrival of Christopher COLUMBUS in 1492, as the country was developed as a Spanish colony during the next several centuries. Large numbers of African slaves were imported to work the coffee and sugar plantations, and Havana became the launching point for the annual treasure fleets bound for Spain from Mexico and Peru. Spanish rule eventually provoked an independence movement, and occasional rebellions were harshly suppressed. US intervention during the Spanish-American War in 1898 assisted the Cubans in overthrowing Spanish rule. The Treaty of Paris established Cuban independence from Spain in 1898, and after three-and-a-half years of subsequent US military rule, Cuba became an independent republic in 1902. Cuba then experienced a string of governments mostly dominated by the military and corrupt politicians. Fidel CASTRO led a rebel army to victory in 1959; his authoritarian rule held the subsequent regime together for nearly five decades. He handed off the presidency to his younger brother Raul CASTRO in 2008. Cuba's communist revolution, with Soviet support, was exported throughout Latin America and Africa during the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s. Miguel DIAZ-CANEL Bermudez, hand-picked by Raul CASTRO to succeed him, was approved as president by the National Assembly and took office in 2018. DIAZ-CANEL was appointed First Secretary of the Communist Party in 2021 after the retirement of Raul CASTRO and continues to serve as both president and first secretary. Cuba traditionally and consistently portrays the US embargo, in place since 1961, as the source of its socioeconomic difficulties. As a result of efforts begun in 2014 to reestablish diplomatic relations, the US and Cuba reopened embassies in their respective countries in 2015. The embargo remains in place, however, and the relationship between the US and Cuba remains tense. Illicit migration of Cuban nationals to the US via maritime and overland routes has been a longstanding challenge. In 2017, the US and Cuba signed a Joint Statement ending the so-called "wet-foot, dry-foot" policy, by which Cuban nationals who reached US soil were permitted to stay. Irregular Cuban maritime migration has dropped significantly since 2016, when migrant interdictions at sea topped 5,000, but land border crossings continue.

## Geography
Location: Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, 150 km south of Key West, Florida
Geographic coordinates: 21 30 N, 80 00 W
Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
Area / total: 110,860 sq km
Area / land: 109,820 sq km
Area / water: 1,040 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly smaller than Pennsylvania
Land boundaries / total: 28.5 km
Land boundaries / border countries: US Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay 28.5 km
Coastline: 3,735 km
Maritime claims / territorial sea: 12 nm
Maritime claims / contiguous zone: 24 nm
Maritime claims / exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate: tropical; moderated by trade winds; dry season (November to April); rainy season (May to October)
Terrain: mostly flat to rolling plains, with rugged hills and mountains in the southeast
Elevation / highest point: Pico Turquino 1,974 m
Elevation / lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
Elevation / mean elevation: 108 m
Natural resources: cobalt, nickel, iron ore, chromium, copper, salt, timber, silica, petroleum, arable land
Land use / agricultural land: 61.7% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 28% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 6.3% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 27.4% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 34.9% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 3.5% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land: 8,700 sq km (2012)
Population distribution: large population clusters found throughout the country, the more significant ones being in the larger towns and cities, particularly the capital of Havana
Natural hazards: the east coast is subject to hurricanes from August to November (in general, the country averages about one hurricane every other year); droughts are common
Geography - note: largest country in Caribbean and westernmost island of the Greater Antilles

## People and Society
Population / total: 10,059,519 (2025 est.)
Population / male: 4,950,615
Population / female: 5,108,904
Nationality / noun: Cuban(s)
Nationality / adjective: Cuban
Ethnic groups: White 64.1%, Mulatto or mixed 26.6%, Black 9.3% (2012 est.)
Languages / Languages: Spanish (official)
Languages / major-language sample(s): La Libreta Informativa del Mundo, la fuente indispensable de información básica. (Spanish) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
Religions: Christian 58.9%, folk religion 17.6%, Buddhist <1%, Hindu <1%, Jewish <1%, Muslim <1%, other <1%, none 23.2% (2020 est.)
Age structure / 0-14 years: 16.3% (male 918,066/female 866,578)
Age structure / 15-64 years: 66.5% (male 3,670,531/female 3,623,658)
Age structure / 65 years and over: 17.2% (2024 est.) (male 852,910/female 1,034,295)
Dependency ratios / total dependency ratio: 50.2 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / youth dependency ratio: 22.6 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / elderly dependency ratio: 27.6 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / potential support ratio: 3.6 (2025 est.)
Median age / total: 46.2 years (2025 est.)
Median age / male: 41 years
Median age / female: 44.4 years
Population growth rate: -0.6% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 7.78 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 11.42 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: -2.39 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution: large population clusters found throughout the country, the more significant ones being in the larger towns and cities, particularly the capital of Havana
Urbanization / urban population: 77.5% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 0.19% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 2.149 million HAVANA (capital) (2023)
Sex ratio / at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 65 years and over: 0.82 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio: 35 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Infant mortality rate / total: 5.2 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Infant mortality rate / male: 4.5 deaths/1,000 live births
Infant mortality rate / female: 3.5 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth / total population: 80.1 years (2024 est.)
Life expectancy at birth / male: 77.8 years
Life expectancy at birth / female: 82.6 years
Total fertility rate: 1.49 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 0.72 (2025 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: urban: urban: 95.5% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: rural: rural: 91.8% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: total: total: 94.7% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: urban: urban: 4.5% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: rural: rural: 8.2% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: total: total: 5.3% of population (2022 est.)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 13.8% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 21% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density: 9.54 physicians/1,000 population (2021)
Hospital bed density: 4.2 beds/1,000 population (2021 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: urban: urban: 98.4% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: rural: rural: 95.7% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: total: total: 97.8% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: urban: urban: 1.6% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: rural: rural: 4.3% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: total: total: 2.2% of population (2022 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 24.6% (2016)
Alcohol consumption per capita / total: 4.7 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / beer: 1.77 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / wine: 0.23 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / spirits: 2.69 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / other alcohols: 0.01 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Tobacco use / total: 16.7% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / male: 24.7% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / female: 9% (2025 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 2.4% (2019 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49): 58.6% (2019 est.)
Child marriage / women married by age 15: 4.8% (2019)
Child marriage / women married by age 18: 29.4% (2019)
Child marriage / men married by age 18: 5.9% (2019)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% GDP): 8.4% of GDP (2022 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% national budget): 17% national budget (2022 est.)
Literacy / total population: 97.7% (2019 est.)
Literacy / male: 99% (2019 est.)
Literacy / female: 96.3% (2019 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / total: 14 years (2023 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / male: 13 years (2023 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / female: 15 years (2023 est.)
People - note: illicit emigration is a continuing problem; Cubans attempt to depart the island and enter the US using homemade rafts, alien smugglers, direct flights, or falsified visas; Cubans also use non-maritime routes to enter the US including direct flights to Miami and overland via the southwest border; the number of Cubans migrating to the US surged after the announcement of normalization of US-Cuban relations in late December 2014 but has decreased since the end of the so-called "wet-foot, dry-foot" policy on 12 January 2017

## Environment
Environmental issues: soil degradation and desertification (brought on by poor farming techniques and natural disasters); biodiversity loss; deforestation; air and water pollution
International environmental agreements / party to: Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
International environmental agreements / signed, but not ratified: Marine Life Conservation
Climate: tropical; moderated by trade winds; dry season (November to April); rainy season (May to October)
Land use / agricultural land: 61.7% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 28% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 6.3% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 27.4% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 34.9% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 3.5% (2023 est.)
Urbanization / urban population: 77.5% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 0.19% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / total emissions: 19.716 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from coal and metallurgical coke: 16,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from petroleum and other liquids: 18.12 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from consumed natural gas: 1.58 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Particulate matter emissions: 13.3 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Methane emissions / energy: 23 kt (2022-2024 est.)
Methane emissions / agriculture: 249.7 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Methane emissions / waste: 146.4 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Methane emissions / other: 2.2 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Waste and recycling / municipal solid waste generated annually: 2.693 million tons (2024 est.)
Waste and recycling / percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 25.7% (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / municipal: 1.7 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / industrial: 740 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / agricultural: 4.519 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total renewable water resources: 38.12 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: Republic of Cuba
Country name / conventional short form: Cuba
Country name / local long form: Rep&uacute;blica de Cuba
Country name / local short form: Cuba
Country name / etymology: the origin of the name is disputed; it could be derived from a local Taino word, either cubao , meaning "where fertile land is abundant," or coabana, meaning "great place"
Government type: communist state
Capital / name: Havana
Capital / geographic coordinates: 23 07 N, 82 21 W
Capital / time difference: UTC-5 (same time as Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Capital / daylight saving time: +1hr, begins second Sunday in March; ends first Sunday in November; note - Cuba has been known to alter the schedule of DST on short notice in an attempt to conserve electricity for lighting
Capital / etymology: Spanish soldier Diego VELAZQUEZ named the city San Cristobal de la Habana, or Saint Christopher of the Habana; "Habana" may have been the name of a local ethnic group, but the meaning of the word is unknown
Administrative divisions: 15 provinces ( provincias , singular - provincia ) and 1 special municipality* ( municipio especial ); Artemisa, Camaguey, Ciego de Avila, Cienfuegos, Granma, Guantanamo, Holguin, Isla de la Juventud*, La Habana (Havana), Las Tunas, Matanzas, Mayabeque, Pinar del Río, Sancti Spiritus, Santiago de Cuba, Villa Clara
Legal system: civil law system based on Spanish civil code
Constitution / history: several previous; latest drafted 14 July 2018, approved by the National Assembly 22 December 2018, approved by referendum 24 February 2019
Constitution / amendment process: proposed by the National Assembly of People&rsquo;s Power; passage requires approval of at least two-thirds majority of the National Assembly membership; amendments to constitutional articles on the authorities of the National Assembly, Council of State, or any rights and duties in the constitution also require approval in a referendum; constitutional articles on the Cuban political, social, and economic system cannot be amended
International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt
Citizenship / citizenship by birth: yes
Citizenship / citizenship by descent only: yes
Citizenship / dual citizenship recognized: no
Citizenship / residency requirement for naturalization: unknown
Suffrage: 16 years of age; universal
Executive branch / chief of state: President Miguel DIAZ-CANEL Bermudez (since 19 April 2018)
Executive branch / head of government: Prime Minister Manuel MARRERO Cruz (since 21 December 2019)
Executive branch / cabinet: Council of Ministers proposed by the president and appointed by the National Assembly
Executive branch / election/appointment process: president and vice president indirectly elected by the National Assembly for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term)
Executive branch / most recent election date: 19 April 2023
Executive branch / election results: 2023: Miguel DIAZ-CANEL Bermudez (PCC) reelected president; percent of National Assembly vote - 97.7%; Salvador Antonio VALDES Mesa (PCC) reelected vice president; percent of National Assembly vote - 93.4% 2018: Miguel DIAZ-CANEL Bermudez (PCC) elected president; percent of National Assembly vote - 98.8%; Salvador Antonio VALDES Mesa (PCC) elected vice president; percent of National Assembly vote - 98.1%
Executive branch / expected date of next election: 2028
Legislative branch / legislature name: National Assembly of the People's Power (Asamblea nacional del Poder popular)
Legislative branch / legislative structure: unicameral
Legislative branch / number of seats: 470 (all directly elected)
Legislative branch / electoral system: other systems
Legislative branch / scope of elections: full renewal
Legislative branch / term in office: 5 years
Legislative branch / most recent election date: 3/26/2023
Legislative branch / percentage of women in chamber: 55.7%
Legislative branch / expected date of next election: March 2028
Judicial branch / highest court(s): People's Supreme Court (consists of court president, vice president, 41 professional justices, and NA lay judges); organization includes the State Council, criminal, civil, administrative, labor, crimes against the state, and military courts)
Judicial branch / judge selection and term of office: professional judges elected by the National Assembly are not subject to a specific term; lay judges nominated by workplace collectives and neighborhood associations and elected by municipal or provincial assemblies; lay judges appointed for 5-year terms and serve up to 30 days per year
Judicial branch / subordinate courts: People's Provincial Courts; People's Regional Courts; People's Courts
Political parties: Cuban Communist Party or PCC
Diplomatic representation in the US / chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charg&eacute; d'Affaires Lianys TORRES RIVERA (since 14 January 2021)
Diplomatic representation in the US / chancery: 2630 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
Diplomatic representation in the US / telephone: [1] (202) 797-8515
Diplomatic representation in the US / FAX: [1] (202) 797-8521
Diplomatic representation in the US / email address and website: recepcion@usadc.embacuba.cu https://misiones.cubaminrex.cu/en/usa/embassy-cuba-usa
Diplomatic representation from the US / chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charg&eacute; d'Affaires Mike HAMMER (since 14 November 2024)
Diplomatic representation from the US / embassy: Calzada between L & M Streets, Vedado, Havana
Diplomatic representation from the US / mailing address: 3200 Havana Place, Washington DC 20521-3200
Diplomatic representation from the US / telephone: [53] (7) 839-4100
Diplomatic representation from the US / FAX: [53] (7) 839-4247
Diplomatic representation from the US / email address and website: acshavana@state.gov https://cu.usembassy.gov/
International organization participation: ACP, ACS, ALBA, AOSIS, CABEI, CELAC, EAEU (observer), FAO, G-77, IAEA, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IFAD, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, LAES, LAIA, NAM, OAS (excluded from formal participation since 1962), OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, Petrocaribe, PIF (partner), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHRC, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNOOSA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Independence: 20 May 1902 (from US administration); 10 December 1898 (from Spain); not acknowledged by the Cuban Government as days of independence
National holiday: Triumph of the Revolution (Liberation Day), 1 January (1959)
Flag: description: five equal horizontal bands of blue (top, center, and bottom) alternating with white; a red equilateral triangle based on the left side has a five-pointed white star in the center meaning: the blue bands stand for the islands' three former departments: Central, Occidental, and Oriental; the white bands for the purity of the independence ideal; the triangle for liberty, equality, and fraternity; the red color 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 inspired by the state flag of Texas
National symbol(s): royal palm
National color(s): red, white, blue
National anthem(s) / title: "La Bayamesa" (The Bayamo Song)
National anthem(s) / lyrics/music: Pedro FIGUEREDO
National anthem(s) / history: adopted 1940; Pedro FIGUEREDO first performed it in 1868 during the Ten Years War against the Spanish; a leading figure in the uprising, FIGUEREDO was captured in 1870 and executed by a firing squad; just before being shot, he is said to have shouted, "Morir por la Patria es vivir" (To die for the country is to live), a line from the anthem
National heritage / total World Heritage Sites: 9 (7 cultural, 2 natural)
National heritage / selected World Heritage Site locales: Old Havana (c); Trinidad and the Valley de los Ingenios (c); San Pedro de la Roca Castle (c); Desembarco del Granma National Park (n); Vi&ntilde;ales Valley (c); Archaeological Landscape of the First Coffee Plantations (c); Alejandro de Humboldt National Park (n); Historic Cienfuegos (c); Historic Camag&uuml;ey (c)

## Economy
Economic overview: still largely state-run planned economy, although privatization increasing under new constitution; widespread protests due to lack of basic necessities and electricity; massive foreign investment increases recently; known tobacco exporter; unique oil-for-doctors relationship with Venezuela; widespread corruption
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $81.165 billion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $81.985 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $83.597 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2023: -1.9% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2022: 1.8% (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2021: 1.3% (2021 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2024: $23,700 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2023: $18,300 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2022: $13,300 (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $259.781 billion (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 76.1% (2022 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021: 151.9% (2021 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2020: 11.9% (2020 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / agriculture: 1.3% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / industry: 27.5% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / services: 70% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / household consumption: 73.3% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / government consumption: 25.5% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in fixed capital: 12.3% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in inventories: 10% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / exports of goods and services: 43.5% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / imports of goods and services: -64.6% (2023 est.)
Agricultural products: sugarcane, cassava, plantains, vegetables, mangoes/guavas, milk, tomatoes, pumpkins/squash, sweet potatoes, bananas (2023)
Industries: petroleum, nickel, cobalt, pharmaceuticals, tobacco, construction, steel, cement, agricultural machinery, sugar
Industrial production growth rate: -0.9% (2023 est.)
Labor force: 4.859 million (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2024: 1.6% (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2023: 1.8% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2022: 1.9% (2022 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / total: 3.9% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / male: 4.1% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / female: 3.5% (2024 est.)
Budget / revenues: $54.52 billion (2017 est.)
Budget / expenditures: $64.64 billion (2017 est.)
Public debt / Public debt 2016: 42.7% of GDP (2016 est.)
Exports / Exports 2020: $8.768 billion (2020 est.)
Exports / Exports 2019: $12.632 billion (2019 est.)
Exports / Exports 2018: $14.53 billion (2018 est.)
Exports - partners: China 34%, Spain 12%, Germany 6%, Switzerland 5%, Hong Kong 4% (2023)
Exports - commodities: tobacco, nickel, liquor, zinc ore, precious metal ore (2023)
Imports / Imports 2020: $8.067 billion (2020 est.)
Imports / Imports 2019: $10.971 billion (2019 est.)
Imports / Imports 2018: $12.567 billion (2018 est.)
Imports - partners: Spain 24%, China 13%, Netherlands 10%, USA 9%, Canada 6% (2023)
Imports - commodities: beer, poultry, rice, plastic products, soybean oil (2023)
Exchange rates / Currency: Cuban pesos (CUP) per US dollar -
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2024: 24 (2024 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2023: 24 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2022: 24 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2021: 24 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2020: 1 (2020 est.)

## Energy
Electricity access / electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)
Electricity / installed generating capacity: 7.264 million kW (2023 est.)
Electricity / consumption: 11.951 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / transmission/distribution losses: 3.352 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / fossil fuels: 95.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / solar: 1.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / wind: 0.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / hydroelectricity: 0.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / biomass and waste: 2.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Coal / consumption: 1,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / exports: 25 metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / imports: 8,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum / total petroleum production: 34,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Petroleum / refined petroleum consumption: 118,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Petroleum / crude oil estimated reserves: 124 million barrels (2021 est.)
Natural gas / production: 850.133 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / consumption: 850.133 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / proven reserves: 70.792 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)
Energy consumption per capita / Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 26.07 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

## Communications
Telephones - fixed lines / total subscriptions: 1.59 million (2024 est.)
Telephones - fixed lines / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 15 (2024 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / total subscriptions: 8.01 million (2024 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 73 (2024 est.)
Broadcast media: government owns and controls all broadcast media: 8 national TV channels (Cubavision, Cubavision Plus, Tele Rebelde, Multivision, Educational Channel 1 and 2, Canal Clave, Canal Habana), 2 international channels (Cubavision Internacional and Canal Caribe), multiple regional TV stations, 7 national radio networks, and multiple regional radio stations; the government uses the Radio-TV Marti signal; private ownership of electronic media is officially prohibited, with several online independent news sites tolerated but blocked if critical of the government; YouTube popular; Christian denominations create original video content to distribute via social media (2023)
Internet country code: .cu
Internet users / percent of population: 71% (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / total: 327,000 (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 3 (2023 est.)

## Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: CU
Airports: 120 (2025)
Heliports: 4 (2025)
Railways / total: 8,367 km (2017)
Railways / standard gauge: 8,195 km (2017) 1.435-m gauge (124 km electrified)
Railways / narrow gauge: 172 km (2017) 1.000-m gauge
Merchant marine / total: 65 (2023)
Merchant marine / by type: general cargo 13, oil tanker 10, other 42
Ports / total ports: 34 (2024)
Ports / large: 6
Ports / medium: 3
Ports / small: 10
Ports / very small: 6
Ports / size unknown: 9
Ports / ports with oil terminals: 14
Ports / key ports: Antilla, Bahai de la Habana, Bahia de Sagua de Tanamo, Cabanas, Casilda, Cienfuegos, Nuevitas Bay, Puerto Guantanamo, Santiago de Cuba

## Military and Security
Military and security forces: Revolutionary Armed Forces (Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias, FAR): Ground Troops (Tropas Terrestres), Revolutionary Navy (Marina de Guerra Revolucionaria, MGR), Revolutionary Air and Air Defense Forces (Defensas Anti-Aereas y Fuerza Aerea Revolucionaria, DAAFAR) Paramilitary forces under the FAR: Youth Labor Army (Ejercito Juvenil del Trabajo, EJT), Territorial Militia Troops (Milicia de Tropas de Territoriales, MTT), Defense and Production Brigades (Brigadas de Producción y Defensa, BPD), Civil Defense Organization (Defensa Civil de Cuba) Ministry of Interior: National Revolutionary Police (Policía Nacional Revolucionaria, PNR), Directorate of Border Guard Troops (Dirección de Tropas de Guardia Fronteriza, TGF), Department of State Security (Departamento de Seguridad del Estado, DSE) (2025)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2020: 4.2% of GDP (2020 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2019: 3.2% of GDP (2019 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2018: 2.9% of GDP (2018 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2017: 2.9% of GDP (2017 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2016: 3.1% of GDP (2016 est.)
Military and security service personnel strengths: limited available information; estimated 50,000 active Armed Forces (2025)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the military's inventory is comprised of Russian and Soviet-era equipment (2025)
Military service age and obligation: military service is mandatory for all men and voluntary for women (ages 17-28); service obligation is 24 months with the Armed Forces or the Ministry of Interior; reserve commitment for men until age 45 (2025)
Military - note: the Cuban military is largely focused on protecting territorial integrity and the state; it perceives the US as its primary threat; the military is a central pillar of the Cuban regime and viewed as the guardian of the Cuban revolution; it has a large role in the country&rsquo;s politics and economy; many senior government posts are held by military officers, and the FAR reportedly has interests in agriculture, banking and finance, construction, import/export, ports, industry, real estate, retail, shipping, transportation, and tourism (2025)

## Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons / refugees: 171 (2024 est.)
Refugees and internally displaced persons / IDPs: 37,171 (2024 est.)
Trafficking in persons / tier rating: Tier 3 — Cuba does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and is not making significant efforts to do so, therefore, Cuba remained on Tier 3; for more details, go to: https://www.state.gov/reports/2025-trafficking-in-persons-report/cuba/

=== Dominica ===

## Introduction
Background: Dominica was the last of the Caribbean islands to be colonized by Europeans, due chiefly to the fierce resistance of the native Caribs. France ceded possession to Britain in 1763, and Dominica became a British colony in 1805. Slavery ended in 1833, and in 1835, the first three men of African descent were elected to the legislative assembly of Dominica. In 1871, Dominica became first part of the British Leeward Islands and then the British Windward Islands until 1958. In 1967, Dominica became an associated state of the UK, formally taking responsibility for its internal affairs, and the country gained its independence in 1978. In 1980, Dominica's fortunes improved when Mary Eugenia CHARLES -- the first female prime minister in the Caribbean -- replaced a corrupt and tyrannical administration, and she served for the next 15 years. In 2017, Hurricane Maria passed over the island, causing extensive damage to structures, roads, communications, and the power supply, and largely destroying critical agricultural areas.

## Geography
Location: Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, about halfway between Puerto Rico and Trinidad and Tobago
Geographic coordinates: 15 25 N, 61 20 W
Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
Area / total: 751 sq km
Area / land: 751 sq km
Area / water: NEGL
Area - comparative: slightly more than four times the size of Washington, D.C.
Land boundaries / total: 0 km
Coastline: 148 km
Maritime claims / territorial sea: 12 nm
Maritime claims / contiguous zone: 24 nm
Maritime claims / exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate: tropical; moderated by northeast trade winds; heavy rainfall
Terrain: rugged mountains of volcanic origin
Elevation / highest point: Morne Diablotins 1,447 m
Elevation / lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
Natural resources: timber, hydropower, arable land
Land use / agricultural land: 33.3% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 8% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 22.7% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 2.7% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 76.6% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 0% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land: NA
Population distribution: population is mostly clustered along the coast, with roughly a third living in the parish of St. George, in or around the capital of Roseau; the volcanic interior is sparsely populated
Natural hazards: flash floods are a constant threat; destructive hurricanes can be expected during the late summer months volcanism: Dominica lies in the middle of the volcanic-island arc of the Lesser Antilles that extends from the island of Saba in the north to Grenada in the south; of the 16 volcanoes that make up this arc, five are located on Dominica, more than any other island in the Caribbean: Morne aux Diables (861 m), Morne Diablotins (1,430 m), Morne Trois Pitons (1,387 m), Watt Mountain (1,224 m), which last erupted in 1997, and Morne Plat Pays (940 m); the two best-known volcanic features on Dominica, the Valley of Desolation and the Boiling Lake thermal areas, lie on the flanks of Watt Mountain, and both are popular tourist destinations
Geography - note: known as "The Nature Island of the Caribbean" due to its lush and varied flora and fauna, which are protected by an extensive natural park system; the most mountainous of the Lesser Antilles, its volcanic peaks are cones of lava craters and include Boiling Lake, the second-largest thermally active lake in the world

## People and Society
Population / total: 74,661 (2024 est.)
Population / male: 37,753
Population / female: 36,908
Nationality / noun: Dominican(s)
Nationality / adjective: Dominican
Ethnic groups: African descent 84.5%, mixed 9%, Indigenous 3.8%, other 2.1%, unspecified 0.6% (2011 est.)
Languages: English (official), French patois
Religions: Roman Catholic 52.7%, Protestant 29.7% (includes Seventh Day Adventist 6.7%, Pentecostal 6.1%, Baptist 5.2%, Christian Union Church 3.9%, Methodist 2.6%, Gospel Mission 2.1%, other Protestant 3.1%), Jehovah's Witness 1.3%, Rastafarian 1.1%, other 4.3%, none 9.4%, unspecified 1.4% (2011 est.)
Age structure / 0-14 years: 20.7% (male 7,891/female 7,530)
Age structure / 15-64 years: 65.6% (male 25,000/female 24,009)
Age structure / 65 years and over: 13.7% (2024 est.) (male 4,862/female 5,369)
Dependency ratios / total dependency ratio: 52.3 (2024 est.)
Dependency ratios / youth dependency ratio: 31.5 (2024 est.)
Dependency ratios / elderly dependency ratio: 20.9 (2024 est.)
Dependency ratios / potential support ratio: 4.8 (2024 est.)
Median age / total: 37.5 years (2025 est.)
Median age / male: 36.5 years
Median age / female: 37.6 years
Population growth rate: -0.04% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 13.02 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 8.15 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: -5.31 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution: population is mostly clustered along the coast, with roughly a third living in the parish of St. George, in or around the capital of Roseau; the volcanic interior is sparsely populated
Urbanization / urban population: 72% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 0.84% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 15,000 ROSEAU (capital) (2018)
Sex ratio / at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 15-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 65 years and over: 0.91 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio: 36 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Infant mortality rate / total: 10.5 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Infant mortality rate / male: 14.5 deaths/1,000 live births
Infant mortality rate / female: 6.8 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth / total population: 78.7 years (2024 est.)
Life expectancy at birth / male: 75.8 years
Life expectancy at birth / female: 81.8 years
Total fertility rate: 2.01 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 0.98 (2025 est.)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 6.5% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 6.2% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density: 1.16 physicians/1,000 population (2018)
Hospital bed density: 3 beds/1,000 population (2021 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 27.9% (2016)
Alcohol consumption per capita / total: 6.32 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / beer: 1.64 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / wine: 0.29 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / spirits: 4.39 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / other alcohols: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% GDP): 5.4% of GDP (2024 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% national budget): 5.8% national budget (2025 est.)
People - note: 3,000-3,500 Kalinago (Carib) still living on Dominica are the only pre-Columbian population remaining in the Caribbean; only 70-100 may be "pure" Kalinago because of years of integration into the broader population

## Environment
Environmental issues: pollution from agrochemicals and from untreated sewage; forests endangered by the expansion of farming; soil erosion; pollution of the coastal zone from agricultural/industrial chemicals and untreated sewage
International environmental agreements / party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Whaling
International environmental agreements / signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Climate: tropical; moderated by northeast trade winds; heavy rainfall
Land use / agricultural land: 33.3% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 8% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 22.7% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 2.7% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 76.6% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 0% (2023 est.)
Urbanization / urban population: 72% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 0.84% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / total emissions: 168,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from petroleum and other liquids: 168,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Particulate matter emissions: 7.9 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Waste and recycling / municipal solid waste generated annually: 13,200 tons (2024 est.)
Waste and recycling / percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 12.6% (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / municipal: 19 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / industrial: 0 cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / agricultural: 1 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total renewable water resources: 200 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: Commonwealth of Dominica
Country name / conventional short form: Dominica
Country name / etymology: the island was named by explorer Christopher COLUMBUS for the day of the week on which he spotted it, Sunday ( Domingo in Spanish, dominica dies in Latin), 3 November 1493
Government type: parliamentary republic
Capital / name: Roseau
Capital / geographic coordinates: 15 18 N, 61 24 W
Capital / time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Capital / etymology: the name is French for "reed;" the first settlement was named after the river reeds that grew in the area
Administrative divisions: 10 parishes; Saint Andrew, Saint David, Saint George, Saint John, Saint Joseph, Saint Luke, Saint Mark, Saint Patrick, Saint Paul, Saint Peter
Legal system: common law based on the English model
Constitution / history: previous 1967 (pre-independence); latest presented 25 July 1978, entered into force 3 November 1978
Constitution / amendment process: proposed by the House of Assembly; passage of amendments to constitutional sections such as fundamental rights and freedoms, the government structure, and constitutional amendment procedures requires approval by three fourths of the Assembly membership in the final reading of the amendment bill, approval by simple majority in a referendum, and assent of the president
International law organization participation: accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Citizenship / citizenship by birth: yes
Citizenship / citizenship by descent only: yes
Citizenship / dual citizenship recognized: yes
Citizenship / residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch / chief of state: President Sylvanie BURTON (since 2 October 2023)
Executive branch / head of government: Prime Minister Roosevelt SKERRIT (since 8 January 2004)
Executive branch / cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president on the advice of the prime minister
Executive branch / election/appointment process: president nominated by the prime minister and leader of the opposition party and elected by the House of Assembly for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); prime minister appointed by the president
Executive branch / most recent election date: 27 September 2023
Executive branch / election results: 2023: parliament elects Sylvanie BURTON (DLP) with 20 votes for and five against 2018: Charles A. SAVARIN (DLP) reelected president unopposed
Executive branch / expected date of next election: October 2028
Legislative branch / legislature name: House of Assembly
Legislative branch / legislative structure: unicameral
Legislative branch / number of seats: 32 (21 directly elected; 9 appointed)
Legislative branch / electoral system: proportional representation
Legislative branch / scope of elections: full renewal
Legislative branch / term in office: 5 years
Legislative branch / most recent election date: 12/6/2022
Legislative branch / parties elected and seats per party: Dominica Labor Party (DLP) (19); Independents (2)
Legislative branch / percentage of women in chamber: 40.6%
Legislative branch / expected date of next election: December 2027
Judicial branch / highest court(s): the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (ECSC) is the superior court of the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States; the ECSC is headquartered on St. Lucia and consists of the Court of Appeal -- headed by the chief justice and 4 judges -- and the High Court with 18 judges; the Court of Appeal travels to member states on a schedule to hear appeals from the High Court and subordinate courts; the Caribbean Court of Justice is the final court of appeal
Judicial branch / judge selection and term of office: chief justice of Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court appointed by the British monarch; other justices and judges appointed by the Judicial and Legal Services Commission, an independent body of judicial officials; Court of Appeal justices appointed for life with mandatory retirement at age 65; High Court judges appointed for life with mandatory retirement at age 62
Judicial branch / subordinate courts: Court of Summary Jurisdiction; magistrates' courts
Political parties: Dominica Freedom Party or DFP Dominica Labor Party or DLP Dominica United Workers Party or UWP
Diplomatic representation in the US / chief of mission: Ambassador Steve FERROL (since 15 September 2023)
Diplomatic representation in the US / chancery: 3216 New Mexico Ave NW Washington, DC 20016
Diplomatic representation in the US / telephone: [1] (202) 364-6781
Diplomatic representation in the US / FAX: [1] (202) 364-6791
Diplomatic representation in the US / email address and website: embdomdc@gmail.com
Diplomatic representation in the US / consulate(s) general: New York
Diplomatic representation from the US / embassy: the US does not have an embassy in Dominica; the US Ambassador to Barbados is accredited to Dominica
International organization participation: ACP, ACS, AOSIS, C, Caricom, CD, CDB, CELAC, Commonwealth of Nations, ECCU, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NAM, OAS, OECS, OIF, OPANAL, OPCW, Petrocaribe, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Independence: 3 November 1978 (from the UK)
National holiday: Independence Day, 3 November (1978)
Flag: description: green with a centered cross of three equal bands in yellow, black, and white; in the center of the cross is a red disk with a Sisserou parrot surrounded by 10 five-pointed green stars edged in yellow meaning: the stars represent the 10 administrative divisions (parishes); green symbolizes the island's lush vegetation; the tricolor cross represents the Christian Trinity; yellow stands for sunshine, the primary agricultural products (citrus and bananas), and the Carib people; black for the rich soil and the African heritage of most citizens; white for rivers, waterfalls, and the purity of aspirations; the red disc for social justice
National symbol(s): sisserou parrot, Carib wood flower
National color(s): green, yellow, black, white, red
National coat of arms: the coat of arms was adopted on July 21, 1961, and features two sisserou parrots supporting a shield that is divided into four sections by a cross, a reference to the island&rsquo;s discovery on a Sunday; the quadrants feature a palm tree, a banana tree, a frog that is native to the island, and a canoe on the Caribbean Sea; the golden lion symbolizes Dominica&rsquo;s past colonial ties with the UK; below the shield is the national motto, which means "After God is the Earth"
National anthem(s) / title: "Isle of Beauty"
National anthem(s) / lyrics/music: Wilfred Oscar Morgan POND/Lemuel McPherson CHRISTIAN
National anthem(s) / history: adopted 1967

## Economy
Economic overview: highly agrarian OECS island economy; ECCU-member state; large banana exporter; improved oversight of its citizenship-by-investment program; emerging ecotourism, information and communications, and education industries
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $1.241 billion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $1.216 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $1.173 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2024: 2.1% (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2023: 3.7% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2022: 10.4% (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2024: $18,700 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2023: $18,300 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2022: $17,600 (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $688.881 million (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024: 2.6% (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023: 5.1% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 2.9% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / agriculture: 12.2% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / industry: 13.9% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / services: 56.9% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / household consumption: 87.7% (2018 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / government consumption: 27.4% (2018 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in fixed capital: 32.7% (2018 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in inventories: 0% (2018 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / exports of goods and services: 29.2% (2018 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / imports of goods and services: -77.8% (2018 est.)
Agricultural products: taro, grapefruits, yams, bananas, coconuts, plantains, milk, yautia, sugarcane, oranges (2023)
Industries: soap, coconut oil, tourism, copra, furniture, cement blocks, shoes
Industrial production growth rate: 8.8% (2024 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2024: 5.6% of GDP (2024 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2023: 5.2% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2022: 6.1% of GDP (2022 est.)
Budget / revenues: $233.831 million (2017 est.)
Budget / expenditures: $164.673 million (2017 est.)
Public debt / Public debt 2016: 71.7% of GDP (2016 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2024: -$160.12 million (2024 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2023: -$223.632 million (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2022: -$163.746 million (2022 est.)
Exports / Exports 2024: $212.753 million (2024 est.)
Exports / Exports 2023: $188.818 million (2023 est.)
Exports / Exports 2022: $173.93 million (2022 est.)
Exports - partners: Bahamas, The 13%, Saudi Arabia 11%, Iceland 10%, Guyana 7%, Antigua & Barbuda 7% (2023)
Exports - commodities: iron blocks, medical instruments, excavation machinery, power equipment, soap (2023)
Imports / Imports 2024: $387.532 million (2024 est.)
Imports / Imports 2023: $417.164 million (2023 est.)
Imports / Imports 2022: $354.27 million (2022 est.)
Imports - partners: USA 24%, China 11%, Indonesia 8%, Trinidad & Tobago 7%, Italy 7% (2023)
Imports - commodities: refined petroleum, ships, plastic products, semi-finished iron, cars (2023)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024: $155.971 million (2024 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023: $183.53 million (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $204.343 million (2022 est.)
Debt - external / Debt - external 2023: $301.191 million (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Currency: East Caribbean dollars (XCD) per US dollar -
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2024: 2.7 (2024 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2023: 2.7 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2022: 2.7 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2021: 2.7 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2020: 2.7 (2020 est.)

## Energy
Electricity access / electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)
Electricity / installed generating capacity: 41,000 kW (2023 est.)
Electricity / consumption: 145.827 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / transmission/distribution losses: 8 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / fossil fuels: 84.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / solar: 0.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / wind: 0.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / hydroelectricity: 15% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Petroleum / refined petroleum consumption: 1,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Energy consumption per capita / Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 36.395 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

## Communications
Telephones - fixed lines / total subscriptions: 7,000 (2021 est.)
Telephones - fixed lines / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 11 (2021 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / total subscriptions: 56,929 (2022 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 85 (2022 est.)
Broadcast media: no terrestrial TV service; subscription cable TV provider offers some locally produced programming, plus channels from the US, Latin America, and the Caribbean; state-operated radio broadcasts on 6 stations; privately owned radio broadcasts on about 15 stations (2019)
Internet country code: .dm
Internet users / percent of population: 84% (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / total: 14,000 (2022 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 21 (2022 est.)

## Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: J7
Airports: 2 (2025)
Merchant marine / total: 77 (2023)
Merchant marine / by type: general cargo 26, oil tanker 10, other 41
Ports / total ports: 2 (2024)
Ports / large: 0
Ports / medium: 0
Ports / small: 0
Ports / very small: 2
Ports / ports with oil terminals: 1
Ports / key ports: Portsmouth, Roseau

## Military and Security
Military and security forces: no regular military forces; Commonwealth of Dominica Police Force (CDPF) under the Ministry of National Security and Legal Affairs
Military - note: Dominica has been a member of the Caribbean Regional Security System (RSS) since its creation in 1982; RSS signatories (Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Grenada, Guyana, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines) agreed to prepare contingency plans and assist one another, on request, in national emergencies, prevention of smuggling, search and rescue, immigration control, fishery protection, customs and excise control, maritime policing duties, protection of off-shore installations, pollution control, national and other disasters, and threats to national security (2025)

## Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons / refugees: 5 (2024 est.)

=== The Dominican ===

## Introduction
Background: The Taino -- indigenous inhabitants of Hispaniola prior to the arrival of Europeans -- divided the island now known as the Dominican Republic and Haiti into five chiefdoms and territories. Christopher COLUMBUS explored and claimed the island on his first voyage in 1492; it became a springboard for Spanish conquest of the Caribbean and the American mainland. In 1697, Spain recognized French dominion over the western third of the island, which in 1804 became Haiti. The remainder of the island, by then known as Santo Domingo, sought to gain its own independence in 1821, but the Haitians conquered and ruled it for 22 years; it finally attained independence as the Dominican Republic in 1844. In 1861, the Dominicans voluntarily returned to the Spanish Empire, but two years later, they launched a war that restored independence in 1865. A legacy of unsettled and mostly non-representative rule followed, capped by the dictatorship of Rafael Leonidas TRUJILLO from 1930 to 1961. Juan BOSCH was elected president in 1962 but was deposed in a military coup in 1963. In 1965, the US led an intervention in the midst of a civil war sparked by an uprising to restore BOSCH. In 1966, Joaquin BALAGUER defeated BOSCH in the presidential election. BALAGUER maintained a tight grip on power for most of the next 30 years, until international reaction to flawed elections forced him to curtail his term in 1996. Since then, regular competitive elections have been held.

## Geography
Location: Caribbean, eastern two-thirds of the island of Hispaniola, between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east of Haiti
Geographic coordinates: 19 00 N, 70 40 W
Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
Area / total: 48,670 sq km
Area / land: 48,320 sq km
Area / water: 350 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly more than twice the size of New Jersey
Land boundaries / total: 376 km
Land boundaries / border countries: Haiti 376 km
Coastline: 1,288 km
Maritime claims / territorial sea: 12 nm
Maritime claims / contiguous zone: 24 nm
Maritime claims / exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Maritime claims / continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
Climate: tropical maritime; little seasonal temperature variation; seasonal variation in rainfall
Terrain: rugged highlands and mountains interspersed with fertile valleys
Elevation / highest point: Pico Duarte 3,098 m
Elevation / lowest point: Lago Enriquillo -46 m
Elevation / mean elevation: 424 m
Natural resources: nickel, bauxite, gold, silver, arable land
Land use / agricultural land: 55.4% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 20.2% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 11.3% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 23.8% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 46.6% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 0% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land: 2,981 sq km (2018)
Major lakes (area sq km) / salt water lake(s): Lago de Enriquillo - 500 sq km
Population distribution: coastal development is significant, especially in the southern coastal plains and the Cibao Valley, where population density is highest; smaller population clusters exist in the interior mountains (Cordillera Central)
Natural hazards: lies in the middle of the hurricane belt and subject to severe storms from June to October; occasional flooding; periodic droughts
Geography - note: shares island of Hispaniola with Haiti (eastern two-thirds makes up the Dominican Republic, western one-third is Haiti); the second largest country in the Antilles (after Cuba); geographically diverse with the Caribbean's tallest mountain, Pico Duarte, and lowest elevation and largest lake, Lago Enriquillo

## People and Society
Population / total: 10,899,292 (2025 est.)
Population / male: 5,506,679
Population / female: 5,392,613
Nationality / noun: Dominican(s)
Nationality / adjective: Dominican
Ethnic groups: mixed 70.4% (Mestizo/Indio 58%, Mulatto 12.4%), Black 15.8%, White 13.5%, other 0.3% (2014 est.)
Languages / Languages: Spanish (official)
Languages / major-language sample(s): La Libreta Informativa del Mundo, la fuente indispensable de información básica. (Spanish) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
Religions: Evangelical 50.2%, Roman Catholic 30.1%, none 18.5%, unspecified 1.2% (2023 est.)
Age structure / 0-14 years: 25.5% (male 1,402,847/female 1,358,833)
Age structure / 15-64 years: 66.9% (male 3,667,584/female 3,563,848)
Age structure / 65 years and over: 7.6% (2024 est.) (male 395,345/female 427,400)
Dependency ratios / total dependency ratio: 49.6 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / youth dependency ratio: 37.8 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / elderly dependency ratio: 11.8 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / potential support ratio: 8.5 (2025 est.)
Median age / total: 29.6 years (2025 est.)
Median age / male: 29.1 years
Median age / female: 29.4 years
Population growth rate: 0.78% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 17.4 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 6.97 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: -2.63 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution: coastal development is significant, especially in the southern coastal plains and the Cibao Valley, where population density is highest; smaller population clusters exist in the interior mountains (Cordillera Central)
Urbanization / urban population: 84.4% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 1.64% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 3.524 million SANTO DOMINGO (capital) (2023)
Sex ratio / at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 0-14 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 65 years and over: 0.93 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth: 20.9 years (2013 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio: 124 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Infant mortality rate / total: 20.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Infant mortality rate / male: 24.3 deaths/1,000 live births
Infant mortality rate / female: 19 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth / total population: 72.6 years (2024 est.)
Life expectancy at birth / male: 71 years
Life expectancy at birth / female: 74.3 years
Total fertility rate: 2.17 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 1.06 (2025 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: urban: urban: 97.8% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: rural: rural: 91.4% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: total: total: 96.8% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: urban: urban: 2.2% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: rural: rural: 8.6% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: total: total: 3.2% of population (2022 est.)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 4.9% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 14.4% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density: 2.43 physicians/1,000 population (2023)
Hospital bed density: 1.4 beds/1,000 population (2020 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: urban: urban: 97.4% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: rural: rural: 91.9% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: total: total: 96.5% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: urban: urban: 2.6% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: rural: rural: 8.1% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: total: total: 3.5% of population (2022 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 27.6% (2016)
Alcohol consumption per capita / total: 5.56 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / beer: 3.15 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / wine: 0.17 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / spirits: 2.18 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / other alcohols: 0.06 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Tobacco use / total: 9.7% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / male: 13.5% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / female: 5.9% (2025 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 3% (2019 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49): 53.2% (2019 est.)
Child marriage / women married by age 15: 9.4% (2019)
Child marriage / women married by age 18: 31.5% (2019)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% GDP): 3.8% of GDP (2023 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% national budget): 20.9% national budget (2025 est.)
Literacy / total population: 94% (2024 est.)
Literacy / male: 93.6% (2024 est.)
Literacy / female: 94.4% (2024 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / total: 14 years (2022 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / male: 13 years (2022 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / female: 15 years (2022 est.)

## Environment
Environmental issues: soil eroding into the sea damages coral reefs; deforestation
International environmental agreements / party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
International environmental agreements / signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Climate: tropical maritime; little seasonal temperature variation; seasonal variation in rainfall
Land use / agricultural land: 55.4% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 20.2% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 11.3% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 23.8% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 46.6% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 0% (2023 est.)
Urbanization / urban population: 84.4% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 1.64% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / total emissions: 29.713 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from coal and metallurgical coke: 5.374 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from petroleum and other liquids: 19.872 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from consumed natural gas: 4.467 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Particulate matter emissions: 8 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Waste and recycling / municipal solid waste generated annually: 4.064 million tons (2024 est.)
Waste and recycling / percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 11.6% (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / municipal: 855 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / industrial: 659.9 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / agricultural: 7.563 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total renewable water resources: 23.5 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: Dominican Republic
Country name / conventional short form: The Dominican
Country name / local long form: Rep&uacute;blica Dominicana
Country name / local short form: La Dominicana
Country name / former: Santo Domingo (the capital city's name formerly applied to the entire country)
Country name / etymology: the name is a latinized form of the Spanish term Santo Domingo , meaning "holy Sunday;" Spanish explorers originally settled the island on a Sunday in 1496, and the name was first given to the island of Hispaniola as a whole in 1697
Government type: presidential republic
Capital / name: Santo Domingo
Capital / geographic coordinates: 18 28 N, 69 54 W
Capital / time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Capital / etymology: named after Saint Domingo de GUZMAN (1170-1221), founder of the Dominican Order; the city's full name was originally Santo Domingo de Guzman
Administrative divisions: 31 provinces ( provincias , singular - provincia ), 1 district* ( distrito ); Azua, Baoruco, Barahona, Dajabón, Distrito Nacional*, Duarte, Elías Piña, El Seibo, Espaillat, Hato Mayor, Hermanas Mirabal, Independencia, La Altagracia, La Romana, La Vega, María Trinidad Sánchez, Monseñor Nouel, Monte Cristi, Monte Plata, Pedernales, Peravia, Puerto Plata, Samaná, Sánchez Ramírez, San Cristóbal, San José de Ocoa, San Juan, San Pedro de Macorís, Santiago, Santiago Rodríguez, Santo Domingo, Valverde
Legal system: civil law system based on the French civil code; Criminal Procedures Code modified in 2004 to include important elements of an accusatory system
Constitution / history: many previous (38 total); latest proclaimed 13 June 2015
Constitution / amendment process: proposed by a special session of the National Congress called the National Revisory Assembly; passage requires at least two-thirds majority approval by at least one half of those present in both houses of the Assembly; passage of amendments to constitutional articles, such as fundamental rights and guarantees, territorial composition, nationality, or the procedures for constitutional reform, also requires approval in a referendum
International law organization participation: accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Citizenship / citizenship by birth: no
Citizenship / citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of the Dominican Republic
Citizenship / dual citizenship recognized: yes
Citizenship / residency requirement for naturalization: 2 years
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal and compulsory; married persons can vote, regardless of age
Executive branch / chief of state: President Luis Rodolfo ABINADER Corona (since 16 August 2020)
Executive branch / head of government: President Luis Rodolfo ABINADER Corona (since 16 August 2020)
Executive branch / cabinet: Cabinet nominated by the president
Executive branch / election/appointment process: president and vice president directly elected on the same ballot by absolute vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a 4-year term (eligible for a maximum of two consecutive terms)
Executive branch / most recent election date: 19 May 2024
Executive branch / election results: 2024: Luis Rodolfo ABINADER Corona reelected president; percent of vote - Luis Rodolfo ABINADER Corona (PRM) 57.5%, Leonel Antonio FERNÁNDEZ Reyna (FP) 28.8%, Abel MARTÍNEZ (PLD) 10.4%, other 3.3% 2020: Luis Rodolfo ABINADER Corona elected president in first round; percent of vote - Luis Rodolfo ABINADER Corona (PRM) 52.5%, Gonzalo CASTILLO Terrero (PLD) 37.5%, Leonel Antonio FERNÁNDEZ Reyna (FP) 8.9%, other 1.1%
Executive branch / expected date of next election: 21 May 2028
Legislative branch / legislature name: National Congress of the Republic (Congreso Nacional de la República)
Legislative branch / legislative structure: bicameral
Legislative branch - lower chamber / chamber name: Chamber of Deputies (Cámara de Diputados)
Legislative branch - lower chamber / number of seats: 190 (all directly elected)
Legislative branch - lower chamber / electoral system: proportional representation
Legislative branch - lower chamber / scope of elections: full renewal
Legislative branch - lower chamber / term in office: 4 years
Legislative branch - lower chamber / most recent election date: 5/19/2024
Legislative branch - lower chamber / parties elected and seats per party: Modern Revolutionary Party (PRM) and its allies (146); People’s Force (FP) and its allies (28); Other (16)
Legislative branch - lower chamber / percentage of women in chamber: 37.4%
Legislative branch - lower chamber / expected date of next election: May 2028
Legislative branch - upper chamber / chamber name: Senate (Senado)
Legislative branch - upper chamber / number of seats: 32 (all directly elected)
Legislative branch - upper chamber / electoral system: proportional representation
Legislative branch - upper chamber / scope of elections: full renewal
Legislative branch - upper chamber / term in office: 4 years
Legislative branch - upper chamber / most recent election date: 5/19/2024
Legislative branch - upper chamber / parties elected and seats per party: Modern Revolutionary Party (PRM) and its allies (24); People’s Force (FP) and its allies (3); Other (5)
Legislative branch - upper chamber / percentage of women in chamber: 12.5%
Legislative branch - upper chamber / expected date of next election: May 2028
Judicial branch / highest court(s): Supreme Court of Justice or Suprema Corte de Justicia (consists of a minimum of 16 magistrates); Constitutional Court or Tribunal Constitucional (consists of 13 judges)
Judicial branch / judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court and Constitutional Court judges appointed by the National Council of the Judiciary composed of the president, the leaders of both chambers of congress, the president of the Supreme Court, and a non-governing party congressional representative; Supreme Court judges appointed for 7-year terms; Constitutional Court judges appointed for 9-year terms
Judicial branch / subordinate courts: courts of appeal; courts of first instance; justices of the peace; special courts for juvenile, labor, and land cases; Contentious Administrative Court for cases filed against the government
Political parties: Alliance for Democracy or APD Broad Front (Frente Amplio) Country Alliance or AP Dominican Liberation Party or PLD Dominican Revolutionary Party or PRD Dominicans For Change or DXC Independent Revolutionary Party or PRI Institutional Social Democratic Bloc or BIS Liberal Reformist Party or PRL (formerly the Liberal Party of the Dominican Republic or PLRD) Modern Revolutionary Party or PRM National Progressive Front or FNP People's First Party or PPG People's Force or FP Social Christian Reformist Party or PRSC
Diplomatic representation in the US / chief of mission: Ambassador Mar&iacute;a Isabel CASTILLO B&Aacute;EZ (since 11 June 2025)
Diplomatic representation in the US / chancery: 1715 22nd Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation in the US / telephone: [1] (202) 332-6280
Diplomatic representation in the US / FAX: [1] (202) 265-8057
Diplomatic representation in the US / email address and website: embassy@drembassyusa.org http://drembassyusa.org/
Diplomatic representation in the US / consulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angelos, Miami, New Jersey, New Orleans, New York, Orlando, Philadelphia
Diplomatic representation from the US / chief of mission: Ambassador Leah F. CAMPOS (since 19 November 2025)
Diplomatic representation from the US / embassy: Av. Republica de Colombia #57, Santo Domingo
Diplomatic representation from the US / mailing address: 3470 Santo Domingo Place, Washington DC 20521-3470
Diplomatic representation from the US / telephone: (809) 567-7775
Diplomatic representation from the US / email address and website: SDOAmericans@state.gov https://do.usembassy.gov/
International organization participation: ACP, ACS, AOSIS, BCIE, Caricom (observer), CD, CELAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAES, LAIA, MIGA, MINUSMA, NAM, OAS, OIF (observer), OPANAL, OPCW, Pacific Alliance (observer), PCA, Petrocaribe, SICA (associated member), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHRC, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNOOSA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Independence: 27 February 1844 (from Haiti)
National holiday: Independence Day, 27 February (1844)
Flag: description: a centered white cross extends to the edges and divides the flag into four rectangles; the top ones are ultramarine blue (left side) and vermilion red, and the bottom ones are vermilion red (left side) and ultramarine blue; a small coat of arms with a shield supported by a laurel branch and a palm branch is at the center of the cross; above the shield, a blue ribbon displays the motto DIOS, PATRIA, LIBERTAD (God, Fatherland, Liberty); below the shield, REPUBLICA DOMINICANA is on a red ribbon; on the shield, a Bible is opened to a verse that reads "Y la verdad nos hara libre" (And the truth shall set you free) meaning: blue stands for liberty, white for salvation, and red for the blood of heroes
National symbol(s): palmchat (bird)
National color(s): red, white, blue
National anthem(s) / title: "Himno Nacional" (National Anthem)
National anthem(s) / lyrics/music: Emilio PRUD'HOMME/Jose REYES
National anthem(s) / history: adopted 1934; also known as "Quisqueyanos valientes" (Valiant Sons of Quisqueye); the anthem refers to the Dominican people as Quisqueyanos, which comes from the ethnic name for the island
National heritage / total World Heritage Sites: 1 (cultural)
National heritage / selected World Heritage Site locales: Colonial City of Santo Domingo

## Economy
Economic overview: surging middle-income tourism, construction, mining, and telecommunications OECS economy; major foreign US direct investment and free-trade zones; developing local financial markets; improving debt management; declining poverty
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $276.884 billion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $263.82 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $258.16 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2024: 5% (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2023: 2.2% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2022: 5.2% (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2024: $24,200 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2023: $23,300 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2022: $23,000 (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $124.282 billion (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024: 3.3% (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023: 4.8% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 8.8% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / agriculture: 4.5% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / industry: 28.7% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / services: 59.8% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / household consumption: 67.7% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / government consumption: 11.5% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in fixed capital: 26.1% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in inventories: 0.9% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / exports of goods and services: 22.8% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / imports of goods and services: -29% (2024 est.)
Agricultural products: sugarcane, bananas, papayas, plantains, avocados, rice, milk, watermelons, vegetables, pineapples (2023)
Industries: tourism, sugar processing, gold mining, textiles, cement, tobacco, electrical components, medical devices
Industrial production growth rate: 3% (2024 est.)
Labor force: 5.413 million (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2024: 5.5% (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2023: 5.6% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2022: 5.6% (2022 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / total: 11.7% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / male: 9.2% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / female: 15.5% (2024 est.)
Population below poverty line: 23% (2023 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income / Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2023: 38.4 (2023 est.)
Average household expenditures / on food: 28.1% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Average household expenditures / on alcohol and tobacco: 3.8% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / lowest 10%: 2.3% (2023 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / highest 10%: 29.1% (2023 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2024: 9% of GDP (2024 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2023: 8.8% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2022: 9.1% of GDP (2022 est.)
Budget / revenues: $20.418 billion (2023 est.)
Budget / expenditures: $24.348 billion (2023 est.)
Public debt / Public debt 2016: 34.6% of GDP (2016 est.)
Taxes and other revenues: 14.5% (of GDP) (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2024: -$4.167 billion (2024 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2023: -$4.418 billion (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2022: -$6.549 billion (2022 est.)
Exports / Exports 2024: $28.563 billion (2024 est.)
Exports / Exports 2023: $25.79 billion (2023 est.)
Exports / Exports 2022: $25.169 billion (2022 est.)
Exports - partners: USA 52%, Switzerland 7%, Haiti 6%, China 5%, India 3% (2023)
Exports - commodities: medical instruments, tobacco, gold, garments, power equipment (2023)
Imports / Imports 2024: $36.144 billion (2024 est.)
Imports / Imports 2023: $34.45 billion (2023 est.)
Imports / Imports 2022: $36.838 billion (2022 est.)
Imports - partners: USA 40%, China 18%, Brazil 4%, Spain 4%, Mexico 3% (2023)
Imports - commodities: refined petroleum, cars, natural gas, plastic products, crude petroleum (2023)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024: $13.471 billion (2024 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023: $15.547 billion (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $14.523 billion (2022 est.)
Debt - external / Debt - external 2023: $35.044 billion (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Currency: Dominican pesos (DOP) per US dollar -
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2024: 59.565 (2024 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2023: 56.158 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2022: 55.141 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2021: 57.221 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2020: 56.525 (2020 est.)

## Energy
Electricity access / electrification - total population: 98.1% (2022 est.)
Electricity access / electrification - urban areas: 98.8%
Electricity access / electrification - rural areas: 95%
Electricity / installed generating capacity: 6.581 million kW (2023 est.)
Electricity / consumption: 22.193 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / transmission/distribution losses: 2.369 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / fossil fuels: 82.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / solar: 5.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / wind: 4.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / hydroelectricity: 6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / biomass and waste: 0.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Coal / consumption: 2.356 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / imports: 2.356 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum / refined petroleum consumption: 146,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Natural gas / consumption: 2.277 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / exports: 1.997 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / imports: 2.279 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Energy consumption per capita / Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 39.329 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

## Communications
Telephones - fixed lines / total subscriptions: 1.15 million (2024 est.)
Telephones - fixed lines / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 10 (2024 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / total subscriptions: 10.7 million (2024 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 94 (2024 est.)
Broadcast media: combination of state-owned and privately owned broadcast media; 1 state-owned TV network and a number of private TV networks; networks operate repeaters to extend signals throughout country; over 300 state-owned and privately owned radio stations (2019)
Internet country code: .do
Internet users / percent of population: 85% (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / total: 1.26 million (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 11 (2023 est.)

## Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: HI
Airports: 32 (2025)
Heliports: 8 (2025)
Railways / total: 496 km (2014)
Railways / standard gauge: 354 km (2014) 1.435-m gauge
Railways / narrow gauge: 142 km (2014) 0.762-m gauge
Merchant marine / total: 40 (2023)
Merchant marine / by type: container ship 1, general cargo 2, oil tanker 1, other 36
Ports / total ports: 17 (2024)
Ports / large: 0
Ports / medium: 2
Ports / small: 7
Ports / very small: 6
Ports / size unknown: 2
Ports / ports with oil terminals: 7
Ports / key ports: Andres (Andres Lng Terminal), Las Calderas, Puerto de Haina, Puerto Plata, Punta Nizao Oil Terminal, San Pedro de Macoris, Santa Barbara de Samana, Santa Cruz de Barahona, Santo Domingo

## Military and Security
Military and security forces: Armed Forces of the Dominican Republic: Army of the Dominican Republic (Ejercito de la República Dominicana, ERD), Navy (Armada de República Dominicana or ARD; includes naval infantry), Dominican Air Force (Fuerza Aerea de la República Dominicana, FARD) (2025)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2024: 0.8% of GDP (2024 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2023: 0.7% of GDP (2023 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2022: 0.7% of GDP (2022 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2021: 0.7% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2020: 0.8% of GDP (2020 est.)
Military and security service personnel strengths: approximately 55-60,000 Armed Forces; up to 35,000 National Police (2025)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the military's equipment inventory comes largely from the US, with smaller quantities from such suppliers as Brazil and Spain (2025)
Military service age and obligation: 17-early 20s for voluntary military service for men and women (ages vary depending on military service and position; under 18 admitted with permission of parents) (2025)
Military - note: the military is responsible for defending the independence, integrity, and sovereignty of the Dominican Republic; it also has an internal security role, which includes assisting with airport, border, port, tourism, and urban security, supporting the police in maintaining or restoring public order, countering transnational crime, and providing disaster or emergency relief/management; a key area of focus is securing the country&rsquo;s 217-mile (350-kilometer) long border with Haiti, where the Army in recent years has assigned thousands of troops to assist with security; these forces complement the personnel of the Border Security Corps permanently deployed along the border; the Air Force and Navy also provide support to the Haitian border mission; the Army has a brigade dedicated to managing and providing relief during natural disasters; the military also contributes personnel to the National Drug Control Directorate, and both the Air Force and Navy devote assets to detecting and interdicting narcotics trafficking; the Navy conducts regular bilateral maritime interdiction exercises with the US Navy (2025)

## Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons / refugees: 1,004 (2024 est.)
Refugees and internally displaced persons / IDPs: 390 (2023 est.)
Illicit drugs / USG identification: major illicit drug-producing and/or drug-transit country (2025)

=== El Salvador ===

## Introduction
Background: El Salvador achieved independence from Spain in 1821 and from the Central American Federation in 1839. A 12-year civil war, which cost about 75,000 lives, was brought to a close in 1992 when the government and leftist rebels signed a treaty that provided for military and political reforms. El Salvador is beset by one of the world's highest homicide rates and pervasive criminal gangs.

## Geography
Location: Central America, bordering the North Pacific Ocean, between Guatemala and Honduras
Geographic coordinates: 13 50 N, 88 55 W
Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
Area / total: 21,041 sq km
Area / land: 20,721 sq km
Area / water: 320 sq km
Area - comparative: about the same size as New Jersey
Land boundaries / total: 590 km
Land boundaries / border countries: Guatemala 199 km; Honduras 391 km
Coastline: 307 km
Maritime claims / territorial sea: 12 nm
Maritime claims / contiguous zone: 24 nm
Maritime claims / exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate: tropical; rainy season (May to October); dry season (November to April); tropical on coast; temperate in uplands
Terrain: mostly mountains with narrow coastal belt and central plateau
Elevation / highest point: Cerro El Pital 2,730 m
Elevation / lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
Elevation / mean elevation: 442 m
Natural resources: hydropower, geothermal power, petroleum, arable land
Land use / agricultural land: 57.7% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 34.8% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 7.7% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 15.2% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 33% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 9.3% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land: 240 sq km (2022)
Population distribution: high population density country-wide, with particular concentration around the capital of San Salvador
Natural hazards: known as the Land of Volcanoes; frequent and sometimes destructive earthquakes and volcanic activity; extremely susceptible to hurricanes volcanism: significant volcanic activity; San Salvador (1,893 m), which last erupted in 1917, has the potential to cause major harm to the country's capital, which lies just below the volcano's slopes; San Miguel (2,130 m) is one of the most active volcanoes in the country; other historically active volcanoes include Conchaguita, Ilopango, Izalco, and Santa Ana
Geography - note: smallest Central American country and only one without a coastline on the Caribbean Sea

## People and Society
Population / total: 6,334,723 (2025 est.)
Population / male: 3,026,645
Population / female: 3,308,078
Nationality / noun: Salvadoran(s)
Nationality / adjective: Salvadoran
Ethnic groups: Mestizo 86.3%, White 12.7%, Indigenous 0.2% (includes Lenca, Kakawira, Nahua-Pipil), Black 0.1%, other 0.6% (2007 est.)
Languages / Languages: Spanish (official), Nawat (among some indigenous)
Languages / major-language sample(s): La Libreta Informativa del Mundo, la fuente indispensable de información básica. (Spanish) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
Religions: Roman Catholic 43.9%, Protestant 39.6% (Evangelical - unspecified 38.2%, Evangelical - Methodist 1.3%, Evangelical - Baptist 0.1%), none 16.3%, unspecified 0.2% (2023 est.)
Age structure / 0-14 years: 25.3% (male 855,841/female 818,642)
Age structure / 15-64 years: 66.3% (male 2,077,745/female 2,317,416)
Age structure / 65 years and over: 8.4% (2024 est.) (male 238,658/female 320,400)
Dependency ratios / total dependency ratio: 43 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / youth dependency ratio: 29.9 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / elderly dependency ratio: 13.1 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / potential support ratio: 7.6 (2025 est.)
Median age / total: 31.2 years (2025 est.)
Median age / male: 28.2 years
Median age / female: 31.2 years
Population growth rate: 0.34% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 12.46 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 5.93 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: -3.16 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution: high population density country-wide, with particular concentration around the capital of San Salvador
Urbanization / urban population: 75.4% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 1.33% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 1.116 million SAN SALVADOR (capital) (2023)
Sex ratio / at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 15-64 years: 0.9 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 65 years and over: 0.74 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / total population: 0.92 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth: 20.8 years (2008 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio: 39 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Infant mortality rate / total: 10 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Infant mortality rate / male: 13.3 deaths/1,000 live births
Infant mortality rate / female: 10 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth / total population: 75.9 years (2024 est.)
Life expectancy at birth / male: 72.4 years
Life expectancy at birth / female: 79.5 years
Total fertility rate: 1.4 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 0.68 (2025 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: urban: urban: 100% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: rural: rural: 94.4% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: total: total: 98.6% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: urban: urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: rural: rural: 5.6% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: total: total: 1.4% of population (2022 est.)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 9.7% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 21.2% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density: 1.62 physicians/1,000 population (2023)
Hospital bed density: 1.2 beds/1,000 population (2021 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: urban: urban: 100% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: rural: rural: 98.3% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: total: total: 99.6% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: urban: urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: rural: rural: 1.7% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: total: total: 0.4% of population (2022 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 24.6% (2016)
Alcohol consumption per capita / total: 2.94 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / beer: 1.5 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / wine: 0.06 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / spirits: 1.37 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / other alcohols: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Tobacco use / total: 7.8% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / male: 14.7% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / female: 1.7% (2025 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 5% (2021 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49): 50.7% (2021 est.)
Child marriage / women married by age 15: 4.3% (2021)
Child marriage / women married by age 18: 19.7% (2021)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% GDP): 3.2% of GDP (2023 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% national budget): 15.9% national budget (2025 est.)
Literacy / total population: 89.8% (2024 est.)
Literacy / male: 91.6% (2024 est.)
Literacy / female: 88.2% (2024 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / total: 11 years (2023 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / male: 11 years (2023 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / female: 12 years (2023 est.)

## Environment
Environmental issues: deforestation; soil erosion; water pollution; contamination of soils from disposal of toxic wastes
International environmental agreements / party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
International environmental agreements / signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea
Climate: tropical; rainy season (May to October); dry season (November to April); tropical on coast; temperate in uplands
Land use / agricultural land: 57.7% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 34.8% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 7.7% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 15.2% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 33% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 9.3% (2023 est.)
Urbanization / urban population: 75.4% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 1.33% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / total emissions: 8.694 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from coal and metallurgical coke: 1,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from petroleum and other liquids: 7.745 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from consumed natural gas: 948,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Particulate matter emissions: 23.8 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Waste and recycling / municipal solid waste generated annually: 1.649 million tons (2024 est.)
Waste and recycling / percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 15.2% (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / municipal: 433.229 million cubic meters (2022)
Total water withdrawal / industrial: 94.316 million cubic meters (2022)
Total water withdrawal / agricultural: 1.411 billion cubic meters (2022)
Total renewable water resources: 26.27 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: Republic of El Salvador
Country name / conventional short form: El Salvador
Country name / local long form: Rep&uacute;blica de El Salvador
Country name / local short form: El Salvador
Country name / etymology: means "the Savior" in Spanish and is a shortened form of "the Divine Savior of the World" (el Divino Salvador del Mundo), referring to Jesus Christ; 16th-century Spanish colonists gave the name "San Salvador" to the fort located where the country's capital of San Salvador now stands, and the name was later used for the city and the surrounding region; the country was officially named El Salvador in 1824
Government type: presidential republic
Capital / name: San Salvador
Capital / geographic coordinates: 13 42 N, 89 12 W
Capital / time difference: UTC-6 (1 hour behind Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Capital / etymology: Spanish colonists founded the city in 1526 on the feast day of the Transfiguration of the Savior (Jesus Christ), and the name means "Holy Savior" in Spanish
Administrative divisions: 14 departments ( departamentos , singular - departamento ); Ahuachapán, Cabanas, Chalatenango, Cuscatlán, La Libertad, La Paz, La Union, Morazán, San Miguel, San Salvador, San Vicente, Santa Ana, Sonsonate, Usulután
Legal system: civil law system with minor common law influence; Supreme Court reviews legislative acts
Constitution / history: many previous; latest drafted 16 December 1983, enacted 23 December 1983
Constitution / amendment process: proposals require agreement by absolute majority of the Legislative Assembly membership; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote of the Assembly; constitutional articles on basic principles, and citizen rights and freedoms cannot be amended
International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt
Citizenship / citizenship by birth: yes
Citizenship / citizenship by descent only: yes
Citizenship / dual citizenship recognized: yes
Citizenship / residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch / chief of state: President Nayib Armando BUKELE Ortez (since 1 June 2019)
Executive branch / head of government: President Nayib Armando BUKELE Ortez (since 1 June 2019)
Executive branch / cabinet: Council of Ministers selected by the president
Executive branch / election/appointment process: president and vice president directly elected on the same ballot by absolute-majority popular vote for a 6-year term (no term limits)
Executive branch / most recent election date: 4 February 2024
Executive branch / election results: 2024: Nayib Armando BUKELE Ortez reelected president - Nayib Armando BUKELE Ortez (Nuevas Ideas) 84.7%, Manuel FLORES (FMLN) 6.4%, Joel SANCHEZ (ARENA) 5.6%, Luis PARADA (NT) 2%, other 1.3% 2019: Nayib Armando BUKELE Ortez elected president - Nayib Armando BUKELE Ortez (GANA) 53.1%, Carlos CALLEJA Hakker (ARENA) 31.7%, Hugo MARTINEZ (FMLN) 14.4%, other 0.8%
Executive branch / expected date of next election: 28 February 2027; note - on 31 July 2025, the Legislative Assembly voted to move the date of the next presidential election from 2029 to 2027 to bring the presidential election cycle in line with the three-year legislative and municipal election cycle
Legislative branch / legislature name: Legislative Assembly (Asamblea legislativa)
Legislative branch / legislative structure: unicameral
Legislative branch / number of seats: 60 (all directly elected)
Legislative branch / electoral system: proportional representation
Legislative branch / scope of elections: full renewal
Legislative branch / term in office: 3 years
Legislative branch / most recent election date: 2/4/2024
Legislative branch / parties elected and seats per party: New Ideas (N) (54); Other (6)
Legislative branch / percentage of women in chamber: 31.7%
Legislative branch / expected date of next election: February 2027
Judicial branch / highest court(s): Supreme Court or Corte Suprema de Justicia (consists of 15 judges, including its president, and 15 substitute judges organized into Constitutional, Civil, Penal, and Administrative Conflict Chambers)
Judicial branch / judge selection and term of office: judges elected by the Legislative Assembly on the recommendation of both the National Council of the Judicature, an independent body elected by the Legislative Assembly, and the Bar Association; judges elected for 9-year terms, with renewal of one third of membership every 3 years; consecutive reelection is allowed
Judicial branch / subordinate courts: Appellate Courts; Courts of First Instance; Courts of Peace
Political parties: Christian Democratic Party or PDC Farabundo Marti National Liberation Front or FMLN Great Alliance for National Unity or GANA National Coalition Party or PCN Nationalist Republican Alliance or ARENA New Ideas (Nuevas Ideas) or NI Our Time (Nuestro Tiempo) or NT Vamos or V
Diplomatic representation in the US / chief of mission: Ambassador Carmen Milena MAYORGA VALERA (since 23 December 2020)
Diplomatic representation in the US / chancery: 1400 16th Street NW, Suite 100, Washington, DC 20036
Diplomatic representation in the US / telephone: [1] (202) 595-7500
Diplomatic representation in the US / FAX: [1] (202) 232-3763
Diplomatic representation in the US / email address and website: infoEEUU@rree.gob.sv https://rree.gob.sv/embajadas-consulados-y-misiones-permanentes-de-la-republica-de-el-salvador/
Diplomatic representation in the US / consulate(s) general: Aurora (CO), Boston, Charlotte (NC), Chicago, Dallas, Doral (FL), Duluth (GA), El Paso (TX), Elizabeth (NJ), Fresno (CA), Houston, Las Vegas (NV), Laredo (TX), Long Island (NY), Los Angeles, McAllen (TX), New York, Omaha (NE), San Bernardino (CA), San Francisco, Salt Lake City, Seattle, Silver Spring (MD), Springdale (AR), St. Paul (MN), Tucson (AZ), Woodbridge (VA)
Diplomatic representation from the US / chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charg&eacute; d&rsquo;Affaires Naomi C. FELLOWS (since August 2025)
Diplomatic representation from the US / embassy: Final Boulevard Santa Elena, Antiguo Cuscatlan, La Libertad, San Salvador
Diplomatic representation from the US / mailing address: 3450 San Salvador Place, Washington, DC 20521-3450
Diplomatic representation from the US / telephone: [503] 2501-2999
Diplomatic representation from the US / FAX: [503] 2501-2150
Diplomatic representation from the US / email address and website: ACSSanSal@state.gov https://sv.usembassy.gov/
International organization participation: ACS, BCIE, CACM, CD, CELAC, FAO, G-11, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAES, LAIA (observer), MIGA, MINURSO, MINUSTAH, NAM (observer), OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, Pacific Alliance (observer), PCA, Petrocaribe, SICA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIFIL, Union Latina, UNISFA, UNMISS, UNOCI, UNOOSA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Independence: 15 September 1821 (from Spain)
National holiday: Independence Day, 15 September (1821)
Flag: description: three equal horizontal bands of cobalt blue (top), white, and cobalt blue, with the national coat of arms centered in the white band; the coat of arms has a round emblem with the words REPUBLICA DE EL SALVADOR EN LA AMERICA CENTRAL around it meaning: the blue bands stand for the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea, and the white for the land, as well as peace and prosperity history: the banner is based on the former blue-white-blue flag of the Federal Republic of Central America
National symbol(s): turquoise-browed motmot (bird)
National color(s): blue, white
National anthem(s) / title: "Himno Nacional de El Salvador" (National Anthem of El Salvador)
National anthem(s) / lyrics/music: Juan Jose CANAS/Juan ABERLE
National anthem(s) / history: officially adopted 1953, in use since 1879; at four minutes and 20 seconds, the anthem is one of the world's longest
National heritage / total World Heritage Sites: 1 (cultural)
National heritage / selected World Heritage Site locales: Joya de Cer&eacute;n Archaeological Site

## Economy
Economic overview: upper-middle-income, dollarized Central American economy; reliant on remittances from US; recent growth linked to infrastructure investment, consumption, and crime reduction; $1.3 billion IMF loan to address fiscal imbalances; Bitcoin adopted as legal tender; persistent poverty and large informal sector
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $73.961 billion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $72.085 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $69.621 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2024: 2.6% (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2023: 3.5% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2022: 3% (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2024: $11,700 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2023: $11,400 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2022: $11,100 (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $35.365 billion (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024: 0.9% (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023: 4% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 7.2% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / agriculture: 4.4% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / industry: 22.4% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / services: 61% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / household consumption: 79.6% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / government consumption: 19.2% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in fixed capital: 22.2% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in inventories: -1.9% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / exports of goods and services: 32.8% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / imports of goods and services: -51.9% (2024 est.)
Agricultural products: sugarcane, maize, milk, chicken, sorghum, beans, oranges, coconuts, eggs, mangoes/guavas (2023)
Industries: food processing, beverages, petroleum, chemicals, fertilizer, textiles, furniture, light metals
Industrial production growth rate: 0.4% (2024 est.)
Labor force: 2.89 million (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2024: 2.9% (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2023: 3% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2022: 3% (2022 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / total: 6.7% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / male: 5.2% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / female: 9.5% (2024 est.)
Population below poverty line: 26.6% (2022 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income / Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2023: 39.8 (2023 est.)
Average household expenditures / on food: 26.7% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Average household expenditures / on alcohol and tobacco: 0.5% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / lowest 10%: 1.9% (2023 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / highest 10%: 29.7% (2023 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2024: 24% of GDP (2024 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2023: 24.5% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2022: 24.6% of GDP (2022 est.)
Budget / revenues: $9.359 billion (2023 est.)
Budget / expenditures: $10.313 billion (2023 est.)
Public debt / Public debt 2023: 102.2% of GDP (2023 est.)
Taxes and other revenues: 20.7% (of GDP) (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2024: -$632.549 million (2024 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2023: -$367.831 million (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2022: -$2.144 billion (2022 est.)
Exports / Exports 2024: $11.586 billion (2024 est.)
Exports / Exports 2023: $10.629 billion (2023 est.)
Exports / Exports 2022: $10.164 billion (2022 est.)
Exports - partners: USA 36%, Guatemala 17%, Honduras 15%, Nicaragua 8%, Costa Rica 5% (2023)
Exports - commodities: garments, plastic products, electrical capacitors, raw sugar, toilet paper (2023)
Imports / Imports 2024: $18.354 billion (2024 est.)
Imports / Imports 2023: $17.034 billion (2023 est.)
Imports / Imports 2022: $18.181 billion (2022 est.)
Imports - partners: USA 28%, China 15%, Guatemala 11%, Mexico 8%, Honduras 5% (2023)
Imports - commodities: refined petroleum, natural gas, garments, packaged medicine, plastics (2023)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024: $3.705 billion (2024 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023: $3.079 billion (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $2.695 billion (2022 est.)
Debt - external / Debt - external 2023: $12.668 billion (2023 est.)
Exchange rates: the US dollar is used as a medium of exchange and circulates freely in the economy

## Energy
Electricity access / electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)
Electricity / installed generating capacity: 2.803 million kW (2023 est.)
Electricity / consumption: 6.335 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / exports: 140 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / imports: 750.096 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / transmission/distribution losses: 770.613 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / fossil fuels: 9.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / solar: 19.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / wind: 2.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / hydroelectricity: 31% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / geothermal: 24.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / biomass and waste: 14% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Coal / consumption: 500 metric tons (2022 est.)
Coal / imports: 2,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum / total petroleum production: 3 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Petroleum / refined petroleum consumption: 56,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Natural gas / consumption: 486.291 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / imports: 486.291 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
Energy consumption per capita / Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 24.421 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

## Communications
Telephones - fixed lines / total subscriptions: 885,000 (2024 est.)
Telephones - fixed lines / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 14 (2024 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / total subscriptions: 11.2 million (2024 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 177 (2024 est.)
Broadcast media: multiple privately owned national terrestrial TV networks, supplemented by cable TV networks that carry international channels; hundreds of commercial radio stations and 2 government-owned radio stations; transition to digital transmission was set to begin in 2018, along with adoption of the Japanese-Brazilian Digital Standard (ISDB-T) (2022)
Internet country code: .sv
Internet users / percent of population: 68% (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / total: 671,000 (2022 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 11 (2022 est.)

## Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: YS
Airports: 27 (2025)
Railways / total: 12.5 km (2014)
Railways / narrow gauge: 12.5 km (2014) 0.914-mm gauge
Merchant marine / total: 5 (2023)
Merchant marine / by type: other 5
Ports / total ports: 3 (2024)
Ports / large: 0
Ports / medium: 0
Ports / small: 0
Ports / very small: 3
Ports / ports with oil terminals: 3
Ports / key ports: Acajutla, Acajutla Offshore Terminal, La Union

## Military and Security
Military and security forces: The Armed Forces of El Salvador (La Fuerza Armada de El Salvador, FAES): Army of El Salvador (Ejercito de El Salvador, ES), Naval Force of El Salvador (Fuerza Naval de El Salvador, FNES), Salvadoran Air Force (Fuerza Aérea Salvadoreña, FAS) Ministry of Justice and Public Safety: National Civil Police (Policia Nacional Civil, PNC) (2025)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2024: 1.2% of GDP (2024 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2023: 1.2% of GDP (2023 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2022: 1.3% of GDP (2022 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2021: 1.2% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2020: 1.4% of GDP (2020 est.)
Military and security service personnel strengths: approximately 25,000 active FAES (2025)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the FAES is lightly armed with an inventory of mostly older or secondhand arms and equipment, largely provided by the US (2025)
Military service age and obligation: 18-30 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women (17-22 for military schools); men are subject to selective compulsory military service; service obligation up to 18 months (2025)
Military - note: the Armed Force of El Salvador (FAES) is responsible for defending national sovereignty and ensuring territorial integrity but also has considerable domestic security responsibilities; while the National Civil Police (PNC) are responsible for maintaining public security, the country’s constitution allows the president to use the FAES “in exceptional circumstances” to maintain internal peace and public security; in 2016, the government created a special joint unit of Army commandos and police to fight criminal gangs; more military personnel were devoted to internal security beginning in 2019 when President BUKELE signed a decree authorizing military involvement in police duties to combat rising gang violence, organized crime, and narcotics trafficking, as well as assisting with border security the military led the country for much of the 20th century; from 1980 to 1992, it fought a bloody civil war against guerrillas from the Farabundo Martí National Liberation Front or FMLN, the paramilitary arm of the Democratic Revolutionary Front (Frente Democrático Revolucionario), a coalition of left-wing dissident political groups backed by Cuba and the Soviet Union; the FAES received considerable US support during the conflict; significant human rights violations occurred during the war and approximately 75,000 Salvadorans, mostly civilians, were killed (2025)

## Terrorism
Terrorist group(s): La Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13)

## Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons / refugees: 392 (2024 est.)
Refugees and internally displaced persons / IDPs: 35,391 (2024 est.)
Illicit drugs / USG identification: major illicit drug-producing and/or drug-transit country major precursor-chemical producer (2025)

=== Grenada ===

## Introduction
Background: The indigenous Carib people inhabited Grenada when Christopher COLUMBUS landed on the island in 1498, but it remained uncolonized for more than a century. The French settled Grenada in the 17th century, established sugar estates, and imported large numbers of African slaves. Britain took the island in 1762 and vigorously expanded sugar production. In the 19th century, cacao eventually surpassed sugar as the main export crop; in the 20th century, nutmeg became the leading export. In 1967, Britain gave Grenada autonomy over its internal affairs. Full independence was attained in 1974, making Grenada one of the smallest independent countries in the Western Hemisphere. In 1979, a leftist New Jewel Movement seized power under Maurice BISHOP, ushering in the Grenada Revolution. On 19 October 1983, factions within the revolutionary government overthrew and killed BISHOP and members of his party. Six days later, US forces and those of six other Caribbean nations intervened, quickly capturing the ringleaders and their hundreds of Cuban advisers. Rule of law was restored, and democratic elections were reinstituted the following year and have continued since.

## Geography
Location: Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and Atlantic Ocean, north of Trinidad and Tobago
Geographic coordinates: 12 07 N, 61 40 W
Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
Area / total: 344 sq km
Area / land: 344 sq km
Area / water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative: twice the size of Washington, D.C.
Land boundaries / total: 0 km
Coastline: 121 km
Maritime claims / territorial sea: 12 nm
Maritime claims / exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate: tropical; tempered by northeast trade winds
Terrain: volcanic in origin with central mountains
Elevation / highest point: Mount Saint Catherine 840 m
Elevation / lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
Natural resources: timber, tropical fruit
Land use / agricultural land: 23.5% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 8.8% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 11.8% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 2.9% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 52.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 24.4% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land: 20 sq km (2012)
Population distribution: approximately one third of the population is found in the capital of St. George's; the island's population is concentrated along the coast
Natural hazards: lies on edge of hurricane belt; hurricane season lasts from June to November volcanism: Mount Saint Catherine (840 m) is on the island of Grenada; Kick 'em Jenny, an active submarine volcano (seamount) on the Caribbean Sea floor, lies about 8 km (5 mi) north of Grenada; these two volcanoes are at the southern end of the volcanic island arc of the Lesser Antilles that extends to the Dutch dependency of Saba in the north

## People and Society
Population / total: 114,621 (2024 est.)
Population / male: 58,168
Population / female: 56,453
Nationality / noun: Grenadian(s)
Nationality / adjective: Grenadian
Ethnic groups: African descent 82.4%, mixed 13.3%, East Indian 2.2%, other 1.3%, unspecified 0.9% (2011 est.)
Languages: English (official), French patois
Religions: Protestant 49.2% (includes Pentecostal 17.2%, Seventh Day Adventist 13.2%, Anglican 8.5%, Baptist 3.2%, Church of God 2.4%, Evangelical 1.9%, Methodist 1.6%, other 1.2%), Roman Catholic 36%, Jehovah's Witness 1.2%, Rastafarian 1.2%, other 5.5%, none 5.7%, unspecified 1.3% (2011 est.)
Age structure / 0-14 years: 21.9% (male 13,095/female 12,003)
Age structure / 15-64 years: 65.3% (male 38,129/female 36,726)
Age structure / 65 years and over: 12.8% (2024 est.) (male 6,944/female 7,724)
Dependency ratios / total dependency ratio: 53.1 (2024 est.)
Dependency ratios / youth dependency ratio: 33.5 (2024 est.)
Dependency ratios / elderly dependency ratio: 19.6 (2024 est.)
Dependency ratios / potential support ratio: 5.1 (2024 est.)
Median age / total: 35.9 years (2025 est.)
Median age / male: 35.2 years
Median age / female: 35.7 years
Population growth rate: 0.24% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 13 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 8.41 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: -2.16 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution: approximately one third of the population is found in the capital of St. George's; the island's population is concentrated along the coast
Urbanization / urban population: 37.1% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 0.86% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 39,000 SAINT GEORGE'S (capital) (2018)
Sex ratio / at birth: 1.1 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 0-14 years: 1.09 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 15-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 65 years and over: 0.9 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio: 48 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Infant mortality rate / total: 8.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Infant mortality rate / male: 8.6 deaths/1,000 live births
Infant mortality rate / female: 9.5 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth / total population: 76.3 years (2024 est.)
Life expectancy at birth / male: 73.7 years
Life expectancy at birth / female: 79.1 years
Total fertility rate: 1.89 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 0.9 (2025 est.)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 5.7% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 6.3% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density: 1.38 physicians/1,000 population (2018)
Hospital bed density: 3.2 beds/1,000 population (2018 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 21.3% (2016)
Alcohol consumption per capita / total: 8.62 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / beer: 3.54 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / wine: 0.56 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / spirits: 4.21 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / other alcohols: 0.31 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% GDP): 5.1% of GDP (2023 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% national budget): 11.4% national budget (2025 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / total: 18 years (2018 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / male: 17 years (2018 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / female: 18 years (2018 est.)

## Environment
Environmental issues: deforestation causing habitat and species loss; coastal erosion and contamination; pollution and sedimentation; inadequate solid waste management
International environmental agreements / party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
International environmental agreements / signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Climate: tropical; tempered by northeast trade winds
Land use / agricultural land: 23.5% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 8.8% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 11.8% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 2.9% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 52.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 24.4% (2023 est.)
Urbanization / urban population: 37.1% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 0.86% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / total emissions: 348,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from petroleum and other liquids: 348,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Particulate matter emissions: 10.2 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Waste and recycling / municipal solid waste generated annually: 29,500 tons (2024 est.)
Waste and recycling / percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 15.1% (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / municipal: 12 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / industrial: 0 cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / agricultural: 2.1 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total renewable water resources: 200 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: none
Country name / conventional short form: Grenada
Country name / etymology: origin of the name remains obscure; some sources attribute the designation to Spanish influence (most likely named for the Spanish city of Granada); in Spanish granada means "pomegranate"
Government type: parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy; a Commonwealth realm
Capital / name: Saint George's
Capital / geographic coordinates: 12 03 N, 61 45 W
Capital / time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Capital / etymology: originally named Ville de Fort Royal (Fort Royal Town), the name was changed to Saint George's Town in 1764, in honor of the patron saint of England, when the English took over Grenada from the French; the name was eventually shortened to Saint George's
Administrative divisions: 6 parishes and 1 dependency*; Carriacou and Petite Martinique*, Saint Andrew, Saint David, Saint George, Saint John, Saint Mark, Saint Patrick
Legal system: common law based on English model
Constitution / history: previous 1967; latest presented 19 December 1973, effective 7 February 1974, suspended 1979 following a revolution but restored in 1983
Constitution / amendment process: proposed by either house of Parliament; passage requires two-thirds majority vote by the membership in both houses and assent of the governor general; passage of amendments to constitutional sections, such as personal rights and freedoms, the structure, authorities, and procedures of the branches of government, the delimitation of electoral constituencies, or the procedure for amending the constitution, also requires two-thirds majority approval in a referendum
International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Citizenship / citizenship by birth: yes
Citizenship / citizenship by descent only: yes
Citizenship / dual citizenship recognized: yes
Citizenship / residency requirement for naturalization: 7 years for persons from a non-Caribbean state and 4 years for a person from a Caribbean state
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch / chief of state: King CHARLES III (since 8 September 2022); represented by Governor General Cecile LA GRENADE (since 7 May 2013)
Executive branch / head of government: Prime Minister Dickon MITCHELL (since 24 June 2022)
Executive branch / cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister
Executive branch / election/appointment process: the monarchy is hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the governor general usually appoints the leader of the majority party or majority coalition as prime minister
Legislative branch / legislature name: Parliament
Legislative branch / legislative structure: bicameral
Legislative branch - lower chamber / chamber name: House of Representatives
Legislative branch - lower chamber / number of seats: 15 (all directly elected)
Legislative branch - lower chamber / electoral system: plurality/majority
Legislative branch - lower chamber / scope of elections: full renewal
Legislative branch - lower chamber / term in office: 5 years
Legislative branch - lower chamber / most recent election date: 6/23/2022
Legislative branch - lower chamber / parties elected and seats per party: National Democratic Congress (NDC) (9); New National Party (NNP) (6)
Legislative branch - lower chamber / percentage of women in chamber: 31.3%
Legislative branch - lower chamber / expected date of next election: June 2027
Legislative branch - upper chamber / chamber name: Senate
Legislative branch - upper chamber / number of seats: 13 (all appointed)
Legislative branch - upper chamber / scope of elections: full renewal
Legislative branch - upper chamber / term in office: 5 years
Legislative branch - upper chamber / most recent election date: 8/31/2022
Legislative branch - upper chamber / percentage of women in chamber: 30.8%
Legislative branch - upper chamber / expected date of next election: August 2027
Judicial branch / highest court(s): regionally, the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (ECSC) is the superior court of the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States; the ECSC is headquartered on St. Lucia and consists of the Court of Appeal -- headed by the chief justice and 4 judges -- and the High Court with 18 judges; the Court of Appeal travels to member states on a schedule to hear appeals from the High Court and subordinate courts
Judicial branch / judge selection and term of office: chief justice of Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court appointed by the British monarch; other justices and judges appointed by the Judicial and Legal Services Commission, and independent body of judicial officials; Court of Appeal justices appointed for life with mandatory retirement at age 65; High Court judges appointed for life with mandatory retirement at age 62
Judicial branch / subordinate courts: magistrates' courts; Court of Magisterial Appeals
Political parties: National Democratic Congress or NDC New National Party or NNP
Diplomatic representation in the US / chief of mission: Ambassador Tarlie FRANCIS (since 15 September 2023)
Diplomatic representation in the US / chancery: 1701 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009
Diplomatic representation in the US / telephone: [1] (202) 265-2561
Diplomatic representation in the US / FAX: [1] (202) 265-2468
Diplomatic representation in the US / email address and website: embassy@grenadaembassyusa.org https://grenadaembassyusa.org/
Diplomatic representation in the US / consulate(s) general: Miami, New York
Diplomatic representation from the US / chief of mission: the US does not have an official embassy in Grenada; the Charg&eacute; d&rsquo;Affaires to Barbados, Karin B. SULLIVAN, is accredited to Grenada
Diplomatic representation from the US / embassy: Lance-aux-Epines, Saint George's
Diplomatic representation from the US / mailing address: 3180 Grenada Place, Washington DC 20521-3180
Diplomatic representation from the US / telephone: [1] (473) 444-1173
Diplomatic representation from the US / FAX: [1] (473) 444-4820
Diplomatic representation from the US / email address and website: StgeorgesACS@state.gov https://bb.usembassy.gov/embassy/grenada/
International organization participation: ACP, ACS, AOSIS, CARIFORUM, CARIBCAN, Caricom, CBI, CDB, CELAC, CSME, ECCU, EPA, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ITU, ITUC, LAES, MIGA, NAM, OAS, OECS, OPANAL, OPCW, Petrocaribe, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WTO
Independence: 7 February 1974 (from the UK)
National holiday: Independence Day, 7 February (1974)
Flag: description: a rectangle divided diagonally into yellow triangles (top and bottom) and green triangles (left and right), with a wide red border around the flag; three five-pointed yellow stars are centered on the top and bottom of the red border, with one larger yellow star on a red disk at the center of the flag; a small yellow-and-red nutmeg pod is on the left triangle meaning: the seven stars stand for the country's administrative divisions, with the central star symbolizing the capital, St. George's; yellow stands for the sun and the warmth of the people, green for vegetation and agriculture, and red for harmony, unity, and courage
National symbol(s): Grenada dove, bougainvillea flower
National color(s): red, yellow, green
National coat of arms: Grenada’s coat of arms shows Grand Etang Lake, a crater lake on the volcano that formed Grenada; in the center of the shield is Christopher Columbus’s ship, the Santa Maria , which landed on the island in 1498; the gold cross dividing the shield, the two Madonna lilies, and the national motto signal the importance of religion; two lions symbolize past UK rule (1762-1974), as well as Grenada’s current status as a Commonwealth country; the corn stalk and banana plant represent agriculture; the armadillo and Grenada dove next to the shield are native to the island, and the roses in the bougainvillea flower garland represent Grenada’s seven communities
National anthem(s) / title: "God Save the King"
National anthem(s) / lyrics/music: unknown
National anthem(s) / history: royal anthem, as a Commonwealth country

## Economy
Economic overview: small OECS service-based economy; large tourism, construction, transportation, and education sectors; major spice exporter; shrinking but still high public debt; vulnerable to hurricanes; emerging blue economy incentives
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $2.08 billion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $2.005 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $1.916 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2024: 3.7% (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2023: 4.7% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2022: 7.3% (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2024: $17,700 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2023: $17,100 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2022: $16,400 (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $1.391 billion (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024: 1.1% (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023: 2.7% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 2.6% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / agriculture: 2.7% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / industry: 14.8% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / services: 65.2% (2024 est.)
Agricultural products: sugarcane, coconuts, eggs, vegetables, fruits, bananas, plantains, grapefruits, avocados, mangoes/guavas (2023)
Industries: food and beverages, textiles, light assembly operations, tourism, construction, education, call-center operations
Industrial production growth rate: 2.9% (2024 est.)
Population below poverty line: 25% (2018 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income / Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2018: 43.8 (2018 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / lowest 10%: 2.1% (2018 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / highest 10%: 33.7% (2018 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2024: 5% of GDP (2024 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2023: 5.3% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2022: 5.1% of GDP (2022 est.)
Budget / revenues: $288.404 million (2017 est.)
Budget / expenditures: $222.475 million (2017 est.)
Public debt / Public debt 2016: 82% of GDP (2016 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2024: -$270.771 million (2024 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2023: -$243.473 million (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2022: -$148.445 million (2022 est.)
Exports / Exports 2024: $858.949 million (2024 est.)
Exports / Exports 2023: $828.529 million (2023 est.)
Exports / Exports 2022: $706.195 million (2022 est.)
Exports - partners: USA 24%, Antigua & Barbuda 13%, St. Vincent & the Grenadines 8%, Dominica 6%, Trinidad & Tobago 5% (2023)
Exports - commodities: nutmeg/cardamons, fish, wheat flours, frozen fruits and nuts, aqueous paints (2023)
Imports / Imports 2024: $990.587 million (2024 est.)
Imports / Imports 2023: $924.688 million (2023 est.)
Imports / Imports 2022: $785.022 million (2022 est.)
Imports - partners: USA 37%, Trinidad & Tobago 13%, Cayman Islands 10%, China 4%, UK 3% (2023)
Imports - commodities: refined petroleum, cars, poultry, ships, plastic products (2023)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024: $423.263 million (2024 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023: $404.13 million (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $371.767 million (2022 est.)
Debt - external / Debt - external 2023: $501.371 million (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Currency: East Caribbean dollars (XCD) per US dollar -
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2024: 2.7 (2024 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2023: 2.7 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2022: 2.7 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2021: 2.7 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2020: 2.7 (2020 est.)

## Energy
Electricity access / electrification - total population: 94.2% (2022 est.)
Electricity / installed generating capacity: 60,000 kW (2023 est.)
Electricity / consumption: 221.453 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / transmission/distribution losses: 18 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / fossil fuels: 98.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / solar: 1.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / wind: 0.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Coal / imports: 1 metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum / refined petroleum consumption: 2,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Energy consumption per capita / Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 41.703 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

## Communications
Telephones - fixed lines / total subscriptions: 17,000 (2022 est.)
Telephones - fixed lines / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 14 (2022 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / total subscriptions: 112,000 (2022 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 81 (2021 est.)
Broadcast media: multiple publicly and privately owned TV and radio stations; state-owned Grenada Information Service (GIS) provides TV and radio; the Grenada Broadcasting Network, jointly owned by the government and the Caribbean Communications Network of Trinidad and Tobago, operates a TV station and 2 radio stations; multi-channel cable TV subscription service is provided by Columbus Communications Grenada (FLOW GRENADA); approximately 25 private radio stations (2019)
Internet country code: .gd
Internet users / percent of population: 74% (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / total: 35,000 (2022 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 30 (2022 est.)

## Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: J3
Airports: 2 (2025)
Merchant marine / total: 6 (2023)
Merchant marine / by type: general cargo 3, other 3
Ports / total ports: 1 (2024)
Ports / large: 0
Ports / medium: 0
Ports / small: 1
Ports / very small: 0
Ports / ports with oil terminals: 1
Ports / key ports: St. George's

## Military and Security
Military and security forces: no regular military forces; the Royal Grenada Police Force (under the Ministry of National Security) includes a Coast Guard and a paramilitary Special Services Unit (2025)
Military - note: Grenada joined the Caribbean Regional Security System (RSS) in 1985; RSS signatories (Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Dominica, Guyana, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines) agreed to prepare contingency plans and assist one another, on request, in national emergencies, prevention of smuggling, search and rescue, immigration control, fishery protection, customs and excise control, maritime policing duties, protection of off-shore installations, pollution control, national and other disasters, and threats to national security (2025)

## Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons / IDPs: 383 (2024 est.)

=== Guatemala ===

## Introduction
Background: The Maya civilization flourished in Guatemala and surrounding regions during the first millennium A.D. After almost three centuries as a Spanish colony, Guatemala won its independence in 1821. During the second half of the 20th century, it experienced a variety of military and civilian governments, as well as a 36-year guerrilla war. In 1996, the government signed a peace agreement formally ending the internal conflict.

## Geography
Location: Central America, bordering the North Pacific Ocean, between El Salvador and Mexico, and bordering the Gulf of Honduras (Caribbean Sea) between Honduras and Belize
Geographic coordinates: 15 30 N, 90 15 W
Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
Area / total: 108,889 sq km
Area / land: 107,159 sq km
Area / water: 1,730 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly smaller than Pennsylvania
Land boundaries / total: 1,667 km
Land boundaries / border countries: Belize 266 km; El Salvador 199 km; Honduras 244 km; Mexico 958 km
Coastline: 400 km
Maritime claims / territorial sea: 12 nm
Maritime claims / exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Maritime claims / continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Climate: tropical; hot, humid in lowlands; cooler in highlands
Terrain: two east-west trending mountain chains divide the country into three regions: the mountainous highlands, the Pacific coast south of mountains, and the vast northern Peten lowlands
Elevation / highest point: Volcan Tajumulco (highest point in Central America) 4,220 m
Elevation / lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
Elevation / mean elevation: 759 m
Natural resources: petroleum, nickel, rare woods, fish, chicle, hydropower
Land use / agricultural land: 43% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 14.5% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 11% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 17.5% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 33.2% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 23.7% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land: 3,375 sq km (2012)
Major lakes (area sq km) / fresh water lake(s): Lago de Izabal - 590 sq km
Population distribution: the vast majority of the populace resides in the southern half of the country, particularly in the mountainous regions; more than half of the population lives in rural areas
Natural hazards: numerous volcanoes in mountains, with occasional violent earthquakes; Caribbean coast extremely susceptible to hurricanes and other tropical storms volcanism: significant volcanic activity in the Sierra Madre range; Santa Maria (3,772 m) has been deemed a Decade Volcano by the International Association of Volcanology and Chemistry of the Earth's Interior, worthy of study due to its explosive history and close proximity to human populations; Pacaya (2,552 m) is one of the country's most active volcanoes, with frequent eruptions since 1965; other historically active volcanoes include Acatenango, Almolonga, Atitlan, Fuego, and Tacana; see note 2 under "Geography - note"
Geography - note: note 1: despite having both eastern and western coastlines (Caribbean Sea and Pacific Ocean), there are no natural harbors on the west coast note 2: Guatemala is one of the countries along the Ring of Fire, which is a belt bordering the Pacific Ocean that contains about 75% of the world's volcanoes and up to 90% of the world's earthquakes

## People and Society
Population / total: 18,255,216 (2024 est.)
Population / male: 9,050,684
Population / female: 9,204,532
Nationality / noun: Guatemalan(s)
Nationality / adjective: Guatemalan
Ethnic groups: Mestizo (mixed Indigenous-Spanish - in local Spanish called Ladino) 56%, Maya 41.7%, Xinca (Indigenous, non-Maya) 1.8%, African descent 0.2%, Garifuna (mixed West and Central African, Island Carib, and Arawak) 0.1%, foreign 0.2% (2018 est.)
Languages / Languages: Spanish (official) 69.9%, Maya languages 29.7% (Q'eqchi' 8.3%, K'iche 7.8%, Mam 4.4%, Kaqchikel 3%, Q'anjob'al 1.2%, Poqomchi' 1%, other 4%), other 0.4% (includes Xinca and Garifuna) (2018 est.)
Languages / major-language sample(s): La Libreta Informativa del Mundo, la fuente indispensable de información básica. (Spanish) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
Religions: Evangelical 45.7%, Roman Catholic 42.4%, none 11%, unspecified 0.9% (2023 est.)
Age structure / 0-14 years: 31.5% (male 2,925,079/female 2,819,927)
Age structure / 15-64 years: 63.2% (male 5,688,500/female 5,839,958)
Age structure / 65 years and over: 5.4% (2024 est.) (male 437,105/female 544,647)
Dependency ratios / total dependency ratio: 58.3 (2024 est.)
Dependency ratios / youth dependency ratio: 49.8 (2024 est.)
Dependency ratios / elderly dependency ratio: 8.5 (2024 est.)
Dependency ratios / potential support ratio: 11.7 (2024 est.)
Median age / total: 26.7 years (2025 est.)
Median age / male: 24.2 years
Median age / female: 25.4 years
Population growth rate: 0.99% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 17.12 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 4.99 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: -2.22 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution: the vast majority of the populace resides in the southern half of the country, particularly in the mountainous regions; more than half of the population lives in rural areas
Urbanization / urban population: 53.1% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 2.59% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 3.095 million GUATEMALA CITY (capital) (2023)
Sex ratio / at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 65 years and over: 0.8 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth: 20.6 years (2014/15 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio: 94 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Infant mortality rate / total: 23.4 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Infant mortality rate / male: 28.1 deaths/1,000 live births
Infant mortality rate / female: 21.7 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth / total population: 73.5 years (2024 est.)
Life expectancy at birth / male: 71.5 years
Life expectancy at birth / female: 75.6 years
Total fertility rate: 1.97 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 0.96 (2025 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: urban: urban: 97.8% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: rural: rural: 91% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: total: total: 94.6% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: urban: urban: 2.2% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: rural: rural: 9% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: total: total: 5.4% of population (2022 est.)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 6.9% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 16.9% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density: 1.28 physicians/1,000 population (2020)
Hospital bed density: 0.4 beds/1,000 population (2021 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: urban: urban: 91.4% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: rural: rural: 68.9% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: total: total: 80.8% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: urban: urban: 8.6% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: rural: rural: 31.1% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: total: total: 19.2% of population (2022 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 21.2% (2016)
Alcohol consumption per capita / total: 1.63 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / beer: 0.9 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / wine: 0.05 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / spirits: 0.68 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / other alcohols: 0.01 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Tobacco use / total: 11.8% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / male: 22.5% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / female: 1.5% (2025 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 14.4% (2021 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49): 56.2% (2018 est.)
Child marriage / women married by age 15: 6.2% (2015)
Child marriage / women married by age 18: 29.5% (2015)
Child marriage / men married by age 18: 9.6% (2015)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% GDP): 3.1% of GDP (2023 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% national budget): 17.3% national budget (2025 est.)
Literacy / total population: 82.1% (2024 est.)
Literacy / male: 86.9% (2024 est.)
Literacy / female: 78.5% (2024 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / total: 11 years (2023 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / male: 10 years (2023 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / female: 11 years (2023 est.)

## Environment
Environmental issues: deforestation in the Peten rainforest; soil erosion; water pollution
International environmental agreements / party to: Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands
International environmental agreements / signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Climate: tropical; hot, humid in lowlands; cooler in highlands
Land use / agricultural land: 43% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 14.5% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 11% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 17.5% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 33.2% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 23.7% (2023 est.)
Urbanization / urban population: 53.1% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 2.59% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / total emissions: 18.546 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from coal and metallurgical coke: 2.31 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from petroleum and other liquids: 16.232 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from consumed natural gas: 4,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Particulate matter emissions: 21.8 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Waste and recycling / municipal solid waste generated annually: 2.757 million tons (2024 est.)
Waste and recycling / percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 10.4% (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / municipal: 835 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / industrial: 603.1 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / agricultural: 1.886 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total renewable water resources: 127.91 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: Republic of Guatemala
Country name / conventional short form: Guatemala
Country name / local long form: Rep&uacute;blica de Guatemala
Country name / local short form: Guatemala
Country name / etymology: the Spanish conquistadors' first capital (established in 1524) was a former Mayan settlement called "Quauhtemallan" by their Nahuatl-speaking Mexican allies, a name that means "land of the eagle" but that the Spanish probably pronounced "Guatemala"
Government type: presidential republic
Capital / name: Guatemala City
Capital / geographic coordinates: 14 37 N, 90 31 W
Capital / time difference: UTC-6 (1 hour behind Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Capital / etymology: the Spanish conquistadors' first capital (established in 1524) was a former Mayan settlement called "Quauhtemallan" by their Nahuatl-speaking Mexican allies, a name that means "land of the eagle" but that the Spanish probably pronounced "Guatemala"
Administrative divisions: 22 departments ( departamentos , singular - departamento ); Alta Verapaz, Baja Verapaz, Chimaltenango, Chiquimula, El Progreso, Escuintla, Guatemala, Huehuetenango, Izabal, Jalapa, Jutiapa, Peten, Quetzaltenango, Quiche, Retalhuleu, Sacatepéquez, San Marcos, Santa Rosa, Sololá, Suchitepéquez, Totonicapán, Zacapa
Legal system: civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts
Constitution / history: several previous; latest adopted 31 May 1985, effective 14 January 1986; suspended and reinstated in 1994
Constitution / amendment process: proposed by the president of the republic, by agreement of 10 or more deputies of Congress, by the Constitutional Court, or by public petition of at least 5,000 citizens; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote by the Congress membership and approval by public referendum, referred to as "popular consultation"; constitutional articles such as national sovereignty, the republican form of government, limitations on those seeking the presidency, or presidential tenure cannot be amended
International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Citizenship / citizenship by birth: yes
Citizenship / citizenship by descent only: yes
Citizenship / dual citizenship recognized: yes
Citizenship / residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years with no absences of six consecutive months or longer or absences totaling more than a year
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch / chief of state: President Bernardo AR&Eacute;VALO de Le&oacute;n (since 15 January 2024)
Executive branch / head of government: President Bernardo AR&Eacute;VALO de Le&oacute;n (since 15 January 2024)
Executive branch / cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
Executive branch / election/appointment process: president and vice president directly elected on the same ballot by absolute-majority popular vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a 4-year term (not eligible for consecutive terms)
Executive branch / most recent election date: 25 June 2023, with a runoff on 20 August 2023
Executive branch / election results: 2023: Bernardo ARÉVALO de León elected president in second round; percent of vote in first round - Sandra TORRES (UNE) 21%; Bernardo ARÉVALO de León (SEMILLA) 15.6%, Manuel CONDE Orellana (VAMOS) 10.4%; Armando CASTILLO Alvarado (VIVA) 9.6%, other 43.4%; percent of vote in second round - Bernardo ARÉVALO de León 60.9%, Sandra TORRES 39.1% 2019: Alejandro GIAMMATTEI elected president; percent of vote in first round - Sandra TORRES (UNE) 25.5%, Alejandro GIAMMATTEI (VAMOS) 14%, Edmond MULET (PHG) 11.2%, Thelma CABRERA (MLP) 10.4%, Roberto ARZU (PAN-PODEMOS) 6.1%, other 32.8%; percent of vote in second round - Alejandro GIAMMATTEI 58%, Sandra TORRES 42%
Executive branch / expected date of next election: June 2027
Legislative branch / legislature name: Congress of the Republic (Congreso de la República)
Legislative branch / legislative structure: unicameral
Legislative branch / number of seats: 160 (all directly elected)
Legislative branch / electoral system: mixed system
Legislative branch / scope of elections: full renewal
Legislative branch / term in office: 4 years
Legislative branch / most recent election date: 6/25/2023
Legislative branch / parties elected and seats per party: Let’s Go for a Different Guatemala (Vamos) (39); National Unity of Hope Party (UNE) (28); Seed Movement (Semilla) (23); Cabal (18); Vision with Values (VIVA) (11); Other (41)
Legislative branch / percentage of women in chamber: 20%
Legislative branch / expected date of next election: June 2027
Judicial branch / highest court(s): Supreme Court of Justice or Corte Suprema de Justicia (consists of 13 magistrates, including the court president and organized into 3 chambers)
Judicial branch / judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court magistrates elected by the Congress of the Republic from candidates proposed by the Postulation Committee, an independent body of deans of the country's university law schools, representatives of the country's law associations, and representatives of the Courts of Appeal; magistrates elected for concurrent, renewable 5-year terms; Constitutional Court judges - 1 elected by the Congress of the Republic, 1 by the Supreme Court, 1 by the president of the republic, 1 by the (public) University of San Carlos, and 1 by the Assembly of the College of Attorneys and Notaries; judges elected for renewable, consecutive 5-year terms; the presidency of the court rotates among the magistrates for a single 1-year term
Judicial branch / subordinate courts: Appellate Courts of Accounts, Contentious Administrative Tribunal, courts of appeal, first instance courts, child and adolescence courts, minor or peace courts
Political parties: Bienestar Nacional or BIEN Blue Party (Partido Azul) or Blue CABAL Cambio Citizen Prosperity or PC Commitment, Renewal, and Order or CREO Elephant Community (Comunidad Elefante) or Elephant Everyone Together for Guatemala or TODOS Guatemalan National Revolutionary Unity or URNG-MAIZ or URNG Humanist Party of Guatemala or PHG Movement for the Liberation of Peoples or MLP Movimiento Semilla or SEMILLA National Advancement Party or PAN National Convergence Front or FCN-NACION National Unity for Hope or UNE Nationalist Change Union or UCN (dissolved 16 December 2021) Nosotros or PPN PODEMOS Political Movement Winaq or Winaq TODOS Value or VALOR Vamos por una Guatemala Diferente or VAMOS Victory or VICTORIA Vision with Values or VIVA Will, Opportunity and Solidarity (Voluntad, Oportunidad y Solidaridad) or VOS
Diplomatic representation in the US / chief of mission: Ambassador Hugo Eduardo BETETA (since 17 June 2024)
Diplomatic representation in the US / chancery: 2220 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation in the US / telephone: [1] (202) 745-4953
Diplomatic representation in the US / FAX: [1] (202) 745-1908
Diplomatic representation in the US / email address and website: embestadosunidos@minex.gob.gt https://estadosunidos.minex.gob.gt/home/home.aspx
Diplomatic representation in the US / consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Chicago, Columbus (OH), Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, Nashville (TN), New York, Oklahoma City, Omaha (NE), Philadelphia, Phoenix, Providence (RI), Raleigh (NC), Rockville (MD), San Francisco, Seattle
Diplomatic representation in the US / consulate(s): Dallas, Del Rio (TX), Lake Worth (FL), McAllen (TX), Riverhead (NY), San Bernardino (CA), Tucson (AZ)
Diplomatic representation from the US / chief of mission: Ambassador Tobin BRADLEY (since 12 February 2024)
Diplomatic representation from the US / embassy: Boulevard Austriaco 11-51, Zone 16, Guatemala City
Diplomatic representation from the US / mailing address: 3190 Guatemala Place, Washington DC 20521-3190
Diplomatic representation from the US / telephone: [502] 2354-0000
Diplomatic representation from the US / FAX: [502] 2326-4654
Diplomatic representation from the US / email address and website: AmCitsGuatemala@state.gov https://gt.usembassy.gov/
International organization participation: ACS, BCIE, CACM, CD, CELAC, EITI (compliant country), FAO, G-24, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAES, LAIA (observer), MIGA, MINUSTAH, MONUSCO, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, Pacific Alliance (observer), PCA, Petrocaribe, SICA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, Union Latina, UNISFA, UNITAR, UNMISS, UNOCI, UNOOSA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Independence: 15 September 1821 (from Spain)
National holiday: Independence Day, 15 September (1821)
Flag: description: three equal vertical bands of light blue (left 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), a scroll with the inscription LIBERTAD 15 DE SEPTIEMBRE DE 1821 (the original date of independence from Spain), a pair of crossed rifles, and a pair of crossed swords; a laurel wreath frames the objects meaning: the rifles stand for Guatemala's willingness to defend itself, the swords for honor, and the laurel wreath for victory; blue stands for the Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea, and white for peace and purity
National symbol(s): quetzal (bird)
National color(s): blue, white
National anthem(s) / title: "Himno Nacional de Guatemala" (National Anthem of Guatemala)
National anthem(s) / lyrics/music: Jose Joaquin PALMA/Rafael Alvarez OVALLE
National anthem(s) / history: adopted 1897, modified lyrics adopted 1934; Cuban poet Jose Joaquin PALMA anonymously submitted lyrics to a public contest calling for a national anthem and it was not discovered until 1911; anthem has four verses with four separate choruses at the end of each verse -- all are official, and the anthem is sung in its entirety when performed in Guatemala
National heritage / total World Heritage Sites: 4 (3 cultural, 1 mixed)
National heritage / selected World Heritage Site locales: Antigua Guatemala (c); Tikal National Park (m); Archaeological Park and Ruins of Quirigua (c); National Archaeological Park Tak'alik Ab'aj (c)

## Economy
Economic overview: developing Central American economy; steady economic growth fueled by remittances; high poverty and income inequality; limited government services, lack of employment opportunities, and frequent natural disasters impede human development efforts and drive emigration
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $232.673 billion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $224.475 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $216.815 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2024: 3.7% (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2023: 3.5% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2022: 4.2% (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2024: $12,600 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2023: $12,400 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2022: $12,100 (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $113.2 billion (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024: 2.9% (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023: 6.2% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 6.9% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / agriculture: 9.8% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / industry: 21.7% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / services: 61.8% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / household consumption: 88% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / government consumption: 10.9% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in fixed capital: 16.1% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in inventories: 0.6% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / exports of goods and services: 15.9% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / imports of goods and services: -31.5% (2024 est.)
Agricultural products: sugarcane, bananas, oil palm fruit, maize, cantaloupes/melons, potatoes, milk, tomatoes, chicken, pineapples (2023)
Industries: sugar, textiles and clothing, furniture, chemicals, petroleum, metals, rubber, tourism
Industrial production growth rate: 2% (2024 est.)
Labor force: 7.575 million (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2024: 2.3% (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2023: 2.4% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2022: 3.1% (2022 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / total: 4.2% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / male: 4% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / female: 4.7% (2024 est.)
Population below poverty line: 56% (2023 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income / Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2023: 45.2 (2023 est.)
Average household expenditures / on food: 35.1% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Average household expenditures / on alcohol and tobacco: 1.3% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / lowest 10%: 1.6% (2023 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / highest 10%: 34.1% (2023 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2024: 19.1% of GDP (2024 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2023: 19.1% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2022: 19% of GDP (2022 est.)
Budget / revenues: $16.603 billion (2023 est.)
Budget / expenditures: $17.349 billion (2023 est.)
Public debt / Public debt 2020: 31.56% of GDP (2020 est.)
Taxes and other revenues: 11.6% (of GDP) (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2024: $3.333 billion (2024 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2023: $3.212 billion (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2022: $1.116 billion (2022 est.)
Exports / Exports 2024: $17.997 billion (2024 est.)
Exports / Exports 2023: $17.342 billion (2023 est.)
Exports / Exports 2022: $18.141 billion (2022 est.)
Exports - partners: USA 33%, El Salvador 11%, Honduras 9%, Nicaragua 6%, Mexico 4% (2023)
Exports - commodities: garments, bananas, coffee, palm oil, raw sugar (2023)
Imports / Imports 2024: $35.576 billion (2024 est.)
Imports / Imports 2023: $33.056 billion (2023 est.)
Imports / Imports 2022: $33.943 billion (2022 est.)
Imports - partners: USA 30%, China 19%, Mexico 11%, El Salvador 4%, Costa Rica 3% (2023)
Imports - commodities: refined petroleum, video displays, cars, trucks, packaged medicine (2023)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024: $24.412 billion (2024 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023: $21.311 billion (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $20.415 billion (2022 est.)
Debt - external / Debt - external 2023: $11.862 billion (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Currency: quetzales (GTQ) per US dollar -
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2024: 7.759 (2024 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2023: 7.832 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2022: 7.748 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2021: 7.734 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2020: 7.722 (2020 est.)

## Energy
Electricity access / electrification - total population: 99.1% (2022 est.)
Electricity access / electrification - urban areas: 97.7%
Electricity access / electrification - rural areas: 98.2%
Electricity / installed generating capacity: 4.995 million kW (2023 est.)
Electricity / consumption: 12.222 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / exports: 1.104 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / imports: 1.573 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / transmission/distribution losses: 1.716 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / fossil fuels: 25.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / solar: 1.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / wind: 2.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / hydroelectricity: 42% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / geothermal: 2.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / biomass and waste: 25.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Coal / consumption: 1.012 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / exports: 20 metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / imports: 808,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum / total petroleum production: 6,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Petroleum / refined petroleum consumption: 117,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Petroleum / crude oil estimated reserves: 86.11 million barrels (2021 est.)
Natural gas / production: 2.016 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / consumption: 1.991 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
Energy consumption per capita / Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 17.096 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

## Communications
Telephones - fixed lines / total subscriptions: 1.94 million (2023 est.)
Telephones - fixed lines / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 11 (2023 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / total subscriptions: 20.6 million (2023 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 115 (2022 est.)
Broadcast media: 4 privately owned national terrestrial TV channels dominate TV broadcasting; multi-channel satellite and cable services are available; 1 government-owned radio station and hundreds of privately owned radio stations (2019)
Internet country code: .gt
Internet users / percent of population: 56% (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / total: 921,000 (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 5 (2023 est.)

## Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: TG
Airports: 58 (2025)
Heliports: 2 (2025)
Railways / total: 800 km (2018)
Railways / narrow gauge: 800 km (2018) 0.914-m gauge
Merchant marine / total: 9 (2023)
Merchant marine / by type: oil tanker 1, other 8
Ports / total ports: 3 (2024)
Ports / large: 0
Ports / medium: 0
Ports / small: 2
Ports / very small: 1
Ports / ports with oil terminals: 2
Ports / key ports: Puerto Barrios, Puerto Quetzal, Santo Tomas de Castilla

## Military and Security
Military and security forces: Army of Guatemala (Ejercito de Guatemala; aka Armed Forces of Guatemala or Fuerzas Armadas de Guatemala): Land Forces (Fuerzas de Tierra), Naval Forces (Fuerzas de Mar), and Air Force (Fuerza de Aire) (2025)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2024: 0.4% of GDP (2024 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2023: 0.4% of GDP (2023 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2022: 0.4% of GDP (2022 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2021: 0.4% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2020: 0.4% of GDP (2020 est.)
Military and security service personnel strengths: approximately 20,000 active Armed Forces (2025)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the military is lightly armed with an inventory mostly comprised of ageing US equipment; in recent years, the US has provided additional secondhand equipment (2025)
Military service age and obligation: 18-28 for voluntary service for men and women (17-21 for military schools); all Guatemalan men 18-49 are subject to selective compulsory service; service obligation is 12-24 months (2025)
Military deployments: 180 Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) (2025)
Military - note: the military is responsible for maintaining the independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity, and the honor of Guatemala, but has long focused on internal security; since the 2000s, the Guatemalan Government has used the military to support the National Civil Police in internal security operations (as permitted by the constitution) to combat organized crime, gang violence, and narco-trafficking; other responsibilities include border security, cybersecurity, and providing humanitarian assistance; it also participates in UN missions on a small scale and has a peacekeeping operations training command that offers training to regional countries; the military has security ties with regional partners such as Brazil, Colombia, El Salvador, and Honduras; cooperation with El Salvador and Honduras has included a combined police-military anti-gang task force to patrol border areas; it also has ties with the US, including joint training exercises and material assistance the military held power during most of Guatemala’s 36-year civil war (1960-1996) and conducted a campaign of widespread violence and repression, particularly against the country’s majority indigenous population; more than 200,000 people were estimated to have been killed or disappeared during the conflict (2025)

## Terrorism
Terrorist group(s): La Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13)

## Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons / refugees: 4,676 (2024 est.)
Refugees and internally displaced persons / IDPs: 572,813 (2024 est.)
Illicit drugs / USG identification: major illicit drug-producing and/or drug-transit country major precursor-chemical producer (2025)

=== Haiti ===

## Introduction
Background: The native Taino -- who inhabited the island of Hispaniola when Christopher COLUMBUS first landed in 1492 -- were virtually wiped out by Spanish settlers within 25 years. In the early 17th century, the French established a presence on Hispaniola. In 1697, Spain ceded to the French the western third of the island, which later became Haiti. The French colony, based on forestry and sugar-related industries, became one of the wealthiest in the Caribbean but relied heavily on the forced labor of enslaved Africans and environmentally degrading practices. In the late 18th century, Toussaint L'OUVERTURE led a revolution of Haiti's nearly half a million slaves that ended France's rule on the island. After a prolonged struggle, and under the leadership of Jean-Jacques DESSALINES, Haiti became the first country in the world led by former slaves after declaring its independence in 1804, but it was forced to pay an indemnity of 100 million francs (equivalent to $22 billion USD in March 2023) to France for more than a century and was shunned by other countries for nearly 40 years. In 1862, the US officially recognized Haiti, but foreign economic influence and internal political instability induced the US to occupy Haiti from 1915 to 1934. Francois "Papa Doc" DUVALIER and then his son Jean-Claude "Baby Doc" DUVALIER led repressive and corrupt regimes that ruled Haiti in 1957-1971 and 1971-1986, respectively. Jean-Bertrand ARISTIDE was Haiti's first democratically elected president in 1991 and was elected a second time in 2000, but coups interrupted his first term after only a few months and ended his second term in 2004. President Jovenel MOÏSE was assassinated in 2021, leading the country further into an extra-constitutional governance structure and contributing to the country’s growing fragility. The Government of Haiti then installed Ariel HENRY -- whom President MOÏSE had nominated shortly before his death -- as prime minister. On 29 February 2024, a significant escalation of gang violence occurred on the 20th anniversary of ARISTIDE's second overthrow, after the announcement that HENRY would not hold elections until August 2025. HENRY’s return from an overseas trip was diverted to Puerto Rico when the airport closed due to gang violence. With control of much of the capital, Port-au-Prince, gang leaders called for the ouster of HENRY’S government. By mid-March, Haiti’s continued violence, HENRY’S inability to return to the country, and increasing pressure from the international community led HENRY to pledge to resign. On 25 April 2024, HENRY formally submitted his resignation as a nine-member Transitional Presidential Council assumed control, tasked with returning stability to the country and preparing elections. Since January 2023, Haiti has had no sitting elected officials. The country has long been plagued by natural disasters. In 2010, a major 7.0 magnitude earthquake struck Haiti with an epicenter about 25 km (15 mi) west of the capital, Port-au-Prince. An estimated 300,000 people were killed, and some 1.5 million left homeless. The earthquake was assessed as the worst in this region in 200 years. A 7.2 magnitude earthquake hit Haiti’s southern peninsula in 2021, causing well over 2,000 deaths; an estimated 500,000 required emergency humanitarian aid. Haiti is the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, as well as one of the most unequal in wealth distribution.

## Geography
Location: Caribbean, western one-third of the island of Hispaniola, between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, west of the Dominican Republic
Geographic coordinates: 19 00 N, 72 25 W
Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
Area / total: 27,750 sq km
Area / land: 27,560 sq km
Area / water: 190 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly smaller than Maryland
Land boundaries / total: 376 km
Land boundaries / border countries: Dominican Republic 376 km
Coastline: 1,771 km
Maritime claims / territorial sea: 12 nm
Maritime claims / contiguous zone: 24 nm
Maritime claims / exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Maritime claims / continental shelf: to depth of exploitation
Climate: tropical; semiarid where mountains in east cut off trade winds
Terrain: mostly rough and mountainous
Elevation / highest point: Pic la Selle 2,674 m
Elevation / lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
Elevation / mean elevation: 470 m
Natural resources: bauxite, copper, calcium carbonate, gold, marble, hydropower, arable land
Land use / agricultural land: 65.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 36.5% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 10.9% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 17.8% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 13.4% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 21.5% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land: 800 sq km (2013)
Population distribution: fairly even distribution; largest concentrations located near coastal areas
Natural hazards: lies in the middle of the hurricane belt and subject to severe storms from June to October; occasional flooding and earthquakes; periodic droughts
Geography - note: shares island of Hispaniola with Dominican Republic (western one-third is Haiti, eastern two-thirds is the Dominican Republic); it is the most mountainous nation in the Caribbean

## People and Society
Population / total: 11,898,812 (2025 est.)
Population / male: 5,863,438
Population / female: 6,035,374
Nationality / noun: Haitian(s)
Nationality / adjective: Haitian
Ethnic groups: Black 95%, mixed and White 5%
Languages / Languages: French (official), Creole (official)
Languages / major-language sample(s): The World Factbook, une source indispensable d'informations de base. (French) The World Factbook, sous endispansab pou enfomasyon debaz. (Haitian Creole) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
Religions: Catholic 55%, Protestant 29%, Vodou 2.1%, other 4.6%, none 10% (2018 est.)
Age structure / 0-14 years: 30.5% (male 1,790,061/female 1,794,210)
Age structure / 15-64 years: 65.3% (male 3,787,782/female 3,887,791)
Age structure / 65 years and over: 4.2% (2024 est.) (male 214,600/female 279,499)
Dependency ratios / total dependency ratio: 52.3 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / youth dependency ratio: 45.8 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / elderly dependency ratio: 6.5 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / potential support ratio: 15.4 (2025 est.)
Median age / total: 25.3 years (2025 est.)
Median age / male: 24.7 years
Median age / female: 25.3 years
Population growth rate: 1.22% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 20.76 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 7 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: -1.54 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution: fairly even distribution; largest concentrations located near coastal areas
Urbanization / urban population: 59.7% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 2.47% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 2.987 million PORT-AU-PRINCE (capital) (2023)
Sex ratio / at birth: 1.01 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 0-14 years: 1 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 65 years and over: 0.77 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth: 22.4 years (2016/7 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio: 328 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Infant mortality rate / total: 35 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Infant mortality rate / male: 40.2 deaths/1,000 live births
Infant mortality rate / female: 33.5 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth / total population: 65.6 years (2024 est.)
Life expectancy at birth / male: 63.8 years
Life expectancy at birth / female: 67.4 years
Total fertility rate: 2.39 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 1.19 (2025 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: urban: urban: 84.6% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: rural: rural: 42.8% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: total: total: 67.4% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: urban: urban: 15.4% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: rural: rural: 57.2% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: total: total: 32.6% of population (2022 est.)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 3.5% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 4.1% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density: 0.29 physicians/1,000 population (2022)
Hospital bed density: 4.8 beds/1,000 population (2021 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: urban: urban: 82.9% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: rural: rural: 42.6% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: total: total: 66.3% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: urban: urban: 17.1% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: rural: rural: 57.4% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: total: total: 33.7% of population (2022 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 22.7% (2016)
Alcohol consumption per capita / total: 2.85 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / beer: 0.55 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / wine: 0.03 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / spirits: 2.26 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / other alcohols: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Tobacco use / total: 7.1% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / male: 12.4% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / female: 2.1% (2025 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 10.7% (2023 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49): 53.6% (2017 est.)
Child marriage / women married by age 15: 2.1% (2017)
Child marriage / women married by age 18: 14.9% (2017)
Child marriage / men married by age 18: 1.6% (2017)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% GDP): 1% of GDP (2023 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% national budget): 13.2% national budget (2025 est.)
Literacy / total population: 68% (2017 est.)
Literacy / male: 72.9% (2017 est.)
Literacy / female: 63.9% (2017 est.)

## Environment
Environmental issues: deforestation (trees cleared for agriculture and used as fuel); soil erosion; inadequate potable water and lack of sanitation; natural disasters
International environmental agreements / party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection
International environmental agreements / signed, but not ratified: Nuclear Test Ban
Climate: tropical; semiarid where mountains in east cut off trade winds
Land use / agricultural land: 65.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 36.5% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 10.9% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 17.8% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 13.4% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 21.5% (2023 est.)
Urbanization / urban population: 59.7% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 2.47% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / total emissions: 2.854 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from petroleum and other liquids: 2.848 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from consumed natural gas: 6,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Particulate matter emissions: 9.8 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Waste and recycling / municipal solid waste generated annually: 2.31 million tons (2024 est.)
Waste and recycling / percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 9.1% (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / municipal: 190 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / industrial: 51 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / agricultural: 1.209 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total renewable water resources: 14.022 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: Republic of Haiti
Country name / conventional short form: Haiti
Country name / local long form: R&eacute;publique d'Ha&iuml;ti (French)/Repiblik d Ayiti (Haitian Creole)
Country name / local short form: Ha&iuml;ti (French)/ Ayiti (Haitian Creole)
Country name / etymology: derived from the Arawak name Ayti, meaning "Land of Mountains," that was originally applied to the entire island of Hispaniola
Government type: semi-presidential republic
Capital / name: Port-au-Prince
Capital / geographic coordinates: 18 32 N, 72 20 W
Capital / time difference: UTC-5 (same time as Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Capital / daylight saving time: +1hr, begins second Sunday in March; ends first Sunday in November
Capital / etymology: the name means "the port of the prince" and probably came from a ship called The Prince that anchored in the bay in the early 18th century
Administrative divisions: 10 departments ( départements , singular - département ); Artibonite, Centre, Grand'Anse, Nippes, Nord, Nord-Est, Nord-Ouest, Ouest, Sud, Sud-Est
Legal system: civil law system strongly influenced by Napoleonic Code
Constitution / history: many previous; latest adopted 10 March 1987, with substantial revisions in June 2012
Constitution / amendment process: proposed by the executive branch or by either the Senate or the Chamber of Deputies; consideration of proposed amendments requires support by at least two-thirds majority of both houses; passage requires at least two-thirds majority of the membership present and at least two-thirds majority of the votes cast; approved amendments enter into force after installation of the next president of the republic; constitutional articles on the democratic and republican form of government cannot be amended
International law organization participation: accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; non-party state to the ICCt
Citizenship / citizenship by birth: no
Citizenship / citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a native-born citizen of Haiti
Citizenship / dual citizenship recognized: yes
Citizenship / residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch / chief of state: President (vacant)
Executive branch / head of government: Prime Minister Alix Didier FILS-AIM&Eacute; (since 10 November 2024)
Executive branch / cabinet: Cabinet chosen by the prime minister in consultation with the president; parliament must ratify the Cabinet and prime minister's governing policy
Executive branch / election/appointment process: president directly elected by absolute-majority popular vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a 5-year term (eligible for a single non-consecutive term)
Executive branch / most recent election date: 20 November 2016
Executive branch / election results: 2016: Jovenel MOÏSE elected president in first round; percent of vote - Jovenel MOÏSE (PHTK) 55.6%, Jude CELESTIN (LAPEH) 19.6%, Jean-Charles MOÏSE (PPD) 11%, Maryse NARCISSE (FL) 9%; other 4.8% 2011: Michel MARTELLY elected president in second round; percent of vote in second round - Michel MARTELLY (Peasant's Response) 68%, Mirlande MANIGAT (RDNP) 32%
Executive branch / expected date of next election: 30 August 2026
Legislative branch / legislature name: National Assembly (Assemblée nationale)
Legislative branch / legislative structure: bicameral
Legislative branch - lower chamber / chamber name: Chamber of Deputies (Chambre des D&eacute;put&eacute;s)
Legislative branch - lower chamber / number of seats: 119 (all directly elected)
Legislative branch - lower chamber / electoral system: plurality/majority
Legislative branch - lower chamber / scope of elections: full renewal
Legislative branch - lower chamber / term in office: 4 years
Legislative branch - lower chamber / most recent election date: 8/9/2015 to 10/25/2015
Legislative branch - lower chamber / parties elected and seats per party: Haitian Tet Kale Party (PHTK) (9); Konvansyon Inite Demokratik (KID) (7); Ayiti an aksyon (AAA) (6); Fanmi Lavalas (6); Patriotic Unity Party (Inite Patriyotik) (4); People's Struggle Party (OPL) (7); Other (24)
Legislative branch - lower chamber / percentage of women in chamber: 0%
Legislative branch - lower chamber / expected date of next election: August 2026
Legislative branch - upper chamber / chamber name: Senate (Sénat)
Legislative branch - upper chamber / number of seats: 30 (all directly elected)
Legislative branch - upper chamber / electoral system: plurality/majority
Legislative branch - upper chamber / scope of elections: partial renewal
Legislative branch - upper chamber / term in office: 6 years
Legislative branch - upper chamber / most recent election date: 11/20/2016 to 1/29/2017
Legislative branch - upper chamber / parties elected and seats per party: Haitian Tet Kale Party (PHTK) (9); Truth (Vérité) (3); Konvansyon Inite Demokratik (KID) (2); Bouclier (2); Ayiti an aksyon (AAA) (2); Other (10)
Legislative branch - upper chamber / expected date of next election: August 2026
Judicial branch / highest court(s): Supreme Court or Cour de cassation (consists of 12 judges)
Judicial branch / judge selection and term of office: judges appointed by the president from candidate lists submitted by the Senate of the National Assembly
Judicial branch / subordinate courts: Courts of Appeal; Courts of First Instance; magistrate's courts; land, labor, and children's courts
Political parties: Alternative League for Haitian Progress and Emancipation (Ligue Alternative pour le Progrès et l’Emancipation Haïtienne) or LAPEH Christian Movement for a New Haiti or MCNH or Mochrenha Christian National Movement for the Reconstruction of Haiti or UNCRH Combat of Peasant Workers to Liberate Haiti (Konbit Travaye Peyizan Pou Libere Ayiti) or Kontra Pep La Convention for Democratic Unity or KID Cooperative Action to Rebuild Haiti or KONBA December 16 Platform or Platfom 16 Desanm Democratic Alliance Party or ALYANS (coalition includes KID and PPRH) Democratic Centers' National Council or CONACED Democratic and Popular Sector (Secteur Démocratique et Populaire) or SDP Democratic Unity Convention (Konvansyon Inite Demokratik) or KID Dessalinian Patriotic and Popular Movement or MOPOD Effort and Solidarity to Create an Alternative for the People or ESKAMP Fanmi Lavalas or FL Forward (En Avant) Fusion of Haitian Social Democrats (Fusion Des Sociaux-Démocrates Haïtiens) or FHSD G18 Policy Platform (Plateforme Politique G18) Haiti in Action (Ayiti An Aksyon Haiti's Action) or AAA Haitian Tet Kale Party (Parti Haitien Tet Kale) or PHTK Independent Movement for National Reconciliation or MIRN Lavni Organization or LAVNI Lod Demokratik Love Haiti (Renmen Ayiti) or RA MTV Ayiti National Consortium of Haitian Political Parties (Consortium National des Partis Politiques Haitiens) or CNPPH National Shield Network (Reseau Bouclier National) Organization of the People's Struggle (Oganizasyon Pep Kap Lite) or OPL Patriotic Unity (Inite Patriyotik) or Inite Platform Pitit Desalin (Politik Pitit Dessalines) or PPD Political Party for Us All or Bridge (Pont) or Pou Nou Tout Popular Patriotic Dessalinien Movement (Mouvement Patriotique Populaire Dessalinien) or MOPOD Rally of Progressive National Democrats (Rassemblement des Démocrates Nationaux Progressistes) or RDNP Respe (Respect) Women and Families Political Parties (Defile Pati Politik Fanm Ak Fanmi)
Diplomatic representation in the US / chief of mission: Ambassador Lionel DELATOUR (since 11 June 2025)
Diplomatic representation in the US / chancery: 2311 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation in the US / telephone: [1] (202) 332-4090
Diplomatic representation in the US / FAX: [1] (202) 745-7215
Diplomatic representation in the US / email address and website: amb.washington@diplomatie.ht https://www.haiti.org/
Diplomatic representation in the US / consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Miami, Orlando (FL), New York
Diplomatic representation from the US / chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d’Affaires Henry T. WOOSTER (since 12 June 2025)
Diplomatic representation from the US / embassy: Tabarre 41, Route de Tabarre, Port-au-Prince
Diplomatic representation from the US / mailing address: 3400 Port-au-Prince Place, Washington, DC 20521-3400
Diplomatic representation from the US / telephone: [011] (509) 2229-8000
Diplomatic representation from the US / FAX: [011] (509) 2229-8027
Diplomatic representation from the US / email address and website: acspap@state.gov https://ht.usembassy.gov/
International organization participation: ACP, ACS, AOSIS, Caricom, CD, CDB, CELAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAES, MIGA, NAM, OAS, OIF, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, Petrocaribe, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Independence: 1 January 1804 (from France)
National holiday: Independence Day, 1 January (1804)
Flag: description: two equal horizontal bands of blue (top) and red; a centered white rectangle bears the coat of arms, which has a palm tree flanked by flags and two cannons above a scroll with the motto L'UNION FAIT LA FORCE (Union Makes Strength) meaning: the colors are taken from the French flag and represent the union of ethnic groups
National symbol(s): Hispaniolan trogon (bird), hibiscus flower
National color(s): blue, red
National anthem(s) / title: "La Dessalinienne" (The Dessalines Song)
National anthem(s) / lyrics/music: Justin LHERISSON/Nicolas GEFFRARD
National anthem(s) / history: adopted 1904; named for Jean-Jacques DESSALINES, founder of Haiti
National heritage / total World Heritage Sites: 1 (cultural)
National heritage / selected World Heritage Site locales: National History Park &ndash; Citadel, Sans Souci, Ramiers

## Economy
Economic overview: small Caribbean island economy and OECS-member state; extreme poverty and inflation; enormous income inequality; ongoing civil unrest due to recent presidential assassination; US preferential market access; very open to foreign direct investment
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $32.971 billion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $34.406 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $35.059 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2024: -4.2% (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2023: -1.9% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2022: -1.7% (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2024: $2,800 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2023: $3,000 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2022: $3,000 (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $25.224 billion (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024: 26.9% (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023: 36.8% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 34% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / agriculture: 15.9% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / industry: 33.4% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / services: 48.3% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / household consumption: 99.8% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / government consumption: 5.7% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in fixed capital: 9.9% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in inventories: 0% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / exports of goods and services: 3.4% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / imports of goods and services: -18.8% (2024 est.)
Agricultural products: sugarcane, cassava, plantains, bananas, mangoes/guavas, avocados, maize, tropical fruits, rice, vegetables (2023)
Industries: textiles, sugar refining, flour milling, cement, light assembly using imported parts
Industrial production growth rate: -4.7% (2024 est.)
Labor force: 5.281 million (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2024: 15.1% (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2023: 14.6% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2022: 14.7% (2022 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / total: 37.5% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / male: 30% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / female: 47.1% (2024 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2023: 18.9% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2022: 18.8% of GDP (2022 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2021: 19.1% of GDP (2021 est.)
Budget / revenues: $1.179 billion (2020 est.)
Budget / expenditures: $1.527 billion (2020 est.)
Public debt / Public debt 2016: 33.9% of GDP (2016 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2023: -$682.57 million (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2022: -$491.954 million (2022 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2021: $87.656 million (2021 est.)
Exports / Exports 2023: $1.095 billion (2023 est.)
Exports / Exports 2022: $1.355 billion (2022 est.)
Exports / Exports 2021: $1.272 billion (2021 est.)
Exports - partners: USA 82%, Canada 4%, Mexico 2%, France 2%, India 2% (2023)
Exports - commodities: garments, essential oils, scrap iron, industrial acids/oils/alcohols, bedding (2023)
Imports / Imports 2023: $5.303 billion (2023 est.)
Imports / Imports 2022: $5.451 billion (2022 est.)
Imports / Imports 2021: $5.048 billion (2021 est.)
Imports - partners: USA 31%, Dominican Republic 23%, China 14%, Indonesia 4%, India 3% (2023)
Imports - commodities: refined petroleum, rice, garments, cotton fabric, plastic products (2023)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024: $2.718 billion (2024 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023: $2.586 billion (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $2.173 billion (2022 est.)
Debt - external / Debt - external 2023: $1.865 billion (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Currency: gourdes (HTG) per US dollar -
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2024: 131.811 (2024 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2023: 141.036 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2022: 115.631 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2021: 89.227 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2020: 93.51 (2020 est.)

## Energy
Electricity access / electrification - total population: 49.3% (2022 est.)
Electricity access / electrification - urban areas: 83%
Electricity access / electrification - rural areas: 1.2% (2019 est.)
Electricity / installed generating capacity: 472,000 kW (2023 est.)
Electricity / consumption: 861 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / transmission/distribution losses: 152 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / fossil fuels: 81.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / solar: 0.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / hydroelectricity: 18.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Coal / imports: 5.7 metric tons (2022 est.)
Petroleum / refined petroleum consumption: 19,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Natural gas / consumption: 3.2 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / imports: 3.2 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
Energy consumption per capita / Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 3.486 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

## Communications
Telephones - fixed lines / total subscriptions: 1,360 (2022 est.)
Telephones - fixed lines / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2022 est.) less than 1
Telephones - mobile cellular / total subscriptions: 7.5 million (2022 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 65 (2022 est.)
Broadcast media: 398 legal broadcasting stations, including about 60 community radio stations; 105 TV stations, including 36 in Port-au-Prince, 41 others in the provinces, and more than 40 radio-television stations; large number of stations operate irregularly or flout regulations; VOA Creole Service broadcasts daily on 30 affiliate stations (2019)
Internet country code: .ht
Internet users / percent of population: 39% (2019 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / total: 35,000 (2022 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2022 est.) less than 1

## Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: HH
Airports: 17 (2025)
Heliports: 2 (2025)
Merchant marine / total: 4 (2023)
Merchant marine / by type: general cargo 3, other 1
Ports / total ports: 5 (2024)
Ports / large: 0
Ports / medium: 1
Ports / small: 0
Ports / very small: 4
Ports / ports with oil terminals: 1
Ports / key ports: Cap Haitien, Jacmel, Miragoane, Petit Goave, Port au Prince

## Military and Security
Military and security forces: the Haitian Armed Forces (FAdH): Army Ministry of Justice and Public Security: Haitian National Police (Police Nationale d'Haïti or PNH) (2025)
Military and security service personnel strengths: estimates vary; up to 2,000 trained military personnel (the force is planned to eventually have around 5,000 personnel); estimates for the National Police range from a low of 9,000 to a high of about 13,000 (2025)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: in recent years, Canada, Taiwan, UAE, and the US have provided some equipment to the Haitian security forces, including vehicles (2025)
Military service age and obligation: men and women 18-25 may volunteer for the FAdH (2023)
Military - note: Haiti's military was disbanded in 1995 after it participated in multiple coups and was accused of other political interference and human rights violations; the military was reinstated by former President MOISE in 2017 after the UN ended its peacekeeping operation in Haiti; the reconstituted military established an Army command in 2018 and has received some training assistance from Argentina, Colombia, Ecuador, France, and Mexico; the military’s stated mission is to assist with natural disaster relief, border security, and combating transnational crime; in 2023, Prime Minister HENRY called upon the military to assist the National Police (PNH) in combating armed gangs, which have overwhelmed the PNH, killed hundreds of Haitians, and seized control of swaths of territory, including much of the capital Port-au-Prince, since the assassination of President MOISE in 2021 in 2023, the UN Security Council approved the deployment of a Kenya-led multinational security support mission (MSS) to help bring gang violence under control; the first contingent of MSS personnel from the Kenya National Police Service arrived in mid-2024; other countries pledging forces included the Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Benin, Chad, and Jamaica; the mission is slated to have a total of 2,500 personnel (2025)

## Terrorism
Terrorist group(s): Gran Grif; Viv Ansanm

## Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons / refugees: 5 (2024 est.)
Refugees and internally displaced persons / IDPs: 1,041,229 (2024 est.)
Trafficking in persons / tier rating: Special Case; for more details, go to: https://www.state.gov/reports/2025-trafficking-in-persons-report/haiti/
Illicit drugs / USG identification: major illicit drug-producing and/or drug-transit country (2025)

=== Honduras ===

## Introduction
Background: Once part of Spain's vast empire in the New World, Honduras became an independent nation in 1821. After two and a half decades of mostly military rule, a freely elected civilian government came to power in 1982. During the 1980s, Honduras proved a haven for anti-Sandinista contras fighting the Marxist Nicaraguan Government and an ally to Salvadoran Government forces fighting leftist guerrillas. Hurricane Mitch devastated the country in 1998, killing about 5,600 people and causing approximately $2 billion in damage. Since then, the economy has slowly rebounded, despite COVID-19 and severe storm-related setbacks in 2020 and 2021.

## Geography
Location: Central America, bordering the Caribbean Sea, between Guatemala and Nicaragua and bordering the Gulf of Fonseca (North Pacific Ocean), between El Salvador and Nicaragua
Geographic coordinates: 15 00 N, 86 30 W
Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
Area / total: 112,090 sq km
Area / land: 111,890 sq km
Area / water: 200 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly larger than Tennessee
Land boundaries / total: 1,575 km
Land boundaries / border countries: Guatemala 244 km; El Salvador 391 km; Nicaragua 940 km
Coastline: 823 km (Caribbean Sea 669 km; Gulf of Fonseca 163 km)
Maritime claims / territorial sea: 12 nm
Maritime claims / contiguous zone: 24 nm
Maritime claims / exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Maritime claims / continental shelf: natural extension of territory or to 200 nm
Climate: subtropical in lowlands, temperate in mountains
Terrain: mostly mountains in interior, narrow coastal plains
Elevation / highest point: Cerro Las Minas 2,870 m
Elevation / lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
Elevation / mean elevation: 684 m
Natural resources: timber, gold, silver, copper, lead, zinc, iron ore, antimony, coal, fish, hydropower
Land use / agricultural land: 32% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 9.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 5.4% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 17.5% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 53.3% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 14.8% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land: 900 sq km (2012)
Major lakes (area sq km) / salt water lake(s): Laguna de Caratasca - 1,110 sq km
Population distribution: most residents live in the mountainous western half of the country; Honduras is the only Central American nation with an urban population that is distributed between two large centers, the capital of Tegucigalpa and the city of San Pedro Sula; the Rio Ulua valley in the north is the only densely populated lowland area
Natural hazards: frequent, but generally mild, earthquakes; extremely susceptible to damaging hurricanes and floods along the Caribbean coast
Geography - note: has only a short Pacific coast but a long Caribbean shoreline, including the virtually uninhabited eastern Mosquito Coast

## People and Society
Population / total: 9,529,188 (2024 est.)
Population / male: 4,591,247
Population / female: 4,937,941
Nationality / noun: Honduran(s)
Nationality / adjective: Honduran
Ethnic groups: Mestizo (mixed Indigenous and European) 90%, Indigenous 7%, African descent 2%, White 1%
Languages / Languages: Spanish (official), Amerindian dialects
Languages / major-language sample(s): La Libreta Informativa del Mundo, la fuente indispensable de información básica. (Spanish) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
Religions: Evangelical 55%, Roman Catholic 33.4%, none 10.1%, unspecified 1.5% (2023 est.)
Age structure / 0-14 years: 28.7% (male 1,378,026/female 1,353,238)
Age structure / 15-64 years: 65.7% (male 2,980,393/female 3,282,159)
Age structure / 65 years and over: 5.6% (2024 est.) (male 232,828/female 302,544)
Dependency ratios / total dependency ratio: 52.2 (2024 est.)
Dependency ratios / youth dependency ratio: 43.6 (2024 est.)
Dependency ratios / elderly dependency ratio: 8.5 (2024 est.)
Dependency ratios / potential support ratio: 11.7 (2024 est.)
Median age / total: 26.1 years (2025 est.)
Median age / male: 24.8 years
Median age / female: 26.6 years
Population growth rate: 1.28% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 19.7 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 4.9 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: -2.02 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution: most residents live in the mountainous western half of the country; Honduras is the only Central American nation with an urban population that is distributed between two large centers, the capital of Tegucigalpa and the city of San Pedro Sula; the Rio Ulua valley in the north is the only densely populated lowland area
Urbanization / urban population: 60.2% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 2.48% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 1.568 million TEGUCIGALPA (capital), 982,000 San Pedro Sula (2023)
Sex ratio / at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 0-14 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 15-64 years: 0.91 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 65 years and over: 0.77 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / total population: 0.93 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth: 20.3 years (2011/12 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio: 47 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Infant mortality rate / total: 15.4 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Infant mortality rate / male: 17.5 deaths/1,000 live births
Infant mortality rate / female: 13.2 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth / total population: 73.1 years (2024 est.)
Life expectancy at birth / male: 69.6 years
Life expectancy at birth / female: 76.8 years
Total fertility rate: 2.29 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 1.13 (2025 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: urban: urban: 99.2% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: rural: rural: 90.8% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: total: total: 95.8% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: urban: urban: 0.8% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: rural: rural: 9.2% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: total: total: 4.2% of population (2022 est.)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 9.2% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 14.2% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density: 0.49 physicians/1,000 population (2020)
Hospital bed density: 0.7 beds/1,000 population (2021 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: urban: urban: 96.6% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: rural: rural: 88.1% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: total: total: 93.2% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: urban: urban: 3.4% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: rural: rural: 11.9% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: total: total: 6.8% of population (2022 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 21.4% (2016)
Alcohol consumption per capita / total: 2.73 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / beer: 1.6 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / wine: 0.04 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / spirits: 1.09 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / other alcohols: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Tobacco use / total: 11.9% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / male: 22.2% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / female: 1.6% (2025 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 7.1% (2019 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49): 54.4% (2019 est.)
Child marriage / women married by age 15: 9.2% (2019)
Child marriage / women married by age 18: 34% (2019)
Child marriage / men married by age 18: 10% (2019)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% GDP): 4.5% of GDP (2023 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% national budget): 23.2% national budget (2018 est.)
Literacy / total population: 88.2% (2024 est.)
Literacy / male: 87.6% (2024 est.)
Literacy / female: 88.8% (2024 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / total: 10 years (2019 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / male: 9 years (2019 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / female: 10 years (2019 est.)

## Environment
Environmental issues: deforestation from logging and agricultural clearing; land degradation and soil erosion from overdevelopment and improper land use practices; mining activities polluting Lago de Yojoa (the country's largest source of fresh water) and other rivers and streams
International environmental agreements / party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands
International environmental agreements / signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Climate: subtropical in lowlands, temperate in mountains
Land use / agricultural land: 32% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 9.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 5.4% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 17.5% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 53.3% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 14.8% (2023 est.)
Urbanization / urban population: 60.2% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 2.48% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / total emissions: 10.534 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from coal and metallurgical coke: 324,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from petroleum and other liquids: 10.21 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Particulate matter emissions: 19.1 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Waste and recycling / municipal solid waste generated annually: 2.162 million tons (2024 est.)
Waste and recycling / percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 10.3% (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / municipal: 315 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / industrial: 114 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / agricultural: 1.178 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total renewable water resources: 92.164 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: Republic of Honduras
Country name / conventional short form: Honduras
Country name / local long form: Rep&uacute;blica de Honduras
Country name / local short form: Honduras
Country name / etymology: the name means "depths" in Spanish and refers to the deep anchorage in the northern Bay of Trujillo
Government type: presidential republic
Capital / name: Tegucigalpa
Capital / geographic coordinates: 14 06 N, 87 13 W
Capital / time difference: UTC-6 (1 hour behind Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Capital / etymology: the name is a Nahuatl word meaning "silver mountain," probably referring to nearby silver mines
Administrative divisions: 18 departments ( departamentos , singular - departamento ); Atlántida, Choluteca, Colon, Comayagua, Copan, Cortes, El Paraiso, Francisco Morazán, Gracias a Dios, Intibucá, Islas de la Bahia, La Paz, Lempira, Ocotepeque, Olancho, Santa Barbara, Valle, Yoro
Legal system: civil law system
Constitution / history: several previous; latest approved 11 January 1982, effective 20 January 1982
Constitution / amendment process: proposed by the National Congress with at least two-thirds majority vote of the membership; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote of Congress in its next annual session; constitutional articles, such as the form of government, national sovereignty, the presidential term, and the procedure for amending the constitution, cannot be amended
International law organization participation: accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Citizenship / citizenship by birth: yes
Citizenship / citizenship by descent only: yes
Citizenship / dual citizenship recognized: yes
Citizenship / residency requirement for naturalization: 1 to 3 years
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Executive branch / chief of state: President Iris Xiomara CASTRO de Zelaya (since 27 January 2022)
Executive branch / head of government: President Iris Xiomara CASTRO de Zelaya (since 27 January 2022)
Executive branch / cabinet: Cabinet appointed by president
Executive branch / election/appointment process: president directly elected by simple-majority popular vote for a 4-year term
Executive branch / most recent election date: 30 November 2025
Executive branch / election results: 2025: Nasry Juan ASFURA Zablah elected president; percent of vote - Nasry Juan ASFURA Zablah (PNH) 40.3%, Salvador NASRALLA (PL) 39.5%, Rixi Ramona MONCADA Godoy (LIBRE) 19.2%; note - ASFURA will take office 27 January 2026 2021: Iris Xiomara CASTRO de Zelaya elected president; percent of vote - Iris Xiomara CASTRO de Zelaya (LIBRE) 51.1%, Nasry Juan ASFURA Zablah (PNH) 36.9%, Yani Benjamin ROSENTHAL Hidalgo (PL) 10%, other 2% 2017: Juan Orlando HERNANDEZ Alvarado reelected president; percent of vote - Juan Orlando HERNANDEZ Alvarado (PNH) 43%, Salvador NASRALLA (Alianza de Oposicion contra la Dictadura) 41.4%, Luis Orlando ZELAYA Medrano (PL) 14.7%, other 0.9%
Executive branch / expected date of next election: 25 November 2029
Legislative branch / legislature name: National Congress (Congreso Nacional)
Legislative branch / legislative structure: unicameral
Legislative branch / number of seats: 128 (all directly elected)
Legislative branch / electoral system: proportional representation
Legislative branch / scope of elections: full renewal
Legislative branch / term in office: 4 years
Legislative branch / most recent election date: 11/30/2025
Legislative branch / parties elected and seats per party: Liberty and Refoundation Party (LIBRE) (50); National Party (PN) (44); Liberal Party (PL) (22); Salvador de Honduras Party (PSH) (10); Other (2)
Legislative branch / percentage of women in chamber: 27.3%
Legislative branch / expected date of next election: November 2029
Judicial branch / highest court(s): Supreme Court of Justice or Corte Suprema de Justicia (15 principal judges, including the court president, and 6 alternates; court organized into civil, criminal, constitutional, and labor chambers)
Judicial branch / judge selection and term of office: court president elected by his peers; judges elected by the National Congress from candidates proposed by the Nominating Board, a diverse 7-member group of judicial officials and other government and non-government officials nominated by each of their organizations; judges elected by Congress for renewable, 7-year terms
Judicial branch / subordinate courts: courts of appeal; courts of first instance; justices of the peace
Political parties: Anti-Corruption Party or PAC Christian Democratic Party or DC Democratic Liberation of Honduras or Liderh Democratic Unification Party or UD The Front or El Frente Honduran Patriotic Alliance or AP Innovation and Unity Party or PINU Liberal Party or PL Liberty and Refoundation Party or LIBRE National Party of Honduras or PNH New Route or NR Opposition Alliance against the Dictatorship or Alianza de Oposicion contra la Dictadura (electoral coalition) Savior Party of Honduras or PSH Vamos or Let’s Go We Are All Honduras (Todos Somos Honduras) or TSH
Diplomatic representation in the US / chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charg&eacute; d'Affaires Leonardo VALENZUELA NEDA (since 10 June 2025)
Diplomatic representation in the US / chancery: 1220 19th Street NW, Suite #320, Washington, DC 20036
Diplomatic representation in the US / telephone: [1] (202) 966-7702
Diplomatic representation in the US / FAX: [1] (202) 966-9751
Diplomatic representation in the US / email address and website: info@wadchn.com https://hondurasembusa.org/
Diplomatic representation in the US / consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Boston, Charlotte (NC), Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles, McAllen (TX), Miami, New Orleans, New York, San Francisco, Seattle
Diplomatic representation from the US / chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charg&eacute; d&rsquo;Affaires Colleen Anne HOEY (since 23 June 2025)
Diplomatic representation from the US / embassy: Avenida La Paz, Tegucigalpa M.D.C.
Diplomatic representation from the US / mailing address: 3480 Tegucigalpa Place, Washington DC 20521-3480
Diplomatic representation from the US / telephone: [504] 2236-9320,
Diplomatic representation from the US / FAX: [504] 2236-9037
Diplomatic representation from the US / email address and website: usahonduras@state.gov https://hn.usembassy.gov/
International organization participation: ACS, BCIE, CACM, CD, CELAC, EITI (candidate country), FAO, G-11, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC (suspended), IOM, IPU, ISO (subscriber), ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAES, LAIA (observer), MIGA, MINURSO, MINUSTAH, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, Pacific Alliance (observer), PCA, Petrocaribe, SICA, UN, UNCTAD, UNHRC, UNESCO, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNWTO, UPU, WCO (suspended), WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Independence: 15 September 1821 (from Spain)
National holiday: Independence Day, 15 September (1821)
Flag: description: three equal horizontal bands of cerulean blue (top), white, and cerulean blue, with five five-pointed cerulean stars arranged in an "X" pattern and centered in the white band meaning: the stars represent the members of the former Federal Republic of Central America: Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua; blue stands for the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea, and white for the land and the people's peace and prosperity
National symbol(s): scarlet macaw, white-tailed deer
National color(s): blue, white
National anthem(s) / title: "Himno Nacional de Honduras" (National Anthem of Honduras)
National anthem(s) / lyrics/music: Augusto Constancio COELLO/Carlos HARTLING
National anthem(s) / history: adopted 1915; the anthem's seven verses chronicle Honduran history; on official occasions, only the chorus and last verse are sung
National heritage / total World Heritage Sites: 2 (1 cultural, 1 natural)
National heritage / selected World Heritage Site locales: Maya Site of Copan (c); Río Plátano Biosphere Reserve (n)

## Economy
Economic overview: second-fastest-growing Central American economy; COVID-19 and two hurricanes crippled activity; high poverty and inequality; declining-but-still-high violent crime disruption; systemic corruption; coffee and banana exporter; enormous remittances
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $71.297 billion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $68.85 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $66.473 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2024: 3.6% (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2023: 3.6% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2022: 4.1% (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2024: $6,600 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2023: $6,500 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2022: $6,400 (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $37.094 billion (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024: 4.6% (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023: 6.7% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 9.1% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / agriculture: 11.2% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / industry: 26.1% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / services: 58.4% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / household consumption: 86% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / government consumption: 15.5% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in fixed capital: 23.9% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in inventories: -1.4% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / exports of goods and services: 33.5% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / imports of goods and services: -57.6% (2024 est.)
Agricultural products: sugarcane, oil palm fruit, maize, milk, bananas, coffee, cantaloupes/melons, oranges, chicken, beans (2023)
Industries: sugar processing, coffee, woven and knit apparel, wood products, cigars
Industrial production growth rate: 0.8% (2024 est.)
Labor force: 4.296 million (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2024: 6.1% (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2023: 6.1% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2022: 8.8% (2022 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / total: 10.5% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / male: 7.9% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / female: 15.9% (2024 est.)
Population below poverty line: 64.1% (2023 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income / Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2023: 46.8 (2023 est.)
Average household expenditures / on food: 31.5% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Average household expenditures / on alcohol and tobacco: 4.9% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / lowest 10%: 1.1% (2023 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / highest 10%: 33% (2023 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2024: 25.7% of GDP (2024 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2023: 26.1% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2022: 27% of GDP (2022 est.)
Budget / revenues: $5.333 billion (2020 est.)
Budget / expenditures: $6.391 billion (2020 est.)
Public debt / Public debt 2016: 38.5% of GDP (2016 est.)
Taxes and other revenues: 15.1% (of GDP) (2020 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2024: -$1.711 billion (2024 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2023: -$1.368 billion (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2022: -$2.157 billion (2022 est.)
Exports / Exports 2024: $9.352 billion (2024 est.)
Exports / Exports 2023: $9.805 billion (2023 est.)
Exports / Exports 2022: $9.51 billion (2022 est.)
Exports - partners: USA 49%, Nicaragua 8%, El Salvador 7%, Guatemala 5%, Mexico 5% (2023)
Exports - commodities: garments, coffee, insulated wire, palm oil, shellfish (2023)
Imports / Imports 2024: $18.235 billion (2024 est.)
Imports / Imports 2023: $17.926 billion (2023 est.)
Imports / Imports 2022: $18.101 billion (2022 est.)
Imports - partners: USA 36%, China 14%, Guatemala 8%, Mexico 6%, El Salvador 6% (2023)
Imports - commodities: refined petroleum, cotton yarn, garments, trucks, packaged medicine (2023)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024: $8.036 billion (2024 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023: $7.543 billion (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $8.41 billion (2022 est.)
Debt - external / Debt - external 2023: $7.785 billion (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Currency: lempiras (HNL) per US dollar -
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2024: 24.799 (2024 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2023: 24.602 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2022: 24.486 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2021: 24.017 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2020: 24.582 (2020 est.)

## Energy
Electricity access / electrification - total population: 94.4% (2022 est.)
Electricity access / electrification - urban areas: 100%
Electricity access / electrification - rural areas: 86.8%
Electricity / installed generating capacity: 3.334 million kW (2023 est.)
Electricity / consumption: 8.303 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / exports: 4 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / imports: 214.601 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / transmission/distribution losses: 3.617 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / fossil fuels: 38.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / solar: 8.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / wind: 5.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / hydroelectricity: 33.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / geothermal: 3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / biomass and waste: 10.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Coal / consumption: 144,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / imports: 148,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum / total petroleum production: 20 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Petroleum / refined petroleum consumption: 71,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Energy consumption per capita / Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 16.642 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

## Communications
Telephones - fixed lines / total subscriptions: 444,000 (2023 est.)
Telephones - fixed lines / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 4 (2023 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / total subscriptions: 7.92 million (2023 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 76 (2022 est.)
Broadcast media: multiple privately owned terrestrial TV networks, supplemented by multiple cable TV networks; Radio Honduras is the state-owned radio network; roughly 300 privately owned radio stations (2019)
Internet country code: .hn
Internet users / percent of population: 58% (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / total: 476,000 (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 4 (2023 est.)

## Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: HR
Airports: 129 (2025)
Heliports: 6 (2025)
Railways / total: 699 km (2014)
Railways / narrow gauge: 164 km (2014) 1.067-m gauge
Merchant marine / total: 489 (2023)
Merchant marine / by type: general cargo 233, oil tanker 82, other 174
Ports / total ports: 8 (2024)
Ports / large: 0
Ports / medium: 0
Ports / small: 1
Ports / very small: 7
Ports / ports with oil terminals: 3
Ports / key ports: Coxen Hole, La Ceiba, Puerto Castilla, Puerto Cortes, Puerto de Hencan, Puerto Este, Tela, Trujillo

## Military and Security
Military and security forces: Honduran Armed Forces (Fuerzas Armadas de Honduras, FFAA): Army (Ejercito), Honduran Naval Force (Fuerza Naval Hondurena, FNH; includes marines), Honduran Air Force (Fuerza Aerea Hondurena, FAH), Honduran Military Police of Public Order (Policía Militar del Orden Público or PMOP) (2025)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2024: 1.5% of GDP (2024 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2023: 1.5% of GDP (2023 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2022: 1.4% of GDP (2022 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2021: 1.5% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2020: 1.6% of GDP (2020 est.)
Military and security service personnel strengths: approximately 15,000 active Honduran Armed Forces (2025)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the FFAA's inventory is comprised of a mix of older or secondhand and limited amounts of more modern equipment; its main supplier is the US; other suppliers include Colombia, Israel, the Netherlands, and the UK (2025)
Military service age and obligation: 18-22 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women; 24&ndash;36 month service obligation; no conscription (2026)
Military - note: the Honduran Armed Forces (FFAA) are responsible for maintaining the country’s territory, defending its sovereignty, providing emergency/humanitarian assistance, and supporting the National Police (PNH); the FFAA’s primary focus is internal and border security, and since 2011 a considerable portion of it has been deployed to support the PNH in combating narcotics trafficking and organized crime; military support to domestic security included the creation of the Military Police of Public Order (PMOP) in 2013 to provide security in areas controlled by street gangs to combat crime and make arrests; the FFAA, including the PMOP, cooperates with the militaries of El Salvador, Guatemala, and Nicaragua on border security the FFAA has received military equipment, training, humanitarian, and technical assistance from the US military; the US military maintains a joint service task force co-located with the FFAA at Soto Cano Air Base (2025)

## Terrorism
Terrorist group(s): La Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13)

## Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons / refugees: 341 (2024 est.)
Refugees and internally displaced persons / IDPs: 100,637 (2024 est.)
Illicit drugs / USG identification: major illicit drug-producing and/or drug-transit country major precursor-chemical producer (2025)

=== Jamaica ===

## Introduction
Background: Europeans first saw Jamaica when Christopher COLUMBUS arrived in 1494, and the Spanish settled the island early in the 16th century. The Native Taino, who had inhabited Jamaica for centuries, were gradually exterminated and replaced with African slaves. England seized the island in 1655 and established a plantation economy based on sugar, cocoa, and coffee. The abolition of slavery in 1834 freed a quarter-million slaves, many of whom became small farmers. Jamaica gradually increased its independence from Britain. In 1958, it joined other British Caribbean colonies in forming the Federation of the West Indies. Jamaica withdrew from the Federation in 1961 and gained full independence in 1962. Deteriorating economic conditions during the 1970s led to recurring violence as rival gangs affiliated with the major political parties evolved into powerful organized crime networks involved in international drug smuggling and money laundering. Violent crime, drug trafficking, corruption, and poverty pose significant challenges to the government today. Nonetheless, many rural and resort areas remain relatively safe and contribute substantially to the economy.

## Geography
Location: Caribbean, island in the Caribbean Sea, south of Cuba
Geographic coordinates: 18 15 N, 77 30 W
Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
Area / total: 10,991 sq km
Area / land: 10,831 sq km
Area / water: 160 sq km
Area - comparative: about half the size of New Jersey; slightly smaller than Connecticut
Land boundaries / total: 0 km
Coastline: 1,022 km
Maritime claims / territorial sea: 12 nm
Maritime claims / contiguous zone: 24 nm
Maritime claims / exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Maritime claims / continental shelf: 200 nm or to edge of the continental margin
Climate: tropical; hot, humid; temperate interior
Terrain: mostly mountains, with narrow, discontinuous coastal plain
Elevation / highest point: Blue Mountain Peak 2,256 m
Elevation / lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
Elevation / mean elevation: 18 m
Natural resources: bauxite, alumina, gypsum, limestone
Land use / agricultural land: 38.5% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 11.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 6.3% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 21.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 56.2% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 5.3% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land: 250 sq km (2012)
Population distribution: population density is high throughout, but increases in and around Kingston, Montego Bay, and Port Esquivel
Natural hazards: hurricanes (especially July to November)
Geography - note: third largest island in the Caribbean (after Cuba and Hispaniola); strategic location between Cayman Trench and Jamaica Channel, the main sea lanes for the Panama Canal

## People and Society
Population / total: 2,938,503 (2025 est.)
Population / male: 1,453,759
Population / female: 1,484,744
Nationality / noun: Jamaican(s)
Nationality / adjective: Jamaican
Ethnic groups: Black 92.1%, mixed 6.1%, East Indian 0.8%, other 0.4%, unspecified 0.7% (2011 est.)
Languages: English, Jamaican patois
Religions: Protestant 64.8% (includes Seventh Day Adventist 12.0%, Pentecostal 11.0%, Other Church of God 9.2%, New Testament Church of God 7.2%, Baptist 6.7%, Church of God in Jamaica 4.8%, Church of God of Prophecy 4.5%, Anglican 2.8%, United Church 2.1%, Methodist 1.6%, Revived 1.4%, Brethren 0.9%, and Moravian 0.7%), Roman Catholic 2.2%, Jehovah's Witness 1.9%, Rastafarian 1.1%, other 6.5%, none 21.3%, unspecified 2.3% (2011 est.)
Age structure / 0-14 years: 23.8% (male 342,691/female 329,773)
Age structure / 15-64 years: 65.7% (male 914,364/female 941,816)
Age structure / 65 years and over: 10.4% (2024 est.) (male 140,440/female 154,629)
Dependency ratios / total dependency ratio: 50.6 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / youth dependency ratio: 36 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / elderly dependency ratio: 14.6 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / potential support ratio: 6.9 (2025 est.)
Median age / total: 28.8 years (2025 est.)
Median age / male: 30.1 years
Median age / female: 31.7 years
Population growth rate: 0.25% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 16.08 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 7.37 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: -6.2 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution: population density is high throughout, but increases in and around Kingston, Montego Bay, and Port Esquivel
Urbanization / urban population: 57.4% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 0.79% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 597,000 KINGSTON (capital) (2023)
Sex ratio / at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 65 years and over: 0.91 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth: 21.2 years (2008 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio: 130 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Infant mortality rate / total: 14.5 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Infant mortality rate / male: 11.9 deaths/1,000 live births
Infant mortality rate / female: 9.4 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth / total population: 76.3 years (2024 est.)
Life expectancy at birth / male: 74.5 years
Life expectancy at birth / female: 78.1 years
Total fertility rate: 1.86 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 0.91 (2025 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: urban: urban: 95.4% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: rural: rural: 85.4% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: total: total: 91.1% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: urban: urban: 4.6% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: rural: rural: 14.6% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: total: total: 8.9% of population (2022 est.)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 7.2% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 19% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density: 0.46 physicians/1,000 population (2023)
Hospital bed density: 1.7 beds/1,000 population (2021 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: urban: urban: 98.6% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: rural: rural: 99.4% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: total: total: 98.9% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: urban: urban: 1.4% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: rural: rural: 0.6% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: total: total: 1.1% of population (2022 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 24.7% (2016)
Alcohol consumption per capita / total: 3.46 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / beer: 1.19 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / wine: 0.25 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / spirits: 1.66 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / other alcohols: 0.35 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Tobacco use / total: 9% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / male: 15.1% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / female: 3.1% (2025 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 2.5% (2018 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49): 35.2% (2022 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% GDP): 5.5% of GDP (2024 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% national budget): 17.9% national budget (2024 est.)
Literacy / female: 90.8% (2022 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / total: 13 years (2015 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / male: 12 years (2015 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / female: 14 years (2015 est.)

## Environment
Environmental issues: heavy rates of deforestation; coastal waters polluted by industrial waste, sewage, and oil spills; damage to coral reefs; air pollution in Kingston from vehicle emissions; land erosion
International environmental agreements / party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
International environmental agreements / signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Climate: tropical; hot, humid; temperate interior
Land use / agricultural land: 38.5% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 11.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 6.3% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 21.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 56.2% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 5.3% (2023 est.)
Urbanization / urban population: 57.4% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 0.79% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / total emissions: 7.89 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from coal and metallurgical coke: 239,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from petroleum and other liquids: 6.04 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from consumed natural gas: 1.611 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Particulate matter emissions: 14.8 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Waste and recycling / municipal solid waste generated annually: 1.052 million tons (2024 est.)
Waste and recycling / percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 15% (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / municipal: 339.867 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / industrial: 43.989 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / agricultural: 78.972 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total renewable water resources: 10.823 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: none
Country name / conventional short form: Jamaica
Country name / etymology: from the Arawak word xaymaca , meaning "Land of Wood and Water" or possibly "Land of Springs"
Government type: parliamentary democracy (Parliament) under a constitutional monarchy; a Commonwealth realm
Capital / name: Kingston
Capital / geographic coordinates: 18 00 N, 76 48 W
Capital / time difference: UTC-5 (same time as Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Capital / etymology: the name is a blend of the words "king's" and "town;" named after the English king at the time of the city's founding in 1692, WILLIAM III
Administrative divisions: 14 parishes; Clarendon, Hanover, Kingston, Manchester, Portland, Saint Andrew, Saint Ann, Saint Catherine, Saint Elizabeth, Saint James, Saint Mary, Saint Thomas, Trelawny, Westmoreland
Legal system: common law system based on the English model
Constitution / history: several previous (pre-independence); latest drafted 1961-62, submitted to British Parliament 24 July 1962, entered into force 6 August 1962 (at independence)
Constitution / amendment process: proposed by Parliament; passage of amendments to "non-entrenched" constitutional sections, such as lowering the voting age, requires majority vote by the Parliament membership; passage of amendments to "entrenched" sections, such as fundamental rights and freedoms, requires two-thirds majority vote of Parliament; passage of amendments to "specially entrenched" sections such as the dissolution of Parliament or the executive authority of the monarch requires two-thirds approval by Parliament and approval in a referendum
International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt
Citizenship / citizenship by birth: yes
Citizenship / citizenship by descent only: yes
Citizenship / dual citizenship recognized: yes
Citizenship / residency requirement for naturalization: 4 out of the previous 5 years
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch / chief of state: King CHARLES III (since 8 September 2022); represented by Governor General Sir Patrick L. ALLEN (since 26 February 2009)
Executive branch / head of government: Prime Minister Andrew HOLNESS (since 3 March 2016)
Executive branch / cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister
Executive branch / election/appointment process: the monarchy is hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch on the recommendation of the prime minister; following legislative elections, the governor general appoints the leader of the majority party or majority coalition in the House of Representatives as prime minister
Legislative branch / legislature name: Parliament
Legislative branch / legislative structure: bicameral
Legislative branch - lower chamber / chamber name: House of Representatives
Legislative branch - lower chamber / number of seats: 63 (all directly elected)
Legislative branch - lower chamber / electoral system: plurality/majority
Legislative branch - lower chamber / scope of elections: full renewal
Legislative branch - lower chamber / term in office: 5 years
Legislative branch - lower chamber / most recent election date: 9/3/2025
Legislative branch - lower chamber / parties elected and seats per party: Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) (35); People's National Party (PNP) (28)
Legislative branch - lower chamber / percentage of women in chamber: 30.2%
Legislative branch - lower chamber / expected date of next election: August 2030
Legislative branch - upper chamber / chamber name: Senate
Legislative branch - upper chamber / number of seats: 21 (all appointed)
Legislative branch - upper chamber / scope of elections: full renewal
Legislative branch - upper chamber / term in office: 5 years
Legislative branch - upper chamber / most recent election date: 9/18/2025
Legislative branch - upper chamber / percentage of women in chamber: 33.3%
Legislative branch - upper chamber / expected date of next election: September 2030
Judicial branch / highest court(s): Court of Appeal (consists of president of the court and a minimum of 4 judges); Supreme Court (40 judges organized in specialized divisions)
Judicial branch / judge selection and term of office: chief justice of the Supreme Court and president of the Court of Appeal appointed by the governor-general on the advice of the prime minister; other judges of both courts appointed by the governor-general on the advice of the Judicial Service Commission; judges of both courts serve till age 70
Judicial branch / subordinate courts: resident magistrate courts, district courts, and petty sessions courts
Political parties: Jamaica Labor Party or JLP Jamaica Progressive Party or JPP People's National Party or PNP United Independents' Congress or UIC
Diplomatic representation in the US / chief of mission: Ambassador Antony B. ANDERSON (since 24 July 2025)
Diplomatic representation in the US / chancery: 1520 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036
Diplomatic representation in the US / telephone: [1] (202) 452-0660
Diplomatic representation in the US / FAX: [1] (202) 452-0036
Diplomatic representation in the US / email address and website: contactus@jamaicaembassy.org Jamaican Embassy (embassyofjamaica.org)
Diplomatic representation in the US / consulate(s) general: Miami, New York
Diplomatic representation from the US / chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charg&eacute; d&rsquo;Affaires Scott RENNER (since 13 August 2025)
Diplomatic representation from the US / embassy: 142 Old Hope Road, Kingston 6
Diplomatic representation from the US / mailing address: 3210 Kingston Place, Washington DC 20521-3210
Diplomatic representation from the US / telephone: (876) 702-6000
Diplomatic representation from the US / FAX: (876) 702-6348
Diplomatic representation from the US / email address and website: KingstonACS@state.gov https://jm.usembassy.gov/
International organization participation: ACP, ACS, AOSIS, C, Caricom, CDB, CELAC, FAO, G-15, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITSO, ITU, LAES, MIGA, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, Petrocaribe, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Independence: 6 August 1962 (from the UK)
National holiday: Independence Day, 6 August (1962)
Flag: description: diagonal yellow cross divides the flag into four triangles, two green (top and bottom) and two black (left and right) meaning: green stands for hope, vegetation, and agriculture; black for hardships overcome and to be faced; and yellow for sunshine and natural resources
National symbol(s): green-and-black streamertail (bird), guaiacwood ( Guiacum officinale )
National color(s): green, yellow, black
National anthem(s) / title: "Jamaica, Land We Love"
National anthem(s) / lyrics/music: Hugh Braham SHERLOCK/Robert Charles LIGHTBOURNE
National anthem(s) / history: adopted 1962
National heritage / total World Heritage Sites: 2 ( 1mixed,1 cultural)
National heritage / selected World Heritage Site locales: Blue and John Crow Mountains (m); The Archaeological Ensemble of 17th Century Port Royal (c)

## Economy
Economic overview: upper-middle-income Caribbean island economy; key agriculture and tourism sectors; high crime, youth unemployment, and poverty; susceptible to natural disasters and global commodity price shocks; progress in reducing public debt and moderating inflation within target range
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $29.13 billion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $29.341 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $28.596 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2024: -0.7% (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2023: 2.6% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2022: 5.2% (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2024: $10,300 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2023: $10,300 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2022: $10,100 (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $19.93 billion (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024: 5.4% (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023: 6.5% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 10.3% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / agriculture: 9.8% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / industry: 18.3% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / services: 60.3% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / household consumption: 76.2% (2019 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / government consumption: 13.6% (2019 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in fixed capital: 24.1% (2019 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in inventories: 0.2% (2019 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / exports of goods and services: 38% (2019 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / imports of goods and services: -52.1% (2019 est.)
Agricultural products: sugarcane, goat milk, yams, chicken, oranges, coconuts, bananas, plantains, pumpkins/squash, pineapples (2023)
Industries: agriculture, mining, manufacture, construction, financial and insurance services, tourism, telecommunications
Industrial production growth rate: -1.5% (2024 est.)
Labor force: 1.57 million (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2024: 4.9% (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2023: 4.4% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2022: 4.1% (2022 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / total: 14.5% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / male: 12.9% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / female: 16.4% (2024 est.)
Population below poverty line: 16.7% (2021 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income / Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2021: 39.9 (2021 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / lowest 10%: 2.2% (2021 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / highest 10%: 29.6% (2021 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2024: 17.9% of GDP (2024 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2023: 18.5% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2022: 21.6% of GDP (2022 est.)
Budget / revenues: $4.041 billion (2020 est.)
Budget / expenditures: $4.466 billion (2020 est.)
Public debt / Public debt 2020: 106.3% of GDP (2020 est.)
Taxes and other revenues: 25.7% (of GDP) (2020 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2024: $678.808 million (2024 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2023: $568.932 million (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2022: -$136.401 million (2022 est.)
Exports / Exports 2024: $7.124 billion (2024 est.)
Exports / Exports 2023: $7.275 billion (2023 est.)
Exports / Exports 2022: $6.424 billion (2022 est.)
Exports - partners: USA 37%, Russia 7%, Latvia 7%, Iceland 7%, UK 5% (2023)
Exports - commodities: aluminum oxide, refined petroleum, natural gas, liquor, processed fruits and nuts (2023)
Imports / Imports 2024: $9.524 billion (2024 est.)
Imports / Imports 2023: $9.866 billion (2023 est.)
Imports / Imports 2022: $9.726 billion (2022 est.)
Imports - partners: USA 39%, China 11%, Brazil 4%, Colombia 4%, Japan 4% (2023)
Imports - commodities: refined petroleum, natural gas, cars, crude petroleum, plastic products (2023)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023: $4.869 billion (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $4.52 billion (2022 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2021: $4.838 billion (2021 est.)
Debt - external / Debt - external 2023: $9.636 billion (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Currency: Jamaican dollars (JMD) per US dollar -
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2024: 156.44 (2024 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2023: 154.159 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2022: 153.427 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2021: 150.79 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2020: 142.403 (2020 est.)

## Energy
Electricity access / electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)
Electricity / installed generating capacity: 1.242 million kW (2023 est.)
Electricity / consumption: 3.301 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / transmission/distribution losses: 1.181 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / fossil fuels: 87.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / solar: 2.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / wind: 6.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / hydroelectricity: 2.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / biomass and waste: 1.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Coal / consumption: 106,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / exports: 100 metric tons (2022 est.)
Coal / imports: 105,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum / total petroleum production: 3,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Petroleum / refined petroleum consumption: 41,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Natural gas / consumption: 822.549 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / imports: 822.549 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
Energy consumption per capita / Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 42.095 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

## Communications
Telephones - fixed lines / total subscriptions: 459,000 (2023 est.)
Telephones - fixed lines / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 16 (2023 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / total subscriptions: 3.34 million (2024 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 118 (2024 est.)
Broadcast media: 3 free-to-air TV stations, subscription cable services, and roughly 30 radio stations (2019)
Internet country code: .jm
Internet users / percent of population: 83% (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / total: 448,000 (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 16 (2023 est.)

## Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: 6Y
Airports: 20 (2025)
Heliports: 2 (2025)
Merchant marine / total: 40 (2023)
Merchant marine / by type: bulk carrier 1, general cargo 11, oil tanker 1, other 27
Ports / total ports: 11 (2024)
Ports / large: 0
Ports / medium: 1
Ports / small: 2
Ports / very small: 8
Ports / ports with oil terminals: 5
Ports / key ports: Falmouth, Kingston, Lucea, Montego Bay, Ocho Rios, Port Antonio, Port Esquivel, Port Kaiser, Rio Bueno, Rocky Point, Savannah la Mar

## Military and Security
Military and security forces: Jamaica Defense Force (JDF): Jamaica Regiment (Land Force), Maritime, Air, and Cyber Command (MACC), Support Brigade, Caribbean Military Academy, Jamaica National Reserve (2025)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2024: 1.4% of GDP (2024 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2023: 1.2% of GDP (2023 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2022: 1.3% of GDP (2022 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2021: 1.4% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2020: 1.7% of GDP (2020 est.)
Military and security service personnel strengths: approximately 4,000 active Jamaica Defense Forces (2025)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the JDF's inventory features equipment mostly from Australia, the Netherlands, and the US (2025)
Military service age and obligation: 18-23 for voluntary military service (17 with parental consent) for men and women; 18-28 for the reserves; no conscription; since 2017, the JDF's standard mode of recruitment is to enroll recruits ages 18-23 through the Jamaica National Service Corps (JNSC), which has a service requirement of 12 months (2025)
Military - note: in addition to its responsibility of defending against external aggression, the Jamaican Defense Force's (JDF) primary missions are border, cyber, internal, and maritime security; other missions include search and rescue, disaster response, humanitarian assistance, and peacekeeping; it has arrest authority and partners with the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF), particularly in support of combating crime and violence; both the JDF and JCF are under the Ministry of National Security, which directs policy for the security forces; the JDF participates in bilateral and multinational training exercises, including with the armed forces of Canada, the UK, the US, and other Caribbean nations while Jamaica had a militia force as early as the 1660s, the JDF was constituted in 1962 from the West India Regiment (WIR), a British colonial regiment which dates back to 1795 (2025)

## Transnational Issues
Illicit drugs / USG identification: major illicit drug-producing and/or drug-transit country (2025)

=== Montserrat ===

## Introduction
Background: English and Irish colonists from St. Kitts first settled on Montserrat in 1632; the first African slaves arrived three decades later. The British and French fought for possession of the island for most of the 18th century, but it finally was confirmed as a British possession in 1783. The island's sugar plantation economy was converted to small farm landholdings in the mid-19th century. The Soufriere Hills Volcano erupted in 1995, devastating much of the island; two thirds of the population fled abroad. Montserrat has endured volcanic activity since, with the last eruption occurring in 2013.

## Geography
Location: Caribbean, island in the Caribbean Sea, southeast of Puerto Rico
Geographic coordinates: 16 45 N, 62 12 W
Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
Area / total: 102 sq km
Area / land: 102 sq km
Area / water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative: about 0.6 times the size of Washington, D.C.
Land boundaries / total: 0 km
Coastline: 40 km
Maritime claims / territorial sea: 12 nm
Maritime claims / exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
Climate: tropical; little daily or seasonal temperature variation
Terrain: volcanic island, mostly mountainous, with small coastal lowland
Elevation / highest point: Soufriere Hills volcano pre-eruption height was 915 m; current lava dome is subject to periodic build up and collapse; estimated dome height was 1,050 m in 2015
Elevation / lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
Natural resources: NEGL
Land use / agricultural land: 30% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 20% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 0% (2022 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 10% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 24.2% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 45.8% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land: 0 sq km (2022)
Population distribution: only the northern half of the island is populated; the southern portion is uninhabitable due to volcanic activity
Natural hazards: volcanic eruptions; severe hurricanes (June to November) volcanism: Soufrière Hills volcano (915 m) has erupted continuously since 1995; a massive eruption in 1997 destroyed most of the capital, Plymouth, and made about half of the island uninhabitable; the island of Montserrat is part of the volcanic island arc of the Lesser Antilles that extends from Saba in the north to Grenada in the south
Geography - note: the island is entirely volcanic in origin and composed of three major volcanic centers of differing ages

## People and Society
Population / total: 5,468 (2024 est.)
Population / male: 2,728
Population / female: 2,740
Nationality / noun: Montserratian(s)
Nationality / adjective: Montserratian
Ethnic groups: African/Black 86.2%, mixed 4.8%, Hispanic/Spanish 3%, Caucasian/White 2.7%, East Indian/Indian 1.6%, other 1.8% (2018 est.)
Languages: English
Religions: Protestant 71.4% (includes Anglican 17.7%, Pentecostal/Full Gospel 16.1%, Seventh Day Adventist 15%, Methodist 13.9%, Church of God 6.7%, other Protestant 2%), Roman Catholic 11.4%, Rastafarian 1.4%, Hindu 1.2%, Jehovah's Witness 1%, Muslim 0.4%, other/not stated 5.1%, none 7.9% (2018 est.)
Age structure / 0-14 years: 15.8% (male 446/female 420)
Age structure / 15-64 years: 76.1% (male 2,062/female 2,101)
Age structure / 65 years and over: 8% (2024 est.) (male 220/female 219)
Dependency ratios / total dependency ratio: 31.3 (2024 est.)
Dependency ratios / youth dependency ratio: 20.8 (2024 est.)
Dependency ratios / elderly dependency ratio: 10.5 (2024 est.)
Dependency ratios / potential support ratio: 9.5 (2024 est.)
Median age / total: 37.1 years (2025 est.)
Median age / male: 35.4 years
Median age / female: 37.8 years
Population growth rate: 0.55% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 11.64 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 6.18 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution: only the northern half of the island is populated; the southern portion is uninhabitable due to volcanic activity
Urbanization / urban population: 9.3% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 0.94% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Sex ratio / at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 65 years and over: 1 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / total population: 1 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Infant mortality rate / total: 9.4 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Infant mortality rate / male: 8 deaths/1,000 live births
Infant mortality rate / female: 11.6 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth / total population: 76.1 years (2024 est.)
Life expectancy at birth / male: 76.9 years
Life expectancy at birth / female: 75.3 years
Total fertility rate: 1.34 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 0.65 (2025 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: total: total: 98.1% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: total: total: 1.9% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: total: total: 99.6% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: total: total: 0.4% of population (2022 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49): 35.8% (2023 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% GDP): 7.2% of GDP (2023 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% national budget): 5.7% national budget (2025 est.)

## Environment
Environmental issues: land erosion on slopes that have been cleared for cultivation
Climate: tropical; little daily or seasonal temperature variation
Land use / agricultural land: 30% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 20% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 0% (2022 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 10% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 24.2% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 45.8% (2023 est.)
Urbanization / urban population: 9.3% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 0.94% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / total emissions: 24,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from petroleum and other liquids: 24,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: none
Country name / conventional short form: Montserrat
Country name / etymology: explorer Christopher COLUMBUS named the island in 1493 after the Benedictine abbey Santa Maria de Montserrat, near Barcelona, Spain
Government type: parliamentary democracy; self-governing overseas territory of the UK
Dependency status: overseas territory of the UK
Capital / name: Plymouth
Capital / geographic coordinates: 16 42 N, 62 13 W
Capital / time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Capital / etymology: now entirely deserted because of volcanic activity, the city was named after Plymouth, England
Administrative divisions: 3 parishes; Saint Anthony, Saint Georges, Saint Peter
Legal system: English common law
Constitution / history: previous 1960; latest put into force 20 October 2010 (The Montserrat Constitution Order 2010)
Citizenship: see United Kingdom
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch / chief of state: King CHARLES III (since 8 September 2022); represented by Governor Sarah TUCKER (since 6 April 2023)
Executive branch / head of government: Premier Easton TAYLOR-FARRELL (since 19 November 2019)
Executive branch / cabinet: Executive Council consists of the governor, the premier, 3 other ministers, the attorney general, and the finance secretary
Executive branch / election/appointment process: the monarchy is hereditary; governor appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party usually becomes premier
Legislative branch / legislature name: Legislative Assembly
Legislative branch / legislative structure: unicameral
Legislative branch / number of seats: 12 (directly elected)
Legislative branch / electoral system: plurality/majority
Legislative branch / scope of elections: full renewal
Legislative branch / term in office: 5 years
Legislative branch / most recent election date: 11/18/2019
Legislative branch / parties elected and seats per party: MCAP (5); PDM (3); independent (1)
Legislative branch / percentage of women in chamber: 33.3%
Legislative branch / expected date of next election: 2024
Judicial branch / highest court(s): the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (ECSC) is the superior court of the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States; the ECSC is headquartered on St. Lucia and consists of the Court of Appeal -- headed by the chief justice and 4 judges -- and the High Court with 18 judges; the Court of Appeal travels to member states on a schedule to hear appeals from the High Court and subordinate courts; Montserrat is a member of the Caribbean Court of Justice
Judicial branch / judge selection and term of office: chief justice of Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court appointed by the British monarch; other justices and judges appointed by the Judicial and Legal Services Commission, and independent body of judicial officials; Court of Appeal justices appointed for life with mandatory retirement at age 65; High Court judges appointed for life with mandatory retirement at age 62
Judicial branch / subordinate courts: magistrate's court
Political parties: Movement for Change and Prosperity or MCAP People's Democratic Movement or PDM
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (overseas territory of the UK)
Diplomatic representation from the US / embassy: none (overseas territory of the UK); alternate contact is the US Embassy in Barbados [1] (246) 227-4000; US Embassy Bridgetown, Wildey Business Park, St. Michael BB 14006, Barbados, WI
International organization participation: Caricom, CDB, Interpol (subbureau), OECS, UPU
Independence: none (overseas territory of the UK)
National holiday: Official birthday of King Charles III, usually celebrated the second Saturday in June (1948)
Flag: description: blue with the UK flag in the upper-left quadrant and the Montserratian coat of arms centered in the right half of the flag; the arms show a woman in a green dress standing beside a yellow harp and embracing a large, dark-brown cross with her right arm meaning: the woman is Erin, the female personification of Ireland, the harp is an Irish symbol, and the cross represents the Christian faith; blue stands for awareness, trustworthiness, determination, and righteousness
National coat of arms: Montserrat's coat of arms dates back to 1909 and reflects the country's Irish settlers, who first arrived in 1632; the woman in the green dress is Erin, the personification of Ireland, and she holds Ireland's symbol, a gold harp; the cross represents Christianity, Monserrat's predominant religion
National anthem(s) / title: "God Save the King"
National anthem(s) / lyrics/music: unknown
National anthem(s) / history: official anthem, as a UK territory

## Economy
Economic overview: formerly high-income economy; volcanic activity destroyed much of original infrastructure and economy; new capital and port is being developed; key geothermal and solar power generation; key music recording operations
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $89.254 million (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $86.875 million (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $80.972 million (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2024: $19,300 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2023: $18,200 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2022: $16,200 (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $84.537 million (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 4% (2022 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021: 1.7% (2021 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2020: -1.9% (2020 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / household consumption: 90.8% (2017 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / government consumption: 50.4% (2017 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in fixed capital: 17.9% (2017 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in inventories: -0.1% (2017 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / exports of goods and services: 29.5% (2017 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / imports of goods and services: -88.6% (2017 est.)
Agricultural products: cabbages, carrots, cucumbers, tomatoes, onions, peppers; livestock products
Industries: tourism, rum, textiles, electronic appliances
Budget / revenues: $55.651 million (2014 est.)
Budget / expenditures: $43.652 million (2014 est.)
Exports - partners: USA 25%, Antigua & Barbuda 13%, Guyana 13%, Egypt 12%, France 10% (2023)
Exports - commodities: gravel and crushed stone, sand (2023)
Imports / Imports 2021: $15.3 million (2021 est.)
Imports / Imports 2017: $39.44 million (2017 est.)
Imports / Imports 2016: $36.1 million (2016 est.)
Imports - partners: USA 62%, Antigua & Barbuda 6%, UK 5%, Belgium 4%, Trinidad & Tobago 3% (2023)
Imports - commodities: refined petroleum, electric generating sets, cars, stone processing machines, x-ray equipment (2023)
Exchange rates / Currency: East Caribbean dollars (XCD) per US dollar -
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2024: 2.7 (2024 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2023: 2.7 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2022: 2.7 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2021: 2.7 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2020: 2.7 (2020 est.)

## Energy
Electricity access / electrification - total population: 100% (2020)
Electricity / installed generating capacity: 6,000 kW (2023 est.)
Electricity / consumption: 15.968 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / transmission/distribution losses: 370,000 kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / fossil fuels: 87.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / solar: 12.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Petroleum / refined petroleum consumption: 200 bbl/day (2023 est.)

## Communications
Telephones - fixed lines / total subscriptions: 3,000 (2020 est.)
Telephones - fixed lines / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 67 (2020 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / total subscriptions: 5,000 (2020 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 110 (2020 est.)
Broadcast media: Radio Montserrat, a public radio broadcaster, transmits on 1 station and has a repeater transmission to a second station; repeater transmissions from the GEM Radio Network of Trinidad and Tobago provide another 2 radio stations; cable and satellite TV available (2007)
Internet country code: .ms
Internet users / percent of population: 54.6% (2011 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / total: 2,700 (2018 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 55 (2018 est.)

## Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: VP-M
Airports: 1 (2025)

## Military and Security
Military and security forces: no regular military forces; Royal Montserrat Defense Force (ceremonial, civil defense duties), Montserrat Police Force (2025)
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of the UK

## Transnational Issues

=== Sint Maarten ===

## Introduction
Background: Christopher COLUMBUS claimed Saint Martin for Spain in 1493, naming it after the feast day of St. Martin of Tours, but it was the Dutch who occupied the island in 1631 to exploit its salt deposits. The Spanish retook Saint Martin in 1633, but the Dutch continued to assert their claims. The Spanish finally relinquished the island to the French and Dutch, who divided it between themselves in 1648. The border frequently fluctuated over the next 200 years because of friction between the two countries, with the Dutch eventually holding the smaller portion of the island (about 39%) and adopting the Dutch spelling of the island's name for their territory. The establishment of cotton, tobacco, and sugar plantations dramatically expanded African slavery on the island in the 18th and 19th centuries; the practice was not abolished in the Dutch half until 1863. The island's economy declined until 1939 when it became a free port; the tourism industry was dramatically expanded beginning in the 1950s. In 1954, Sint Maarten and several other Dutch Caribbean possessions became part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands as the Netherlands Antilles. In a 2000 referendum, the citizens of Sint Maarten voted to become a self-governing country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands, effective in 2010. In 2017, Hurricane Irma hit Saint Martin/Sint Maarten, causing extensive damage to roads, communications, electrical power, and housing; the UN estimated that 90% of the buildings were damaged or destroyed.

## Geography
Location: Caribbean, located in the Leeward Islands (northern) group; Dutch part of the island of Saint Martin in the Caribbean Sea; Sint Maarten lies east of the US Virgin Islands
Geographic coordinates: 18 4 N, 63 4 W
Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
Area / total: 34 sq km
Area / land: 34 sq km
Area / water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative: one-fifth the size of Washington, D.C.
Land boundaries / total: 16 km
Land boundaries / border countries: Saint Martin (France) 16 km
Coastline: 58.9 km (for entire island)
Maritime claims / territorial sea: 12 nm
Maritime claims / exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate: tropical marine climate, ameliorated by northeast trade winds, results in moderate temperatures; average rainfall of 150 cm/year; hurricane season stretches from July to November
Terrain: low, hilly terrain, volcanic origin
Elevation / highest point: 250 m SW of Mount Flagstaff summit, 383 m
Elevation / lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
Natural resources: fish, salt
Land use / agricultural land: 0% (2022 est.)
Land use / forest: 10.9% (2022 est.)
Land use / other: 89.1% (2022 est.)
Population distribution: the most populous areas are Lower Prince's Quarter (north of Philipsburg) and Cul de Sac
Natural hazards: subject to hurricanes from July to November
Geography - note: note 1: the northern border is shared with the French overseas collectivity of Saint Martin; together, these two entities make up the smallest landmass in the world that is shared by two self-governing states note 2: Simpson Bay Lagoon (aka, Simson Bay Lagoon or The Great Pond) is one of the largest inland lagoons in the West Indies; the border between the French and Dutch halves of the island of Saint Martin runs across the center of the lagoon, which is shared

## People and Society
Population / total: 46,738 (2025 est.)
Population / male: 23,071
Population / female: 23,667
Ethnic groups: Saint Maarten 29.9%, Dominican Republic 10.2%, Haiti 7.8%, Jamaica 6.6%, Saint Martin 5.9%, Guyana 5%, Dominica 4.4%, Curacao 4.1%, Aruba 3.4%, Saint Kitts and Nevis 2.8%, India 2.6%, Netherlands 2.2%, US 1.6%, Suriname 1.4%, Saint Lucia 1.3%, Anguilla 1.1%, other 8%, unspecified 1.7% (2011 est.)
Languages: English (official) 67.5%, Spanish 12.9%, Creole 8.2%, Dutch (official) 4.2%, Papiamento (a Spanish-Portuguese-Dutch-English dialect) 2.2%, French 1.5%, other 3.5% (2001 est.)
Religions: Protestant 41.9% (Pentecostal 14.7%, Methodist 10.0%, Seventh Day Adventist 6.6%, Baptist 4.7%, Anglican 3.1%, other Protestant 2.8%), Roman Catholic 33.1%, Hindu 5.2%, Christian 4.1%, Jehovah's Witness 1.7%, Evangelical 1.4%, Muslim/Jewish 1.1%, other 1.3% (includes Buddhist, Sikh, Rastafarian), none 7.9%, no response 2.4% (2011 est.)
Age structure / 0-14 years: 18.4% (male 4,409/female 4,114)
Age structure / 15-64 years: 66.3% (male 15,158/female 15,496)
Age structure / 65 years and over: 15.2% (2024 est.) (male 3,250/female 3,788)
Dependency ratios / total dependency ratio: 52.8 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / youth dependency ratio: 28.1 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / elderly dependency ratio: 24.7 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / potential support ratio: 4.1 (2025 est.)
Median age / total: 40.8 years (2025 est.)
Median age / male: 39 years
Median age / female: 42.8 years
Population growth rate: 1.1% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 12 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 6.59 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: 5.63 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution: the most populous areas are Lower Prince's Quarter (north of Philipsburg) and Cul de Sac
Urbanization / urban population: 100% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 1.16% annual rate of change (2020-25 est. est.)
Major urban areas - population: 1,327 PHILIPSBURG (capital) (2011)
Sex ratio / at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 0-14 years: 1.07 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 65 years and over: 0.86 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Infant mortality rate / total: 7.5 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Infant mortality rate / male: 8.4 deaths/1,000 live births
Infant mortality rate / female: 6.8 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth / total population: 79.7 years (2024 est.)
Life expectancy at birth / male: 77.4 years
Life expectancy at birth / female: 82.2 years
Total fertility rate: 1.96 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 0.96 (2025 est.)

## Environment
Environmental issues: scarcity of potable water; inadequate solid waste management; pollution from construction, chemical runoff, and sewage
Climate: tropical marine climate, ameliorated by northeast trade winds, results in moderate temperatures; average rainfall of 150 cm/year; hurricane season stretches from July to November
Land use / agricultural land: 0% (2022 est.)
Land use / forest: 10.9% (2022 est.)
Land use / other: 89.1% (2022 est.)
Urbanization / urban population: 100% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 1.16% annual rate of change (2020-25 est. est.)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: Country of Sint Maarten
Country name / conventional short form: Sint Maarten
Country name / local long form: Land Sint Maarten (Dutch)/ Country of Sint Maarten (English)
Country name / local short form: Sint Maarten (Dutch and English)
Country name / former: Netherlands Antilles; Curacao and Dependencies
Country name / etymology: explorer Christopher COLUMBUS named the island in 1493 after Saint MARTIN of Tours because he visited on 11 November, the saint's feast day
Government type: parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy
Dependency status: one of four constituent countries of the Kingdom of the Netherlands; full autonomy in internal affairs granted in 2010; Dutch government responsible for defense and foreign affairs
Capital / name: Philipsburg
Capital / geographic coordinates: 18 1 N, 63 2 W
Capital / time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Capital / etymology: founded and named in 1763 by John PHILIPS, a Scottish captain in the Dutch navy
Legal system: based on Dutch civil law system with some English common law influence
Constitution / history: previous 1947, 1955; latest adopted 21 July 2010, entered into force 10 October 2010 (regulates governance of Sint Maarten but is subordinate to the Charter for the Kingdom of the Netherlands)
Constitution / amendment process: proposals initiated by the Government or by Parliament; passage requires at least a two-thirds majority of the Parliament membership; passage of amendments relating to fundamental rights, authorities of the governor and of Parliament must include the "views" of the Kingdom of the Netherlands Government prior to ratification by Parliament
Citizenship: see the Netherlands
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch / chief of state: King WILLEM-ALEXANDER of the Netherlands (since 30 April 2013); represented by Governor Ajamu G. BALY (since 10 October 2022)
Executive branch / head of government: Prime Minister Luc MERCELINA (since 3 May 2024)
Executive branch / cabinet: Cabinet nominated by the prime minister and appointed by the governor
Executive branch / election/appointment process: the monarch is hereditary; governor appointed by the monarch for a 6-year term; following legislative elections, the Parliament usually elects the leader of the majority party as prime minister
Legislative branch / legislature name: Parliament of Sint Maarten
Legislative branch / legislative structure: unicameral
Legislative branch / number of seats: 15 (directly elected)
Legislative branch / electoral system: proportional representation
Legislative branch / scope of elections: full renewal
Legislative branch / term in office: 4 years
Legislative branch / most recent election date: 1/11/2024
Legislative branch / parties elected and seats per party: NA (4); UPP (3); URSM (2); DP (2); PFP (2); NOW (2)
Legislative branch / percentage of women in chamber: 46.7%
Legislative branch / expected date of next election: 2028
Judicial branch / highest court(s): Joint Court of Justice of Aruba, Curacao, Sint Maarten, and of Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba or "Joint Court of Justice" (consists of the presiding judge, other members, and their substitutes); final appeals heard by the Supreme Court in The Hague, Netherlands
Judicial branch / judge selection and term of office: Joint Court judges appointed by the monarch serve for life
Judicial branch / subordinate courts: Courts in First Instance
Political parties: Democratic Party or DP National Alliance or NA National Opportunity Wealth or NOW Party for Progress or PFP Sint Maarten Christian Party or SMCP Unified Resilient St Maarten Movement or URSM United People's Party or UPP United Sint Maarten Party or US Party
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (represented by the Kingdom of the Netherlands)
Diplomatic representation from the US / embassy: the US does not have an embassy in Sint Maarten; the Consul General to Curacao is accredited to Sint Maarten
International organization participation: Caricom (observer), ILO, Interpol, UNESCO (associate), UPU, WMO
Independence: none (part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands)
National holiday: King's Day (birthday of King WILLEM-ALEXANDER), 27 April (1967)
Flag: description: two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and blue, with a white isosceles triangle based on the left side; the national coat of arms is in the center of the triangle, with an orange-bordered blue shield that displays the white courthouse in Philipsburg, as well as yellow sage (the national flower) in the upper left and the silhouette of a Dutch-French friendship monument in the upper right; over the shield is a yellow rising sun and a brown pelican in flight; a yellow scroll below the shield has the motto SEMPER PROGREDIENS (Always Progressing)
National symbol(s): brown pelican, yellow sage (flower)
National color(s): red, white, blue
National anthem(s) / title: &ldquo;Het Wilhelmus&rdquo; (The William)
National anthem(s) / lyrics/music: Philips VAN MARNIX van Sint Aldegonde (presumed)/unknown
National anthem(s) / history: adopted 1932

## Economy
Economic overview: high-income, tourism-based Dutch autonomous constituent economy; severe hurricane- and COVID-19-related economic recessions; multilateral trust fund helping offset economic downturn; no property taxation; re-exporter to Saint Martin
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $1.986 billion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $1.919 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $1.849 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2024: 3.5% (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2023: 3.8% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2022: 9.8% (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2024: $45,800 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2023: $44,900 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2022: $43,900 (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $1.735 billion (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2017: 2.2% (2017 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2016: 0.1% (2016 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2015: 0.3% (2015 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / industry: 6% (2021 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / services: 89.3% (2021 est.)
Agricultural products: sugar
Industries: tourism, light industry
Industrial production growth rate: 0.5% (2021 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2023: 3% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2022: 3.2% of GDP (2022 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2021: 3.4% of GDP (2021 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2023: -$116.693 million (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2022: -$56.984 million (2022 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2021: -$311.463 million (2021 est.)
Exports / Exports 2023: $1.504 billion (2023 est.)
Exports / Exports 2022: $1.375 billion (2022 est.)
Exports / Exports 2021: $790.938 million (2021 est.)
Exports - partners: Antigua & Barbuda 28%, USA 16%, France 12%, Netherlands 8%, Morocco 7% (2023)
Exports - commodities: scrap iron, ships, jewelry, flavored water, liquor (2023)
Imports / Imports 2023: $1.489 billion (2023 est.)
Imports / Imports 2022: $1.32 billion (2022 est.)
Imports / Imports 2021: $1.003 billion (2021 est.)
Imports - partners: USA 82%, Netherlands 7%, France 4%, Brazil 1%, Switzerland 1% (2023)
Imports - commodities: jewelry, refined petroleum, ships, pearl products, diamonds (2023)
Exchange rates / Currency: Netherlands Antillean guilders (ANG) per US dollar -
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2024: 1.79 (2024 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2023: 1.79 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2022: 1.79 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2021: 1.79 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2020: 1.79 (2020 est.)

## Energy
Electricity access / electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)

## Communications
Telephones - mobile cellular / total subscriptions: 86,542 (2022 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 205 (2022 est.)
Internet country code: .sx
Internet users / percent of population: 89.5% (2022)

## Transportation
Airports: 1 (2025)
Ports / total ports: 2 (2024)
Ports / large: 0
Ports / medium: 0
Ports / small: 2
Ports / very small: 0
Ports / ports with oil terminals: 1
Ports / key ports: Coles Bay Oil Terminal, Philipsburg

## Military and Security
Military and security forces: no regular military forces; Police Force of Sint Maarten (KPSM)
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of the Kingdom of the Netherlands; the KPSM is supported by the Royal Netherlands Marechaussee (Gendarmerie), the Dutch Caribbean Police Force (Korps Politie Caribisch Nederland, KPCN), and the Dutch Caribbean Coast Guard (DCCG or Kustwacht Caribisch Gebied (KWCARIB))

## Transnational Issues
Trafficking in persons / tier rating: Tier 3 — Sint Maarten does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and is not making significant efforts to do so, therefore, Sint Maarten remained on Tier 3; for more details, go to: https://www.state.gov/reports/2025-trafficking-in-persons-report/sint-maarten/

=== Nicaragua ===

## Introduction
Background: The Pacific coast of Nicaragua was settled as a Spanish colony in the early 16th century. Independence from Spain was declared in 1821, and the country became an independent republic in 1838. Britain occupied the Caribbean Coast in the first half of the 19th century, but gradually ceded control of the region in subsequent decades. By 1978, violent opposition to governmental manipulation and corruption resulted in a short-lived civil war that brought a civil-military coalition to power in 1979, spearheaded by Marxist Sandinista guerrillas led by Daniel ORTEGA Saavedra. Nicaraguan aid to leftist rebels in El Salvador prompted the US to sponsor anti-Sandinista Contra guerrillas through much of the 1980s. After losing free and fair elections in 1990, 1996, and 2001, ORTEGA was elected president in 2006, 2011, 2016, and most recently in 2021. Municipal, regional, and national-level elections since 2008 have been marred by widespread irregularities. Democratic institutions have lost their independence under the ORTEGA regime as the president has assumed full control over all branches of government, as well as cracking down on a nationwide pro-democracy protest movement in 2018 and shuttering over 3,300 civil society organizations between 2018 and 2024. In the lead-up to the 2021 presidential election, authorities arrested over 40 individuals linked to the opposition, including presidential candidates, private sector leaders, NGO workers, human rights defenders, and journalists. Only five lesser-known presidential candidates from mostly small parties allied to ORTEGA's Sandinistas were allowed to run against ORTEGA. He then awarded the Sandinistas control of all 153 of Nicaraguan municipalities in the 2022 municipal elections, consolidating one-party rule.

## Geography
Location: Central America, bordering both the Caribbean Sea and the North Pacific Ocean, between Costa Rica and Honduras
Geographic coordinates: 13 00 N, 85 00 W
Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
Area / total: 130,370 sq km
Area / land: 119,990 sq km
Area / water: 10,380 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly larger than Pennsylvania; slightly smaller than New York State
Land boundaries / total: 1,253 km
Land boundaries / border countries: Costa Rica 313 km; Honduras 940 km
Coastline: 910 km
Maritime claims / territorial sea: 12 nm
Maritime claims / contiguous zone: 24 nm
Maritime claims / continental shelf: natural prolongation
Climate: tropical in lowlands, cooler in highlands
Terrain: extensive Atlantic coastal plains rising to central interior mountains; narrow Pacific coastal plain interrupted by volcanoes
Elevation / highest point: Mogoton 2,085 m
Elevation / lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
Elevation / mean elevation: 298 m
Natural resources: gold, silver, copper, tungsten, lead, zinc, timber, fish
Land use / agricultural land: 42.3% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 12.5% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 2.5% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 27.4% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 40.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 17.6% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land: 1,990 sq km (2012)
Major lakes (area sq km) / fresh water lake(s): Lago de Nicaragua - 8,150 sq km; Lago de Managua - 1,040 sq km
Population distribution: the overwhelming majority of the population resides in the western half of the country, with much of the urban growth centered in the capital city of Managua; coastal areas also show large population clusters
Natural hazards: destructive earthquakes; volcanoes; landslides; extremely susceptible to hurricanes volcanism: significant volcanic activity; Cerro Negro (728 m) is one of Nicaragua's most active volcanoes; its lava flows and ash have been known to cause significant damage to farmland and buildings; other historically active volcanoes include Concepcion, Cosiguina, Las Pilas, Masaya, Momotombo, San Cristobal, and Telica
Geography - note: largest country in Central America; contains the largest freshwater body in Central America, Lago de Nicaragua

## People and Society
Population / total: 6,739,380 (2025 est.)
Population / male: 3,304,133
Population / female: 3,435,247
Nationality / noun: Nicaraguan(s)
Nationality / adjective: Nicaraguan
Ethnic groups: Mestizo (mixed Indigenous and White) 69%, White 17%, Black 9%, Indigenous 5%
Languages / Languages: Spanish (official) 99.5%, Indigenous 0.3%, Portuguese 0.1%, other 0.1% (2020 est.)
Languages / major-language sample(s): La Libreta Informativa del Mundo, la fuente indispensable de información básica. (Spanish) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
Religions: Roman Catholic 44.9%, Protestant 38.7% (Evangelical 38.2, Adventist 0.5%), other 1.2%, (includes Jehovah's Witness and Church of Jesus Christ), believer but not belonging to a church 1%, agnostic or atheist 0.4%, none 13.7%, unspecified 0.2% (2020 est.)
Age structure / 0-14 years: 25.1% (male 855,256/female 818,714)
Age structure / 15-64 years: 68.9% (male 2,240,297/female 2,360,244)
Age structure / 65 years and over: 6% (2024 est.) (male 178,347/female 224,090)
Dependency ratios / total dependency ratio: 44.6 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / youth dependency ratio: 35.6 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / elderly dependency ratio: 9 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / potential support ratio: 11.1 (2025 est.)
Median age / total: 29.5 years (2025 est.)
Median age / male: 28.1 years
Median age / female: 29.9 years
Population growth rate: 0.92% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 16.07 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 5.14 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: -1.76 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution: the overwhelming majority of the population resides in the western half of the country, with much of the urban growth centered in the capital city of Managua; coastal areas also show large population clusters
Urbanization / urban population: 59.8% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 1.45% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 1.095 million MANAGUA (capital) (2023)
Sex ratio / at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 65 years and over: 0.8 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth: 19.2 years (2011/12 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio: 60 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Infant mortality rate / total: 14.1 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Infant mortality rate / male: 15.9 deaths/1,000 live births
Infant mortality rate / female: 12.8 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth / total population: 74.7 years (2024 est.)
Life expectancy at birth / male: 73.2 years
Life expectancy at birth / female: 76.4 years
Total fertility rate: 1.82 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 0.89 (2025 est.)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 9.7% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 17.8% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density: 0.68 physicians/1,000 population (2018)
Hospital bed density: 0.9 beds/1,000 population (2021 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: rural: rural: 33.5% of population
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 23.7% (2016)
Alcohol consumption per capita / total: 3.69 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / beer: 1.57 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / wine: 0.02 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / spirits: 2.1 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / other alcohols: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49): 56% (2023 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% GDP): 2.9% of GDP (2023 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% national budget): 11% national budget (2024 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / total: 12 years (2023 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / male: 12 years (2023 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / female: 12 years (2023 est.)

## Environment
Environmental issues: deforestation; soil erosion; water pollution; drought
International environmental agreements / party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
International environmental agreements / signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Climate: tropical in lowlands, cooler in highlands
Land use / agricultural land: 42.3% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 12.5% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 2.5% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 27.4% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 40.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 17.6% (2023 est.)
Urbanization / urban population: 59.8% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 1.45% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / total emissions: 3.806 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from coal and metallurgical coke: 2 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from petroleum and other liquids: 3.806 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Particulate matter emissions: 16.3 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Waste and recycling / municipal solid waste generated annually: 1.529 million tons (2024 est.)
Waste and recycling / percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 15% (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / municipal: 190 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / industrial: 620,000 cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / agricultural: 1.084 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total renewable water resources: 164.52 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Geoparks / total global geoparks and regional networks: 1
Geoparks / global geoparks and regional networks: Rio Coco (2023)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: Republic of Nicaragua
Country name / conventional short form: Nicaragua
Country name / local long form: Rep&uacute;blica de Nicaragua
Country name / local short form: Nicaragua
Country name / etymology: 16th-century Spanish explorer Gil GONZALEZ Davila is said to have combined the name of a local chieftain, Nicarao, with the Spanish word agua (water), referring to the two large lakes in the west of the country (Lake Managua and Lake Nicaragua)
Government type: presidential republic
Capital / name: Managua
Capital / geographic coordinates: 12 08 N, 86 15 W
Capital / time difference: UTC-6 (1 hour behind Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Capital / etymology: the name comes from Lake Managua, whose name is composed of the Guaraní words ama (rain) and nagua (spirit) and refers to a local deity
Administrative divisions: 15 departments ( departamentos , singular - departamento ) and 2 autonomous regions* ( regiones autonomistas , singular - region autonoma ); Boaco, Carazo, Chinandega, Chontales, Costa Caribe Norte*, Costa Caribe Sur*, Estelí, Granada, Jinotega, Leon, Madriz, Managua, Masaya, Matagalpa, Nueva Segovia, Rio San Juan, Rivas
Legal system: civil law system; Supreme Court may review administrative acts
Constitution / history: several previous; latest adopted 19 November 1986, effective 9 January 1987
Constitution / amendment process: proposed by the president of the republic or assent of at least half of the National Assembly membership; passage requires approval by 60% of the membership of the next elected Assembly and promulgation by the president of the republic
International law organization participation: accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; non-party state to the ICCt
Citizenship / citizenship by birth: yes
Citizenship / citizenship by descent only: yes
Citizenship / dual citizenship recognized: no, except in cases where bilateral agreements exist
Citizenship / residency requirement for naturalization: 4 years
Suffrage: 16 years of age; universal
Executive branch / chief of state: President Jose Daniel ORTEGA Saavedra (since 10 January 2007)
Executive branch / head of government: President Jose Daniel ORTEGA Saavedra (since 10 January 2007)
Executive branch / cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
Executive branch / election/appointment process: president and vice president directly elected on the same ballot by qualified plurality vote for a 6-year term (no term limits)
Executive branch / most recent election date: 7 November 2021
Executive branch / election results: 2021: Jose Daniel ORTEGA Saavedra reelected president for a fourth consecutive term; percent of vote - Jose Daniel ORTEGA Saavedra (FSLN) 75.9%, Walter ESPINOZA (PLC) 14.3%, Guillermo OSORNO (CCN) 3.3%, Marcelo MONTIEL (ALN) 3.1%, other 3.4% 2016: Jose Daniel ORTEGA Saavedra reelected president for a third consecutive term; percent of vote - Jose Daniel ORTEGA Saavedra (FSLN) 72.4%, Maximino RODRIGUEZ (PLC) 15%, Jose del Carmen ALVARADO (PLI) 4.5%, Saturnino CERRATO Hodgson (ALN) 4.3%, other 3.7%
Executive branch / expected date of next election: 1 November 2026
Legislative branch / legislature name: National Assembly (Asamblea Nacional)
Legislative branch / legislative structure: unicameral
Legislative branch / number of seats: 91 (all directly elected)
Legislative branch / electoral system: proportional representation
Legislative branch / scope of elections: full renewal
Legislative branch / term in office: 5 years
Legislative branch / most recent election date: 11/7/2021
Legislative branch / parties elected and seats per party: Sandinista National Liberation Front (FSLN) (75); Liberal and Constitutionalist Party (PLC) (9); Other (6)
Legislative branch / percentage of women in chamber: 54.9%
Legislative branch / expected date of next election: November 2026
Judicial branch / highest court(s): Supreme Court or Corte Suprema de Justicia (consists of 16 judges organized into administrative, civil, criminal, and constitutional chambers)
Judicial branch / judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court judges elected by the National Assembly to serve 5-year staggered terms
Judicial branch / subordinate courts: Appeals Court; first instance civil, criminal, and labor courts; military courts are independent of the Supreme Court
Political parties: Alliance for the Republic or APRE Alternative for Change or AC (operates in a political alliance with the FSLN) Autonomous Liberal Party or PAL Caribbean Unity Movement or PAMUC Christian Unity Party or PUC (operates in a political alliance with the FSLN) Independent Liberal Party or PLI Liberal Constitutionalist Party or PLC Moskitia Indigenous Progressive Movement or MOSKITIA PAWANKA (operates in a political alliance with the FSLN) Multiethnic Indigenous Party or PIM (operates in a political alliance with the FSLN) Nationalist Liberal Party or PLN (operates in a political alliance with the FSLN) Nicaraguan Liberal Alliance or ALN Nicaraguan Party of the Christian Path or CCN Nicaraguan Resistance Party or PRN (operates in a political alliance with the FSLN) Sandinista National Liberation Front or FSLN Sons of Mother Earth or YATAMA The New Sons of Mother Earth Movement or MYATAMARAN (operates in a political alliance with the FSLN)
Diplomatic representation in the US / chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charg&eacute; d'Affaires Sammia Alicia HODGSON MCKENZIE (since 3 June 2025)
Diplomatic representation in the US / chancery: 1627 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009
Diplomatic representation in the US / telephone: [1] (202) 939-6570
Diplomatic representation in the US / FAX: [1] (202) 939-6545
Diplomatic representation in the US / email address and website: mperalta@cancilleria.gob.ni United States of America | ConsuladoDeNicaragua.com
Diplomatic representation in the US / consulate(s) general: Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, San Francisco
Diplomatic representation from the US / chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charg&eacute; d&rsquo;Affaires Elias BAUMANN (since December 2025)
Diplomatic representation from the US / embassy: Kilometer 5.5 Carretera Sur, Managua
Diplomatic representation from the US / mailing address: 3240 Managua Place, Washington DC 20521-3240
Diplomatic representation from the US / telephone: [505] 2252-7100,
Diplomatic representation from the US / FAX: [505] 2252-7250
Diplomatic representation from the US / email address and website: ACS.Managua@state.gov https://ni.usembassy.gov/
International organization participation: ACS, BCIE, CACM, CD, CELAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAES, LAIA (observer), MIGA, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, Petrocaribe, SICA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNOOSA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Independence: 15 September 1821 (from Spain)
National holiday: Independence Day, 15 September (1821)
Flag: description: 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 has a triangle with the words REPUBLICA DE NICARAGUA in an arc over it and AMERICA CENTRAL in an arc underneath meaning: blue stands for the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea, and white for the land between the two bodies of water history: the banner is based on the former blue-white-blue flag of the Federal Republic of Central America
National symbol(s): turquoise-browed motmot (bird)
National color(s): blue, white
National anthem(s) / title: "Salve a ti, Nicaragua" (Hail to Thee, Nicaragua)
National anthem(s) / lyrics/music: Salomon Ibarra MAYORGA/traditional, arranged by Luis Abraham DELGADILLO
National anthem(s) / history: music was approved in 1918 and the lyrics in 1939
National heritage / total World Heritage Sites: 2 (both cultural)
National heritage / selected World Heritage Site locales: Ruins of León Viejo; León Cathedral

## Economy
Economic overview: low-income Central American economy; until 2018, nearly 20 years of sustained GDP growth; recent struggles due to COVID-19, political instability, and hurricanes; significant remittances; increasing poverty and food scarcity since 2005; sanctions limit investment
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $52.989 billion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $51.153 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $48.985 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2024: 3.6% (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2023: 4.4% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2022: 3.6% (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2024: $7,700 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2023: $7,500 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2022: $7,300 (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $19.694 billion (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024: 4.6% (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023: 8.4% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 10.5% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / agriculture: 14.4% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / industry: 27.6% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / services: 46.8% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / household consumption: 80.6% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / government consumption: 12.3% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in fixed capital: 22.9% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in inventories: 1.8% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / exports of goods and services: 40.5% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / imports of goods and services: -58.1% (2024 est.)
Agricultural products: sugarcane, milk, rice, oil palm fruit, maize, plantains, cassava, groundnuts, beans, chicken (2023)
Industries: food processing, chemicals, machinery and metal products, knit and woven apparel, petroleum refining and distribution, beverages, footwear, wood, electric wire harness manufacturing, mining
Industrial production growth rate: 3.6% (2024 est.)
Labor force: 3.225 million (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2024: 4.6% (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2023: 4.8% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2022: 5% (2022 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / total: 9% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / male: 7.8% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / female: 12% (2024 est.)
Population below poverty line: 24.9% (2016 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2024: 26.6% of GDP (2024 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2023: 26.2% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2022: 20.6% of GDP (2022 est.)
Budget / revenues: $3.856 billion (2023 est.)
Budget / expenditures: $3.382 billion (2023 est.)
Public debt / Public debt 2017: 33.3% of GDP (2017 est.)
Taxes and other revenues: 19.9% (of GDP) (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2024: $817.618 million (2024 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2023: $1.465 billion (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2022: -$459.6 million (2022 est.)
Exports / Exports 2024: $8.135 billion (2024 est.)
Exports / Exports 2023: $8.248 billion (2023 est.)
Exports / Exports 2022: $7.87 billion (2022 est.)
Exports - partners: USA 51%, Mexico 12%, El Salvador 6%, Canada 6%, Switzerland 4% (2023)
Exports - commodities: garments, gold, insulated wire, coffee, beef (2023)
Imports / Imports 2024: $11.437 billion (2024 est.)
Imports / Imports 2023: $10.519 billion (2023 est.)
Imports / Imports 2022: $10.213 billion (2022 est.)
Imports - partners: USA 24%, China 13%, Mexico 9%, Honduras 9%, Guatemala 8% (2023)
Imports - commodities: garments, refined petroleum, crude petroleum, plastic products, fabric (2023)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024: $6.105 billion (2024 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023: $5.447 billion (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $4.404 billion (2022 est.)
Debt - external / Debt - external 2023: $6.753 billion (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Currency: cordobas (NIO) per US dollar -
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2024: 36.624 (2024 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2023: 36.441 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2022: 35.874 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2021: 35.171 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2020: 34.342 (2020 est.)

## Energy
Electricity access / electrification - total population: 86.5% (2022 est.)
Electricity access / electrification - urban areas: 100%
Electricity access / electrification - rural areas: 66.3%
Electricity / installed generating capacity: 1.849 million kW (2023 est.)
Electricity / consumption: 4.654 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / imports: 1.125 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / transmission/distribution losses: 839 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / fossil fuels: 35.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / solar: 0.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / wind: 12.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / hydroelectricity: 14.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / geothermal: 15.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / biomass and waste: 20.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Coal / imports: 22 metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum / total petroleum production: 200 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Petroleum / refined petroleum consumption: 28,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Energy consumption per capita / Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 10.66 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

## Communications
Telephones - fixed lines / total subscriptions: 234,000 (2023 est.)
Telephones - fixed lines / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 3 (2023 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / total subscriptions: 7.33 million (2024 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 106 (2024 est.)
Broadcast media: multiple terrestrial TV stations, supplemented by cable TV in most urban areas; nearly all are state-owned or affiliated; more than 300 radio stations, both state-affiliated and privately owned (2019)
Internet country code: .ni
Internet users / percent of population: 58% (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / total: 371,000 (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 5 (2023 est.)

## Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: YN
Airports: 39 (2025)
Merchant marine / total: 5 (2023)
Merchant marine / by type: general cargo 1, oil tanker 1, other 3
Ports / total ports: 5 (2024)
Ports / large: 0
Ports / medium: 0
Ports / small: 2
Ports / very small: 3
Ports / ports with oil terminals: 4
Ports / key ports: Bluefields, Corinto, El Bluff, Puerto Cabezas, Puerto Sandino

## Military and Security
Military and security forces: Armed Forces of Nicaragua (formal name is Army of Nicaragua or Ejercito de Nicaragua, EN): Land Force; Naval Force; Air Force (2025)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2024: 0.5% of GDP (2024 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2023: 0.6% of GDP (2023 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2022: 0.6% of GDP (2022 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2021: 0.6% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2020: 0.6% of GDP (2020 est.)
Military and security service personnel strengths: approximately 12,000 active Armed Forces (2025)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the military's air and ground force inventories include mostly secondhand Russian or Soviet-era equipment (2025)
Military service age and obligation: 18-30 years of age for voluntary military service (16-20 for cadets); no conscription; tour of duty 18-36 months (2025)
Military - note: the military is responsible for defending Nicaragua’s independence, sovereignty, and territory; it also has some domestic security responsibilities, including border security, assisting the police, protecting natural resources, and providing disaster relief and humanitarian assistance; Nicaragua has defense ties with Cuba, Venezuela, and Russia; Russia has provided training support and equipment; in 2025, Nicaragua signed an agreement of “mutual protection” with Russia the modern Army of Nicaragua was created in 1979 as the Sandinista Popular Army (1979-1984); prior to 1979, the military was known as the National Guard, which was organized and trained by the US in the 1920s and 1930s; the first commander of the National Guard, Anastasio SOMOZA GARCIA, seized power in 1937 and ran the country as a military dictator until his assassination in 1956; his sons ran the country either directly or through figureheads until the Sandinistas came to power in 1979; the defeated National Guard was disbanded by the Sandinistas (2025)

## Space
Space agency/agencies: National Secretariat for Extraterrestrial Space Affairs, The Moon and Other Celestial Bodies (Secretar&iacute;a Nacional para Asuntos del Espacio Ultraterrestre, la Luna y otros Cuerpos Celestes, established 2021; operates under the military&rsquo;s control) (2025)
Space program overview: stated mission is to promote the development of space activities with the aim of broadening the country&rsquo;s capacities in education, industry, science, and technology; has cooperated with China and Russia; is a signatory of the convention establishing the Latin American and Caribbean Space Agency (2025)
Key space-program milestones: 1994 - joined UN Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space 2017 - Russia opened a satellite navigation system monitoring station in Nicaragua 2021 - signed convention establishing the Latin American and Caribbean Space Agency 2024 - joined the China-led International Lunar Research Station project, which aims to establish a permanent base on the Moon by the 2030s

## Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons / IDPs: 89 (2024 est.)
Trafficking in persons / tier rating: Tier 3 — Nicaragua does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and is not making significant efforts to do so, therefore, Nicaragua remained on Tier 3; for more details, go to: https://www.state.gov/reports/2025-trafficking-in-persons-report/nicaragua/
Illicit drugs / USG identification: major illicit drug-producing and/or drug-transit country (2025)

=== Panama ===

## Introduction
Background: Explored and settled by the Spanish in the 16th century, Panama broke with Spain in 1821 and joined a union of Colombia, Ecuador, and Venezuela that was named the Republic of Gran Colombia. When the union dissolved in 1830, Panama remained part of Colombia. With US backing, Panama seceded from Colombia in 1903 and promptly signed a treaty with the US allowing for the construction of a canal and US sovereignty over a strip of land known as the Panama Canal Zone on either side of the structure. The US Army Corps of Engineers built the Panama Canal between 1904 and 1914. In 1977, an agreement was signed for the complete transfer of the Canal from the US to Panama by the end of the century. Certain portions of the Zone and increasing responsibility over the Canal were turned over in the subsequent decades. With US help, Panamanian dictator Manuel NORIEGA was deposed in 1989. The entire Panama Canal, the area supporting the Canal, and remaining US military bases were transferred to Panama by the end of 1999. An ambitious expansion project to more than double the Canal's capacity by allowing for more Canal transits and larger ships was carried out between 2007 and 2016.

## Geography
Location: Central America, bordering both the Caribbean Sea and the North Pacific Ocean, between Colombia and Costa Rica
Geographic coordinates: 9 00 N, 80 00 W
Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
Area / total: 75,420 sq km
Area / land: 74,340 sq km
Area / water: 1,080 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly smaller than South Carolina
Land boundaries / total: 687 km
Land boundaries / border countries: Colombia 339 km; Costa Rica 348 km
Coastline: 2,490 km
Maritime claims / territorial sea: 12 nm
Maritime claims / contiguous zone: 24 nm
Maritime claims / exclusive economic zone: 200 nm or edge of continental margin
Climate: tropical maritime; hot, humid, cloudy; prolonged rainy season (May to January), short dry season (January to May)
Terrain: interior mostly steep, rugged mountains with dissected, upland plains; coastal plains with rolling hills
Elevation / highest point: Volcan Baru 3,475 m
Elevation / lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
Elevation / mean elevation: 360 m
Natural resources: copper, mahogany forests, shrimp, hydropower
Land use / agricultural land: 29.5% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 7.6% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 1.6% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 20.3% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 62.3% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 8.2% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land: 394 sq km (2022)
Major lakes (area sq km) / salt water lake(s): Laguna de Chiriqui - 900 sq km
Population distribution: population is concentrated towards the center of the country, particularly around the Canal, but a sizeable segment of the populace also lives in the far west around David; the eastern third of the country is sparsely inhabited
Natural hazards: occasional severe storms and forest fires in the Darien area
Geography - note: strategic location on eastern end of isthmus forming land bridge that connects North and South America; controls the Panama Canal, which links the North Atlantic Ocean with the North Pacific Ocean via the Caribbean Sea

## People and Society
Population / total: 4,536,008 (2025 est.)
Population / male: 2,284,105
Population / female: 2,251,903
Nationality / noun: Panamanian(s)
Nationality / adjective: Panamanian
Ethnic groups: Mestizo (mixed Indigenous and White) 65%, Indigenous 12.3% (Ngabe 7.6%, Kuna 2.4%, Embera 0.9%, Bugle 0.8%, other 0.4%, unspecified 0.2%), Black or African descent 9.2%, Mulatto 6.8%, White 6.7% (2010 est.)
Languages / Languages: Spanish (official), Indigenous languages (including Ngabere (Guaymi), Buglere, Kuna, Embera, Wounaan, Naso (Teribe), and Bri Bri), Panamanian English Creole (a mixture of English and Spanish with elements of Ngabere, also known as Guari Guari and Colon Creole), English, Chinese (Yue and Hakka), Arabic, French Creole, other (Yiddish, Hebrew, Korean, Japanese)
Languages / major-language sample(s): La Libreta Informativa del Mundo, la fuente indispensable de información básica. (Spanish) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
Religions: Evangelical 55%, Roman Catholic 33.4%, none 10.1%, unspecified 1.5% (2023 est.)
Age structure / 0-14 years: 25% (male 574,336/female 544,180)
Age structure / 15-64 years: 64.8% (male 1,465,907/female 1,433,023)
Age structure / 65 years and over: 10.1% (2024 est.) (male 211,014/female 241,781)
Dependency ratios / total dependency ratio: 54.4 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / youth dependency ratio: 38.4 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / elderly dependency ratio: 16 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / potential support ratio: 6.3 (2025 est.)
Median age / total: 31.7 years (2025 est.)
Median age / male: 31 years
Median age / female: 31.9 years
Population growth rate: 1.44% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 17.11 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 5.48 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: 2.82 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution: population is concentrated towards the center of the country, particularly around the Canal, but a sizeable segment of the populace also lives in the far west around David; the eastern third of the country is sparsely inhabited
Urbanization / urban population: 69.5% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 1.92% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 1.977 million PANAMA CITY (capital) (2023)
Sex ratio / at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 65 years and over: 0.87 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio: 37 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Infant mortality rate / total: 13.2 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Infant mortality rate / male: 15.4 deaths/1,000 live births
Infant mortality rate / female: 12.9 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth / total population: 79.2 years (2024 est.)
Life expectancy at birth / male: 76.4 years
Life expectancy at birth / female: 82.2 years
Total fertility rate: 2.33 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 1.13 (2025 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: urban: urban: 98.5% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: rural: rural: 86.1% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: total: total: 94.7% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: urban: urban: 1.5% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: rural: rural: 13.9% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: total: total: 5.3% of population (2022 est.)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 9.7% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 22.2% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density: 1.63 physicians/1,000 population (2022)
Hospital bed density: 1.9 beds/1,000 population (2020 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: urban: urban: 96.1% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: rural: rural: 70.1% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: total: total: 88% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: urban: urban: 3.9% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: rural: rural: 29.9% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: total: total: 12% of population (2022 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 22.7% (2016)
Alcohol consumption per capita / total: 6.54 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / beer: 5.29 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / wine: 0.02 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / spirits: 1.2 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / other alcohols: 0.02 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Tobacco use / total: 4.5% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / male: 7.4% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / female: 1.7% (2025 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 2.9% (2019 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49): 53.2% (2023 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% GDP): 2.5% of GDP (2023 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% national budget): 16.3% national budget (2024 est.)
Literacy / total population: 96.3% (2024 est.)
Literacy / male: 97.3% (2024 est.)
Literacy / female: 95.9% (2024 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / total: 13 years (2016 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / male: 12 years (2016 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / female: 14 years (2016 est.)

## Environment
Environmental issues: water pollution from agricultural runoff; deforestation of tropical rainforest; land degradation and soil erosion in Panama Canal; air pollution in urban areas; effects of mining
International environmental agreements / party to: Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling
International environmental agreements / signed, but not ratified: Marine Life Conservation
Climate: tropical maritime; hot, humid, cloudy; prolonged rainy season (May to January), short dry season (January to May)
Land use / agricultural land: 29.5% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 7.6% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 1.6% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 20.3% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 62.3% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 8.2% (2023 est.)
Urbanization / urban population: 69.5% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 1.92% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / total emissions: 23.458 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from coal and metallurgical coke: 1.969 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from petroleum and other liquids: 20.389 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from consumed natural gas: 1.101 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Particulate matter emissions: 11.9 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Waste and recycling / municipal solid waste generated annually: 1.472 million tons (2024 est.)
Waste and recycling / percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 14.2% (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / municipal: 759.1 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / industrial: 6.2 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / agricultural: 446.1 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total renewable water resources: 139.304 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: Republic of Panama
Country name / conventional short form: Panama
Country name / local long form: Rep&uacute;blica de Panama
Country name / local short form: Panama
Country name / etymology: origin is unclear; may come from a Guarani word meaning "place of many fish"
Government type: presidential republic
Capital / name: Panama City
Capital / geographic coordinates: 8 58 N, 79 32 W
Capital / time difference: UTC-5 (same time as Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Capital / etymology: origin is unclear; may come from a Guaran&iacute; word meaning "place of many fish"
Administrative divisions: 10 provinces ( provincias , singular - provincia ) and 4 indigenous regions* ( comarcas ); Bocas del Toro, Chiriquí, Coclé, Colon, Darien, Embera-Wounaan*, Guna Yala*, Herrera, Los Santos, Naso Tjer Di*, Ngabe-Bugle*, Panama, Panama Oeste, Veraguas
Legal system: civil law system; Supreme Court of Justice reviews legislative acts
Constitution / history: several previous; latest effective 11 October 1972
Constitution / amendment process: proposed by the National Assembly, by the Cabinet, or by the Supreme Court of Justice; passage requires approval by one of two procedures: 1) absolute majority vote of the Assembly membership in each of three readings and by absolute majority vote of the next elected Assembly in a single reading without textual modifications; 2) absolute majority vote of the Assembly membership in each of three readings, followed by absolute majority vote of the next elected Assembly in each of three readings with textual modifications, and approval in a referendum
International law organization participation: accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Citizenship / citizenship by birth: yes
Citizenship / citizenship by descent only: yes
Citizenship / dual citizenship recognized: no
Citizenship / residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch / chief of state: President Jos&eacute; Ra&uacute;l MULINO Quintero (since 1 July 2024)
Executive branch / head of government: President Jos&eacute; Ra&uacute;l MULINO Quintero (since 1 July 2024)
Executive branch / cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president
Executive branch / election/appointment process: president and vice president directly elected on the same ballot by simple-majority popular vote for a 5-year term; president eligible for a single non-consecutive term)
Executive branch / most recent election date: 5 May 2024
Executive branch / election results: 2024: José Raúl MULINO Quintero elected president; percent of vote - José Raúl MULINO Quintero (RM) 34.2%, Ricardo Alberto LOMBANA González (MOCA) 24.6%, Martín Erasto TORRIJOS Espino (PP) 16%, Alberto ROUX Moses (CD) 11.4%, Zulay RODRÍGUEZ Lu (independent) 6.6%, José Gabriel CARRIZO Jaén (PRD) 5.9%, other 1.3% 2019: Laurentino "Nito" CORTIZO Cohen elected president; percent of vote - Laurentino CORTIZO Cohen (PRD) 33.3%, Romulo ROUX (CD) 31%, Ricardo LOMBANA (independent) 18.8%, Jose BLANDON (Panameñista Party) 10.8%, Ana Matilde GOMEZ Ruiloba (independent) 4.8%, other 1.3%
Executive branch / expected date of next election: May 2029
Legislative branch / legislature name: National Assembly (Asamblea Nacional)
Legislative branch / legislative structure: unicameral
Legislative branch / number of seats: 71 (all directly elected)
Legislative branch / electoral system: mixed system
Legislative branch / scope of elections: full renewal
Legislative branch / term in office: 5 years
Legislative branch / most recent election date: 5/5/2024
Legislative branch / parties elected and seats per party: Realizing Goals (RM) (14); Democratic Revolutionary Party (PRD) (13); Democratic Change (CD) (8); Panamenista Party (8); Independents (20); Other (8)
Legislative branch / percentage of women in chamber: 21.7%
Legislative branch / expected date of next election: May 2029
Judicial branch / highest court(s): Supreme Court of Justice or Corte Suprema de Justicia (consists of 9 magistrates and 9 alternates and divided into civil, criminal, administrative, and general business chambers)
Judicial branch / judge selection and term of office: magistrates appointed by the president for staggered 10-year terms
Judicial branch / subordinate courts: appellate courts or Tribunal Superior; Labor Supreme Courts; Court of Audit; circuit courts or Tribunal Circuital (2 each in 9 of the 10 provinces); municipal courts; electoral, family, maritime, and adolescent courts
Political parties: Alliance Party or PA Alternative Independent Socialist Party or PAIS Another Way Movement or MOCA Democratic Change or CD Democratic Revolutionary Party or PRD Nationalist Republican Liberal Movement or MOLIRENA Panameñista Party (formerly the Arnulfista Party) Popular Party or PP (formerly Christian Democratic Party or PDC) Realizing Goals Party or RM
Diplomatic representation in the US / chief of mission: Ambassador Jos&eacute; Miguel ALEM&Aacute;N HEALY (since 18 September 2024)
Diplomatic representation in the US / chancery: 2862 McGill Terrace NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation in the US / telephone: [1] (202) 483-1407
Diplomatic representation in the US / FAX: [1] (202) 483-8413
Diplomatic representation in the US / email address and website: info@embassyofpanama.org https://www.embassyofpanama.org/
Diplomatic representation in the US / consulate(s) general: Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, Philadelphia, Tampa
Diplomatic representation from the US / chief of mission: Ambassador Kevin Marino CABRERA (since 5 May 2025)
Diplomatic representation from the US / embassy: Building 783, Demetrio Basilio Lakas Avenue, Clayton
Diplomatic representation from the US / mailing address: 9100 Panama City PL, Washington, DC 20521-9100
Diplomatic representation from the US / telephone: [507] 317-5000
Diplomatic representation from the US / FAX: [507] 317-5568
Diplomatic representation from the US / email address and website: Panama-ACS@state.gov https://pa.usembassy.gov/
International organization participation: ACS, BCIE, CAN (observer), CD, CELAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAES, LAIA, MIGA, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, Pacific Alliance (observer), PCA, SICA, UN, UNASUR (observer), UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNOOSA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Independence: 3 November 1903 (from Colombia); 28 November 1821 (from Spain)
National holiday: Independence Day (Separation Day), 3 November (1903)
Flag: description: divided into four equal rectangles; one of the top quadrants is white (left side) with a five-pointed blue star in the center, and the other is plain red; one of the bottom quadrants is plain blue (left side), and the other is white with a five-pointed red star in the center meaning: blue and red stand for the main political parties, and white for peace between them; the blue star stands for the civic virtues of purity and honesty, and the red star for authority and law
National symbol(s): harpy eagle
National color(s): blue, white, red
National anthem(s) / title: "Himno Istmeno" (Isthmus Hymn)
National anthem(s) / lyrics/music: Jeronimo DE LA OSSA/Santos A. JORGE
National anthem(s) / history: adopted 1925
National heritage / total World Heritage Sites: 6 (3 cultural, 3 natural)
National heritage / selected World Heritage Site locales: Caribbean Fortifications (c); Darien National Park (n); Talamanca Range-La Amistad National Park (n); Panamá Viejo and Historic District of Panamá (c); Coiba National Park (n); The Colonial Transisthmian Route of Panamá (c)

## Economy
Economic overview: upper middle-income Central American economy; increasing Chinese trade; US dollar user; canal expansion fueling broader infrastructure investment; services sector dominates economy; historic money-laundering and illegal drug hub
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $164.484 billion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $159.908 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $148.891 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2024: 2.9% (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2023: 7.4% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2022: 10.8% (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2024: $36,400 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2023: $35,900 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2022: $33,800 (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $86.26 billion (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024: 0.7% (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023: 1.5% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 2.9% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / agriculture: 2.6% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / industry: 26.3% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / services: 68.8% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / household consumption: 46.7% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / government consumption: 12.2% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in fixed capital: 32.3% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in inventories: 5.4% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / exports of goods and services: 46.5% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / imports of goods and services: -43.1% (2023 est.)
Agricultural products: sugarcane, rice, bananas, oranges, oil palm fruit, chicken, plantains, maize, milk, pineapples (2023)
Industries: construction, brewing, cement and other construction materials, sugar milling
Industrial production growth rate: -2.6% (2024 est.)
Labor force: 2.206 million (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2024: 6.6% (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2023: 6.6% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2022: 8.1% (2022 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / total: 16.8% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / male: 13.4% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / female: 22.1% (2024 est.)
Population below poverty line: 21.8% (2021 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income / Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2023: 48.9 (2023 est.)
Average household expenditures / on food: 15.4% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Average household expenditures / on alcohol and tobacco: 1.6% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / lowest 10%: 1.2% (2023 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / highest 10%: 36.9% (2023 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2024: 0.6% of GDP (2024 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2023: 0.6% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2022: 0.7% of GDP (2022 est.)
Budget / revenues: $7.57 billion (2021 est.)
Budget / expenditures: $12.046 billion (2021 est.)
Public debt / Public debt 2016: 37.4% of GDP (2016 est.)
Taxes and other revenues: 7.5% (of GDP) (2021 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2024: $1.672 billion (2024 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2023: -$2.581 billion (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2022: $28.769 million (2022 est.)
Exports / Exports 2024: $37.376 billion (2024 est.)
Exports / Exports 2023: $37.905 billion (2023 est.)
Exports / Exports 2022: $35.717 billion (2022 est.)
Exports - partners: China 25%, Japan 10%, USA 6%, Thailand 5%, Costa Rica 5% (2023)
Exports - commodities: copper ore, ships, refined petroleum, bananas, fish (2023)
Imports / Imports 2024: $30.887 billion (2024 est.)
Imports / Imports 2023: $35.927 billion (2023 est.)
Imports / Imports 2022: $32.646 billion (2022 est.)
Imports - partners: USA 15%, Colombia 13%, China 13%, Ecuador 13%, Japan 11% (2023)
Imports - commodities: crude petroleum, ships, refined petroleum, nitrogen compounds, cars (2023)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024: $6.856 billion (2024 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023: $6.757 billion (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $6.876 billion (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Currency: balboas (PAB) per US dollar -
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2024: 1 (2024 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2023: 1 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2022: 1 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2021: 1 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2020: 1 (2020 est.)

## Energy
Electricity access / electrification - total population: 95% (2022 est.)
Electricity access / electrification - urban areas: 99%
Electricity access / electrification - rural areas: 100%
Electricity / installed generating capacity: 4.485 million kW (2023 est.)
Electricity / consumption: 11.777 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / exports: 404.9 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / imports: 234 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / transmission/distribution losses: 924.16 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / fossil fuels: 38.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / solar: 6.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / wind: 6.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / hydroelectricity: 47.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / biomass and waste: 0.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Coal / consumption: 863,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / imports: 863,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum / refined petroleum consumption: 131,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Natural gas / consumption: 564.786 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / imports: 564.786 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
Energy consumption per capita / Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 78.01 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

## Communications
Telephones - fixed lines / total subscriptions: 811,000 (2023 est.)
Telephones - fixed lines / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 18 (2023 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / total subscriptions: 6.98 million (2023 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 157 (2023 est.)
Broadcast media: multiple privately owned TV networks and a government-owned educational TV station; multi-channel cable and satellite TV subscription services are available; more than 100 commercial radio stations (2019)
Internet country code: .pa
Internet users / percent of population: 78% (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / total: 809,000 (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 18 (2023 est.)

## Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: HP
Airports: 77 (2025)
Heliports: 1 (2025)
Railways / total: 77 km (2014)
Railways / standard gauge: 77 km (2014) 1.435-m gauge
Merchant marine / total: 8,174 (2023)
Merchant marine / by type: bulk carrier 2732, container ship 671, general cargo 1,428, oil tanker 866, other 2,477
Ports / total ports: 12 (2024)
Ports / large: 0
Ports / medium: 3
Ports / small: 3
Ports / very small: 5
Ports / size unknown: 1
Ports / ports with oil terminals: 5
Ports / key ports: Bahia de las Minas, Balboa, Pedregal, Puerto Armuelles, Puerto Colon, Puerto Cristobal

## Military and Security
Military and security forces: no regular military forces Ministry of Public Security: National Police (Policía Nacional, PN), National Aeronaval Service (Servicio Nacional Aeronaval, SENAN), National Border Service (Servicio Nacional de Fronteras, SENAFRONT) (2025)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2024: 1.1% of GDP (2024 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2023: 1.1% of GDP (2023 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2022: 1.2% of GDP (2022 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2021: 1.3% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2020: 1.4% of GDP (2020 est.)
Military and security service personnel strengths: approximately 30,000 Ministry of Public Security personnel (2025)
Military - note: the Panamanian Public Forces focus on law enforcement, border control, and maritime security; the National Police are responsible for internal law enforcement and public order, while the National Border Service (SENAFRONT) handles border security; the Aeronaval Service is responsible for carrying out air and naval operations that include some internal security responsibilities; key areas of focus are countering narcotics trafficking and securing the border, particularly along the frontier with Colombia where SENAFRONT maintains a significant presence Panama created a paramilitary National Guard (Guardia Nacional de Panamá) in the 1950s from the former National Police (established 1904); the National Guard subsequently evolved into more of a military force with some police responsibilities; it seized power in a coup in 1968 and military officers ran the country until 1989; in 1983, the National Guard was renamed the Panama Defense Force (PDF); the PDF was disbanded after the 1989 US invasion and the current national police forces were formed in 1990; the armed forces were officially abolished under the 1994 Constitution (2025)

## Terrorism
Terrorist group(s): Tren de Aragua (TdA)

## Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons / refugees: 10,801 (2024 est.)
Refugees and internally displaced persons / stateless persons: 928 (2024 est.)
Illicit drugs / USG identification: major illicit drug-producing and/or drug-transit country (2025)

=== Saint Martin ===

## Introduction
Background: Christopher COLUMBUS claimed Saint Martin for Spain in 1493, naming it after the feast day of St. Martin of Tours, but it was the Dutch who occupied the island in 1631 to exploit its salt deposits. The Spanish retook Saint Martin in 1633, but the Dutch continued to assert their claims. The Spanish finally relinquished the island to the French and Dutch, who divided it between themselves in 1648. The border frequently fluctuated over the next 200 years because of friction between the two countries, with the French eventually holding the greater portion of the island (about 61%). The cultivation of sugarcane introduced African slavery to the island in the late 18th century; the practice was not abolished until 1848. The island became a free port in 1939, and the tourism industry was dramatically expanded during the 1970s and 1980s. In 2003, the populace of Saint Martin voted to secede from Guadeloupe, and in 2007, the northern portion of the island became a French overseas collectivity. In 2010, the southern Dutch portion of the island became the independent nation of Sint Maarten within the Kingdom of the Netherlands. In 2017, Hurricane Irma passed over the island of Saint Martin, causing extensive damage to roads, communications, electrical power, and housing; the UN estimated that 90% of the buildings were damaged or destroyed.

## Geography
Location: Caribbean, located in the Leeward Islands (northern) group; French part of the island of Saint Martin in the Caribbean Sea; Saint Martin lies east of the US Virgin Islands
Geographic coordinates: 18 05 N, 63 57 W
Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
Area / total: 50 sq km
Area / land: 50 sq km
Area / water: negligible
Area - comparative: more than one-third the size of Washington, D.C.
Land boundaries / total: 16 km
Land boundaries / border countries: Sint Maarten 16 km
Coastline: 58.9 km (for entire island)
Climate: temperature averages 27-29 degrees Celsius all year long; low humidity, gentle trade winds, brief, intense rain showers; hurricane season stretches from July to November
Elevation / highest point: Pic du Paradis 424 m
Elevation / lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
Natural resources: salt
Land use / agricultural land: 0% (2022 est.)
Land use / forest: 24.8% (2022 est.)
Land use / other: 75.2% (2022 est.)
Population distribution: most of the population is found along the coast, with the largest concentration around the capital of Marigot, as well as Orleans and Grand-Case
Natural hazards: subject to hurricanes from July to November
Geography - note: note 1: the southern border is shared with Sint Maarten, which is part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands; together, these two entities make up the smallest landmass in the world that is shared by two self-governing states note 2: Simpson Bay Lagoon (aka Simson Bay Lagoon or The Great Pond) is one of the largest inland lagoons in the West Indies; the border between the French and Dutch halves of the island runs across the center of the lagoon, which is shared by both of the island's entities

## People and Society
Population / total: 33,093 (2025 est.)
Population / male: 15,825
Population / female: 17,268
Ethnic groups: Creole (Mulatto), Black, Guadeloupe Mestizo (French-East Asian), White, East Indian, other
Languages / Languages: French (official), Dutch, English, Guadeloupian Creole, Haitian Creole, Italian, Martiniquan Creole, Papiamento (dialect of Netherlands Antilles), Spanish
Languages / major-language sample(s): The World Factbook, une source indispensable d'informations de base. (French) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
Religions: Roman Catholic, Jehovah's Witness, Protestant, Hindu
Age structure / 0-14 years: 24.7% (male 4,039/female 4,100)
Age structure / 15-64 years: 64.5% (male 10,216/female 11,068)
Age structure / 65 years and over: 10.8% (2024 est.) (male 1,536/female 2,037)
Dependency ratios / total dependency ratio: 55.4 (2025 est.) N
Dependency ratios / youth dependency ratio: 38 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / elderly dependency ratio: 17.4 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / potential support ratio: 5.7 (2025 est.)
Median age / total: 34.3 years (2025 est.)
Median age / male: 33.4 years
Median age / female: 34.9 years
Population growth rate: 0.29% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 13.78 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 4.83 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: -6.07 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution: most of the population is found along the coast, with the largest concentration around the capital of Marigot, as well as Orleans and Grand-Case
Sex ratio / at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 0-14 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 15-64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 65 years and over: 0.75 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / total population: 0.92 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Infant mortality rate / total: 6.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Infant mortality rate / male: 7.6 deaths/1,000 live births
Infant mortality rate / female: 5.3 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth / total population: 81 years (2024 est.)
Life expectancy at birth / male: 78 years
Life expectancy at birth / female: 84.2 years
Total fertility rate: 1.8 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 0.88 (2025 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: total: total: 100% of population
Drinking water source / unimproved: urban: urban: 0% of population
Sanitation facility access / improved: urban: urban: 100% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: total: total: 100% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: urban: urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: total: total: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% GDP): 3.9% of GDP (2023 est.) NA
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% national budget): 23% national budget (2023 est.)

## Environment
Environmental issues: waste management; salinity intrusions; limited freshwater resources; over-exploitation of marine resources (reef fisheries, coral, and shell); water pollution and damage to coral reefs from boats
Climate: temperature averages 27-29 degrees Celsius all year long; low humidity, gentle trade winds, brief, intense rain showers; hurricane season stretches from July to November
Land use / agricultural land: 0% (2022 est.)
Land use / forest: 24.8% (2022 est.)
Land use / other: 75.2% (2022 est.)
Waste and recycling / municipal solid waste generated annually: 15,500 tons (2024 est.)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: Overseas Collectivity of Saint Martin
Country name / conventional short form: Saint Martin
Country name / local long form: Collectivit&eacute; d'outre mer de Saint-Martin
Country name / local short form: Saint-Martin
Country name / etymology: explorer Christopher COLUMBUS named the island after Saint MARTIN of Tours during a visit on 11 November 1493, the saint's feast day
Government type: parliamentary democracy (Territorial Council); overseas collectivity of France
Dependency status: overseas collectivity of France
Capital / name: Marigot
Capital / geographic coordinates: 18 04 N, 63 05 W
Capital / time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Capital / etymology: the name is taken from the French word marigot , meaning "backwater" or "swampy area;" it probably comes from the original fishing village's location next to a water-logged area on a lagoon
Legal system: French civil law
Constitution / history: 4 October 1958 (French Constitution)
Constitution / amendment process: amendment procedures of France's constitution apply
Citizenship: see France
Suffrage: 18 years of age, universal
Executive branch / chief of state: President Emmanuel MACRON (since 14 May 2017); represented by Prefect Cyrille LE VELY (since 10 February 2025)
Executive branch / head of government: President of Territorial Council Louis MUSSINGTON (since 3 April 2022)
Executive branch / cabinet: Executive Council, as well as an advisory economic, social, and cultural council
Executive branch / election/appointment process: French president directly elected by absolute-majority popular vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); prefect appointed by French president on the advice of French Ministry of Interior; president of Territorial Council elected by its members for a 5-year term
Executive branch / most recent election date: 3 April 2022
Executive branch / election results: 2022: Louis MUSSINGTON (RSM) elected president; Territorial Council vote - unanimous 2017: Daniel Gibbs (UD) elected president; Territorial Council vote - 18 of 23 votes
Executive branch / expected date of next election: 2027
Legislative branch / legislature name: Territorial Council
Legislative branch / legislative structure: unicameral
Legislative branch / number of seats: 23 (directly elected)
Legislative branch / electoral system: plurality/majority
Legislative branch / scope of elections: full renewal
Legislative branch / term in office: 5 years
Legislative branch / most recent election date: 3/27/2022
Legislative branch / parties elected and seats per party: RSM and Alternative (16); UD (5); HOPE, Saint Martin with You, and Future Saint Martin (2)
Legislative branch / percentage of women in chamber: 43.5%
Legislative branch / expected date of next election: March 2027
Political parties: Alternative Future Saint Martin (Avenir Saint Martin) Generation Hope or HOPE Rassemblement Saint-Martinois or RSM (formerly Movement for Justice and Prosperity or MJP) Saint Martin with You Union for Democracy or UD
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (overseas collectivity of France)
Diplomatic representation from the US / embassy: none (overseas collectivity of France)
International organization participation: ACS (associate), UPU
Independence: none (overseas collectivity of France)
National holiday: Fête de la Fédération, 14 July (1790)
Flag: the flag of France is used
National symbol(s): brown pelican
National anthem(s) / title: "La Marseillaise" (The Song of Marseille)
National anthem(s) / lyrics/music: Claude-Joseph ROUGET de Lisle
National anthem(s) / history: official anthem, as a French collectivity

## Economy
Economic overview: high-income French Caribbean territorial economy; extremely reliant on tourism, with severe COVID-19 impacts; near-total destruction from Hurricane Irma in 2017; some offshore banking; import-dependent; duty-free commerce; yachting destination
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2021: 4.9% (2021 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2020: -12.5% (2020 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2019: 6.5% (2019 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $649.206 million (2021 est.)
Industries: tourism, light industry and manufacturing, heavy industry
Exports - partners: United States 35%, Netherlands 26%, Antigua and Barbuda 21%, France 10% (2019)
Exports - commodities: gold, special use vessels, furniture, scrap aluminum, rum (2019)
Imports - partners: United States 76%, Netherlands 7%, France 7% (2019)
Imports - commodities: jewelry, diamonds, pearls, recreational boats, cars (2019)
Exchange rates / Currency: euros (EUR) per US dollar -
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2024: 0.924 (2024 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2023: 0.925 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2022: 0.95 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2021: 0.845 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2020: 0.876 (2020 est.)

## Energy
Electricity access / electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)

## Communications
Telephones - mobile cellular / total subscriptions: 68,840 (2012 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 196 (2012 est.)
Broadcast media: 1 local TV station; access to about 20 radio stations, including RFO Guadeloupe radio broadcasts via repeater
Internet country code: .mf
Internet users / percent of population: 48.5% (2022 est.)

## Transportation
Airports: 1 (2025)

## Military and Security
Military and security forces: no regular military forces; Ministry of Justice: Police Force of Sint Maaten (Korps Politie Sint Marteen, KPSM) (2025)
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of France

## Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons / refugees: 156 (2024 est.)

=== Puerto Rico ===

## Introduction
Background: Populated for centuries by aboriginal peoples, Puerto Rico was claimed by the Spanish Crown in 1493 after Christopher COLUMBUS' second voyage to the Americas. In 1898, after 400 years of colonial rule that saw the indigenous population nearly exterminated and African slave labor introduced, Puerto Rico was ceded to the US as a result of the Spanish-American War. Puerto Ricans were granted US citizenship in 1917. Popularly elected governors have served since 1948. In 1952, a constitution was enacted that provided for internal self-government. In plebiscites held in 1967, 1993, and 1998, voters chose not to alter the existing political status with the US, but the results of a 2012 vote left open the possibility of American statehood. A referendum held in late 2020 showed a narrow preference for statehood. Economic recession on the island has led to a net population loss since about 2005, as large numbers of residents moved to the US mainland. In 2017, Hurricane Maria was the worst storm to hit the island in eight decades, and damage was estimated in the tens of billions of dollars.

## Geography
Location: Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east of the Dominican Republic
Geographic coordinates: 18 15 N, 66 30 W
Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
Area / total: 9,104 sq km
Area / land: 8,959 sq km
Area / water: 145 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly less than three times the size of Rhode Island
Land boundaries / total: 0 km
Coastline: 501 km
Maritime claims / territorial sea: 12 nm
Maritime claims / exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate: tropical marine, mild; little seasonal temperature variation
Terrain: mostly mountains with coastal plain in north; precipitous mountains to the sea on west coast; sandy beaches along most coastal areas
Elevation / highest point: Cerro de Punta 1,338 m
Elevation / lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
Elevation / mean elevation: 261 m
Natural resources: some copper and nickel; potential for onshore and offshore oil
Land use / agricultural land: 19% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 5.7% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 1.8% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 11.6% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 50.3% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 30.6% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land: 220 sq km (2012)
Population distribution: population clusters tend to be found along the coast, with the largest of these in and around San Juan; an exception is a sizeable population located in the interior of the island immediately south of the capital around Caguas; most of the interior, particularly in the western half of the island, is dominated by the Cordillera Central mountains, where population density is low
Natural hazards: periodic droughts; hurricanes
Geography - note: important location along the Mona Passage, a key shipping lane to the Panama Canal; San Juan is one of the biggest and best natural harbors in the Caribbean; many small rivers and high central mountains ensure land is well-watered; south coast relatively dry; fertile coastal plain belt in north

## People and Society
Population / total: 2,984,841 (2025 est.)
Population / male: 1,400,771
Population / female: 1,584,070
Nationality / noun: Puerto Rican(s) (US citizens)
Nationality / adjective: Puerto Rican
Ethnic groups: White 75.8%, Black/African American 12.4%, other 8.5% (includes American Indian, Alaskan Native, Native Hawaiian, other Pacific Islander, and others), mixed 3.3% (2010 est.)
Languages / Languages: Spanish, English
Languages / major-language sample(s): La Libreta Informativa del Mundo, la fuente indispensable de información básica. (Spanish) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
Religions: Roman Catholic 56%, Protestant 33% (largely Pentecostal), other 2%, atheist 1%, none 7% (2014 est.)
Age structure / 0-14 years: 12.5% (male 191,649/female 184,597)
Age structure / 15-64 years: 62.6% (male 904,406/female 986,778)
Age structure / 65 years and over: 24.9% (2024 est.) (male 322,698/female 429,322)
Dependency ratios / total dependency ratio: 60.7 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / youth dependency ratio: 19.4 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / elderly dependency ratio: 41.2 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / potential support ratio: 2.4 (2025 est.)
Median age / total: 46.7 years (2025 est.)
Median age / male: 44.2 years
Median age / female: 47.8 years
Population growth rate: -1.1% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 7.78 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 10.48 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: -8.35 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution: population clusters tend to be found along the coast, with the largest of these in and around San Juan; an exception is a sizeable population located in the interior of the island immediately south of the capital around Caguas; most of the interior, particularly in the western half of the island, is dominated by the Cordillera Central mountains, where population density is low
Urbanization / urban population: 93.6% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: -0.12% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 2.440 million SAN JUAN (capital) (2023)
Sex ratio / at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 15-64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 65 years and over: 0.75 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / total population: 0.89 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio: 11 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Infant mortality rate / total: 5.7 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Infant mortality rate / male: 6.4 deaths/1,000 live births
Infant mortality rate / female: 5.2 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth / total population: 82.1 years (2024 est.)
Life expectancy at birth / male: 78.9 years
Life expectancy at birth / female: 85.5 years
Total fertility rate: 1.27 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 0.62 (2025 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: total: total: 100% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: total: total: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Physician density: 3.06 physicians/1,000 population (2018)
Sanitation facility access / improved: total: total: 100% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: total: total: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49): 40.9% (2022 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% GDP): 4.3% of GDP (2024 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% national budget): 16% national budget (2025 est.)
Literacy / total population: 92.4% (2017 est.)
Literacy / male: 92.4% (2017 est.)
Literacy / female: 92.4% (2017 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / total: 17 years (2023 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / male: 16 years (2023 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / female: 18 years (2023 est.)

## Environment
Environmental issues: soil erosion; occasional droughts cause water shortages; industrial pollution
Climate: tropical marine, mild; little seasonal temperature variation
Land use / agricultural land: 19% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 5.7% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 1.8% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 11.6% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 50.3% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 30.6% (2023 est.)
Urbanization / urban population: 93.6% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: -0.12% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / total emissions: 18.833 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from coal and metallurgical coke: 2.49 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from petroleum and other liquids: 11.801 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from consumed natural gas: 4.542 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Waste and recycling / municipal solid waste generated annually: 4.171 million tons (2024 est.)
Total water withdrawal / municipal: 796 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / industrial: 2.365 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / agricultural: 113.5 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total renewable water resources: 7.1 billion cubic meters (2022)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: Commonwealth of Puerto Rico
Country name / conventional short form: Puerto Rico
Country name / abbreviation: PR
Country name / etymology: Christopher COLUMBUS originally named the island San Juan Bautista (Saint John the Baptist) and the capital city and main port Cuidad de Puerto Rico (Rich Port City); over time, the names were shortened and transposed
Government type: unincorporated organized territory of the US with local self-government; republican form of territorial government with separate executive, legislative, and judicial branches; note - reference Puerto Rican Federal Relations Act, 2 March 1917, as amended by Public Law 600, 3 July 1950
Dependency status: unincorporated organized territory of the US with commonwealth status; policy relations between Puerto Rico and the US conducted under the jurisdiction of the Office of the President
Capital / name: San Juan
Capital / geographic coordinates: 18 28 N, 66 07 W
Capital / time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Capital / etymology: Spanish explorer Juan PONCE de Leon named the city in 1511 both for himself and for his name saint, Saint John
Administrative divisions: no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US government, but 78 municipalities ( municipios , singular - municipio ) are considered second-order: Adjuntas, Aguada, Aguadilla, Aguas Buenas, Aibonito, Anasco, Arecibo, Arroyo, Barceloneta, Barranquitas, Bayamon, Cabo Rojo, Caguas, Camuy, Canovanas, Carolina, Catano, Cayey, Ceiba, Ciales, Cidra, Coamo, Comerio, Corozal, Culebra, Dorado, Fajardo, Florida, Guanica, Guayama, Guayanilla, Guaynabo, Gurabo, Hatillo, Hormigueros, Humacao, Isabela, Jayuya, Juana Diaz, Juncos, Lajas, Lares, Las Marias, Las Piedras, Loiza, Luquillo, Manati, Maricao, Maunabo, Mayaguez, Moca, Morovis, Naguabo, Naranjito, Orocovis, Patillas, Penuelas, Ponce, Quebradillas, Rincon, Rio Grande, Sabana Grande, Salinas, San German, San Juan, San Lorenzo, San Sebastian, Santa Isabel, Toa Alta, Toa Baja, Trujillo Alto, Utuado, Vega Alta, Vega Baja, Vieques, Villalba, Yabucoa, Yauco
Legal system: civil law system based on the Spanish civil code, within the framework of the US federal system
Constitution / history: previous 1900 (Organic Act, or Foraker Act); latest ratified by referendum 3 March 1952, approved 3 July 1952, effective 25 July 1952
Constitution / amendment process: proposed by a concurrent resolution of at least two-thirds majority by the total Legislative Assembly membership; approval requires at least two-thirds majority vote by the membership of both houses and approval by a majority of voters in a special referendum; if passed by at least three-fourths Assembly vote, the referendum can be held concurrently with the next general election; constitutional articles such as the republican form of government or the bill of rights cannot be amended
Citizenship: see United States
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch / chief of state: President Donald J. TRUMP (since 20 January 2025)
Executive branch / head of government: Governor Jenniffer GONZ&Aacute;LEZ-COL&Oacute;N (since 2 January 2025)
Executive branch / cabinet: Cabinet appointed by governor with the consent of the Legislative Assembly
Executive branch / election/appointment process: president and vice president indirectly elected on the same ballot by an Electoral College of electors chosen from each state; president and vice president serve a 4-year term (eligible for a second term); under the US Constitution, residents of Puerto Rico do not vote in elections for US president and vice president, but they can vote in Democratic and Republican party presidential primary elections; governor directly elected by simple-majority popular vote for a 4-year term (no term limits)
Executive branch / most recent election date: 5 November 2024
Executive branch / election results: 2024: Jenniffer GONZÁLEZ-COLÓN elected governor; percent of vote - Jenniffer GONZÁLEZ-COLÓN (PNP) 39.4%, Juan DALMAU Ramírez (PIP) 32.7%, Jesús Manuel ORTIZ (PPD) 21.1%, Javier JIMÉNEZ (PD) 6.7%, other 0.1% 2020: Pedro PIERLUISI elected governor; percent of vote - Pedro PIERLUISI (PNP) 32.9%, Carlos DELGADO (PPD) 31.6%, Alexandra LUGARO (independent) 14.2%, Juan DALMAU (PIP) 13.7%, other 7.6%
Executive branch / expected date of next election: 7 November 2028
Legislative branch / legislature name: Legislative Assembly (Asamblea Legislativa)
Legislative branch / legislative structure: bicameral
Legislative branch / term in office: 4 years
Legislative branch - lower chamber / chamber name: House of Representatives (Camara de Representantes)
Legislative branch - lower chamber / number of seats: 51 (directly elected)
Legislative branch - lower chamber / electoral system: plurality/majority
Legislative branch - lower chamber / scope of elections: full renewal
Legislative branch - lower chamber / term in office: 4 years
Legislative branch - lower chamber / most recent election date: 11/3/2020
Legislative branch - lower chamber / parties elected and seats per party: PPD (26); PNP (21); MVC (2); PIP (1); PD (1)
Legislative branch - lower chamber / percentage of women in chamber: 19.6%
Legislative branch - lower chamber / expected date of next election: November 2024
Legislative branch - upper chamber / chamber name: Senate (Senado)
Legislative branch - upper chamber / number of seats: 30 (directly elected)
Legislative branch - upper chamber / electoral system: plurality/majority
Legislative branch - upper chamber / scope of elections: full renewal
Legislative branch - upper chamber / term in office: 4 years
Legislative branch - upper chamber / most recent election date: 11/3/2020
Legislative branch - upper chamber / parties elected and seats per party: PPD (12); NP (10); MVC (2); PD (1); PIP (1); independent (1)
Legislative branch - upper chamber / percentage of women in chamber: 48.1%
Legislative branch - upper chamber / expected date of next election: November 2024
Judicial branch / highest court(s): Supreme Court (consists of the chief justice and 8 associate justices)
Judicial branch / judge selection and term of office: justices appointed by the governor and confirmed by majority Senate vote; judges serve until compulsory retirement at age 70
Judicial branch / subordinate courts: Court of Appeals; First Instance Court comprised of superior and municipal courts
Political parties: Citizens' Victory Movement (Movimiento Victoria Ciudadana) or MVC Democratic Party of Puerto Rico New Progressive Party or PNP (pro-US statehood) Popular Democratic Party or PPD (pro-commonwealth) Project Dignity (Projecto Dignidad) or PD Puerto Rican Independence Party or PIP (pro-independence) Republican Party of Puerto Rico
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (territory of the US)
Diplomatic representation from the US / embassy: none (territory of the US with commonwealth status)
International organization participation: AOSIS (observer), Caricom (observer), Interpol (subbureau), IOC, UNWTO (associate), UPU, WFTU (NGOs)
Independence: none (territory of the US with commonwealth status)
National holiday: US Independence Day, 4 July (1776); Puerto Rico Constitution Day, 25 July (1952)
Flag: description: five equal horizontal bands of red alternating with white; a blue isosceles triangle based on the left side has a large five-pointed white star in the center meaning: the star stands for the country; the three sides of the triangle stand for the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of the government; blue stands for the sky and the coastal waters, red for the blood shed by warriors, and white for liberty, victory, and peace
National symbol(s): Puerto Rican spindalis (bird), coqui (frog)
National color(s): red, white, blue
National anthem(s) / title: "The Star-Spangled Banner"
National anthem(s) / lyrics/music: Francis Scott KEY/John Stafford SMITH
National anthem(s) / history: official anthem, as a US commonwealth
National heritage / total World Heritage Sites: 1 (cultural); note - excerpted from the US entry
National heritage / selected World Heritage Site locales: La Fortaleza and San Juan National Historic Site

## Economy
Economic overview: US Caribbean island territorial economy; hit hard by COVID-19 and hurricanes; declining labor force and job growth after a decade of continuous recession; capital-based industry and tourism; high poverty; energy import-dependent
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $141.344 billion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $136.926 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $136.247 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2024: 3.2% (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2023: 0.5% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2022: 3% (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2024: $44,100 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2023: $42,700 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2022: $42,300 (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $125.842 billion (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 4.3% (2022 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021: 2.4% (2021 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2020: -0.5% (2020 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / agriculture: 0.7% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / industry: 48% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / services: 51.5% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / household consumption: 76% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / government consumption: 8.2% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in fixed capital: 14.6% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in inventories: 0.2% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / exports of goods and services: 51.9% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / imports of goods and services: -42.8% (2024 est.)
Agricultural products: milk, plantains, bananas, tomatoes, chicken, oranges, mangoes/guavas, pineapples, eggs, pumpkins/squash (2023)
Industries: pharmaceuticals, electronics, apparel, food products, tourism
Labor force: 1.152 million (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2024: 5.5% (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2023: 5.8% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2022: 6% (2022 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / total: 12.5% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / male: 14% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / female: 9.8% (2024 est.)
Budget / revenues: $9.268 billion (2017 est.)
Budget / expenditures: $9.974 billion (2017 est.)
Public debt / Public debt 2016: 50.1% of GDP (2016 est.)
Exports / Exports 2024: $65.368 billion (2024 est.)
Exports / Exports 2023: $63.563 billion (2023 est.)
Exports / Exports 2022: $59.712 billion (2022 est.)
Exports - partners: Italy 15%, Netherlands 15%, Belgium 9%, Japan 8%, Germany 8%, Austria 8%, Spain 7%, China 5% (2019)
Exports - commodities: packaged medicines, medical cultures/vaccines, hormones, orthopedic and medical appliances, sulfur compounds (2019)
Imports / Imports 2024: $53.898 billion (2024 est.)
Imports / Imports 2023: $56.889 billion (2023 est.)
Imports / Imports 2022: $52.15 billion (2022 est.)
Imports - partners: Ireland 38%, Singapore 9%, Switzerland 8%, South Korea 5% (2019)
Imports - commodities: nitrogen compounds, sulfur compounds, refined petroleum, medical cultures/vaccines, cars (2019)
Exchange rates: the US dollar is used

## Energy
Electricity access / electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)
Electricity / installed generating capacity: 6.898 million kW (2023 est.)
Electricity / consumption: 18.669 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / transmission/distribution losses: 1.224 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / fossil fuels: 94.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / solar: 4.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / wind: 0.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / hydroelectricity: 0.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / biomass and waste: 0.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Coal / consumption: 1.124 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / exports: 500 metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / imports: 1.124 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum / refined petroleum consumption: 80,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Natural gas / consumption: 2.315 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / exports: 15.627 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / imports: 2.331 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Energy consumption per capita / Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 86.286 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

## Communications
Telephones - fixed lines / total subscriptions: 758,000 (2023 est.)
Telephones - fixed lines / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 23 (2023 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / total subscriptions: 4.1 million (2024 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 126 (2024 est.)
Broadcast media: more than 30 TV stations; cable TV subscription services are available; roughly 125 radio stations
Internet country code: .pr
Internet users / percent of population: 87% (2022 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / total: 751,000 (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 23 (2023 est.)

## Transportation
Airports: 20 (2025)
Heliports: 40 (2025)
Ports / total ports: 14 (2024)
Ports / large: 0
Ports / medium: 3
Ports / small: 4
Ports / very small: 7
Ports / ports with oil terminals: 7
Ports / key ports: Arroyo, Ensenada Honda, Mayaguez, Playa de Guanica, Playa de Guayanilla, Playa de Ponce, San Juan

## Military and Security
Military and security forces: Puerto Rico Police; Puerto Rico (US) National Guard (Guardia Nacional de Puerto Rico or GNPR) (2025)
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of the US

## Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons / IDPs: 146 (2024 est.)

=== Saint Kitts and Nevis ===

## Introduction
Background: Carib Indians occupied the islands of the West Indies for hundreds of years before the British and French began settlement in 1623. During the 17th century, Saint Kitts became the premier base for British and French expansion into the Caribbean. The French ceded the territory to the UK in 1713. At the turn of the 18th century, Saint Kitts was the richest British Crown Colony per capita in the Caribbean, a result of the sugar trade. Although small in size and separated by only 3 km (2 mi) of water, Saint Kitts and Nevis were viewed and governed as different states until the late-19th century, when the British forcibly unified them along with the island of Anguilla. In 1967, the island territory of Saint Christopher-Nevis-Anguilla became an associated state of the UK with full internal autonomy. The island of Anguilla rebelled and was allowed to secede in 1971. The remaining islands achieved independence in 1983 as Saint Kitts and Nevis. In 1998, a referendum on Nevis to separate from Saint Kitts fell short of the necessary two-thirds majority.

## Geography
Location: Caribbean, islands in the Caribbean Sea, about one-third of the way from Puerto Rico to Trinidad and Tobago
Geographic coordinates: 17 20 N, 62 45 W
Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
Area / total: 261 sq km (Saint Kitts 168 sq km; Nevis 93 sq km)
Area / land: 261 sq km
Area / water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative: 1.5 times the size of Washington, D.C.
Land boundaries / total: 0 km
Coastline: 135 km
Maritime claims / territorial sea: 12 nm
Maritime claims / contiguous zone: 24 nm
Maritime claims / exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Maritime claims / continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
Climate: tropical, tempered by constant sea breezes; little seasonal temperature variation; rainy season (May to November)
Terrain: volcanic with mountainous interiors
Elevation / highest point: Mount Liamuiga 1,156 m
Elevation / lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
Natural resources: arable land
Land use / agricultural land: 23.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 19.2% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 0.4% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 3.5% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 42.3% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 34.6% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land: 8 sq km (2012)
Population distribution: population clusters are found in the small towns located on the periphery of both islands
Natural hazards: hurricanes (July to October) volcanism: Mount Liamuiga (1,156 m) on Saint Kitts and Nevis Peak (985 m) on Nevis are part of the volcanic-island arc of the Lesser Antilles, which extends from Saba in the north to Grenada in the south
Geography - note: smallest country in the Western Hemisphere in terms of both area and population; the two volcanic islands are separated by a 3-km-wide (9-mi-wide) channel called The Narrows; on the southern tip of baseball-bat-shaped Saint Kitts lies the Great Salt Pond; Nevis Peak sits in the center of its ball-shaped namesake island

## People and Society
Population / total: 55,434 (2025 est.)
Population / male: 27,748
Population / female: 27,686
Nationality / noun: Kittitian(s), Nevisian(s)
Nationality / adjective: Kittitian, Nevisian
Ethnic groups: African descent 92.5%, mixed 3%, White 2.1%, East Indian 1.5%, other 0.6%, unspecified 0.3% (2001 est.)
Languages: English (official)
Age structure / 0-14 years: 19.2% (male 5,314/female 5,277)
Age structure / 15-64 years: 68.1% (male 18,944/female 18,575)
Age structure / 65 years and over: 12.7% (2024 est.) (male 3,341/female 3,682)
Dependency ratios / total dependency ratio: 48.1 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / youth dependency ratio: 28.1 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / elderly dependency ratio: 20 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / potential support ratio: 5 (2025 est.)
Median age / total: 39.1 years (2025 est.)
Median age / male: 38.8 years
Median age / female: 38.3 years
Population growth rate: 0.53% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 11.58 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 7.43 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: 1.14 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution: population clusters are found in the small towns located on the periphery of both islands
Urbanization / urban population: 31.1% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 1.06% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 14,000 BASSETERRE (capital) (2018)
Sex ratio / at birth: 1.02 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 0-14 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 65 years and over: 0.91 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / total population: 1 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio: 74 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Infant mortality rate / total: 7.9 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Infant mortality rate / male: 5.5 deaths/1,000 live births
Infant mortality rate / female: 10.6 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth / total population: 77.6 years (2024 est.)
Life expectancy at birth / male: 75.2 years
Life expectancy at birth / female: 80.1 years
Total fertility rate: 1.76 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 0.87 (2025 est.)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 6.2% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 5.9% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density: 3.09 physicians/1,000 population (2018)
Hospital bed density: 4.3 beds/1,000 population (2021 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 22.9% (2016)
Alcohol consumption per capita / total: 8.84 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / beer: 3.73 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / wine: 1.02 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / spirits: 3.89 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / other alcohols: 0.21 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% GDP): 3.5% of GDP (2023 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% national budget): 11% national budget (2025 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / total: 19 years (2015 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / male: 18 years (2015 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / female: 20 years (2015 est.)

## Environment
Environmental issues: deforestation; soil erosion and silting affects marine life on coral reefs; water pollution from uncontrolled dumping of sewage
International environmental agreements / party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Whaling
International environmental agreements / signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Climate: tropical, tempered by constant sea breezes; little seasonal temperature variation; rainy season (May to November)
Land use / agricultural land: 23.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 19.2% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 0.4% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 3.5% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 42.3% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 34.6% (2023 est.)
Urbanization / urban population: 31.1% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 1.06% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / total emissions: 269,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from petroleum and other liquids: 269,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Particulate matter emissions: 8 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Waste and recycling / municipal solid waste generated annually: 32,900 tons (2024 est.)
Total water withdrawal / municipal: 15.4 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / industrial: 0 cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / agricultural: 200,000 cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total renewable water resources: 24 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: Federation of Saint Kitts and Nevis
Country name / conventional short form: Saint Kitts and Nevis
Country name / former: Federation of Saint Christopher and Nevis
Country name / etymology: explorer Christopher COLUMBUS visited the islands in 1493 and named one for his own patron saint; a common nickname for Christopher during the following centuries was Kit or Kitt, and Saint Kitts is still referred to as Saint Christopher; the name of Nevis is said to derive from the original Spanish name "Las Nieves" (The Snows) and refers to its cloud-topped mountain
Government type: federal parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy; a Commonwealth realm
Capital / name: Basseterre
Capital / geographic coordinates: 17 18 N, 62 43 W
Capital / time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Capital / etymology: the French name translates as "low land" in English; the reference is probably to the city's location in a valley
Administrative divisions: 14 parishes; Christ Church Nichola Town, Saint Anne Sandy Point, Saint George Basseterre, Saint George Gingerland, Saint James Windward, Saint John Capesterre, Saint John Figtree, Saint Mary Cayon, Saint Paul Capesterre, Saint Paul Charlestown, Saint Peter Basseterre, Saint Thomas Lowland, Saint Thomas Middle Island, Trinity Palmetto Point
Legal system: English common law
Constitution / history: several previous (pre-independence); latest presented 22 June 1983, effective 23 June 1983
Constitution / amendment process: proposed by the National Assembly; passage requires approval by at least two-thirds majority vote of the total Assembly membership and assent of the governor general; amendments to constitutional provisions such as the sovereignty of the federation, fundamental rights and freedoms, the judiciary, and the Nevis Island Assembly also require approval in a referendum by at least two thirds of the votes cast in Saint Kitts and in Nevis
International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Citizenship / citizenship by birth: yes
Citizenship / citizenship by descent only: yes
Citizenship / dual citizenship recognized: yes
Citizenship / residency requirement for naturalization: 14 years
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch / chief of state: King CHARLES III (since 8 September 2022); represented by Governor General Marcella LIBURD (since 1 February 2023)
Executive branch / head of government: Prime Minister Dr. Terrance DREW (since 6 August 2022)
Executive branch / cabinet: Cabinet appointed by governor general in consultation with prime minister
Executive branch / election/appointment process: the monarchy is hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the governor general usually appoints the leader of the majority party or majority coalition as prime minister; deputy prime minister also appointed by governor general
Legislative branch / legislature name: National Assembly
Legislative branch / legislative structure: unicameral
Legislative branch / number of seats: 16 (11 directly elected; 4 appointed)
Legislative branch / electoral system: plurality/majority
Legislative branch / scope of elections: full renewal
Legislative branch / term in office: 5 years
Legislative branch / most recent election date: 8/5/2022
Legislative branch / parties elected and seats per party: St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Party (SKNLP) (6); Concerned Citizens' Movement (CCM) (3); Peoples Labour Party (PLP) (1); People's Action Movement (PAM) (1)
Legislative branch / percentage of women in chamber: 31.3%
Legislative branch / expected date of next election: October 2027
Judicial branch / highest court(s): the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (ECSC) is the superior court of the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States; the ECSC is headquartered on St. Lucia and consists of the Court of Appeal -- headed by the chief justice and 4 judges -- and the High Court with 18 judges; the Court of Appeal travels to member states on a schedule to hear appeals from the High Court and subordinate courts; member of the Caribbean Court of Justice
Judicial branch / judge selection and term of office: chief justice of Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court appointed by the British monarch; other justices and judges appointed by the Judicial and Legal Services Commission, an independent body of judicial officials; Court of Appeal justices appointed for life with mandatory retirement at age 65; High Court judges appointed for life with mandatory retirement at age 62
Judicial branch / subordinate courts: magistrates' courts
Political parties: Concerned Citizens Movement or CCM Nevis Reformation Party or NRP People's Action Movement or PAM People's Labour Party or PLP Saint Kitts and Nevis Labor Party or SKNLP
Diplomatic representation in the US / chief of mission: Ambassador Jacinth HENRY-MARTIN (since 15 September 2023)
Diplomatic representation in the US / chancery: 1203 19th St. NW, 5th Floor, Washington, DC 20036
Diplomatic representation in the US / telephone: [1] (202) 686-2636
Diplomatic representation in the US / FAX: [1] (202) 686-5740
Diplomatic representation in the US / email address and website: stkittsnevis@embskn.com Embassy of St.Kitts and Nevis to the USA – and Permanent Mission to the OAS (embassydc.gov.kn)
Diplomatic representation in the US / consulate(s) general: Los Angeles, New York
Diplomatic representation from the US / embassy: the US does not have an embassy in Saint Kitts and Nevis; the US Ambassador to Barbados is accredited to Saint Kitts and Nevis
International organization participation: ACP, ACS, AOSIS, C, Caricom, CDB, CELAC, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ITU, MIGA, OAS, OECS, OPANAL, OPCW, Petrocaribe, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WTO
Independence: 19 September 1983 (from the UK)
National holiday: Independence Day, 19 September (1983)
Flag: description: divided diagonally from the lower left side by a broad black band with two five-pointed white stars; the black band is edged in yellow; the upper triangle is green, and the lower is red meaning: green stands for the island's fertility, red for the struggles of the people from slavery, yellow for year-round sunshine, and black for the people's African heritage; the white stars stand for the islands of Saint Kitts and Nevis but can also express hope and liberty, or independence and optimism
National symbol(s): brown pelican, royal poinciana (flamboyant) tree
National color(s): green, yellow, red, black, white
National coat of arms: the coat of arms of Saint Kitts and Nevis features a Carib who represents the original inhabitants of the islands, and a fleur-de-lis and rose that represent the French and English who arrived in the 1620; the shield also features the poinciana (the national flower) and a traditional boat; three hands hold the torch, which represents the quest for freedom: the hand of an African, a European, and a person of mixed ethnicity; pelicans (the national bird) support the shield, with a sugarcane plant and a coconut tree that symbolize the land
National anthem(s) / title: "God Save the King"
National anthem(s) / lyrics/music: unknown
National anthem(s) / history: in use since 1745
National heritage / total World Heritage Sites: 1 (cultural)
National heritage / selected World Heritage Site locales: Brimstone Hill Fortress National Park

## Economy
Economic overview: high-income, tourism-based Caribbean OECS economy; better debt balancing; CARICOM and ECCU member; growing offshore financial and telecommunications hub; environmentally fragile; unique citizenship-driven growth model
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $1.465 billion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $1.448 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $1.388 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2024: 1.2% (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2023: 4.3% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2022: 10.3% (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2024: $31,300 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2023: $31,000 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2022: $29,700 (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $1.067 billion (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023: 3.6% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 2.7% (2022 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021: 1.2% (2021 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / agriculture: 1.3% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / industry: 21.1% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / services: 65.5% (2024 est.)
Agricultural products: coconuts, tropical fruits, root vegetables, vegetables, eggs, pulses, sweet potatoes, watermelons, cucumbers/gherkins, tomatoes (2023)
Industries: tourism, cotton, salt, copra, clothing, footwear, beverages
Industrial production growth rate: -2.7% (2024 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2024: 3.4% of GDP (2024 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2023: 3.5% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2022: 3.8% of GDP (2022 est.)
Budget / revenues: $262 million (2020 est.)
Budget / expenditures: $281.889 million (2020 est.)
Public debt / Public debt 2017: 62.9% of GDP (2017 est.)
Taxes and other revenues: 15% (of GDP) (2020 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2024: -$169.221 million (2024 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2023: -$122.386 million (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2022: -$111.685 million (2022 est.)
Exports / Exports 2024: $504.391 million (2024 est.)
Exports / Exports 2023: $579.568 million (2023 est.)
Exports / Exports 2022: $542.983 million (2022 est.)
Exports - partners: Malta 49%, USA 21%, Turkey 7%, St. Vincent & the Grenadines 5%, Guyana 3% (2023)
Exports - commodities: ships, measuring instruments, beer, electrical transformers, electrical control boards (2023)
Imports / Imports 2024: $642.934 million (2024 est.)
Imports / Imports 2023: $669.168 million (2023 est.)
Imports / Imports 2022: $606.856 million (2022 est.)
Imports - partners: USA 50%, Italy 11%, China 8%, Japan 2%, UK 2% (2023)
Imports - commodities: refined petroleum, ships, cars, jewelry, poultry (2023)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024: $294.748 million (2024 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023: $286.075 million (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $293.98 million (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Currency: East Caribbean dollars (XCD) per US dollar -
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2024: 2.7 (2024 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2023: 2.7 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2022: 2.7 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2021: 2.7 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2020: 2.7 (2020 est.)

## Energy
Electricity access / electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)
Electricity / installed generating capacity: 72,000 kW (2023 est.)
Electricity / consumption: 182.455 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / transmission/distribution losses: 39.522 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / fossil fuels: 95% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / solar: 2.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / wind: 2.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Petroleum / refined petroleum consumption: 2,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Energy consumption per capita / Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 81.454 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

## Communications
Telephones - fixed lines / total subscriptions: 16,000 (2022 est.)
Telephones - fixed lines / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 33 (2022 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / total subscriptions: 56,600 (2023 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 119 (2023 est.)
Broadcast media: national state-operated TV network that broadcasts on 2 channels; cable subscription available for local and international channels; national state-operated radio network; mix of state-owned and privately owned broadcasters with about 15 radio stations (2019)
Internet country code: .kn
Internet users / percent of population: 76% (2022 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / total: 22,000 (2022 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 47 (2022 est.)

## Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: V4
Airports: 2 (2025)
Heliports: 1 (2025)
Railways / total: 50 km (2008)
Railways / narrow gauge: 50 km (2008) 0.762-m gauge on Saint Kitts for tourists
Merchant marine / total: 341 (2023)
Merchant marine / by type: bulk carrier 22, container ship 16, general cargo 85, oil tanker 59, other 159
Ports / total ports: 2 (2024)
Ports / large: 0
Ports / medium: 0
Ports / small: 0
Ports / very small: 2
Ports / ports with oil terminals: 2
Ports / key ports: Basseterre, Charlestown

## Military and Security
Military and security forces: St. Kitts and Nevis Defense Force (SKNDF); Regular Force, Coast Guard Force (SKNDF Coast Guard), Reserve Force, Cadet Force Ministry of National Security: the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force (2025)
Military and security service personnel strengths: estimated 200 active Defense Forces (2024)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the SKNDF is lightly armed with equipment from Belgium, the UK, and the US (2025)
Military service age and obligation: 18 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women (under 18 with written parental permission); no conscription (2025)
Military - note: SKNDF's missions include protecting the country's territorial integrity, assisting the police in combating the illegal narcotic trade and other crimes, and providing humanitarian and disaster relief assistance; the force also has a regional role through the Caribbean Regional Security System (RSS); St. Kitts joined the RSS in 1984; RSS signatories (Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Saint Lucia, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines) agreed to prepare contingency plans and assist one another, on request, in national emergencies, prevention of smuggling, search and rescue, immigration control, fishery protection, customs and excise control, maritime policing duties, protection of off-shore installations, pollution control, national and other disasters, and threats to national security (2025)

## Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons / refugees: 5 (2024 est.)

=== Saint Lucia ===

## Introduction
Background: England and France contested Saint Lucia -- with its fine natural harbor at Castries and burgeoning sugar industry -- throughout the 17th and early 18th centuries, with possession changing 14 times; it was finally ceded to the UK in 1814 and became part of the British Windward Islands colony. Even after the abolition of slavery on its plantations in 1834, Saint Lucia remained an agricultural island, dedicated to producing tropical commodity crops. In the mid-20th century, Saint Lucia joined the West Indies Federation (1958&ndash;1962) and in 1967 became one of the six members of the West Indies Associated States, with internal self-government. In 1979, Saint Lucia gained full independence.

## Geography
Location: Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and North Atlantic Ocean, north of Trinidad and Tobago
Geographic coordinates: 13 53 N, 60 58 W
Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
Area / total: 616 sq km
Area / land: 606 sq km
Area / water: 10 sq km
Area - comparative: 3.5 times the size of Washington, D.C.
Land boundaries / total: 0 km
Coastline: 158 km
Maritime claims / territorial sea: 12 nm
Maritime claims / contiguous zone: 24 nm
Maritime claims / exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Maritime claims / continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
Climate: tropical, moderated by northeast trade winds; dry season January to April, rainy season May to August
Terrain: volcanic and mountainous with broad, fertile valleys
Elevation / highest point: Mount Gimie 948 m
Elevation / lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
Natural resources: forests, sandy beaches, minerals (pumice), mineral springs, geothermal potential
Land use / agricultural land: 16.3% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 4.4% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 11.3% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 0.6% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 53.7% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 30% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land: 30 sq km (2012)
Population distribution: most of the population is found on the periphery of the island, with a larger concentration in the north around the capital of Castries
Natural hazards: hurricanes volcanism: Mount Gimie (948 m), also known as Qualibou, is a caldera on the west of the island; the iconic twin pyramidal peaks of Gros Piton (771 m) and Petit Piton (743 m) are lava-dome remnants associated with the Soufrière volcano; there have been no historical magmatic eruptions, but a minor steam eruption in 1766 spread a thin layer of ash over a wide area; Saint Lucia is part of the volcanic-island arc of the Lesser Antilles that extends from Saba in the north to Grenada in the south
Geography - note: the twin Pitons (Gros Piton and Petit Piton), striking cone-shaped peaks south of Soufri&egrave;re, are one of the scenic natural highlights of the Caribbean

## People and Society
Population / total: 168,462 (2025 est.)
Population / male: 81,678
Population / female: 86,784
Nationality / noun: Saint Lucian(s)
Nationality / adjective: Saint Lucian
Ethnic groups: Black/African descent 85.3%, mixed 10.9%, East Indian 2.2%, other 1.6%, unspecified 0.1% (2010 est.)
Languages: English (official), Saint Lucian Creole
Religions: Roman Catholic 61.5%, Protestant 25.5% (includes Seventh Day Adventist 10.4%, Pentecostal 8.9%, Baptist 2.2%, Anglican 1.6%, Church of God 1.5%, other Protestant 0.9%), other Christian 3.4% (includes Evangelical 2.3% and Jehovah's Witness 1.1%), Rastafarian 1.9%, other 0.4%, none 5.9%, unspecified 1.4% (2010 est.)
Age structure / 0-14 years: 17.9% (male 15,505/female 14,607)
Age structure / 15-64 years: 66.7% (male 54,260/female 57,747)
Age structure / 65 years and over: 15.4% (2024 est.) (male 11,752/female 14,167)
Dependency ratios / total dependency ratio: 50.9 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / youth dependency ratio: 26.6 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / elderly dependency ratio: 24.3 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / potential support ratio: 4.1 (2025 est.)
Median age / total: 40.4 years (2025 est.)
Median age / male: 38.4 years
Median age / female: 40.9 years
Population growth rate: 0.25% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 11.17 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 8.41 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: -0.3 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution: most of the population is found on the periphery of the island, with a larger concentration in the north around the capital of Castries
Urbanization / urban population: 19.2% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 0.98% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 22,000 CASTRIES (capital) (2018)
Sex ratio / at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 15-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 65 years and over: 0.83 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio: 44 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Infant mortality rate / total: 11.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Infant mortality rate / male: 10.8 deaths/1,000 live births
Infant mortality rate / female: 12.2 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth / total population: 79.4 years (2024 est.)
Life expectancy at birth / male: 76.7 years
Life expectancy at birth / female: 82.3 years
Total fertility rate: 1.71 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 0.83 (2025 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: urban: urban: 97.2% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: rural: rural: 96.8% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: total: total: 96.9% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: urban: urban: 2.8% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: rural: rural: 3.2% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: total: total: 3.1% of population (2022 est.)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 6.2% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 9% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density: 4.23 physicians/1,000 population (2020)
Hospital bed density: 2 beds/1,000 population (2021 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: urban: urban: 97.6% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: rural: rural: 92.9% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: total: total: 93.8% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: urban: urban: 2.4% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: rural: rural: 7.1% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: total: total: 6.2% of population (2022 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 19.7% (2016)
Alcohol consumption per capita / total: 9.3 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / beer: 3.21 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / wine: 0.4 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / spirits: 5.1 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / other alcohols: 0.6 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Tobacco use / total: 13.1% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / male: 24.1% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / female: 2.6% (2025 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% GDP): 3.8% of GDP (2024 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% national budget): 12.7% national budget (2025 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / total: 13 years (2023 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / male: 12 years (2023 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / female: 13 years (2023 est.)

## Environment
Environmental issues: deforestation; soil erosion, particularly in the northern region
International environmental agreements / party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
International environmental agreements / signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Climate: tropical, moderated by northeast trade winds; dry season January to April, rainy season May to August
Land use / agricultural land: 16.3% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 4.4% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 11.3% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 0.6% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 53.7% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 30% (2023 est.)
Urbanization / urban population: 19.2% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 0.98% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / total emissions: 605,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from petroleum and other liquids: 605,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Particulate matter emissions: 8.9 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Waste and recycling / municipal solid waste generated annually: 77,600 tons (2024 est.)
Waste and recycling / percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 13.3% (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / municipal: 12.5 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / industrial: 0 cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / agricultural: 30.4 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total renewable water resources: 300 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: none
Country name / conventional short form: Saint Lucia
Country name / etymology: believed to be named after Saint LUCY (Sainte ALOUSIE) of Syracuse by French sailors who were shipwrecked on the island on 13 December 1502, the saint's feast day
Government type: parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy; a Commonwealth realm
Capital / name: Castries
Capital / geographic coordinates: 14 00 N, 61 00 W
Capital / time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Capital / etymology: in 1785, the village of Carenage was renamed Castries, after Charles Eugene Gabriel de La Croix de CASTRIES, who was then the French Minister of the Navy and Colonies
Administrative divisions: 10 districts; Anse-la-Raye, Canaries, Castries, Choiseul, Dennery, Gros-Islet, Laborie, Micoud, Soufri&egrave;re, Vieux-Fort
Legal system: English common law
Constitution / history: previous 1958, 1960 (pre-independence); latest presented 20 December 1978, effective 22 February 1979
Constitution / amendment process: proposed by Parliament; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote by the House of Assembly membership in the final reading and assent of the governor general; passage of amendments to various constitutional sections, such as those on fundamental rights and freedoms, government finances, the judiciary, and procedures for amending the constitution, require at least three-quarters majority vote by the House and assent of the governor general; passage of amendments approved by the House but rejected by the Senate require a majority of votes cast in a referendum
International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Citizenship / citizenship by birth: yes
Citizenship / citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Saint Lucia
Citizenship / dual citizenship recognized: yes
Citizenship / residency requirement for naturalization: 8 years
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch / chief of state: King CHARLES III (since 8 September 2022); represented by Acting Governor General Cyril Errol CHARLES (since 11 November 2021)
Executive branch / head of government: Prime Minister Philip J. PIERRE (since 28 July 2021)
Executive branch / cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister
Executive branch / election/appointment process: the monarchy is hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the governor general usually appoints the leader of the majority party or majority coalition as prime minister; deputy prime minister also appointed by governor general
Legislative branch / legislature name: Houses of Parliament
Legislative branch / legislative structure: bicameral
Legislative branch - lower chamber / chamber name: House of Assembly
Legislative branch - lower chamber / number of seats: 18 (all directly elected)
Legislative branch - lower chamber / electoral system: plurality/majority
Legislative branch - lower chamber / scope of elections: full renewal
Legislative branch - lower chamber / term in office: 5 years
Legislative branch - lower chamber / most recent election date: 7/26/2021
Legislative branch - lower chamber / parties elected and seats per party: Saint Lucia Labour Party (SLP) (13); United Workers Party (UWP) (2); Independents (2)
Legislative branch - lower chamber / percentage of women in chamber: 10.5%
Legislative branch - lower chamber / expected date of next election: December 2025
Legislative branch - upper chamber / chamber name: Senate
Legislative branch - upper chamber / number of seats: 11 (all appointed)
Legislative branch - upper chamber / scope of elections: full renewal
Legislative branch - upper chamber / term in office: 5 years
Legislative branch - upper chamber / most recent election date: 8/17/2021
Legislative branch - upper chamber / percentage of women in chamber: 54.5%
Legislative branch - upper chamber / expected date of next election: December 2025
Judicial branch / highest court(s): the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (ECSC) is the superior court of the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States; the ECSC is headquartered on St. Lucia and consists of the Court of Appeal -- headed by the chief justice and 4 judges -- and the High Court with 18 judges; the Court of Appeal travels to member states on a schedule to hear appeals from the High Court and subordinate courts; member of the Caribbean Court of Justice
Judicial branch / judge selection and term of office: chief justice of Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court appointed by the British monarch; other justices and judges appointed by the Judicial and Legal Services Commission, an independent body of judicial officials; Court of Appeal justices appointed for life with mandatory retirement at age 65; High Court judges appointed for life with mandatory retirement at age 62
Judicial branch / subordinate courts: magistrate's court
Political parties: Saint Lucia Labor Party or SLP United Workers Party or UWP
Diplomatic representation in the US / chief of mission: Ambassador Elizabeth DARIUS-CLARKE (since 7 June 2022)
Diplomatic representation in the US / chancery: 1629 K Street NW, Suite 1250, Washington, DC 20006
Diplomatic representation in the US / telephone: [1] (202) 364-6792
Diplomatic representation in the US / FAX: [1] (202) 364-6723
Diplomatic representation in the US / email address and website: embassydc@gosl.gov.lc https://www.embassyofstlucia.org/
Diplomatic representation in the US / consulate(s) general: Miami, New York
Diplomatic representation from the US / embassy: the US does not have an embassy in Saint Lucia; the US Ambassador to Barbados is accredited to Saint Lucia
International organization participation: ACP, ACS, AOSIS, C, Caricom, CD, CDB, CELAC, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NAM, OAS, OECS, OIF, OPANAL, OPCW, Petrocaribe, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Independence: 22 February 1979 (from the UK)
National holiday: Independence Day, 22 February (1979)
Flag: description: cerulean blue with a gold isosceles triangle below a black arrowhead; the upper edges of the arrowhead have a white border meaning: blue stands for the sky and sea, gold for sunshine and prosperity, and white and black for the ethnic composition of the island; the triangles represent Gros Piton and Petit Piton, the cone-shaped volcanic plugs that are a symbol of the island
National symbol(s): twin pitons (volcanic peaks), Saint Lucia parrot
National color(s): cerulean blue, gold, black, white
National anthem(s) / title: "God Save the King"
National anthem(s) / lyrics/music: unknown
National anthem(s) / history: in use since 1745
National heritage / total World Heritage Sites: 1 (natural)
National heritage / selected World Heritage Site locales: Pitons Management Area

## Economy
Economic overview: upper middle-income, tourism-based Caribbean island economy; environmentally fragile; energy import-dependent; major banana producer; well-educated labor force; key infrastructure, IT, and communications investments
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $4.359 billion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $4.196 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $4.105 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2024: 3.9% (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2023: 2.2% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2022: 20.4% (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2024: $24,300 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2023: $23,400 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2022: $23,000 (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $2.549 billion (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024: -0.1% (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023: 4.1% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 6.4% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / agriculture: 1.1% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / industry: 9.8% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / services: 75.9% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / household consumption: 66.1% (2017 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / government consumption: 11.2% (2017 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in fixed capital: 16.9% (2017 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in inventories: 0.1% (2017 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / exports of goods and services: 62.7% (2017 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / imports of goods and services: -56.9% (2017 est.)
Agricultural products: coconuts, bananas, tropical fruits, fruits, root vegetables, plantains, vegetables, cassava, chicken, milk (2023)
Industries: tourism; clothing, assembly of electronic components, beverages, corrugated cardboard boxes, lime processing, coconut processing
Industrial production growth rate: 5.6% (2024 est.)
Labor force: 102,400 (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2024: 11% (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2023: 11.1% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2022: 16% (2022 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / total: 29% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / male: 31.4% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / female: 26.3% (2024 est.)
Population below poverty line: 25% (2015 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income / Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2016: 51.2 (2016 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / lowest 10%: 2.1% (2015 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / highest 10%: 34.1% (2015 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2024: 2.5% of GDP (2024 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2023: 2.6% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2022: 2.6% of GDP (2022 est.)
Budget / revenues: $414.77 million (2017 est.)
Budget / expenditures: $351.956 million (2017 est.)
Public debt / Public debt 2016: 69.2% of GDP (2016 est.)
Taxes and other revenues: 18.2% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2024: -$64.121 million (2024 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2023: -$38.069 million (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2022: -$83.442 million (2022 est.)
Exports / Exports 2024: $1.6 billion (2024 est.)
Exports / Exports 2023: $1.419 billion (2023 est.)
Exports / Exports 2022: $1.29 billion (2022 est.)
Exports - partners: Guyana 20%, Suriname 15%, USA 11%, Barbados 8%, Dominica 7% (2023)
Exports - commodities: refined petroleum, gravel and crushed stone, beer, liquor, paper containers (2023)
Imports / Imports 2024: $1.446 billion (2024 est.)
Imports / Imports 2023: $1.292 billion (2023 est.)
Imports / Imports 2022: $1.2 billion (2022 est.)
Imports - partners: USA 59%, Guyana 8%, Brazil 7%, China 5%, UK 3% (2023)
Imports - commodities: refined petroleum, crude petroleum, cars, poultry, plastic products (2023)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024: $406.064 million (2024 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023: $424.324 million (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $389.083 million (2022 est.)
Debt - external / Debt - external 2023: $901.317 million (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Currency: East Caribbean dollars (XCD) per US dollar -
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2024: 2.7 (2024 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2023: 2.7 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2022: 2.7 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2021: 2.7 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2020: 2.7 (2020 est.)

## Energy
Electricity access / electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)
Electricity / installed generating capacity: 93,000 kW (2023 est.)
Electricity / consumption: 365.178 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / transmission/distribution losses: 31.038 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / fossil fuels: 98% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / solar: 2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Petroleum / refined petroleum consumption: 4,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Energy consumption per capita / Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 47.522 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

## Communications
Telephones - fixed lines / total subscriptions: 31,000 (2022 est.)
Telephones - fixed lines / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 17 (2022 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / total subscriptions: 176,000 (2022 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 99 (2022 est.)
Broadcast media: 3 privately owned TV stations; 1 public TV station on a cable network; multi-channel cable TV service available; mix of state-owned and privately owned radio broadcasters with about 25 stations, including repeater transmission stations (2019)
Internet country code: .lc
Internet users / percent of population: 74% (2022 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / total: 24,000 (2022 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 14 (2022 est.)

## Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: J6
Airports: 2 (2025)
Ports / total ports: 3 (2024)
Ports / large: 0
Ports / medium: 0
Ports / small: 2
Ports / very small: 1
Ports / ports with oil terminals: 2
Ports / key ports: Castries, Grand Cul de Sac Bay, Vieux Fort

## Military and Security
Military and security forces: no regular military forces; Ministry of Home Affairs, Justice, and National Security: Royal Saint Lucia Police Force (RSLPF) (2025)
Military - note: Saint Lucia has been a member of the Caribbean Regional Security System (RSS) since its creation in 1982; RSS signatories (Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Saint Kitts, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines) agreed to prepare contingency plans and assist one another, on request, in national emergencies, prevention of smuggling, search and rescue, immigration control, fishery protection, customs and excise control, maritime policing duties, protection of off-shore installations, pollution control, national and other disasters, and threats to national security (2025)

## Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons / refugees: 5 (2024 est.)
Trafficking in persons / tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List — the government did not demonstrate overall increasing efforts to eliminate trafficking compared with the previous reporting period, therefore Saint Lucia was downgraded to Tier 2 Watch List; for more details, go to: https://www.state.gov/reports/2025-trafficking-in-persons-report/saint-lucia/

=== Saint Barthelemy ===

## Introduction
Background: In 1493, Christopher COLUMBUS named Saint Barthelemy for his brother Bartolomeo, but the island was first settled by the French in 1648. In 1784, France sold the island to Sweden, which renamed the largest town Gustavia after the Swedish King GUSTAV III and made it a free port; the island prospered as a trade and supply center during the colonial wars of the 18th century. France repurchased the island in 1877 and took control the following year, placing it under the administration of Guadeloupe. Saint Barthelemy retained its free port status along with various Swedish appellations such as Swedish street and town names, and the three-crown symbol on the coat of arms. In 2003, the islanders voted to secede from Guadeloupe, and in 2007, the island became a French overseas collectivity. In 2012, it became an overseas territory of the EU, allowing it to exert local control over the permanent and temporary immigration of foreign workers, including non-French European citizens. Hurricane Irma hit the island in 2017 and caused extensive damage.

## Geography
Location: Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean; located in the Leeward Islands (northern) group; Saint Barthelemy lies east of the US Virgin Islands
Geographic coordinates: 17 90 N, 62 85 W
Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
Area / total: 25 sq km
Area / land: 25 sq km
Area / water: negligible
Area - comparative: less than one-eighth the size of Washington, D.C.
Land boundaries / total: 0 km
Climate: tropical, with practically no variation in temperature; has two seasons (dry and humid)
Terrain: hilly, almost completely surrounded by shallow-water reefs, with plentiful beaches
Elevation / highest point: Morne du Vitet 286 m
Elevation / lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
Natural resources: few natural resources; beaches foster tourism
Land use / agricultural land: 0% (2022 est.)
Land use / forest: 8.5% (2022 est.)
Land use / other: 91.5% (2022 est.)
Population distribution: most of the populace is concentrated in and around the capital of Gustavia, but scattered settlements exist around the island's periphery
Geography - note: a 1,200-hectare (3,000-acre) marine nature reserve, the Reserve Naturelle, is made up of five zones around the island that form a network to protect the island's coral reefs, seagrass, and endangered marine species

## People and Society
Population / total: 7,079 (2025 est.)
Population / male: 3,730
Population / female: 3,349
Ethnic groups: French, Portuguese, Caribbean, Afro-Caribbean
Languages / Languages: French (primary), English
Languages / major-language sample(s): The World Factbook, une source indispensable d'informations de base. (French) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
Age structure / 0-14 years: 13.9% (male 506/female 479)
Age structure / 15-64 years: 63.1% (male 2,413/female 2,057)
Age structure / 65 years and over: 23% (2024 est.) (male 818/female 813)
Dependency ratios / total dependency ratio: 60.1 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / youth dependency ratio: 22 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / elderly dependency ratio: 38 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / potential support ratio: 2.6 (2025 est.)
Median age / total: 47.7 years (2025 est.)
Median age / male: 47 years
Median age / female: 47.8 years
Population growth rate: -0.08% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 9.32 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 9.75 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: -0.42 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution: most of the populace is concentrated in and around the capital of Gustavia, but scattered settlements exist around the island's periphery
Sex ratio / at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 15-64 years: 1.17 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 65 years and over: 1.01 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / total population: 1.12 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Infant mortality rate / total: 6.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Infant mortality rate / male: 7.6 deaths/1,000 live births
Infant mortality rate / female: 5.3 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth / total population: 81 years (2024 est.)
Life expectancy at birth / male: 78 years
Life expectancy at birth / female: 84.2 years
Total fertility rate: 1.64 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 0.79 (2025 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: urban: urban: 100% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: total: total: 100% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: urban: urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: total: total: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: urban: urban: 100% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: total: total: 100% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: urban: urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: total: total: 0% of population (2022 est.)

## Environment
Environmental issues: land-based pollution; urbanization; limited freshwater resources; overfishing
Climate: tropical, with practically no variation in temperature; has two seasons (dry and humid)
Land use / agricultural land: 0% (2022 est.)
Land use / forest: 8.5% (2022 est.)
Land use / other: 91.5% (2022 est.)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: Overseas Collectivity of Saint Barthelemy
Country name / conventional short form: Saint Barthelemy
Country name / local long form: Collectivit&eacute; d'outre mer de Saint-Barth&eacute;lemy
Country name / local short form: Saint-Barth&eacute;lemy
Country name / abbreviation: Saint-Barth (French)/ St. Barts or St. Barths (English)
Country name / etymology: explorer Christopher COLUMBUS named the island in honor of his brother Bartolomeo in 1493
Government type: parliamentary democracy (Territorial Council); overseas collectivity of France
Dependency status: overseas collectivity of France
Capital / name: Gustavia
Capital / geographic coordinates: 17 53 N, 62 51 W
Capital / time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Capital / etymology: named in honor of King GUSTAV III of Sweden, who was ruler when Sweden bought the island from France in 1784; the name was retained when the island was sold back to France in 1878
Legal system: French civil law
Constitution / history: 4 October 1958 (French Constitution)
Constitution / amendment process: amendment procedures of France's constitution apply
Citizenship: see France
Suffrage: 18 years of age, universal
Executive branch / chief of state: President Emmanuel MACRON (since 14 May 2017), represented by Prefect Cyrille LE VELY (since 15 January 2025)
Executive branch / head of government: President of Territorial Council Xavier LEDEE (since 3 April 2022)
Executive branch / cabinet: Executive Council elected by the Territorial Council; there is also an advisory, economic, social, and cultural council
Executive branch / election/appointment process: French president directly elected by absolute-majority popular vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); prefect appointed by the French president on the advice of French Ministry of Interior; president of Territorial Council indirectly elected by its members for a 5-year term
Executive branch / most recent election date: 27 March 2022
Executive branch / election results: 2022: Xavier LEDEE (Saint Barth United) elected president; Territorial Council vote - 13 votes for, 6 blank votes 2017: Bruno MAGRAS (Saint Barth First!) elected president; Territorial Council vote - 14 out of 19 votes
Executive branch / expected date of next election: 2027
Legislative branch / legislature name: Territorial Council
Legislative branch / legislative structure: unicameral
Legislative branch / number of seats: 19 (directly elected)
Legislative branch / electoral system: mixed
Legislative branch / scope of elections: full renewal
Legislative branch / term in office: 5 years
Legislative branch / most recent election date: 3/27/2022
Legislative branch / parties elected and seats per party: Saint Barth Action-&Eacute;quilibre and Unis pour Saint Barthelemy (13); SBA (6)
Legislative branch / expected date of next election: 2027
Political parties: All for Saint Barth (Tous pour Saint-Barth) Saint Barth Action Equilibre Saint Barth First! (Saint-Barth d'Abord!) or SBA (affiliated with France's Republican party, Les Republicans) Saint Barth United (Unis pour Saint-Barthelemy)
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (overseas collectivity of France)
Diplomatic representation from the US / embassy: none (overseas collectivity of France)
International organization participation: ACS (associate), UPU
Independence: none (overseas collectivity of France)
National holiday: Fête de la Fédération, 14 July (1790)
Flag: the flag of France is used
National symbol(s): pelican
National anthem(s) / title: "La Marseillaise"
National anthem(s) / lyrics/music: Claude-Joseph ROUGET de Lisle
National anthem(s) / history: official anthem, as a French collectivity

## Economy
Economic overview: high-income French Caribbean territorial economy; duty-free luxury commerce and tourism industries; import-dependent for food, water, energy, and manufacturing; large Brazilian and Portuguese labor supply; environmentally fragile
Exports - partners: Spain 57%, Switzerland 24%, France 6%, Ireland 5%, Canada 2% (2023)
Exports - commodities: refined copper, jewelry (2023)
Imports - partners: Switzerland 50%, Portugal 14%, Brazil 6%, Japan 5%, Ireland 5% (2023)
Imports - commodities: precious metal watches, base metal watches, jewelry, cars, garments (2023)
Exchange rates / Currency: euros (EUR) per US dollar -
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2024: 0.924 (2024 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2023: 0.925 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2022: 0.95 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2021: 0.845 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2020: 0.876 (2020 est.)

## Energy
Electricity access / electrification - total population: 100% (2021)

## Communications
Broadcast media: 2 local TV broadcasters; 5 FM radio channels (2021)
Internet country code: .bl
Internet users / percent of population: 71.3% (2022 est.)

## Transportation
Airports: 1 (2025)

## Military and Security
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of France

## Transnational Issues

=== Trinidad and Tobago ===

## Introduction
Background: First colonized by the Spanish, Trinidad and Tobago came under British control in the early 19th century. The emancipation of enslaved people in 1834 disrupted the twin islands' sugar industry. Contract workers arriving from India between 1845 and 1917 augmented the labor force, which boosted sugar production as well as the cocoa industry. The discovery of oil on Trinidad in 1910 added another important export that remains the country's dominant industry. Trinidad and Tobago attained independence in 1962. The country is one of the most prosperous in the Caribbean, thanks largely to petroleum and natural gas production and processing. The government is struggling to reverse a surge in violent crime.

## Geography
Location: Caribbean, islands between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, northeast of Venezuela
Geographic coordinates: 11 00 N, 61 00 W
Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
Area / total: 5,128 sq km
Area / land: 5,128 sq km
Area / water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly smaller than Delaware
Land boundaries / total: 0 km
Coastline: 362 km
Maritime claims / territorial sea: 12 nm
Maritime claims / contiguous zone: 24 nm
Maritime claims / exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Maritime claims / continental shelf: 200 nm or to the outer edge of the continental margin
Climate: tropical; rainy season (June to December)
Terrain: mostly plains with some hills and low mountains
Elevation / highest point: El Cerro del Aripo 940 m
Elevation / lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
Elevation / mean elevation: 83 m
Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas, asphalt
Land use / agricultural land: 10.5% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 4.9% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 4.3% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 1.4% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 44.2% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 45.2% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land: 70 sq km (2012)
Population distribution: population on Trinidad is concentrated in the western half of the island, on Tobago in the southern half
Natural hazards: outside usual path of hurricanes and other tropical storms
Geography - note: Pitch Lake, on Trinidad's southwestern coast, is the world's largest natural reservoir of asphalt

## People and Society
Population / total: 1,410,170 (2025 est.)
Population / male: 708,677
Population / female: 701,493
Nationality / noun: Trinidadian(s), Tobagonian(s)
Nationality / adjective: Trinidadian, Tobagonian
Ethnic groups: East Indian 35.4%, African descent 34.2%, mixed - other 15.3%, mixed - African/East Indian 7.7%, other 1.3%, unspecified 6.2% (2011 est.)
Languages: English (official), Trinidadian Creole English, Tobagonian Creole English, Caribbean Hindustani (a dialect of Hindi), Trinidadian Creole French, Spanish, Chinese
Religions: Protestant 32.1% (Pentecostal/Evangelical/Full Gospel 12%, Baptist 6.9%, Anglican 5.7%, Seventh Day Adventist 4.1%, Presbyterian/Congregational 2.5%, other Protestant 0.9%), Roman Catholic 21.6%, Hindu 18.2%, Muslim 5%, Jehovah's Witness 1.5%, other 8.4%, none 2.2%, unspecified 11.1% (2011 est.)
Age structure / 0-14 years: 18.7% (male 134,508/female 129,180)
Age structure / 15-64 years: 67.2% (male 481,606/female 465,150)
Age structure / 65 years and over: 14.1% (2024 est.) (male 92,146/female 106,376)
Dependency ratios / total dependency ratio: 49.3 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / youth dependency ratio: 27.5 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / elderly dependency ratio: 21.9 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / potential support ratio: 4.6 (2025 est.)
Median age / total: 39.1 years (2025 est.)
Median age / male: 38 years
Median age / female: 39 years
Population growth rate: 0.08% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 10.33 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 8.69 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: -0.89 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution: population on Trinidad is concentrated in the western half of the island, on Tobago in the southern half
Urbanization / urban population: 53.4% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 0.23% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 545,000 PORT-OF-SPAIN (capital) (2023)
Sex ratio / at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 15-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 65 years and over: 0.87 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio: 54 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Infant mortality rate / total: 14.7 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Infant mortality rate / male: 17.1 deaths/1,000 live births
Infant mortality rate / female: 13 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth / total population: 76.5 years (2024 est.)
Life expectancy at birth / male: 74.6 years
Life expectancy at birth / female: 78.4 years
Total fertility rate: 1.63 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 0.8 (2025 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: total: total: 98.9% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: total: total: 1.1% of population (2022 est.)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 7% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 10.9% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density: 4.16 physicians/1,000 population (2021)
Hospital bed density: 1.6 beds/1,000 population (2021 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: total: total: 99.9% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: total: total: 0.1% of population (2022 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 18.6% (2016)
Alcohol consumption per capita / total: 5.81 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / beer: 2.92 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / wine: 0.16 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / spirits: 2.65 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / other alcohols: 0.09 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49): 42.7% (2022 est.)
Child marriage / women married by age 15: 0.7% (2022)
Child marriage / women married by age 18: 4.2% (2022)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% GDP): 3% of GDP (2023 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% national budget): 12.6% national budget (2025 est.)
Literacy / female: 93.8% (2022 est.)

## Environment
Environmental issues: water pollution from agricultural chemicals, industrial wastes, and raw sewage; widespread pollution of waterways and coastal areas; illegal dumping; deforestation; soil erosion; fisheries and wildlife depletion
International environmental agreements / party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands
International environmental agreements / signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Climate: tropical; rainy season (June to December)
Land use / agricultural land: 10.5% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 4.9% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 4.3% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 1.4% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 44.2% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 45.2% (2023 est.)
Urbanization / urban population: 53.4% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 0.23% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / total emissions: 33.629 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from coal and metallurgical coke: 6,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from petroleum and other liquids: 3.634 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from consumed natural gas: 29.989 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Particulate matter emissions: 10.4 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Methane emissions / energy: 160.3 kt (2022-2024 est.)
Methane emissions / agriculture: 4.1 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Methane emissions / waste: 59.1 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Methane emissions / other: 6 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Waste and recycling / municipal solid waste generated annually: 727,900 tons (2024 est.)
Waste and recycling / percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 16.2% (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / municipal: 237.6 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / industrial: 128.9 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / agricultural: 16.7 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total renewable water resources: 3.84 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: Republic of Trinidad and Tobago
Country name / conventional short form: Trinidad and Tobago
Country name / etymology: explorer Christopher COLUMBUS named the larger island "La Isla de la Trinidad" (The Island of the Trinity) in 1498, possibly because of the three mountain peaks on the island; COLUMBUS may have gotten the name Tobago, spelled "tobaco" in Spanish, from the tobacco grown and smoked locally, or from its elongated cigar shape
Government type: parliamentary republic
Capital / name: Port of Spain
Capital / geographic coordinates: 10 39 N, 61 31 W
Capital / time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Capital / etymology: translation of the name the Spanish gave the town in 1595, Puerto de Espa&ntilde;a; the name was anglicized after the British captured Trinidad in 1797
Administrative divisions: 9 regions, 3 boroughs, 2 cities, 1 ward regions: Couva/Tabaquite/Talparo, Diego Martin, Mayaro/Rio Claro, Penal/Debe, Princes Town, Sangre Grande, San Juan/Laventille, Siparia, Tunapuna/Piarco borough: Arima, Chaguanas, Point Fortin cities: Port of Spain, San Fernando ward: Tobago
Legal system: English common law; Supreme Court reviews legislative acts
Constitution / history: previous 1962; latest 1976
Constitution / amendment process: proposed by Parliament; passage of amendments affecting constitutional provisions, such as human rights and freedoms or citizenship, requires at least two-thirds majority vote by the membership of both houses and assent of the president; passage of amendments, such as the powers and authorities of the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of government, and the procedure for amending the constitution, requires at least three-quarters majority vote by the House membership, two-thirds majority vote by the Senate membership, and assent of the president
International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Citizenship / citizenship by birth: yes
Citizenship / citizenship by descent only: yes
Citizenship / dual citizenship recognized: yes
Citizenship / residency requirement for naturalization: 8 years
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch / chief of state: President Christine KANGALOO (since 20 March 2023)
Executive branch / head of government: Prime Minister Kamla Susheila PERSAD-BISSESSAR (since 1 May 2025)
Executive branch / cabinet: Cabinet appointed from among members of Parliament
Executive branch / election/appointment process: president indirectly elected by an electoral college of selected Senate and House of Representatives members for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); the president usually appoints the leader of the majority party in the House of Representatives as prime minister
Executive branch / most recent election date: 20 January 2023
Executive branch / election results: 2023: Christine KANGALOO elected president by the electoral college on 20 January 2023; electoral college vote Christine KANGALOO (PNM) 48, Israel KHAN (UNC) 22 2018: Paula-Mae WEEKES (independent) elected president; ran unopposed and was elected without a vote; she was Trinidad and Tabago's first female head of state
Executive branch / expected date of next election: by February 2028
Legislative branch / legislature name: Parliament
Legislative branch / legislative structure: bicameral
Legislative branch - lower chamber / chamber name: House of Representatives
Legislative branch - lower chamber / number of seats: 42 (all directly elected)
Legislative branch - lower chamber / electoral system: plurality/majority
Legislative branch - lower chamber / scope of elections: full renewal
Legislative branch - lower chamber / term in office: 5 years
Legislative branch - lower chamber / most recent election date: 4/28/2025
Legislative branch - lower chamber / parties elected and seats per party: United National Congress (UNC) (26); People's National Movement (PNM) (13); Other (2)
Legislative branch - lower chamber / percentage of women in chamber: 23.8%
Legislative branch - lower chamber / expected date of next election: April 2030
Legislative branch - upper chamber / chamber name: Senate
Legislative branch - upper chamber / number of seats: 31 (all appointed)
Legislative branch - upper chamber / scope of elections: full renewal
Legislative branch - upper chamber / term in office: 5 years
Legislative branch - upper chamber / most recent election date: 5/23/2025
Legislative branch - upper chamber / percentage of women in chamber: 25.8%
Legislative branch - upper chamber / expected date of next election: May 2030
Judicial branch / highest court(s): Supreme Court of the Judicature (consists of a chief justice for both the Court of Appeal with 12 judges and the High Court with 24 judges)
Judicial branch / judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court chief justice appointed by the president after consultation with the prime minister and the parliamentary leader of the opposition; other judges appointed by the Judicial Legal Services Commission, headed by the chief justice and 5 members with judicial experience; all judges serve for life with mandatory retirement normally at age 65
Judicial branch / subordinate courts: Courts of Summary Criminal Jurisdiction; Petty Civil Courts; Family Court
Political parties: People's National Movement or PNM United National Congress or UNC Tobago People’s Party or Tobago
Diplomatic representation in the US / chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charg&eacute; d'Affaires Venessa RAMHIT-RAMROOP (since 4 June 2025)
Diplomatic representation in the US / chancery: 1708 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036-1975
Diplomatic representation in the US / telephone: [1] (202) 467-6490
Diplomatic representation in the US / FAX: [1] (202) 785-3130
Diplomatic representation in the US / email address and website: embdcinfo@foreign.gov.tt https://foreign.gov.tt/missions-consuls/tt-missions-abroad/diplomatic-missions/embassy-washington-dc-us/
Diplomatic representation in the US / consulate(s) general: Miami, New York
Diplomatic representation from the US / chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charg&eacute; d&rsquo;Affaires Jenifer NEIDHART de ORTIZ (since January 2025)
Diplomatic representation from the US / embassy: 15 Queen's Park West, Port of Spain
Diplomatic representation from the US / mailing address: 3410 Port of Spain Place, Washington DC 20521-3410
Diplomatic representation from the US / telephone: (868) 622-6371
Diplomatic representation from the US / FAX: (868) 822-5905
Diplomatic representation from the US / email address and website: ptspas@state.gov https://tt.usembassy.gov/
International organization participation: ACP, ACS, AOSIS, C, Caricom, CDB, CELAC, EITI (compliant country), FAO, G-24, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAES, MIGA, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, Pacific Alliance (observer), Paris Club (associate), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Independence: 31 August 1962 (from the UK)
National holiday: Independence Day, 31 August (1962)
Flag: description: red with a white-edged black diagonal band from the upper left to the lower right meaning: the colors represent the elements of earth, water, and fire; black also stands for the wealth of the land and the dedication of the people; white for the sea, the purity of the country's aspirations, and equality; red for the sun, the vitality of the land, and the people's courage and friendliness
National symbol(s): scarlet ibis (bird of Trinidad), cocrico (bird of Tobago), chaconia flower
National color(s): red, white, black
National coat of arms: designed in 1962, the coat of arms shows the scarlet ibis (national bird of Trinidad) and the cocrico (national bird of Tobago); they support a shield displaying two hummingbirds, because Trinidad is home to 18 species of the bird and is called the &ldquo;Land of Hummingbirds;&rdquo; three gold ships on a backdrop of national colors represent Christopher Columbus, who visited the islands; the three peaks in the lower left refer to Trinidad being named after the Holy Trinity and also represent a famous mountain; the image of a gold ship's wheel in front of a coconut palm was also used on the Great Seals of British Colonial Tobago; the gold helmet represents Queen Elizabeth II of England (ruler of the country at the time), and the national motto promotes harmony in diversity
National anthem(s) / title: "Forged From the Love of Liberty"
National anthem(s) / lyrics/music: Patrick Stanislaus CASTAGNE
National anthem(s) / history: adopted 1962; song originally written as an anthem for the West Indies Federation; Trinidad and Tobago adopted it when the Federation dissolved

## Economy
Economic overview: high-income Caribbean economy; major hydrocarbon exporter; key tourism and finance sectors; high inflation and growing public debt; long foreign currency access delays; large foreign reserves and sovereign wealth fund
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $43.362 billion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $42.658 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $42.058 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2024: 1.7% (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2023: 1.4% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2022: 1.1% (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2024: $31,700 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2023: $31,200 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2022: $30,800 (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $26.429 billion (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024: 0.5% (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023: 4.6% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 5.8% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / agriculture: 0.8% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / industry: 35% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / services: 59.9% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / household consumption: 78.9% (2017 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / government consumption: 16.4% (2017 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in fixed capital: 19.8% (2021 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in inventories: 0% (2021 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / exports of goods and services: 45.4% (2017 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / imports of goods and services: -48.7% (2017 est.)
Agricultural products: chicken, fruits, coconuts, citrus fruits, maize, oranges, plantains, eggs, taro, mangoes/guavas (2023)
Industries: petroleum and petroleum products, liquefied natural gas, methanol, ammonia, urea, steel products, beverages, food processing, cement, cotton textiles
Industrial production growth rate: -4.7% (2023 est.)
Labor force: 649,900 (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2024: 4.6% (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2023: 4.3% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2022: 4.4% (2022 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / total: 11.1% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / male: 10.3% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / female: 12% (2024 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2024: 0.8% of GDP (2024 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2023: 0.8% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2022: 0.7% of GDP (2022 est.)
Budget / revenues: $5.698 billion (2019 est.)
Budget / expenditures: $7.822 billion (2019 est.)
Public debt / Public debt 2016: 37% of GDP (2016 est.)
Taxes and other revenues: 16.7% (of GDP) (2019 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2024: $1.117 billion (2024 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2023: $2.948 billion (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2022: $4.967 billion (2022 est.)
Exports / Exports 2024: $11.087 billion (2024 est.)
Exports / Exports 2023: $11.545 billion (2023 est.)
Exports / Exports 2022: $17.584 billion (2022 est.)
Exports - partners: USA 28%, China 7%, Guyana 5%, Chile 5%, Netherlands 5% (2023)
Exports - commodities: natural gas, alcohols, ammonia, crude petroleum, iron reductions (2023)
Imports / Imports 2024: $10.19 billion (2024 est.)
Imports / Imports 2023: $9.219 billion (2023 est.)
Imports / Imports 2022: $10.968 billion (2022 est.)
Imports - partners: USA 29%, Guyana 27%, China 8%, Brazil 4%, Canada 3% (2023)
Imports - commodities: railway cargo containers, refined petroleum, cars, iron ore, excavation machinery (2023)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024: $5.601 billion (2024 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023: $6.256 billion (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $6.832 billion (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Currency: Trinidad and Tobago dollars (TTD) per US dollar -
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2024: 6.75 (2024 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2023: 6.75 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2022: 6.754 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2021: 6.759 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2020: 6.751 (2020 est.)

## Energy
Electricity access / electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)
Electricity / installed generating capacity: 2.139 million kW (2023 est.)
Electricity / consumption: 9.001 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / transmission/distribution losses: 492 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / fossil fuels: 99.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / solar: 0.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Coal / consumption: 6 metric tons (2022 est.)
Coal / imports: 2,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum / total petroleum production: 72,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Petroleum / refined petroleum consumption: 26,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Petroleum / crude oil estimated reserves: 242.982 million barrels (2021 est.)
Natural gas / production: 25.994 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / consumption: 15.316 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / exports: 10.737 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / proven reserves: 298.063 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)

## Communications
Telephones - fixed lines / total subscriptions: 311,000 (2023 est.)
Telephones - fixed lines / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 21 (2023 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / total subscriptions: 1.79 million (2024 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 119 (2024 est.)
Broadcast media: 6 free-to-air TV networks, 2 of which are state-owned; 24 subscription providers (cable and satellite); over 36 radio frequencies (2019)
Internet country code: .tt
Internet users / percent of population: 85% (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / total: 404,000 (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 27 (2023 est.)

## Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: 9Y
Airports: 3 (2025)
Merchant marine / total: 102 (2023)
Merchant marine / by type: general cargo 1, other 101
Ports / total ports: 10 (2024)
Ports / large: 0
Ports / medium: 1
Ports / small: 4
Ports / very small: 5
Ports / ports with oil terminals: 8
Ports / key ports: Galeota Point Terminal, Point Lisas Industrial Port, Point Lisas Port, Pointe-a-Pierre, Port of Spain

## Military and Security
Military and security forces: Trinidad and Tobago Defense Force (TTDF): Trinidad and Tobago Regiment (Army/Land Forces), Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard, Trinidad and Tobago Air Guard, Defense Force Reserves (2026)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2024: 0.9% of GDP (2024 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2023: 1% of GDP (2023 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2022: 1% of GDP (2022 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2021: 1% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2020: 1% of GDP (2020 est.)
Military and security service personnel strengths: approximately 5,000 Defense Forces (2025)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the TTDF's ground force inventory consists of light weapons, while the Coast Guard and Air Guard field mostly secondhand equipment from several countries, including Australia, China, Italy, the Netherlands, and the US (2025)
Military service age and obligation: generally 18-24 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women; no conscription (2025)
Military - note: the primary responsibilities of the Trinidad and Tobago Defense Force (TTDF) are conducting border and maritime security, assisting civil authorities in times of crisis or disaster, providing search and rescue services, securing ports, and supporting civil law enforcement, particularly in countering gang-related crime and trafficking of narcotics and other illicit goods; the Police Service maintains internal security (2025)

## Terrorism
Terrorist group(s): Tren de Aragua (TdA)

## Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons / refugees: 24,134 (2024 est.)

=== Turks and Caicos Islands ===

## Introduction
Background: The islands were part of the UK's Jamaican colony until 1962, when they assumed the status of a separate Crown colony upon Jamaica's independence. The governor of The Bahamas oversaw affairs from 1965 to 1973. With Bahamian independence, the islands received a separate governor in 1973. Although independence was agreed upon for 1982, the policy was reversed, and the islands remain a British overseas territory. Grand Turk Island suffered extensive damage from Hurricane Maria in 2017.

## Geography
Location: two island groups in the North Atlantic Ocean, southeast of The Bahamas, north of Haiti; note - although the Turks and Caicos Islands do not border the Caribbean Sea, geopolitically they are often designated as being Caribbean
Geographic coordinates: 21 45 N, 71 35 W
Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
Area / total: 948 sq km
Area / land: 948 sq km
Area / water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative: 2.5 times the size of Washington, D.C.
Land boundaries / total: 0 km
Coastline: 389 km
Maritime claims / territorial sea: 12 nm
Maritime claims / exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
Climate: tropical; marine; moderated by trade winds; sunny and relatively dry
Terrain: low, flat limestone; extensive marshes and mangrove swamps
Elevation / highest point: Blue Hill on Providenciales and Flamingo Hill on East Caicos 48 m
Elevation / lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
Natural resources: spiny lobster, conch
Land use / agricultural land: 1.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 1.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 0% (2022 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 0% (2022 est.)
Land use / forest: 11.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 87.9% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land: 0 sq km (2022)
Population distribution: eight of the thirty islands are inhabited; the island of Providenciales is the most populated, but the most densely populated is Grand Turk
Natural hazards: frequent hurricanes
Geography - note: include eight large islands and numerous smaller cays, islets, and reefs; only two of the Caicos Islands and six of the Turks group are inhabited

## People and Society
Population / total: 60,439 (2024 est.)
Population / male: 30,389
Population / female: 30,050
Nationality / noun: none
Nationality / adjective: none
Ethnic groups: Black 87.6%, White 7.9%, mixed 2.5%, East Indian 1.3%, other 0.7% (2006 est.)
Languages: English (official)
Religions: Protestant 72.8% (Baptist 35.8%, Church of God 11.7%, Anglican 10%, Methodist 9.3%, Seventh Day Adventist 6%), Roman Catholic 11.4%, Jehovah's Witness 1.8%, other 14% (2006 est.)
Age structure / 0-14 years: 20.4% (male 6,288/female 6,056)
Age structure / 15-64 years: 73.2% (male 22,232/female 22,011)
Age structure / 65 years and over: 6.4% (2024 est.) (male 1,869/female 1,983)
Dependency ratios / total dependency ratio: 36.6 (2024 est.)
Dependency ratios / youth dependency ratio: 27.9 (2024 est.)
Dependency ratios / elderly dependency ratio: 8.7 (2024 est.)
Dependency ratios / potential support ratio: 11.5 (2024 est.)
Median age / total: 36.6 years (2025 est.)
Median age / male: 36.5 years
Median age / female: 36.1 years
Population growth rate: 1.73% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 12.73 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 3.59 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: 8.13 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution: eight of the thirty islands are inhabited; the island of Providenciales is the most populated, but the most densely populated is Grand Turk
Urbanization / urban population: 94.2% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 1.46% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 5,000 GRAND TURK (capital) (2018)
Sex ratio / at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 65 years and over: 0.94 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Infant mortality rate / total: 10.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Infant mortality rate / male: 13.9 deaths/1,000 live births
Infant mortality rate / female: 8.1 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth / total population: 81.3 years (2024 est.)
Life expectancy at birth / male: 78.5 years
Life expectancy at birth / female: 84.1 years
Total fertility rate: 1.7 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 0.83 (2025 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: urban: urban: 99.2% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: rural: rural: 91.8% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: total: total: 98.8% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: urban: urban: 0.8% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: rural: rural: 8.2% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: total: total: 1.2% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: urban: urban: 98.8% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: rural: rural: 97.7% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: total: total: 98.7% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: urban: urban: 1.2% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: rural: rural: 2.3% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: total: total: 1.3% of population (2022 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 0.4% (2020 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49): 59.3% (2020 est.)
Child marriage / women married by age 15: 0% (2020)
Child marriage / women married by age 18: 23.3% (2020)
Child marriage / men married by age 18: 5.1% (2020)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% GDP): 2.9% of GDP (2024 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% national budget): 9.8% national budget (2025 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / total: 14 years (2023 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / male: 15 years (2023 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / female: 14 years (2023 est.)
People - note: destination and transit point for illegal Haitian immigrants bound for the Bahamas and the US

## Environment
Environmental issues: limited natural freshwater resources
Climate: tropical; marine; moderated by trade winds; sunny and relatively dry
Land use / agricultural land: 1.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 1.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 0% (2022 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 0% (2022 est.)
Land use / forest: 11.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 87.9% (2023 est.)
Urbanization / urban population: 94.2% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 1.46% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / total emissions: 447,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from petroleum and other liquids: 447,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: none
Country name / conventional short form: Turks and Caicos Islands
Country name / abbreviation: TCA
Country name / etymology: the Turks Islands are named after the Turk's cap cactus, which is native to the islands and appears on the flag and coat of arms; the name Caicos may derive from caya hico , a phrase meaning “string of islands” in the Lucayan (Arawak) language, or from the Spanish word cayo , meaning "rock"
Government type: parliamentary democracy
Dependency status: overseas territory of the UK
Capital / name: Grand Turk (Cockburn Town)
Capital / geographic coordinates: 21 28 N, 71 08 W
Capital / time difference: UTC-5 (same time as Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Capital / daylight saving time: +1hr, begins second Sunday in March; ends first Sunday in November
Capital / etymology: named after Sir Francis COCKBURN, who served as governor of the Bahamas from 1837 to 1844
Legal system: mixed system of English common law and civil law
Constitution / history: several previous; latest signed 7 August 2012, effective 15 October 2012 (The Turks and Caicos Constitution Order 2011)
Citizenship: see United Kingdom
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch / chief of state: King CHARLES III (since 8 September 2022); represented by Governor Dileeni Daniel-SELVARATNAM (since 29 June 2023)
Executive branch / head of government: Premier Washington MISICK (since 19 February 2021)
Executive branch / cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor from among members of the House of Assembly
Executive branch / election/appointment process: the monarch is hereditary; governor appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the governor appoints the leader of the majority party as the premier
Legislative branch / legislature name: House of Assembly
Legislative branch / legislative structure: unicameral
Legislative branch / number of seats: 21 (directly elected or appointed)
Legislative branch / electoral system: mixed
Legislative branch / scope of elections: full renewal
Legislative branch / term in office: 4 years
Legislative branch / most recent election date: 2/07/2025
Legislative branch / parties elected and seats per party: PNP (16); PDM (2); independents (1)
Legislative branch / percentage of women in chamber: 27.3%
Legislative branch / expected date of next election: 2029
Judicial branch / highest court(s): Supreme Court (consists of the chief justice and other judges, as determined by the governor); Court of Appeal (consists of the court president and 2 justices)
Judicial branch / judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court and Appeals Court judges appointed by the governor in accordance with the Judicial Service Commission, a 3-member body of high-level judicial officials; Supreme Court judges serve until mandatory retirement at age 65, but terms can be extended to age 70; Appeals Court judge tenure determined by individual terms of appointment
Judicial branch / subordinate courts: magistrates' courts
Political parties: People's Democratic Movement or PDM Progressive National Party or PNP
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (overseas territory of the UK)
Diplomatic representation from the US / embassy: none (overseas territory of the UK)
International organization participation: Caricom (associate), CDB, Interpol (subbureau), UPU
Independence: none (overseas territory of the UK)
Flag: description: blue with the UK flag in the upper-left quadrant and the colonial shield centered on the right half of the flag; the shield is yellow and displays a conch shell, a spiny lobster, and Turk's cap cactus
National symbol(s): conch shell, Turk's cap cactus
National anthem(s) / title: "God Save the King"
National anthem(s) / lyrics/music: unknown
National anthem(s) / history: official anthem, as a UK overseas territory

## Economy
Economic overview: British Caribbean island territorial economy; GDP and its tourism industry hit hard by COVID-19 disruptions; major biodiversity locale; US dollar user; fossil fuel dependent; negative trade balance; increasing unemployment
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $1.554 billion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $1.471 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $1.293 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2024: 5.6% (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2023: 13.7% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2022: 14.1% (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2024: $33,400 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2023: $31,800 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2022: $28,200 (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $1.745 billion (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 8.5% (2022 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021: 5% (2021 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2020: 2.3% (2020 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / agriculture: 0.4% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / industry: 9.3% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / services: 72.6% (2024 est.)
Agricultural products: corn, beans, cassava (manioc, tapioca), citrus fruits; fish
Industries: tourism, offshore financial services
Industrial production growth rate: 9% (2024 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2023: 0% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2022: 0% of GDP (2022 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2021: 0% of GDP (2021 est.)
Budget / revenues: $247.3 million (2017 est.)
Budget / expenditures: $224.3 million (2017 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2018: $172.709 million (2018 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2017: $35.016 million (2017 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2016: $247.081 million (2016 est.)
Exports / Exports 2018: $826.824 million (2018 est.)
Exports / Exports 2017: $602.581 million (2017 est.)
Exports / Exports 2016: $741.173 million (2016 est.)
Exports - partners: Gabon 27%, USA 25%, Zimbabwe 17%, Czechia 8%, UAE 3% (2023)
Exports - commodities: plastics, shellfish, carbonates, tobacco, garments (2023)
Imports / Imports 2018: $544.219 million (2018 est.)
Imports / Imports 2017: $484.842 million (2017 est.)
Imports / Imports 2016: $438.041 million (2016 est.)
Imports - partners: USA 73%, Dominican Republic 4%, Italy 3%, Japan 3%, China 2% (2023)
Imports - commodities: refined petroleum, cars, aluminum structures, furniture, plastic products (2023)
Exchange rates: the US dollar is used

## Energy
Electricity access / electrification - total population: 99.9% (2022 est.)
Electricity access / electrification - urban areas: 100%
Electricity access / electrification - rural areas: 100%
Electricity / installed generating capacity: 94,000 kW (2023 est.)
Electricity / consumption: 252.088 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / transmission/distribution losses: 12.912 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / fossil fuels: 98.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / solar: 1.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Petroleum / refined petroleum consumption: 3,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

## Communications
Telephones - fixed lines / total subscriptions: 4,000 (2021 est.)
Telephones - fixed lines / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 9 (2022 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / total subscriptions: 25,085 (2004 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 110 (2004 est.)
Broadcast media: no local terrestrial TV stations; broadcasts from the Bahamas, multi-channel cable, and satellite TV available; state-run radio network operates alongside private broadcasters, with a total of about 15 stations
Internet country code: .tc
Internet users / percent of population: 93.5% (2022)

## Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: VQ-T
Airports: 9 (2025)
Merchant marine / total: 3 (2023)
Merchant marine / by type: general cargo 1, other 2
Ports / total ports: 3 (2024)
Ports / large: 0
Ports / medium: 0
Ports / small: 0
Ports / very small: 2
Ports / size unknown: 1
Ports / ports with oil terminals: 1
Ports / key ports: Cockburn Harbor, Grand Turk, Providenciales

## Military and Security
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of the UK

## Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons / refugees: 8 (2024 est.)

=== Curacao ===

## Introduction
Background: The original Arawak Indian settlers who arrived on Cura&ccedil;ao from South America in about A.D. 1000 were largely enslaved by the Spanish early in the 16th century and forcibly relocated to other colonies where labor was needed. The Dutch seized Cura&ccedil;ao from the Spanish in 1634. Once the center of the Caribbean slave trade, Cura&ccedil;ao was hard hit economically when the Dutch abolished slavery in 1863. Its prosperity (and that of neighboring Aruba) was restored in the early 20th century with the construction of the Isla Refineria to service the newly discovered Venezuelan oilfields. In 1954, Cura&ccedil;ao and several other Dutch Caribbean colonies were reorganized as the Netherlands Antilles, part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. In referenda in 2005 and 2009, the citizens of Cura&ccedil;ao voted to become a self-governing country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands. The change in status became effective in 2010 with the dissolution of the Netherlands Antilles.

## Geography
Location: Caribbean, an island in the Caribbean Sea, 55 km off the coast of Venezuela
Geographic coordinates: 12 10 N, 69 00 W
Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
Area / total: 444 sq km
Area / land: 444 sq km
Area / water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative: more than twice the size of Washington, D.C.
Land boundaries / total: 0 km
Coastline: 364 km
Maritime claims / territorial sea: 12 nm
Maritime claims / exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate: tropical marine climate, ameliorated by northeast trade winds, results in mild temperatures; semiarid with average rainfall of 60 cm/year
Terrain: generally low, hilly terrain
Elevation / highest point: Mt. Christoffel 372 m
Elevation / lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
Natural resources: calcium phosphates, protected harbors, hot springs
Land use / agricultural land: 0% (2022 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 10% (2018)
Land use / forest: 0.2% (2022 est.)
Land use / other: 99.8% (2022 est.)
Irrigated land: NA
Population distribution: largest concentration on the island is Willemstad; smaller settlements near the coast can be found throughout the island, particularly in the northwest
Natural hazards: Curacao is south of the Caribbean hurricane belt and is rarely threatened
Geography - note: Cura&ccedil;ao is a part of the Windward Islands (southern) group in the Lesser Antilles

## People and Society
Population / total: 153,289 (2024 est.)
Population / male: 73,755
Population / female: 79,534
Nationality / noun: Curacaoan
Nationality / adjective: Curacaoan; Dutch
Ethnic groups: Curacaoan 75.4%, Dutch 6%, Dominican 3.6%, Colombian 3%, Bonairean, Sint Eustatian, Saban 1.5%, Haitian 1.2%, Surinamese 1.2%, Venezuelan 1.1%, Aruban 1.1%, other 5%, unspecified 0.9% (2011 est.)
Languages: Papiamento (official) (a creole language that is a mixture of Portuguese, Spanish, Dutch, English, and, to a lesser extent, French, as well as elements of African languages and the language of the Arawak) 80%, Dutch (official) 8.8%, Spanish 5.6%, English (official) 3.1%, other 2.3%, unspecified 0.3% (2011 est.)
Religions: Roman Catholic 72.8%, Pentecostal 6.6%, Protestant 3.2%, Adventist 3%, Jehovah's Witness 2%, Evangelical 1.9%, other 3.8%, none 6%, unspecified 0.6% (2011 est.)
Age structure / 0-14 years: 19.2% (male 15,069/female 14,337)
Age structure / 15-64 years: 62.3% (male 47,258/female 48,217)
Age structure / 65 years and over: 18.5% (2024 est.) (male 11,428/female 16,980)
Dependency ratios / total dependency ratio: 60.6 (2024 est.)
Dependency ratios / youth dependency ratio: 30.8 (2024 est.)
Dependency ratios / elderly dependency ratio: 29.8 (2024 est.)
Dependency ratios / potential support ratio: 3.4 (2024 est.)
Median age / total: 38.1 years (2025 est.)
Median age / male: 35.5 years
Median age / female: 40.2 years
Population growth rate: 0.25% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 12.71 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 8.91 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: -1.3 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution: largest concentration on the island is Willemstad; smaller settlements near the coast can be found throughout the island, particularly in the northwest
Urbanization / urban population: 89% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 0.57% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 144,000 WILLEMSTAD (capital) (2018)
Sex ratio / at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 65 years and over: 0.67 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / total population: 0.93 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Infant mortality rate / total: 7.4 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Infant mortality rate / male: 8.3 deaths/1,000 live births
Infant mortality rate / female: 6.7 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth / total population: 79.9 years (2024 est.)
Life expectancy at birth / male: 77.6 years
Life expectancy at birth / female: 82.3 years
Total fertility rate: 1.95 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 0.95 (2025 est.)
Education expenditure: 7.4% of GDP (2020 est.)

## Environment
Environmental issues: waste management, including pollution of marine areas from domestic sewage, inadequate sewage treatment facilities, industrial effluents, agricultural runoff, mismanagement of toxic substances, and ineffective regulations; damage from neglect and a lack of controls at major refinery
Climate: tropical marine climate, ameliorated by northeast trade winds, results in mild temperatures; semiarid with average rainfall of 60 cm/year
Land use / agricultural land: 0% (2022 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 10% (2018)
Land use / forest: 0.2% (2022 est.)
Land use / other: 99.8% (2022 est.)
Urbanization / urban population: 89% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 0.57% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Waste and recycling / municipal solid waste generated annually: 24,700 tons (2024 est.)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: Country of Curacao
Country name / conventional short form: Curacao
Country name / local long form: Land Curacao (Dutch)/ Pais Korsou (Papiamento)
Country name / local short form: Curacao (Dutch)/ Korsou (Papiamento)
Country name / former: Netherlands Antilles; Curacao and Dependencies
Country name / etymology: the origin of the name is disputed; many historians now agree that the name derives from a similar-sounding word the original inhabitants used to describe themselves
Government type: parliamentary democracy
Dependency status: one of four constituent countries of the Kingdom of the Netherlands; full autonomy in internal affairs granted in 2010; Dutch government responsible for defense and foreign affairs
Capital / name: Willemstad
Capital / geographic coordinates: 12 06 N, 68 55 W
Capital / time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Capital / etymology: the name means "William's Town" in Dutch; named after Prince WILLEM of Orange (1533-84), the first stadtholder of the United Provinces of the Netherlands
Legal system: based on Dutch civil law
Constitution / history: previous 1947, 1955; latest adopted 5 September 2010, entered into force 10 October 2010 (regulates governance of Curacao but is subordinate to the Charter for the Kingdom of the Netherlands)
Citizenship: see the Netherlands
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch / chief of state: King WILLEM-ALEXANDER of the Netherlands (since 30 April 2013); represented by Governor Lucille A. GEORGE-WOUT (since 4 November 2013)
Executive branch / head of government: Prime Minister Gilmar PISAS (since 14 June 2021)
Executive branch / cabinet: Cabinet sworn-in by the governor
Executive branch / election/appointment process: the monarch is hereditary; governor appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the legislature usually elects the leader of the majority party as prime minister
Executive branch / most recent election date: 21 March 2025
Executive branch / expected date of next election: 2029
Legislative branch / legislature name: Parliament of Curacao
Legislative branch / legislative structure: unicameral
Legislative branch / number of seats: 21 (directly elected)
Legislative branch / electoral system: proportional representation
Legislative branch / scope of elections: full renewal
Legislative branch / term in office: 4 years
Legislative branch / most recent election date: 3/19/2021
Legislative branch / parties elected and seats per party: MFK (9); PAR (4); PNP (4); MAN (2); KEM (1); TPK (1)
Legislative branch / percentage of women in chamber: 28.6%
Legislative branch / expected date of next election: 2025
Judicial branch / highest court(s): Joint Court of Justice of Aruba, Curacao, Sint Maarten, and of Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba or "Joint Court of Justice" (sits as a 3-judge panel); final appeals heard by the Supreme Court in The Hague, Netherlands
Judicial branch / judge selection and term of office: Joint Court judges appointed by the monarch for life
Judicial branch / subordinate courts: first instance courts, appeals court; specialized courts
Political parties: Korsou di Nos Tur or KdnT Korsou Esun Miho or KEM Movementu Futuro Korsou or MFK Movementu Progresivo or MP Movishon Antia Nobo or MAN Partido Antia Restruktura or PAR Partido Inovashon Nashonal or PIN Partido Nashonal di Pueblo or PNP Pueblo Soberano or PS Trabou pa Kòrsou or TPK Un Korsou Hustu
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (represented by the Kingdom of the Netherlands)
Diplomatic representation from the US / chief of mission: Consul General Ram&oacute;n &ldquo;Chico&rdquo; NEGR&Oacute;N (since 9 June 2025); note - also accredited to Aruba and Sint Maarten
Diplomatic representation from the US / embassy: P.O. Box 158, J.B. Gorsiraweg 1
Diplomatic representation from the US / mailing address: 3160 Curacao Place, Washington DC 20521-3160
Diplomatic representation from the US / telephone: [599] (9) 461-3066
Diplomatic representation from the US / FAX: [599] (9) 461-6489
Diplomatic representation from the US / email address and website: ACSCuracao@state.gov https://cw.usconsulate.gov/
International organization participation: ACS (associate), Caricom (observer), FATF, ILO, ITU, UNESCO (associate), UPU
Independence: none (part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands)
National holiday: King's Day (birthday of King WILLEM-ALEXANDER), 27 April (1967)
Flag: description: on a blue field, a horizontal yellow band divides the flag below the center; two five-pointed white stars -- the smaller above and to the left of the larger -- appear in the upper left meaning: the blue stands for the sky and sea, and yellow for the sun; the stars symbolize Curacao and its uninhabited sister island of Klein Curacao (Little Curacao); the star points represent the five continents from which Curacao's inhabitants originate
National symbol(s): laraha (citrus tree)
National color(s): blue, yellow, white
National anthem(s) / title: "Himmo di Korsou" (Anthem of Curacao)
National anthem(s) / lyrics/music: Guillermo ROSARIO, Mae HENRIQUEZ, Enrique MULLER, Betty DORAN/Frater Candidus NOWENS, Errol "El Toro" COLINA
National anthem(s) / history: adapted 1978; the lyrics, originally written in 1899, were rewritten in 1978 to remove colonial references
National heritage / total World Heritage Sites: 1 (cultural); note - excerpted from the Netherlands entry
National heritage / selected World Heritage Site locales: Historic Willemstad

## Economy
Economic overview: high-income island economy; developed infrastructure; tourism and financial services-based economy; investing in information technology incentives; oil refineries service Venezuela and China
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $4.312 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $4.138 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2021: $3.834 billion (2021 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2023: 4.2% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2022: 7.9% (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2021: 4.2% (2021 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2023: $27,700 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2022: $27,600 (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2021: $25,200 (2021 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $3.281 billion (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2019: 2.6% (2019 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2018: 2.6% (2018 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2017: 1.6% (2017 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / agriculture: 0.3% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / industry: 11.7% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / services: 73.3% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / household consumption: 73.2% (2018 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / government consumption: 14.5% (2018 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in fixed capital: 34% (2018 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in inventories: 7.1% (2018 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / exports of goods and services: 63.2% (2018 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / imports of goods and services: -92% (2018 est.)
Agricultural products: aloe, sorghum, peanuts, vegetables, tropical fruit
Industries: tourism, petroleum refining, petroleum transshipment, light manufacturing, financial and business services
Remittances / Remittances 2023: 5.4% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2022: 5.2% of GDP (2022 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2021: 5.2% of GDP (2021 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2023: -$654.688 million (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2022: -$822.667 million (2022 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2021: -$508.758 million (2021 est.)
Exports / Exports 2023: $2.107 billion (2023 est.)
Exports / Exports 2022: $2.046 billion (2022 est.)
Exports / Exports 2021: $1.363 billion (2021 est.)
Exports - partners: Armenia 57%, USA 15%, Guyana 5%, Dominican Republic 4%, Netherlands 2% (2023)
Exports - commodities: diamonds, refined petroleum, crude petroleum, gold, petroleum coke (2023)
Imports / Imports 2023: $2.764 billion (2023 est.)
Imports / Imports 2022: $2.891 billion (2022 est.)
Imports / Imports 2021: $1.91 billion (2021 est.)
Imports - partners: USA 39%, Netherlands 24%, China 6%, Colombia 5%, Brazil 3% (2023)
Imports - commodities: refined petroleum, cars, garments, plastic products, packaged medicine (2023)
Exchange rates / Currency: Netherlands Antillean guilders (ANG) per US dollar -
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2024: 1.79 (2024 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2023: 1.79 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2022: 1.79 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2021: 1.79 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2020: 1.79 (2020 est.)

## Energy
Electricity access / electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)

## Communications
Telephones - fixed lines / total subscriptions: 51,000 (2022 est.)
Telephones - fixed lines / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 27 (2022 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / total subscriptions: 173,926 (2023 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 94 (2023 est.)
Broadcast media: government-run TeleCuracao operates a TV station and a radio station; 2 other privately owned TV stations and several privately owned radio stations (2019)
Internet country code: .cw
Internet users / percent of population: 68% (2017 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / total: 61,000 (2022 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 33 (2022 est.)

## Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: PJ
Airports: 1 (2025)
Merchant marine / total: 57 (2023)
Merchant marine / by type: general cargo 5, oil tanker 1, other 51
Ports / total ports: 4 (2024)
Ports / large: 0
Ports / medium: 2
Ports / small: 1
Ports / very small: 1
Ports / ports with oil terminals: 3
Ports / key ports: Bullenbaai, Caracasbaai, Sint Michelsbaai, Willemstad

## Military and Security
Military and security forces: Curaçao Militia (CURMIL); Curaçao Volunteer Corps; Curacao Police Force (Korps Politie Curacao) (2025)
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of the Kingdom of the Netherlands; the Dutch Government controls foreign and defense policy; local security forces are supported by the Royal Netherlands Marechaussee (Gendarmerie), the Dutch Caribbean Police Force (Korps Politie Caribisch Nederland, KPCN), and the Dutch Caribbean Coast Guard (DCCG or Kustwacht Caribisch Gebied (KWCARIB)); there are two Dutch naval bases on Cura&ccedil;ao, and the Dutch Army maintains a small unit on a rotational basis (2025)

## Transnational Issues

=== Saint Vincent and the Grenadines ===

## Introduction
Background: Resistance from native Caribs prevented colonization on Saint Vincent until 1719. France and England disputed the island for most of the 18th century, but it was ceded to England in 1783. The British prized Saint Vincent because of its fertile soil, which allowed for thriving slave-run plantations of sugar, coffee, indigo, tobacco, cotton, and cocoa. In 1834, the British abolished slavery. Immigration of indentured servants eased the ensuing labor shortage, as did subsequent immigrant waves from Portugal and East India. Conditions remained harsh for both former slaves and immigrant agricultural workers, however, as depressed world sugar prices kept the economy stagnant until the early 1900s. The economy then went into a period of decline, with many landowners abandoning their estates and leaving the land to be cultivated by liberated slaves. Between 1960 and 1962, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines was a separate administrative unit of the Federation of the West Indies. Autonomy was granted in 1969 and independence in 1979. In 2021, the eruption of the La Soufrière volcano in the north of Saint Vincent destroyed much of Saint Vincent’s most productive agricultural lands. Unlike most of its tourism-dependent neighbors, the Vincentian economy is primarily agricultural.

## Geography
Location: Caribbean, islands between the Caribbean Sea and North Atlantic Ocean, north of Trinidad and Tobago
Geographic coordinates: 13 15 N, 61 12 W
Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
Area / total: 389 sq km (Saint Vincent 344 sq km)
Area / land: 389 sq km
Area / water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative: twice the size of Washington, D.C.
Land boundaries / total: 0 km
Coastline: 84 km
Maritime claims / territorial sea: 12 nm
Maritime claims / contiguous zone: 24 nm
Maritime claims / exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Maritime claims / continental shelf: 200 nm
Climate: tropical; little seasonal temperature variation; rainy season (May to November)
Terrain: volcanic, mountainous
Elevation / highest point: La Soufriere 1,234 m
Elevation / lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
Natural resources: hydropower, arable land
Land use / agricultural land: 17.9% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 5.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 7.7% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 5.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 73.2% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 8.8% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land: 10 sq km (2012)
Population distribution: most of the population is concentrated in and around the capital of Kingstown
Natural hazards: hurricanes; La Soufrière volcano on the island of Saint Vincent is a constant threat volcanism: La Soufrière (1,234 m) last erupted in 1979; the island of Saint Vincent is part of the volcanic-island arc of the Lesser Antilles that extends from Saba in the north to Grenada in the south
Geography - note: the administration of the islands of the Grenadines group is divided between Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and Grenada; Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is composed of 32 islands and cays

## People and Society
Population / total: 100,647 (2024 est.)
Population / male: 51,249
Population / female: 49,398
Nationality / noun: Saint Vincentian(s) or Vincentian(s)
Nationality / adjective: Saint Vincentian or Vincentian
Ethnic groups: African descent 71.2%, mixed 23%, Indigenous 3%, East Indian/Indian 1.1%, European 1.5%, other 0.2% (2012 est.)
Languages: English, Vincentian Creole English, French patois
Religions: Protestant 75% (Pentecostal 27.6%, Anglican 13.9%, Seventh Day Adventist 11.6%, Baptist 8.9%, Methodist 8.7%, Evangelical 3.8%, Salvation Army 0.3%, Presbyterian/Congregational 0.3%), Roman Catholic 6.3%, Rastafarian 1.1%, Jehovah's Witness 0.8%, other 4.7%, none 7.5%, unspecified 4.7% (2012 est.)
Age structure / 0-14 years: 18.8% (male 9,527/female 9,353)
Age structure / 15-64 years: 68.2% (male 35,401/female 33,288)
Age structure / 65 years and over: 13% (2024 est.) (male 6,321/female 6,757)
Dependency ratios / total dependency ratio: 46.5 (2024 est.)
Dependency ratios / youth dependency ratio: 27.5 (2024 est.)
Dependency ratios / elderly dependency ratio: 19 (2024 est.)
Dependency ratios / potential support ratio: 5.3 (2024 est.)
Median age / total: 38.1 years (2025 est.)
Median age / male: 37.7 years
Median age / female: 37.4 years
Population growth rate: -0.15% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 11.72 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 7.75 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: -5.43 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution: most of the population is concentrated in and around the capital of Kingstown
Urbanization / urban population: 54.3% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 0.94% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 27,000 KINGSTOWN (capital) (2018)
Sex ratio / at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 0-14 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 15-64 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 65 years and over: 0.94 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / total population: 1.04 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio: 56 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Infant mortality rate / total: 12 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Infant mortality rate / male: 13.9 deaths/1,000 live births
Infant mortality rate / female: 10.7 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth / total population: 77.2 years (2024 est.)
Life expectancy at birth / male: 75.2 years
Life expectancy at birth / female: 79.3 years
Total fertility rate: 1.73 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 0.85 (2025 est.)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 5.4% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 8.6% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density: 0.66 physicians/1,000 population (2012)
Hospital bed density: 4.2 beds/1,000 population (2021 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: total: total: 90.2% of population
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 23.7% (2016)
Alcohol consumption per capita / total: 7.48 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / beer: 2.52 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / wine: 0.24 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / spirits: 4.48 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / other alcohols: 0.23 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% GDP): 6.5% of GDP (2023 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% national budget): 12.6% national budget (2024 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / total: 15 years (2015 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / male: 14 years (2015 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / female: 15 years (2015 est.)

## Environment
Environmental issues: pollution of coastal waters and shorelines from boats; poor land-use planning; deforestation; watershed management; squatter settlement control
International environmental agreements / party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Whaling
International environmental agreements / signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Climate: tropical; little seasonal temperature variation; rainy season (May to November)
Land use / agricultural land: 17.9% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 5.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 7.7% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 5.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 73.2% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 8.8% (2023 est.)
Urbanization / urban population: 54.3% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 0.94% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / total emissions: 268,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from coal and metallurgical coke: 19,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from petroleum and other liquids: 249,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Particulate matter emissions: 9.5 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Waste and recycling / municipal solid waste generated annually: 31,600 tons (2024 est.)
Waste and recycling / percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 13.3% (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / municipal: 8.5 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / industrial: 2,000 cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / agricultural: 0 cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total renewable water resources: 100 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: none
Country name / conventional short form: Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Country name / etymology: explorer Christopher COLUMBUS named the island after Saint VINCENT of Saragossa because 22 January 1498, the day of discovery, was the saint's feast day
Government type: parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy; a Commonwealth realm
Capital / name: Kingstown
Capital / geographic coordinates: 13 08 N, 61 13 W
Capital / time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Administrative divisions: 6 parishes; Charlotte, Grenadines, Saint Andrew, Saint David, Saint George, Saint Patrick
Legal system: English common law
Constitution / history: previous 1969, 1975; latest drafted 26 July 1979, effective 27 October 1979 (The Saint Vincent Constitution Order 1979)
Constitution / amendment process: proposed by the House of Assembly; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote of the Assembly membership and assent of the governor general; passage of amendments to constitutional sections on fundamental rights and freedoms, citizen protections, various government functions and authorities, and constitutional amendment procedures requires approval by the Assembly membership, approval in a referendum of at least two thirds of the votes cast, and assent of the governor general
International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Citizenship / citizenship by birth: yes
Citizenship / citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Citizenship / dual citizenship recognized: yes
Citizenship / residency requirement for naturalization: 7 years
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch / chief of state: King CHARLES III (since 8 September 2022); represented by Governor General Stanley JOHN (since 6 January 2026)
Executive branch / head of government: Prime Minister Godwin FRIDAY (since 28 November 2025)
Executive branch / cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister
Executive branch / election/appointment process: the monarchy is hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the governor general usually appoints the leader of the majority party or majority coalition as prime minister; deputy prime minister also appointed by governor general on the advice of the prime minister
Legislative branch / legislature name: House of Assembly
Legislative branch / legislative structure: unicameral
Legislative branch / number of seats: 22 (15 directly elected; 6 appointed)
Legislative branch / electoral system: plurality/majority
Legislative branch / scope of elections: full renewal
Legislative branch / term in office: 5 years
Legislative branch / most recent election date: 11/27/2025
Legislative branch / parties elected and seats per party: United Labour Party (ULP) (9); New Democratic Party (NDP) (6)
Legislative branch / percentage of women in chamber: 21.7%
Legislative branch / expected date of next election: November 2030
Judicial branch / highest court(s): the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (ECSC) is the superior court of the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States; the ECSC is headquartered on St. Lucia and consists of the Court of Appeal -- headed by the chief justice and 4 judges -- and the High Court with 18 judges; the Court of Appeal travels to member states on a schedule to hear appeals from the High Court and subordinate courts; Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is a member of the Caribbean Court of Justice
Judicial branch / judge selection and term of office: chief justice of Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court appointed by the British monarch; other justices and judges appointed by the Judicial and Legal Services Commission, an independent body of judicial officials; Court of Appeal justices appointed for life with mandatory retirement at age 65; High Court judges appointed for life with mandatory retirement at age 62
Judicial branch / subordinate courts: magistrates' courts
Political parties: New Democratic Party or NDP SVG Green Party or SVGP Unity Labor Party or ULP (formed in 1994 by the coalition of Saint Vincent Labor Party or SVLP and the Movement for National Unity or MNU)
Diplomatic representation in the US / chief of mission: Ambassador Lou-Anne Gaylene GILCHRIST (since 18 January 2017)
Diplomatic representation in the US / chancery: 1627 K Street, NW, Suite 704, Washington, DC 20006
Diplomatic representation in the US / telephone: [1] (202) 364-6730
Diplomatic representation in the US / FAX: [1] (202) 364-6736
Diplomatic representation in the US / email address and website: mail@embsvg.com http://wa.embassy.gov.vc/washington/
Diplomatic representation in the US / consulate(s) general: New York
Diplomatic representation from the US / embassy: the US does not have an embassy in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines; the US Ambassador to Barbados is accredited to Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
International organization participation: ACP, ACS, AOSIS, C, Caricom, CDB, CELAC, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (subscriber), ITU, MIGA, NAM, OAS, OECS, OPANAL, OPCW, Petrocaribe, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WTO
Independence: 27 October 1979 (from the UK)
National holiday: Independence Day, 27 October (1979)
Flag: description: three vertical bands of blue (left side), gold (double-width), and green; the gold band has three green diamonds arranged in a "V" pattern that stands for "Vincent" meaning: the diamonds represent the islands as "the Gems of the Antilles" and are set slightly lowered in the gold band to reflect the country's position in the Antilles; blue stands for the tropical sky and sea, yellow for the sand, and green for vegetation
National symbol(s): Saint Vincent parrot
National color(s): blue, gold, green
National anthem(s) / title: "God Save the King"
National anthem(s) / lyrics/music: unknown
National anthem(s) / history: in use since 1745

## Economy
Economic overview: upper middle-income Caribbean island economy; key agriculture and tourism sectors; environmentally fragile; diversifying economy across services, science and knowledge, and creative industries; CARICOM member and US Caribbean Basin Initiative beneficiary
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $1.883 billion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $1.809 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $1.718 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2024: 4.1% (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2023: 5.3% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2022: 3.1% (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2024: $18,700 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2023: $17,900 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2022: $16,800 (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $1.157 billion (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024: 3.6% (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023: 4.6% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 5.7% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / agriculture: 3.5% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / industry: 15.4% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / services: 66.4% (2024 est.)
Agricultural products: bananas, root vegetables, plantains, spices, coconuts, fruits, apples, vegetables, mangoes/guavas, sweet potatoes (2023)
Industries: tourism; food processing, cement, furniture, clothing, starch
Industrial production growth rate: 7.3% (2024 est.)
Labor force: 52,100 (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2024: 18.1% (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2023: 18.6% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2022: 19.5% (2022 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / total: 41.4% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / male: 41.4% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / female: 41.4% (2024 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2024: 8.2% of GDP (2024 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2023: 8.5% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2022: 9% of GDP (2022 est.)
Budget / revenues: $226.404 million (2017 est.)
Budget / expenditures: $208.744 million (2017 est.)
Public debt / Public debt 2016: 82.8% of GDP (2016 est.)
Taxes and other revenues: 23.8% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2024: -$156.589 million (2024 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2023: -$180.43 million (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2022: -$199.727 million (2022 est.)
Exports / Exports 2024: $425.182 million (2024 est.)
Exports / Exports 2023: $345.098 million (2023 est.)
Exports / Exports 2022: $278.292 million (2022 est.)
Exports - partners: Croatia 16%, Barbados 14%, USA 10%, St. Lucia 10%, St. Kitts & Nevis 8% (2023)
Exports - commodities: ships, wheat flours, animal food, shellfish, construction vehicles (2023)
Imports / Imports 2024: $641.179 million (2024 est.)
Imports / Imports 2023: $588.865 million (2023 est.)
Imports / Imports 2022: $540.833 million (2022 est.)
Imports - partners: USA 37%, Italy 7%, Trinidad & Tobago 7%, China 6%, UK 6% (2023)
Imports - commodities: ships, refined petroleum, wheat, coal, poultry (2023)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024: $316.824 million (2024 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023: $280.564 million (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $320.193 million (2022 est.)
Debt - external / Debt - external 2023: $456.971 million (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Currency: East Caribbean dollars (XCD) per US dollar -
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2024: 2.7 (2024 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2023: 2.7 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2022: 2.7 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2021: 2.7 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2020: 2.7 (2020 est.)

## Energy
Electricity access / electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)
Electricity / installed generating capacity: 55,000 kW (2023 est.)
Electricity / consumption: 140.316 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / transmission/distribution losses: 10.868 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / fossil fuels: 86.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / solar: 1.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / hydroelectricity: 12.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Coal / exports: 8 metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / imports: 8,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum / refined petroleum consumption: 2,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Energy consumption per capita / Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 37.253 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

## Communications
Telephones - fixed lines / total subscriptions: 10,000 (2023 est.)
Telephones - fixed lines / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 10 (2023 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / total subscriptions: 103,000 (2023 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 100 (2022 est.)
Broadcast media: St. Vincent and the Grenadines Broadcasting Corporation operates 1 TV station and 5 repeater stations that provide near total coverage to the multi-island state; multi-channel cable TV service available; a partially government-funded national radio service broadcasts on 1 station and has 2 repeater stations; about a dozen privately owned radio stations and repeater stations
Internet country code: .vc
Internet users / percent of population: 76% (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / total: 31,000 (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 30 (2023 est.)

## Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: J8
Airports: 5 (2025)
Merchant marine / total: 830 (2023)
Merchant marine / by type: bulk carrier 30, container ship 18, general cargo 137, oil tanker 16, other 629
Ports / total ports: 1 (2024)
Ports / large: 0
Ports / medium: 0
Ports / small: 1
Ports / very small: 0
Ports / ports with oil terminals: 1
Ports / key ports: Kingstown

## Military and Security
Military and security forces: no regular military forces; Ministry of National Security: Royal Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force (RSVPF) (2025)
Military - note: the country has been a member of the Caribbean Regional Security System (RSS) since its creation in 1982; RSS signatories (Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Saint Kitts and Nevis, and Saint Lucia) agreed to prepare contingency plans and assist one another, on request, in national emergencies, prevention of smuggling, search and rescue, immigration control, fishery protection, customs and excise control, maritime policing duties, protection of off-shore installations, pollution control, national and other disasters, and threats to national security (2025)

## Transnational Issues

=== British Virgin Islands ===

## Introduction
Background: First inhabited by Arawak and later by Carib Indians, the Virgin Islands were settled by the Dutch in 1648 and then annexed by the English in 1672. The islands were part of the British colony of the Leeward Islands (1872-1960); they were granted autonomy in 1967. The economy is closely tied to the larger and more populous US Virgin Islands to the west, and the US dollar is the legal currency. In 2017, Hurricane Irma devastated the island of Tortola. An estimated 80% of residential and business structures were destroyed or damaged, communications disrupted, and local roads rendered impassable.

## Geography
Location: Caribbean, between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east of Puerto Rico
Geographic coordinates: 18 30 N, 64 30 W
Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
Area / total: 151 sq km
Area / land: 151 sq km
Area / water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative: about 0.9 times the size of Washington, D.C.
Land boundaries / total: 0 km
Coastline: 80 km
Maritime claims / territorial sea: 12 nm
Maritime claims / exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
Climate: subtropical; humid; temperatures moderated by trade winds
Terrain: coral islands relatively flat; volcanic islands steep, hilly
Elevation / highest point: Mount Sage 521 m
Elevation / lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
Natural resources: NEGL; pleasant climate, beaches foster tourism
Land use / agricultural land: 46.7% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 6.7% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 6.7% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 33.3% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 66.5% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 0% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land: NA
Population distribution: a fairly even distribution throughout the inhabited islands, with the largest islands of Tortola, Anegada, Virgin Gorda, and Jost Van Dyke having the largest populations
Natural hazards: hurricanes and tropical storms (July to October)
Geography - note: strong ties to nearby US Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico

## People and Society
Population / total: 40,102 (2024 est.)
Population / male: 19,042
Population / female: 21,060
Nationality / noun: British Virgin Islander(s)
Nationality / adjective: British Virgin Islander
Ethnic groups: African/Black 76.3%, Latino 5.5%, White 5.4%, mixed 5.3%, Indian 2.1%, East Indian 1.6%, other 3%, unspecified 0.8% (2010 est.)
Languages: English (official), Virgin Islands Creole
Religions: Protestant 70.2% (Methodist 17.6%, Church of God 10.4%, Anglican 9.5%, Seventh Day Adventist 9.0%, Pentecostal 8.2%, Baptist 7.4%, New Testament Church of God 6.9%, other Protestant 1.2%), Roman Catholic 8.9%, Jehovah's Witness 2.5%, Hindu 1.9%, other 6.2%, none 7.9%, unspecified 2.4% (2010 est.)
Age structure / 0-14 years: 16.6% (male 3,298/female 3,351)
Age structure / 15-64 years: 71.3% (male 13,455/female 15,152)
Age structure / 65 years and over: 12.1% (2024 est.) (male 2,289/female 2,557)
Dependency ratios / total dependency ratio: 40.2 (2024 est.)
Dependency ratios / youth dependency ratio: 23.2 (2024 est.)
Dependency ratios / elderly dependency ratio: 16.9 (2024 est.)
Dependency ratios / potential support ratio: 5.9 (2024 est.)
Median age / total: 38.8 years (2025 est.)
Median age / male: 38.1 years
Median age / female: 38.9 years
Population growth rate: 1.78% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 10.8 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 5.58 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: 12.54 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution: a fairly even distribution throughout the inhabited islands, with the largest islands of Tortola, Anegada, Virgin Gorda, and Jost Van Dyke having the largest populations
Urbanization / urban population: 49.7% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 1.73% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 15,000 ROAD TOWN (capital) (2018)
Sex ratio / at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 0-14 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 15-64 years: 0.89 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 65 years and over: 0.9 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / total population: 0.9 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Infant mortality rate / total: 13 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Infant mortality rate / male: 16 deaths/1,000 live births
Infant mortality rate / female: 10.7 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth / total population: 80.1 years (2024 est.)
Life expectancy at birth / male: 78.6 years
Life expectancy at birth / female: 81.7 years
Total fertility rate: 1.39 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 0.68 (2025 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: total: total: 99.9% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: total: total: 0.1% of population (2022 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% GDP): 3.2% of GDP (2023 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% national budget): 13.6% national budget (2025 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / total: 11 years (2022 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / male: 11 years (2022 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / female: 11 years (2022 est.)

## Environment
Environmental issues: limited natural freshwater resources; water pollution from sewage and mining/industry waste; coral reef preservation
Climate: subtropical; humid; temperatures moderated by trade winds
Land use / agricultural land: 46.7% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 6.7% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 6.7% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 33.3% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 66.5% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 0% (2023 est.)
Urbanization / urban population: 49.7% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 1.73% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / total emissions: 188,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from petroleum and other liquids: 188,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Waste and recycling / municipal solid waste generated annually: 21,100 tons (2024 est.)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: none
Country name / conventional short form: British Virgin Islands
Country name / abbreviation: BVI
Country name / etymology: the islets, cays, and rocks surrounding the major islands reminded explorer Christopher COLUMBUS in 1493 of Saint Ursula and her 11,000 virgin followers (Santa Ursula y las Once Mil Virgenes), which over time was shortened to the Virgins (las Virgenes)
Government type: Overseas Territory of the UK with limited self-government; parliamentary democracy
Dependency status: overseas territory of the UK; internal self-governing
Capital / name: Road Town
Capital / geographic coordinates: 18 25 N, 64 37 W
Capital / time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Capital / etymology: name refers to the nautical term "roadstead" or "roads," a body of water less sheltered than a harbor but where ships can still lie at anchor
Legal system: English common law
Constitution / history: several previous; latest effective 15 June 2007 (The Virgin Islands Constitution Order 2007)
Constitution / amendment process: initiated by any elected member of the House of Assembly; passage requires simple majority vote by the elected members of the Assembly and assent by the governor on behalf of the monarch
Citizenship: see United Kingdom
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch / chief of state: King CHARLES III (since 8 September 2022); represented by Governor Daniel PRUCE (since 29 January 2024)
Executive branch / head of government: Premier Dr. Natalio WHEATLEY (since 5 May 2022)
Executive branch / cabinet: Executive Council appointed by the governor from members of the House of Assembly
Executive branch / election/appointment process: the monarchy is hereditary; governor appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the governor usually appoints the leader of the majority party or majority coalition as premier
Legislative branch / legislature name: House of Assembly
Legislative branch / legislative structure: unicameral
Legislative branch / number of seats: 15 (directly elected and appointed)
Legislative branch / scope of elections: full renewal
Legislative branch / term in office: 4 years
Legislative branch / most recent election date: 4/24/2023
Legislative branch / parties elected and seats per party: VIP (6); NDP (3); PVIM (3); PU (1)
Legislative branch / expected date of next election: 2027
Judicial branch / highest court(s): the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (ECSC) is the superior court of the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States; the ECSC is headquartered on St. Lucia and consists of the Court of Appeal -- headed by the chief justice and 4 judges -- and the High Court with 18 judges; the Court of Appeal travels to member states on a schedule to hear appeals from the High Court and subordinate courts
Judicial branch / judge selection and term of office: Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court chief justice appointed by the British monarch; other justices and judges appointed by the Judicial and Legal Services Commission; Court of Appeal justices appointed for life with mandatory retirement at age 65; High Court judges appointed for life with mandatory retirement at age 62
Judicial branch / subordinate courts: Magistrates' Courts
Political parties: National Democratic Party or NDP Progressive Virgin Islands Movement or PVIM Progressives United or PU Virgin Islands Party or VIP
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (overseas territory of the UK)
Diplomatic representation from the US / embassy: none (overseas territory of the UK)
International organization participation: ACS (associate), Caricom (associate), CDB, Interpol (subbureau), IOC, OECS, UNESCO (associate), UPU
Independence: none (overseas territory of the UK)
National holiday: Territory Day, 1 July (1956)
Flag: description: blue with the UK flag in the upper-left quadrant and the Virgin Islander coat of arms centered on the right half of the flag; the coat of arms depicts a woman between two columns of six oil lamps, above a scroll with the Latin word VIGILATE (Be Watchful) meaning: Christopher COLUMBUS named the islands in 1493 in honor of Saint Ursula and her virgin followers, and the figure holding a lamp represents the saint, with the other lamps symbolizing her followers
National symbol(s): zenaida dove, white cedar flower
National color(s): yellow, green, red, white, blue
National anthem(s) / title: "God Save the King"
National anthem(s) / lyrics/music: unknown
National anthem(s) / history: official anthem, as a UK overseas territory

## Economy
Economic overview: British Caribbean island territorial economy; strong tourism and services industries; vulnerable to hurricanes; navigating public debt insolvency since 2008 Crisis; considered a tax haven; high electrification costs; major rum exporter
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $1.634 billion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $1.579 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $1.537 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2024: $40,500 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2023: $38,600 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2022: $38,400 (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $1.598 billion (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 8.5% (2022 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021: 2.8% (2021 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2020: 1.4% (2020 est.)
Agricultural products: fruits, vegetables; livestock, poultry; fish
Industries: tourism, light industry, construction, rum, concrete block, offshore banking center
Budget / revenues: $400 million (2017 est.)
Budget / expenditures: $400 million (2017 est.)
Exports - partners: Malta 33%, Guyana 22%, Greece 11%, Germany 7%, Indonesia 4% (2023)
Exports - commodities: ships, refined petroleum, aircraft, molasses, precious stones (2023)
Imports - partners: USA 34%, Italy 10%, France 9%, China 8%, Luxembourg 5% (2023)
Imports - commodities: ships, refined petroleum, aircraft, railway cargo containers, jewelry (2023)
Exchange rates: the US dollar is used

## Energy
Electricity access / electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)
Electricity / installed generating capacity: 63,000 kW (2023 est.)
Electricity / consumption: 163.82 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / transmission/distribution losses: 10.18 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / fossil fuels: 97.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / solar: 1.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / wind: 1.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Coal / imports: 20 metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum / refined petroleum consumption: 1,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Energy consumption per capita / Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 66.998 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

## Communications
Telephones - fixed lines / total subscriptions: 23,000 (2021 est.)
Telephones - fixed lines / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 17 (2022 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / total subscriptions: 35,595 (2022 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 93 (2024 est.)
Broadcast media: 1 private TV station; multi-channel TV is available from cable and satellite subscription services; about a half-dozen private radio stations
Internet country code: .vg
Internet users / percent of population: 78% (2017 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / total: 7,000 (2022 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 18 (2022 est.)

## Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: VP-L
Airports: 3 (2025)
Heliports: 2 (2025)
Merchant marine / total: 29 (2023)
Merchant marine / by type: general cargo 3, other 26
Ports / total ports: 1 (2024)
Ports / large: 0
Ports / medium: 1
Ports / small: 0
Ports / very small: 0
Ports / ports with oil terminals: 1
Ports / key ports: Road Harbor

## Military and Security
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of the UK

## Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons / refugees: 41 (2024 est.)

=== Virgin Islands ===

## Introduction
Background: The Danes secured control over the southern Virgin Islands of Saint Thomas, Saint John, and Saint Croix during the 17th and early 18th centuries. Sugarcane, produced by African slave labor, drove the islands' economy during the 18th and early 19th centuries. In 1917, the US purchased the Danish holdings, which had been in economic decline since the abolition of slavery in 1848. In 2017, Hurricane Irma passed over the northern Virgin Islands of Saint Thomas and Saint John and inflicted severe damage to structures, roads, the airport on Saint Thomas, communications, and electricity. Less than two weeks later, Hurricane Maria passed over the island of Saint Croix in the southern Virgin Islands, inflicting considerable damage with heavy winds and flooding rains.

## Geography
Location: Caribbean, islands between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east of Puerto Rico
Geographic coordinates: 18 20 N, 64 50 W
Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
Area / total: 1,910 sq km
Area / land: 346 sq km
Area / water: 1,564 sq km
Area - comparative: twice the size of Washington, D.C.
Land boundaries / total: 0 km
Coastline: 188 km
Maritime claims / territorial sea: 12 nm
Maritime claims / exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate: subtropical, tempered by easterly trade winds, relatively low humidity, little seasonal temperature variation; rainy season September to November
Terrain: mostly hilly to rugged and mountainous with little flat land
Elevation / highest point: Crown Mountain 474 m
Elevation / lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
Natural resources: pleasant climate, beaches foster tourism
Land use / agricultural land: 9.4% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 2.6% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 0.6% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 6.3% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 58.2% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 32.4% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land: 1 sq km (2012)
Population distribution: overall population density throughout the islands is relatively low, but concentrations appear around Charlotte Amalie on St. Thomas and Christiansted on St. Croix
Natural hazards: several hurricanes in recent years; frequent and severe droughts and floods; occasional earthquakes
Geography - note: important location along the Anegada Passage, a key shipping lane for the Panama Canal; Saint Thomas has one of the best natural deepwater harbors in the Caribbean

## People and Society
Population / total: 103,792 (2025 est.)
Population / male: 49,195
Population / female: 54,597
Nationality / noun: Virgin Islander(s) (US citizens)
Nationality / adjective: Virgin Islander
Ethnic groups: African-American or African descent 71.4%, White 13.3%, Indigenous 0.4%, Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander 0.1%, other 6.3%, mixed 7.5% (2020 est.)
Languages: English 71.6%, Spanish or Spanish Creole 17.2%, French or French Creole 8.6%, other 2.5% (2010 est.)
Religions: Protestant 65.5%, Roman Catholic 27.1%, other Christians 2.2%, other 1.5%, none 3.7% (2010 est.)
Age structure / 0-14 years: 18.7% (male 9,983/female 9,547)
Age structure / 15-64 years: 59.8% (male 29,519/female 32,899)
Age structure / 65 years and over: 21.5% (2024 est.) (male 10,018/female 12,411)
Dependency ratios / total dependency ratio: 68 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / youth dependency ratio: 30.9 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / elderly dependency ratio: 37.1 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / potential support ratio: 2.7 (2025 est.)
Median age / total: 43.4 years (2025 est.)
Median age / male: 42.1 years
Median age / female: 43.9 years
Population growth rate: -0.58% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 10.88 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 9.43 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: -7.27 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution: overall population density throughout the islands is relatively low, but concentrations appear around Charlotte Amalie on St. Thomas and Christiansted on St. Croix
Urbanization / urban population: 96.2% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: -0.11% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 52,000 CHARLOTTE AMALIE (capital) (2018)
Sex ratio / at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 15-64 years: 0.9 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 65 years and over: 0.81 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / total population: 0.9 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Infant mortality rate / total: 7.2 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Infant mortality rate / male: 8.3 deaths/1,000 live births
Infant mortality rate / female: 6.3 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth / total population: 80.7 years (2024 est.)
Life expectancy at birth / male: 77.6 years
Life expectancy at birth / female: 84.1 years
Total fertility rate: 1.95 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 0.95 (2025 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: total: total: 99.1% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: total: total: 0.9% of population (2022 est.)

## Environment
Environmental issues: lack of natural freshwater resources; protection of coral reefs; solid waste management; coastal development; increased boating and overfishing
Climate: subtropical, tempered by easterly trade winds, relatively low humidity, little seasonal temperature variation; rainy season September to November
Land use / agricultural land: 9.4% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 2.6% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 0.6% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 6.3% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 58.2% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 32.4% (2023 est.)
Urbanization / urban population: 96.2% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: -0.11% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / total emissions: 2.378 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from petroleum and other liquids: 2.378 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Waste and recycling / municipal solid waste generated annually: 146,500 tons (2024 est.)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: none
Country name / conventional short form: Virgin Islands
Country name / former: Danish West Indies
Country name / abbreviation: VI
Country name / etymology: in 1493, the islets, cays, and rocks around the major islands in the chain reminded explorer Christopher COLUMBUS of Saint Ursula and her 11,000 virgin followers (Santa Ursula y las Once Mil Virgenes), which over time was shortened to the Virgins (las Virgenes)
Government type: unincorporated organized territory of the US with local self-government; republican form of territorial government with separate executive, legislative, and judicial branches
Dependency status: unincorporated, organized territory of the US, with policy relations with the US federal government under the jurisdiction of the Office of Insular Affairs, US Department of the Interior
Capital / name: Charlotte Amalie
Capital / geographic coordinates: 18 21 N, 64 56 W
Capital / time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Capital / etymology: named in honor of Danish King CHRISTIAN V&rsquo;s wife, Charlotte AMALIE of Hesse-Kassel, after the colony was established in 1672
Administrative divisions: no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US government, but 3 islands are considered second-order: Saint Croix, Saint John, Saint Thomas
Legal system: US common law
Constitution / history: 22 July 1954 - the Revised Organic Act of the Virgin Islands functions as a constitution for this US territory
Citizenship: see United States
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch / chief of state: President Donald J. TRUMP (since 20 January 2025)
Executive branch / head of government: Governor Albert BRYAN, Jr. (since 7 January 2019)
Executive branch / cabinet: Territorial Cabinet appointed by the governor and confirmed by the Senate
Executive branch / election/appointment process: president and vice president indirectly elected on the same ballot by an Electoral College of electors chosen from each state; president and vice president serve a 4-year term (eligible for a second term); under the US Constitution, residents of the Virgin Islands do not vote in elections for US president and vice president, but they can vote in the Democratic and Republican party presidential primary elections; governor and lieutenant governor directly elected on the same ballot by absolute majority vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 4-year term (eligible for a second term)
Executive branch / most recent election date: 8 November 2022
Executive branch / election results: 2022: Albert BRYAN, Jr. reelected governor; percent of vote - Albert BRYAN, Jr. (Democratic Party) 56%, Kurt VIALET (independent) 38% 2018: Albert BRYAN, Jr. elected governor in the second round; percent of vote in first round - Albert BRYAN, Jr. (Democratic Party) 38.1%, Kenneth MAPP (independent) 33.5%, Adlah "Foncie" DONASTORG, Jr. (independent) 16.5%, other 11.9%; percent of vote in second round- Albert BRYAN, Jr. (Democratic Party) 54.5%, Kenneth MAPP (independent) 45.2%, other 0.3%
Executive branch / expected date of next election: November 2026
Judicial branch / highest court(s): Supreme Court of the Virgin Islands (consists of the chief justice and 2 associate justices)
Judicial branch / judge selection and term of office: justices appointed by the governor and confirmed by the Virgin Islands Senate; justices serve initial 10-year terms and upon reconfirmation, during the extent of good behavior; chief justice elected to position by peers for a 3-year term
Judicial branch / subordinate courts: Superior Court (Territorial Court renamed in 2004); US Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit (has appellate jurisdiction over the District Court of the Virgin Islands; it is a territorial court and is not associated with a US federal judicial district); District Court of the Virgin Islands
Political parties: Democratic Party Independent Citizens' Movement or ICM Republican Party
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (territory of the US)
Diplomatic representation from the US: none (territory of the US)
International organization participation: AOSIS (observer), Interpol (subbureau), IOC, UPU, WFTU (NGOs)
Independence: none (territory of the US)
National holiday: Transfer Day (from Denmark to the US), 31 March (1917)
Flag: description: 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 its left, with a shield of seven red and six white vertical stripes below a blue panel meaning: white is a symbol of purity, and the letters stand for the Virgin Islands
National anthem(s) / title: "The Star-Spangled Banner"
National anthem(s) / lyrics/music: Francis Scott KEY/John Stafford SMITH
National anthem(s) / history: official anthem, as a US territory

## Economy
Economic overview: high-income, tourism-based American territorial economy; severe COVID-19 economic disruptions; major rum distillery; high public debt; sluggish reopening of large oil refinery; environmentally susceptible to hurricanes; many informal industries
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $4.9 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2021: $4.965 billion (2021 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2020: $4.789 billion (2020 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2022: -1.3% (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2021: 3.7% (2021 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2020: -1.6% (2020 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2022: $46,500 (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2021: $46,900 (2021 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2020: $45,100 (2020 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $4.672 billion (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / household consumption: 68.9% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / government consumption: 34.4% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in fixed capital: 7.5% (2016 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in inventories: 15% (2016 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / exports of goods and services: 97.4% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / imports of goods and services: -108.3% (2022 est.)
Agricultural products: fruit, vegetables, sorghum; Senepol cattle
Industries: tourism, watch assembly, rum distilling, construction, pharmaceuticals, electronics
Labor force: 47,200 (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2024: 12.1% (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2023: 12.4% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2022: 13.1% (2022 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / total: 25.3% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / male: 22% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / female: 28.9% (2024 est.)
Budget / revenues: $1.496 billion (2016 est.)
Budget / expenditures: $1.518 billion (2016 est.)
Public debt / Public debt 2014: 45.9% of GDP (2014 est.)
Exports / Exports 2022: $4.549 billion (2022 est.)
Exports / Exports 2021: $4.069 billion (2021 est.)
Exports / Exports 2020: $1.62 billion (2020 est.)
Exports - partners: Haiti 14%, Guadeloupe 7%, Malaysia 7%, Martinique 7%, Barbados 7%, British Virgin Islands 5% (2019)
Exports - commodities: refined petroleum, jewelry, recreational boats, watches, rum (2019)
Imports / Imports 2022: $5.058 billion (2022 est.)
Imports / Imports 2021: $4.057 billion (2021 est.)
Imports / Imports 2020: $3.184 billion (2020 est.)
Imports - partners: India 18%, Algeria 14%, South Korea 9%, Argentina 9%, Sweden 7%, Brazil 5% (2019)
Imports - commodities: refined petroleum, crude petroleum, rubber piping, jewelry, beer (2019)
Exchange rates: the US dollar is used

## Energy
Electricity access / electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)
Electricity / installed generating capacity: 326,000 kW (2023 est.)
Electricity / consumption: 618.819 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / transmission/distribution losses: 50.181 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / fossil fuels: 97.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / solar: 2.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Coal / exports: 4 metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum / refined petroleum consumption: 16,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

## Communications
Telephones - fixed lines / total subscriptions: 76,000 (2021 est.)
Telephones - fixed lines / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 88 (2022 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / total subscriptions: 79,100 (2022 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 92 (2022 est.)
Broadcast media: about a dozen TV stations, including 1 public TV station; multi-channel cable and satellite TV available; 24 radio stations
Internet country code: .vi
Internet users / percent of population: 64% (2017 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / total: 9,000 (2022 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 10 (2022 est.)

## Transportation
Airports: 2 (2025)
Heliports: 4 (2025)
Merchant marine / total: 2 (2023)
Merchant marine / by type: general cargo 1, other 1
Ports / total ports: 6 (2024)
Ports / large: 0
Ports / medium: 0
Ports / small: 3
Ports / very small: 3
Ports / ports with oil terminals: 3
Ports / key ports: Charlotte Amalie, Christiansted, Cruz Bay, Frederiksted, Limetree Bay, Port Alucroix

## Military and Security
Military and security forces: US Virgin Islands Police Department (VIPD); US Virgin Islands National Guard (VING)
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of the US

## Transnational Issues

=== Azerbaijan ===

## Introduction
Background: Azerbaijan -- a secular nation with a majority-Turkic and majority-Shia Muslim population -- was briefly independent (from 1918 to 1920) following the collapse of the Russian Empire; it was subsequently incorporated into the Soviet Union for seven decades. Beginning in 1988, Azerbaijan and Armenia fought over the Nagorno-Karabakh region, which was populated largely by ethnic Armenians but incorporated into Soviet Azerbaijan as an autonomous oblast in the early 1920s. In the late Soviet period, an ethnic-Armenian separatist movement sought to end Azerbaijani control over the region. Fighting over Nagorno-Karabakh escalated after Armenia and Azerbaijan gained independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. By the time a ceasefire took effect in 1994, separatists with Armenian support controlled Nagorno‑Karabakh and seven surrounding Azerbaijani territories. After decades of cease-fire violations and sporadic flare-ups, a second sustained conflict began in 2020 when Azerbaijan tried to win back the territories it had lost in the 1990s. After significant Azerbaijani gains, Armenia returned the southern part of Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding territories to Azerbaijan. In September 2023, Azerbaijan took military action to regain the rest of Nagorno-Karabakh; after a conflict that lasted only one day, nearly the entire ethnic Armenian population of Nagorno-Karabakh fled to Armenia. Since gaining its independence in 1991, Azerbaijan has significantly reduced the poverty rate and has directed some revenue from its oil and gas production to develop the country’s infrastructure. However, corruption remains a burden on the economy, and Western observers and members of the country’s political opposition have accused the government of authoritarianism. The country’s leadership has remained in the ALIYEV family since Heydar ALIYEV, the most highly ranked Azerbaijani member of the Communist Party during the Soviet period, became president during the first Nagorno-Karabakh War in 1993.

## Geography
Location: Southwestern Asia, bordering the Caspian Sea, between Iran and Russia, with a small European portion north of the Caucasus range
Geographic coordinates: 40 30 N, 47 30 E
Map references: Asia
Area / total: 86,600 sq km
Area / land: 82,629 sq km
Area / water: 3,971 sq km
Area - comparative: about three-quarters the size of Pennsylvania; slightly smaller than Maine
Land boundaries / total: 2,468 km
Land boundaries / border countries: Armenia 996 km; Georgia 428 km; Iran 689 km; Russia 338 km; Turkey 17 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
Climate: dry, semiarid steppe
Terrain: large, flat Kur-Araz Ovaligi (Kura-Araks Lowland, much of it below sea level) with Great Caucasus Mountains to the north, Qarabag Yaylasi (Karabakh Upland) to the west; Baku lies on Abseron Yasaqligi (Apsheron Peninsula) that juts into Caspian Sea
Elevation / highest point: Bazarduzu Dagi 4,466 m
Elevation / lowest point: Caspian Sea -28 m
Elevation / mean elevation: 384 m
Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, nonferrous metals, bauxite
Land use / agricultural land: 57.8% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 25.3% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 3.3% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 29.2% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 14.4% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 27.7% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land: 14,693 sq km (2022)
Major lakes (area sq km) / salt water lake(s): Caspian Sea (shared with Iran, Russia, Turkmenistan, and Kazakhstan) - 374,000 sq km
Population distribution: highest population density is found in the far eastern area of the country, in and around Baku; apart from smaller urbanized areas, the rest of the country has a fairly light and evenly distributed population
Natural hazards: droughts
Geography - note: both the main area of the country and the Naxcivan exclave are landlocked

## People and Society
Population / total: 10,694,370 (2025 est.)
Population / male: 5,354,376
Population / female: 5,339,994
Nationality / noun: Azerbaijani(s)
Nationality / adjective: Azerbaijani
Ethnic groups: Azerbaijani 94.8%, other 1.8%; less than 1%: Talish, Russian, Avar, Sakhur, Tartar, Georgian, Jewish, Kurd (2019 est.)
Languages / Languages: Azerbaijani 96.1%, other 1.4%; less than 1%: Russian, Avar, Talyshi, Turkish, Tatar, Sakhur, Tat, Ukrainian, Georgian, Hebrew (2019 est.)
Languages / major-language sample(s): Dünya fakt kitabı, əsas məlumatlar üçün əvəz olunmaz mənbədir (Azerbaijani) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
Religions: Muslim 97.3% (predominantly Shia), Christian 2.6%, other <0.1, unaffiliated <0.1 (2020 est.)
Age structure / 0-14 years: 22.3% (male 1,269,241/female 1,104,529)
Age structure / 15-64 years: 68.7% (male 3,659,441/female 3,656,493)
Age structure / 65 years and over: 9% (2024 est.) (male 401,551/female 558,984)
Dependency ratios / total dependency ratio: 45.6 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / youth dependency ratio: 31.6 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / elderly dependency ratio: 14 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / potential support ratio: 7.1 (2025 est.)
Median age / total: 34.8 years (2025 est.)
Median age / male: 32.8 years
Median age / female: 36 years
Population growth rate: 0.4% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 11.13 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 6.44 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: -0.71 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution: highest population density is found in the far eastern area of the country, in and around Baku; apart from smaller urbanized areas, the rest of the country has a fairly light and evenly distributed population
Urbanization / urban population: 57.6% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 1.38% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 2.432 million BAKU (capital) (2023)
Sex ratio / at birth: 1.15 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 0-14 years: 1.15 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 65 years and over: 0.72 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / total population: 1 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth: 24 years (2019 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio: 18 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Infant mortality rate / total: 10.7 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Infant mortality rate / male: 12.6 deaths/1,000 live births
Infant mortality rate / female: 9 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth / total population: 75.9 years (2024 est.)
Life expectancy at birth / male: 73.5 years
Life expectancy at birth / female: 78.6 years
Total fertility rate: 1.69 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 0.79 (2025 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: urban: urban: 100% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: rural: rural: 94.5% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: total: total: 97.6% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: urban: urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: rural: rural: 5.5% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: total: total: 2.4% of population (2022 est.)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 4.7% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 4.6% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density: 3.19 physicians/1,000 population (2022)
Hospital bed density: 3.9 beds/1,000 population (2019 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: urban: urban: 100% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: urban: urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 19.9% (2016)
Alcohol consumption per capita / total: 1.38 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / beer: 0.36 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / wine: 0.06 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / spirits: 0.94 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / other alcohols: 0.01 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Tobacco use / total: 18.4% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / male: 37.9% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / female: 0.1% (2025 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 3% (2023 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49): 59.7% (2019 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% GDP): 3.7% of GDP (2023 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% national budget): 11.9% national budget (2025 est.)
Literacy / total population: 99.8% (2023 est.)
Literacy / male: 99.8% (2023 est.)
Literacy / female: 99.7% (2023 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / total: 13 years (2023 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / male: 13 years (2023 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / female: 13 years (2023 est.)

## Environment
Environmental issues: severe air, soil, and water pollution; soil pollution from oil spills, pesticides, and toxic defoliants used in producing cotton; surface and underground water pollution from untreated municipal and industrial wastewater and agricultural run-off
International environmental agreements / party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
International environmental agreements / signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Climate: dry, semiarid steppe
Land use / agricultural land: 57.8% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 25.3% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 3.3% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 29.2% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 14.4% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 27.7% (2023 est.)
Urbanization / urban population: 57.6% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 1.38% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / total emissions: 38.892 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from coal and metallurgical coke: 17,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from petroleum and other liquids: 13.954 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from consumed natural gas: 24.921 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Particulate matter emissions: 27.2 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Methane emissions / energy: 268.8 kt (2022-2024 est.)
Methane emissions / agriculture: 188.9 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Methane emissions / waste: 93.8 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Methane emissions / other: 1 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Waste and recycling / municipal solid waste generated annually: 2.93 million tons (2024 est.)
Waste and recycling / percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 14.4% (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / municipal: 408 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / industrial: 598 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / agricultural: 11.962 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total renewable water resources: 34.675 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: Republic of Azerbaijan
Country name / conventional short form: Azerbaijan
Country name / local long form: Azarbaycan Respublikasi
Country name / local short form: Azarbaycan
Country name / former: Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic
Country name / etymology: the name can be translated as "Fire Keeper" or "The Land of Fire," from the local word azer , or "fire," and baydjan , a word derived from the Iranian word baykan , or "guardian;" may refer to fire worshippers who lived in the region
Government type: presidential republic
Capital / name: Baku (Baki, Baky)
Capital / geographic coordinates: 40 23 N, 49 52 E
Capital / time difference: UTC+4 (9 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Capital / daylight saving time: does not observe daylight savings time
Capital / etymology: the name may derive from the Old Persian word badkuba , meaning "windward" and referring to its windy location on the shore of the Caspian Sea
Administrative divisions: 66 districts ( rayonlar ; singular - rayon ), 11 cities (saharlar; sahar - singular) districts: Abseron, Agcabadi, Agdam, Agdas, Agstafa, Agsu, Astara, Babak, Balakan, Barda, Beylaqan, Bilasuvar, Cabrayil, Calilabad, Culfa, Daskasan, Fuzuli, Gadabay, Goranboy, Goycay, Goygol, Haciqabul, Imisli, Ismayilli, Kalbacar, Kangarli, Kurdamir, Lacin, Lankaran, Lerik, Masalli, Neftcala, Oguz, Ordubad, Qabala, Qax, Qazax, Qobustan, Quba, Qubadli, Qusar, Saatli, Sabirabad, Sabran, Sadarak, Sahbuz, Saki, Salyan, Samaxi, Samkir, Samux, Sarur, Siyazan, Susa, Tartar, Tovuz, Ucar, Xacmaz, Xizi, Xocali, Xocavand, Yardimli, Yevlax, Zangilan, Zaqatala, Zardab cities: Baku, Ganca, Lankaran, Mingacevir, Naftalan, Naxcivan (Nakhichevan), Saki, Sirvan, Sumqayit, Xankandi, Yevlax
Legal system: civil law system
Constitution / history: several previous; latest adopted 12 November 1995
Constitution / amendment process: proposed by the president of the republic or by at least 63 members of the National Assembly; passage requires at least 95 votes of Assembly members in two separate readings of the draft amendment six months apart and requires presidential approval after each of the two Assembly votes, followed by presidential signature; constitutional articles on the authority, sovereignty, and unity of the people cannot be amended
International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt
Citizenship / citizenship by birth: yes
Citizenship / citizenship by descent only: yes
Citizenship / dual citizenship recognized: no
Citizenship / residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch / chief of state: President Ilham ALIYEV (since 31 October 2003)
Executive branch / head of government: Prime Minister Ali ASADOV (since 8 October 2019)
Executive branch / cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president and confirmed by the National Assembly
Executive branch / election/appointment process: president directly elected by absolute-majority popular vote in 2 rounds (if needed) for a 7-year term; a single individual is eligible for unlimited terms; prime minister and first deputy prime minister appointed by the president and confirmed by the National Assembly
Executive branch / most recent election date: 7 February 2024
Executive branch / election results: 2024: Ilham ALIYEV reelected president; percent of vote - Ilham ALIYEV (YAP) 92.1%, Zahid ORUJ (independent) 2.2% ; on 16 February 2024, Ali ASADOV reappointed prime minister by parliamentary vote, 105-1 2018: Ilham ALIYEV reelected president in first round; percent of vote - Ilham ALIYEV (YAP) 86%, Zahid ORUJ (independent) 3.1%, other 10.9%
Executive branch / expected date of next election: 2031
Legislative branch / legislature name: National Assembly (Milli Majlis)
Legislative branch / legislative structure: unicameral
Legislative branch / number of seats: 125 (all directly elected)
Legislative branch / electoral system: plurality/majority
Legislative branch / scope of elections: full renewal
Legislative branch / term in office: 5 years
Legislative branch / most recent election date: 9/1/2024
Legislative branch / parties elected and seats per party: New Azerbaidjan Party (YAP) (68); Independents (44); Other (13)
Legislative branch / percentage of women in chamber: 20.8%
Legislative branch / expected date of next election: November 2029
Judicial branch / highest court(s): Supreme Court (consists of the chairman, vice chairman, and 23 judges in plenum sessions and organized into civil, economic affairs, criminal, and rights violations chambers); Constitutional Court (consists of 9 judges)
Judicial branch / judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court judges nominated by the president and appointed by the Milli Majlis; judges appointed for 10 years; Constitutional Court chairman and deputy chairman appointed by the president; other court judges nominated by the president and appointed by the Milli Majlis to serve single 15-year terms
Judicial branch / subordinate courts: Courts of Appeal (replaced the Economic Court in 2002); district and municipal courts
Political parties: Azerbaijan Hope Party or ÜMİD Azerbaijan Democratic Enlightenment Party or ADMP Azerbaijan National Independence Party or AMİP Civic Solidarity Party or VHP Democratic Reforms Party or DiP Great Order Party or BAP Justice, Law, Democracy Party or ƏHD Great Order Party or BQP Motherland Party or AVP National Front Party or MCP National Revival Movement Party or MDHP New Azerbaijan Party or YAP Republican Alternative Party or REAL Unity Party or VƏHDƏT
Diplomatic representation in the US / chief of mission: Ambassador Khazar IBRAHIM (since 15 September 2021)
Diplomatic representation in the US / chancery: 2741 34th Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation in the US / telephone: [1] (202) 337-3500
Diplomatic representation in the US / FAX: [1] (202) 337-5911
Diplomatic representation in the US / email address and website: azerbaijan@azembassy.us https://washington.mfa.gov.az/en
Diplomatic representation in the US / consulate(s) general: Los Angeles
Diplomatic representation from the US / chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charg&eacute; d'Affaires Amy CARLON (since 23 June 2025)
Diplomatic representation from the US / embassy: 111 Azadlig Avenue, AZ1007 Baku
Diplomatic representation from the US / mailing address: 7050 Baku Place, Washington, DC 20521-7050
Diplomatic representation from the US / telephone: [994] (12) 488-3300
Diplomatic representation from the US / FAX: [994] (12) 488-3330
Diplomatic representation from the US / email address and website: BakuACS@state.gov https://az.usembassy.gov/
International organization participation: ADB, BSEC, CD, CE, CICA, CIS, EAPC, EBRD, ECO, FAO, GCTU, GUAM, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NAM, OAS (observer), OIC, OPCW, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNOOSA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)
Independence: 30 August 1991 (declared from the Soviet Union); 18 October 1991 (adopted by the Supreme Council of Azerbaijan)
National holiday: Republic Day (founding of the Democratic Republic of Azerbaijan), 28 May (1918)
Flag: description: three equal horizontal bands of sky blue (top), red, and green; a vertical crescent moon and an eight-pointed star in white are centered in the red band meaning: the blue band stands for Azerbaijan's Turkic heritage, red for modernization and progress, and green for Islam; the crescent moon and star are a Turkic insignia; the eight star points represent the eight Turkic peoples of the world
National symbol(s): flames of fire
National color(s): blue, red, green
National anthem(s) / title: "Azerbaijan Marsi" (March of Azerbaijan)
National anthem(s) / lyrics/music: Ahmed JAVAD/Uzeyir HAJIBEYOV
National anthem(s) / history: adopted 1992; originally written in 1919 during a brief period of independence, but did not become the official anthem until after the dissolution of the Soviet Union
National heritage / total World Heritage Sites: 5 (4 cultural, 1 natural)
National heritage / selected World Heritage Site locales: Walled City of Baku; Gobustan Rock Art Cultural Landscape; Historic Center of Sheki; Cultural Landscape of Khinalig People and "Koc Yolu" Transhumance Route

## Economy
Economic overview: upper-middle income, oil-dependent Caucasus economy; minimal economic diversification and dominance of state-owned enterprises; growth and fiscal consolidation supported by oil revenues, but risks remain from demand shocks; potential economic gains from Nagorno-Karabakh ceasefire; education investments to diversify and retain human capital
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $225.198 billion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $216.388 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $213.497 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2024: 4.1% (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2023: 1.4% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2022: 4.7% (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2024: $22,100 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2023: $21,300 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2022: $21,100 (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $74.316 billion (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024: 2.2% (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023: 8.8% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 13.9% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / agriculture: 5.7% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / industry: 42.6% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / services: 42.3% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / household consumption: 55.4% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / government consumption: 14.4% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in fixed capital: 16.8% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in inventories: 4.3% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / exports of goods and services: 45.9% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / imports of goods and services: -36.8% (2024 est.)
Agricultural products: milk, wheat, barley, potatoes, tomatoes, watermelons, onions, apples, maize, cotton (2023)
Industries: petroleum and petroleum products, natural gas, oilfield equipment; steel, iron ore; cement; chemicals and petrochemicals; textiles
Industrial production growth rate: 2.1% (2024 est.)
Labor force: 5.02 million (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2024: 5.6% (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2023: 5.7% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2022: 5.7% (2022 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / total: 13.7% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / male: 12.3% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / female: 15.3% (2024 est.)
Average household expenditures / on food: 42.7% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Average household expenditures / on alcohol and tobacco: 2% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2024: 1.8% of GDP (2024 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2023: 2.6% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2022: 5% of GDP (2022 est.)
Budget / revenues: $30.966 billion (2022 est.)
Budget / expenditures: $22.95 billion (2022 est.)
Public debt / Public debt 2021: 16.8% of GDP (2021 est.)
Taxes and other revenues: 15.4% (of GDP) (2022 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2024: $4.671 billion (2024 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2023: $8.329 billion (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2022: $23.478 billion (2022 est.)
Exports / Exports 2024: $34.113 billion (2024 est.)
Exports / Exports 2023: $35.487 billion (2023 est.)
Exports / Exports 2022: $47.274 billion (2022 est.)
Exports - partners: Italy 37%, Turkey 19%, Israel 5%, Greece 4%, Russia 4% (2023)
Exports - commodities: crude petroleum, natural gas, refined petroleum, plastics, electricity (2023)
Imports / Imports 2024: $27.339 billion (2024 est.)
Imports / Imports 2023: $25.016 billion (2023 est.)
Imports / Imports 2022: $21.274 billion (2022 est.)
Imports - partners: Russia 17%, China 16%, Turkey 14%, Georgia 4%, Germany 4% (2023)
Imports - commodities: cars, crude petroleum, refined petroleum, broadcasting equipment, garments (2023)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024: $12.699 billion (2024 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023: $13.749 billion (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $11.338 billion (2022 est.)
Debt - external / Debt - external 2023: $12.378 billion (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Currency: Azerbaijani manats (AZN) per US dollar -
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2024: 1.7 (2024 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2023: 1.7 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2022: 1.7 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2021: 1.7 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2020: 1.7 (2020 est.)

## Energy
Electricity access / electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)
Electricity / installed generating capacity: 8.383 million kW (2023 est.)
Electricity / consumption: 23.857 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / exports: 3.246 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / imports: 212 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / transmission/distribution losses: 2.197 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / fossil fuels: 93.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / solar: 0.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / wind: 0.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / hydroelectricity: 5.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / biomass and waste: 0.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Coal / consumption: 6,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / imports: 10,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum / total petroleum production: 618,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Petroleum / refined petroleum consumption: 109,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Petroleum / crude oil estimated reserves: 7 billion barrels (2021 est.)
Natural gas / production: 35.775 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / consumption: 12.703 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / exports: 23.65 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / imports: 2.173 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / proven reserves: 1.699 trillion cubic meters (2021 est.)
Energy consumption per capita / Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 66.467 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

## Communications
Telephones - fixed lines / total subscriptions: 1.33 million (2024 est.)
Telephones - fixed lines / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 13 (2024 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / total subscriptions: 11.3 million (2024 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 110 (2024 est.)
Broadcast media: TV is the most popular medium; many homes are hooked up to satellite; all Azerbaijan-based channels promote government positions; state-owned AzTV runs three national channels, and state-funded iTV is a national public service broadcaster; 4 national privately-owned stations; Turkish, Russian, and western TV is available on cable; analog terrestrial TV was phased out in 2016-17; radio outlets focus on entertainment, with around a dozen stations on FM in Baku; newspaper distribution is largely limited to Baku (2023)
Internet country code: .az
Internet users / percent of population: 89% (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / total: 2.15 million (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 21 (2023 est.)

## Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: 4K
Airports: 32 (2025)
Heliports: 5 (2025)
Railways / total: 2,944.3 km (2017)
Railways / broad gauge: 2,944.3 km (2017) 1.520-m gauge (approx. 1,767 km electrified)
Merchant marine / total: 312 (2023)
Merchant marine / by type: general cargo 40, oil tanker 44, other 228

## Military and Security
Military and security forces: Azerbaijan Armed Forces: Land Forces, Air Forces, Navy Forces, Special Forces, State Border Service, Coast Guard Ministry of Internal Affairs: Internal Troops, local police forces; Special State Protection Service (SSPS): National Guard (2025)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2024: 5.1% of GDP (2024 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2023: 4.5% of GDP (2023 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2022: 4.5% of GDP (2022 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2021: 5% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2020: 5% of GDP (2020 est.)
Military and security service personnel strengths: information varies widely; estimated 100,000 active Armed Forces personnel (2025)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: Baku has been actively upgrading the military's inventory for over a decade with equipment acquisitions from several sources, including Belarus, China, Israel, Russia, and T&uuml;rkiye; while most of the military's equipment was once Soviet-era material, it now fields quantities of modern armaments, including armored vehicles, artillery systems, air defense systems, fighter aircraft, tanks, and UAVs (2025)
Military service age and obligation: 18-30 years of age for compulsory military service for men; 18-35 years of age voluntary/contractual service for men (18-40 for women volunteers); 18 months service for conscripts, 36 months for voluntary/contractual service (2025)
Military - note: the Azerbaijani military was established in 1991, although its origins go back to 1918; much of the military’s original equipment was acquired from former Soviet military forces that departed Azerbaijan by 1992; territorial defense is the military’s primary focus, particularly with regards to neighboring Armenia; a secondary focus is guarding against Iran; Armenia and Azerbaijan engaged in open conflicts over the Nagorno-Karabakh enclave in 1991-94 and 2020; tensions continued following the 2020 conflict, and Azerbaijan seized the entire enclave in 2023 key bilateral security relationships include Israel, Russia, and Turkiye; Azerbaijan's ties with Turkiye have included weapons transfers, technical advice, bilateral training exercises, and military support during its conflicts with Armenia; Azerbaijan is not part of NATO but has had a cooperative relationship with it dating back to when it joined NATO’s Partnership for Peace program in 1994 and has provided troops to NATO-led missions in Kosovo (1999-2008) and Afghanistan (2002-2014) (2025)

## Space
Space agency/agencies: Space Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan (Azercosmos; established 2010 as a state-owned satellite operating company); Azerbaijan National Aerospace Agency (NASA; Azərbaycan Milli Aerokosmik Agentliyi, MAKA; established 1992; since 2006, has operated under the Ministry of Defense Industry) (2025)
Space program overview: largely focused on the acquisition and operation of satellites; operates foreign-built communications and remote sensing (RS) satellites; cooperates with a variety of foreign space agencies and commercial entities, including those of China, the ESA (bilaterally with individual member states such as France), Israel, Russia, Turkey, and the US; Azercosmos is the largest satellite operator in the Caucasus region (2025)
Key space-program milestones: 2013 - first communications satellite (Azerspace-1) built by US company and launched on European rocket 2014 - took operational control over remote sensing (RS) satellite (SPOT-7, now Azersky) from a French company (satellite ceased operations in 2023) 2017 - second communications satellite (Azerspace-2) built by US company and launched on European rocket 2023 - agreed to participate in China's International Lunar Research Station Cooperation project, which aims to establish a base on the Moon in the 2030s; signed agreement with Israel to jointly develop two multi-spectral RS satellites (Azersky-2 program) for scheduled launches in 2026 and 2028 (2025)

## Terrorism
Terrorist group(s): Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS); Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC)/Qods Force

## Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons / refugees: 6,698 (2024 est.)
Refugees and internally displaced persons / IDPs: 657,996 (2024 est.)
Refugees and internally displaced persons / stateless persons: 271 (2024 est.)

=== Armenia ===

## Introduction
Background: Armenia prides itself on being the first state to formally adopt Christianity (early 4th century). Armenia has existed as a political entity for centuries, but for much of its history it was under the sway of various empires, including the Roman, Byzantine, Arab, Persian, Ottoman, and Russian. During World War I, the Ottoman Empire instituted a policy of forced resettlement that, coupled with other harsh practices targeting its Armenian subjects, resulted in at least 1 million deaths; these actions have been widely recognized as constituting genocide. During the early 19th century, significant Armenian populations fell under Russian rule. Armenia declared its independence in 1918 in the wake of the Bolshevik Revolution in Russia, but it was conquered by the Soviet Red Army in 1920. Armenia, along with Azerbaijan and Georgia, was initially incorporated into the USSR as part of the Transcaucasian Federated Soviet Socialist Republic; in 1936, the republic was separated into its three constituent entities, which were maintained until the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991. For over three decades, Armenia had a longstanding conflict with neighboring Azerbaijan about the status of the Nagorno-Karabakh region, which historically had a mixed Armenian and Azerbaijani population, although ethnic Armenians have constituted the majority since the late 19th century. In 1921, Moscow placed Nagorno-Karabakh within Soviet Azerbaijan as an autonomous oblast. In the late Soviet period, a separatist movement developed that sought to end Azerbaijani control over the region. Fighting over Nagorno-Karabakh began in 1988 and escalated after Armenia and Azerbaijan declared independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. By the time a cease-fire took effect in 1994, separatists with Armenian support controlled Nagorno‑Karabakh and seven surrounding Azerbaijani territories. Armenia and Azerbaijan engaged in a second military conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh in 2020; Armenia lost control over much of the territory it had previously captured, returning the southern part of Nagorno-Karabakh and the territories around it to Azerbaijan. In September 2023, Azerbaijan took military action to regain control over Nagorno-Karabakh; after an armed conflict that lasted only one day, nearly the entire ethnic Armenian population of Nagorno-Karabakh fled to Armenia. Turkey closed its border with Armenia in 1993 in support of Azerbaijan during the first period of conflict with Armenia and has since maintained a closed border, leaving Armenia with closed borders both in the west (with Turkey) and east (with Azerbaijan). Armenia and Turkey engaged in intensive diplomacy to normalize relations and open the border in 2009, but the signed agreement was not ratified in either country. In 2015, Armenia joined the Eurasian Economic Union alongside Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan. In 2017, Armenia signed a Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement (CEPA) with the EU. In 2018, former President of Armenia (2008-18) Serzh SARGSIAN of the Republican Party of Armenia (RPA) tried to extend his time in power, prompting protests that became known as the “Velvet Revolution.” After SARGSIAN resigned, the National Assembly elected the leader of the protests, Civil Contract party chief Nikol PASHINYAN, as the new prime minister. PASHINYAN’s party has prevailed in subsequent legislative elections, most recently in 2021.

## Geography
Location: Southwestern Asia, between Turkey (to the west) and Azerbaijan; note - Armenia views itself as part of Europe; geopolitically, it can be classified as falling within Europe, the Middle East, or both
Geographic coordinates: 40 00 N, 45 00 E
Map references: Asia
Area / total: 29,743 sq km
Area / land: 28,203 sq km
Area / water: 1,540 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly smaller than Maryland
Land boundaries / total: 1,570 km
Land boundaries / border countries: Azerbaijan 996 km; Georgia 219 km; Iran 44 km; Turkey 311 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
Climate: highland continental, hot summers, cold winters
Terrain: Armenian Highland with mountains; little forest land; fast flowing rivers; good soil in Aras River valley
Elevation / highest point: Aragats Lerrnagagat' 4,090 m
Elevation / lowest point: Debed River 400 m
Elevation / mean elevation: 1,792 m
Natural resources: small deposits of gold, copper, molybdenum, zinc, bauxite
Land use / agricultural land: 58.6% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 15.7% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 2.2% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 41.5% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 11.8% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 13.5% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land: 1,559 sq km (2022)
Major lakes (area sq km) / fresh water lake(s): Lake Sevan - 1,360 sq km
Population distribution: most of the population is located in the northern half of the country; the capital of Yerevan is home to more than five times as many people as Gyumri, the second-largest city in the country
Natural hazards: occasionally severe earthquakes; droughts
Geography - note: landlocked in the Lesser Caucasus Mountains; Sevana Lich (Lake Sevan) is the largest lake in this mountain range

## People and Society
Population / total: 2,963,837 (2025 est.)
Population / male: 1,451,842
Population / female: 1,511,995
Nationality / noun: Armenian(s)
Nationality / adjective: Armenian
Ethnic groups: Armenian 98.1%, Yezidi 1.1%; less than 1%: Russian, other, Assyrian, Kurd, Ukrainian, Greek (2022 est.)
Languages / Languages: Armenian 97.2%, Russian 1.4%, Ezidian 1.0%; less than 1%: other, unknown (2022)
Languages / major-language sample(s): Աշխարհի Փաստագիրք, Անփոխարինելի Աղբյւր Հիմնական Տեղեկատվւթյան. (Armenian) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
Religions: Armenian Apostolic 95.2%, not stated 1.7%; less than 1%: Catholic, no religion, Evangelical, Shar-fadinian, other, Armenian Orthodox, Jehovah's Witness, Pagan, Molokan (2022 est.)
Age structure / 0-14 years: 17.7% (male 275,589/female 250,630)
Age structure / 15-64 years: 67% (male 991,490/female 1,004,101)
Age structure / 65 years and over: 15.3% (2024 est.) (male 189,336/female 265,619)
Dependency ratios / total dependency ratio: 50.4 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / youth dependency ratio: 26.1 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / elderly dependency ratio: 24.3 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / potential support ratio: 4.1 (2025 est.)
Median age / total: 39.5 years (2025 est.)
Median age / male: 37.6 years
Median age / female: 40.3 years
Population growth rate: -0.45% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 10.24 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 9.6 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: -5.1 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution: most of the population is located in the northern half of the country; the capital of Yerevan is home to more than five times as many people as Gyumri, the second-largest city in the country
Urbanization / urban population: 63.7% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 0.23% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 1.095 million YEREVAN (capital) (2023)
Sex ratio / at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 0-14 years: 1.1 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth: 25.2 years (2019 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio: 19 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Infant mortality rate / total: 11.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Infant mortality rate / male: 13.1 deaths/1,000 live births
Infant mortality rate / female: 10 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth / total population: 76.7 years (2024 est.)
Life expectancy at birth / male: 73.4 years
Life expectancy at birth / female: 80.1 years
Total fertility rate: 1.66 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 0.8 (2025 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: urban: urban: 100% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: rural: rural: 100% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: total: total: 100% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: urban: urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: rural: rural: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: total: total: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 12.3% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 6.5% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density: 3.36 physicians/1,000 population (2022)
Hospital bed density: 4.6 beds/1,000 population (2020 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: urban: urban: 100% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: rural: rural: 84.6% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: total: total: 94.4% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: urban: urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: rural: rural: 15.4% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: total: total: 5.6% of population (2022 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 20.2% (2016)
Alcohol consumption per capita / total: 3.77 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / beer: 0.52 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / wine: 0.46 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / spirits: 2.78 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / other alcohols: 0.01 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Tobacco use / total: 21.5% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / male: 47.6% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / female: 1.6% (2025 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 2.6% (2016 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49): 61.5% (2022 est.)
Child marriage / women married by age 15: 0% (2016)
Child marriage / women married by age 18: 5.3% (2016)
Child marriage / men married by age 18: 0.4% (2016)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% GDP): 2.4% of GDP (2023 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% national budget): 8.7% national budget (2025 est.)
Literacy / total population: 99.8% (2023 est.)
Literacy / male: 99.8% (2023 est.)
Literacy / female: 99.9% (2023 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / total: 14 years (2023 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / male: 14 years (2023 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / female: 14 years (2023 est.)

## Environment
Environmental issues: soil pollution from toxic chemicals; deforestation; river pollution; threats to drinking water supplies from use of hydropower; nuclear power plant located in earthquake zone
International environmental agreements / party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
International environmental agreements / signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Multi-effect Protocol, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants
Climate: highland continental, hot summers, cold winters
Land use / agricultural land: 58.6% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 15.7% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 2.2% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 41.5% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 11.8% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 13.5% (2023 est.)
Urbanization / urban population: 63.7% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 0.23% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / total emissions: 7.144 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from coal and metallurgical coke: 48,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from petroleum and other liquids: 1.934 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from consumed natural gas: 5.162 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Particulate matter emissions: 28.4 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Waste and recycling / municipal solid waste generated annually: 492,800 tons (2024 est.)
Waste and recycling / percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 13.5% (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / municipal: 542 million cubic meters (2022)
Total water withdrawal / industrial: 150 million cubic meters (2022)
Total water withdrawal / agricultural: 2.38 billion cubic meters (2022)
Total renewable water resources: 7.769 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: Republic of Armenia
Country name / conventional short form: Armenia
Country name / local long form: Hayastani Hanrapetut'yun
Country name / local short form: Hayastan
Country name / former: Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic, Armenian Republic
Country name / etymology: the etymology of the country's name remains obscure; according to tradition, the local name for the country, Hayastan, comes from Hayk, the legendary patriarch of the Armenians and the great-great-grandson of Noah; the name Armenia was first recorded in a rock inscription from A.D. 521 in modern-day Iran
Government type: parliamentary democracy; note - constitutional changes adopted in December 2015 transformed the government to a parliamentary system
Capital / name: Yerevan
Capital / geographic coordinates: 40 10 N, 44 30 E
Capital / time difference: UTC+4 (9 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Capital / etymology: name origin is unclear; it may derive from the name of a local ethnic group, or from the ancient fortress of Erebuni that was built on the current site of Yerevan in 782 B.C.
Administrative divisions: 11 provinces ( marzer , singular - marz ); Aragatsotn, Ararat, Armavir, Geghark'unik', Kotayk', Lorri, Shirak, Syunik', Tavush, Vayots' Dzor, Yerevan
Legal system: civil law system
Constitution / history: previous 1915, 1978; latest adopted 5 July 1995
Constitution / amendment process: proposed by the president of the republic or by the National Assembly; passage requires approval by the president, the National Assembly, and a referendum with at least 25% registered-voter participation and more than 50% of votes; constitutional articles on the form of government and democratic procedures are not amendable
International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt
Citizenship / citizenship by birth: no
Citizenship / citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Armenia
Citizenship / dual citizenship recognized: yes
Citizenship / residency requirement for naturalization: 3 years
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch / chief of state: President Vahagn KHACHATURYAN (since 13 March 2022)
Executive branch / head of government: Prime Minister Nikol PASHINYAN (since 10 September 2021)
Executive branch / cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister
Executive branch / election/appointment process: president indirectly elected by the National Assembly in 3 rounds, if needed, for a single 7-year term; prime minister indirectly elected by majority vote in two rounds, if needed, by the National Assembly
Executive branch / most recent election date: 3 March 2022
Executive branch / election results: 2022: Vahagn KHACHATURYAN elected president in second round; note - Vahagn KHACHATURYAN (independent) ran unopposed and won the Assembly vote 71-0 2018: Armen SARKISSIAN elected president in first round; note - Armen SARKISSIAN (indpendent) ran unopposed and won the Assembly vote 90-10
Executive branch / expected date of next election: 2029
Legislative branch / legislature name: National Assembly (Azgayin Zhoghov)
Legislative branch / legislative structure: unicameral
Legislative branch / number of seats: 107 (all directly elected)
Legislative branch / electoral system: proportional representation
Legislative branch / scope of elections: full renewal
Legislative branch / term in office: 5 years
Legislative branch / most recent election date: 6/20/2021
Legislative branch / parties elected and seats per party: Civil Contract Party (71); Armenia Alliance (29); I Have the Honour Alliance (7)
Legislative branch / percentage of women in chamber: 38.3%
Legislative branch / expected date of next election: June 2026
Judicial branch / highest court(s): Court of Cassation or Appeals Court (consists of the Criminal Chamber with a chairman and 5 judges and the Civil and Administrative Chamber with a chairman and 10 judges &ndash; with both civil and administrative specializations); Constitutional Court (consists of 9 judges)
Judicial branch / judge selection and term of office: Court of Cassation judges nominated by the Supreme Judicial Council, a 10-member body of selected judges and legal scholars; judges appointed by the president; judges can serve until age 65; Constitutional Court judges - 4 appointed by the president, and 5 elected by the National Assembly; judges can serve until age 70
Judicial branch / subordinate courts: criminal and civil appellate courts; administrative appellate court; first instance courts; specialized administrative and bankruptcy courts
Political parties: Armenia Alliance or HD Armenian National Congress or ANC Bright Armenia or BA Civil Contract or KP Hanrapetutyun Party or HP Heritage I Have Honor Alliance (formerly known as the Republican Party of Armenia) PUD Orinats Yerkir or OY Prosperous Armenia or PAP
Diplomatic representation in the US / chief of mission: Ambassador Narek MKRTCHYAN (since 19 September 2025)
Diplomatic representation in the US / chancery: 2225 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation in the US / telephone: [1] (202) 319-1976
Diplomatic representation in the US / FAX: [1] (202) 319-2982
Diplomatic representation in the US / email address and website: armembassyusa@mfa.am https://usa.mfa.am/en/
Diplomatic representation in the US / consulate(s) general: Glendale (CA)
Diplomatic representation from the US / chief of mission: Ambassador Kristina A. KVIEN (since 21 February 2023)
Diplomatic representation from the US / embassy: 1 American Ave., Yerevan 0082
Diplomatic representation from the US / mailing address: 7020 Yerevan Place, Washington, DC 20521-7020
Diplomatic representation from the US / telephone: [374] (10) 464-700
Diplomatic representation from the US / FAX: [374] (10) 464-742
Diplomatic representation from the US / email address and website: acsyerevan@state.gov https://am.usembassy.gov/
International organization participation: ADB, BSEC, CD, CE, CIS, CSTO, EAEC (observer), EAEU, EAPC, EBRD, FAO, GCTU, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, MIGA, NAM (observer), OAS (observer), OIF, OPCW, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNOOSA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Independence: 21 September 1991 (from the Soviet Union); notable earlier dates: 321 B.C. (Kingdom of Armenia established under the Orontid Dynasty), A.D. 884 (Armenian Kingdom reestablished under the Bagratid Dynasty); 1198 (Cilician Kingdom established); 28 May 1918 (Democratic Republic of Armenia declared)
National holiday: Independence Day, 21 September (1991)
Flag: description: three equal horizontal bands of red (top), blue, and orange meaning: red stands for the blood shed for liberty, blue for the Armenian skies and hope, and orange for the land and the courage of the workers who farm it
National symbol(s): Mount Ararat, eagle, lion
National color(s): red, blue, orange
National anthem(s) / title: "Mer Hayrenik" (Our Fatherland)
National anthem(s) / lyrics/music: Mikael NALBANDIAN/Barsegh KANACHYAN
National anthem(s) / history: adopted 1991; based on the anthem of the Democratic Republic of Armenia (1918-1922), but with different lyrics
National heritage / total World Heritage Sites: 3 (3 cultural)
National heritage / selected World Heritage Site locales: Monasteries of Haghpat and Sanahin; Monastery of Geghard and the Upper Azat Valley; Cathedral and Churches of Echmiatsin

## Economy
Economic overview: upper-middle income, fast-growing Caucasus economy; stable fiscal and monetary regime but vulnerable to geopolitical shocks; economic and energy ties to Russia but seeking more EU and US trade; key copper and gold exporter; business-friendly and anti-corruption reforms; persistent unemployment; influx of migrants from Ukraine war easing
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $60.909 billion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $57.516 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $53.108 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2024: 5.9% (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2023: 8.3% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2022: 12.6% (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2024: $20,100 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2023: $19,400 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2022: $17,900 (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $25.787 billion (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024: 0.3% (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023: 2% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 8.6% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / agriculture: 7.9% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / industry: 23.2% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / services: 61.5% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / household consumption: 66.5% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / government consumption: 10.7% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in fixed capital: 21.7% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in inventories: 0.5% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / exports of goods and services: 76.3% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / imports of goods and services: -75.8% (2024 est.)
Agricultural products: milk, potatoes, grapes, vegetables, wheat, tomatoes, watermelons, apricots, apples, barley (2023)
Industries: brandy, mining, diamond processing, metal-cutting machine tools, forging and pressing machines, electric motors, knitted wear, hosiery, shoes, silk fabric, chemicals, trucks, instruments, microelectronics, jewelry, software, food processing
Industrial production growth rate: 6.2% (2024 est.)
Labor force: 1.51 million (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2024: 13.4% (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2023: 13.3% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2022: 13.4% (2022 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / total: 26.2% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / male: 24.8% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / female: 27.9% (2024 est.)
Population below poverty line: 24.8% (2022 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income / Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2023: 27.2 (2023 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / lowest 10%: 4% (2023 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / highest 10%: 22.9% (2023 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2024: 4.6% of GDP (2024 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2023: 6% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2022: 10.4% of GDP (2022 est.)
Budget / revenues: $5.812 billion (2023 est.)
Budget / expenditures: $6.27 billion (2023 est.)
Public debt / Public debt 2023: 48.3% of GDP (2023 est.)
Taxes and other revenues: 22.5% (of GDP) (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2024: -$997.086 million (2024 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2023: -$556.329 million (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2022: $64.725 million (2022 est.)
Exports / Exports 2024: $18.618 billion (2024 est.)
Exports / Exports 2023: $14.338 billion (2023 est.)
Exports / Exports 2022: $10.118 billion (2022 est.)
Exports - partners: Russia 37%, UAE 25%, Hong Kong 7%, China 5%, Georgia 4% (2023)
Exports - commodities: gold, diamonds, copper ore, broadcasting equipment, jewelry (2023)
Imports / Imports 2024: $19.087 billion (2024 est.)
Imports / Imports 2023: $14.532 billion (2023 est.)
Imports / Imports 2022: $10.265 billion (2022 est.)
Imports - partners: Russia 29%, China 12%, Vietnam 6%, Georgia 5%, Iran 4% (2023)
Imports - commodities: cars, gold, diamonds, broadcasting equipment, natural gas (2023)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024: $3.685 billion (2024 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023: $3.607 billion (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $4.112 billion (2022 est.)
Debt - external / Debt - external 2023: $6.002 billion (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Currency: drams (AMD) per US dollar -
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2024: 392.73 (2024 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2023: 392.476 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2022: 435.666 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2021: 503.77 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2020: 489.009 (2020 est.)

## Energy
Electricity access / electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)
Electricity / installed generating capacity: 4.265 million kW (2023 est.)
Electricity / consumption: 7.012 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / exports: 1.3 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / imports: 194.045 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / transmission/distribution losses: 530.327 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / fossil fuels: 43% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / nuclear: 29% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / solar: 8.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / hydroelectricity: 19% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Nuclear energy / Number of operational nuclear reactors: 1 (2025)
Nuclear energy / Net capacity of operational nuclear reactors: 0.42GW (2025 est.)
Nuclear energy / Percent of total electricity production: 31.1% (2023 est.)
Nuclear energy / Number of nuclear reactors permanently shut down: 1 (2025)
Coal / production: 300 metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / consumption: 19,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / exports: 24 metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / imports: 23,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / proven reserves: 317 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum / refined petroleum consumption: 15,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Natural gas / consumption: 2.631 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / imports: 2.631 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Energy consumption per capita / Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 54.689 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

## Communications
Telephones - fixed lines / total subscriptions: 297,000 (2024 est.)
Telephones - fixed lines / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 10 (2024 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / total subscriptions: 4.01 million (2024 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 135 (2024 est.)
Broadcast media: government-run Public Television network operates alongside 100 privately owned TV stations that provide local to near-nationwide coverage; three Russian TV companies are broadcast under interstate agreements; subscription cable TV services are available in most regions; several major international broadcasters are available, including CNN; Armenian TV completed conversion from analog to digital broadcasting in 2016; Public Radio of Armenia is a national, state-run broadcast network that operates alongside 18 privately owned radio stations (2024)
Internet country code: .am
Internet users / percent of population: 80% (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / total: 546,000 (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 19 (2023 est.)

## Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: EK
Airports: 11 (2025)
Heliports: 1 (2025)
Railways / total: 686 km (2017)

## Military and Security
Military and security forces: Armenian Republic Armed Forces: Armenian Army (includes land, air, air defense forces) (2025)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2024: 5.5% of GDP (2024 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2023: 5.5% of GDP (2023 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2022: 4.3% of GDP (2022 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2021: 4.4% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2020: 5% of GDP (2020 est.)
Military and security service personnel strengths: approximately 40-50,000 active Armenian Armed Forces (2025)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the military's inventory includes mostly Russian and Soviet-era equipment; in recent years however, Armenia has looked to other countries besides Russia to provide military hardware, including France and India (2025)
Military service age and obligation: 18-27 for voluntary (men and women), contract (men and women) or compulsory (men) military service; contract military service is 3-12 months or up to 5 years; conscripts serve 24 months; all citizens aged 27-50 are registered in the military reserve and may be called to serve if mobilization is declared (2025)
Military - note: the Armenian Armed Forces were officially established in 1992, although their origins go back to 1918; the modern military’s missions include deterrence, territorial defense, crisis management, humanitarian assistance, and disaster response, as well as socio-economic development projects; territorial defense is its primary focus, particularly in regards to tensions with neighboring Azerbaijan; Armenia and Azerbaijan engaged in open conflicts over the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh enclave in 1991-94 and 2020; Azerbaijan seized the entire enclave in 2023 Armenia has traditionally had close military ties with Russia; it has been a member of the Russian-led Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) since 1994 and committed troops to CSTO's rapid reaction force until suspending its engagement in 2024; Armenia has relations with NATO going back to 1992 when Armenia joined the North Atlantic Cooperation Council; in 1994, it joined NATO’s Partnership for Peace program and has contributed to the NATO force in Kosovo, as well as the former NATO deployment in Afghanistan (2025)

## Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons / refugees: 145,354 (2024 est.)
Refugees and internally displaced persons / IDPs: 4 (2024 est.)
Refugees and internally displaced persons / stateless persons: 373 (2024 est.)

=== Georgia ===

## Introduction
Background: The region of present-day Georgia once contained the ancient kingdoms of Colchis (known as Egrisi locally) and Kartli-Iberia. The area came under Roman influence in the first centuries A.D., and Christianity became the state religion in the 330s. Persian, Arab, and Turk domination was followed by a Georgian golden age (11th-13th centuries) that was cut short when the Mongols invaded in 1236. Subsequently, the Ottoman and Persian empires competed for influence in the region. Georgia was absorbed into the Russian Empire in the 19th century. Independent for three years (1918-1921) following the Russian revolution, it was forcibly incorporated into the USSR in 1921 and regained its independence when the Soviet Union dissolved in 1991. In 2003, mounting public discontent over rampant corruption, ineffective government services, and a government attempt to manipulate parliamentary elections touched off widespread protests that led to the resignation of Eduard SHEVARDNADZE, who had been president since 1995. In the aftermath of this "Rose Revolution," new elections in 2004 swept Mikheil SAAKASHVILI and his United National Movement (UNM) party into power. SAAKASHVILI made progress on market reforms and governance, but he faced accusations of abuse of office. Progress was further complicated when Russian support for the separatist regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia led to a five-day conflict between Russia and Georgia in August 2008, which included Russia invading large portions of Georgian territory. Russia initially pledged to pull back from most Georgian territory but then unilaterally recognized the independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, and Russian military forces have remained in those regions. Billionaire Bidzina IVANISHVILI's unexpected entry into politics in 2011 brought the divided opposition together under his Georgian Dream coalition, which won a majority of seats in the 2012 parliamentary elections and removed UNM from power. Conceding defeat, SAAKASHVILI named IVANISHVILI as prime minister and left the country after his presidential term ended in 2013. IVANISHVILI voluntarily resigned from office after the presidential succession, and in the years since, the prime minister position has seen frequent turnover. In 2021, SAAKASHVILI returned to Georgia, where he was immediately arrested to serve six years in prison on outstanding abuse-of-office convictions. Popular support for integration with the West is high in Georgia. Joining the EU and NATO are among the country's top foreign policy goals, and Georgia applied for EU membership in 2022, becoming a candidate country in December 2023. Georgia and the EU have a Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement, and since 2017, Georgian citizens have been able to travel to the Schengen area without a visa.

## Geography
Location: Southwestern Asia, bordering the Black Sea, between Turkey and Russia, with a sliver of land north of the Caucasus extending into Europe; note - Georgia views itself as part of Europe; geopolitically, it can be classified as falling within Europe, the Middle East, or both
Geographic coordinates: 42 00 N, 43 30 E
Map references: Asia
Area / total: 69,700 sq km
Area / land: 69,700 sq km
Area / water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly smaller than South Carolina; slightly larger than West Virginia
Land boundaries / total: 1,814 km
Land boundaries / border countries: Armenia 219 km; Azerbaijan 428 km; Russia 894 km; Turkey 273 km
Coastline: 310 km
Maritime claims / territorial sea: 12 nm
Maritime claims / exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate: warm and pleasant; Mediterranean-like on Black Sea coast
Terrain: largely mountainous with Great Caucasus Mountains in the north and Lesser Caucasus Mountains in the south; Kolkhet'is Dablobi (Kolkhida Lowland) opens to the Black Sea in the west; Mtkvari River Basin in the east; fertile soils in river valley flood plains and foothills of Kolkhida Lowland
Elevation / highest point: Mt'a Shkhara 5,193 m
Elevation / lowest point: Black Sea 0 m
Elevation / mean elevation: 1,432 m
Natural resources: timber, hydropower, manganese deposits, iron ore, copper, minor coal and oil deposits; coastal climate and soils allow for important tea and citrus growth
Land use / agricultural land: 34.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 4.4% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 1.8% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 27.9% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 44.6% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 21.2% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land: 4,330 sq km (2012)
Population distribution: settlement concentrated in the central valley, particularly in the capital city of Tbilisi in the east; smaller urban agglomerations dot the Black Sea coast, with Bat'umi being the largest
Natural hazards: earthquakes
Geography - note: note 1: strategically located east of the Black Sea, Georgia controls much of the Caucasus Mountains and the routes through them note 2: the world's four deepest caves are all in Georgia, including two that are the only known caves on earth deeper than 2,000 m: Krubera Cave at -2,197 m (-7,208 ft; reached in 2012) and Veryovkina Cave at -2,212 (-7,257 ft; reached in 2018)

## People and Society
Population / total: 4,900,961 (2024 est.)
Population / male: 2,343,068
Population / female: 2,557,893
Nationality / noun: Georgian(s)
Nationality / adjective: Georgian
Ethnic groups: Georgian 86.8%, Azeri 6.3%, Armenian 4.5%, other 2.3% (includes Russian, Ossetian, Yazidi, Ukrainian, Kist, Greek) (2014 est.)
Languages / Languages: Georgian (official) 87.6%, Azeri 6.2%, Armenian 3.9%, Russian 1.2%, other 1% (including Abkhaz, the official language in Abkhazia) (2014 est.)
Languages / major-language sample(s): მსოფლიო ფაქტების წიგნი, ძირითადი ინფორმაციის აუცილებელი წყარო. (Georgian) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
Religions: Eastern Orthodox Christian (official) 83.4%, Muslim 10.7%, Armenian Apostolic Christian 2.9%, other 1.2% (includes Roman Catholic Christian, Jehovah's Witness, Yazidi, Protestant Christian, Jewish), none 0.5%, unspecified/no answer 1.2% (2014 est.)
Age structure / 0-14 years: 20.6% (male 520,091/female 489,882)
Age structure / 15-64 years: 62.7% (male 1,500,036/female 1,572,637)
Age structure / 65 years and over: 16.7% (2024 est.) (male 322,941/female 495,374)
Dependency ratios / total dependency ratio: 59.5 (2024 est.)
Dependency ratios / youth dependency ratio: 32.9 (2024 est.)
Dependency ratios / elderly dependency ratio: 26.6 (2024 est.)
Dependency ratios / potential support ratio: 3.8 (2024 est.)
Median age / total: 38.6 years (2025 est.)
Median age / male: 35.9 years
Median age / female: 40.6 years
Population growth rate: -0.45% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 11.74 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 12.89 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: -3.33 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution: settlement concentrated in the central valley, particularly in the capital city of Tbilisi in the east; smaller urban agglomerations dot the Black Sea coast, with Bat'umi being the largest
Urbanization / urban population: 60.7% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 0.35% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 1.082 million TBILISI (capital) (2023)
Sex ratio / at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 65 years and over: 0.65 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / total population: 0.92 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth: 25.9 years (2019 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio: 20 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Infant mortality rate / total: 20.9 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Infant mortality rate / male: 23.6 deaths/1,000 live births
Infant mortality rate / female: 19.7 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth / total population: 72.8 years (2024 est.)
Life expectancy at birth / male: 68.7 years
Life expectancy at birth / female: 77.2 years
Total fertility rate: 1.94 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 0.94 (2025 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: urban: urban: 99.2% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: rural: rural: 88.5% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: total: total: 95% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: urban: urban: 0.8% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: rural: rural: 11.5% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: total: total: 5% of population (2022 est.)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 7.4% of GDP (2022)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 10.5% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density: 5.64 physicians/1,000 population (2023)
Hospital bed density: 4.9 beds/1,000 population (2020 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: urban: urban: 96.6% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: rural: rural: 72.5% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: total: total: 87.1% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: urban: urban: 3.4% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: rural: rural: 27.5% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: total: total: 12.9% of population (2022 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 21.7% (2016)
Alcohol consumption per capita / total: 7.45 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / beer: 1.71 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / wine: 3.19 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / spirits: 2.52 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / other alcohols: 0.02 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Tobacco use / total: 28.7% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / male: 53.9% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / female: 7.5% (2025 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 2.1% (2018 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49): 65.3% (2018 est.)
Child marriage / women married by age 15: 0.3% (2018)
Child marriage / women married by age 18: 13.9% (2018)
Child marriage / men married by age 18: 0.5% (2018)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% GDP): 4% of GDP (2024 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% national budget): 12.2% national budget (2024 est.)
Literacy / total population: 99.7% (2024 est.)
Literacy / male: 99.8% (2024 est.)
Literacy / female: 99.6% (2024 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / total: 16 years (2023 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / male: 16 years (2023 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / female: 17 years (2023 est.)

## Environment
Environmental issues: air pollution, particularly in Rust'avi; heavy water pollution of Mtkvari River and the Black Sea; inadequate supplies of potable water; soil pollution from toxic chemicals; land and forest degradation; biodiversity loss; waste management
International environmental agreements / party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
International environmental agreements / signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Climate: warm and pleasant; Mediterranean-like on Black Sea coast
Land use / agricultural land: 34.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 4.4% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 1.8% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 27.9% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 44.6% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 21.2% (2023 est.)
Urbanization / urban population: 60.7% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 0.35% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / total emissions: 10.7 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from coal and metallurgical coke: 812,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from petroleum and other liquids: 4.469 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from consumed natural gas: 5.419 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Particulate matter emissions: 18.6 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Waste and recycling / municipal solid waste generated annually: 800,000 tons (2024 est.)
Waste and recycling / percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 19.6% (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / municipal: 504.96 million cubic meters (2022)
Total water withdrawal / industrial: 354.46 million cubic meters (2022)
Total water withdrawal / agricultural: 433.96 million cubic meters (2022)
Total renewable water resources: 63.33 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: none
Country name / conventional short form: Georgia
Country name / local long form: Republic of Georgia
Country name / local short form: Sak'art'velo
Country name / former: Georgian Soviet Socialist Republic
Country name / etymology: the Western name probably derives from the name of the local people, the Gurz, whose name origin is uncertain; the native name "Sak'art'velo" means "Land of the Kartvelians" and refers to the core central Georgian region of Kartli
Government type: semi-presidential republic
Capital / name: Tbilisi
Capital / geographic coordinates: 41 41 N, 44 50 E
Capital / time difference: UTC+4 (9 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Capital / etymology: the name comes from the Georgian word tbili , meaning "warm" and referring to the hot sulfur springs in the area
Administrative divisions: 9 regions ( mkharebi , singular - mkhare ), 1 city ( kalaki ), and 2 autonomous republics ( avtomnoy respubliki , singular - avtom respublika ) regions: Guria, Imereti, Kakheti, Kvemo Kartli, Mtskheta Mtianeti, Racha-Lechkhumi and Kvemo Svaneti, Samegrelo and Zemo Svaneti, Samtskhe-Javakheti, Shida Kartli; note - the breakaway region of South Ossetia consists of the northern part of Shida Kartli, eastern slivers of the Imereti region and Racha-Lechkhumi and Kvemo Svaneti, and part of western Mtskheta-Mtianeti city: Tbilisi autonomous republics: Abkhazia or Ap'khazet'is Avtonomiuri Respublika (Sokhumi), Ajaria or Acharis Avtonomiuri Respublika (Bat'umi)
Legal system: civil law system
Constitution / history: previous 1921, 1978 (based on 1977 Soviet Union constitution); latest approved 24 August 1995, effective 17 October 1995
Constitution / amendment process: proposed as a draft law supported by more than one half of the Parliament membership or by petition of at least 200,000 voters; passage requires support by at least three fourths of the Parliament membership in two successive sessions three months apart and the signature and promulgation by the president of Georgia
International law organization participation: accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Citizenship / citizenship by birth: no
Citizenship / citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Georgia
Citizenship / dual citizenship recognized: no
Citizenship / residency requirement for naturalization: 10 years
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch / chief of state: President Mikheil KAVELASHVILI (since 29 December 2024)
Executive branch / head of government: Prime Minister Irakli KOBAKHIDZE (since 8 February 2024)
Executive branch / cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers
Executive branch / election/appointment process: president elected by a 300-member College of Electors; prime minister nominated by Parliament, appointed by the president
Executive branch / most recent election date: 14 December 2024
Executive branch / election results: 2024: Mikheil KAVELASHVILI (Georgian Dream Party) was formally inaugurated on 29 December 2024 2024: Irakli KOBAKHIDZE approved as prime minister by Parliamentary vote 84-10 2018: Salome ZOURABICHVILI elected president in second round; percent of vote in second round - Salome ZOURABICHVILI (independent, backed by Georgian Dream) 59.5%, Grigol VASHADZE (UNM) 40.5%; Irakli GARIBASHVILI approved as prime minister by Parliamentary vote 89-2
Executive branch / expected date of next election: 2029
Legislative branch / legislature name: Parliament (Sakartvelos Parlamenti)
Legislative branch / legislative structure: unicameral
Legislative branch / number of seats: 150 (all directly elected)
Legislative branch / electoral system: proportional representation
Legislative branch / scope of elections: full renewal
Legislative branch / term in office: 4 years
Legislative branch / most recent election date: 10/26/2024
Legislative branch / parties elected and seats per party: Georgian Dream (89); Coalition for Changes (19); Unity - National Movement (16); Strong Georgia – Lelo, For people, For Liberty! (14); For Georgia (12)
Legislative branch / percentage of women in chamber: 16.8%
Legislative branch / expected date of next election: October 2028
Judicial branch / highest court(s): Supreme Court (consists of 28 judges organized into several specialized judicial chambers; number of judges determined by the president of Georgia); Constitutional Court (consists of 9 judges)
Judicial branch / judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court judges nominated by the High Council of Justice (a 14-member body consisting of the Supreme Court chairperson, common court judges, and appointees of the president of Georgia) and appointed by Parliament; judges appointed for life; Constitutional Court judges appointed 3 each by the president, by Parliament, and by the Supreme Court judges; judges appointed for 10-year terms
Judicial branch / subordinate courts: Courts of Appeal; regional (town) and district courts
Political parties: Ahali Citizens Conservative Party Droa European Georgia - Movement for Liberty For Georgia For the People Freedom Square Georgian Dream Girchi - More Freedom Law and Justice Lelo for Georgia National Democratic Party People's Power Progress and Freedom Republican Party State for the People Strategy Aghmashenebeli United National Movement or UNM
Diplomatic representation in the US / chief of mission: Ambassador Tamar TALIASHVILI (since 24 July 2025)
Diplomatic representation in the US / chancery: 1824 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
Diplomatic representation in the US / telephone: [1] (202) 387-2390
Diplomatic representation in the US / FAX: [1] (202) 387-0864
Diplomatic representation in the US / email address and website: embgeo.usa@mfa.gov.ge https://georgiaembassyusa.org/contact/
Diplomatic representation in the US / consulate(s) general: New York, San Francisco
Diplomatic representation from the US / chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charg&eacute; d&rsquo;Affaires Alan S. PURCELL (since 16 July 2025)
Diplomatic representation from the US / embassy: 29 Georgian-American Friendship Avenue, Didi Dighomi, Tbilisi, 0131
Diplomatic representation from the US / mailing address: 7060 Tbilisi Place, Washington, DC 20521-7060
Diplomatic representation from the US / telephone: [995] (32) 227-70-00
Diplomatic representation from the US / FAX: [995] (32) 253-23-10
Diplomatic representation from the US / email address and website: askconsultbilisi@state.gov https://ge.usembassy.gov/
International organization participation: ADB, BSEC, CD, CE, CPLP (associate), EAPC, EBRD, FAO, G-11, GCTU, GUAM, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, OAS (observer), OIF (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PFP, SELEC (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Independence: 9 April 1991 (from the Soviet Union); notable earlier date: A.D. 1008 (Georgia unified under King BAGRAT III)
National holiday: Independence Day, 26 May (1918)
Flag: description: 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 (also known as Bolnisi cross), which has equal-length arms that are slightly wider at the end than in the center history: sometimes referred to as the Five-Cross Flag, the design is based on a 14th-century banner of the Kingdom of Georgia
National symbol(s): Saint George, lion
National color(s): red, white
National anthem(s) / title: "Tavisupleba" (Liberty)
National anthem(s) / lyrics/music: Davit MAGRADSE/Zakaria PALIASHVILI (adapted by Joseb KETSCHAKMADSE)
National anthem(s) / history: adopted 2004, after the Rose Revolution; based on music from the operas "Abesalom da Eteri" and "Daisi"
National heritage / total World Heritage Sites: 4 (3 cultural, 1 natural)
National heritage / selected World Heritage Site locales: Gelati Monastery (c); Historical Monuments of Mtskheta (c); Upper Svaneti (c); Colchic Rainforests and Wetlands (n)

## Economy
Economic overview: upper-middle income, fast-growing South Caucasus economy; regionally focused exporter of cars, metal ores, and energy; financial and migrant inflows resulting from Ukraine conflict; EU accession talks suspended over disputed election and foreign influence law; low inflation but persistent high unemployment
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $91.849 billion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $83.935 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $77.838 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2024: 9.4% (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2023: 7.8% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2022: 11% (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2024: $25,000 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2023: $22,600 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2022: $21,000 (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $33.776 billion (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024: 1.1% (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023: 2.5% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 11.9% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / agriculture: 5.4% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / industry: 19.1% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / services: 62.8% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / household consumption: 71.3% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / government consumption: 13.4% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in fixed capital: 22% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in inventories: 0.8% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / exports of goods and services: 48.4% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / imports of goods and services: -56% (2024 est.)
Agricultural products: milk, grapes, potatoes, maize, wheat, tangerines/mandarins, tomatoes, barley, apples, eggs (2023)
Industries: steel, machine tools, electrical appliances, mining (manganese, copper, gold), chemicals, wood products, wine
Industrial production growth rate: 5.4% (2024 est.)
Labor force: 1.833 million (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2024: 11.5% (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2023: 11.6% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2022: 11.7% (2022 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / total: 29.9% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / male: 28.4% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / female: 32.4% (2024 est.)
Population below poverty line: 11.8% (2023 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income / Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2023: 34.8 (2023 est.)
Average household expenditures / on food: 39% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Average household expenditures / on alcohol and tobacco: 3.8% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / lowest 10%: 2.7% (2023 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / highest 10%: 26.9% (2023 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2024: 11.8% of GDP (2024 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2023: 13.7% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2022: 15.4% of GDP (2022 est.)
Budget / revenues: $8.686 billion (2023 est.)
Budget / expenditures: $9.307 billion (2023 est.)
Public debt / Public debt 2023: 43.4% of GDP (2023 est.)
Taxes and other revenues: 23.6% (of GDP) (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2024: -$1.491 billion (2024 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2023: -$1.709 billion (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2022: -$1.105 billion (2022 est.)
Exports / Exports 2024: $16.321 billion (2024 est.)
Exports / Exports 2023: $15.173 billion (2023 est.)
Exports / Exports 2022: $13.24 billion (2022 est.)
Exports - partners: Azerbaijan 13%, Turkey 11%, Armenia 11%, Russia 10%, Kyrgyzstan 8% (2023)
Exports - commodities: cars, copper ore, electricity, garments, wine (2023)
Imports / Imports 2024: $18.915 billion (2024 est.)
Imports / Imports 2023: $17.816 billion (2023 est.)
Imports / Imports 2022: $15.665 billion (2022 est.)
Imports - partners: Turkey 16%, USA 13%, Russia 11%, China 8%, Germany 6% (2023)
Imports - commodities: cars, refined petroleum, packaged medicine, natural gas, garments (2023)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024: $4.447 billion (2024 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023: $5.002 billion (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $4.886 billion (2022 est.)
Debt - external / Debt - external 2023: $9.085 billion (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Currency: laris (GEL) per US dollar -
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2024: 2.721 (2024 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2023: 2.628 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2022: 2.916 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2021: 3.222 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2020: 3.109 (2020 est.)

## Energy
Electricity access / electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)
Electricity / installed generating capacity: 4.526 million kW (2023 est.)
Electricity / consumption: 12.569 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / exports: 4.913 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / imports: 4.234 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / transmission/distribution losses: 1.148 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / fossil fuels: 23.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / wind: 0.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / hydroelectricity: 75.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Coal / production: 148,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / consumption: 384,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / exports: 80 metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / imports: 223,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / proven reserves: 900.999 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum / total petroleum production: 300 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Petroleum / refined petroleum consumption: 34,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Petroleum / crude oil estimated reserves: 35 million barrels (2021 est.)
Natural gas / production: 10.77 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / consumption: 2.775 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / imports: 2.764 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / proven reserves: 8.495 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)
Energy consumption per capita / Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 56.076 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

## Communications
Telephones - fixed lines / total subscriptions: 278,000 (2023 est.)
Telephones - fixed lines / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 7 (2023 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / total subscriptions: 5.91 million (2023 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 156 (2022 est.)
Broadcast media: state-owned Georgian Public Broadcaster (GPB) includes Channel 1, Channel 2, and Adjara TV; independent commercial TV broadcasters include Imedi, Rustavi 2, Pirveli TV, Maestro, Kavkasia, Georgian Dream Studios (GDS), Obiektivi, Mtavari Arkhi, and TOK TV (Russian language); Tabula and Post TV are web-based TV outlets; Georgian Orthodox Church operates a satellite-based television station called Unanimity; 26 regional TV broadcasters; TV shifted to digital in 2015; several dozen private radio stations; GPB operates 2 radio stations (2019)
Internet country code: .ge
Internet users / percent of population: 82% (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / total: 1.1 million (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 29 (2023 est.)

## Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: 4L
Airports: 21 (2025)
Heliports: 4 (2025)
Railways / total: 1,363 km (2014)
Railways / narrow gauge: 37 km (2014) 0.912-m gauge (37 km electrified)
Railways / broad gauge: 1,326 km (2014) 1.520-m gauge (1,251 km electrified)
Merchant marine / total: 26 (2023)
Merchant marine / by type: general cargo 3, other 23
Ports / total ports: 3 (2024)
Ports / large: 0
Ports / medium: 0
Ports / small: 1
Ports / very small: 2
Ports / ports with oil terminals: 2
Ports / key ports: Batumi, Sokhumi, Supsa Marine Terminal

## Military and Security
Military and security forces: Georgian Defense Forces (GDF; aka Defense Forces of Georgia, DFG): Ground Forces, Air Force, Special Operations Forces, National Guard Ministry of Internal Affairs: Police, Border Police of Georgia, Coast Guard of Georgia (includes naval forces, which were merged with the Coast Guard in 2009) (2025)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2024: 1.7% of GDP (2024 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2023: 1.7% of GDP (2023 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2022: 1.6% of GDP (2022 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2021: 1.5% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2020: 1.6% of GDP (2020 est.)
Military and security service personnel strengths: the Georgia Defense Forces are authorized up to 37,000 personnel (2025)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the majority of the military's inventory consists of Soviet-era weapons and equipment, some of which has been upgraded; it has smaller quantities of mostly secondhand material from such countries as Israel, Poland, T&uuml;rkiye, and the US, as well as some domestically produced equipment; Georgia has a small defense industry which produces such items as small arms and light armored vehicles (2025)
Military service age and obligation: 18-35 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women; conscription was abolished in 2016, but reinstated in 2017 for men 18-27 years of age; conscript service obligation is up to 11 months depending on the assigned ministry, job specialty, and if the service is carried out in a combat unit (2025)
Military - note: the Defense Forces of Georgia (DFG) are responsible for protecting the independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity of the country; the DFG also provides units for multinational military operations abroad and supports the Border Police in border protection and civil authorities in counter-terrorist operations, if requested; it is focused primarily on Russia, which maintains military bases and troops in occupied Abkhazia and South Ossetia; a five-day conflict with Russian forces in 2008 resulted in the defeat and expulsion of Georgian forces from the breakaway regions Georgia is not a member of NATO but has had a relationship with the Alliance since 1992 and declared its aspiration to join in 2002; the military is working to make itself more compatible with NATO and has participated in multinational exercises and security operations abroad with NATO, such as Afghanistan, where it was one of the top non-NATO contributors, and Kosovo; the DFG has also contributed troops to EU and UN missions (2025)

## Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons / refugees: 31,791 (2024 est.)
Refugees and internally displaced persons / IDPs: 347,754 (2024 est.)
Refugees and internally displaced persons / stateless persons: 488 (2024 est.)

=== Kyrgyzstan ===

## Introduction
Background: Kyrgyzstan is a Central Asian country of incredible natural beauty and proud nomadic traditions. The Russian Empire annexed most of the territory of present-day Kyrgyzstan in 1876. The Kyrgyz staged a major revolt against the Tsarist Empire in 1916, during which almost one-sixth of the Kyrgyz population was killed. Kyrgyzstan became a Soviet republic in 1926 and achieved independence in 1991 when the USSR dissolved. Nationwide demonstrations in 2005 and 2010 resulted in the ouster of the country’s first two presidents, Askar AKAEV and Kurmanbek BAKIEV. Almazbek ATAMBAEV was sworn in as president in 2011. In 2017, ATAMBAEV became the first Kyrgyzstani president to serve a full term and respect constitutional term limits, voluntarily stepping down at the end of his mandate. Former prime minister and ruling Social-Democratic Party of Kyrgyzstan member Sooronbay JEENBEKOV replaced him after winning the 2017 presidential election, which was the most competitive in the country’s history despite reported cases of vote buying and abuse of public resources. In 2020, protests against parliamentary election results spread across Kyrgyzstan, leading to JEENBEKOV’s resignation and catapulting previously imprisoned Sadyr JAPAROV to acting president. In 2021, Kyrgyzstanis formally elected JAPAROV as president and approved a referendum to move Kyrgyzstan from a parliamentary to a presidential system. In 2021, Kyrgyzstanis voted in favor of constitutional changes that consolidated power in the presidency. Pro-government parties won a majority in the 2021 legislative elections. Continuing concerns for Kyrgyzstan include the trajectory of democratization, endemic corruption, tense regional relations, vulnerabilities due to climate change, border security vulnerabilities, and potential terrorist threats.

## Geography
Location: Central Asia, west of China, south of Kazakhstan
Geographic coordinates: 41 00 N, 75 00 E
Map references: Asia
Area / total: 199,951 sq km
Area / land: 191,801 sq km
Area / water: 8,150 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly smaller than South Dakota
Land boundaries / total: 4,573 km
Land boundaries / border countries: China 1,063 km; Kazakhstan 1,212 km; Tajikistan 984 km; Uzbekistan 1,314 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
Climate: dry continental to polar in high Tien Shan Mountains; subtropical in southwest (Fergana Valley); temperate in northern foothill zone
Terrain: peaks of the Tien Shan mountain range and associated valleys and basins encompass the entire country
Elevation / highest point: Jengish Chokusu (Pik Pobedy) 7,439 m
Elevation / lowest point: Kara-Daryya (Karadar'ya) 132 m
Elevation / mean elevation: 2,988 m
Natural resources: abundant hydropower; gold, rare earth metals; locally exploitable coal, oil, and natural gas; other deposits of nepheline, mercury, bismuth, lead, and zinc
Land use / agricultural land: 54% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 6.7% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 0.4% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 46.9% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 6.5% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 39.4% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land: 10,041 sq km (2022)
Major lakes (area sq km) / salt water lake(s): Ozero Issyk-Kul 6,240 sq km note - second largest saline lake after the Caspian Sea; second highest mountain lake after Lake Titicaca; it is an endorheic mountain basin; although surrounded by snow capped mountains it never freezes
Major rivers (by length in km): Syr Darya river source (shared with Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Kazakhstan [m]) - 3,078 km note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Major watersheds (area sq km) / Internal (endorheic basin) drainage: Tarim Basin (1,152,448 sq km), (Aral Sea basin) Amu Darya (534,739 sq km), Syr Darya (782,617 sq km)
Population distribution: the vast majority of Kyrgyzstanis live in rural areas; densest population settlement is to the north in and around the capital, Bishkek, followed by Osh in the west; the least densely populated area is the east, in the Tien Shan mountains
Natural hazards: major flooding during snow melt; prone to earthquakes
Geography - note: landlocked; entirely mountainous, dominated by the Tien Shan range; 94% of the country is 1,000 m above sea level with an average elevation of 2,750 m; many tall peaks, glaciers, and high-altitude lakes

## People and Society
Population / total: 6,219,751 (2025 est.)
Population / male: 3,043,940
Population / female: 3,175,811
Nationality / noun: Kyrgyzstani(s)
Nationality / adjective: Kyrgyzstani
Ethnic groups: Kyrgyz 73.8%, Uzbek 14.8%, Russian 5.1%, Dungan 1.1%, other 5.2% (includes Uyghur, Tajik, Turk, Kazakh, Tatar, Ukrainian, Korean, German) (2021 est.)
Languages / Languages: Kyrgyz (state language) 71.4%, Uzbek 14.4%, Russian (official language) 9%, other 5.2% (2009 est.)
Languages / major-language sample(s): Дүйнөлүк фактылар китеби, негизги маалыматтын маанилүү булагы. (Kyrgyz) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
Religions: Muslim 90% (majority Sunni), Christian 7% (Russian Orthodox 3%), other 3% (includes Jewish, Buddhist, Baha'i) (2017 est.)
Age structure / 0-14 years: 29.1% (male 922,086/female 873,245)
Age structure / 15-64 years: 64% (male 1,935,200/female 2,013,733)
Age structure / 65 years and over: 6.9% (2024 est.) (male 164,032/female 263,805)
Dependency ratios / total dependency ratio: 56 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / youth dependency ratio: 44.6 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / elderly dependency ratio: 11.4 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / potential support ratio: 8.8 (2025 est.)
Median age / total: 28.6 years (2025 est.)
Median age / male: 26.9 years
Median age / female: 29.8 years
Population growth rate: 0.75% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 18.26 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 5.99 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: -4.75 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution: the vast majority of Kyrgyzstanis live in rural areas; densest population settlement is to the north in and around the capital, Bishkek, followed by Osh in the west; the least densely populated area is the east, in the Tien Shan mountains
Urbanization / urban population: 37.8% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 2.05% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 1.105 million BISHKEK (capital) (2023)
Sex ratio / at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 65 years and over: 0.62 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth: 22.6 years (2019 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio: 42 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Infant mortality rate / total: 24 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Infant mortality rate / male: 28.6 deaths/1,000 live births
Infant mortality rate / female: 20.2 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth / total population: 72.9 years (2024 est.)
Life expectancy at birth / male: 68.9 years
Life expectancy at birth / female: 77.2 years
Total fertility rate: 2.43 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 1.18 (2025 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: urban: urban: 99.2% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: rural: rural: 85.8% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: total: total: 90.8% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: urban: urban: 0.8% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: rural: rural: 14.2% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: total: total: 9.2% of population (2022 est.)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 5.4% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 7.6% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density: 1.85 physicians/1,000 population (2023)
Hospital bed density: 4.2 beds/1,000 population (2021 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: urban: urban: 100% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: rural: rural: 100% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: total: total: 100% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: urban: urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: rural: rural: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: total: total: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 16.6% (2016)
Alcohol consumption per capita / total: 4.02 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / beer: 0.43 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / wine: 0.23 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / spirits: 3.35 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / other alcohols: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Tobacco use / total: 26% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / male: 50.7% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / female: 3.1% (2025 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 2.9% (2023 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49): 57.4% (2023 est.)
Child marriage / women married by age 15: 0.3% (2018)
Child marriage / women married by age 18: 12.9% (2018)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% GDP): 6.8% of GDP (2023 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% national budget): 19.6% national budget (2024 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / total: 13 years (2024 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / male: 12 years (2024 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / female: 13 years (2024 est.)

## Environment
Environmental issues: water pollution; increasing soil salinity from irrigation practices; air pollution due to vehicle traffic
International environmental agreements / party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
International environmental agreements / signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Climate: dry continental to polar in high Tien Shan Mountains; subtropical in southwest (Fergana Valley); temperate in northern foothill zone
Land use / agricultural land: 54% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 6.7% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 0.4% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 46.9% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 6.5% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 39.4% (2023 est.)
Urbanization / urban population: 37.8% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 2.05% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / total emissions: 11.389 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from coal and metallurgical coke: 6.301 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from petroleum and other liquids: 4.234 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from consumed natural gas: 854,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Particulate matter emissions: 40.9 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Waste and recycling / municipal solid waste generated annually: 1.113 million tons (2024 est.)
Waste and recycling / percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 14.6% (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / municipal: 224 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / industrial: 336 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / agricultural: 7.1 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total renewable water resources: 23.618 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: Kyrgyz Republic
Country name / conventional short form: Kyrgyzstan
Country name / local long form: Kyrgyz Respublikasy
Country name / local short form: Kyrgyzstan
Country name / etymology: named for the local Kyrgyz people, with "-stan" coming from the Persian word ostan , meaning "country;" the Kyrgyz name may derive from the Turkic root words kir , or "steppe," and gismek , "to wander;" the name is traditionally said to come from a combination of the Turkic words kyrg (forty) and - is (hundred), based on a tale about two tribes and the number of their tents
Government type: parliamentary republic
Capital / name: Bishkek
Capital / geographic coordinates: 42 52 N, 74 36 E
Capital / time difference: UTC+6 (11 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Capital / etymology: the meaning of the name is unknown; the city was founded in 1862 as a Russian settlement on the site of an Uzbek fortress named Bishkek; the Russian version of the name was Pishpek, and the original name only came back into use in 1991
Administrative divisions: 7 provinces ( oblustar , singular - oblus ) and 2 cities* ( shaarlar , singular - shaar ); Batken Oblusu, Bishkek Shaary*, Chuy Oblusu (Bishkek), Jalal-Abad Oblusu, Naryn Oblusu, Osh Oblusu, Osh Shaary*, Talas Oblusu, Ysyk-Kol Oblusu (Karakol)
Legal system: civil law system that includes features of French civil law and Russian Federation laws
Constitution / history: previous 1993, 2007, 2010; latest approved by referendum in 2021
Constitution / amendment process: proposed as a draft law by the majority of the Supreme Council membership or by petition of 300,000 voters; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote of the Council membership in each of at least three readings of the draft two months apart; the draft may be submitted to a referendum if approved by two thirds of the Council membership; adoption requires the signature of the president
International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt
Citizenship / citizenship by birth: no
Citizenship / citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Kyrgyzstan
Citizenship / dual citizenship recognized: yes, but only if a mutual treaty on dual citizenship is in force
Citizenship / residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch / chief of state: President Sadyr JAPAROV (since 28 January 2021)
Executive branch / head of government: Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers Adylbek KASYMALIYEV (since 18 December 2024)
Executive branch / cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the president
Executive branch / election/appointment process: president directly elected by absolute-majority popular vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a five-year term (eligible for a second term)
Executive branch / most recent election date: 10 January 2021
Executive branch / election results: 2021: Sadyr JAPAROV elected president in first round; percent of vote - Sadyr JAPAROV (Mekenchil) 79.2%, Adakhan MADUMAROV (United Kyrgyzstan) 6.8%, other 14% 2017: Sooronbay JEENBEKOV elected president; Sooronbay JEENBEKOV (Social Democratic Party of Kyrgyzstan) 54.7%, Omurbek BABANOV (independent) 33.8%, Adakhan MADUMAROV (United Kyrgyzstan) 6.6%, other 4.9%
Executive branch / expected date of next election: 2027
Legislative branch / legislature name: Supreme Council (Jogorku Kenesh)
Legislative branch / legislative structure: unicameral
Legislative branch / number of seats: 90 (all directly elected)
Legislative branch / electoral system: other systems
Legislative branch / scope of elections: full renewal
Legislative branch / term in office: 5 years
Legislative branch / most recent election date: 11/30/2025
Legislative branch / parties elected and seats per party: Ata-Jurt Kyrgyzstan (Fatherland) (15); Ishenim (Trust) (12); Yntymak (Harmony) (9); Alyans (Alliance) (7); Butun Kyrgyzstan (United) (6); Yiman Nuru (Ray of Faith) (5); Independents (34)
Legislative branch / percentage of women in chamber: 22.2%
Legislative branch / expected date of next election: November 2030
Judicial branch / highest court(s): Supreme Court (consists of 25 judges); Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme Court (consists of the chairperson, deputy chairperson, and 9 judges)
Judicial branch / judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court and Constitutional Court judges appointed by the Supreme Council on the recommendation of the president; Supreme Court judges serve for 10 years, Constitutional Court judges serve for 15 years; mandatory retirement at age 70 for judges of both courts
Judicial branch / subordinate courts: Higher Court of Arbitration; oblast (provincial) and city courts
Political parties: Afghan's Party Alliance Cohesion Fatherland Kyrgyzstan Ishenim Light of Faith Mekenchil Social Democrats or SDK United Kyrgyzstan
Diplomatic representation in the US / chief of mission: Ambassador Aibek MOLDOGAZIEV (since 11 June 2025)
Diplomatic representation in the US / chancery: 2360 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation in the US / telephone: [1] (202) 449-9822
Diplomatic representation in the US / FAX: [1] (202) 449-8275
Diplomatic representation in the US / email address and website: kgembassy.usa@mfa.gov.kg Embassy of the Kyrgyz Republic in the USA and Canada (mfa.gov.kg)
Diplomatic representation from the US / chief of mission: Ambassador Lesslie VIGUERIE (since 29 December 2022)
Diplomatic representation from the US / embassy: 171 Prospect Mira, Bishkek 720016
Diplomatic representation from the US / mailing address: 7040 Bishkek Place, Washington DC 20521-7040
Diplomatic representation from the US / telephone: [996] (312) 597-000
Diplomatic representation from the US / FAX: [996] (312) 597-744
Diplomatic representation from the US / email address and website: ConsularBishkek@state.gov https://kg.usembassy.gov/
International organization participation: ADB, CICA, CIS, CSTO, EAEU, EAPC, EBRD, ECO, EITI (compliant country), FAO, GCTU, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, MIGA, NAM (observer), OIC, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, SCO, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNISFA, UNMIL, UNMISS, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Independence: 31 August 1991 (from the Soviet Union)
National holiday: Independence Day, 31 August (1991)
Flag: description: red field with a yellow sun in the center that has 40 rays that run counterclockwise on the front of the flag and clockwise on the reverse; in the center of the sun is a red ring crossed by two sets of three lines in a stylized representation of a tunduk, the circular opening at the top of a traditional Kyrgyz yurt meaning: the sun's rays represent the Kyrgyz tribes; red stands for bravery and valor, and the sun for peace and wealth
National symbol(s): white falcon
National color(s): red, yellow
National coat of arms: adopted in 1992, the coat of arms of Kyrgyzstan highlights two of its best-known geographic features, Issyk-Kul Lake and the Tien Shan mountain range; the falcon, the national symbol, stands for nobleness and purity, and light blue for courage and generosity; the word &ldquo;Kyrgyz&rdquo; appears at the top of the emblem, and &ldquo;Republic&rdquo; at the bottom; the wheat, cotton, and rising sun were symbols used during the Soviet era
National anthem(s) / title: "Kyrgyz Respublikasynyn Mamlekettik Gimni" (National Anthem of the Kyrgyz Republic)
National anthem(s) / lyrics/music: Djamil SADYKOV and Eshmambet KULUEV/Nasyr DAVLESOV and Kalyi MOLDOBASANOV
National anthem(s) / history: adopted 1992
National heritage / total World Heritage Sites: 3 (2 cultural, 1 natural)
National heritage / selected World Heritage Site locales: Sulaiman-Too Sacred Mountain (c); Silk Roads: the Chang'an-Tianshan Corridor (c); Western Tien Shan (n)

## Economy
Economic overview: landlocked, lower-middle-income Central Asian economy; natural resource rich; growing hydroelectricity and tourism; high remittances; corruption limits investment; COVID-19 and political turmoil hurt GDP, limited public revenues, and increased spending
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $50.907 billion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $46.686 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $42.826 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2024: 9% (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2023: 9% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2022: 9% (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2024: $7,000 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2023: $6,600 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2022: $6,100 (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $17.478 billion (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023: 10.8% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 13.9% (2022 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021: 11.9% (2021 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / agriculture: 8.6% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / industry: 24.7% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / services: 52.1% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / household consumption: 88.3% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / government consumption: 16% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in fixed capital: 22% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in inventories: 12.5% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / exports of goods and services: 36.9% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / imports of goods and services: -95.5% (2023 est.)
Agricultural products: milk, potatoes, maize, sugar beets, wheat, barley, tomatoes, onions, watermelons, carrots/turnips (2023)
Industries: small machinery, textiles, food processing, cement, shoes, lumber, refrigerators, furniture, electric motors, gold, rare earth metals
Industrial production growth rate: 9.4% (2024 est.)
Labor force: 3.197 million (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2024: 3.3% (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2023: 4% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2022: 4.1% (2022 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / total: 6.8% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / male: 6.3% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / female: 7.7% (2024 est.)
Population below poverty line: 33.3% (2021 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income / Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2022: 26.4 (2022 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / lowest 10%: 4.4% (2022 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / highest 10%: 22% (2022 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2023: 18.8% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2022: 26.6% of GDP (2022 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2021: 32.6% of GDP (2021 est.)
Budget / revenues: $4.84 billion (2023 est.)
Budget / expenditures: $4.452 billion (2023 est.)
Public debt / Public debt 2023: 40.5% of GDP (2023 est.)
Taxes and other revenues: 19.6% (of GDP) (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2022: -$5.18 billion (2022 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2021: -$737.696 million (2021 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2020: $374.257 million (2020 est.)
Exports / Exports 2022: $3.628 billion (2022 est.)
Exports / Exports 2021: $3.292 billion (2021 est.)
Exports / Exports 2020: $2.435 billion (2020 est.)
Exports - partners: Switzerland 30%, Russia 19%, Kazakhstan 14%, UAE 10%, Turkey 8% (2023)
Exports - commodities: gold, coal, precious metal ore, refined petroleum, garments (2023)
Imports / Imports 2022: $10.655 billion (2022 est.)
Imports / Imports 2021: $5.928 billion (2021 est.)
Imports / Imports 2020: $4.051 billion (2020 est.)
Imports - partners: China 44%, Russia 12%, Kazakhstan 6%, Turkey 6%, Uzbekistan 4% (2023)
Imports - commodities: cars, garments, refined petroleum, fabric, footwear (2023)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024: $5.089 billion (2024 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023: $3.237 billion (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $2.799 billion (2022 est.)
Debt - external / Debt - external 2023: $3.617 billion (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Currency: soms (KGS) per US dollar -
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2024: 87.15 (2024 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2023: 87.856 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2022: 84.116 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2021: 84.641 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2020: 77.346 (2020 est.)

## Energy
Electricity access / electrification - total population: 99.7% (2022 est.)
Electricity access / electrification - urban areas: 100%
Electricity access / electrification - rural areas: 99.6%
Electricity / installed generating capacity: 3.944 million kW (2023 est.)
Electricity / consumption: 14.872 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / exports: 428.01 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / imports: 3.929 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / transmission/distribution losses: 2.363 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / fossil fuels: 14.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / hydroelectricity: 85.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Coal / production: 3.685 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / consumption: 4.212 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / exports: 1.672 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / imports: 1.443 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / proven reserves: 28.499 billion metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum / total petroleum production: 6,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Petroleum / refined petroleum consumption: 31,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Petroleum / crude oil estimated reserves: 40 million barrels (2021 est.)
Natural gas / production: 28.638 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / consumption: 435.336 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / imports: 406.698 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / proven reserves: 5.663 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)
Energy consumption per capita / Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 27.58 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

## Communications
Telephones - fixed lines / total subscriptions: 185,000 (2023 est.)
Telephones - fixed lines / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 3 (2023 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / total subscriptions: 7.72 million (2024 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 107 (2024 est.)
Broadcast media: state-funded public TV broadcaster NTRK operates Ala-Too 24 news channel and 4 other educational, cultural, and sports channels; ELTR is a state-owned TV station; the switchover to digital TV in 2017 resulted in private TV station growth; approximately 20 TV stations are struggling to increase Kyrgyz-language content to 60% of airtime, as required by law, instead of rebroadcasting programs from Russian channels or airing unlicensed movies and music; several Russian TV stations also broadcast; state-funded radio stations and about 10 significant private radio stations (2023)
Internet country code: .kg
Internet users / percent of population: 89% (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / total: 456,000 (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 6 (2023 est.)

## Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: EX
Airports: 28 (2025)
Heliports: 1 (2025)
Railways / total: 424 km (2022)
Railways / broad gauge: 424 km (2018) 1.520-m gauge

## Military and Security
Military and security forces: Armed Forces of the Kyrgyz Republic: Land Forces (Kygyz Army), Air Defense Forces (Kyrgyz Air Force), National Guard of the Armed Forces of the Kyrgyz Republic Ministry of Internal Affairs: Internal Security Service State Committee for National Security: Border Guard Service (2025)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2024: 3% of GDP (2024 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2023: 3.5% of GDP (2023 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2022: 3% of GDP (2022 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2021: 2.8% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2020: 3% of GDP (2020 est.)
Military and security service personnel strengths: limited available information; estimated 10-15,000 active Armed Forces, including the National Guard (2025)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the Kyrgyz military inventory is comprised almost entirely of Russian and Soviet-era weapons and equipment; in recent years, the military has acquired small amounts of armaments from other suppliers such as T&uuml;rkiye, which provided unmanned aerial vehicles/drones (2025)
Military service age and obligation: 18-27 years of age for compulsory or voluntary service for men in the Armed Forces or Interior Ministry; 12-month service obligation (9 months for university graduates), with optional fee-based 3-year service in the call-up mobilization reserve; women may volunteer at age 19; 16-17 years of age for military cadets, who cannot take part in military operations (2025)
Military - note: the Kyrgyz military’s primary responsibility is defense of the country’s sovereignty and territory, although it also has some internal security duties; the military also participates in UN and Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) peacekeeping missions, as well as bilateral and multinational exercises; particular issues of concern include border security and terrorism; the military’s closest security partner is Russia, which provides training and material assistance, and maintains a presence in the country, including an airbase; the military also conducts training with other regional countries such as India, traditionally with a focus on counterterrorism Kyrgyzstan has been a member of CSTO since 1994 and contributes troops to CSTO's rapid reaction force; it also started a relationship with NATO in 1992 and joined NATO's Partnership for Peace program in 1994 (2025)

## Terrorism
Terrorist group(s): US-designated foreign terrorist groups such as the Islamic Jihad Union, the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan, and the Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham-Khorasan Province have operated in the area where the Uzbek, Kyrgyz, and Tajik borders converge and ill-defined and porous borders allow for the relatively free movement of people and illicit goods

## Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons / refugees: 25,413 (2024 est.)
Refugees and internally displaced persons / IDPs: 12 (2024 est.)
Refugees and internally displaced persons / stateless persons: 925 (2024 est.)
Trafficking in persons / tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List — the government did not demonstrate overall increasing efforts to eliminate trafficking compared with the previous reporting period, therefore Kyrgyzstan remained on Tier 2 Watch List for the second consecutive year; for more details, go to: https://www.state.gov/reports/2025-trafficking-in-persons-report/kyrgyz-republic/

=== Kazakhstan ===

## Introduction
Background: Ethnic Kazakhs derive from a mix of Turkic nomadic tribes that migrated to the region in the 15th century. The Russian Empire conquered the Kazakh steppe in the 18th and 19th centuries, and Kazakhstan became a Soviet Republic in 1925. Forced agricultural collectivization led to repression and starvation, resulting in more than a million deaths in the early 1930s. During the 1950s and 1960s, the agricultural "Virgin Lands" program generated an influx of settlers -- mostly ethnic Russians, but also other nationalities -- and by the time of Kazakhstan’s independence in 1991, ethnic Kazakhs were a minority. However, non-Muslim ethnic minorities departed Kazakhstan in large numbers from the mid-1990s through the mid-2000s, and a national program has repatriated about a million ethnic Kazakhs (from Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Mongolia, and the Xinjiang region of China) to Kazakhstan. As a result of this shift, the ethnic Kazakh share of the population now exceeds two-thirds. Kazakhstan's economy is the largest in Central Asia, mainly due to the country's vast natural resources. Current issues include diversifying the economy, attracting foreign direct investment, enhancing Kazakhstan's economic competitiveness, and strengthening economic relations with neighboring states and foreign powers.

## Geography
Location: Central Asia, northwest of China; a small portion west of the Ural (Oral) River in easternmost Europe
Geographic coordinates: 48 00 N, 68 00 E
Map references: Asia
Area / total: 2,724,900 sq km
Area / land: 2,699,700 sq km
Area / water: 25,200 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly less than four times the size of Texas
Land boundaries / total: 13,364 km
Land boundaries / border countries: China 1,765 km; Kyrgyzstan 1,212 km; Russia 7,644 km; Turkmenistan 413 km; Uzbekistan 2,330 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
Climate: continental, cold winters and hot summers, arid and semiarid
Terrain: vast flat steppe extending from the Volga in the west to the Altai Mountains in the east and from the plains of western Siberia in the north to oases and deserts of Central Asia in the south
Elevation / highest point: Pik Khan-Tengri 7,010 m note - the northern most 7,000 meter peak in the World
Elevation / lowest point: Qauyndy Oyysy -132 m
Elevation / mean elevation: 387 m
Natural resources: major deposits of petroleum, natural gas, coal, iron ore, manganese, chrome ore, nickel, cobalt, copper, molybdenum, lead, zinc, bauxite, gold, uranium
Land use / agricultural land: 79.4% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 11% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 0% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 68.3% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 1.3% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 19.3% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land: 17,794 sq km (2022)
Major lakes (area sq km) / fresh water lake(s): Ozero Balkhash - 22,000 sq km; Ozero Zaysan - 1,800 sq km
Major lakes (area sq km) / salt water lake(s): Caspian Sea (shared with Iran, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, and Russia) - 374,000 sq km; Aral Sea (north) - 3,300 sq km; Ozero Alakol - 2,650 sq km; Ozero Teniz 1,590 sq km; Ozero Seletytenzi - 780 sq km; Ozero Sasykkol - 740 sq km
Major rivers (by length in km): Syr Darya river mouth (shared with Kyrgyzstan [s], Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan) - 3,078 km note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Major watersheds (area sq km) / Internal (endorheic basin) drainage: Tarim Basin (1,152,448 sq km), Amu Darya (534,739 sq km), Syr Darya (782,617 sq km), Lake Balkash (510,015 sq km)
Population distribution: most of the country displays a low population density, particularly the interior; population clusters appear in urban agglomerations in the far northern and southern portions of the country
Natural hazards: earthquakes in the south; mudslides around Almaty
Geography - note: world's largest landlocked country and one of only two landlocked countries in the world that extends into two continents (the other is Azerbaijan); Russia leases approximately 6,000 sq km (2,317 sq mi) of territory enclosing the Baikonur Cosmodrome

## People and Society
Population / total: 20,432,662 (2025 est.)
Population / male: 9,902,303
Population / female: 10,530,359
Nationality / noun: Kazakhstani(s)
Nationality / adjective: Kazakhstani
Ethnic groups: Kazakh 71%, Russian 14.9%, Uzbek 3.3%, Ukrainian 1.9%, Uyghurs 1.5%, German 1.1%, Tatar 1.1%, other 4.9%, unspecified 0.3% (2023 est.)
Languages / Languages: Kazakh (official, Qazaq) 80.1%, Russian 83.7%, English 35.1% (2021 est.)
Languages / major-language sample(s): Әлемдік деректер кітабы, негізгі ақпараттың таптырмайтын көзі. (Kazakh) Книга фактов о мире – незаменимый источник базовой информации. (Russian) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
Religions: Muslim 69.3%, Christian 17.2% (Orthodox 17%, other 0.2%), Buddhism 0.1%, other 0.1%, non-believers 2.3%, unspecified 11% (2021 est.)
Age structure / 0-14 years: 27.6% (male 2,883,200/female 2,712,772)
Age structure / 15-64 years: 62.8% (male 6,233,881/female 6,486,019)
Age structure / 65 years and over: 9.6% (2024 est.) (male 700,091/female 1,244,043)
Dependency ratios / total dependency ratio: 59.4 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / youth dependency ratio: 43.6 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / elderly dependency ratio: 15.8 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / potential support ratio: 6.3 (2025 est.)
Median age / total: 32.1 years (2025 est.)
Median age / male: 30 years
Median age / female: 33.8 years
Population growth rate: 0.83% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 16.83 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 8.1 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: -0.4 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution: most of the country displays a low population density, particularly the interior; population clusters appear in urban agglomerations in the far northern and southern portions of the country
Urbanization / urban population: 58.2% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 1.19% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 1.987 million Almaty, 1.291 million NUR-SULTAN (capital), 1.155 million Shimkent (2023)
Sex ratio / at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 65 years and over: 0.56 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth: 28.9 years (2019 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio: 10 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Infant mortality rate / total: 7.9 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Infant mortality rate / male: 8.9 deaths/1,000 live births
Infant mortality rate / female: 7 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth / total population: 73.3 years (2024 est.)
Life expectancy at birth / male: 69 years
Life expectancy at birth / female: 77.9 years
Total fertility rate: 2.57 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 1.24 (2025 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: urban: urban: 98% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: urban: urban: 2% of population (2022 est.)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 3.9% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 10.6% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density: 3.75 physicians/1,000 population (2023)
Hospital bed density: 6.7 beds/1,000 population (2020 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: urban: urban: 99.9% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: rural: rural: 99.9% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: total: total: 99.9% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: urban: urban: 0.1% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: rural: rural: 0.1% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: total: total: 0.1% of population (2022 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 21% (2016)
Alcohol consumption per capita / total: 3.73 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / beer: 2.52 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / wine: 0.16 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / spirits: 1.05 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / other alcohols: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Tobacco use / total: 20.1% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / male: 35.7% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / female: 6.3% (2025 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49): 63.8% (2021 est.)
Child marriage / women married by age 15: 0.2% (2015)
Child marriage / women married by age 18: 7% (2015)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% GDP): 4.8% of GDP (2023 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% national budget): 22% national budget (2024 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / total: 14 years (2024 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / male: 14 years (2024 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / female: 14 years (2024 est.)

## Environment
Environmental issues: radioactive or toxic chemical sites from former defense industries; severe industrial pollution in some cities; air and soil pollution (including dust storms) from chemical pesticides and natural salts left after two rivers were diverted; soil pollution from overuse of agricultural chemicals; salination from infrastructure and irrigation practices; water pollution; desertification
International environmental agreements / party to: Air Pollution, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
International environmental agreements / signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Climate: continental, cold winters and hot summers, arid and semiarid
Land use / agricultural land: 79.4% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 11% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 0% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 68.3% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 1.3% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 19.3% (2023 est.)
Urbanization / urban population: 58.2% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 1.19% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / total emissions: 269.83 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from coal and metallurgical coke: 175.848 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from petroleum and other liquids: 50.387 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from consumed natural gas: 43.596 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Particulate matter emissions: 38.4 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Methane emissions / energy: 1,903.1 kt (2022-2024 est.)
Methane emissions / agriculture: 781.2 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Methane emissions / waste: 184.1 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Methane emissions / other: 17.7 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Waste and recycling / municipal solid waste generated annually: 4.66 million tons (2024 est.)
Waste and recycling / percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 3.8% (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / municipal: 4.877 billion cubic meters (2022)
Total water withdrawal / industrial: 5.995 billion cubic meters (2022)
Total water withdrawal / agricultural: 14.264 billion cubic meters (2022)
Total renewable water resources: 108.41 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: Republic of Kazakhstan
Country name / conventional short form: Kazakhstan
Country name / local long form: Qazaqstan Respublikasy
Country name / local short form: Qazaqstan
Country name / former: Kazakh Soviet Socialist Republic
Country name / etymology: the name may derive from the Turkic word kazak, meaning "nomad;" the Persian suffix - stan means "place of" or "country"
Government type: presidential republic
Capital / name: Astana
Capital / geographic coordinates: 51 10 N, 71 25 E
Capital / time difference: UTC+5 (10 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Capital / time zone note: On 1 March 2024, Kazakhstan moved from using two time zones to one
Capital / etymology: the name means "capital city" in Kazakh
Administrative divisions: 17 provinces ( oblystar , singular - oblys ) and 4 cities* ( qalalar , singular - qala ); Abay (Semey), Almaty (Qonaev), Almaty*, Aqmola (Kokshetau), Aqtobe, Astana*, Atyrau, Batys Qazaqstan [West Kazakhstan] (Oral), Bayqongyr*, Mangghystau (Aqtau), Pavlodar, Qaraghandy, Qostanay, Qyzylorda, Shyghys Qazaqstan [East Kazakhstan] (Oskemen), Shymkent*, Soltustik Qazaqstan [North Kazakhstan] (Petropavl), Turkistan, Ulytau (Zhezqazghan), Zhambyl (Taraz), Zhetisu (Taldyqorghan)
Legal system: civil law system influenced by Roman-Germanic law and by the theory and practice of the Russian Federation
Constitution / history: previous 1937, 1978 (pre-independence), 1993; latest approved by referendum 30 August 1995, effective 5 September 1995
Constitution / amendment process: introduced by a referendum initiated by the president of the republic, on the recommendation of Parliament, or by the government; the president has the option of submitting draft amendments to Parliament or directly to a referendum; passage of amendments by Parliament requires four-fifths majority vote of both houses and the signature of the president; passage by referendum requires absolute majority vote by more than one half of the voters in at least two thirds of the oblasts, major cities, and the capital, followed by the signature of the president
International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt
Citizenship / citizenship by birth: no
Citizenship / citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Kazakhstan
Citizenship / dual citizenship recognized: no
Citizenship / residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch / chief of state: President Kasym-Zhomart TOKAYEV (since 20 March 2019)
Executive branch / head of government: Prime Minister Olzhas BEKTENOV (since 6 February 2024)
Executive branch / cabinet: the president appoints ministers based on the prime minister's recommendations; the president has veto power over all appointments and independently appoints the ministers of defense, internal affairs, and foreign affairs
Executive branch / election/appointment process: president directly elected by simple-majority popular vote for a single 7-year term (prior to September 2022, the president of Kazakhstan could serve up to two 5-year terms; legislation reduced it to one 7-year term); prime minister and deputy prime ministers appointed by the president, approved by the Mazhilis
Executive branch / most recent election date: 20 November 2022
Executive branch / election results: 2024: Olzhas BEKTENOV elected as prime minister; 69-0 in parliament 2022 : Kasym-Zhomart TOKAYEV reelected president; percent of vote - Kassym-Jomart TOKAYEV (Amanat) 81.3%, Zhiguli DAYRABAEV (Auyl) 3.4%, Qaraqat or Karakat ÄBDEN (KÄQŪA) 2.6%, Meyram KAZHYKEN (Amanat) 2.5%, Nurlan AUYESBAYEV (NSDP) 2.2%, Saltanat TURSYNBEKOVA (QA-DJ) 2.1%, other 5.8% 2019 : Kasym-Zhomart TOKAYEV elected president; percent of vote - Kasym-Zhomart TOKAYEV (Amanat) 71%, Amirzhan KOSANOV (Ult Tagdyry) 16.2%, Daniya YESPAYEVA (Ak Zhol) 5.1%, other 7.7%
Executive branch / expected date of next election: 2029
Legislative branch / legislature name: Parliament (Parlament)
Legislative branch / legislative structure: bicameral
Legislative branch - lower chamber / chamber name: House of Representatives (Mazhilis)
Legislative branch - lower chamber / number of seats: 98 (all directly elected)
Legislative branch - lower chamber / electoral system: mixed system
Legislative branch - lower chamber / scope of elections: full renewal
Legislative branch - lower chamber / term in office: 5 years
Legislative branch - lower chamber / most recent election date: 3/19/2023
Legislative branch - lower chamber / parties elected and seats per party: Amanat party (62); Auyl party (8); Ak Zhol Democratic Party of Kazakhstan (6); Respublica (6); People's Party of Kazakhstan (5); Independents (7); Other (4)
Legislative branch - lower chamber / percentage of women in chamber: 18.4%
Legislative branch - lower chamber / expected date of next election: March 2028
Legislative branch - upper chamber / chamber name: Senate
Legislative branch - upper chamber / number of seats: 50 (40 indirectly elected; 10 appointed)
Legislative branch - upper chamber / scope of elections: partial renewal
Legislative branch - upper chamber / term in office: 6 years
Legislative branch - upper chamber / most recent election date: 1/14/2023
Legislative branch - upper chamber / percentage of women in chamber: 20%
Legislative branch - upper chamber / expected date of next election: January 2026
Judicial branch / highest court(s): Supreme Court of the Republic (consists of 44 members); Constitutional Council (consists of the chairperson and 6 members)
Judicial branch / judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court judges proposed by the president of the republic on recommendation of the Supreme Judicial Council and confirmed by the Senate; judges normally serve until age 65 but can be extended to age 70; Constitutional Council - the president of the republic, the Senate chairperson, and the Mazhilis chairperson each appoints 2 members for a 6-year term; chairperson of the Constitutional Council appointed by the president for a 6-year term
Judicial branch / subordinate courts: regional and local courts
Political parties: Ak Zhol Democratic Party or Ak Zhol Amanat formerly Nur Otan Auyl People's Democratic Patriotic Party or Auyl Green Party of Kazakhstan orBaytaq Nationwide Social Democratic Party or NSDP People's Party of Kazakhstan or PPK Respublica
Diplomatic representation in the US / chief of mission: Ambassador Magzhan ILYASSOV (since 16 December 2025)
Diplomatic representation in the US / chancery: 1401 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20036
Diplomatic representation in the US / telephone: [1] (202) 232-5488
Diplomatic representation in the US / FAX: [1] (202) 232-5845
Diplomatic representation in the US / email address and website: washington@mfa.kz https://www.gov.kz/memleket/entities/mfa-washington?lang=en
Diplomatic representation in the US / consulate(s) general: New York, San Francisco
Diplomatic representation from the US / chief of mission: Ambassador-designate Julie STUFFT; Charg&eacute; d'Affaires Deborah ROBINSON (since January 2025)
Diplomatic representation from the US / embassy: Rakhymzhan Koshkarbayev Avenue, No. 3, Astana 010010
Diplomatic representation from the US / mailing address: 2230 Astana Place, Washington DC 20521-2230
Diplomatic representation from the US / telephone: [7] (7172) 70-21-00
Diplomatic representation from the US / FAX: [7] (7172) 54-09-14
Diplomatic representation from the US / email address and website: USAKZ@state.gov https://kz.usembassy.gov/
Diplomatic representation from the US / consulate(s) general: Almaty
International organization participation: ADB, CICA, CIS, CSTO, EAEU, EAPC, EBRD, ECO, EITI (compliant country), FAO, GCTU, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, MIGA, MINURSO, NAM (observer), NSG, OAS (observer), OIC, OPCW, OSCE, PFP, SCO, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHRC, UNIDO, UNOOSA, UN Security Council (temporary), UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
Independence: 16 December 1991 (from the Soviet Union)
National holiday: Independence Day, 16 December (1991)
Flag: description: a gold sun with 32 rays above a soaring golden steppe eagle, both centered on a sky-blue background; the left side displays a national pattern called koshkar-muiz (the horns of the ram) in gold meaning: the blue color has religious significance for the Turkic peoples and symbolizes cultural and ethnic unity, as well as sky and water; the sun stands for wealth and plenitude, with rays shaped like grain; the eagle has appeared on Kazakh tribal flags for centuries and represents freedom, power, and the flight to the future
National symbol(s): golden eagle
National color(s): blue, yellow
National coat of arms: winning design from a competition held in 1992; the design uses the national colors of yellow and blue, with blue standing for the hope for unity, peace, and friendship with all people and gold for a clear future for the country’s population; a shanyrak (the upper dome-like portion of a yurt) represents familial well-being, peace, and calmness, with the circular shape standing for life and eternity; the winged horses, or tulpars , protect the shanyrak and symbolize bravery, prosperity, and inspiration
National anthem(s) / title: "Menin Qazaqstanim" (My Kazakhstan)
National anthem(s) / lyrics/music: Zhumeken NAZHIMEDENOV and Nursultan NAZARBAYEV/Shamshi KALDAYAKOV
National anthem(s) / history: adopted 2006; President Nursultan NAZARBAYEV played a role in revising the lyrics
National heritage / total World Heritage Sites: 6 (3 cultural, 3 natural)
National heritage / selected World Heritage Site locales: Mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi (c); Petroglyphs at Tanbaly (c); Saryarka - Steppe and Lakes of Northern Kazakhstan (n); Silk Roads: the Chang'an-Tianshan Corridor (c); Western Tien-Shan (n); Cold Winter Deserts of Turan (n)

## Economy
Economic overview: upper-middle-income Central Asian economy; robust growth due to rising oil production, expansion in manufacturing and services, rising domestic demand, and infrastructure investments; however, rapid growth contributing to high inflation rate; declining unemployment and poverty rates
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $739.385 billion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $705.52 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $671.285 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2024: 4.8% (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2023: 5.1% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2022: 3.2% (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2024: $35,900 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2023: $34,700 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2022: $33,500 (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $288.406 billion (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024: 8.8% (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023: 14.7% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 15% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / agriculture: 3.9% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / industry: 31.4% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / services: 58.2% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / household consumption: 51.4% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / government consumption: 11.1% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in fixed capital: 26.5% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in inventories: 3.3% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / exports of goods and services: 34.5% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / imports of goods and services: -27.5% (2023 est.)
Agricultural products: wheat, milk, barley, potatoes, watermelons, cantaloupes/melons, sunflower seeds, maize, onions, tomatoes (2023)
Industries: oil, coal, iron ore, manganese, chromite, lead, zinc, copper, titanium, bauxite, gold, silver, phosphates, sulfur, uranium, iron and steel; tractors and other agricultural machinery, electric motors, construction materials
Industrial production growth rate: 6.6% (2024 est.)
Labor force: 10.285 million (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2024: 4.8% (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2023: 4.9% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2022: 4.9% (2022 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / total: 3.8% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / male: 3% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / female: 4.8% (2024 est.)
Population below poverty line: 5.2% (2023 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income / Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2021: 29.2 (2021 est.)
Average household expenditures / on food: 50.4% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Average household expenditures / on alcohol and tobacco: 2.2% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / lowest 10%: 4.3% (2021 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / highest 10%: 24.8% (2021 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2024: 0.1% of GDP (2024 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2023: 0.1% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2022: 0.2% of GDP (2022 est.)
Budget / revenues: $44.25 billion (2023 est.)
Budget / expenditures: $47.247 billion (2023 est.)
Public debt / Public debt 2023: 20.9% of GDP (2023 est.)
Taxes and other revenues: 11.9% (of GDP) (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2024: -$3.702 billion (2024 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2023: -$9.448 billion (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2022: $6.436 billion (2022 est.)
Exports / Exports 2024: $91.908 billion (2024 est.)
Exports / Exports 2023: $90.926 billion (2023 est.)
Exports / Exports 2022: $93.822 billion (2022 est.)
Exports - partners: China 16%, UK 15%, Russia 10%, Turkey 6%, Italy 5% (2023)
Exports - commodities: crude petroleum, gold, radioactive chemicals, refined copper, copper ore (2023)
Imports / Imports 2024: $74.246 billion (2024 est.)
Imports / Imports 2023: $72.723 billion (2023 est.)
Imports / Imports 2022: $60.439 billion (2022 est.)
Imports - partners: China 28%, Russia 24%, Gambia, The 4%, Turkey 4%, USA 4% (2023)
Imports - commodities: garments, cars, broadcasting equipment, vehicle bodies, packaged medicine (2023)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024: $45.808 billion (2024 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023: $35.965 billion (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $35.076 billion (2022 est.)
Debt - external / Debt - external 2023: $25.765 billion (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Currency: tenge (KZT) per US dollar -
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2024: 468.962 (2024 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2023: 456.165 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2022: 460.165 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2021: 425.908 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2020: 412.953 (2020 est.)

## Energy
Electricity access / electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)
Electricity / installed generating capacity: 27.624 million kW (2023 est.)
Electricity / consumption: 106.201 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / exports: 2.243 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / imports: 3.694 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / transmission/distribution losses: 9.439 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / fossil fuels: 87.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / solar: 1.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / wind: 2.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / hydroelectricity: 8.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Nuclear energy / Number of nuclear reactors permanently shut down: 1 (2025)
Coal / production: 120.279 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / consumption: 86.349 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / exports: 34.043 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / imports: 114,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / proven reserves: 25.605 billion metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum / total petroleum production: 1.955 million bbl/day (2023 est.)
Petroleum / refined petroleum consumption: 386,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Petroleum / crude oil estimated reserves: 30 billion barrels (2021 est.)
Natural gas / production: 28.769 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / consumption: 22.223 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / exports: 7.071 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / imports: 408.952 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / proven reserves: 2.407 trillion cubic meters (2021 est.)
Energy consumption per capita / Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 172.936 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

## Communications
Telephones - fixed lines / total subscriptions: 2.574 million (2023 est.)
Telephones - fixed lines / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 13 (2023 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / total subscriptions: 26.2 million (2024 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 127 (2024 est.)
Broadcast media: the state owns nearly all radio and TV transmission facilities and operates national TV and radio networks; there are 96 TV channels, and 4 state-run radio stations; some former state-owned media outlets have been privatized; households with satellite dishes have access to foreign media; small number of commercial radio stations; all media outlets have to register with the government (2018)
Internet country code: .kz
Internet users / percent of population: 93% (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / total: 3.59 million (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 18 (2023 est.)

## Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: UP
Airports: 132 (2025)
Heliports: 32 (2025)
Railways / total: 16,636 km (2021)
Railways / broad gauge: 16,636 km (2021) 1.520-m gauge (4,237 km electrified)
Merchant marine / total: 122 (2023)
Merchant marine / by type: general cargo 3, oil tanker 7, other 112

## Military and Security
Military and security forces: Armed Forces of the Republic of Kazakhstan: Land Forces (Army of Kazakhstan), Naval Forces, Air and Air Defense Forces Ministry of Internal Affairs: National Police, National Guard Committee for National Security (KNB): Border Guard Service (2025)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2024: 0.9% of GDP (2024 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2023: 1% of GDP (2023 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2022: 0.9% of GDP (2022 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2021: 1% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2020: 1.1% of GDP (2020 est.)
Military and security service personnel strengths: available information varies widely; estimated 50,000 active Armed Forces; estimated 30,000 National Guard (2025)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the Kazakh military's inventory is comprised mostly of Russian and Soviet-era equipment; in recent years, it has sought to diversify to suppliers such as China, France, Israel, South Korea, and T&uuml;rkiye; Kazakhstan has a defense industry capable of assembling or producing such items as naval vessels, combat vehicles, helicopters, and radar systems (2025)
Military service age and obligation: men 18-27 are subject to conscription for 12-24 months; conscripts may be assigned to the Armed Forces, the National Guard, the Border Service, the State Security Service, or the Ministry of Emergency Situations; women may volunteer (2025)
Military - note: the military’s principal responsibilities are territorial defense while the National Police, National Guard, Committee for National Security, and Border Service have primary responsibility for internal security, although the military may provide assistance if required; the military also participates in humanitarian and peacekeeping operations, as well as regional exercises; in recent years, Kazakhstan has placed greater emphasis on regional military partnerships and equipment modernization and diversification in order to reduce reliance on Russia, its traditional security partner; other efforts to enhance the country’s security sector have included boosting the capabilities of the National Guard and improving military professionalism Kazakhstan has been a member of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) since 1994 and has obligated troops to CSTO's rapid reaction force; it also has had a relationship with NATO since 1992 focused on democratic, institutional, and defense reforms (2025)

## Space
Space agency/agencies: Aerospace Committee of the Kazakh Digital Development, Innovations and Aerospace Industry Ministry (aka National Space Agency of the Republic of Kazakhstan or KazCosmos; established 2007) (2025)
Space launch site(s): Baikonur Cosmodrome/Space Center (Baikonur) (2025)
Space program overview: space program originated with the former Soviet Union; focuses on satellite acquisition and operation; builds (with foreign assistance) and operates communications, remote sensing (RS), and scientific satellites; building space infrastructure, such as launch and testing facilities, ground stations, and rocket manufacturing; has an astronaut (cosmonaut) program; has relations with a variety of foreign space agencies and industries, including those of China, France, Germany, India, Israel, Italy, Japan, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Sweden, Thailand, Turkey, Ukraine, UAE, and the UK; participates in international programs such as the International Space Station; has state-owned and private companies that assist with the country&rsquo;s space program and work closely with foreign commercial entities (2025)
Key space-program milestones: 1991 - first Kazakh in space on the last Soviet Soyuz mission 2006 - first communications satellite (KazSat-1) built jointly with Italy and launched by Russia 2014 - first remote sensing satellite (KazEOSat-1) built by France and launched on European rocket 2024 - joined China-led lunar base project

## Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons / refugees: 66,152 (2024 est.)
Refugees and internally displaced persons / IDPs: 0 (2024 est.)
Refugees and internally displaced persons / stateless persons: 7,865 (2024 est.)

=== Russia ===

## Introduction
Background: Founded in the 12th century, the Principality of Muscovy emerged from over 200 years of Mongol domination (13th-15th centuries) and gradually conquered and absorbed surrounding principalities. In the early 17th century, a new ROMANOV dynasty continued this policy of expansion across Siberia to the Pacific. Under PETER I (1682-1725), hegemony was extended to the Baltic Sea and the country was renamed the Russian Empire. During the 19th century, more territorial acquisitions were made in Europe and Asia. Defeat in the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-05 contributed to the Revolution of 1905, which resulted in the formation of a parliament and other reforms. Devastating defeats and food shortages in World War I led to widespread rioting in the major cities of the Russian Empire and to the overthrow of the ROMANOV Dynasty in 1917. The communists under Vladimir LENIN seized power soon after and formed the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR). The brutal rule of Iosif STALIN (1928-53) strengthened communist control and Russian dominance of the Soviet Union at a cost of tens of millions of lives. After defeating Germany in World War II as part of an alliance with the US (1939-1945), the USSR expanded its territory and influence in Eastern Europe and emerged as a global power. The USSR was the principal US adversary during the Cold War (1947-1991). The Soviet economy and society stagnated in the decades following Stalin's rule, until General Secretary Mikhail GORBACHEV (1985-91) introduced glasnost (openness) and perestroika (restructuring) in an attempt to modernize communism. His initiatives inadvertently released political and economic forces that by December 1991 led to the dissolution of the USSR into Russia and 14 other independent states. In response to the ensuing turmoil during President Boris YELTSIN's term (1991-99), Russia shifted toward a centralized authoritarian state under President Vladimir PUTIN (2000-2008, 2012-present) in which the regime seeks to legitimize its rule through managed elections, populist appeals, a foreign policy focused on enhancing the country's geopolitical influence, and commodity-based economic growth. In 2014, Russia purported to annex Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula and occupied large portions of two eastern Ukrainian oblasts. In sporadic fighting over the next eight years, more than 14,000 civilians were killed or wounded as a result of the Russian invasion in eastern Ukraine. On 24 February 2022, Russia escalated its conflict with Ukraine by invading the country on several fronts in what has become the largest conventional military attack on a sovereign state in Europe since World War II. The invasion received near-universal international condemnation, and many countries imposed sanctions on Russia and supplied humanitarian and military aid to Ukraine. In September 2022, Russia unilaterally declared its annexation of four Ukrainian oblasts -- Donetsk, Kherson, Luhansk, and Zaporizhzhia -- even though none were fully under Russian control. The annexations remain unrecognized by the international community.

## Geography
Location: North Asia bordering the Arctic Ocean, extending from Eastern Europe (the portion west of the Urals) to the North Pacific Ocean
Geographic coordinates: 60 00 N, 100 00 E
Map references: Asia
Area / total: 17,098,242 sq km
Area / land: 16,377,742 sq km
Area / water: 720,500 sq km
Area - comparative: approximately 1.8 times the size of the US
Land boundaries / total: 22,407 km
Land boundaries / border countries: Azerbaijan 338 km; Belarus 1,312 km; China (southeast) 4,133 km and China (south) 46 km; Estonia 324 km; Finland 1,309 km; Georgia 894 km; Kazakhstan 7,644 km; North Korea 18 km; Latvia 332 km; Lithuania (Kaliningrad Oblast) 261 km; Mongolia 3,452 km; Norway 191 km; Poland (Kaliningrad Oblast) 209 km; Ukraine 1,944 km
Coastline: 37,653 km
Maritime claims / territorial sea: 12 nm
Maritime claims / contiguous zone: 24 nm
Maritime claims / exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Maritime claims / continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Climate: ranges from steppes in the south through humid continental in much of European Russia; subarctic in Siberia to tundra climate in the polar north; winters vary from cool along Black Sea coast to frigid in Siberia; summers vary from warm in the steppes to cool along Arctic coast
Terrain: broad plain with low hills west of Urals; vast coniferous forest and tundra in Siberia; uplands and mountains along southern border regions
Elevation / highest point: Gora El'brus (highest point in Europe) 5,642 m
Elevation / lowest point: Caspian Sea -28 m
Elevation / mean elevation: 600 m
Natural resources: wide natural-resource base including major deposits of oil, natural gas, coal, and many strategic minerals, bauxite, reserves of rare earth elements, timber
Land use / agricultural land: 13.2% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 7.4% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 0.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 5.6% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 50.7% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 35.9% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land: 43,000 sq km (2012)
Major lakes (area sq km) / fresh water lake(s): Lake Baikal - 31,500 sq km; Lake Ladoga - 18,130 sq km; Lake Onega - 9,720 sq km; Lake Khanka (shared with China) - 5,010 sq km; Lake Peipus - 4,300 sq km (shared with Estonia); Ozero Vygozero - 1,250 sq km; Ozero Beloye - 1,120 sq km
Major lakes (area sq km) / salt water lake(s): Caspian Sea (shared with Iran, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, and Kazakhstan) - 374,000 sq km; Ozero Malyye Chany - 2,500 sq km; Curonian Lagoon (shared with Lithuania) - 1,620 sq km note - the Caspian Sea is the World's largest lake
Major rivers (by length in km): Yenisey-Angara - 5,539 km; Ob-Irtysh - 5,410 km; Amur river mouth (shared with China [s] and Mongolia) - 4,444 km; Lena - 4,400 km; Volga - 3,645 km; Kolyma - 2,513 km; Ural river source (shared with Kazakhstan [m]) - 2,428 km; Dnepr (Dnieper) river source (shared with Belarus and Ukraine [m]) - 2,287 km; Don - 1,870 km; Pechora - 1,809 km note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Major watersheds (area sq km) / Arctic Ocean drainage: Kolyma (679,934 sq km), Lena (2,306,743 sq km), Ob (2,972,493 sq km), Pechora (289,532 sq km), Yenisei (2,554,388 sq km)
Major watersheds (area sq km) / Atlantic Ocean drainage: (Black Sea) Don (458,694 sq km), Dnieper (533,966 sq km)
Major watersheds (area sq km) / Pacific Ocean drainage: Amur (1,929,955 sq km)
Major watersheds (area sq km) / Internal (endorheic basin) drainage: (Caspian Sea basin) Volga (1,410,951 sq km)
Major aquifers: Angara-Lena Basin, Pechora Basin, North Caucasus Basin, East European Aquifer System, West Siberian Basin, Tunguss Basin, Yakut Basin
Population distribution: population is heavily concentrated in the westernmost fifth of the country, extending from the Baltic Sea south to the Caspian Sea, and eastward parallel to the Kazakh border; elsewhere, sizeable population pockets are isolated and generally found in the south
Natural hazards: permafrost over much of Siberia is a major impediment to development; volcanic activity in the Kuril Islands; volcanoes and earthquakes on the Kamchatka Peninsula; spring floods and summer/autumn forest fires in Siberia and parts of European Russia volcanism: Kamchatka Peninsula is home to 29 historically active volcanoes, with dozens more in the Kuril Islands; Kliuchevskoi (4,835 m) is Kamchatka's most active volcano; Avachinsky and Koryaksky volcanoes, which pose a threat to the city of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, have been deemed Decade Volcanoes by the International Association of Volcanology and Chemistry of the Earth's Interior, worthy of study due to their explosive history and close proximity to human populations; other notable historically active volcanoes include Bezymianny, Chikurachki, Ebeko, Gorely, Grozny, Karymsky, Ketoi, Kronotsky, Ksudach, Medvezhia, Mutnovsky, Sarychev Peak, Shiveluch, Tiatia, Tolbachik, and Zheltovsky; see note 2 under "Geography - note"
Geography - note: note 1: largest country in the world in terms of area; despite its size, much of the country lacks the soil and climate (either too cold or too dry) for agriculture note 2: Russia's far east, particularly the Kamchatka Peninsula, lies along the Ring of Fire, which is a belt bordering the Pacific Ocean that contains about 75% of the world's volcanoes and up to 90% of the world's earthquakes note 3: Mount El'brus is Europe's tallest peak; Lake Baikal, the deepest lake in the world, is estimated to hold one fifth of the world's fresh surface water note 4: Kaliningrad oblast is an exclave annexed from Germany after World War II; its capital city of Kaliningrad -- formerly Koenigsberg -- is the only Baltic port in Russia that remains ice-free in the winter

## People and Society
Population / total: 140,134,279 (2025 est.)
Population / male: 65,166,555
Population / female: 74,967,724
Nationality / noun: Russian(s)
Nationality / adjective: Russian
Ethnic groups: Russian 77.7%, Tatar 3.7%, Ukrainian 1.4%, Bashkir 1.1%, Chuvash 1%, Chechen 1%, other 10.2%, unspecified 3.9% (2010 est.)
Languages / Languages: Russian (official) 85.7%, Tatar 3.2%, Chechen 1%, other 10.1% (2010 est.)
Languages / major-language sample(s): Книга фактов о мире – незаменимый источник базовой информации. (Russian) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
Religions: Russian Orthodox 15-20%, Muslim 10-15%, other Christian 2% (2006 est.)
Age structure / 0-14 years: 16.5% (male 11,956,284/female 11,313,829)
Age structure / 15-64 years: 65.7% (male 45,007,073/female 47,518,221)
Age structure / 65 years and over: 17.8% (2024 est.) (male 8,533,448/female 16,491,955)
Dependency ratios / total dependency ratio: 52.6 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / youth dependency ratio: 24.7 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / elderly dependency ratio: 27.9 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / potential support ratio: 3.6 (2025 est.)
Median age / total: 42.3 years (2025 est.)
Median age / male: 39.4 years
Median age / female: 44.5 years
Population growth rate: -0.49% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 8.27 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 13.93 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: 0.76 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution: population is heavily concentrated in the westernmost fifth of the country, extending from the Baltic Sea south to the Caspian Sea, and eastward parallel to the Kazakh border; elsewhere, sizeable population pockets are isolated and generally found in the south
Urbanization / urban population: 75.3% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 0.11% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 12.680 million MOSCOW (capital), 5.561 million Saint Petersburg, 1.695 million Novosibirsk, 1.528 million Yekaterinburg, 1.292 million Kazan, 1.251 million Nizhniy Novgorod (2023)
Sex ratio / at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 65 years and over: 0.52 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / total population: 0.87 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth: 25.2 years (2013 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio: 9 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Infant mortality rate / total: 6.4 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Infant mortality rate / male: 7.2 deaths/1,000 live births
Infant mortality rate / female: 5.8 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth / total population: 72.3 years (2024 est.)
Life expectancy at birth / male: 67.4 years
Life expectancy at birth / female: 77.4 years
Total fertility rate: 1.52 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 0.74 (2025 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: urban: urban: 98.9% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: rural: rural: 91.5% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: total: total: 97.1% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: urban: urban: 1.1% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: rural: rural: 8.5% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: total: total: 2.9% of population (2022 est.)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 7.4% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 13.8% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density: 5.11 physicians/1,000 population (2022)
Hospital bed density: 7 beds/1,000 population (2021 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: urban: urban: 95.4% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: rural: rural: 71.4% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: total: total: 89.4% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: urban: urban: 4.6% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: rural: rural: 28.6% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: total: total: 10.6% of population (2022 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 23.1% (2016)
Alcohol consumption per capita / total: 7.29 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / beer: 3.04 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / wine: 0.97 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / spirits: 3.16 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / other alcohols: 0.12 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Tobacco use / total: 26.5% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / male: 40.2% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / female: 15.1% (2025 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49): 57.6% (2021 est.)
Child marriage / women married by age 15: 0.3% (2017)
Child marriage / women married by age 18: 6.2% (2017)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% GDP): 4.2% of GDP (2023 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% national budget): 14.3% national budget (2018 est.)
Literacy / total population: 99.9% (2021 est.)
Literacy / male: 99.9% (2021 est.)
Literacy / female: 99.9% (2021 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / total: 15 years (2023 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / male: 15 years (2023 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / female: 15 years (2023 est.)

## Environment
Environmental issues: air pollution from heavy industry, coal-fired electric plants, and transportation in major cities; industrial, municipal, and agricultural pollution of inland waterways and seacoasts; deforestation; soil erosion; soil contamination from agricultural chemicals; nuclear waste disposal; scattered areas of radioactive contamination; groundwater contamination from toxic waste; urban solid-waste management; abandoned stocks of pesticides
International environmental agreements / party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Antarctic-Environmental Protection, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
International environmental agreements / signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Sulfur 94
Climate: ranges from steppes in the south through humid continental in much of European Russia; subarctic in Siberia to tundra climate in the polar north; winters vary from cool along Black Sea coast to frigid in Siberia; summers vary from warm in the steppes to cool along Arctic coast
Land use / agricultural land: 13.2% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 7.4% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 0.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 5.6% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 50.7% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 35.9% (2023 est.)
Urbanization / urban population: 75.3% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 0.11% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / total emissions: 1.844 billion metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from coal and metallurgical coke: 479.311 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from petroleum and other liquids: 453.103 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from consumed natural gas: 912.076 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Particulate matter emissions: 9.1 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Methane emissions / energy: 13,815.3 kt (2022-2024 est.)
Methane emissions / agriculture: 1,972.6 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Methane emissions / waste: 4,069.8 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Methane emissions / other: 363.2 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Waste and recycling / municipal solid waste generated annually: 60 million tons (2024 est.)
Waste and recycling / percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 5.3% (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / municipal: 17.15 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / industrial: 29.03 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / agricultural: 18.64 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total renewable water resources: 4.53 trillion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Geoparks / total global geoparks and regional networks: 1
Geoparks / global geoparks and regional networks: Yangan-Tau (2023)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: Russian Federation
Country name / conventional short form: Russia
Country name / local long form: Rossiyskaya Federatsiya
Country name / local short form: Rossiya
Country name / former: Russian Empire, Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic
Country name / etymology: Russian lands were referred to as Muscovy until PETER I declared the Empire of All Russias in 1721; the new name aimed at identifying the new Russia with European political tradition; "Rus" was the Old Finnish name given to Varangians (eastern Vikings) who entered the area in the 9th century
Government type: semi-presidential federation
Capital / name: Moscow
Capital / geographic coordinates: 55 45 N, 37 36 E
Capital / time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Capital / daylight saving time: does not observe daylight savings time (DST)
Capital / time zone note: Russia has 11 time zones, the largest number of contiguous time zones of any country in the world; in 2014, two time zones were added and DST dropped
Capital / etymology: named after the Moskva River; the origin of the river's name is unclear
Administrative divisions: 46 provinces ( oblasti , singular - oblast ), 21 republics ( respubliki , singular - respublika ), 4 autonomous districts ( avtonomnyye okrugi , singular - avtonomnyy okrug ), 9 federal subjects ( kraya , singular - kray ), 2 federal cities ( goroda , singular - gorod ), and 1 autonomous province ( avtonomnaya oblast' ) oblasts: Amur (Blagoveshchensk), Arkhangelsk, Astrakhan, Belgorod, Bryansk, Chelyabinsk, Irkutsk, Ivanovo, Kaliningrad, Kaluga, Kemerovo, Kirov, Kostroma, Kurgan, Kursk, Leningrad (Gatchina), Lipetsk, Magadan, Moscow, Murmansk, Nizhniy Novgorod, Novgorod, Novosibirsk, Omsk, Orenburg, Orel, Penza, Pskov, Rostov, Ryazan, Sakhalin (Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk), Samara, Saratov, Smolensk, Sverdlovsk (Yekaterinburg), Tambov, Tomsk, Tula, Tver, Tyumen, Ulyanovsk, Vladimir, Volgograd, Vologda, Voronezh, Yaroslavl republics: Adygeya (Maykop), Altay (Gorno-Altaysk), Bashkortostan (Ufa), Buryatiya (Ulan-Ude), Chechnya (Groznyy), Chuvashiya (Cheboksary), Dagestan (Makhachkala), Ingushetiya (Magas), Kabardino-Balkariya (Nal'chik), Kalmykiya (Elista), Karachayevo-Cherkesiya (Cherkessk), Kareliya (Petrozavodsk), Khakasiya (Abakan), Komi (Syktyvkar), Mariy-El (Yoshkar-Ola), Mordoviya (Saransk), North Ossetia (Vladikavkaz), Sakha [Yakutiya] (Yakutsk), Tatarstan (Kazan), Tyva (Kyzyl), Udmurtiya (Izhevsk) autonomous districts: Chukotka (Anadyr'), Khanty-Mansi-Yugra (Khanty-Mansiysk), Nenets (Nar'yan-Mar), Yamalo-Nenets (Salekhard) federal subjects: Altay (Barnaul), Kamchatka (Petropavlovsk-Kamchatskiy), Khabarovsk, Krasnodar, Krasnoyarsk, Perm, Primorskiy [Maritime] (Vladivostok), Stavropol, Zabaykalsk [Transbaikal] (Chita) federal cities: Moscow [Moskva], Saint Petersburg [Sankt-Peterburg] autonomous province: Yevreyskaya [Jewish] (Birobidzhan)
Legal system: civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts
Constitution / history: several previous (during Russian Empire and Soviet era); latest drafted 12 July 1993, adopted by referendum 12 December 1993, effective 25 December 1993
Constitution / amendment process: proposed by the president of the Russian Federation, by either house of the Federal Assembly, by the government of the Russian Federation, or by legislative (representative) bodies of the Federation's constituent entities; proposals to amend the government&rsquo;s constitutional system, human and civil rights and freedoms, and procedures for amending or drafting a new constitution require formation of a Constitutional Assembly; passage of such amendments requires two-thirds majority vote of its total membership; passage in a referendum requires participation of an absolute majority of eligible voters and an absolute majority of valid votes; approval of proposed amendments to the government structure, authorities, and procedures requires approval by the legislative bodies of at least two thirds of the Russian Federation's constituent entities
International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt
Citizenship / citizenship by birth: no
Citizenship / citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Russia
Citizenship / dual citizenship recognized: yes
Citizenship / residency requirement for naturalization: 3-5 years
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch / chief of state: President Vladimir Vladimirovich PUTIN (since 7 May 2012)
Executive branch / head of government: Premier Mikhail Vladimirovich MISHUSTIN (since 16 January 2020)
Executive branch / cabinet: the government is composed of the premier, his deputies, and ministers, all appointed by the president; the premier is also confirmed by the Duma
Executive branch / election/appointment process: president directly elected by absolute-majority popular vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a 6-year term (eligible for a second consecutive term)
Executive branch / most recent election date: 15-17 March 2024
Executive branch / election results: 2024 : Vladimir PUTIN reelected president; percent of vote - Vladimir PUTIN (independent) 88.5%, Nikolay KHARITONOV (Communist Party) 4.4%, Vladislav DAVANKOV (New People party) 3.9%, Leonid SLUTSKY (Liberal Democrats) 3.2% 2018: V ladimir PUTIN reelected president; percent of vote - Vladimir PUTIN (independent) 77.5%, Pavel GRUDININ (CPRF) 11.9%, Vladimir ZHIRINOVSKIY (LDPR) 5.7%, other 4.9%; Mikhail MISHUSTIN (independent) approved as premier by Duma; vote - 383 to 0
Executive branch / expected date of next election: 2030
Legislative branch / legislature name: Federal Assembly (Federalnoye Sobraniye)
Legislative branch / legislative structure: bicameral
Legislative branch - lower chamber / chamber name: State Duma (Gossoudarstvennaya Duma)
Legislative branch - lower chamber / number of seats: 450 (all directly elected)
Legislative branch - lower chamber / electoral system: mixed system
Legislative branch - lower chamber / scope of elections: full renewal
Legislative branch - lower chamber / term in office: 5 years
Legislative branch - lower chamber / most recent election date: 9/19/2021
Legislative branch - lower chamber / parties elected and seats per party: United Russia (326); Communist Party (KPRF) (57); A Just Russia (28); Liberal Democratic Party of Russia (LDPR) (23); Other (16)
Legislative branch - lower chamber / percentage of women in chamber: 16.4%
Legislative branch - lower chamber / expected date of next election: September 2026
Legislative branch - upper chamber / chamber name: Council of the Federation (Soviet Federatsii)
Legislative branch - upper chamber / number of seats: 170 (all appointed)
Legislative branch - upper chamber / percentage of women in chamber: 18.5%
Judicial branch / highest court(s): Supreme Court of the Russian Federation (consists of 170 members organized into the Judicial Panel for Civil Affairs, the Judicial Panel for Criminal Affairs, and the Military Panel); Constitutional Court (consists of 11 members, including the chairperson and deputy)
Judicial branch / judge selection and term of office: all members of Russia's 3 highest courts nominated by the president and appointed by the Federation Council (the upper house of the legislature); members of all 3 courts appointed for life
Judicial branch / subordinate courts: regional (kray) and provincial (oblast) courts; Moscow and St. Petersburg city courts; autonomous province and district courts (the 21 Russian republics have court systems specified by their own constitutions)
Political parties: A Just Russia for Truth or SRZP Civic Platform or CP Communists of Russia or CPCR Communist Party of the Russian Federation or CPRF Cossack Party of the Russian Federation or CosPRF Democratic Party of Russia or DPR Green Alternative or GA Liberal Democratic Party of Russia or LDPR New People or NP Party for Fairness! or PARZAS! Party of Direct Democracy or PDD Party of Progress or PP Party of Pensioners or RPPSJ Party of Russia's Rebirth or PRR Party of Social Protection or PSP Rodina Russian Ecological Party or The Greens Russian Party of Freedom and Justice or RPFJ Russia United Democratic Party or Yabloko United Russia or UR
Diplomatic representation in the US / chief of mission: Ambassador Alexander Nikitich DARCHIEV (since 11 June 2025)
Diplomatic representation in the US / chancery: 2650 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007
Diplomatic representation in the US / telephone: [1] (202) 298-5700
Diplomatic representation in the US / FAX: [1] (202) 298-5735
Diplomatic representation in the US / email address and website: rusembusa@mid.ru https://washington.mid.ru/en/
Diplomatic representation in the US / consulate(s) general: Houston, New York
Diplomatic representation from the US / chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charg&eacute; d&rsquo;Affaires J. Douglas DYKHOUSE (since June 2025)
Diplomatic representation from the US / embassy: 55,75566° N, 37,58028° E
Diplomatic representation from the US / mailing address: 5430 Moscow Place, Washington DC 20521-5430
Diplomatic representation from the US / telephone: [7] (495) 728-5000
Diplomatic representation from the US / FAX: [7] (495) 728-5090
Diplomatic representation from the US / email address and website: MoscowACS@state.gov https://ru.usembassy.gov/
Diplomatic representation from the US / consulate(s) general: Vladivostok (suspended status), Yekaterinburg (suspended status)
International organization participation: APEC, Arctic Council, ARF, ASEAN (dialogue partner), BIS, BRICS, BSEC, CBSS, CD, CE, CERN (observer), CICA, CIS, CSTO, EAEC, EAEU, EAPC, EAS, EBRD, FAO, FATF, G-20, GCTU, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAIA (observer), MIGA, MINURSO, MONUSCO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OIC (observer), OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, PFP, SCO, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNISFA, UNMIL, UNMISS, UNOCI, UNOOSA, UN Security Council (permanent), UNTSO, UNWTO, UPU, Wassenaar Arrangement, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
Independence: 25 December 1991 (from the Soviet Union; Russian SFSR renamed Russian Federation); notable earlier dates: 1157 (Principality of Vladimir-Suzdal created); 16 January 1547 (Tsardom of Muscovy established); 22 October 1721 (Russian Empire proclaimed); 30 December 1922 (Soviet Union established)
National holiday: Russia Day, 12 June (1990)
Flag: description: three equal horizontal bands of white (top), blue, and red meaning: colors may have been based on the Dutch flag, but no official meaning is assigned history: created when Russia built its first naval vessels, and was used mostly as a naval flag until the 19th century
National symbol(s): bear, double-headed eagle
National color(s): white, blue, red
National coat of arms: the current coat of arms of Russia was adopted by presidential decree on 30 November 1993; the double-headed eagle was adopted as a Russian symbol in 1472 when Ivan III married Sophia Palaiologina, niece of the last Byzantine emperor in Constantinople -- the eagle was her family's emblem
National anthem(s) / title: &ldquo;Gosudarstvenny Gimn Rossiyskoy Federatsii&rdquo; (National Anthem of the Russian Federation)
National anthem(s) / lyrics/music: Sergey Vladimirovich MIKHALKOV/Aleksandr Vasilyevich ALEKSANDROV
National anthem(s) / history: adopted 2000; Russia adopted the tune of the Soviet Union's anthem (composed in 1939), as well as new lyrics; MIKHALKOV, who wrote the new lyrics, also authored the Soviet lyrics in 1943
National heritage / total World Heritage Sites: 33 (22 cultural, 11 natural)
National heritage / selected World Heritage Site locales: Historic Centre of Saint Petersburg and Related Groups of Monuments (c); Kizhi Pogost (c); Kremlin and Red Square, Moscow (c); Historic Monuments of Novgorod and Surroundings (c); White Monuments of Vladimir and Suzdal (c); Architectural Ensemble of the Trinity Sergius Lavra in Sergiev Posad (c); Church of the Ascension, Kolomenskoye (c); Lake Baikal (n); Volcanoes of Kamchatka (n); Ensemble of the Ferapontov Monastery (c); Historic and Architectural Complex of the Kazan Kremlin (c); Citadel, Ancient City and Fortress Buildings of Derbent (c); Uvs Nuur Basin (n); Ensemble of the Novodevichy Convent (c); Natural System of Wrangel Island Reserve (n); Historical Centre of the City of Yaroslavl (c); Lena Pillars Nature Park (n); Bolgar Historical and Archaeological Complex (c); Assumption Cathedral and Monastery of the town-island of Sviyazhsk (c); Churches of the Pskov School of Architecture (c); Petroglyphs of Lake Onega and the White Sea (c); Rock Paintings of Shulgan-Tash Cave (c)

## Economy
Economic overview: natural resource-rich Eurasian economy; leading energy exporter to Europe and Asia; decreased oil export reliance; endemic corruption, Ukrainian invasion, and lack of green infrastructure limit investment and have led to sanctions
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $6.089 trillion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $5.835 trillion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $5.607 trillion (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2024: 4.3% (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2023: 4.1% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2022: -1.4% (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2024: $41,700 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2023: $39,900 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2022: $38,200 (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $2.174 trillion (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021: 6.7% (2021 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2020: 3.4% (2020 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2019: 4.5% (2019 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / agriculture: 2.7% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / industry: 30.7% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / services: 57.5% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / household consumption: 49.4% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / government consumption: 18.6% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in fixed capital: 22.1% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in inventories: 4.2% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / exports of goods and services: 21.9% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / imports of goods and services: -17.6% (2024 est.)
Agricultural products: wheat, sugar beets, milk, barley, potatoes, sunflower seeds, maize, soybeans, chicken, pork (2023)
Industries: 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, 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
Industrial production growth rate: 4.1% (2024 est.)
Labor force: 72.517 million (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2024: 2.6% (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2023: 3.1% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2022: 3.9% (2022 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / total: 9.3% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / male: 8.8% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / female: 9.8% (2024 est.)
Population below poverty line: 12.1% (2020 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income / Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2021: 35.1 (2021 est.)
Average household expenditures / on food: 25.3% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Average household expenditures / on alcohol and tobacco: 5.9% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / lowest 10%: 2.7% (2021 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / highest 10%: 26.6% (2021 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2024: 0.1% of GDP (2024 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2023: 0.1% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2022: 0.1% of GDP (2022 est.)
Budget / revenues: $704.613 billion (2023 est.)
Budget / expenditures: $635.809 billion (2023 est.)
Public debt / Public debt 2023: 18.5% of GDP (2023 est.)
Taxes and other revenues: 12.1% (of GDP) (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2024: $62.287 billion (2024 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2023: $49.439 billion (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2022: $237.735 billion (2022 est.)
Exports / Exports 2024: $475.277 billion (2024 est.)
Exports / Exports 2023: $465.22 billion (2023 est.)
Exports / Exports 2022: $640.878 billion (2022 est.)
Exports - partners: China 33%, India 17%, Turkey 8%, Kazakhstan 4%, Brazil 3% (2023)
Exports - commodities: crude petroleum, refined petroleum, natural gas, coal, fertilizers (2023)
Imports / Imports 2024: $381.45 billion (2024 est.)
Imports / Imports 2023: $379.659 billion (2023 est.)
Imports / Imports 2022: $347.384 billion (2022 est.)
Imports - partners: China 53%, Turkey 5%, Germany 5%, Kazakhstan 5%, Italy 2% (2023)
Imports - commodities: cars, packaged medicine, broadcasting equipment, garments, plastic products (2023)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023: $597.217 billion (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $581.71 billion (2022 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2021: $632.242 billion (2021 est.)
Debt - external / Debt - external 2022: $135.301 billion (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Currency: Russian rubles (RUB) per US dollar -
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2023: 85.162 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2022: 68.485 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2021: 73.654 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2020: 72.105 (2020 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2019: 64.738 (2019 est.)

## Energy
Electricity access / electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)
Electricity access / electrification - urban areas: 99.1%
Electricity access / electrification - rural areas: 100%
Electricity / installed generating capacity: 301.926 million kW (2023 est.)
Electricity / consumption: 1.011 trillion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / exports: 18.66 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / imports: 2.852 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / transmission/distribution losses: 97.301 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / fossil fuels: 61.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / nuclear: 19.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / solar: 0.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / wind: 0.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / hydroelectricity: 17.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / biomass and waste: 0.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Nuclear energy / Number of operational nuclear reactors: 36 (2025)
Nuclear energy / Number of nuclear reactors under construction: 4 (2025)
Nuclear energy / Net capacity of operational nuclear reactors: 26.8GW (2025 est.)
Nuclear energy / Percent of total electricity production: 18.4% (2023 est.)
Nuclear energy / Number of nuclear reactors permanently shut down: 11 (2025)
Coal / production: 531.13 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / consumption: 290.763 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / exports: 211.944 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / imports: 20.765 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / proven reserves: 162.166 billion metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum / total petroleum production: 10.879 million bbl/day (2023 est.)
Petroleum / refined petroleum consumption: 3.863 million bbl/day (2023 est.)
Petroleum / crude oil estimated reserves: 80 billion barrels (2021 est.)
Natural gas / production: 613.447 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / consumption: 474.448 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / exports: 124.479 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / imports: 5.724 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / proven reserves: 47.805 trillion cubic meters (2021 est.)
Energy consumption per capita / Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 224.858 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

## Communications
Telephones - fixed lines / total subscriptions: 20,816,300 (2023 est.)
Telephones - fixed lines / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 15 (2022 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / total subscriptions: 270 million (2024 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 186 (2024 est.)
Broadcast media: 13 national TV stations: the federal government owns 1 and controls a second, state-owned Gazprom controls 2, state-affiliated Bank Rossiya controls 2, Moscow city administration runs 1, the Russian Orthodox Church owns 1, and the Russian military owns 1; around 3,300 national, regional, and local TV stations, with over two-thirds completely or partially state-controlled; satellite TV available; 2 state-run national radio networks, with a third majority-owned by Gazprom; around 2,400 public and commercial radio stations
Internet country code: .ru
Internet users / percent of population: 92% (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / total: 35.9 million (2022 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 25 (2022 est.)

## Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: RA
Airports: 905 (2025)
Heliports: 494 (2025)
Railways / total: 85,494 km (2019)
Railways / narrow gauge: 957 km
Merchant marine / total: 2,910 (2023)
Merchant marine / by type: bulk carrier 15, container ship 20, general cargo 976, oil tanker 387, other 1,512
Ports / total ports: 67 (2024)
Ports / large: 4
Ports / medium: 5
Ports / small: 19
Ports / very small: 38
Ports / size unknown: 1
Ports / ports with oil terminals: 32
Ports / key ports: Arkhangels'k, De Kastri, Dudinka, Kaliningrad, Murmansk, Novorossiysk, Sankt-Peterburg, Vladivostok, Vyborg

## Military and Security
Military and security forces: Armed Forces of the Russian Federation: Ground Forces (SV), Aerospace Forces (VKS), Navy (VMF); separate or independent troop branches include the Airborne Forces (VDV), Missile Troops of Strategic Purpose (RVSN; commonly to as Strategic Rocket Forces), Special Operations Forces, and Unmanned Systems Forces Federal National Guard Troops Service of the Russian Federation (FSVNG, National Guard, Russian Guard, or Rosgvardiya) Federal Security Services (FSB): Federal Border Guard Service (includes land and maritime forces) (2025)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2024: 7% of GDP (2024 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2023: 5% of GDP (2023 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2022: 4.5% of GDP (2022 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2021: 4% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2020: 4% of GDP (2020 est.)
Military and security service personnel strengths: estimated 1.1-1.2 million active Armed Forces; estimated 350,000 Federal National Guard Troops (2025)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the Russian Federation's military and paramilitary services are equipped with domestically produced weapons systems, although in recent years Russia has imported military hardware from external suppliers such as Iran and North Korea to support its war on Ukraine; the Russian defense industry is capable of producing a full range of advanced air, land, missile, and naval systems; Russia is one of the world's largest exporters of military hardware (2025)
Military service age and obligation: 18-30 years of age for compulsory service for men; 18-65 years of age for voluntary/contractual service; women and non-Russian citizens (18-30) may volunteer; minimum 12-month service obligation (2025)
Military deployments: estimated 600,000 in Ukraine; more than 20,000 additional military personnel deployed in former Soviet states and elsewhere, including Armenia, Belarus, Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, Libya, Moldova, Syria, sub-Saharan Africa, and Tajikistan (2025)
Military - note: the Russian military is responsible for protecting the country's sovereignty and territorial integrity, providing maritime security, and supporting Moscow's national security objectives, including projecting influence and power abroad and deterring perceived external threats; its missions include air, land, maritime, strategic missile, and expeditionary operations; it is also active in the areas of cyber warfare, electronic warfare, and space; the Russian military's focus is its ongoing war on Ukraine and the perceived threat from NATO and the US in February 2022, Russia launched a full-scale military invasion of Ukraine, beginning what is the largest war in Europe since World War II ended in 1945; Russian military forces occupied Ukraine’s province of Crimea in 2014, and Moscow subsequently backed separatist forces in the Donbas region of Ukraine with arms, equipment, and training, as well as Russian military troops, although Moscow denied their presence prior to 2022 Russia intervened in the Syrian civil war at the request of the Syrian Government from September 2015 until the collapse of the ASAD regime in December 2024; it was Moscow’s first overseas military expeditionary operation since the Soviet era; Russian assistance included air support, arms and equipment, intelligence, military advisors, private military contractors, special operations forces, and training; Russia seized the Georgian regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia by force in 2008 (2025)

## Space
Space agency/agencies: State Space Corporation of the Russian Federation (Roscosmos; established 2015); Russian Space Forces (Kosmicheskie voyska Rossii, KV; under the Russian Aerospace Forces) (2025)
Space launch site(s): Baikonur Cosmodrome (Kazakhstan); Vostochny Cosmodrome (Amur Oblast); Plesetsk Cosmodrome (Arkhangel'sk Oblast) (2025)
Space program overview: has one of the world&rsquo;s largest space programs and is active across all areas of the space sector; builds, launches, and operates satellite/space launch vehicles, satellites, space stations, interplanetary probes, and manned, robotic, and re-usable spacecraft; has astronaut (cosmonaut) training program and conducts human space flight; researching and developing a broad range of other space-related technologies; participates in international space programs such as the International Space Station; has had relations with dozens of foreign space agencies and commercial entities, including those of China, the ESA, India, Japan, and the US; Roscosmos and its public subsidiaries comprise the majority of the Russian space industry; Roscosmos has eight operating areas, including manned space flights, launch systems, unmanned spacecraft, rocket propulsion, military missiles, space avionics, special military space systems, and flight control systems; private companies are also involved in a range of space systems (2025)
Key space-program milestones: 1957 - placed world’s first satellite (Sputnik-1) in orbit 1961-1964 - launched first man, first woman, and first multi-member crew into space 1965 - launched first probe to successfully land on the Moon 1967 - initial launch of Soviet-made Soyuz series space launch vehicle (SLV) 1971 - placed first space station (Salyut) in orbit and successfully landed a probe on Venus 1975 - joint Soviet (Soyuz)-US (Apollo) space mission 1986 - began operation of Mir space station (in orbit until 2001) 1995 - Global Navigation Satellite System (GLObalnaya NAvigatsionnaya Sputnikovaya Sistema or GLONASS) constellation completed 2014 - initial launch of Angara SLV series 2021 - announced agreements with China to send a robotic probe to an asteroid and jointly establish a station on the Moon 2023 - launch first of a planned series of Moon landers (Luna-25; crashed on Moon's surface); announced intent to place first module of a new space station in orbit by 2027

## Terrorism
Terrorist group(s): Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS)

## Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons / refugees: 11,440 (2024 est.)
Refugees and internally displaced persons / IDPs: 172,783 (2024 est.)
Refugees and internally displaced persons / stateless persons: 90,185 (2024 est.)
Trafficking in persons / tier rating: Tier 3 — Russia does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and is not making significant efforts to do so, therefore, Russia remained on Tier 3; for more details, go to: https://www.state.gov/reports/2025-trafficking-in-persons-report/russia/

=== Tajikistan ===

## Introduction
Background: The Tajik people came under Russian imperial rule in the 1860s and 1870s, but Russia's hold on Central Asia weakened following the Revolution of 1917. At that time, bands of indigenous guerrillas (known as "basmachi") fiercely contested Bolshevik control of the area, which was not fully reestablished until 1925. Tajikistan was first established as an autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic within the Uzbek Soviet Socialist Republic in 1924, but in 1929 the Soviet Union made Tajikistan as a separate republic and transferred to it much of present-day Sughd Province. Ethnic Uzbeks form a substantial minority in Tajikistan, and ethnic Tajiks an even larger minority in Uzbekistan. Tajikistan became independent in 1991 after the breakup of the Soviet Union, and the country experienced a civil war among political, regional, and religious factions from 1992 to 1997. Despite Tajikistan's general elections for both the presidency (once every seven years) and legislature (once every five years), observers note an electoral system rife with irregularities and abuse, and results that are neither free nor fair. President Emomali RAHMON, who came to power in 1992 during the civil war and was first elected president in 1994, used an attack planned by a disaffected deputy defense minister in 2015 to ban the last major opposition party in Tajikistan. RAHMON further strengthened his position by having himself declared "Founder of Peace and National Unity, Leader of the Nation," with limitless terms and lifelong immunity through constitutional amendments ratified in a referendum. The referendum also lowered the minimum age required to run for president from 35 to 30, which made RAHMON's first-born son Rustam EMOMALI, the mayor of the capital city of Dushanbe, eligible to run for president in 2020. RAHMON orchestrated EMOMALI's selection in 2020 as chairman of the Majlisi Milli (the upper chamber of Tajikistan's parliament), positioning EMOMALI as next in line of succession for the presidency. RAHMON opted to run in the presidential election later that year and received 91% of the vote. The country remains the poorest of the former Soviet republics. Tajikistan became a member of the WTO in 2013, but its economy continues to face major challenges, including dependence on remittances from Tajikistani migrant laborers in Russia and Kazakhstan, pervasive corruption, the opiate trade, and destabilizing violence emanating from neighboring Afghanistan. Tajikistan has endured several domestic security incidents since 2010, including armed conflict between government forces and local strongmen in the Rasht Valley and between government forces and informal leaders in Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Oblast. Tajikistan suffered its first ISIS-claimed attack in 2018, when assailants attacked a group of Western bicyclists, killing four. Friction between forces on the border between Tajikistan and the Kyrgyz Republic flared up in 2021, culminating in fatal clashes between border forces in 2021 and 2022.

## Geography
Location: Central Asia, west of China, south of Kyrgyzstan
Geographic coordinates: 39 00 N, 71 00 E
Map references: Asia
Area / total: 144,100 sq km
Area / land: 141,510 sq km
Area / water: 2,590 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly smaller than Wisconsin
Land boundaries / total: 4,130 km
Land boundaries / border countries: Afghanistan 1,357 km; China 477 km; Kyrgyzstan 984 km; Uzbekistan 1,312 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
Climate: mid-latitude continental, hot summers, mild winters; semiarid to polar in Pamir Mountains
Terrain: mountainous region dominated by the Alay Mountains in the north and the Pamirs in the southeast; western Fergana Valley in north, Kofirnihon and Vakhsh Valleys in southwest
Elevation / highest point: Qullai Somoniyon 7,495 m
Elevation / lowest point: Syr Darya (Sirdaryo) 300 m
Elevation / mean elevation: 3,186 m
Natural resources: hydropower, some petroleum, uranium, mercury, brown coal, lead, zinc, antimony, tungsten, silver, gold
Land use / agricultural land: 27.9% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 6.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 1.5% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 20.4% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 3.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 69% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land: 5,681 sq km (2022)
Major rivers (by length in km): Syr Darya (shared with Kyrgyzstan [s], Uzbekistan, and Kazakhstan [m]) - 3,078 km; Amu Darya river source (shared with Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, and Uzbekistan [m]) - 2,620 km note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Major watersheds (area sq km) / Internal (endorheic basin) drainage: Tarim Basin (1,152,448 sq km), (Aral Sea Basin) Amu Darya (534,739 sq km), Syr Darya (782,617 sq km)
Population distribution: the population is concentrated at lower elevations, with perhaps as many as 90% living in valleys; overall density increases from east to west
Natural hazards: earthquakes; floods
Geography - note: landlocked; highest point, Qullai Ismoili Somoni (formerly Communism Peak), was the tallest mountain in the former USSR

## People and Society
Population / total: 10,593,876 (2025 est.)
Population / male: 5,322,920
Population / female: 5,270,956
Nationality / noun: Tajikistani(s)
Nationality / adjective: Tajikistani
Ethnic groups: Tajik 84.3% (includes Pamiri and Yagnobi), Uzbek 13.8%, other 2% (includes Kyrgyz, Russian, Turkmen, Tatar, Arab) (2014 est.)
Languages / Languages: Tajik (official) 84.4%, Uzbek 11.9%, Kyrgyz 0.8%, Russian 0.5%, other 2.4% (2010 est.)
Languages / major-language sample(s): Китоби Фактҳои Ҷаҳонӣ, манбаи бебадали маълумоти асосӣ (Tajik) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
Religions: Muslim 98% (Sunni 95%, Shia 3%) other 2% (2014 est.)
Age structure / 0-14 years: 36.9% (male 1,953,472/female 1,877,192)
Age structure / 15-64 years: 59.3% (male 3,086,964/female 3,071,642)
Age structure / 65 years and over: 3.9% (2024 est.) (male 181,382/female 223,411)
Dependency ratios / total dependency ratio: 68.5 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / youth dependency ratio: 61.5 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / elderly dependency ratio: 6.9 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / potential support ratio: 14.5 (2025 est.)
Median age / total: 22.8 years (2025 est.)
Median age / male: 22.3 years
Median age / female: 23.2 years
Population growth rate: 1.89% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 25.31 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 4.45 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: -1.94 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution: the population is concentrated at lower elevations, with perhaps as many as 90% living in valleys; overall density increases from east to west
Urbanization / urban population: 28.2% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 2.73% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 987,000 DUSHANBE (capital) (2023)
Sex ratio / at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 65 years and over: 0.81 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth: 23.2 years (2017 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio: 14 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Infant mortality rate / total: 20.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Infant mortality rate / male: 24.3 deaths/1,000 live births
Infant mortality rate / female: 18.9 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth / total population: 71.9 years (2024 est.)
Life expectancy at birth / male: 70.1 years
Life expectancy at birth / female: 73.8 years
Total fertility rate: 3.52 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 1.71 (2025 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: urban: urban: 95.6% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: rural: rural: 76.6% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: total: total: 81.9% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: urban: urban: 4.4% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: rural: rural: 23.4% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: total: total: 18.1% of population (2022 est.)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 8% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 6.4% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density: 1.87 physicians/1,000 population (2023)
Hospital bed density: 4.3 beds/1,000 population (2021 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: urban: urban: 98.9% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: rural: rural: 99.6% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: total: total: 99.4% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: urban: urban: 1.1% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: rural: rural: 0.4% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: total: total: 0.6% of population (2022 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 14.2% (2016)
Alcohol consumption per capita / total: 0.85 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / beer: 0.38 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / wine: 0.01 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / spirits: 0.45 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / other alcohols: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 5.2% (2023 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49): 68% (2020 est.)
Child marriage / women married by age 15: 0.1% (2017)
Child marriage / women married by age 18: 8.7% (2017)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% GDP): 5.4% of GDP (2023 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% national budget): 19.3% national budget (2024 est.)
Literacy / female: 94.6% (2017 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / total: 12 years (2024 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / male: 12 years (2024 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / female: 11 years (2024 est.)

## Environment
Environmental issues: air pollution from motor vehicles and industry; water pollution from agricultural runoff and untreated industrial waste and sewage; poor management of water resources; soil erosion; increasing levels of soil salinity
International environmental agreements / party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
International environmental agreements / signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Climate: mid-latitude continental, hot summers, mild winters; semiarid to polar in Pamir Mountains
Land use / agricultural land: 27.9% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 6.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 1.5% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 20.4% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 3.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 69% (2023 est.)
Urbanization / urban population: 28.2% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 2.73% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / total emissions: 8.616 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from coal and metallurgical coke: 4.676 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from petroleum and other liquids: 3.855 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from consumed natural gas: 86,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Particulate matter emissions: 53.8 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Waste and recycling / municipal solid waste generated annually: 1.787 million tons (2024 est.)
Waste and recycling / percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 13.9% (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / municipal: 912 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / industrial: 1.61 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / agricultural: 7.378 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total renewable water resources: 21.91 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: Republic of Tajikistan
Country name / conventional short form: Tajikistan
Country name / local long form: Jumhurii Tojikiston
Country name / local short form: Tojikiston
Country name / former: Tajik Soviet Socialist Republic
Country name / etymology: the Persian suffix - ostan means "land," so the country name means "Land of the Tajik [people];" the name Tajik comes from the Sanskrit tajika , a name originally used to distinguish Arabs from Turks and derived from the Tay, an Arab people
Government type: presidential republic
Capital / name: Dushanbe
Capital / geographic coordinates: 38 33 N, 68 46 E
Capital / time difference: UTC+5 (10 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Capital / etymology: the name means Monday in Persian; today's city was originally at the crossroads where a large bazaar was held on Mondays, or the second day ( du ) after Saturday ( shambe )
Administrative divisions: 2 provinces ( viloyatho , singular - viloyat ), 1 autonomous province* ( viloyati mukhtor ), 1 capital region** ( viloyati poytakht ), and 1 area referred to as Districts Under Republic Administration***; Dushanbe**, Khatlon (Bokhtar), Kuhistoni Badakhshon [Gorno-Badakhshan]* (Khorugh), Nohiyahoi Tobei Jumhuri***, Sughd (Khujand)
Legal system: civil law system
Constitution / history: several previous; latest adopted 6 November 1994
Constitution / amendment process: proposed by the president of the republic or by at least one third of the total membership of both houses of the Supreme Assembly; adoption of any amendment requires a referendum, which includes approval of the president or approval by at least two-thirds majority of the Assembly of Representatives; passage in a referendum requires participation of an absolute majority of eligible voters and an absolute majority of votes; constitutional articles, including Tajikistan&rsquo;s form of government, its territory, and its democratic nature, cannot be amended
International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Citizenship / citizenship by birth: no
Citizenship / citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Tajikistan
Citizenship / dual citizenship recognized: no
Citizenship / residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years or 3 years of continuous residence prior to application
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch / chief of state: President Emomali RAHMON (since 16 November 1994; head of state and Supreme Assembly Chairman since 20 November 1992)
Executive branch / head of government: Prime Minister Qohir RASULZODA (since 23 November 2013)
Executive branch / cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president, approved by the Supreme Assembly
Executive branch / election/appointment process: president directly elected by simple-majority popular vote for a 7-year term (two-term limit), but as the "Leader of the Nation," president has no term limit; prime minister appointed by the president
Executive branch / most recent election date: 11 October 2020
Executive branch / election results: 2020 : Emomali RAHMON reelected president; percent of vote - Emomali RAHMON (PDPT) 92.1%, Rustam LATIFZODA (APT) 3.1%, other 4.8% 2013: Emomali RAHMON reelected president; percent of vote - Emomali RAHMON (PDPT) 84%, Ismoil TALBAKOV CPT) 5%, other 11%
Executive branch / expected date of next election: 2027
Legislative branch / legislature name: Supreme Council (Majlisi Oli)
Legislative branch / legislative structure: bicameral
Legislative branch - lower chamber / chamber name: House of Representatives (Majlisi namoyandogon)
Legislative branch - lower chamber / number of seats: 63 (all directly elected)
Legislative branch - lower chamber / electoral system: mixed system
Legislative branch - lower chamber / scope of elections: full renewal
Legislative branch - lower chamber / term in office: 5 years
Legislative branch - lower chamber / most recent election date: 3/2/2025
Legislative branch - lower chamber / parties elected and seats per party: People's Democratic Party of Tajikistan (PDPT) (49); Agrarian Party of Tajikistan (APT) (7); Party of Economic Reforms of Tajikistan (PERT) (5); Other (2)
Legislative branch - lower chamber / percentage of women in chamber: 28.6%
Legislative branch - lower chamber / expected date of next election: March 2030
Legislative branch - upper chamber / chamber name: National Assembly (Majlisi milli)
Legislative branch - upper chamber / number of seats: 33 (25 indirectly elected; 8 appointed)
Legislative branch - upper chamber / scope of elections: full renewal
Legislative branch - upper chamber / term in office: 5 years
Legislative branch - upper chamber / most recent election date: 3/28/2025
Legislative branch - upper chamber / percentage of women in chamber: 30.3%
Legislative branch - upper chamber / expected date of next election: March 2030
Judicial branch / highest court(s): Supreme Court (consists of the chairman, deputy chairmen, and 34 judges organized into civil, family, criminal, administrative offense, and military chambers); Constitutional Court (consists of the court chairman, deputy chairman, and 5 judges); High Economic Court (consists of 16 judicial positions)
Judicial branch / judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court, Constitutional Court, and High Economic Court judges nominated by the president and approved by the National Assembly; judges of all 3 courts appointed for 10-year renewable terms with no term limits, but the last appointment must occur before the age of 65
Judicial branch / subordinate courts: regional and district courts; Dushanbe City Court; viloyat (province-level) courts; Court of Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region
Political parties: Agrarian Party of Tajikistan or APT Democratic Party or DPT Party of Economic Reforms or PERT People's Democratic Party of Tajikistan or PDPT Socialist Party of Tajikistan or SPT
Diplomatic representation in the US / chief of mission: Ambassador-designate Zavqi ZAVQIZODA (since 14 November 2025)
Diplomatic representation in the US / chancery: 1005 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20037
Diplomatic representation in the US / telephone: [1] (202) 223-6090
Diplomatic representation in the US / FAX: [1] (202) 223-6091
Diplomatic representation in the US / email address and website: tajemus@mfa.tj https://mfa.tj/en/washington
Diplomatic representation from the US / chief of mission: Ambassador Manuel P. MICALLER Jr. (since 9 March 2023)
Diplomatic representation from the US / embassy: 109-A Ismoili Somoni Avenue (Zarafshon district), Dushanbe 734019
Diplomatic representation from the US / mailing address: 7090 Dushanbe Place, Washington DC 20521-7090
Diplomatic representation from the US / telephone: [992] (37) 229-20-00
Diplomatic representation from the US / FAX: [992] (37) 229-20-50
Diplomatic representation from the US / email address and website: DushanbeConsular@state.gov https://tj.usembassy.gov/
International organization participation: ADB, CICA, CIS, CSTO, EAEC, EAPC, EBRD, ECO, EITI (candidate country), FAO, G-77, GCTU, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, MIGA, NAM (observer), OIC, OPCW, OSCE, PFP, SCO, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNISFA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Independence: 9 September 1991 (from the Soviet Union)
National holiday: Independence Day (or National Day), 9 September (1991)
Flag: description: three horizontal stripes of red (top), a wider stripe of white, and green; a gold crown under seven five-pointed gold stars is in the center of the white stripe meaning: red stands for the sun, victory, and the unity of the nation; white for purity, cotton, and mountain snows; green for Islam and nature's bounty; the crown symbolizes the Tajik people; the stars represent the number seven, which is considered a symbol of perfection and the embodiment of happiness
National symbol(s): arc of seven five-pointed stars over a crown, Marco Polo sheep
National color(s): red, white, green
National anthem(s) / title: "Surudi milli" (National Anthem)
National anthem(s) / lyrics/music: Gulnazar KELDI/Sulaimon YUDAKOV
National anthem(s) / history: adopted 1994; after the fall of the Soviet Union, Tajikistan kept the music of its Soviet-era anthem, but adopted new lyrics
National heritage / total World Heritage Sites: 5 (3 cultural, 2 natural)
National heritage / selected World Heritage Site locales: Proto-urban Site of Sarazm (c); Tajik National Park (Mountains of the Pamirs) (n); Silk Roads: Zarafshan-Karakum Corridor (c); Tugay forests of the Tigrovaya Balka Nature Reserve (n); Cultural Heritage Sites of Ancient Khuttal (c)

## Economy
Economic overview: lower-middle-income Central Asian economy; large infrastructure projects, including Rogun Dam, and a push towards green development and digitalization driving growth; strong metal mining, electricity, and manufacturing industries; challenges include land scarcity, climate vulnerability, and complex bureaucratic processes for investors
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $50.37 billion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $46.467 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $42.905 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2024: 8.4% (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2023: 8.3% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2022: 8% (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2024: $4,800 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2023: $4,500 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2022: $4,200 (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $14.205 billion (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2019: 7.7% (2019 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2018: 3.9% (2018 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2017: 7.3% (2017 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / agriculture: 22.9% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / industry: 33.6% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / services: 34.7% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / household consumption: 89.6% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / government consumption: 10.7% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in fixed capital: 28.3% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in inventories: 3.4% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / exports of goods and services: 17.2% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / imports of goods and services: -48.4% (2023 est.)
Agricultural products: potatoes, milk, wheat, watermelons, onions, tomatoes, carrots/turnips, cotton, vegetables, grapes (2023)
Industries: aluminum, cement, coal, gold, silver, antimony, textile, vegetable oil
Industrial production growth rate: 9.9% (2023 est.)
Labor force: 2.78 million (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2024: 11.7% (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2023: 11.6% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2022: 11.7% (2022 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / total: 27.1% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / male: 30% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / female: 23.3% (2024 est.)
Population below poverty line: 20.4% (2023 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income / Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2015: 34 (2015 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / lowest 10%: 3% (2015 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / highest 10%: 26.4% (2015 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2024: 47.9% of GDP (2024 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2023: 37.8% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2022: 49.9% of GDP (2022 est.)
Budget / revenues: $2.911 billion (2023 est.)
Budget / expenditures: $3.036 billion (2023 est.)
Public debt / Public debt 2016: 42% of GDP (2016 est.)
Taxes and other revenues: 10.8% (of GDP) (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2024: $887.016 million (2024 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2023: $584.022 million (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2022: $1.635 billion (2022 est.)
Exports / Exports 2024: $1.618 billion (2024 est.)
Exports / Exports 2023: $2.105 billion (2023 est.)
Exports / Exports 2022: $1.753 billion (2022 est.)
Exports - partners: Switzerland 31%, Kazakhstan 18%, China 17%, Uzbekistan 10%, Turkey 8% (2023)
Exports - commodities: gold, precious metal ore, aluminum, lead ore, antimony (2023)
Imports / Imports 2024: $6.907 billion (2024 est.)
Imports / Imports 2023: $5.931 billion (2023 est.)
Imports / Imports 2022: $5.261 billion (2022 est.)
Imports - partners: China 57%, Kazakhstan 13%, Uzbekistan 8%, Turkey 6%, UAE 4% (2023)
Imports - commodities: garments, footwear, cars, wheat, vehicle parts/accessories (2023)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023: $3.304 billion (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $3.847 billion (2022 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2021: $2.499 billion (2021 est.)
Debt - external / Debt - external 2023: $3.024 billion (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Currency: Tajikistani somoni (TJS) per US dollar -
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2024: 10.799 (2024 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2023: 10.845 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2022: 11.031 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2021: 11.309 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2020: 10.322 (2020 est.)

## Energy
Electricity access / electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)
Electricity access / electrification - urban areas: 99%
Electricity access / electrification - rural areas: 100%
Electricity / installed generating capacity: 6.481 million kW (2023 est.)
Electricity / consumption: 15.275 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / exports: 3.101 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / imports: 714.025 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / transmission/distribution losses: 3.94 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / fossil fuels: 7.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / hydroelectricity: 92.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Coal / production: 2.394 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / consumption: 2.297 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / exports: 475,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / imports: 147,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / proven reserves: 4.075 billion metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum / total petroleum production: 300 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Petroleum / refined petroleum consumption: 31,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Petroleum / crude oil estimated reserves: 12 million barrels (2021 est.)
Natural gas / production: 18.476 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / consumption: 43.767 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / imports: 24.196 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / proven reserves: 5.663 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)
Energy consumption per capita / Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 16.192 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

## Communications
Telephones - fixed lines / total subscriptions: 502,000 (2021 est.)
Telephones - fixed lines / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 5 (2022 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / total subscriptions: 7.92 million (2023 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 119 (2023 est.)
Broadcast media: state-run broadcaster has 9 national TV and 10 radio stations, and 4 regional stations; 31 independent TV and 20 independent radio stations broadcast locally and regionally; Russian and other foreign stations available via cable and satellite (2016)
Internet country code: .tj
Internet users / percent of population: 57% (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / total: 6,000 (2022 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2022 est.) less than 1

## Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: EY
Airports: 19 (2025)
Heliports: 1 (2025)
Railways / total: 680 km (2014)
Railways / broad gauge: 680 km (2014) 1.520-m gauge

## Military and Security
Military and security forces: Armed Forces of the Republic of Tajikistan: Ground Forces, Mobile Forces, Air and Air Defense Forces Tajik National Guard (TNG); Ministry of Internal Affairs: Internal Troops of Tajikistan; State Committee on National Security: Border Troops (aka Tajik Border Service) (2025)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2024: 1.8% of GDP (2024 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2023: 2% of GDP (2023 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2022: 1.9% of GDP (2022 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2021: 1.2% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2020: 1.1% of GDP (2020 est.)
Military and security service personnel strengths: estimated 10,000 active Armed Forces; estimated 5-10,000 active paramilitary National Guard, Border Service, and Internal Troops personnel (2025)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the military is equipped with mostly older Russian and Soviet-era armaments; it also has smaller amounts of items from suppliers such as China, T&uuml;rkiye, and the US (2025)
Military service age and obligation: 18-27 years of age for compulsory (men only) or voluntary (men and women) military service; up to a 24-month service obligation for conscripts based on education level (2025)
Military - note: the military's primary concerns are terrorism, border security, territorial defense, and regional security, particularly in neighboring Afghanistan; Russia is traditionally Tajikistan’s most important security partner and thousands of Russian troops are stationed in the country, primarily at the 201st military base, which Moscow has leased until at least 2042; Russia and Tajikistan have a joint air defense system, and they conduct periodic joint exercises; Tajikistan has been a member of the Russian-led Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) since 1994 and contributes troops to CSTO's rapid reaction force; Tajikistan also cooperates on security matters with China, including joint military training Tajikistan is the only former Soviet republic that did not form its armed forces from old Soviet Army units following the collapse of the USSR in 1991; rather, Russia retained command of the Soviet units there while the Tajik government raised a military from scratch; the first ground forces were officially created in 1993 from groups that fought for the government during the Tajik Civil War (2025)

## Terrorism
Terrorist group(s): Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS)

## Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons / refugees: 15,191 (2024 est.)
Refugees and internally displaced persons / IDPs: 238 (2024 est.)
Refugees and internally displaced persons / stateless persons: 4,466 (2024 est.)

=== Turkmenistan ===

## Introduction
Background: Present-day Turkmenistan has been at the crossroads of civilizations for centuries. Various Persian empires ruled the area in antiquity, and Alexander the Great, Muslim armies, the Mongols, Turkic warriors, and eventually the Russians conquered it. In medieval times, Merv (located in present-day Mary province) was one of the great cities of the Islamic world and an important stop on the Silk Road. Annexed by Russia in the late 1800s, Turkmen territories later figured prominently in the anti-Bolshevik resistance in Central Asia. In 1924, Turkmenistan became a Soviet republic; it achieved independence when the USSR dissolved in 1991. President for Life Saparmurat NIYAZOV died in 2006, and Gurbanguly BERDIMUHAMEDOV, a deputy chairman under NIYAZOW, emerged as the country's new president. BERDIMUHAMEDOV won Turkmenistan's first multi-candidate presidential election in 2007, and again in 2012 and 2017 with over 97% of the vote in elections widely regarded as undemocratic. In 2022, BERDIMUHAMEDOV announced that he would step down from the presidency and called for an election to replace him. His son, Serdar BERDIMUHAMEDOV, won the ensuing election with 73% of the vote. Gurbanguly BERDIMUHAMEDOV, although no longer head of state, maintains an influential political position as head of the Halk Maslahaty (People’s Council) and as National Leader of the Turkmen People, a title that provides additional privileges and immunity for him and his family. Since Gurbanguly BERDIMUHAMEDOV stepped down from the presidency, state-controlled media upgraded his honorific from Arkadag (protector) to Hero-Arkadag, and began referring to Serdar BERDIMUHAMEDOV as Arkadagly Serdar, which can be translated as "Serdar who has a protector to support him." Turkmenistan has sought new export markets for its extensive hydrocarbon/natural gas reserves, which have yet to be fully exploited. Turkmenistan's reliance on gas exports has made the economy vulnerable to fluctuations in the global energy market, and economic hardships since the drop in energy prices in 2014 have led many citizens of Turkmenistan to emigrate, mostly to Turkey.

## Geography
Location: Central Asia, bordering the Caspian Sea, between Iran and Kazakhstan
Geographic coordinates: 40 00 N, 60 00 E
Map references: Asia
Area / total: 488,100 sq km
Area / land: 469,930 sq km
Area / water: 18,170 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly more than three times the size of Georgia; slightly larger than California
Land boundaries / total: 4,158 km
Land boundaries / border countries: Afghanistan 804 km; Iran 1,148 km; Kazakhstan 413 km; Uzbekistan 1,793 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
Climate: subtropical desert
Terrain: flat-to-rolling sandy desert with dunes rising to mountains in the south; low mountains along border with Iran; borders Caspian Sea in west
Elevation / highest point: Gora Ayribaba 3,139 m
Elevation / lowest point: Vpadina Akchanaya (Sarygamysh Koli is a lake in northern Turkmenistan with a water level that fluctuates above and below the elevation of Vpadina Akchanaya, the lake has dropped as low as -110 m) -81 m
Elevation / mean elevation: 230 m
Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas, sulfur, salt
Land use / agricultural land: 84.2% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 3.4% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 0.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 80.8% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 5% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 10.7% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land: 16,459 sq km (2012)
Major lakes (area sq km) / salt water lake(s): Caspian Sea (shared with Iran, Azerbaijan, Russia, and Kazakhstan) - 374,000 sq km
Major rivers (by length in km): Amu Darya (shared with Tajikistan [s], Afghanistan, and Uzbekistan [m]) - 2,620 km note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Major watersheds (area sq km) / Internal (endorheic basin) drainage: (Aral Sea basin) Amu Darya (534,739 sq km)
Population distribution: the most densely populated areas are the southern, eastern, and northeastern oases; approximately 50% of the population lives in and around the capital of Ashgabat
Natural hazards: earthquakes; mudslides; droughts; dust storms; floods
Geography - note: landlocked; the western and central low-lying desolate portions of the country make up the great Garagum (Kara-Kum) desert, which occupies over 80% of the country; eastern part is plateau

## People and Society
Population / total: 5,744,151 (2024 est.)
Population / male: 2,842,870
Population / female: 2,901,281
Nationality / noun: Turkmenistani(s)
Nationality / adjective: Turkmenistani
Ethnic groups: Turkmen 85%, Uzbek 5%, Russian 4%, other 6% (2003 est.)
Languages / Languages: Turkmen (official) 72%, Russian 12%, Uzbek 9%, other 7%
Languages / major-language sample(s): Dünýä Faktlar Kitaby – esasy maglumatlaryň wajyp çeşmesidir (Turkmen) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
Religions: Muslim 93%, Christian 6.4%, Buddhist <1%, folk religion <1%, Jewish <1%, other <1%, unspecified <1% (2020 est.)
Age structure / 0-14 years: 24.5% (male 711,784/female 692,967)
Age structure / 15-64 years: 68.6% (male 1,956,740/female 1,984,333)
Age structure / 65 years and over: 6.9% (2024 est.) (male 174,346/female 223,981)
Dependency ratios / total dependency ratio: 45.8 (2024 est.)
Dependency ratios / youth dependency ratio: 35.6 (2024 est.)
Dependency ratios / elderly dependency ratio: 10.1 (2024 est.)
Dependency ratios / potential support ratio: 9.9 (2024 est.)
Median age / total: 31.6 years (2025 est.)
Median age / male: 30.7 years
Median age / female: 31.7 years
Population growth rate: 0.88% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 16.43 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 5.99 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: -1.66 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution: the most densely populated areas are the southern, eastern, and northeastern oases; approximately 50% of the population lives in and around the capital of Ashgabat
Urbanization / urban population: 54% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 2.23% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 902,000 ASHGABAT (capital) (2023)
Sex ratio / at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 0-14 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 65 years and over: 0.78 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth: 24.2 years (2019)
Maternal mortality ratio: 5 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Infant mortality rate / total: 35 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Infant mortality rate / male: 43.6 deaths/1,000 live births
Infant mortality rate / female: 27.7 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth / total population: 72.4 years (2024 est.)
Life expectancy at birth / male: 69.4 years
Life expectancy at birth / female: 75.5 years
Total fertility rate: 2.02 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 0.99 (2025 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: urban: urban: 100% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: rural: rural: 100% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: total: total: 100% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: urban: urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: rural: rural: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: total: total: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 5.6% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 8.5% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density: 1.93 physicians/1,000 population (2023)
Hospital bed density: 4 beds/1,000 population (2021 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: urban: urban: 99.8% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: rural: rural: 100% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: total: total: 99.9% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: urban: urban: 0.2% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: rural: rural: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: total: total: 0.1% of population (2022 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 18.6% (2016)
Alcohol consumption per capita / total: 2.88 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / beer: 0.65 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / wine: 1.25 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / spirits: 0.98 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / other alcohols: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Tobacco use / total: 4.8% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / male: 9.4% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / female: 0.5% (2025 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 3.1% (2019 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49): 65% (2019 est.)
Child marriage / women married by age 15: 0.2% (2019)
Child marriage / women married by age 18: 6.1% (2019)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% GDP): 2.7% of GDP (2023 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% national budget): 29.6% national budget (2024 est.)
Literacy / total population: 99.9% (2022 est.)
Literacy / male: 99.9% (2022 est.)
Literacy / female: 99.9% (2022 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / total: 13 years (2023 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / male: 12 years (2022 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / female: 12 years (2022 est.)

## Environment
Environmental issues: soil and groundwater pollution from agricultural chemicals and pesticides; salination, waterlogging of soil due to poor irrigation methods; Caspian Sea pollution; river diversion for irrigation; soil erosion; desertification
International environmental agreements / party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
International environmental agreements / signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Climate: subtropical desert
Land use / agricultural land: 84.2% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 3.4% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 0.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 80.8% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 5% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 10.7% (2023 est.)
Urbanization / urban population: 54% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 2.23% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / total emissions: 106.215 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from coal and metallurgical coke: 100 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from petroleum and other liquids: 18.062 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from consumed natural gas: 88.153 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Particulate matter emissions: 28.1 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Methane emissions / energy: 5,451.4 kt (2022-2024 est.)
Methane emissions / agriculture: 294.9 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Methane emissions / waste: 44.1 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Methane emissions / other: 1.1 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Waste and recycling / municipal solid waste generated annually: 500,000 tons (2024 est.)
Waste and recycling / percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 15.3% (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / municipal: 453.5 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / industrial: 806.765 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / agricultural: 16.12 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total renewable water resources: 24.765 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: none
Country name / conventional short form: Turkmenistan
Country name / local long form: none
Country name / local short form: Turkmenistan
Country name / former: Turkmen Soviet Socialist Republic
Country name / etymology: the suffix - stan means "land," so the country name means the "Land of the Turkmen [people];" the people's name means "Turk-like," from the Persian words tork and mandan , referring to their formerly nomadic lifestyle that differed from the settled Turks of Turkey
Government type: presidential republic; authoritarian
Capital / name: Ashgabat (Ashkhabad)
Capital / geographic coordinates: 37 57 N, 58 23 E
Capital / time difference: UTC+5 (10 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Capital / etymology: derived from the Turkmen words ushq , meaning "love," and abad , meaning "inhabited place" or "town;" the city was originally a military outpost built in 1881 that took its name from an ancient settlement on the site
Administrative divisions: 5 provinces ( velayatlar , singular - velayat ) and 1 independent city*: Ahal Velayat (Arkadag), Ashgabat*, Balkan Velayat (Balkanabat), Dashoguz Velayat, Lebap Velayat (Turkmenabat), Mary Velayat
Legal system: civil law system with Islamic (sharia) law influences
Constitution / history: several previous; latest adopted 14 September 2016
Constitution / amendment process: proposed by the Assembly or Mejlis; passage requires two-thirds majority vote or absolute majority approval in a referendum
International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt
Citizenship / citizenship by birth: no
Citizenship / citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Turkmenistan
Citizenship / dual citizenship recognized: yes
Citizenship / residency requirement for naturalization: 7 years
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch / chief of state: President Serdar BERDIMUHAMEDOV (since 19 March 2022)
Executive branch / head of government: President Serdar BERDIMUHAMEDOV (since 19 March 2022)
Executive branch / cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the president
Executive branch / election/appointment process: president directly elected by absolute-majority popular vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a 7-year term (no term limits)
Executive branch / most recent election date: 12 March 2022
Executive branch / election results: 2022: Serdar BERDIMUHAMEDOV elected president; percent of vote - Serdar BERDIMUHAMEDOV (DPT) 73%, Khydyr NUNNAYEV (independent) 11.1%, Agadzhan BEKMYRADOV (IAP) 7.2%, other 8.7% 2017: Gurbanguly BERDIMUHAMEDOV reelected president in the first round; percent of vote - Gurbanguly BERDIMUHAMEDOV (DPT) 97.7%, other 2.3%
Executive branch / expected date of next election: 2029
Legislative branch / legislature name: Assembly (Mejlis)
Legislative branch / legislative structure: unicameral
Legislative branch / number of seats: 56 (48 indirectly elected; 8 appointed)
Legislative branch / electoral system: plurality/majority
Legislative branch / scope of elections: full renewal
Legislative branch / term in office: 5 years
Legislative branch / most recent election date: 3/28/2021
Legislative branch / parties elected and seats per party: Democratic Party of Turkmenistan (DPT) (65); Groups of citizens of Turkmenistan (28); Agrarian Party (24); Party of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs (8)
Legislative branch / percentage of women in chamber: 25.5%
Legislative branch / expected date of next election: March 2028
Judicial branch / highest court(s): Supreme Court of Turkmenistan (consists of the court president and 21 associate judges and organized into civil, criminal, and military chambers)
Judicial branch / judge selection and term of office: judges appointed by the president for 5-year terms
Judicial branch / subordinate courts: High Commercial Court; appellate courts; provincial, district, and city courts; military courts
Political parties: Agrarian Party of Turkmenistan or TAP Party of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs of Turkmenistan or TSTP The Democratic Party of Turkmenistan or TDP
Diplomatic representation in the US / chief of mission: Ambassador Meret ORAZOV (since 14 February 2001)
Diplomatic representation in the US / chancery: 2207 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation in the US / telephone: [1] (202) 588-1500
Diplomatic representation in the US / FAX: [1] (202) 588-1500
Diplomatic representation in the US / email address and website: turkmenembassyus@verizon.net https://usa.tmembassy.gov.tm/en
Diplomatic representation from the US / chief of mission: Ambassador Elizabeth ROOD (since 31 July 2024)
Diplomatic representation from the US / embassy: 9 1984 Street (formerly Pushkin Street), Ashgabat 744000
Diplomatic representation from the US / mailing address: 7070 Ashgabat Place, Washington, DC 20521-7070
Diplomatic representation from the US / telephone: [993] (12) 94-00-45
Diplomatic representation from the US / FAX: [993] (12) 94-26-14
Diplomatic representation from the US / email address and website: ConsularAshgab@state.gov https://tm.usembassy.gov/
International organization participation: ADB, CIS (associate member, has not ratified the 1993 CIS charter although it participates in meetings and held the chairmanship of the CIS in 2012), EAPC, EBRD, ECO, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO (correspondent), ITU, MIGA, NAM, OIC, OPCW, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO
Independence: 27 October 1991 (from the Soviet Union)
National holiday: Independence Day, 27 October (1991)
Flag: description: green field with a vertical red stripe near the left side; the stripe has five tribal guls (designs used in producing carpets) stacked above two crossed olive branches; five five-pointed white stars and a white crescent moon appear in the upper left corner of the main field meaning: the green color and crescent moon stand for Islam, the five stars for the country's regions, and the guls for national identity
National symbol(s): Akhal-Teke horse
National color(s): green, white
National anthem(s) / title: "Garaşsyz, Bitarap T&uuml;rkmenistanyň" (Independent, Neutral, Turkmenistan State Anthem)
National anthem(s) / lyrics/music: collective/Veli MUKHATOV
National anthem(s) / history: adopted 1997; lyrics revised in 2008 to eliminate references to deceased President Saparmurat NYYAZOW
National heritage / total World Heritage Sites: 5 (4 cultural, 1 natural)
National heritage / selected World Heritage Site locales: Ancient Merv (c); Kunya-Urgench (c); Parthian Fortresses of Nisa (c); Cold Winter Deserts of Turan (n); Silk Roads: Zarafshan-Karakum Corridor (c)

## Economy
Economic overview: upper-middle-income Central Asian economy; houses fourth-largest natural gas reserves and rich in natural resources; authoritarian and dominated by state-owned enterprises; challenges include overvalued currency, high inflation risks, lack of economic diversification due to heavy state control and bureaucracy
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $134.555 billion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $131.576 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $123.778 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2024: 2.3% (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2023: 6.3% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2022: 6.2% (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2024: $18,000 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2023: $17,900 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2022: $17,100 (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $64.24 billion (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 11.5% (2022 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021: 19.5% (2021 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2020: 6.1% (2020 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / agriculture: 11.3% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / industry: 39.3% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / services: 49.4% (2023 est.)
Agricultural products: milk, wheat, potatoes, cotton, watermelons, tomatoes, grapes, barley, beef, lamb/mutton (2023)
Industries: natural gas, oil, petroleum products, textiles, food processing
Labor force: 2.445 million (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2024: 4.4% (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2023: 4.1% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2022: 4.2% (2022 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / total: 9.6% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / male: 14.7% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / female: 6% (2024 est.)
Average household expenditures / on food: 36.5% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Average household expenditures / on alcohol and tobacco: 2.2% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2023: 0% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2022: 0% of GDP (2022 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2021: 0% of GDP (2021 est.)
Budget / revenues: $5.954 billion (2019 est.)
Budget / expenditures: $6.134 billion (2019 est.)
Public debt / Public debt 2016: 24.1% of GDP (2016 est.)
Exports / Exports 2023: $13.111 billion (2023 est.)
Exports / Exports 2022: $14.67 billion (2022 est.)
Exports / Exports 2021: $10.282 billion (2021 est.)
Exports - partners: China 63%, Turkey 11%, Greece 7%, Uzbekistan 6%, Azerbaijan 4% (2023)
Exports - commodities: natural gas, refined petroleum, fertilizers, crude petroleum, electricity (2023)
Imports / Imports 2023: $7.563 billion (2023 est.)
Imports / Imports 2022: $7.362 billion (2022 est.)
Imports / Imports 2021: $6.25 billion (2021 est.)
Imports - partners: Turkey 21%, UAE 21%, China 20%, Kazakhstan 8%, Germany 5% (2023)
Imports - commodities: broadcasting equipment, cars, wheat, computers, iron pipes (2023)
Debt - external / Debt - external 2023: $3.696 billion (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Currency: Turkmenistani manat (TMM) per US dollar -
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2017: 4.125 (2017 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2016: 3.5 (2016 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2015: 3.5 (2015 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2014: 3.5 (2014 est.)

## Energy
Electricity access / electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)
Electricity / installed generating capacity: 6.512 million kW (2023 est.)
Electricity / consumption: 21.526 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / exports: 9 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / transmission/distribution losses: 3.258 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / fossil fuels: 100% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Coal / imports: 200 metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / proven reserves: 799.999 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum / total petroleum production: 272,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Petroleum / refined petroleum consumption: 152,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Petroleum / crude oil estimated reserves: 600 million barrels (2021 est.)
Natural gas / production: 84.277 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / consumption: 44.936 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / exports: 41.334 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / proven reserves: 11.327 trillion cubic meters (2021 est.)
Energy consumption per capita / Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 261.142 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

## Communications
Telephones - fixed lines / total subscriptions: 802,000 (2021 est.)
Telephones - fixed lines / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 10 (2022 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / total subscriptions: 6.25 million (2021 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 99 (2021 est.)
Broadcast media: state-controlled broadcast media; 7 state-owned TV and 4 state-owned radio networks; satellite dishes available for other broadcasts; officials sometimes limit access to satellite TV by removing satellite dishes
Internet country code: .tm
Internet users / percent of population: 21% (2017 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / total: 377,000 (2022 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 5 (2022 est.)

## Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: EZ
Airports: 23 (2025)
Heliports: 25 (2025)
Railways / total: 5,113 km (2017)
Railways / broad gauge: 5,113 km (2017) 1.520-m gauge
Merchant marine / total: 73 (2023)
Merchant marine / by type: general cargo 6, oil tanker 8, other 59

## Military and Security
Military and security forces: Armed Forces of Turkmenistan (aka Turkmen National Army): Ground Forces, Air Force, Navy Ministry of Internal Affairs: Internal Troops, Turkmen (National) Police, Federal/State Border Guard Service (2025)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2019: 1.9% of GDP (2019 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2018: 1.8% of GDP (2018 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2017: 1.8% of GDP (2017 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2016: 1.8% of GDP (2016 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2015: 1.5% of GDP (2015 est.)
Military and security service personnel strengths: estimated 35,000 active Armed Forces (2025)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the military's inventory is comprised largely of Russian/Soviet-era armaments with smaller quantities from suppliers such as Brazil, China, Italy, and T&uuml;rkiye (2025)
Military service age and obligation: 18-27 years of age for compulsory military service for men and volunteer service for men and women; 24-month conscript service obligation (2025)
Military - note: the military is responsible for external defense and works closely with the Border Service on protecting the country&rsquo;s borders; areas of emphasis for the military include border security, competition on the Caspian Sea, regional stability, and military modernization; while Turkmenistan has a policy of permanent and "positive" neutrality and has declined to participate in post-Soviet military groupings such as the Collective Security Treaty Organization and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, it has participated in multinational exercises and bilateral training with neighboring countries, including Russia and Uzbekistan; Turkmenistan joined NATO's Partnership for Peace program in 1994, but it does not offer any military forces to NATO-led operations (2025)

## Space
Space agency/agencies: Turkmenistan National Space Agency (established 2011; transferred to the Space Department of the Ministry of Communications in 2019) (2025)
Space program overview: has a small space program focused on acquiring satellites and developing the infrastructure to build and operate satellites; particularly interested in communications and remote sensing satellites; has cooperated with the space agencies and/or space industries of France, Italy, Russia, South Korea, and the US (2025)
Key space-program milestones: 2015 - first commercial telecommunications satellite (Turkmen Sat 52E) built by European company and launched by US 2024 - announced beginning of program to develop or acquire a second communications satellite

## Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons / refugees: 3,409 (2024 est.)
Trafficking in persons / tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List — Turkmenistan does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking but is making significant efforts to do so, therefore Turkmenistan was upgraded to Tier 2 Watch List; for more details, go to: https://www.state.gov/reports/2025-trafficking-in-persons-report/turkmenistan/

=== Uzbekistan ===

## Introduction
Background: Uzbekistan is the geographic and population center of Central Asia, with a diverse economy and a relatively young population. Russia conquered and united the disparate territories of present-day Uzbekistan in the late 19th century. Stiff resistance to the Red Army after the Bolshevik Revolution was eventually suppressed and a socialist republic established in 1924. During the Soviet era, intensive production of "white gold" (cotton) and grain led to the overuse of agrochemicals and the depletion of water supplies, leaving the land degraded and the Aral Sea and certain rivers half-dry. Independent since the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) dissolved in 1991, the country has diversified agricultural production while developing its mineral and petroleum export capacity and increasing its manufacturing base, although cotton remains a major part of its economy. Uzbekistan&rsquo;s first president, Islom KARIMOV, led Uzbekistan for 25 years until his death in 2016. His successor, former Prime Minister Shavkat MIRZIYOYEV, has improved relations with Uzbekistan&rsquo;s neighbors and introduced wide-ranging economic, judicial, and social reforms. MIRZIYOYEV was reelected in 2021 with 80% of the vote and again following a 2023 constitutional referendum with 87% of the vote.

## Geography
Location: Central Asia, north of Turkmenistan, south of Kazakhstan
Geographic coordinates: 41 00 N, 64 00 E
Map references: Asia
Area / total: 447,400 sq km
Area / land: 425,400 sq km
Area / water: 22,000 sq km
Area - comparative: about four times the size of Virginia; slightly larger than California
Land boundaries / total: 6,893 km
Land boundaries / border countries: Afghanistan 144 km; Kazakhstan 2,330 km; Kyrgyzstan 1,314 km; Tajikistan 1,312 km; Turkmenistan 1,793 km
Coastline: 0 km (doubly landlocked)
Maritime claims: none (doubly landlocked)
Climate: mostly mid-latitude desert, long, hot summers, mild winters; semiarid grassland in east
Terrain: mostly flat-to-rolling sandy desert with dunes; broad, flat intensely irrigated river valleys along course of Amu Darya, Syr Darya (Sirdaryo), and Zaravshan; Fergana Valley in east surrounded by mountainous Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan; shrinking Aral Sea in west
Elevation / highest point: Xazrat Sulton Tog' 4,643 m
Elevation / lowest point: Sariqamish Kuli -12 m
Natural resources: natural gas, petroleum, coal, gold, uranium, silver, copper, lead and zinc, tungsten, molybdenum
Land use / agricultural land: 58.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 9.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 1% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 47.9% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 8.7% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 31.8% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land: 37,305 sq km (2022)
Major lakes (area sq km) / fresh water lake(s): Aral Sea (shared with Kazakhstan) - largely dried up
Major rivers (by length in km): Syr Darya (shared with Kyrgyzstan [s], Tajikistan, and Kazakhstan [m]) - 3,078 km; Amu Darya river mouth (shared with Tajikistan [s], Afghanistan, and Turkmenistan) - 2,620 km note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Major watersheds (area sq km) / Internal (endorheic basin) drainage: (Aral Sea basin) Amu Darya (534,739 sq km), Syr Darya (782,617 sq km)
Population distribution: most of the population is concentrated in the fertile Fergana Valley in the easternmost arm of the country; the south has significant clusters of people, but the central and western deserts are sparsely populated
Natural hazards: earthquakes; floods; landslides or mudslides; avalanches; droughts
Geography - note: along with Liechtenstein, one of the only two doubly landlocked countries in the world

## People and Society
Population / total: 37,015,151 (2025 est.)
Population / male: 18,576,048
Population / female: 18,439,103
Nationality / noun: Uzbekistani
Nationality / adjective: Uzbekistani
Ethnic groups: Uzbek 83.8%, Tajik 4.8%, Kazakh 2.5%, Russian 2.3%, Karakalpak 2.2%, Tatar 1.5%, other 2.9% (2017 est.)
Languages / Languages: Uzbek (official) 74.3%, Russian 14.2%, Tajik 4.4%, other 7.1%
Languages / major-language sample(s): Jahon faktlari kitobi, asosiy ma'lumotlar uchun zaruriy manba. (Uzbek) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
Religions: Muslim 88% (mostly Sunni), Eastern Orthodox 9%, other 3%
Age structure / 0-14 years: 29.6% (male 5,597,947/female 5,213,403)
Age structure / 15-64 years: 63.7% (male 11,649,017/female 11,617,411)
Age structure / 65 years and over: 6.7% (2024 est.) (male 1,077,849/female 1,364,966)
Dependency ratios / total dependency ratio: 57.3 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / youth dependency ratio: 46.3 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / elderly dependency ratio: 11.1 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / potential support ratio: 9 (2025 est.)
Median age / total: 29.2 years (2025 est.)
Median age / male: 28.1 years
Median age / female: 29.8 years
Population growth rate: 1.26% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 18.93 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 5 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: -1.31 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution: most of the population is concentrated in the fertile Fergana Valley in the easternmost arm of the country; the south has significant clusters of people, but the central and western deserts are sparsely populated
Urbanization / urban population: 50.5% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 1.25% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 2.603 million TASHKENT (capital) (2023)
Sex ratio / at birth: 1.08 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 0-14 years: 1.07 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 65 years and over: 0.79 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth: 23.7 years (2019 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio: 26 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Infant mortality rate / total: 17.6 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Infant mortality rate / male: 21.1 deaths/1,000 live births
Infant mortality rate / female: 15.1 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth / total population: 76.2 years (2024 est.)
Life expectancy at birth / male: 73.6 years
Life expectancy at birth / female: 79 years
Total fertility rate: 2.6 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 1.25 (2025 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: urban: urban: 98% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: rural: rural: 95.2% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: total: total: 96.6% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: urban: urban: 2% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: rural: rural: 4.8% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: total: total: 3.4% of population (2022 est.)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 7.7% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 7.1% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density: 2.81 physicians/1,000 population (2021)
Hospital bed density: 4.9 beds/1,000 population (2021 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: urban: urban: 98.1% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: rural: rural: 98.7% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: total: total: 98.4% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: urban: urban: 1.9% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: rural: rural: 1.3% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: total: total: 1.6% of population (2022 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 16.6% (2016)
Alcohol consumption per capita / total: 2.45 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / beer: 0.18 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / wine: 0.09 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / spirits: 2.19 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / other alcohols: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Tobacco use / total: 15.4% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / male: 30.2% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / female: 1% (2025 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 1.8% (2021 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49): 74.7% (2022 est.)
Child marriage / women married by age 15: 0.2% (2022)
Child marriage / women married by age 18: 3.4% (2022)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% GDP): 5.5% of GDP (2023 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% national budget): 22.1% national budget (2024 est.)
Literacy / total population: 100% (2022 est.)
Literacy / male: 100% (2022 est.)
Literacy / female: 100% (2022 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / total: 13 years (2024 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / male: 13 years (2024 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / female: 13 years (2024 est.)

## Environment
Environmental issues: growing concentrations of chemical pesticides and natural salts in the shrinking Aral Sea; desertification; water pollution and soil salination from industrial wastes and the heavy use of fertilizers and pesticides; soil contamination from buried nuclear processing and agricultural chemicals
International environmental agreements / party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
International environmental agreements / signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Climate: mostly mid-latitude desert, long, hot summers, mild winters; semiarid grassland in east
Land use / agricultural land: 58.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 9.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 1% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 47.9% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 8.7% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 31.8% (2023 est.)
Urbanization / urban population: 50.5% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 1.25% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / total emissions: 110.992 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from coal and metallurgical coke: 12.845 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from petroleum and other liquids: 13.437 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from consumed natural gas: 84.71 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Particulate matter emissions: 46.6 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Methane emissions / energy: 848.1 kt (2022-2024 est.)
Methane emissions / agriculture: 868.1 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Methane emissions / waste: 261.3 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Methane emissions / other: 4.5 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Waste and recycling / municipal solid waste generated annually: 4 million tons (2024 est.)
Waste and recycling / percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 31.6% (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / municipal: 2.3 billion cubic meters (2022)
Total water withdrawal / industrial: 1.2 billion cubic meters (2022)
Total water withdrawal / agricultural: 41 billion cubic meters (2022)
Total renewable water resources: 48.87 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: Republic of Uzbekistan
Country name / conventional short form: Uzbekistan
Country name / local long form: O'zbekiston Respublikasi
Country name / local short form: O'zbekiston
Country name / former: Uzbek Soviet Socialist Republic
Country name / etymology: the name comes from the local people, the Uzbeks, whose name is said to have originated with Mongol leader Ghiyath ad-Din Muhammad UZBEK; the Persian suffix - stan means "country"
Government type: presidential republic; highly authoritarian
Capital / name: Tashkent (Toshkent)
Capital / geographic coordinates: 41 19 N, 69 15 E
Capital / time difference: UTC+5 (10 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Capital / etymology: the current name of the ancient city was first used in the 11th century and comes from the Sogdian (Turkic) words tash ( stone) and kent (town); the city was first recorded in the 5th or 4th century B.C. with the name of Chach or Shash
Administrative divisions: 12 provinces ( viloyatlar , singular - viloyat ), 1 autonomous republic* ( avtonom respublikasi ), and 3 cities** ( shahar ); Andijon Viloyati, Buxoro Viloyati [Bukhara Province], Farg'ona Viloyati [Fergana Province], Jizzax Viloyati, Namangan Shahri, Namangan Viloyati, Navoiy Viloyati, Qashqadaryo Viloyati (Qarshi), Qoraqalpog'iston Respublikasi [Karakalpakstan Republic]* (Nukus), Samarqand Shahri [Samarkand City], Samarqand Viloyati [Samarkand Province], Sirdaryo Viloyati (Guliston), Surxondaryo Viloyati (Termiz), Toshkent Shahri [Tashkent City]**, Toshkent Viloyati [Nurafshon], Xorazm Viloyati (Urganch)
Legal system: civil law system
Constitution / history: several previous; latest adopted 8 December 1992
Constitution / amendment process: proposed by the Supreme Assembly or by referendum; passage requires two-thirds majority vote of both houses of the Assembly or passage in a referendum
International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt
Citizenship / citizenship by birth: no
Citizenship / citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Uzbekistan
Citizenship / dual citizenship recognized: no
Citizenship / residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch / chief of state: President Shavkat MIRZIYOYEV (since 14 December 2016)
Executive branch / head of government: Prime Minister Abdulla ARIPOV (since 14 December 2016)
Executive branch / cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the president with most requiring approval of the Senate chamber of the Supreme Assembly (Oliy Majlis)
Executive branch / election/appointment process: president directly elected by absolute-majority popular vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a 7-year term (eligible for a second term); prime minister nominated by majority party in the Supreme Assembly but appointed along with the ministers and deputy ministers by the president
Executive branch / most recent election date: 9 July 2023
Executive branch / election results: 2023: Shavkat MIRZIYOYEV reelected president in snap election; percent of vote - Shavkat MIRZIYOYEV (LDPU) 87.7%, Robaxon Maxmudova (Adolat) 4.5%, Ulugbek Inoyatov (PDP) 4%, Abdushukur Xamzayev (Ecological Party) 3.8% 2021: Shavkat MIRZIYOYEV reelected president in first round; percent of vote - Shavkat MIRZIYOYEV (LDPU) 80.3%, Maqsuda VORISOVA (PDP) 6.7%, Alisher QODIROV (National Revival Democratic Party) 5.5%, Narzullo OBLOMURODOV (Ecological Party) 4.1%, Bahrom ABDUHALIMOV (Adolat) 3.4%
Executive branch / expected date of next election: 2030
Legislative branch / legislature name: Supreme Assembly (Oliy Majlis)
Legislative branch / legislative structure: bicameral
Legislative branch - lower chamber / chamber name: Legislative Chamber (Qonunchilik palatasi)
Legislative branch - lower chamber / number of seats: 150 (all directly elected)
Legislative branch - lower chamber / electoral system: mixed system
Legislative branch - lower chamber / scope of elections: full renewal
Legislative branch - lower chamber / term in office: 5 years
Legislative branch - lower chamber / most recent election date: 11/7/2024 to 11/12/2024
Legislative branch - lower chamber / parties elected and seats per party: Movement of Entrepreneurs and Businesspeople - Liberal Democratic Party (UzLiDeP) (64); Milliy Tiklanish Democratic Party (O'zMTDP) (29); Social Democratic Party ("Adolat" SDP) (21); People's Democratic Party (XDP) (20); Ecological Party (O'EP) (16)
Legislative branch - lower chamber / percentage of women in chamber: 38%
Legislative branch - lower chamber / expected date of next election: October 2029
Legislative branch - upper chamber / chamber name: Senate (Senat)
Legislative branch - upper chamber / number of seats: 65 (56 indirectly elected; 9 appointed)
Legislative branch - upper chamber / scope of elections: full renewal
Legislative branch - upper chamber / term in office: 5 years
Legislative branch - upper chamber / most recent election date: 10/27/2024
Legislative branch - upper chamber / percentage of women in chamber: 24.6%
Legislative branch - upper chamber / expected date of next election: November 2029
Judicial branch / highest court(s): Supreme Court (consists of 67 judges organized into administrative, civil, criminal, and economic sections); Constitutional Court (consists of 7 judges)
Judicial branch / judge selection and term of office: judges of the highest courts nominated by the president and confirmed by the Senate of the Oliy Majlis; judges appointed for a single 10-year term; the court chairman and deputies appointed for 10-year terms without the right to reelection. (Article 132 of the constitution)
Judicial branch / subordinate courts: regional, district, city, and town courts
Political parties: Ecological Party of Uzbekistan or EPU Justice Social Democratic Party or ASDP People's Democratic Party of Uzbekistan or PDP Uzbekistan Liberal Democratic Party or UzLiDep Uzbekistan National Revival Democratic Party or UzMTDP
Diplomatic representation in the US / chief of mission: Ambassador Furqat SIDIKOV (since 19 April 2023)
Diplomatic representation in the US / chancery: 1746 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036
Diplomatic representation in the US / telephone: [1] (202) 887-5300
Diplomatic representation in the US / FAX: [1] (202) 293-6804
Diplomatic representation in the US / email address and website: info.washington@mfa.uz https://www.uzbekistan.org/
Diplomatic representation in the US / consulate(s) general: New York
Diplomatic representation from the US / chief of mission: Ambassador Jonathan HENICK (since 14 October 2022)
Diplomatic representation from the US / embassy: 3 Moyqorghon, 5th Block, Yunusobod District, 100093 Tashkent
Diplomatic representation from the US / mailing address: 7110 Tashkent Place, Washington DC 20521-7110
Diplomatic representation from the US / telephone: [998] 78-120-5450
Diplomatic representation from the US / FAX: [998] 78-120-6335
Diplomatic representation from the US / email address and website: ACSTashkent@state.gov https://uz.usembassy.gov/
International organization participation: ADB, CICA, CIS, EAEU (observer), EAPC, EBRD, ECO, EEU (observer), FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITSO, ITU, MIGA, NAM, OIC, OPCW, OSCE, PFP, SCO, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNOOSA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)
Independence: 1 September 1991 (from the Soviet Union)
National holiday: Independence Day, 1 September (1991)
Flag: description: three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), white, and green separated by narrow red stripes with a vertical white crescent moon and 12 five-pointed white stars in the left corner of the top band meaning: blue stands for the Turkic peoples and the sky, white for peace and the striving for purity in thoughts and deeds, and green for nature and Islam; the red stripes represent the vital force of all living organisms; the crescent stands for Islam, and the 12 stars for the months and constellations of the Uzbek calendar
National symbol(s): khumo (mythical bird)
National color(s): blue, white, red, green
National anthem(s) / title: "O'zbekiston Respublikasining Davlat Madhiyasi" (National Anthem of the Republic of Uzbekistan)
National anthem(s) / lyrics/music: Abdulla ARIPOV/Mutal BURHANOV
National anthem(s) / history: adopted 1992; after the fall of the Soviet Union, Uzbekistan kept the music of its Soviet-era anthem but adopted new lyrics
National heritage / total World Heritage Sites: 7 (5 cultural, 2 natural)
National heritage / selected World Heritage Site locales: Itchan Kala (c); Historic Bukhara (c); Historic Shakhrisyabz (c); Samarkand - Crossroad of Cultures (c); Western Tien Shan (n); Cold Winter Deserts of Turan (n); Silk Roads: Zarafshan-Karakum Corridor (c)

## Economy
Economic overview: lower-middle income Central Asian economy; key exporter of natural gas, cotton, and gold; ongoing reform efforts to reduce state-owned sector dominance, attract foreign investment, and improve sustainability of cotton production
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $379.989 billion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $356.797 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $335.678 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2024: 6.5% (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2023: 6.3% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2022: 6% (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2024: $10,500 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2023: $10,000 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2022: $9,600 (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $114.965 billion (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024: 9.6% (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023: 10% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 11.4% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / agriculture: 18.3% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / industry: 31.8% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / services: 45.2% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / household consumption: 68% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / government consumption: 13.9% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in fixed capital: 37.1% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in inventories: -3.8% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / exports of goods and services: 22.8% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / imports of goods and services: -38% (2024 est.)
Agricultural products: milk, wheat, cotton, potatoes, carrots/turnips, tomatoes, grapes, watermelons, vegetables, apples (2023)
Industries: textiles, food processing, machine building, metallurgy, mining, hydrocarbon extraction, chemicals
Industrial production growth rate: 7.2% (2024 est.)
Labor force: 13.974 million (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2024: 4.5% (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2023: 4.5% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2022: 4.5% (2022 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / total: 10.9% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / male: 7.2% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / female: 18.1% (2024 est.)
Population below poverty line: 11% (2023 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income / Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2023: 34.5 (2023 est.)
Average household expenditures / on food: 46.3% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Average household expenditures / on alcohol and tobacco: 3.2% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / lowest 10%: 2.1% (2023 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / highest 10%: 25.3% (2023 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2024: 14.4% of GDP (2024 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2023: 13.8% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2022: 17.2% of GDP (2022 est.)
Budget / revenues: $21.565 billion (2023 est.)
Budget / expenditures: $25.953 billion (2023 est.)
Public debt / Public debt 2016: 10.5% of GDP (2016 est.)
Taxes and other revenues: 11.5% (of GDP) (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2024: -$5.738 billion (2024 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2023: -$7.799 billion (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2022: -$2.847 billion (2022 est.)
Exports / Exports 2024: $26.173 billion (2024 est.)
Exports / Exports 2023: $25.05 billion (2023 est.)
Exports / Exports 2022: $20.966 billion (2022 est.)
Exports - partners: Switzerland 34%, Russia 12%, UK 11%, China 7%, Turkey 6% (2023)
Exports - commodities: gold, cotton yarn, garments, fertilizers, fabric (2023)
Imports / Imports 2024: $43.624 billion (2024 est.)
Imports / Imports 2023: $42.646 billion (2023 est.)
Imports / Imports 2022: $35.643 billion (2022 est.)
Imports - partners: China 32%, Russia 17%, Kazakhstan 8%, S. Korea 6%, Turkey 5% (2023)
Imports - commodities: cars, vehicle parts/accessories, packaged medicine, refined petroleum, aircraft (2023)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024: $41.237 billion (2024 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023: $34.558 billion (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $35.774 billion (2022 est.)
Debt - external / Debt - external 2023: $25.714 billion (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Currency: Uzbekistani soum (UZS) per US dollar -
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2024: 12,652.287 (2024 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2023: 11,734.833 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2022: 11,050.145 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2021: 10,609.464 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2020: 10,054.261 (2020 est.)

## Energy
Electricity access / electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)
Electricity / installed generating capacity: 17.901 million kW (2023 est.)
Electricity / consumption: 75.753 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / exports: 2.043 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / imports: 4.977 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / transmission/distribution losses: 3.433 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / fossil fuels: 90.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / solar: 0.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / hydroelectricity: 8.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Coal / production: 6.379 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / consumption: 8.941 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / exports: 4,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / imports: 3.521 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / proven reserves: 1.375 billion metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum / total petroleum production: 64,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Petroleum / refined petroleum consumption: 111,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Petroleum / crude oil estimated reserves: 594 million barrels (2021 est.)
Natural gas / production: 43.249 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / consumption: 44.455 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / exports: 1.308 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / imports: 2.514 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / proven reserves: 1.841 trillion cubic meters (2021 est.)
Energy consumption per capita / Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 55.305 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

## Communications
Telephones - fixed lines / total subscriptions: 6.147 million (2023 est.)
Telephones - fixed lines / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 17 (2023 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / total subscriptions: 40.2 million (2024 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 1,110 (2024 est.)
Broadcast media: state-controlled media; 17 state-owned broadcasters, including 13 TV and 4 radio, with national service; about 20 privately owned TV stations, overseen by local officials, broadcast locally; privately owned TV stations required to lease transmitters from state-owned Republic TV and Radio Industry Corporation (2019)
Internet country code: .uz
Internet users / percent of population: 89% (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / total: 10.8 million (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 30 (2023 est.)

## Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: UK
Airports: 74 (2025)
Heliports: 3 (2025)
Railways / total: 4,642 km (2018)
Railways / broad gauge: 4,642 km (2018) 1.520-m gauge (1,684 km electrified)

## Military and Security
Military and security forces: Armed Forces of Uzbekistan: Army, Air and Air Defense Forces; National Guard Ministry of Internal Affairs: Internal Security Troops, Border Guards, police (2024)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2019: 2.8% of GDP (2019 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2018: 2.9% of GDP (2018 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2017: 2.7% of GDP (2017 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2016: 2.5% of GDP (2016 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2015: 2.5% of GDP (2015 est.)
Military and security service personnel strengths: limited available information; estimated 50,000 active Armed Forces (2025)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the Uzbek Armed Forces use mainly Russian or Soviet-era armaments with smaller quantities of items from suppliers such as China, T&uuml;rkiye, and the US; Uzbekistan has a small defense industry, which is involved in repairing and maintaining aircraft and armored vehicles, as well as producing light armored vehicles, unmanned aerial vehicles/drones, and other military items (2025)
Military service age and obligation: 18-30 for voluntary/contract service for men and women; 18-27 years of age for compulsory military service for men with a 12-month service obligation (2025)
Military - note: the military&rsquo;s responsibilities include ensuring the country&rsquo;s sovereignty and territorial integrity, securing its borders, and assisting with internal security; regional security and international terrorism are areas of concern; Uzbekistan joined the Russian-sponsored Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) in the 1990s but withdrew in 1999; it returned in 2006 but left again in 2012; although not part of CSTO, Uzbekistan continues to maintain defense ties with Russia, including joint military exercises and defense industrial cooperation; it also has defense ties with other regional countries, including Azerbaijan, China, India, Kazakhstan, Pakistan, and Turkey; it is part of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and participates in SCO training exercises (2025)

## Space
Space agency/agencies: Space Research and Technology Agency (UzCosmos or UzSpace; established 2019) (2025)
Space program overview: has a small but growing space effort focused on acquiring satellites and developing the country&rsquo;s space industries and technologies in key sectors, including cartography, data processing, environmental and disaster monitoring, land use, resource management, and telecommunications; recognized for its astronomy program; member of international space organizations; cooperates with foreign space agencies or commercial companies from a variety of countries, including those of Canada, China, France, India, Israel, Japan, Kazakhstan, Russia, South Korea, Spain, Turkey, and the UAE (2025)
Key space-program milestones: 2018 - signed space cooperation agreements with France and India 2022 - signed space cooperation agreement with Kazakhstan 2025 - Uzbek engineers began two-year satellite development training program in Japan with goal of building country's first satellite; signed space cooperation agreement with South Korea; announced development of 10-year national space program

## Terrorism
Terrorist group(s): Islamic Jihad Union (IJU); Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU); Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham - Khorasan (ISIS-K)

## Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons / refugees: 8,505 (2024 est.)
Refugees and internally displaced persons / stateless persons: 20,000 (2024 est.)

=== Burma ===

## Introduction
Background: Burma is home to ethnic Burmans and scores of other ethnic and religious minority groups that have resisted external efforts to consolidate control of the country throughout its history. Britain conquered Burma over a period extending from the 1820s to the 1880s and administered it as a province of India until 1937, when Burma became a self-governing colony. Burma gained full independence in 1948. In 1962, General NE WIN seized power and ruled the country until 1988 when a new military regime took control. In 1990, the military regime permitted an election but then rejected the results after the main opposition National League for Democracy (NLD) and its leader AUNG SAN SUU KYI (ASSK) won in a landslide. The military regime placed ASSK under house arrest until 2010. In 2007, rising fuel prices in Burma led pro-democracy activists and Buddhist monks to launch a "Saffron Revolution" consisting of large protests against the regime, which violently suppressed the movement. The regime prevented new elections until it had drafted a constitution designed to preserve the military's political control; it passed the new constitution in its 2008 referendum. The regime conducted an election in 2010, but the NLD boycotted the vote, and the military’s political proxy, the Union Solidarity and Development Party, easily won; international observers denounced the election as flawed. Burma nonetheless began a halting process of political and economic reforms. ASSK's return to government in 2012 eventually led to the NLD's sweeping victory in the 2015 election. With ASSK as the de facto head of state, Burma’s first credibly elected civilian government drew international criticism for blocking investigations into Burma’s military operations -- which the US Department of State determined constituted genocide -- against its ethnic Rohingya population. When the 2020 elections resulted in further NLD gains, the military denounced the vote as fraudulent. In 2021, the military's senior leader General MIN AUNG HLAING launched a coup that returned Burma to authoritarian rule, with military crackdowns that undid reforms and resulted in the detention of ASSK and thousands of pro-democracy actors. Pro-democracy organizations have formed in the wake of the coup, including the National Unity Government (NUG). Members of the NUG include representatives from the NLD, ethnic minority groups, and civil society. In 2021, the NUG announced the formation of armed militias called the People's Defense Forces (PDF) and an insurgency against the military junta. As of 2024, PDF units across the country continued to fight the regime with varying levels of support from and cooperation with the NUG and other anti-regime organizations, including armed ethnic groups that have been fighting the central government for decades.

## Geography
Location: Southeastern Asia, bordering the Andaman Sea and the Bay of Bengal, between Bangladesh and Thailand
Geographic coordinates: 22 00 N, 98 00 E
Map references: Southeast Asia
Area / total: 676,578 sq km
Area / land: 653,508 sq km
Area / water: 23,070 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly smaller than Texas
Land boundaries / total: 6,522 km
Land boundaries / border countries: Bangladesh 271 km; China 2,129 km; India 1,468 km; Laos 238 km; Thailand 2,416 km
Coastline: 1,930 km
Maritime claims / territorial sea: 12 nm
Maritime claims / contiguous zone: 24 nm
Maritime claims / exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Maritime claims / continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
Climate: tropical monsoon; cloudy, rainy, hot, humid summers (southwest monsoon, June to September); less cloudy, scant rainfall, mild temperatures, lower humidity during winter (northeast monsoon, December to April)
Terrain: central lowlands ringed by steep, rugged highlands
Elevation / highest point: Gamlang Razi 5,870 m
Elevation / lowest point: Andaman Sea/Bay of Bengal 0 m
Elevation / mean elevation: 702 m
Natural resources: petroleum, timber, tin, antimony, zinc, copper, tungsten, lead, coal, marble, limestone, precious stones, natural gas, hydropower, arable land
Land use / agricultural land: 19.9% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 16.9% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 2.3% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 0.7% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 42.4% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 37.7% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land: 17,140 sq km (2020)
Major rivers (by length in km): Mekong (shared with China [s], Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam [m]) - 4,350 km; Salween river mouth (shared with China [s] and Thailand) - 3,060 km; Irrawaddy river mouth (shared with China [s]) - 2,809 km; Chindwin - 1,158 km note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Major watersheds (area sq km) / Indian Ocean drainage: Brahmaputra (651,335 sq km), Ganges (1,016,124 sq km), Irrawaddy (413,710 sq km), Salween (271,914 sq km)
Major watersheds (area sq km) / Pacific Ocean drainage: Mekong (805,604 sq km)
Population distribution: population concentrated along coastal areas and in general proximity to the shores of the Irrawaddy River; the extreme north is relatively underpopulated
Natural hazards: destructive earthquakes and cyclones; flooding and landslides common during rainy season (June to September); periodic droughts
Geography - note: strategic location near major Indian Ocean shipping lanes; the north-south flowing Irrawaddy River is the country's largest and most important commercial waterway

## People and Society
Population / total: 57,931,718 (2025 est.)
Population / male: 28,591,467
Population / female: 29,340,251
Nationality / noun: Burmese (singular and plural)
Nationality / adjective: Burmese
Ethnic groups: Burman (Bamar) 68%, Shan 9%, Karen 7%, Rakhine 4%, Chinese 3%, Indian 2%, Mon 2%, other 5%
Languages / Languages: Burmese (official)
Languages / major-language sample(s): ကမ္ဘာ့အချက်အလက်စာအုပ်- အခြေခံအချက်အလက်တွေအတွက် မရှိမဖြစ်တဲ့ အရင်းအမြစ် (Burmese) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
Religions: Buddhist 87.9%, Christian 6.2%, Muslim 4.3%, Animist 0.8%, Hindu 0.5%, other 0.2%, none 0.1% (2014 est.)
Age structure / 0-14 years: 24.4% (male 7,197,177/female 6,843,879)
Age structure / 15-64 years: 68.5% (male 19,420,361/female 19,998,625)
Age structure / 65 years and over: 7.1% (2024 est.) (male 1,770,293/female 2,296,804)
Dependency ratios / total dependency ratio: 45.7 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / youth dependency ratio: 35 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / elderly dependency ratio: 10.7 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / potential support ratio: 9.3 (2025 est.)
Median age / total: 31.1 years (2025 est.)
Median age / male: 29.9 years
Median age / female: 31.6 years
Population growth rate: 0.69% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 15.44 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 7.17 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: -1.36 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution: population concentrated along coastal areas and in general proximity to the shores of the Irrawaddy River; the extreme north is relatively underpopulated
Urbanization / urban population: 32.1% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 1.85% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 5.610 million RANGOON (Yangon) (capital), 1.532 million Mandalay (2023)
Sex ratio / at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 65 years and over: 0.77 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth: 24.7 years (2015/16 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio: 185 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Infant mortality rate / total: 30.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Infant mortality rate / male: 35.4 deaths/1,000 live births
Infant mortality rate / female: 28.5 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth / total population: 70.3 years (2024 est.)
Life expectancy at birth / male: 68.5 years
Life expectancy at birth / female: 72.1 years
Total fertility rate: 1.95 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 0.95 (2025 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: urban: urban: 93.7% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: rural: rural: 77.1% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: total: total: 82.4% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: urban: urban: 6.3% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: rural: rural: 22.9% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: total: total: 17.6% of population (2022 est.)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 5.6% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 2.5% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density: 0.76 physicians/1,000 population (2019)
Hospital bed density: 1.1 beds/1,000 population (2020 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: urban: urban: 94.1% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: rural: rural: 82% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: total: total: 85.9% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: urban: urban: 5.9% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: rural: rural: 18% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: total: total: 14.1% of population (2022 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 5.8% (2016)
Alcohol consumption per capita / total: 2.06 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / beer: 0.5 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / wine: 0.02 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / spirits: 1.55 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / other alcohols: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Tobacco use / total: 42.2% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / male: 68.1% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / female: 17.1% (2025 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 19.5% (2018 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49): 58% (2019 est.)
Child marriage / women married by age 15: 1.9% (2016)
Child marriage / women married by age 18: 16% (2016)
Child marriage / men married by age 18: 5% (2016)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% GDP): 2% of GDP (2019 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% national budget): 9.7% national budget (2019 est.)
Literacy / total population: 93.5% (2020 est.)
Literacy / male: 94.7% (2020 est.)
Literacy / female: 92.7% (2020 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / total: 12 years (2018 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / male: 11 years (2018 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / female: 12 years (2018 est.)

## Environment
Environmental issues: deforestation; industrial pollution of air, soil, and water; inadequate sanitation and water treatment; rapid depletion of the country's natural resources
International environmental agreements / party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands
International environmental agreements / signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Climate: tropical monsoon; cloudy, rainy, hot, humid summers (southwest monsoon, June to September); less cloudy, scant rainfall, mild temperatures, lower humidity during winter (northeast monsoon, December to April)
Land use / agricultural land: 19.9% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 16.9% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 2.3% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 0.7% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 42.4% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 37.7% (2023 est.)
Urbanization / urban population: 32.1% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 1.85% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / total emissions: 27.005 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from coal and metallurgical coke: 1.24 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from petroleum and other liquids: 17.39 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from consumed natural gas: 8.376 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Particulate matter emissions: 27.2 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Waste and recycling / municipal solid waste generated annually: 4.677 million tons (2024 est.)
Waste and recycling / percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 12.3% (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / municipal: 3.323 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / industrial: 498.4 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / agricultural: 29.57 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total renewable water resources: 1.168 trillion cubic meters (2022 est.)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: Union of Burma
Country name / conventional short form: Burma
Country name / local long form: Pyidaungzu Thammada Myanma Naingngandaw (translated as the Republic of the Union of Myanmar)
Country name / local short form: Myanma Naingngandaw
Country name / former: Socialist Republic of the Union of Burma, Union of Myanmar
Country name / etymology: both "Burma" and "Myanmar" derive from the name of the majority Burman (Bamar) ethnic group, with the term myanma , or "the strong," being the group's name for itself
Government type: military regime
Capital / name: Rangoon (aka Yangon, continues to be recognized as the primary Burmese capital by the US Government); Nay Pyi Taw is the administrative capital
Capital / geographic coordinates: 16 48 N, 96 10 E
Capital / time difference: UTC+6.5 (11.5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Capital / etymology: Rangoon/Yangon derives from the Burmese words yan and koun , commonly translated as "end of strife"; Nay Pyi Taw translates as "abode of kings"
Administrative divisions: 7 regions ( taing-myar , singular - taing ), 7 states ( pyi ne-myar , singular - pyi ne ), 1 union territory regions: Ayeyarwady (Irrawaddy), Bago, Magway, Mandalay, Sagaing, Tanintharyi, Yangon (Rangoon) states: Chin, Kachin, Kayah, Karen, Mon, Rakhine, Shan union territory: Nay Pyi Taw
Legal system: mixed legal system of English common law (as introduced in codifications designed for colonial India) and customary law
Constitution / history: previous 1947, 1974 (suspended until 2008); latest drafted 9 April 2008, approved by referendum 29 May 2008
Constitution / amendment process: proposals require at least 20% approval by the Assembly of the Union membership; passage of amendments to sections of the constitution on basic principles, government structure, branches of government, state emergencies, and amendment procedures requires 75% approval by the Assembly and approval in a referendum by absolute majority of registered voters; passage of amendments to other sections requires only 75% Assembly approval; military granted 25% of parliamentary seats by default
International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt
Citizenship / citizenship by birth: no
Citizenship / citizenship by descent only: both parents must be citizens of Burma
Citizenship / dual citizenship recognized: no
Citizenship / residency requirement for naturalization: none
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch / chief of state: Acting President Sr. Gen. MIN AUNG HLAING (since 31 July 2025)
Executive branch / head of government: Prime Minister NYO SAW (since 31 July 2025)
Executive branch / cabinet: Cabinet appointments shared by the president and the commander-in-chief
Executive branch / election/appointment process: prior to the military takeover in 2021, president was indirectly elected by simple majority vote by the full Assembly of the Union from among 3 vice-presidential candidates nominated by the Presidential Electoral College (consists of members of the lower and upper houses and military members); the other 2 candidates became vice presidents (president elected for a 5-year term)
Executive branch / most recent election date: 8 November 2020
Executive branch / election results: 2020: the National League for Democracy (NLD) won 396 seats across both houses -- well above the 322 required for a parliamentary majority -- but on 1 February 2021, the military claimed the results of the election were illegitimate and deposed State Counsellor AUNG SAN SUU KYI and President WIN MYINT of the NLD, causing military-affiliated Vice President MYINT SWE (USDP) to become acting president; MYINT SWE subsequently handed power to coup leader MIN AUNG HLAING; WIN MYINT and other key leaders of the ruling NLD party were placed under arrest after the military takeover 2018 : WIN MYINT elected president in an indirect by-election held on 28 March 2018 after the resignation of HTIN KYAW; Assembly of the Union vote for president - WIN MYINT (NLD) 403, MYINT SWE (USDP) 211, HENRY VAN THIO (NLD) 18, 4 votes canceled (636 votes cast)
Executive branch / expected date of next election: on 31 July 2025, the military government announced that it was preparing for elections to be held in December 2025
Executive branch / state counsellor: State Counselor AUNG SAN SUU KYI (since 6 April 2016); note - under arrest since 1 February 2021
Legislative branch / legislature name: Assembly of the Union (Pyidaungsu Hluttaw)
Legislative branch / legislative structure: bicameral
Legislative branch / most recent election date: 28 December 2025
Legislative branch / expected date of next election: on 31 July 2025, the military government announced that it was preparing for elections to be held in late December 2025
Judicial branch / highest court(s): Supreme Court of the Union (consists of the chief justice and 7-11 judges)
Judicial branch / judge selection and term of office: chief justice and judges nominated by the president, with approval of the Lower House, and appointed by the president; judges normally serve until mandatory retirement at age 70
Judicial branch / subordinate courts: High Courts of the Region; High Courts of the State; Court of the Self-Administered Division; Court of the Self-Administered Zone; district and township courts; special courts (for juvenile, municipal, and traffic offenses); courts martial
Political parties: according to the military regime, more than 50 parties registered and were approved for the December 2025 election, but only 9 contested nationwide; the remainder ran in regional or state constituencies the 9 parties included: Democratic Party of National Politics (DNP) Myanmar Farmers Development Party (MFDP) National Democratic Force Party (NDF) National Unity Party (NUP) People’s Party People’s Pioneer Party (PPP) Shan and Ethnic Democratic Party (SEDP) Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) Women’s Party (Mon)
Diplomatic representation in the US / chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charg&eacute; d'Affaires Soe Thet NAUNG (since 24 June 2025)
Diplomatic representation in the US / chancery: 2300 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation in the US / telephone: [1] (202) 332-3344
Diplomatic representation in the US / FAX: [1] (202) 332-4351
Diplomatic representation in the US / email address and website: washington-embassy@mofa.gov.mm https://www.mewashingtondc.org/
Diplomatic representation in the US / consulate(s) general: Los Angeles
Diplomatic representation from the US / chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charg&eacute; d&rsquo;Affaires Susan STEVENSON (since 10 July 2023)
Diplomatic representation from the US / embassy: 110 University Avenue, Kamayut Township, Rangoon
Diplomatic representation from the US / mailing address: 4250 Rangoon Place, Washington DC 20521-4250
Diplomatic representation from the US / telephone: [95] (1) 753-6509
Diplomatic representation from the US / FAX: [95] (1) 751-1069
Diplomatic representation from the US / email address and website: ACSRangoon@state.gov https://mm.usembassy.gov/
International organization participation: ADB, ARF, ASEAN, BIMSTEC, CP, EAS, EITI (candidate country), FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITU, ITUC (NGOs), NAM, OPCW (signatory), SAARC (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Independence: 4 January 1948 (from the UK)
National holiday: Independence Day, 4 January (1948); Union Day, 12 February (1947)
Flag: description: three equal horizontal stripes of yellow (top), green, and red; centered on the green band is a five-pointed white star that overlaps onto the yellow and red stripes history: the design revives the triband colors that Burma used from 1943 to 1945, during the Japanese occupation
National symbol(s): chinthe (mythical lion)
National color(s): yellow, green, red, white
National anthem(s) / title: "Kaba Ma Kyei" (Till the End of the World)
National anthem(s) / lyrics/music: SAYA TIN
National anthem(s) / history: adopted 1948
National heritage / total World Heritage Sites: 2 (both cultural)
National heritage / selected World Heritage Site locales: Pyu Ancient Cities; Bagan

## Economy
Economic overview: slowly recovering Southeast Asian economy; household incomes weaken domestic consumption; growing trade deficit; declining employment; high inflation and reduced currency power; agriculture sector remains most stable
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $287.559 billion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $290.381 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $287.624 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2024: -1% (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2023: 1% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2022: 4% (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2024: $5,300 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2023: $5,400 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2022: $5,400 (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $74.08 billion (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2019: 8.8% (2019 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2018: 6.9% (2018 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2017: 4.6% (2017 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / agriculture: 20.8% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / industry: 37.8% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / services: 41.4% (2024 est.)
Agricultural products: rice, sugarcane, vegetables, beans, maize, groundnuts, plantains, fruits, coconuts, onions (2023)
Industries: agricultural processing; wood and wood products; copper, tin, tungsten, iron; cement, construction materials; pharmaceuticals; fertilizer; oil and natural gas; garments; jade and gems
Industrial production growth rate: -0.2% (2024 est.)
Labor force: 22.742 million (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2024: 3.1% (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2023: 3.1% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2022: 3.1% (2022 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / total: 10% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / male: 10.5% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / female: 9.4% (2024 est.)
Population below poverty line: 24.8% (2017 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income / Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2017: 30.7 (2017 est.)
Average household expenditures / on food: 53.9% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Average household expenditures / on alcohol and tobacco: 0.5% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / lowest 10%: 3.8% (2017 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / highest 10%: 25.5% (2017 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2023: 1.6% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2022: 2% of GDP (2022 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2021: 1.9% of GDP (2021 est.)
Budget / revenues: $10.945 billion (2019 est.)
Budget / expenditures: $10.22 billion (2019 est.)
Public debt / Public debt 2016: 35.7% of GDP (2016 est.)
Taxes and other revenues: 6% (of GDP) (2019 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2019: $67.72 million (2019 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2018: -$2.561 billion (2018 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2017: -$4.917 billion (2017 est.)
Exports / Exports 2021: $20.4 billion (2021 est.)
Exports / Exports 2019: $17.523 billion (2019 est.)
Exports / Exports 2018: $15.728 billion (2018 est.)
Exports - partners: China 32%, Thailand 16%, Japan 7%, Germany 6%, India 5% (2023)
Exports - commodities: garments, natural gas, dried legumes, rare-earth metal compounds, precious stones (2023)
Imports / Imports 2021: $23.1 billion (2021 est.)
Imports / Imports 2019: $17.356 billion (2019 est.)
Imports / Imports 2018: $18.664 billion (2018 est.)
Imports - partners: China 40%, Thailand 18%, Singapore 15%, Indonesia 4%, Malaysia 4% (2023)
Imports - commodities: refined petroleum, synthetic fabric, fertilizers, crude petroleum, fabric (2023)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023: $9.338 billion (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $8.182 billion (2022 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2021: $9.103 billion (2021 est.)
Debt - external / Debt - external 2023: $8.748 billion (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Currency: kyats (MMK) per US dollar -
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2023: 2,100 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2022: 1,932.543 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2021: 1,615.367 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2020: 1,381.619 (2020 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2019: 1,518.255 (2019 est.)

## Energy
Electricity access / electrification - total population: 73.7% (2022 est.)
Electricity access / electrification - urban areas: 93.9%
Electricity access / electrification - rural areas: 62.8%
Electricity / installed generating capacity: 7.419 million kW (2023 est.)
Electricity / consumption: 23.625 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / exports: 200 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / transmission/distribution losses: 1.855 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / fossil fuels: 61.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / solar: 0.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / hydroelectricity: 36.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / biomass and waste: 1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Coal / production: 1.031 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / consumption: 907,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / exports: 221,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / imports: 67,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / proven reserves: 252 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum / total petroleum production: 7,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Petroleum / refined petroleum consumption: 122,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Petroleum / crude oil estimated reserves: 139 million barrels (2021 est.)
Natural gas / production: 13.549 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / consumption: 4.241 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / exports: 9.29 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / imports: 219.822 million cubic meters (2021 est.)
Natural gas / proven reserves: 637.129 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)
Energy consumption per capita / Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 8.384 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

## Communications
Telephones - fixed lines / total subscriptions: 559,000 (2024 est.)
Telephones - fixed lines / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 1 (2024 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / total subscriptions: 62.3 million (2024 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 114 (2024 est.)
Broadcast media: government controls all domestic broadcast media; 2 state-controlled TV stations, with 1 controlled by the armed forces; 2 pay-TV stations are joint state-private ventures; 1 state-controlled radio station; 9 FM stations are joint state-private ventures; several international broadcasts are available in some areas; the Voice of America (VOA), Radio Free Asia (RFA), BBC Burmese service, the Democratic Voice of Burma (DVB), and Radio Australia use shortwave to broadcast; VOA, RFA, and DVB produce daily TV news programs that are transmitted by satellite; in 2017, the government granted licenses to 5 private broadcasters for digital free-to-air TV channels to be operated in partnership with government-owned Myanmar Radio and Television (MRTV); after the 2021 military coup, the regime revoked the media licenses of most independent outlets, including the free-to-air licenses for DVB and Mizzima (2022)
Internet country code: .mm
Internet users / percent of population: 59% (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / total: 1.51 million (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 3 (2023 est.)

## Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: XY
Airports: 74 (2025)
Heliports: 6 (2025)
Railways / total: 5,031 km (2008)
Railways / narrow gauge: 5,031 km (2008) 1.000-m gauge
Merchant marine / total: 101 (2023)
Merchant marine / by type: bulk carrier 1, general cargo 44, oil tanker 5, other 51
Ports / total ports: 7 (2024)
Ports / large: 0
Ports / medium: 0
Ports / small: 5
Ports / very small: 2
Ports / ports with oil terminals: 3
Ports / key ports: Bassein, Mergui, Moulmein Harbor, Rangoon, Sittwe

## Military and Security
Military and security forces: Burmese Defense Service (aka Armed Forces of Burma, Myanmar Army, Royal Armed Forces, the Tatmadaw, or the Sit-Tat): Army (Tatmadaw Kyi), Navy (Tatmadaw Yay), Air Force (Tatmadaw Lay); People’s Militia Ministry of Home Affairs: Burma (People's) Police Force, Border Guard Forces/Police (2025)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2023: 3.9% of GDP (2023 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2022: 3.6% of GDP (2022 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2021: 3.5% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2020: 3% of GDP (2020 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2019: 4.1% of GDP (2019 est.)
Military and security service personnel strengths: information varies; estimated 150,000 active military personnel (2025)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the Burmese military's inventory is comprised of mostly Chinese, Russian, or Soviet-era armaments; Burma's defense industry is involved in shipbuilding and the production of ground force equipment based largely on Chinese and Russian designs (2025)
Military service age and obligation: 18-35 years of age (men) and 18-27 years of age (women) for voluntary and conscripted military service; 24-month service obligation; conscripted professional men (ages 18-45) and women (ages 18-35), including doctors, engineers, and mechanics, serve up to 36 months; service terms may be extended to 60 months in an officially declared emergency (2025)
Military - note: since the country’s founding, the Tatmadaw has been deeply involved in domestic politics and the national economy; it ran the country for five decades following a military coup in 1962; prior to the most recent coup in 2021, the military already controlled three key security ministries (Defense, Border, and Home Affairs), one of two vice presidential appointments, 25% of the parliamentary seats, and had a proxy political party, the Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP); it owns and operates two business conglomerates that have over 100 subsidiaries; the business activities of these conglomerates include banking and insurance, hotels, tourism, jade and ruby mining, timber, construction, real estate, and the production of palm oil, sugar, soap, cement, beverages, drinking water, coal, and gas; some of the companies supply goods and services to the military, such as food, clothing, insurance, and cellphone service; the military also manages a film industry, publishing houses, and television stations the Tatmadaw's primary operational focus is internal security, and it is conducting counterinsurgency operations against anti-regime forces that launched an armed rebellion following the 2021 coup and an array of ethnic armed groups (EAGs); as of 2024, the Tatmadaw was reportedly engaged in combat operations in 10 of its 14 regional commands EAGs have been fighting for self-rule against the Burmese Government since 1948; they range in strength from a few hundred fighters up to an estimated 30,000; some are organized along military lines with "brigades" and "divisions" and armed with heavy weaponry, including artillery; they control large tracts of the country’s territory, primarily in the border regions; key groups include the United Wa State Army, Karen National Union, Kachin Independence Army, Arakan Army, Ta’ang National Liberation Army, and the Myanmar Nationalities Democratic Alliance Army the opposition National Unity Government claims its armed wing, the People's Defense Force (PDF), has more than 60,000 fighters loosely organized into battalions; in addition, several EAGs have cooperated with the NUG and supported local PDF groups (2024)

## Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons / IDPs: 3,646,658 (2024 est.)
Refugees and internally displaced persons / stateless persons: 619,429 (2024 est.)
Trafficking in persons / tier rating: Tier 3 — Burma does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and is not making significant efforts to do so, therefore, Burma remained on Tier 3; for more details, go to: https://www.state.gov/reports/2025-trafficking-in-persons-report/burma/
Illicit drugs / USG identification: major illicit drug-producing and/or drug-transit country major precursor-chemical producer (2025)

=== Brunei ===

## Introduction
Background: The Sultanate of Brunei's influence peaked between the 15th and 17th centuries, when its control extended over coastal areas of northwest Borneo and the southern Philippines. Internal strife over royal succession, colonial expansion of European powers, and piracy subsequently brought on a period of decline. In 1888, Brunei became a British protectorate; independence was achieved in 1984. The same family has ruled Brunei for over six centuries, and in 2017, the country celebrated the 50th anniversary of Sultan Hassanal BOLKIAH&rsquo;s accession to the throne. Brunei has one of the highest per-capita GDPs in the world, thanks to extensive petroleum and natural gas fields.

## Geography
Location: Southeastern Asia, along the northern coast of the island of Borneo, bordering the South China Sea and Malaysia
Geographic coordinates: 4 30 N, 114 40 E
Map references: Southeast Asia
Area / total: 5,765 sq km
Area / land: 5,265 sq km
Area / water: 500 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly smaller than Delaware
Land boundaries / total: 266 km
Land boundaries / border countries: Malaysia 266 km
Coastline: 161 km
Maritime claims / territorial sea: 12 nm
Maritime claims / exclusive economic zone: 200 nm or to median line
Climate: tropical; hot, humid, rainy
Terrain: flat coastal plain rises to mountains in east; hilly lowland in west
Elevation / highest point: Bukit Pagon 1,850 m
Elevation / lowest point: South China Sea 0 m
Elevation / mean elevation: 478 m
Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas, timber
Land use / agricultural land: 2.5% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 0.8% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 1.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 0.6% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 72.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 25.4% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land: 10 sq km (2012)
Population distribution: the vast majority of the population is found along the coast in the western part of Brunei, which is separated from the eastern portion by Malaysia; the largest population concentration is in the far north on the western side of the Brunei Bay, in and around the capital of Bandar Seri Begawan
Natural hazards: typhoons, earthquakes, and severe flooding are rare
Geography - note: close to vital sea lanes through South China Sea linking Indian and Pacific Oceans; two parts physically separated by Malaysia; the eastern part, the Temburong district, is an exclave and is almost an enclave within Malaysia

## People and Society
Population / total: 491,900 (2024 est.)
Population / male: 239,140
Population / female: 252,760
Nationality / noun: Bruneian(s)
Nationality / adjective: Bruneian
Ethnic groups: Malay 67.4%, Chinese 9.6%, other 23% (2021 est.)
Languages / Languages: Malay (Bahasa Melayu) (official), English, Chinese dialects
Languages / major-language sample(s): Buku Fakta Dunia, sumber yang diperlukan untuk maklumat asas. (Malay) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
Religions: Muslim (official) 82.1%, Christian 6.7%, Buddhist 6.3%, other 4.9% (2021 est.)
Age structure / 0-14 years: 21.7% (male 54,924/female 51,710)
Age structure / 15-64 years: 70.8% (male 166,289/female 182,011)
Age structure / 65 years and over: 7.5% (2024 est.) (male 17,927/female 19,039)
Dependency ratios / total dependency ratio: 41.2 (2024 est.)
Dependency ratios / youth dependency ratio: 30.6 (2024 est.)
Dependency ratios / elderly dependency ratio: 10.6 (2024 est.)
Dependency ratios / potential support ratio: 9.4 (2024 est.)
Median age / total: 32.6 years (2025 est.)
Median age / male: 31.4 years
Median age / female: 33.1 years
Population growth rate: 1.37% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 15.58 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 3.96 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: 2.09 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution: the vast majority of the population is found along the coast in the western part of Brunei, which is separated from the eastern portion by Malaysia; the largest population concentration is in the far north on the western side of the Brunei Bay, in and around the capital of Bandar Seri Begawan
Urbanization / urban population: 79.1% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 1.44% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 266,682 BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN (capital) (2021)
Sex ratio / at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 15-64 years: 0.91 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 65 years and over: 0.94 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio: 36 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Infant mortality rate / total: 9.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Infant mortality rate / male: 12.2 deaths/1,000 live births
Infant mortality rate / female: 7.7 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth / total population: 78.9 years (2024 est.)
Life expectancy at birth / male: 76.5 years
Life expectancy at birth / female: 81.3 years
Total fertility rate: 1.73 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 0.85 (2025 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: total: total: 99.9% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: urban: urban: 0.4% of population
Drinking water source / unimproved: rural: rural: 0% of population
Drinking water source / unimproved: total: total: 0.1% of population (2022 est.)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 2.2% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 6.4% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density: 1.89 physicians/1,000 population (2021)
Hospital bed density: 3.9 beds/1,000 population (2021 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: total: total: 99.5% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: total: total: 0.5% of population (2022 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 14.1% (2016)
Alcohol consumption per capita / total: 0.69 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / beer: 0.66 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / wine: 0.04 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / spirits: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / other alcohols: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Tobacco use / total: 17% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / male: 31.2% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / female: 1.9% (2025 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% GDP): 4.4% of GDP (2016 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% national budget): 11.4% national budget (2016 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / total: 14 years (2023 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / male: 13 years (2023 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / female: 14 years (2023 est.)

## Environment
Environmental issues: air pollution, including seasonal haze from forest fires in Indonesia
International environmental agreements / party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution
International environmental agreements / signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Climate: tropical; hot, humid, rainy
Land use / agricultural land: 2.5% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 0.8% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 1.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 0.6% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 72.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 25.4% (2023 est.)
Urbanization / urban population: 79.1% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 1.44% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / total emissions: 10.823 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from coal and metallurgical coke: 998,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from petroleum and other liquids: 2.175 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from consumed natural gas: 7.65 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Particulate matter emissions: 7.4 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Methane emissions / energy: 50.5 kt (2022-2024 est.)
Methane emissions / agriculture: 0.9 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Methane emissions / waste: 9.2 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Methane emissions / other: 0.3 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Waste and recycling / municipal solid waste generated annually: 216,300 tons (2024 est.)
Waste and recycling / percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 20% (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / municipal: 151.5 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / agricultural: 5.3 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total renewable water resources: 8.5 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: Brunei Darussalam
Country name / conventional short form: Brunei
Country name / local long form: Negara Brunei Darussalam
Country name / local short form: Brunei
Country name / etymology: derivation of the name is unclear; the name may come from the Sanskrit word bhumi , meaning "land" or "region"
Government type: absolute monarchy or sultanate
Capital / name: Bandar Seri Begawan
Capital / geographic coordinates: 4 53 N, 114 56 E
Capital / time difference: UTC+8 (13 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Capital / etymology: named in 1970 after Sultan Omar Ali SAIFUDDIEN III (1914-1986), who adopted the title of "Seri Begawan" (approximately meaning "honored lord") when he abdicated in 1967; "bandar" means "city" or "port" in Malay; the capital had previously been called Bandar Brunei (Brunei City)
Administrative divisions: 4 districts ( daerah-daerah , singular - daerah ); Belait, Brunei dan Muara, Temburong, Tutong
Legal system: mixed legal system based on English common law and Islamic law
Constitution / history: drafted 1954 to 1959, signed 29 September 1959
Constitution / amendment process: proposed by the monarch; passage requires submission to the Privy Council for Legislative Council review and finalization takes place by proclamation; the monarch can accept or reject changes to the original proposal provided by the Legislative Council
International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICC
Citizenship / citizenship by birth: no
Citizenship / citizenship by descent only: the father must be a citizen of Brunei
Citizenship / dual citizenship recognized: no
Citizenship / residency requirement for naturalization: 12 years
Suffrage: 18 years of age for village elections; universal
Executive branch / chief of state: Sultan and Prime Minister Sir HASSANAL Bolkiah (since 5 October 1967)
Executive branch / head of government: Sultan and Prime Minister Sir HASSANAL Bolkiah (since 5 October 1967)
Executive branch / cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed and presided over by the monarch
Executive branch / election/appointment process: none; the monarchy is hereditary
Legislative branch / legislature name: Legislative Council (Majlis Mesyuarat Negara)
Legislative branch / legislative structure: unicameral
Legislative branch / number of seats: 45 (all appointed)
Legislative branch / electoral system: plurality/majority
Legislative branch / scope of elections: full renewal
Legislative branch / term in office: 5 years
Legislative branch / most recent election date: 1/20/2023
Legislative branch / percentage of women in chamber: 11.4%
Legislative branch / expected date of next election: January 2028
Judicial branch / highest court(s): Supreme Court (consists of the Court of Appeal and the High Court, each with a chief justice and 2 judges); Sharia Court (consists the Court of Appeals and the High Court)
Judicial branch / judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court judges appointed by the monarch to serve until age 65, and older if approved by the monarch; Sharia Court judges appointed by the monarch for life
Judicial branch / subordinate courts: Intermediate Court; Magistrates' Courts; Juvenile Court; small claims courts; lower sharia courts
Political parties: National Development Party or NDP
Diplomatic representation in the US / chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charg&eacute; d'Affaires IZZATI Baharuddin (since 6 May 2025)
Diplomatic representation in the US / chancery: 3520 International Court NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation in the US / telephone: [1] (202) 237-1838
Diplomatic representation in the US / FAX: [1] (202) 885-0560
Diplomatic representation in the US / email address and website: info@bruneiembassy.org http://www.bruneiembassy.org/index.html
Diplomatic representation in the US / consulate(s): New York
Diplomatic representation from the US / chief of mission: Ambassador Caryn R. McCLELLAND (since December 2021)
Diplomatic representation from the US / embassy: Simpang 336-52-16-9, Jalan Duta, Bandar Seri Begawan, BC4115
Diplomatic representation from the US / mailing address: 4020 Bandar Seri Begawan Place, Washington DC 20521-4020
Diplomatic representation from the US / telephone: (673) 238-7400
Diplomatic representation from the US / FAX: (673) 238-7533
Diplomatic representation from the US / email address and website: ConsularBrunei@state.gov https://bn.usembassy.gov/
International organization participation: ADB, APEC, ARF, ASEAN, C, CP, EAS, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), ICRM, IDA, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, NAM, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIFIL, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Independence: 1 January 1984 (from the UK)
National holiday: National Day, 23 February (1984)
Flag: description: yellow with a diagonal white band and second below it in black, both starting from the upper left; the national emblem in red is at the center; the state motto, "Always render service with God's guidance," appears in yellow Arabic script on the emblem's crescent; a ribbon below the crescent reads "Brunei, the Abode of Peace" meaning: yellow symbolizes the sultanate, and the white and black bands stand for the chief ministers; the emblem includes a royal umbrella (the monarchy), two wings with four feathers (justice, tranquility, prosperity, and peace), two upraised hands (the government's pledge to preserve and promote the people's welfare), and the crescent moon of Islam (the state religion)
National symbol(s): royal parasol
National color(s): yellow, white, black
National anthem(s) / title: "Allah Peliharakan Sultan" (God Bless His Majesty)
National anthem(s) / lyrics/music: Pengiran Haji Mohamed YUSUF bin Pengiran Abdul Rahim/Awang Haji BESAR bin Sagap
National anthem(s) / history: adopted 1951

## Economy
Economic overview: almost exclusively an oil and gas economy; high income country; expansive and robust welfare system; the majority of the population works for the government; promulgating a nationalized halal brand; considering establishment of a bond market and stock exchange
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $36.64 billion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $35.163 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $34.771 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2024: 4.2% (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2023: 1.1% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2022: -1.6% (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2024: $79,200 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2023: $76,600 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2022: $76,400 (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $15.463 billion (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024: -0.4% (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023: 0.4% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 3.7% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / agriculture: 1.2% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / industry: 61.7% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / services: 38.7% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / household consumption: 28.5% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / government consumption: 23% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in fixed capital: 28.2% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in inventories: 0.2% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / exports of goods and services: 74.3% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / imports of goods and services: -58.9% (2024 est.)
Agricultural products: chicken, eggs, fruits, vegetables, rice, bananas, beans, cucumbers/gherkins, pineapples, beef (2023)
Industries: petroleum, petroleum refining, liquefied natural gas, construction, agriculture, aquaculture, transportation
Industrial production growth rate: 5.7% (2024 est.)
Labor force: 233,500 (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2024: 5.2% (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2023: 5.2% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2022: 5.2% (2022 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / total: 18.5% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / male: 16.5% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / female: 21.6% (2024 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2023: 0% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2022: 0% of GDP (2022 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2021: 0% of GDP (2021 est.)
Budget / revenues: $1.058 billion (2020 est.)
Budget / expenditures: $3.189 billion (2020 est.)
Public debt / Public debt 2017: 2.8% of GDP (2017 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2024: $2.23 billion (2024 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2023: $1.944 billion (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2022: $3.256 billion (2022 est.)
Exports / Exports 2024: $11.483 billion (2024 est.)
Exports / Exports 2023: $11.573 billion (2023 est.)
Exports / Exports 2022: $14.405 billion (2022 est.)
Exports - partners: Australia 21%, Japan 17%, China 17%, Singapore 16%, Malaysia 6% (2023)
Exports - commodities: refined petroleum, natural gas, crude petroleum, hydrocarbons, fertilizers (2023)
Imports / Imports 2024: $9.11 billion (2024 est.)
Imports / Imports 2023: $9.077 billion (2023 est.)
Imports / Imports 2022: $10.099 billion (2022 est.)
Imports - partners: Malaysia 23%, UAE 10%, China 10%, UK 10%, Australia 6% (2023)
Imports - commodities: crude petroleum, gold, refined petroleum, coal, cars (2023)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024: $4.414 billion (2024 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023: $4.483 billion (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $5.035 billion (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Currency: Bruneian dollars (BND) per US dollar -
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2024: 1.336 (2024 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2023: 1.343 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2022: 1.379 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2021: 1.344 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2020: 1.38 (2020 est.)

## Energy
Electricity access / electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)
Electricity / installed generating capacity: 904,000 kW (2023 est.)
Electricity / consumption: 5.081 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / transmission/distribution losses: 502.188 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / fossil fuels: 99.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / solar: 0.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Coal / consumption: 841,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / imports: 841,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum / total petroleum production: 95,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Petroleum / refined petroleum consumption: 15,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Petroleum / crude oil estimated reserves: 1.1 billion barrels (2021 est.)
Natural gas / production: 10.093 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / consumption: 3.911 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / exports: 5.733 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / proven reserves: 260.515 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)
Energy consumption per capita / Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 403.365 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

## Communications
Telephones - fixed lines / total subscriptions: 122,000 (2023 est.)
Telephones - fixed lines / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 26 (2023 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / total subscriptions: 582,919 (2023 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 118 (2024 est.)
Broadcast media: state-controlled Radio Television Brunei (RTB) operates 5 channels; 3 Malaysian TV stations are available; foreign TV broadcasts are available via satellite systems; RTB operates 5 radio networks and broadcasts on multiple frequencies; British Forces Broadcast Service (BFBS) provides radio broadcasts on 2 FM stations; some radio broadcast stations from Malaysia are available via repeaters
Internet country code: .bn
Internet users / percent of population: 99% (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / total: 93,000 (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 20 (2023 est.)

## Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: V8
Airports: 2 (2025)
Heliports: 14 (2025)
Merchant marine / total: 97 (2023)
Merchant marine / by type: general cargo 18, oil tanker 2, other 77
Ports / total ports: 5 (2024)
Ports / large: 0
Ports / medium: 0
Ports / small: 2
Ports / very small: 3
Ports / ports with oil terminals: 5
Ports / key ports: Bandar Seri Begawan, Kuala Belait, Lumut, Muara Harbor, Seria Oil Loading Terminal

## Military and Security
Military and security forces: Royal Brunei Armed Forces (RBAF) or Angkatan Bersenjata Diraja Brunei (ABDB): Royal Brunei Land Force (RBLF), Royal Brunei Navy (RBN), Royal Brunei Air Force (RBAirF) (2025)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2023: 3% of GDP (2023 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2022: 2.6% of GDP (2022 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2021: 3.1% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2020: 3.7% of GDP (2020 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2019: 3.1% of GDP (2019 est.)
Military and security service personnel strengths: approximately 7,000 active Armed Forces (2025)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the military's s inventory includes equipment and weapons systems from a variety of suppliers from Asia, Europe, and the US (2025)
Military service age and obligation: 18-25 years of age for voluntary military service (2025)
Military - note: the Royal Brunei Armed Forces (RBAF) are responsible for ensuring the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as countering outside aggression, terrorism, and insurgency Brunei has a long-standing defense relationship with the UK and hosts a British Army garrison, which includes a Gurkha battalion and a jungle warfare school; Brunei also has close security ties with Singapore and hosts a Singaporean military training detachment the RBAF was formed in 1961 with British support as the Brunei Malay Regiment; "Royal" was added as an honorary title in 1965 and its current name was given in 1984 (2025)

## Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons / stateless persons: 20,863 (2024 est.)
Trafficking in persons / tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List — Brunei does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking but is making significant efforts to do so, therefore Brunei was upgraded to Tier 2 Watch List; for more details, go to: https://www.state.gov/reports/2025-trafficking-in-persons-report/brunei/

=== Cambodia ===

## Introduction
Background: Most Cambodians consider themselves to be Khmers, descendants of the Angkor Empire that extended over much of Southeast Asia and reached its zenith between the 10th and 13th centuries. Attacks by the Thai and Cham (from present-day Vietnam) weakened the empire, ushering in a long period of decline. The king placed the country under French protection in 1863, and it became part of French Indochina in 1887. Following Japanese occupation in World War II, Cambodia gained full independence from France in 1953. In 1975, after a seven-year struggle, communist Khmer Rouge forces captured Phnom Penh and evacuated all cities and towns. At least 1.5 million Cambodians died from execution, forced hardships, or starvation during the Khmer Rouge regime under POL POT. A 1978 Vietnamese invasion drove the Khmer Rouge into the countryside, began a 10-year Vietnamese occupation, and touched off 13 years of internecine warfare in which a coalition of Khmer Rouge, Cambodian nationalists, and royalist insurgents, with assistance from China, fought the Vietnamese-backed People’s Republic of Kampuchea (PRK). The 1991 Paris Agreements ended the country’s civil war and mandated democratic elections, which took place in 1993 and ushered in a period of multi-party democracy with a constitutional monarchy. King Norodom SIHANOUK was reinstated as head of state, and the Cambodian People's Party (CPP) and the royalist FUNCINPEC party formed a coalition government. Nevertheless, the power-sharing arrangement proved fractious and fragile, and in 1997, a coup led by CPP leader and former PRK prime minister HUN SEN dissolved the coalition and sidelined FUNCINPEC. Despite further attempts at coalition governance, the CPP has since remained in power through elections criticized for lacking fairness, political and judicial corruption, media control, and influence over labor unions, all of which have been enforced with violence and intimidation. HUN SEN remained as prime minister until 2023, when he transferred power to his son, HUN MANET. HUN SEN has subsequently maintained considerable influence as the leader of the CPP and the Senate. The CPP has also placed limits on civil society, press freedom, and freedom of expression. Despite some economic growth and considerable investment from China over the past decade, Cambodia remains one of East Asia's poorest countries. The remaining elements of the Khmer Rouge surrendered in 1999. A UN-backed special tribunal established in Cambodia in 1997 tried some of the surviving Khmer Rouge leaders for crimes against humanity and genocide. The tribunal concluded in 2022 with three convictions.

## Geography
Location: Southeastern Asia, bordering the Gulf of Thailand, between Thailand, Vietnam, and Laos
Geographic coordinates: 13 00 N, 105 00 E
Map references: Southeast Asia
Area / total: 181,035 sq km
Area / land: 176,515 sq km
Area / water: 4,520 sq km
Area - comparative: 1.5 times the size of Pennsylvania; slightly smaller than Oklahoma
Land boundaries / total: 2,530 km
Land boundaries / border countries: Laos 555 km; Thailand 817 km; Vietnam 1158 km
Coastline: 443 km
Maritime claims / territorial sea: 12 nm
Maritime claims / contiguous zone: 24 nm
Maritime claims / exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Maritime claims / continental shelf: 200 nm
Climate: tropical; rainy, monsoon season (May to November); dry season (December to April); little seasonal temperature variation
Terrain: mostly low, flat plains; mountains in southwest and north
Elevation / highest point: Phnum Aoral 1,810 m
Elevation / lowest point: Gulf of Thailand 0 m
Elevation / mean elevation: 126 m
Natural resources: oil and gas, timber, gemstones, iron ore, manganese, phosphates, hydropower potential, arable land
Land use / agricultural land: 34.9% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 23.3% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 3% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 8.5% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 39.4% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 25.8% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land: 3,540 sq km (2012)
Major lakes (area sq km) / fresh water lake(s): Tonle Sap - 2,700-16,000 sq km
Major rivers (by length in km): Mekong (shared with China [s], Burma, Thailand, Laos, and Vietnam [m]) - 4,350 km note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Major watersheds (area sq km) / Pacific Ocean drainage: Mekong (805,604 sq km)
Population distribution: population concentrated in the southeast, particularly in and around the capital of Phnom Penh; further distribution is linked closely to the Tonle Sap and Mekong Rivers
Natural hazards: monsoonal rains (June to November); flooding; occasional droughts
Geography - note: a land of paddies and forests dominated by the Mekong River and Tonle Sap (Southeast Asia's largest freshwater lake)

## People and Society
Population / total: 17,230,333 (2025 est.)
Population / male: 8,362,224
Population / female: 8,868,109
Nationality / noun: Cambodian(s)
Nationality / adjective: Cambodian
Ethnic groups: Khmer 95.4%, Cham 2.4%, Chinese 1.5%, other 0.7% (2019-20 est.)
Languages / Languages: Khmer (official) 95.8%, minority languages 2.9%, Chinese 0.6%, Vietnamese 0.5%, other 0.2% (2019 est.)
Languages / major-language sample(s): សៀវភៅហេតុការណនៅលើពិភពលោក។ ទីតាំងពត៏មានមូលដានគ្រឹះយាងសំខាន់។. (Khmer) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
Religions: Buddhist (official) 97.1%, Muslim 2%, Christian 0.3%, other 0.5% (2019 est.)
Age structure / 0-14 years: 28.9% (male 2,497,056/female 2,436,618)
Age structure / 15-64 years: 65.8% (male 5,456,941/female 5,765,206)
Age structure / 65 years and over: 5.3% (2024 est.) (male 323,591/female 584,257)
Dependency ratios / total dependency ratio: 51.2 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / youth dependency ratio: 42.9 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / elderly dependency ratio: 8.4 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / potential support ratio: 11.9 (2025 est.)
Median age / total: 28.3 years (2025 est.)
Median age / male: 26.9 years
Median age / female: 28.9 years
Population growth rate: 0.95% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 17.74 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 5.62 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: -2.62 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution: population concentrated in the southeast, particularly in and around the capital of Phnom Penh; further distribution is linked closely to the Tonle Sap and Mekong Rivers
Urbanization / urban population: 25.6% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 3.06% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 2.281 million PHNOM PENH (capital) (2023)
Sex ratio / at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 0-14 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 65 years and over: 0.55 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth: 23.3 years (2021-22 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio: 137 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Infant mortality rate / total: 27.2 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Infant mortality rate / male: 31.3 deaths/1,000 live births
Infant mortality rate / female: 24.4 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth / total population: 71.4 years (2024 est.)
Life expectancy at birth / male: 69.6 years
Life expectancy at birth / female: 73.3 years
Total fertility rate: 2.14 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 1.05 (2025 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: urban: urban: 93.6% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: rural: rural: 72.8% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: total: total: 78% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: urban: urban: 6.4% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: rural: rural: 27.2% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: total: total: 22% of population (2022 est.)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 7.5% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 7% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density: 0.21 physicians/1,000 population (2019)
Hospital bed density: 0.7 beds/1,000 population (2018 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: urban: urban: 100% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: rural: rural: 79.6% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: total: total: 84.7% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: urban: urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: rural: rural: 20.4% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: total: total: 15.3% of population (2022 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 3.9% (2016)
Alcohol consumption per capita / total: 4.56 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / beer: 4.12 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / wine: 0.03 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / spirits: 0.41 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / other alcohols: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Tobacco use / total: 14.5% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / male: 24.9% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / female: 4.7% (2025 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 16.3% (2021 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49): 67.2% (2022 est.)
Child marriage / women married by age 15: 1.9% (2022)
Child marriage / women married by age 18: 17.9% (2022)
Child marriage / men married by age 18: 3.3% (2022)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% GDP): 2.2% of GDP (2023 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% national budget): 11.6% national budget (2025 est.)
Literacy / total population: 71.9% (2021 est.)
Literacy / male: 81.5% (2021 est.)
Literacy / female: 63.6% (2021 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / total: 11 years (2023 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / male: 11 years (2023 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / female: 11 years (2023 est.)

## Environment
Environmental issues: habitat and biodiversity loss from illegal logging and strip mining; destruction of mangrove swamps; soil erosion; limited access to potable water in rural areas; illegal fishing and overfishing; deforestation leading to sediment build-up in coastal ecosystems
International environmental agreements / party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling
International environmental agreements / signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea
Climate: tropical; rainy, monsoon season (May to November); dry season (December to April); little seasonal temperature variation
Land use / agricultural land: 34.9% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 23.3% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 3% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 8.5% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 39.4% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 25.8% (2023 est.)
Urbanization / urban population: 25.6% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 3.06% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / total emissions: 18.779 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from coal and metallurgical coke: 8.026 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from petroleum and other liquids: 10.753 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Particulate matter emissions: 18.4 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Waste and recycling / municipal solid waste generated annually: 1.089 million tons (2024 est.)
Waste and recycling / percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 12.4% (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / municipal: 98 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / industrial: 33 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / agricultural: 2.053 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total renewable water resources: 476.1 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: Kingdom of Cambodia
Country name / conventional short form: Cambodia
Country name / local long form: Preahreacheanachakr Kampuchea (phonetic transliteration)
Country name / local short form: Kampuchea
Country name / former: Khmer Republic, Democratic Kampuchea, People's Republic of Kampuchea, State of Cambodia
Country name / etymology: the name is derived from Kambu, a legendary ancestor of the Cambodian people
Government type: parliamentary constitutional monarchy
Capital / name: Phnom Penh
Capital / geographic coordinates: 11 33 N, 104 55 E
Capital / time difference: UTC+7 (12 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Capital / etymology: the name means "mountain of plenty," from the Cambodian words phnom (mountain or hill) and penh (full)
Administrative divisions: 24 provinces ( khett , singular and plural) and 1 municipality ( krong , singular and plural) provinces: Banteay Meanchey, Battambang, Kampong Cham, Kampong Chhnang, Kampong Speu, Kampong Thom, Kampot, Kandal, Kep, Koh Kong, Kratie, Mondolkiri, Oddar Meanchey, Pailin, Preah Sihanouk, Preah Vihear, Prey Veng, Pursat, Ratanakiri, Siem Reap, Stung Treng, Svay Rieng, Takeo, Tbong Khmum municipalities: Phnom Penh (Phnum Penh)
Legal system: civil law system (influenced by the UN Transitional Authority in Cambodia), customary law, Communist legal theory, and common law
Constitution / history: previous 1947; latest promulgated 21 September 1993
Constitution / amendment process: proposed by the monarch, by the prime minister, or by the president of the National Assembly if supported by one fourth of the Assembly membership; passage requires two-thirds majority of the Assembly membership; constitutional articles on the multiparty democratic form of government and the monarchy cannot be amended
International law organization participation: accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Citizenship / citizenship by birth: no
Citizenship / citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Cambodia
Citizenship / dual citizenship recognized: yes
Citizenship / residency requirement for naturalization: 7 years
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch / chief of state: King Norodom SIHAMONI (since 29 October 2004)
Executive branch / head of government: Prime Minister HUN MANET (since 22 August 2023)
Executive branch / cabinet: Council of Ministers named by the prime minister and appointed by the monarch
Executive branch / election/appointment process: monarch chosen by the 9-member Royal Council of the Throne from among all eligible males of royal descent; after legislative elections, a member of the majority party or majority coalition is named prime minister by the Chairman of the National Assembly and appointed by the monarch
Legislative branch / legislature name: Parliament
Legislative branch / legislative structure: bicameral
Legislative branch - lower chamber / chamber name: National Assembly (Radhsphea Ney Preah Recheanachakr Kampuchea)
Legislative branch - lower chamber / number of seats: 125 (all directly elected)
Legislative branch - lower chamber / electoral system: proportional representation
Legislative branch - lower chamber / scope of elections: full renewal
Legislative branch - lower chamber / term in office: 5 years
Legislative branch - lower chamber / most recent election date: 7/23/2023
Legislative branch - lower chamber / parties elected and seats per party: Cambodian People's Party (CPP) (120); United National Front for an Independent, Neutral, Peaceful and Co-operative Cambodia (FUNCINPEC) (5)
Legislative branch - lower chamber / percentage of women in chamber: 13.6%
Legislative branch - lower chamber / expected date of next election: July 2028
Legislative branch - upper chamber / chamber name: Senate
Legislative branch - upper chamber / number of seats: 62 (60 indirectly elected; 2 appointed)
Legislative branch - upper chamber / scope of elections: full renewal
Legislative branch - upper chamber / term in office: 6 years
Legislative branch - upper chamber / most recent election date: 2/25/2024
Legislative branch - upper chamber / percentage of women in chamber: 19.4%
Legislative branch - upper chamber / expected date of next election: February 2030
Judicial branch / highest court(s): Supreme Council (organized into 5- and 9-judge panels and includes a court chief and deputy chief); Constitutional Court (consists of 9 members)
Judicial branch / judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court and Constitutional Council judge candidates recommended by the Supreme Council of Magistracy, a 17-member body chaired by the monarch and includes other high-level judicial officers; judges of both courts appointed by the monarch; Supreme Court judges appointed for life; Constitutional Council judges appointed for 9-year terms with one third of the court renewed every 3 years
Judicial branch / subordinate courts: Appellate Court; provincial and municipal courts; Military Court
Political parties: Cambodian People's Party (CPP) United National Front for an Independent, Neutral, Peaceful and Co-operative Cambodia (FUNCINPEC)
Diplomatic representation in the US / chief of mission: Ambassador Koy KUONG (since 11 June 2025)
Diplomatic representation in the US / chancery: 4530 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20011
Diplomatic representation in the US / telephone: [1] (202) 726-7742
Diplomatic representation in the US / FAX: [1] (202) 726-8381
Diplomatic representation in the US / email address and website: camemb.usa@mfaic.gov.kh https://www.embassyofcambodiadc.org/
Diplomatic representation from the US / chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charg&eacute; d&rsquo;Affaires Bridgette L. WALKER (since August 2024)
Diplomatic representation from the US / embassy: #1, Street 96, Sangkat Wat Phnom, Khan Daun Penh, Phnom Penh
Diplomatic representation from the US / mailing address: 4540 Phnom Penh Place, Washington DC 20521-4540
Diplomatic representation from the US / telephone: [855] (23) 728-000
Diplomatic representation from the US / FAX: [855] (23) 728-700
Diplomatic representation from the US / email address and website: ACSPhnomPenh@state.gov https://kh.usembassy.gov/
International organization participation: ADB, ARF, ASEAN, CICA, EAS, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITU, MIGA, NAM, OIF, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNISFA, UNMISS, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Independence: 9 November 1953 (from France)
National holiday: Independence Day, 9 November (1953)
Flag: description: three horizontal bands of blue (top), red (double-width), and blue; a three-towered, stylized white temple outlined in black is in the center of the red band, representing Angkor Wat meaning: red and blue are traditional Cambodian colors
National symbol(s): Angkor Wat temple, kouprey (wild ox)
National color(s): red, blue
National coat of arms: Cambodia’s coat of arms is also the Royal Arms of Cambodia; the lions symbolize strength, courage, and the divine protection of the monarchs; the lion on the left is a gajasingha (a lion with an elephant’s trunk), and the lion on the right is a rajasingha (royal lion); both hold five-tiered umbrellas representing the king and queen, and they stand on a blue ribbon that says “ Preah Chao Krung Kampuche” ' (King of the Kingdom of Cambodia); between the lions is a crown with the Unalome, the Buddhist and Hindu symbol for the spiritual path to enlightenment, under it and a ray of light on top
National anthem(s) / title: "Nokoreach" (Royal Kingdom)
National anthem(s) / lyrics/music: CHUON NAT/F. PERRUCHOT and J. JEKYLL
National anthem(s) / history: adopted 1941, restored 1993; the anthem, based on a Cambodian folk tune, was restored after the defeat of the Communist regime
National heritage / total World Heritage Sites: 5 (all cultural)
National heritage / selected World Heritage Site locales: Angkor; Temple of Preah Vihear; Sambor Prei Kuk; Koh Ker: Archaeological Site of Ancient Lingapora or Chok Gargyar; Cambodian Memorial Sites: From centres of repression to places of peace and reflection (c)

## Economy
Economic overview: one of the fastest growing Southeast Asian economies; rebounding tourism and clothing exports; substantial manufacturing and construction sectors; new trade agreements expanding agricultural markets; significant public debt; investing in new ports and roads
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $123.676 billion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $116.658 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $111.095 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2024: 6% (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2023: 5% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2022: 5.1% (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2024: $7,000 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2023: $6,700 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2022: $6,500 (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $46.353 billion (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023: 2.1% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 5.3% (2022 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021: 2.9% (2021 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / agriculture: 16.6% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / industry: 41.8% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / services: 35.6% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / household consumption: 59.8% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / government consumption: 5.8% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in fixed capital: 31.6% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in inventories: 0.6% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / exports of goods and services: 71.4% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / imports of goods and services: -72.1% (2024 est.)
Agricultural products: cassava, rice, maize, sugarcane, vegetables, oil palm fruit, rubber, bananas, jute, pork (2023)
Industries: tourism, garments, construction, rice milling, fishing, wood and wood products, rubber, cement, gem mining, textiles
Industrial production growth rate: 9.5% (2024 est.)
Labor force: 9.904 million (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2024: 0.3% (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2023: 0.3% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2022: 0.3% (2022 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / total: 0.8% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / male: 0.7% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / female: 0.9% (2024 est.)
Average household expenditures / on food: 40.7% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Average household expenditures / on alcohol and tobacco: 1.9% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2024: 6.1% of GDP (2024 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2023: 6.6% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2022: 6.5% of GDP (2022 est.)
Budget / revenues: $7.076 billion (2023 est.)
Budget / expenditures: $8.285 billion (2023 est.)
Public debt / Public debt 2023: 50.3% of GDP (2023 est.)
Taxes and other revenues: 12.2% (of GDP) (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2024: $222.108 million (2024 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2023: $552.346 million (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2022: -$7.582 billion (2022 est.)
Exports / Exports 2024: $31.712 billion (2024 est.)
Exports / Exports 2023: $27.753 billion (2023 est.)
Exports / Exports 2022: $25.497 billion (2022 est.)
Exports - partners: USA 36%, Germany 6%, China 6%, Japan 6%, Thailand 5% (2023)
Exports - commodities: garments, semiconductors, trunks and cases, footwear, gold (2023)
Imports / Imports 2024: $34.329 billion (2024 est.)
Imports / Imports 2023: $29.421 billion (2023 est.)
Imports / Imports 2022: $34.759 billion (2022 est.)
Imports - partners: China 39%, Thailand 20%, Vietnam 12%, Singapore 6%, Indonesia 3% (2023)
Imports - commodities: refined petroleum, fabric, gold, plastic products, synthetic fabric (2023)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024: $22.506 billion (2024 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023: $19.984 billion (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $17.801 billion (2022 est.)
Debt - external / Debt - external 2023: $8.019 billion (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Currency: riels (KHR) per US dollar -
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2024: 4,072.397 (2024 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2023: 4,110.653 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2022: 4,102.038 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2021: 4,098.723 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2020: 4,092.783 (2020 est.)

## Energy
Electricity access / electrification - total population: 92.3% (2022 est.)
Electricity access / electrification - urban areas: 99%
Electricity access / electrification - rural areas: 88%
Electricity / installed generating capacity: 3.673 million kW (2023 est.)
Electricity / consumption: 16.998 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / imports: 5.096 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / transmission/distribution losses: 1.882 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / fossil fuels: 55.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / solar: 5.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / hydroelectricity: 38.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / biomass and waste: 0.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Coal / production: 27,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / consumption: 4.39 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / imports: 4.36 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum / refined petroleum consumption: 77,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Energy consumption per capita / Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 15.664 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

## Communications
Telephones - fixed lines / total subscriptions: 29,100 (2024 est.)
Telephones - fixed lines / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2024 est.) less than 1
Telephones - mobile cellular / total subscriptions: 20.5 million (2024 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 116 (2024 est.)
Broadcast media: mix of state-owned, joint public-private, and privately owned broadcast media; 27 TV stations, with most operating on multiple channels, including 1 state-operated station with multiple locations and 11 stations either jointly operated or privately owned, some with several locations; multi-channel cable and satellite systems; 84 radio stations, including 1 state-owned broadcaster with multiple stations and a mix of public and private broadcasters; one international broadcaster is available, as well as one TV station that is jointly run by China and the Ministry of Interior; several TV and radio operators broadcast online only (often via Facebook) (2019)
Internet country code: .kh
Internet users / percent of population: 61% (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / total: 510,000 (2022 est.) Slowly increase as focus is on mobile internet
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 3 (2022 est.)

## Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: XU
Airports: 12 (2025)
Heliports: 1 (2025)
Railways / total: 642 km (2014)
Railways / narrow gauge: 642 km (2014) 1.000-m gauge
Merchant marine / total: 195 (2023)
Merchant marine / by type: container ship 2, general cargo 123, oil tanker 18, other 52
Ports / total ports: 2 (2024)
Ports / large: 0
Ports / medium: 1
Ports / small: 0
Ports / very small: 1
Ports / ports with oil terminals: 1
Ports / key ports: Kampong Saom, Phsar Ream

## Military and Security
Military and security forces: Royal Cambodian Armed Forces (RCAF): Royal Cambodian Army, Royal Khmer Navy, Royal Cambodian Air Force, Royal Gendarmerie (Military Police); National Committee for Maritime Security (2025)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2024: 1.5% of GDP (2024 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2023: 1.5% of GDP (2023 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2022: 2.1% of GDP (2022 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2021: 2.3% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2020: 2.3% of GDP (2020 est.)
Military and security service personnel strengths: information varies; estimated 200,000 Armed Forces, including Gendarmerie (2025)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the RCAF is armed largely with older Chinese and Russian/Soviet origin armaments; in recent years it has received limited amounts of more modern equipment from several suppliers, particularly China (2025)
Military service age and obligation: 18 is the legal minimum age for military service for men and women (2025)
Military deployments: 340 Central African Republic (MINUSCA); 180 Lebanon (UNIFIL) (2025)
Military - note: the primary responsibilities of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces (RCAF) are border, coastal, and internal security; key security partners include China and Vietnam; in July 2025, following months of rising tensions, the RCAF and the military forces of Thailand clashed in multiple locations along their disputed border; both sides blamed the other for provoking the five-day conflict, which included cross-border artillery shelling by both sides and air attacks by RTARF fighter aircraft and drones the RCAF was re-established in 1993 under the first coalition government from the merger of the Cambodian Government’s military forces (Cambodian People’s Armed Forces) and the two non-communist resistance forces (Sihanoukist National Army, aka National Army for Khmer Independence, and the Khmer People's National Liberation Armed Forces); thousands of communist Khmer Rouge fighters began surrendering by 1994 under a government amnesty program and the last of the Khmer Rouge forces (National Army of Democratic Kampuchea) were demobilized or absorbed into the RCAF in 1999 (2025)

## Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons / refugees: 28 (2024 est.)
Refugees and internally displaced persons / IDPs: 2,526 (2024 est.)
Refugees and internally displaced persons / stateless persons: 75,000 (2024 est.)
Trafficking in persons / tier rating: Tier 3 — Cambodia does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and is not making significant efforts to do so, therefore, Cambodia remained on Tier 3; for more details, go to: https://www.state.gov/reports/2025-trafficking-in-persons-report/cambodia/

=== China ===

## Introduction
Background: China's historical civilization dates to at least the 13th century B.C., first under the Shang (to 1046 B.C.) and then the Zhou (1046-221 B.C.) dynasties. The imperial era of China began in 221 B.C. under the Qin Dynasty and lasted until the fall of the Qing Dynasty in 1912. During this period, China alternated between periods of unity and disunity under a succession of imperial dynasties. In the 19th century, the Qing Dynasty suffered heavily from overextension by territorial conquest, insolvency, civil war, imperialism, military defeats, and foreign expropriation of ports and infrastructure. It collapsed following the Revolution of 1911, and China became a republic under SUN Yat-sen of the Kuomintang (KMT or Nationalist) Party. However, the republic was beset by division, warlordism, and continued foreign intervention. In the late 1920s, a civil war erupted between the ruling KMT-controlled government, led by CHIANG Kai-shek, and the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Japan occupied much of northeastern China in the early 1930s, and then launched a full-scale invasion of the country in 1937. The resulting eight years of warfare devastated the country and cost up to 20 million Chinese lives by the time of Japan’s defeat in 1945. The Nationalist-Communist civil war continued with renewed intensity after the end of World War II and culminated with a CCP victory in 1949, under the leadership of MAO Zedong. MAO and the CCP established an autocratic socialist system that, while ensuring the PRC's sovereignty, imposed strict controls over everyday life and launched agricultural, economic, political, and social policies -- such as the Great Leap Forward (1958-1962) and the Cultural Revolution (1966-1976) -- that cost the lives of millions of people. MAO died in 1976. Beginning in 1978, leaders DENG Xiaoping, JIANG Zemin, and HU Jintao focused on market-oriented economic development and opening up the country to foreign trade, while maintaining the rule of the CCP. Since the change, China has been among the world’s fastest growing economies, with real gross domestic product averaging over 9% growth annually through 2021, lifting an estimated 800 million people out of poverty and dramatically improving overall living standards. By 2011, the PRC’s economy was the second largest in the world. Current leader XI Jinping has continued these policies but has also maintained tight political controls. Over the past decade, China has increased its global outreach, including military deployments, participation in international organizations, and a global connectivity plan in 2013 called the "Belt and Road Initiative" (BRI). Many nations have signed on to BRI agreements to attract PRC investment, but others have expressed concerns about such issues as the opaque nature of the projects, financing, and potentially unsustainable debt obligations. XI Jinping assumed the positions of General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party and Chairman of the Central Military Commission in 2012 and President in 2013. In 2018, the PRC’s National People’s Congress passed an amendment abolishing presidential term limits, which allowed XI to gain a third five-year term in 2023.

## Geography
Location: Eastern Asia, bordering the East China Sea, Korea Bay, Yellow Sea, and South China Sea, between North Korea and Vietnam
Geographic coordinates: 35 00 N, 105 00 E
Map references: Asia
Area / total: 9,596,960 sq km
Area / land: 9,326,410 sq km
Area / water: 270,550 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly smaller than the US
Land boundaries / total: 22,457 km
Land boundaries / border countries: Afghanistan 91 km; Bhutan 477 km; Burma 2,129 km; India 2,659 km; Kazakhstan 1,765 km; North Korea 1,352 km; Kyrgyzstan 1,063 km; Laos 475 km; Mongolia 4,630 km; Nepal 1,389 km; Pakistan 438 km; Russia (northeast) 4,133 km and Russia (northwest) 46 km; Tajikistan 477 km; Vietnam 1,297 km
Coastline: 14,500 km
Maritime claims / territorial sea: 12 nm
Maritime claims / contiguous zone: 24 nm
Maritime claims / exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Maritime claims / continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
Climate: extremely diverse; tropical in south to subarctic in north
Terrain: mostly mountains, high plateaus, deserts in west; plains, deltas, and hills in east
Elevation / highest point: Mount Everest (highest peak in Asia and highest point on earth above sea level) 8,849 m
Elevation / lowest point: Turpan Pendi (Turfan Depression) -154 m
Elevation / mean elevation: 1,840 m
Natural resources: coal, iron ore, helium, petroleum, natural gas, arsenic, bismuth, cobalt, cadmium, ferrosilicon, gallium, germanium, hafnium, indium, lithium, mercury, tantalum, tellurium, tin, titanium, tungsten, antimony, manganese, magnesium, molybdenum, selenium, strontium, vanadium, magnetite, aluminum, lead, zinc, rare earth elements, uranium, hydropower potential (world's largest), arable land
Land use / agricultural land: 55.3% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 11.6% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 2.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 41.7% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 23.8% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 20.6% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land: 690,070 sq km (2012)
Major lakes (area sq km) / fresh water lake(s): Dongting Hu - 3,100 sq km; Poyang Hu - 3,350 sq km; Hongze Hu - 2,700 sq km; Tai Hu - 2,210 sq km; Hulun Nur - 1,590
Major lakes (area sq km) / salt water lake(s): Quinghai Hu - 4,460 sq km; Nam Co - 2,500 sq km; Siling Co - 1,860 sq km; Tangra Yumco - 1,400 sq km; Bosten Hu 1,380 sq km
Major rivers (by length in km): Yangtze - 6,300 km; Huang He - 5,464 km; Amur river source (shared with Mongolia and Russia [m]) - 4,444 km; Lancang Jiang (Mekong) river source (shared with Burma, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam [m]) - 4,350 km; Yarlung Zangbo Jiang (Brahmaputra) river source (shared with India and Bangladesh [m]) - 3,969 km; Yin-tu Ho (Indus) river source (shared with India and Pakistan [m]) - 3,610 km; Nu Jiang (Salween) river source (shared with Thailand and Burma [m]) - 3,060 km; Irrawaddy river source (shared with Burma [m]) - 2,809 km; Zhu Jiang (Pearl) (shared with Vietnam [s]) - 2,200 km; Yuan Jiang (Red river) source (shared with Vietnam [m]) - 1,149 km note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Major watersheds (area sq km) / Arctic Ocean drainage: Ob (2,972,493 sq km)
Major watersheds (area sq km) / Indian Ocean drainage: Brahmaputra (651,335 sq km), Ganges (1,016,124 sq km), Indus (1,081,718 sq km), Irrawaddy (413,710 sq km), Salween (271,914 sq km)
Major watersheds (area sq km) / Pacific Ocean drainage: Amur (1,929,955 sq km), Huang He (944,970 sq km), Mekong (805,604 sq km), Yangtze (1,722,193 sq km)
Major watersheds (area sq km) / Internal (endorheic basin) drainage: Tarim Basin (1,152,448 sq km), Amu Darya (534,739 sq km), Syr Darya (782,617 sq km), Lake Balkash (510,015 sq km)
Major aquifers: North China Aquifer System (Huang Huai Hai Plain), Song-Liao Plain, Tarim Basin
Population distribution: overwhelming majority of the population is found in the eastern half of the country; the west, with its vast mountainous and desert areas, remains sparsely populated; though ranked first in the world in total population, overall density is less than that of many Asian and European countries; high population density is found along the Yangtze and Yellow River valleys, the Xi Jiang River delta, the Sichuan Basin (around Chengdu), in and around Beijing, and the industrial area around Shenyang
Natural hazards: frequent typhoons (about five per year along southern and eastern coasts); damaging floods; tsunamis; earthquakes; droughts; land subsidence volcanism: China contains some historically active volcanoes including Changbaishan (also known as Baitoushan, Baegdu, or P'aektu-san), Hainan Dao, and Kunlun although most have been relatively inactive in recent centuries
Geography - note: note 1: world's fourth largest country (after Russia, Canada, and the US) and largest country situated entirely in Asia; Mount Everest, on the border with Nepal, is the world's tallest peak above sea level note 2: the largest cave chamber in the world is the Miao Room, in the Gebihe cave system at China's Ziyun Getu He Chuandong National Park, which encloses about 10.78 million cu m (380.7 million cu ft); the world's largest sinkhole is the Xiaoxhai Tiankeng sinkhole in Chongqing Municipality, which is 660 m deep, with a volume of 130 million cu m

## People and Society
Population / total: 1,407,181,209 (2025 est.)
Population / male: 716,908,592
Population / female: 690,272,617
Nationality / noun: Chinese (singular and plural)
Nationality / adjective: Chinese
Ethnic groups: Han Chinese 91.1%, ethnic minorities 8.9% (includes Zhang, Hui, Manchu, Uighur, Miao, Yi, Tujia, Tibetan, Mongol, Dong, Buyei, Yao, Bai, Korean, Hani, Li, Kazakh, Dai, and other nationalities) (2021 est.)
Languages / Languages: Standard Chinese or Mandarin (official; Putonghua, based on the Beijing dialect), Yue (Cantonese), Wu (Shanghainese), Minbei (Fuzhou), Minnan (Hokkien-Taiwanese), Xiang, Gan, Hakka dialects, minority languages; note - Zhuang is official in Guangxi Zhuang, Yue is official in Guangdong, Mongolian is official in Nei Mongol, Uyghur is official in Xinjiang Uygur, Kyrgyz is official in Xinjiang Uyghur, and Tibetan is official in Xizang (Tibet)
Languages / major-language sample(s): 世界概況 – 不可缺少的基本消息來源 (Standard Chinese) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
Religions: folk religion 21.9%, Buddhist 18.2%, Christian 5.1%, Muslim 1.8%, Hindu < 0.1%, Jewish < 0.1%, other 0.7% (includes Daoist (Taoist)), unaffiliated 52.1% (2021 est.)
Age structure / 0-14 years: 16.3% (male 122,644,111/female 107,926,176)
Age structure / 15-64 years: 69.3% (male 505,412,555/female 476,599,793)
Age structure / 65 years and over: 14.4% (2024 est.) (male 94,144,838/female 109,315,797)
Dependency ratios / total dependency ratio: 43.4 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / youth dependency ratio: 22.4 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / elderly dependency ratio: 21 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / potential support ratio: 4.8 (2025 est.)
Median age / total: 40.8 years (2025 est.)
Median age / male: 39 years
Median age / female: 41.5 years
Population growth rate: -0.08% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 7.28 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 7.97 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: -0.11 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution: overwhelming majority of the population is found in the eastern half of the country; the west, with its vast mountainous and desert areas, remains sparsely populated; though ranked first in the world in total population, overall density is less than that of many Asian and European countries; high population density is found along the Yangtze and Yellow River valleys, the Xi Jiang River delta, the Sichuan Basin (around Chengdu), in and around Beijing, and the industrial area around Shenyang
Urbanization / urban population: 64.6% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 1.78% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 29.211 million Shanghai, 21.766 million BEIJING (capital), 17.341 million Chongqing, 14.284 million Guangzhou, 14.239 million Tianjin, 13.073 million Shenzhen (2023)
Sex ratio / at birth: 1.09 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 0-14 years: 1.14 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 15-64 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 65 years and over: 0.86 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / total population: 1.04 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio: 16 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Infant mortality rate / total: 6 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Infant mortality rate / male: 6.7 deaths/1,000 live births
Infant mortality rate / female: 5.7 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth / total population: 78.7 years (2024 est.)
Life expectancy at birth / male: 76 years
Life expectancy at birth / female: 81.7 years
Total fertility rate: 1.2 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 0.57 (2025 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: urban: urban: 98.4% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: rural: rural: 96.4% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: total: total: 97.6% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: urban: urban: 1.6% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: rural: rural: 3.6% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: total: total: 2.4% of population (2022 est.)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 5.4% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 8.8% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density: 3.11 physicians/1,000 population (2022)
Hospital bed density: 5 beds/1,000 population (2020 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: urban: urban: 99.5% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: rural: rural: 95.3% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: total: total: 98% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: urban: urban: 0.5% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: rural: rural: 4.7% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: total: total: 2% of population (2022 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 6.2% (2016)
Alcohol consumption per capita / total: 4.48 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / beer: 1.66 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / wine: 0.18 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / spirits: 2.63 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / other alcohols: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Tobacco use / total: 24.5% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / male: 46.6% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / female: 1.9% (2025 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 2.4% (2013)
Currently married women (ages 15-49): 69.5% (2021 est.)
Child marriage / women married by age 15: 0.1% (2020)
Child marriage / women married by age 18: 2.8% (2020)
Child marriage / men married by age 18: 0.7% (2020)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% GDP): 4% of GDP (2023 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% national budget): 11.9% national budget (2023 est.)
Literacy / total population: 96.7% (2020 est.)
Literacy / male: 98.4% (2020 est.)
Literacy / female: 95.1% (2020 est.)
People - note: in October 2015, the Chinese Government announced that it would change its rules to allow all couples to have two children, loosening a 1979 mandate that restricted many couples to one child; the new policy was implemented on 1 January 2016 to address China&rsquo;s rapidly aging population and future economic needs

## Environment
Environmental issues: air pollution and acid rain from reliance on coal; carbon dioxide emissions from the burning of fossil fuels; water shortages, particularly in the north; water pollution from untreated wastes; coastal destruction due to land reclamation, industrial development, and aquaculture; deforestation and habitat destruction; poor land management leading to soil erosion, landslides, floods, droughts, dust storms, and desertification; trade in endangered species
International environmental agreements / party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protection, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling
International environmental agreements / signed, but not ratified: Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban
Climate: extremely diverse; tropical in south to subarctic in north
Land use / agricultural land: 55.3% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 11.6% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 2.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 41.7% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 23.8% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 20.6% (2023 est.)
Urbanization / urban population: 64.6% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 1.78% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / total emissions: 12.196 billion metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from coal and metallurgical coke: 9.575 billion metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from petroleum and other liquids: 1.847 billion metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from consumed natural gas: 774.076 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Particulate matter emissions: 41.4 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Methane emissions / energy: 27,832.7 kt (2022-2024 est.)
Methane emissions / agriculture: 18,177.8 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Methane emissions / waste: 9,402.4 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Methane emissions / other: 1,186.9 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Waste and recycling / municipal solid waste generated annually: 395.081 million tons (2024 est.)
Waste and recycling / percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 24.4% (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / municipal: 117.01 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / industrial: 103.04 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / agricultural: 361.24 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total renewable water resources: 2.84 trillion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Geoparks / total global geoparks and regional networks: 49 (2025)
Geoparks / global geoparks and regional networks: Alxa; Arxan; Dali-Cangshan; Danxiashan; Dunhuang; Enshi Grand Canyon-Tenglongdong; Fangshan; Funiushan; Guangwushan-Noushuihe; Hexigten; Hong Kong; Huanggang Dabieshan; Huangshan; Jingpohu; Jiuhuashan; Kanbula; Keketuohai; Leiqiong; Leye Fengshan; Linxia; Longhushan; Longyan; Lushan; Mount Changbaishan; Mount Kunlun; Ningde; Qinling Zhongnanshan; Sanqingshan; Shennongjia; Shilin; Songshan; Taining; Taishan; Tianzhushan; Wangwushan-Daimeishan; Wudalianchi; Wugongshan; Xiangxi; Xingwen; Yingyi; Yandangshan; Yanqing; Yimengshan; Yuntaishan; Yunyang: Zhangjlajle; Zhangye; Zhijingdong Cave; Zigong (2025)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: People's Republic of China
Country name / conventional short form: China
Country name / local long form: Zhonghua Renmin Gongheguo
Country name / local short form: Zhongguo
Country name / abbreviation: PRC
Country name / etymology: English name could be derived from the Qin (Chin, Ts'in) rulers in the 3rd century B.C., or from the province of Shaanxi (Shensi) with its capital of Xi'an (Sian); the Chinese name Zhongguo translates as "Central Nation" or "Middle Country"
Government type: communist party-led state
Capital / name: Beijing
Capital / geographic coordinates: 39 55 N, 116 23 E
Capital / time difference: UTC+8 (13 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Capital / time zone note: China is the largest country (in terms of area) with just one time zone; before 1949 it was divided into five
Capital / etymology: the name comes from the Chinese words bei (north) and jing (capital)
Administrative divisions: 23 provinces ( sheng , singular and plural), 5 autonomous regions ( zizhiqu , singular and plural), 4 municipalities ( shi , singular and plural), and two special administrative regions ( tebie xingzhengqu , singular and plural) provinces: Anhui, Fujian, Gansu, Guangdong, Guizhou, Hainan, Hebei, Heilongjiang, Henan, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangsu, Jiangxi, Jilin, Liaoning, Qinghai, Shaanxi, Shandong, Shanxi, Sichuan, Yunnan, Zhejiang; (see note on Taiwan) autonomous regions: Guangxi, Nei Mongol (Inner Mongolia), Ningxia, Xinjiang Uyghur, Xizang (Tibet) municipalities: Beijing, Chongqing, Shanghai, Tianjin special administrative regions: Hong Kong, Macau
Legal system: civil law influenced by Soviet and continental European civil law systems; legislature retains power to interpret statutes
Constitution / history: several previous; latest promulgated 4 December 1982
Constitution / amendment process: proposed by the Standing Committee of the National People&rsquo;s Congress or supported by more than one fifth of the National People&rsquo;s Congress membership; passage requires more than two-thirds majority vote of the Congress membership
International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt
Citizenship / citizenship by birth: no
Citizenship / citizenship by descent only: least one parent must be a citizen of China
Citizenship / dual citizenship recognized: no
Citizenship / residency requirement for naturalization: while naturalization is theoretically possible, in practical terms it is extremely difficult; residency is required but not specified
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch / chief of state: President XI Jinping (since 14 March 2013)
Executive branch / head of government: Premier LI Qiang (since 11 March 2023)
Executive branch / cabinet: State Council appointed by National People's Congress
Executive branch / election/appointment process: president and vice president indirectly elected by National People's Congress; premier nominated by president, confirmed by National People's Congress
Executive branch / most recent election date: 10 March 2023
Executive branch / election results: 2023: XI Jinping reelected president; National People's Congress vote - 2,952 (unanimously); HAN Zheng elected vice president with 2,952 votes; LI Qiang elected premier with 2,936 votes 2018 : XI Jinping reelected president; National People's Congress vote - 2,970 (unanimously); WANG Qishan elected vice president with 2,969 votes
Executive branch / expected date of next election: March 2028
Legislative branch / legislature name: National People's Congress (Quanguo Renmin Daibiao Dahui)
Legislative branch / legislative structure: unicameral
Legislative branch / number of seats: 3000 (all indirectly elected)
Legislative branch / scope of elections: full renewal
Legislative branch / term in office: 5 years
Legislative branch / most recent election date: 3/5/2023
Legislative branch / percentage of women in chamber: 26.5%
Legislative branch / expected date of next election: March 2028
Judicial branch / highest court(s): Supreme People's Court (consists of over 340 judges, including the chief justice and 13 grand justices organized into a civil committee and tribunals for civil, economic, administrative, complaint and appeal, and communication and transportation cases)
Judicial branch / judge selection and term of office: chief justice appointed by the People's National Congress (NPC); limited to 2 consecutive 5-year-terms; other justices and judges nominated by the chief justice and appointed by the Standing Committee of the NPC; term of other justices and judges determined by the NPC
Judicial branch / subordinate courts: Higher People's Courts; Intermediate People's Courts; District and County People's Courts; Autonomous Region People's Courts; International Commercial Courts; Special People's Courts for military, maritime, transportation, and forestry issues
Political parties: Chinese Communist Party or CCP
Diplomatic representation in the US / chief of mission: Ambassador XIE Feng (since 30 June 2023)
Diplomatic representation in the US / chancery: 3505 International Place NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation in the US / telephone: [1] (202) 495-2266
Diplomatic representation in the US / FAX: [1] (202) 495-2138
Diplomatic representation in the US / email address and website: chinaemppress_us@mfa.gov.cn http://www.china-embassy.org/eng/
Diplomatic representation in the US / consulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco
Diplomatic representation from the US / chief of mission: Ambassador David PERDUE (since 25 July 2025)
Diplomatic representation from the US / embassy: 55 Anjialou Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100600
Diplomatic representation from the US / mailing address: 7300 Beijing Place, Washington DC 20521-7300
Diplomatic representation from the US / telephone: [86] (10) 8531-3000
Diplomatic representation from the US / FAX: [86] (10) 8531-4200
Diplomatic representation from the US / email address and website: BeijingACS@state.gov https://china.usembassy-china.org.cn/
Diplomatic representation from the US / consulate(s) general: Guangzhou, Shanghai, Shenyang, Wuhan; note - the Chinese Government ordered closure of the US consulate in Chengdu in late July 2020
International organization participation: ADB, AfDB (nonregional member), APEC, Arctic Council (observer), ARF, ASEAN (dialogue partner), BIS, BRICS, CDB, CICA, EAS, FAO, FATF, G-20, G-24 (observer), G-5, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, LAIA (observer), MIGA, MINURSO, MONUSCO, NAM (observer), NSG, OAS (observer), OPCW, Pacific Alliance (observer), PCA, PIF (partner), SAARC (observer), SCO, SICA (observer), UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNHRC, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNISFA, UNMIL, UNMISS, UNOCI, UNOOSA, UN Security Council (permanent), UNTSO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
Independence: 1 October 1949 (People's Republic of China established); notable earlier dates: 221 B.C. (unification under the Qin Dynasty); 1 January 1912 (Qing Dynasty replaced by the Republic of China)
National holiday: National Day (anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China), 1 October (1949)
Flag: description: red with a large five-pointed yellow star and four smaller ones in the upper-left corner; the small stars are arranged in a vertical arc around the large one meaning: red represents revolution; the stars symbolize the four social classes -- the working class, the peasantry, the urban petty bourgeoisie, and the national bourgeoisie (capitalists) -- united under the Communist Party of China
National symbol(s): dragon, giant panda
National color(s): red, yellow
National anthem(s) / title: "Yiyongjun Jinxingqu" (The March of the Volunteers)
National anthem(s) / lyrics/music: TIAN Han/NIE Er
National anthem(s) / history: adopted 1982; the anthem, which was banned during the Cultural Revolution, is more commonly known as "Zhongguo Guoge" (Chinese National Song)
National heritage / total World Heritage Sites: 60 (41 cultural, 15 natural, 4 mixed)
National heritage / selected World Heritage Site locales: Imperial Palaces of the Ming and Qing Dynasties (c); Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor (c); The Great Wall (c); Summer Palace, an Imperial Garden in Beijing (c); Jiuzhaigou Valley Scenic and Historic Interest Area (n); Historic Ensemble of the Potala Palace, Lhasa (c); Ancient Ancient City of Ping Yao (c); Historic Center of Macau (c); Historic Monuments of Dengfeng in “The Centre of Heaven and Earth” (c); The Grand Canal (c); Mount Huangshan (m); Mogao Caves (c); Mount Taishan (m); Peking Man Site at Zhoukoudian(c); Huanglong Scenic and Historic Interest Area (n);Wulingyuan Scenic and Historic Interest Area (n); Ancient Building Complex in the Wudang Mountains (c); Mountain Resort and its Outlying Temples, Chengde (c); Temple and Cemetery of Confucius and the Kong Family Mansion in Qufu (c); Lushan National Park (c); Mount Emei Scenic Area, including Leshan Giant Buddha Scenic Area (m); Classical Gardens of Suzhou (c); Old Town of Lijiang (c); Temple of Heaven: an Imperial Sacrificial Altar in Beijing (c); Dazu Rock Carvings (c); Mount Wuyi (m); Ancient Villages in Southern Anhui – Xidi and Hongcun (c); Imperial Tombs of the Ming and Qing Dynasties (c); Longmen Grottoes (c); Mount Qingcheng and the Dujiangyan Irrigation System (c); Yungang Grottoes (c); Three Parallel Rivers of Yunnan Protected Areas (n); Capital Cities and Tombs of the Ancient Koguryo Kingdom (c); Sichuan Giant Panda Sanctuaries - Wolong, Mt. Siguniang, and Jiajin Mountains (c); Yin Xu (c); Kaiping Diaolou and Villages (c); South China Karst (n); Fujian Tulou (c); Mount Sanqingshan National Park (n); Mount Wutai (c); China Danxia (n); West Lake Cultural Landscape of Hangzhou (c); Chengjiang Fossil Site (n); Site of Xanadu (c); Cultural Landscape of Honghe Hani Rice Terraces(c); Xinjiang Tianshan (n); Silk Roads: the Routes Network of Chang'an-Tianshan Corridor (c); Tusi Sites (c); Hubei Shennongjia (n); Zuojiang Huashan Rock Art Cultural Landscape (c); Kulangsu, a Historic International Settlement (c); Qinghai Hoh Xil (n); Fanjingshan (n); Archaeological Ruins of Liangzhu City (c); Migratory Bird Sanctuaries along the Coast of Yellow Sea-Bohai Gulf of China (n); Quanzhou: Emporium of the World in Song-Yuan China (c); Cultural Landscape of Old Tea Forests of the Jingmai Mountain in Pu’er (c); Badain Jaran Desert - Towers of Sand and Lakes (n); Beijing Central Axis: A Building Ensemble Exhibiting the Ideal Order of the Chinese Capital (c); Xixia Imperial Tombs (c)

## Economy
Economic overview: world’s second-largest economy by nominal GDP; global leader in exports and manufacturing; historically strong growth slowing; challenges of aging workforce, weak productivity, rising youth unemployment, struggling property sector, and public debt; state-sponsored economic controls and infrastructure investments
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $33.598 trillion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $32.005 trillion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $30.361 trillion (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2024: 5% (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2023: 5.4% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2022: 3.1% (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2024: $23,800 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2023: $22,700 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2022: $21,500 (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $18.744 trillion (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024: 0.2% (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023: 0.2% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 2% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / agriculture: 6.8% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / industry: 36.5% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / services: 56.7% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / household consumption: 39.6% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / government consumption: 17.2% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in fixed capital: 40.5% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in inventories: 0.6% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / exports of goods and services: 19.1% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / imports of goods and services: -17% (2023 est.)
Agricultural products: maize, rice, vegetables, wheat, sugarcane, potatoes, cucumbers/gherkins, tomatoes, watermelons, pork (2023)
Industries: world leader in gross value of industrial output; mining and ore processing, iron, steel, aluminum, and other metals, coal; machine building; armaments; textiles and apparel; petroleum; cement; chemicals; fertilizer; consumer products (including footwear, toys, and electronics); food processing; transportation equipment, including automobiles, railcars and locomotives, ships, aircraft; telecommunications equipment, commercial space launch vehicles, satellites
Industrial production growth rate: 5.3% (2024 est.)
Labor force: 773.88 million (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2024: 4.6% (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2023: 4.7% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2022: 5% (2022 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / total: 15.2% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / male: 16.5% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / female: 13.5% (2024 est.)
Population below poverty line: 0% (2020 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income / Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2021: 35.7 (2021 est.)
Average household expenditures / on food: 21.2% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Average household expenditures / on alcohol and tobacco: 3.2% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / lowest 10%: 3.2% (2021 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / highest 10%: 28.2% (2021 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2024: 0.2% of GDP (2024 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2023: 0.2% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2022: 0.1% of GDP (2022 est.)
Budget / revenues: $2.684 trillion (2022 est.) note: central government revenues (excluding grants) converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated
Budget / expenditures: $4.893 trillion (2019 est.)
Public debt / Public debt 2017: 47% of GDP (2017 est.)
Taxes and other revenues: 7.6% (of GDP) (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2024: $423.919 billion (2024 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2023: $263.382 billion (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2022: $443.374 billion (2022 est.)
Exports / Exports 2024: $3.793 trillion (2024 est.)
Exports / Exports 2023: $3.508 trillion (2023 est.)
Exports / Exports 2022: $3.719 trillion (2022 est.)
Exports - partners: USA 13%, Hong Kong 8%, Japan 5%, Germany 5%, S. Korea 4% (2023)
Exports - commodities: broadcasting equipment, computers, integrated circuits, garments, machine parts (2023)
Imports / Imports 2024: $3.254 trillion (2024 est.)
Imports / Imports 2023: $3.122 trillion (2023 est.)
Imports / Imports 2022: $3.142 trillion (2022 est.)
Imports - partners: S. Korea 7%, USA 7%, Japan 6%, Australia 6%, Russia 6% (2023)
Imports - commodities: crude petroleum, integrated circuits, iron ore, gold, natural gas (2023)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024: $3.456 trillion (2024 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023: $3.45 trillion (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $3.307 trillion (2022 est.)
Debt - external / Debt - external 2023: $488.114 billion (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Currency: Renminbi yuan (RMB) per US dollar -
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2024: 7.197 (2024 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2023: 7.084 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2022: 6.737 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2021: 6.449 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2020: 6.901 (2020 est.)

## Energy
Electricity access / electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)
Electricity / installed generating capacity: 2.949 billion kW (2023 est.)
Electricity / consumption: 8.894 trillion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / exports: 20.577 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / imports: 7.195 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / transmission/distribution losses: 325.352 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / fossil fuels: 64.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / nuclear: 4.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / solar: 6.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / wind: 9.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / hydroelectricity: 13.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / biomass and waste: 1.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Nuclear energy / Number of operational nuclear reactors: 57 (2025)
Nuclear energy / Number of nuclear reactors under construction: 28 (2025)
Nuclear energy / Net capacity of operational nuclear reactors: 55.32GW (2025 est.)
Nuclear energy / Percent of total electricity production: 4.9% (2023 est.)
Coal / production: 4.805 billion metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / consumption: 5.191 billion metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / exports: 13.239 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / imports: 401.517 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / proven reserves: 157.041 billion metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum / total petroleum production: 4.984 million bbl/day (2023 est.)
Petroleum / refined petroleum consumption: 16.189 million bbl/day (2023 est.)
Petroleum / crude oil estimated reserves: 26.023 billion barrels (2021 est.)
Natural gas / production: 239.402 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / consumption: 395.341 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / exports: 6.025 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / imports: 161.808 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / proven reserves: 6.654 trillion cubic meters (2021 est.)
Energy consumption per capita / Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 113.805 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

## Communications
Telephones - fixed lines / total subscriptions: 167 million (2024 est.)
Telephones - fixed lines / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 12 (2024 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / total subscriptions: 1.87 billion (2024 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 132 (2024 est.)
Broadcast media: all broadcast media are owned by, or affiliated with, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) or a government agency; no privately owned TV or radio stations; state-run Chinese Central TV, provincial, and municipal stations offer more than 2,000 channels; the Central Propaganda Department and local (provincial, municipal) officials direct news reporting and approve all programming; foreign-made TV programs must be approved/censored prior to broadcast; widespread use of online platforms (Bilibili, Tencent Video, iQiyi, etc) to access domestic and international films and TV shows; Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) regulates video platforms (2022)
Internet country code: .cn
Internet users / percent of population: 78% (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / total: 636 million (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 45 (2023 est.)

## Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: B
Airports: 552 (2025)
Heliports: 120 (2025)
Railways / total: 150,000 km (2021) 1.435-m gauge (100,000 km electrified); 104,0000 traditional, 40,000 high-speed
Merchant marine / total: 8,314 (2023)
Merchant marine / by type: bulk carrier 1,831, container ship 419, general cargo 1,392, oil tanker 1,196, other 3,476
Ports / total ports: 66 (2024)
Ports / large: 5
Ports / medium: 9
Ports / small: 25
Ports / very small: 27
Ports / ports with oil terminals: 48
Ports / key ports: Chaozhou, Dalian, Fang-Cheng, Guangzhou, Hankow, Lon Shui Terminal, Qingdao Gang, Qinhuangdao, Shanghai, Shekou, Tianjin Xin Gang, Weihai, Wenzhou, Xiamen

## Military and Security
Military and security forces: People's Liberation Army (PLA): Ground Forces or People's Liberation Army Army (PLAA), Navy (PLAN, includes Marine Corps (PLANMC)), Air Force (PLAAF), Rocket Force (PLARF), Aerospace Force (ASF), Cyberspace Force (CSF), Information Support Force (ISF), Joint Logistics Support Force (JLSF); People's Armed Police (PAP, includes Coast Guard, Border Defense Force, Internal Security Forces); PLA Reserve Force (2025)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2024: 1.5% of GDP (2024 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2023: 1.5% of GDP (2023 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2022: 1.5% of GDP (2022 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2021: 1.5% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2020: 1.7% of GDP (2020 est.)
Military and security service personnel strengths: approximately 2 million active-duty PLA (950,000-1 million Ground; 250,000 Navy, including about 50,000 Marines; 350-400,000 Air Force; 120,000 Rocket Forces; 150-175,000 other forces) (2025)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the PLA is mostly equipped with domestically produced armaments with smaller amounts of imported weaponry, largely from Russia; China has one of the world's largest defense-industrial sectors and is capable of producing advanced weapons systems across all military domains (2025)
Military service age and obligation: 18-26 years of age depending on education level for men and women for both volunteer and selective compulsory military service; 24-month service obligation (2025)
Military deployments: 475 Lebanon (UNIFIL); 1,050 South Sudan (UNMISS); 280 Sudan/South Sudan (UNISFA); has also established a base in Djibouti with approximately 400 marines, plus naval and support personnel (2025)
Military - note: the People's Liberation Army (PLA) is the world’s largest military; the PLA's primary responsibility is external security but it also has some domestic security duties; China’s stated defense policy includes safeguarding sovereignty, security, and development interests while emphasizing a greater global role for the PLA; the PLA conducts air, counterspace, cyber, electronic warfare, joint, land, maritime, missile, nuclear, and space operations; it trains regularly, including multinational and multiservice exercises, deploys overseas, and participates in international peacekeeping missions the PRC's internal security forces consist primarily of the Ministry of Public Security (MPS), the Ministry of State Security (MSS), the People’s Armed Police (PAP), and the militia; the PLA support the internal security forces as necessary: --the MPS controls the civilian national police, which serves as the first-line force for public order; its primary mission is domestic law enforcement and maintaining order, including anti-rioting and anti-terrorism --the MSS is the PRC’s main civilian intelligence and counterintelligence service --the PAP is a paramilitary component (or adjunct) of the PLA; its primary missions include internal security, maintaining public order, maritime security, and assisting the PLA in times of war; the China Coast Guard (CCG) administratively falls under the PAP and has a variety of missions, such as maritime sovereignty enforcement, surveillance, resource protection, anti-smuggling, and general law enforcement; it is the largest maritime law enforcement fleet in the world --the militia is an armed reserve of civilians which serves as an auxiliary and reserve force for the PLA upon mobilization, although it is distinct from the PLA’s reserve forces; militia units are organized around towns, villages, urban sub-districts, and enterprises, and vary widely in composition and mission; they have dual civilian-military command structures; a key component of the militia are the local maritime forces, commonly referred to as the People’s Armed Forces Maritime Militia (PAFMM); the PAFMM consists of mariners (and their vessels) who receive training, equipment, and other forms of support from the Navy and CCG (although the PAFMM remains separate from both) to perform tasks such as maritime patrolling, surveillance and reconnaissance, emergency/disaster response, transportation, search and rescue, and auxiliary tasks in support of naval operations in wartime; the PAFMM’s tasks are often conducted in conjunction or coordination with the Navy and the CCG; it has been used to assert Beijing's maritime claims in the Sea of Japan and South China Sea (2025)

## Space
Space agency/agencies: China National Space Administration (CNSA; established in 1993); Administration for Science, Technology, and Industry for National Defense (SASTIND; subordinate to the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology); People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Aerospace Force (2025)
Space launch site(s): Jiuquan Launch Center (Inner Mongolia); Xichang Launch Center (Sichuan); Wenchang Launch Center (Hainan; Wenchang includes a commercial launch pad, the Hainan Commercial Space Launch Site, which became operational in December 2024); Taiyuan Launch Center (Shanxi); Eastern Spaceport (Shandong; a coastal spaceport designed to facilitate maritime launches) (2025)
Space program overview: considered one of the world’s leading space powers, with a comprehensive and ambitious space program; can manufacture and operate the full spectrum of space launch vehicles (SLVs) and spacecraft, including human-crewed, lunar/inter-planetary/asteroid probes, satellites (communications, remote sensing, navigational, scientific, etc.), space stations, and reusable space transportation; has an astronaut/taikonaut program; researches and develops a range of space-related capabilities, including advanced telecommunications, optics, spacecraft components, and satellite payloads; participates in international space programs and co-leads (with Australia and Japan) the Global Earth Observation System of Systems; has signed agreements with more than 45 national space agencies, including those of Brazil, Canada, France, and Russia, as well several international organizations; has also cooperated with ESA; two state-owned aerospace enterprises dominate space industry, but a substantial commercial space sector includes launch services (2025)
Key space-program milestones: 1960s - began launching rockets and initiated satellite and satellite launch vehicle (SLV) programs 1970 - launched first communications satellite (Dongfanghong I) 2003 - first manned space flight; launched first satellite for global navigational system (Beidou) 2011 - placed temporary space station (Tiangong-1) into Earth orbit 2013 - first unmanned lunar landing mission (Chang'e-3); placed a second temporary space station (Tiangong-2) in Earth orbit 2017 - employed a communications satellite (Micius) to perform the world’s first quantum-encrypted virtual teleconference between Beijing and Vienna 2019 - landed a rover vehicle (Chang’e-4) on the far side of the Moon 2021 - landed a probe and operated a rover vehicle on Mars; signed agreement with Russia to set up an international manned lunar research station; announced intent to send a manned mission to Mars by 2033 2022 - completed construction of a permanent manned space station (Tiangong) in Earth orbit 2024 - successful landing and return of robotic spacecraft/probe (Chang'e-6) from the far side the Moon; first launch of "Thousand Sails" commercial communications satellite constellation project 2025 - launched asteroid sample return mission probe (Tianwen-2); launched world's first quantum communications microsatellite (Jinan-1)

## Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons / refugees: 814 (2024 est.)
Refugees and internally displaced persons / IDPs: 198,400 (2024 est.)
Trafficking in persons / tier rating: Tier 3 — China does not fully meet the minimum standards for elimination of trafficking and is not making significant efforts to do so, therefore, China remained on Tier 3; for more details, go to: https://www.state.gov/reports/2025-trafficking-in-persons-report/china/
Illicit drugs / USG identification: major illicit drug-producing and/or drug-transit country major precursor-chemical producer (2025)

=== Hong Kong ===

## Introduction
Background: The UK seized Hong Kong in 1841, and China formally ceded it the following year at the end of the First Opium War. The Kowloon Peninsula was added in 1860 at the end of the Second Opium War, and the UK obtained a 99-year lease of the New Territories in 1898. Pursuant to a UK-China agreement in 1984, Hong Kong became the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) of the People's Republic of China as of 1 July 1997. In this agreement, China promised that, under its "one country, two systems" formula, China's socialist economic and strict political system would not be imposed on Hong Kong and that Hong Kong would enjoy a "high degree of autonomy" in all matters except foreign and defense affairs for the next 50 years. After the handover, Hong Kong continued to enjoy success as an international financial center. However, growing Chinese political influence and dissatisfaction with the Hong Kong Government in the 2010s became central issues and led to considerable civil unrest, including large-scale pro-democracy demonstrations in 2019 after the HKSAR attempted to revise a local ordinance to allow extraditions to mainland China. In response to the protests, the governments of the HKSAR and China reduced the city's autonomy and placed new restrictions on the rights of Hong Kong residents, moves that were widely criticized as contravening obligations under the Hong Kong Basic Law and the Sino-British Joint Declaration. Democratic lawmakers and political figures were arrested in a widespread crackdown, while others fled abroad. At the same time, dozens of civil society groups and several independent media outlets were closed or disbanded. In 2021, Beijing imposed a more restrictive electoral system, restructuring the Legislative Council (LegCo) and allowing only government-approved candidates to run for office. The changes ensured that virtually all seats in the 2021 LegCo election went to pro-establishment candidates and effectively ended political opposition to Beijing. In 2024, the LegCo passed a new national security law (Article 23 of the Basic Law) further expanding the Hong Kong Government's power to curb dissent.

## Geography
Location: Eastern Asia, bordering the South China Sea and China
Geographic coordinates: 22 15 N, 114 10 E
Map references: Southeast Asia
Area / total: 1,108 sq km
Area / land: 1,073 sq km
Area / water: 35 sq km
Area - comparative: six times the size of Washington, D.C.
Land boundaries / total: 33 km
Land boundaries / regional borders: China 33 km
Coastline: 733 km
Maritime claims / territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: subtropical monsoon; cool and humid in winter, hot and rainy from spring through summer, warm and sunny in fall
Terrain: hilly to mountainous with steep slopes; lowlands in north
Elevation / highest point: Tai Mo Shan 958 m
Elevation / lowest point: South China Sea 0 m
Natural resources: outstanding deepwater harbor, feldspar
Land use / agricultural land: 3.8% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 1.9% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 1% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 1% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 0% (2022 est.)
Land use / other: 96.2% (2022 est.)
Irrigated land: 10 sq km (2012)
Population distribution: population fairly evenly distributed
Natural hazards: occasional typhoons
Geography - note: consists of a mainland area (the New Territories) and over 200 islands

## People and Society
Population / total: 7,305,556 (2025 est.)
Population / male: 3,367,222
Population / female: 3,938,334
Nationality / noun: Chinese/Hong Konger
Nationality / adjective: Chinese/Hong Kong
Ethnic groups: Chinese 91.6%, Filipino 2.7%, Indonesian 1.9%, other 3.7% (2021 est.)
Languages / Languages: Cantonese (official) 85.4%, English (official) 4.5%, Putonghua (official) 2.2%, other Chinese dialects 2.8%, other 2%, persons under 5 or mute 3.2% (2021 est.)
Languages / major-language sample(s): 世界概况, 必須擁有的基本資料参考书 (Cantonese) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
Religions: Buddhist or Taoist 27.9%, Protestant 6.7%, Roman Catholic 5.3%, Muslim 4.2%, Hindu 1.4%, Sikh 0.2%, other or none 54.3% (2016 est.)
Age structure / 0-14 years: 13.2% (male 505,718/female 459,956)
Age structure / 15-64 years: 64.8% (male 2,123,216/female 2,609,102)
Age structure / 65 years and over: 21.9% (2024 est.) (male 738,878/female 860,951)
Dependency ratios / total dependency ratio: 56.7 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / youth dependency ratio: 20.8 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / elderly dependency ratio: 35.8 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / potential support ratio: 2.8 (2025 est.)
Median age / total: 47.6 years (2025 est.)
Median age / male: 45.3 years
Median age / female: 48.6 years
Population growth rate: 0.09% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 7.45 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 8.16 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: 1.64 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution: population fairly evenly distributed
Urbanization / urban population: 100% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 0.58% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 7.685 million Hong Kong (2023)
Sex ratio / at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 0-14 years: 1.1 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 15-64 years: 0.81 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 65 years and over: 0.86 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / total population: 0.86 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth: 29.8 years (2008 est.)
Infant mortality rate / total: 2.4 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Infant mortality rate / male: 2.8 deaths/1,000 live births
Infant mortality rate / female: 2.2 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth / total population: 84 years (2024 est.)
Life expectancy at birth / male: 81.3 years
Life expectancy at birth / female: 86.8 years
Total fertility rate: 1.24 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 0.6 (2025 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: urban: urban: 100% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: rural: rural: NA
Drinking water source / improved: total: total: 100% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: urban: urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: rural: rural: NA
Drinking water source / unimproved: total: total: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Physician density: 2.04 physicians/1,000 population (2020)
Hospital bed density: 4.9 beds/1,000 population (2020 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: urban: urban: 96.5% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: total: total: 96.5% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: urban: urban: 3.5% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: total: total: 3.5% of population (2022 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49): 49.8% (2021 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% GDP): 3.8% of GDP (2024 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% national budget): 15.7% national budget (2024 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / total: 17 years (2023 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / male: 17 years (2023 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / female: 17 years (2023 est.)

## Environment
Environmental issues: air and water pollution from rapid urbanization; urban waste pollution; industrial pollution
Climate: subtropical monsoon; cool and humid in winter, hot and rainy from spring through summer, warm and sunny in fall
Land use / agricultural land: 3.8% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 1.9% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 1% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 1% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 0% (2022 est.)
Land use / other: 96.2% (2022 est.)
Urbanization / urban population: 100% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 0.58% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / total emissions: 58.433 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from coal and metallurgical coke: 12.935 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from petroleum and other liquids: 35.453 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from consumed natural gas: 10.045 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Waste and recycling / municipal solid waste generated annually: 5.68 million tons (2024 est.)
Waste and recycling / percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 34% (2016 est.)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
Country name / conventional short form: Hong Kong
Country name / local long form: Heung Kong Takpit Hangching Ku (Eitel/Dyer-Ball)
Country name / local short form: Heung Kong (Eitel/Dyer-Ball)
Country name / abbreviation: HK
Country name / etymology: probably an imprecise phonetic rendering of the Cantonese name meaning "fragrant harbor"
Government type: presidential limited democracy; a special administrative region of the People's Republic of China
Dependency status: special administrative region of the People's Republic of China
Legal system: mixed system of common law based on the English model and Chinese customary law (in matters of family and land tenure); China's imposition of National Security Law incorporates elements of Chinese civil law
Constitution / history: several previous (governance documents while under British authority); latest drafted April 1988 to February 1989, approved March 1990, effective 1 July 1997 (Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China serves as the constitution)
Constitution / amendment process: proposed by the Standing Committee of the National People&rsquo;s Congress (NPC), the People&rsquo;s Republic of China State Council, or the Special Administrative Region of Hong Kong; submittal of proposals to the NPC requires two-thirds majority vote by the Legislative Council of Hong Kong, approval by two thirds of Hong Kong&rsquo;s deputies to the NPC, and approval by the Hong Kong chief executive; final passage requires approval by the NPC
Citizenship: see China
Suffrage: 18 years of age in direct elections for 20 of the 90 Legislative Council seats and all of the seats in 18 district councils; universal for permanent residents living in the territory of Hong Kong for the past 7 years
Executive branch / chief of state: President of China XI Jinping (since 14 March 2013)
Executive branch / head of government: Chief Executive John LEE Ka-chiu (since 1 July 2022)
Executive branch / cabinet: Executive Council or ExCo appointed by the chief executive
Executive branch / election/appointment process: president indirectly elected by National People's Congress for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); chief executive indirectly elected by the Election Committee and appointed by the PRC Government for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term)
Executive branch / most recent election date: president: 10 March 2023 chief executive: 8 May 2022
Executive branch / election results: 2022: John LEE was the only candidate and won with over 99% of the vote by the Election Committee 2017 : Carrie LAM elected; Election Committee vote - Carrie LAM (non-partisan) 777, John TSANG (non-partisan) 365, WOO Kwok-hing (non-partisan) 21, 23 ballots rejected (1,186 votes cast)
Executive branch / expected date of next election: president: March 2028 chief executive: 2027
Legislative branch / legislature name: Legislative Council or LegCo
Legislative branch / legislative structure: unicameral
Legislative branch / number of seats: 90
Legislative branch / electoral system: 20 members directly elected; 70 members indirectly elected
Legislative branch / scope of elections: full
Legislative branch / most recent election date: 7 December 2025
Legislative branch / parties elected and seats per party: Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong (DAB) 20, Federation of Hong Kong and Kowloon Trade Unions (HKFTU) 8, Business and Professionals Alliance for Hong Kong (BPA) 7, Liberal (LP) 4, New People's Party (NPP) 3, Hong Kong Federation of Education Workers (HKFEW) 2, Federation of Hong Kong and Kowloon Labour Unions (HKFLU) 2, Professional Power (PP) 1, Roundtable (RT) 1, New Territories Association of Societies (NTAS) 1, Kowloon West New Dynamic (KWND) 1, Independents 40
Legislative branch / expected date of next election: December 2029
Judicial branch / highest court(s): Court of Final Appeal (consists of the chief justice, 3 permanent judges, and 20 non-permanent judges)
Judicial branch / judge selection and term of office: all judges appointed by the Hong Kong Chief Executive on the recommendation of the Judicial Officers Recommendation Commission, an independent body consisting of the Secretary for Justice, other judges, and judicial and legal professionals; permanent judges serve until normal retirement at age 65, but term can be extended; non-permanent judges appointed for renewable 3-year terms without age limit
Judicial branch / subordinate courts: High Court (consists of the Court of Appeal and Court of First Instance); District Courts (includes Family and Land Courts); magistrates' courts; specialized tribunals
Political parties: Business and Professionals Alliance for Hong Kong or BPA Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong or DAB Federation of Hong Kong and Kowloon Labour Unions or HKFLU Hong Kong Federation of Education Workers or HKFEW Hong Kong Federation of Trade Unions or HKFTU Kowloon West New Dynamic or KWND Liberal Party or LP New People's Party or NPP New Prospect for Hong Kong or NPHK New Territories Association of Societies or NTAS Professional Power or PP Roundtable or RT
Diplomatic representation in the US / chief of mission: none (Special Administrative Region of China)
Diplomatic representation in the US / HKETO offices: New York, San Francisco, Washington DC
Diplomatic representation from the US / chief of mission: Consul General Julie EADEH (since August 2025); note - also accredited to Macau
Diplomatic representation from the US / embassy: 26 Garden Road, Central, Hong Kong
Diplomatic representation from the US / mailing address: 8000 Hong Kong Place, Washington DC 20521-8000
Diplomatic representation from the US / telephone: [852] 2523-9011
Diplomatic representation from the US / FAX: [852] 2845-1598
Diplomatic representation from the US / email address and website: acshk@state.gov https://hk.usconsulate.gov/
International organization participation: ADB, APEC, BIS, FATF, ICC (national committees), IHO, IMF, IMO (associate), Interpol (subbureau), IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITUC (NGOs), UNWTO (associate), UPU, WCO, WMO, WTO
Independence: none (special administrative region of China)
National holiday: National Day (Anniversary of the Founding of the People's Republic of China), 1 October (1949)
Flag: description: red with a stylized white Bauhinia flower with five petals in the center of the flag; each petal has a tiny five-pointed red star with a fine red line curving toward the center of the flower meaning: the red color is the same as the Chinese flag and represents the motherland, and the five stars also echo the Chinese flag; the Bauhinia flower was developed in Hong Kong the late 19th century and has come to symbolize the region
National symbol(s): bauhinia flower
National color(s): red, white
National anthem(s) / title: "Yiyongjun Jinxingqu" (The March of the Volunteers)
National anthem(s) / lyrics/music: TIAN Han/NIE Er
National anthem(s) / history: official anthem, as a Special Administrative Region of China

## Economy
Economic overview: high-income tourism- and services-based economy; global financial hub; COVID-19 and political protests fueled recent recession; ongoing recovery but lower-skilled unemployment remains high; investing in job-reskilling programs
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $497.88 billion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $485.541 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $470.42 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2024: 2.5% (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2023: 3.2% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2022: -3.7% (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2024: $66,200 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2023: $64,400 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2022: $64,000 (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $407.107 billion (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024: 1.7% (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023: 2.1% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 1.9% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / agriculture: 0% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / industry: 6.3% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / services: 91.4% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / household consumption: 67.4% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / government consumption: 12.8% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in fixed capital: 16.2% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in inventories: -0.5% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / exports of goods and services: 181.7% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / imports of goods and services: -177.7% (2024 est.)
Agricultural products: pork, chicken, spinach, vegetables, pork offal, game meat, beef, fruits, onions, pork fat (2023)
Industries: trading and logistics, financial services, professional services, tourism, cultural and creative, clothing and textiles, shipping, electronics, toys, clocks and watches
Industrial production growth rate: 3.4% (2024 est.)
Labor force: 3.836 million (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2024: 2.8% (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2023: 3% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2022: 4.4% (2022 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / total: 8.4% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / male: 10.5% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / female: 6.3% (2024 est.)
Average household expenditures / on food: 11.5% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Average household expenditures / on alcohol and tobacco: 0.7% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2024: 0.1% of GDP (2024 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2023: 0.1% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2022: 0.1% of GDP (2022 est.)
Budget / revenues: $70.124 billion (2020 est.)
Budget / expenditures: $105.849 billion (2020 est.)
Public debt / Public debt 2016: 0.1% of GDP (2016 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2024: $52.475 billion (2024 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2023: $32.338 billion (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2022: $36.525 billion (2022 est.)
Exports / Exports 2024: $739.915 billion (2024 est.)
Exports / Exports 2023: $673.738 billion (2023 est.)
Exports / Exports 2022: $697.583 billion (2022 est.)
Exports - partners: China 22%, Vietnam 12%, S. Korea 8%, Netherlands 5%, Switzerland 4% (2023)
Exports - commodities: gold, integrated circuits, gas turbines, broadcasting equipment, jewelry (2023)
Imports / Imports 2024: $723.397 billion (2024 est.)
Imports / Imports 2023: $671.492 billion (2023 est.)
Imports / Imports 2022: $682.881 billion (2022 est.)
Imports - partners: China 40%, Taiwan 10%, Singapore 7%, Japan 5%, S. Korea 4% (2023)
Imports - commodities: integrated circuits, broadcasting equipment, gold, machine parts, jewelry (2023)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023: $425.554 billion (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $424.03 billion (2022 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2021: $496.867 billion (2021 est.)
Exchange rates / Currency: Hong Kong dollars (HKD) per US dollar -
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2024: 7.804 (2024 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2023: 7.83 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2022: 7.831 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2021: 7.773 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2020: 7.757 (2020 est.)

## Energy
Electricity access / electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)
Electricity / installed generating capacity: 13.3 million kW (2023 est.)
Electricity / consumption: 45.54 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / imports: 11.593 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / transmission/distribution losses: 3.684 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / fossil fuels: 99.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / solar: 0.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / biomass and waste: 0.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Coal / consumption: 5.567 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / exports: 16,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / imports: 5.884 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum / total petroleum production: 96 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Petroleum / refined petroleum consumption: 233,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Natural gas / consumption: 5.12 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / imports: 5.12 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Energy consumption per capita / Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 116.811 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

## Communications
Telephones - fixed lines / total subscriptions: 3.487 million (2023 est.)
Telephones - fixed lines / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 47 (2023 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / total subscriptions: 27.1 million (2024 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 365 (2024 est.)
Broadcast media: 34 commercial terrestrial TV networks, each with multiple stations; multi-channel satellite and cable TV systems available; 3 licensed broadcasters, one of which is government-funded, operate about 12 radio stations (2019)
Internet country code: .hk
Internet users / percent of population: 96% (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / total: 2.97 million (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 40 (2023 est.)

## Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: B-H
Airports: 2 (2025)
Heliports: 142 (2025)
Merchant marine / total: 2,537 (2023)
Merchant marine / by type: bulk carrier 1,047, container ship 560, general cargo 144, oil tanker 394, other 392
Ports / total ports: 1 (2024)
Ports / large: 1
Ports / medium: 0
Ports / small: 0
Ports / very small: 0
Ports / ports with oil terminals: 1
Ports / key ports: Hong Kong

## Military and Security
Military and security forces: Hong Kong Police Force (specialized units include the Police Counterterrorism Response Unit, the Explosive Ordnance Disposal Bureau, the Special Duties Unit, the Airport Security Unit, and the VIP Protection Unit) China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) Hong Kong Garrison is responsible for defense duties; the garrison includes elements of the PLA Army, PLA Navy, and PLA Air Force and are under the direct leadership of the Central Military Commission in Beijing and under administrative control of the adjacent Southern Theater Command (2025)

## Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons / refugees: 260 (2024 est.)
Trafficking in persons / tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List — the government did not demonstrate overall increasing efforts to eliminate trafficking compared with the previous reporting period, therefore Hong Kong remained on Tier 2 Watch List for the second consecutive year; for more details, go to: https://www.state.gov/reports/2025-trafficking-in-persons-report/hong-kong/
Illicit drugs / USG identification: major precursor-chemical producer (2025)

=== Indonesia ===

## Introduction
Background: The archipelago was once largely under the control of Buddhist and Hindu rulers. By around the 7th century, a Buddhist kingdom arose on Sumatra and expanded into Java and the Malay Peninsula until it was conquered in the late 13th century by the Hindu Majapahit Empire from Java. Majapahit (1290-1527) united most of modern-day Indonesia and Malaysia. Traders introduced Islam around the 11th century, and the religion gradually expanded over the next 500 years. The Portuguese conquered parts of Indonesia in the 16th century, but the Dutch ousted them (except in East Timor) and began colonizing the islands in the early 17th century. It would be the early 20th century before Dutch colonial rule was established across the entirety of what would become the boundaries of the modern Indonesian state. Japan occupied the islands from 1942 to 1945. Indonesia declared its independence shortly before Japan's surrender, but it required four years of sometimes brutal fighting, intermittent negotiations, and UN mediation before the Netherlands agreed to transfer sovereignty in 1949. A period of sometimes unruly parliamentary democracy ended in 1957 when President SOEKARNO declared martial law and instituted "Guided Democracy." After an abortive coup in 1965 by alleged communist sympathizers, SOEKARNO was gradually eased from power. From 1967 until 1998, President SUHARTO ruled Indonesia with his "New Order" government. After street protests toppled SUHARTO in 1998, free and fair legislative elections took place in 1999 while the country's first direct presidential election occurred in 2004. Indonesia has since become a robust democracy, holding four direct presidential elections, each considered by international observers to have been largely free and fair. Indonesia is now the world's third-most-populous democracy and the world's largest Muslim-majority nation. It has had strong economic growth since overcoming the Asian financial crisis of the late 1990s. By the 2020s, it had the largest economy in Southeast Asia, and its economy ranked in the world's top 10 in terms of purchasing power parity. It has also made considerable gains in reducing poverty. Although relations amongst its diverse population--there are more than 300 ethnic groups--have been harmonious in the 2000s, there have been areas of sectarian discontent and violence, as well as instances of religious extremism and terrorism. A political settlement to an armed separatist conflict in Aceh was achieved in 2005, but a separatist group in Papua continued to conduct a low-intensity conflict as of 2024.

## Geography
Location: Southeastern Asia, archipelago between the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean
Geographic coordinates: 5 00 S, 120 00 E
Map references: Southeast Asia
Area / total: 1,904,569 sq km
Area / land: 1,811,569 sq km
Area / water: 93,000 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly less than three times the size of Texas
Land boundaries / total: 2,958 km
Land boundaries / border countries: Malaysia 1,881 km; Papua New Guinea 824 km; Timor-Leste 253 km
Coastline: 54,716 km
Maritime claims / territorial sea: 12 nm
Maritime claims / exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate: tropical; hot, humid; more moderate in highlands
Terrain: mostly coastal lowlands; larger islands have interior mountains
Elevation / highest point: Puncak Jaya 4,884 m
Elevation / lowest point: Indian/Pacific Oceans 0 m
Elevation / mean elevation: 367 m
Natural resources: petroleum, tin, natural gas, nickel, timber, bauxite, copper, fertile soils, coal, gold, silver
Land use / agricultural land: 29.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 9.4% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 13.9% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 5.8% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 50.6% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 20.3% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land: 67,220 sq km (2012)
Major lakes (area sq km) / fresh water lake(s): Danau Toba - 1,150 sq km note - located in the caldera of a super volcano that erupted more than 70,000 years ago; it is the largest volcanic lake in the World
Major rivers (by length in km): Sepik (shared with Papua New Guinea [s]) - 1,126 km; Fly (shared with Papua New Guinea [s]) - 1,050 km note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Population distribution: major concentration on the island of Java, which is considered one of the most densely populated places on earth; of the outer islands, Sumatra contains some of the most significant clusters, particularly in the south near the Selat Sunda and along the northeastern coast near Medan; the cities of Makasar (Sulawesi), Banjarmasin (Kalimantan) are also heavily populated
Natural hazards: occasional floods; severe droughts; tsunamis; earthquakes; volcanoes; forest fires volcanism: Indonesia contains the most volcanoes of any country in the world, with over 75 historically active; significant volcanic activity occurs on Java, Sumatra, the Sunda Islands, Halmahera Island, Sulawesi Island, Sangihe Island, and in the Banda Sea; Merapi (2,968 m), Indonesia's most active volcano, has been deemed a Decade Volcano by the International Association of Volcanology and Chemistry of the Earth's Interior, worthy of study due to its explosive history and close proximity to human populations; in 2018, a large explosion and flank collapse destroyed most of the island of Anak Krakatau (Child of Krakatau) and generated a deadly tsunami that left more than 400 dead; other notable historically active volcanoes include Agung, Awu, Karangetang, Krakatau (Krakatoa), Makian, Raung, Sinabung, and Tambora; see note 2 under "Geography - note"
Geography - note: note 1: 13,466 islands are in the archipelago, of which 922 are permanently inhabited; Indonesia is the world's largest country composed solely of islands; the country straddles the equator and occupies a strategic location along major sea lanes from the Indian Ocean to the Pacific Ocean note 2: Indonesia is one of the countries along the Ring of Fire, which is a belt bordering the Pacific Ocean that contains about 75% of the world's volcanoes, up to 90% of the world's earthquakes, and 80% of tsunamis note 3: despite having the fourth largest population in the world, Indonesia is the most heavily forested region on earth after the Amazon

## People and Society
Population / total: 283,587,097 (2025 est.)
Population / male: 141,778,977
Population / female: 141,808,120
Nationality / noun: Indonesian(s)
Nationality / adjective: Indonesian
Ethnic groups: Javanese 40.1%, Sundanese 15.5%, Malay 3.7%, Batak 3.6%, Madurese 3%, Betawi 2.9%, Minangkabau 2.7%, Buginese 2.7%, Bantenese 2%, Banjarese 1.7%, Balinese 1.7%, Acehnese 1.4%, Dayak 1.4%, Sasak 1.3%, Chinese 1.2%, other 15% (2010 est.)
Languages / Languages: Bahasa Indonesia (official, modified form of Malay), English, Dutch, local dialects (of which the most widely spoken is Javanese); note - more than 700 languages are used in Indonesia
Languages / major-language sample(s): Fakta Dunia, sumber informasi dasar yang sangat diperlukan. (Indonesian) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
Religions: Muslim 87.4%, Protestant 7.5%, Roman Catholic 3.1%, Hindu 1.7%, other 0.8% (includes Buddhist and Confucian) (2022 est.)
Age structure / 0-14 years: 23.8% (male 34,247,218/female 32,701,367)
Age structure / 15-64 years: 68.3% (male 96,268,201/female 95,961,293)
Age structure / 65 years and over: 8% (2024 est.) (male 10,284,628/female 12,099,758)
Dependency ratios / total dependency ratio: 46.1 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / youth dependency ratio: 34.1 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / elderly dependency ratio: 12 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / potential support ratio: 8.3 (2025 est.)
Median age / total: 31.8 years (2025 est.)
Median age / male: 30.8 years
Median age / female: 32.3 years
Population growth rate: 0.7% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 14.55 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 6.82 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: -0.7 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution: major concentration on the island of Java, which is considered one of the most densely populated places on earth; of the outer islands, Sumatra contains some of the most significant clusters, particularly in the south near the Selat Sunda and along the northeastern coast near Medan; the cities of Makasar (Sulawesi), Banjarmasin (Kalimantan) are also heavily populated
Urbanization / urban population: 58.6% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 1.99% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 11.249 million JAKARTA (capital), 3.729 million Bekasi, 3.044 million Surabaya, 3.041 million Depok, 2.674 million Bandung, 2.514 million Tangerang (2023)
Sex ratio / at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 65 years and over: 0.85 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / total population: 1 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth: 22.4 years (2017 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio: 140 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Infant mortality rate / total: 18.5 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Infant mortality rate / male: 21.3 deaths/1,000 live births
Infant mortality rate / female: 16.4 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth / total population: 73.6 years (2024 est.)
Life expectancy at birth / male: 71.3 years
Life expectancy at birth / female: 76 years
Total fertility rate: 1.93 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 0.94 (2025 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: urban: urban: 98.3% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: rural: rural: 88.3% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: total: total: 94.1% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: urban: urban: 1.7% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: rural: rural: 11.7% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: total: total: 5.9% of population (2022 est.)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 3.7% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 8% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density: 0.52 physicians/1,000 population (2023)
Hospital bed density: 1.4 beds/1,000 population (2021 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: urban: urban: 97.4% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: rural: rural: 91.1% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: total: total: 94.7% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: urban: urban: 2.6% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: rural: rural: 8.9% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: total: total: 5.3% of population (2022 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 6.9% (2016)
Alcohol consumption per capita / total: 0.08 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / beer: 0.06 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / wine: 0.01 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / spirits: 0.02 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / other alcohols: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Tobacco use / total: 39% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / male: 74.9% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / female: 3.1% (2025 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 15.9% (2023 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49): 70.3% (2022 est.)
Child marriage / women married by age 15: 2% (2017)
Child marriage / women married by age 18: 16.3% (2017)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% GDP): 1.3% of GDP (2023 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% national budget): 10.6% national budget (2025 est.)
Literacy / total population: 96% (2020 est.)
Literacy / male: 97.4% (2020 est.)
Literacy / female: 94.6% (2020 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / total: 13 years (2023 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / male: 13 years (2023 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / female: 13 years (2023 est.)
People - note: Indonesia is the fourth most populous nation in the World after China, India, and the United States; more than half of the Indonesian population - roughly 150 million people or 55% - live on the island of Java (about the size of California) making it the most crowded island on earth

## Environment
Environmental issues: large-scale deforestation (much of it illegal) and related wildfires cause heavy smog; over-exploitation of marine resources; air pollution from vehicle emissions; waste disposal; water pollution from industrial wastes, sewage
International environmental agreements / party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands
International environmental agreements / signed, but not ratified: Marine Life Conservation
Climate: tropical; hot, humid; more moderate in highlands
Land use / agricultural land: 29.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 9.4% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 13.9% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 5.8% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 50.6% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 20.3% (2023 est.)
Urbanization / urban population: 58.6% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 1.99% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / total emissions: 829.655 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from coal and metallurgical coke: 527.923 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from petroleum and other liquids: 223.352 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from consumed natural gas: 78.38 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Particulate matter emissions: 18.4 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Methane emissions / energy: 3,621.7 kt (2022-2024 est.)
Methane emissions / agriculture: 3,379.3 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Methane emissions / waste: 4,200.1 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Methane emissions / other: 165.7 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Waste and recycling / municipal solid waste generated annually: 65.2 million tons (2024 est.)
Waste and recycling / percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 15.2% (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / municipal: 23.8 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / industrial: 9.135 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / agricultural: 189.7 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total renewable water resources: 2.019 trillion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Geoparks / total global geoparks and regional networks: 12 (2025)
Geoparks / global geoparks and regional networks: Batur; Belitong; Ciletuh - Palabuhanratu; Gunung Sewu; Ijen; Kebumen; Maros Pangkep; Merangin Jambi; Meratus; Raja Ampat; Rinjani-Lombok; Toba Caldera (2025)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: Republic of Indonesia
Country name / conventional short form: Indonesia
Country name / local long form: Republik Indonesia
Country name / local short form: Indonesia
Country name / former: Netherlands East Indies (Dutch East Indies), Netherlands New Guinea
Country name / etymology: the name is an 18th-century construct of two Greek words, "Indos" (India) and "nesoi" (islands), meaning "Indian islands"
Government type: presidential republic
Capital / name: Jakarta
Capital / geographic coordinates: 6 10 S, 106 49 E
Capital / time difference: UTC+7 (12 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Capital / time zone note: Indonesia has three time zones
Capital / etymology: derives from the Sanscrit name Jayakarta, meaning "victory and prosperity;" Prince FATILLAH conquered and renamed the city, formerly known as Sunda Kelapa, in 1527
Administrative divisions: 35 provinces ( provinsi-provinsi , singular - provinsi ), 1 autonomous province*, 1 special region** ( daerah istimewa ), and 1 national capital district*** ( daerah khusus ibukota ); Aceh*, Bali, Banten, Bengkulu, Gorontalo, Jakarta***, Jambi, Jawa Barat (West Java), Jawa Tengah (Central Java), Jawa Timur (East Java), Kalimantan Barat (West Kalimantan), Kalimantan Selatan (South Kalimantan), Kalimantan Tengah (Central Kalimantan), Kalimantan Timur (East Kalimantan), Kalimantan Utara (North Kalimantan), Kepulauan Bangka Belitung (Bangka Belitung Islands), Kepulauan Riau (Riau Islands), Lampung, Maluku, Maluku Utara (North Maluku), Nusa Tenggara Barat (West Nusa Tenggara), Nusa Tenggara Timur (East Nusa Tenggara), Papua, Papua Barat (West Papua), Papua Barat Daya (Southwest Papua), Papua Pegunungan (Papua Highlands), Papua Selatan (South Papua), Papua Tengah (Central Papua), Riau, Sulawesi Barat (West Sulawesi), Sulawesi Selatan (South Sulawesi), Sulawesi Tengah (Central Sulawesi), Sulawesi Tenggara (Southeast Sulawesi), Sulawesi Utara (North Sulawesi), Sumatera Barat (West Sumatra), Sumatera Selatan (South Sumatra), Sumatera Utara (North Sumatra), Yogyakarta**
Legal system: civil law system based on the Roman-Dutch model and influenced by customary law
Constitution / history: drafted July to August 1945, effective 18 August 1945, abrogated by 1949 and 1950 constitutions; 1945 constitution restored 5 July 1959
Constitution / amendment process: proposed by the People&rsquo;s Consultative Assembly, with at least two thirds of its members present; passage requires simple majority vote by the Assembly membership; constitutional articles on the unitary form of the state cannot be amended
International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt
Citizenship / citizenship by birth: no
Citizenship / citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Indonesia
Citizenship / dual citizenship recognized: no
Citizenship / residency requirement for naturalization: 5 continuous years
Suffrage: 17 years of age; universal; married persons regardless of age
Executive branch / chief of state: President PRABOWO Subianto Djojohadikusumo (since 20 October 2024)
Executive branch / head of government: President PRABOWO Subianto Djojohadikusumo (since 20 October 2024)
Executive branch / cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president
Executive branch / election/appointment process: president and vice president directly elected by absolute-majority popular vote for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term)
Executive branch / most recent election date: 14 February 2024
Executive branch / election results: 2024: PRABOWO Subianto elected president (assumes office 20 October 2024); percent of vote - PRABOWO Subianto (GERINDRA) 58.6%, Anies Rasyid BASWEDAN (Independent) 24.9%, GANJAR Pranowo (PDI-P) 16.5% 2019: Joko WIDODO reelected president; percent of vote - Joko WIDODO (PDI-P) 55.5%, PRABOWO Subianto Djojohadikusumo (GERINDRA) 44.5%
Executive branch / expected date of next election: 2029
Legislative branch / legislature name: House of Representatives (Dewan Perwakilan Rakyat)
Legislative branch / legislative structure: unicameral
Legislative branch / number of seats: 580 (all directly elected)
Legislative branch / electoral system: proportional representation
Legislative branch / scope of elections: full renewal
Legislative branch / term in office: 5 years
Legislative branch / most recent election date: 2/14/2024
Legislative branch / parties elected and seats per party: Indonesian Democratic Party - Struggle (PDI-P) (110); Party of Functional Groups (Golkar) (102); Great Indonesia Movement (Gerindra) (86); National Democratic Party (NasDem) (69); National Awakening Party (PKB) (68); Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) (53); National Mandate Party (PAN) (48); Democratic Party (PD) (44)
Legislative branch / percentage of women in chamber: 21.9%
Legislative branch / expected date of next election: April 2029
Judicial branch / highest court(s): Supreme Court or Mahkamah Agung (51 judges divided into 8 chambers); Constitutional Court or Mahkamah Konstitusi (consists of 9 judges)
Judicial branch / judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court judges nominated by Judicial Commission, appointed by president with concurrence of parliament; judges serve until retirement at age 65; Constitutional Court judges - 3 nominated by president, 3 by Supreme Court, and 3 by parliament; judges appointed by the president; judges serve until mandatory retirement at age 70
Judicial branch / subordinate courts: High Courts of Appeal, district courts, religious courts
Political parties: Democrat Party or PD Functional Groups Party or GOLKAR Great Indonesia Movement Party or GERINDRA Indonesia Democratic Party-Struggle or PDI-P National Awakening Party or PKB National Democratic Party or NasDem National Mandate Party or PAN Prosperous Justice Party or PKS
Diplomatic representation in the US / chief of mission: Ambassador INDROYONO Soesilo (since 16 December 2025)
Diplomatic representation in the US / chancery: 2020 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036
Diplomatic representation in the US / telephone: [1] (202) 775-5200
Diplomatic representation in the US / FAX: [1] (202) 775-5236
Diplomatic representation in the US / email address and website: washington.kbri@kemlu.go.id Embassy of The Republic of Indonesia, in Washington D.C., The United States of America (kemlu.go.id)
Diplomatic representation in the US / consulate(s) general: Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco
Diplomatic representation from the US / chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charg&eacute; d&rsquo;Affaires Peter M. HAYMOND (since 15 June 2025)
Diplomatic representation from the US / embassy: Jl. Medan Merdeka Selatan No. 3-5, Jakarta 10110
Diplomatic representation from the US / mailing address: 8200 Jakarta Place, Washington DC 20521-8200
Diplomatic representation from the US / telephone: [62] (21) 5083-1000
Diplomatic representation from the US / FAX: [62] (21) 385-7189
Diplomatic representation from the US / email address and website: jakartaacs@state.gov https://id.usembassy.gov/
Diplomatic representation from the US / consulate(s) general: Surabaya
Diplomatic representation from the US / consulate(s): Medan
International organization participation: ADB, APEC, ARF, ASEAN, BIS, CD, CICA (observer), CP, D-8, EAS, EITI (compliant country), FAO, G-11, G-15, G-20, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), IORA, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MINURSO, MINUSTAH, MONUSCO, MSG (associate member), NAM, OECD (enhanced engagement), OIC, OPCW, PIF (partner), UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHRC, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNISFA, UNMIL, UNOOSA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Independence: 17 August 1945 (declared independence from the Netherlands)
National holiday: Independence Day, 17 August (1945)
Flag: description: two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and white meaning: red stands for courage and white for purity history: the colors derive from the banner of the Majapahit Empire of the 13th-15th centuries
National symbol(s): garuda (mythical bird)
National color(s): red, white
National anthem(s) / title: "Indonesia Raya" (Great Indonesia)
National anthem(s) / lyrics/music: Wage Rudolf SOEPRATMAN
National anthem(s) / history: adopted 1945
National heritage / total World Heritage Sites: 10 (6 cultural, 4 natural)
National heritage / selected World Heritage Site locales: Borobudur Temple Compounds (c); Komodo National Park (n); Prambanan Temple Compounds (c); Ujung Kulon National Park (n); Sangiran Early Man Site (c); Lorentz National Park (n); Tropical Rainforest Heritage of Sumatra (n); Cultural Landscape of Bali Province (c); Ombilin Coal Mining Heritage of Sawahlunto (c); Cosmological Axis of Yogyakarta and its Historic Landmarks (c)

## Economy
Economic overview: upper middle-income, largest and growing Southeast Asian economy; higher lending rates to moderate inflation; ongoing relocation of capital fueling infrastructure projects; major tourism sector prompting green economy goals
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $4.102 trillion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $3.906 trillion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $3.718 trillion (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2024: 5% (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2023: 5% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2022: 5.3% (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2024: $14,500 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2023: $13,900 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2022: $13,300 (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $1.396 trillion (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023: 3.7% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 4.2% (2022 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021: 1.6% (2021 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / agriculture: 12.6% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / industry: 39.3% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / services: 43.8% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / household consumption: 55.4% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / government consumption: 7.7% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in fixed capital: 29.1% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in inventories: 2.3% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / exports of goods and services: 22.2% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / imports of goods and services: -20.4% (2024 est.)
Agricultural products: oil palm fruit, rice, sugarcane, maize, coconuts, cassava, bananas, eggs, chicken, mangoes/guavas (2023)
Industries: petroleum and natural gas, textiles, automotive, electrical appliances, apparel, footwear, mining, cement, medical instruments and appliances, handicrafts, chemical fertilizers, plywood, rubber, processed food, jewelry, and tourism
Industrial production growth rate: 5.2% (2024 est.)
Labor force: 143.144 million (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2024: 3.3% (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2023: 3.4% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2022: 3.5% (2022 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / total: 13.1% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / male: 13.2% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / female: 13% (2024 est.)
Population below poverty line: 9% (2024 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income / Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2024: 34.9 (2024 est.)
Average household expenditures / on food: 33.5% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Average household expenditures / on alcohol and tobacco: 7.3% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / lowest 10%: 3.5% (2024 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / highest 10%: 28.8% (2024 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2024: 1.1% of GDP (2024 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2023: 1.1% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2022: 1% of GDP (2022 est.)
Budget / revenues: $182.658 billion (2023 est.)
Budget / expenditures: $204.739 billion (2023 est.)
Public debt / Public debt 2022: 45.34% of GDP (2022 est.)
Taxes and other revenues: 11.6% (of GDP) (2022 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2024: -$8.47 billion (2024 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2023: -$2.042 billion (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2022: $13.215 billion (2022 est.)
Exports / Exports 2024: $300.868 billion (2024 est.)
Exports / Exports 2023: $291.287 billion (2023 est.)
Exports / Exports 2022: $315.746 billion (2022 est.)
Exports - partners: China 24%, USA 9%, India 8%, Japan 8%, Singapore 5% (2023)
Exports - commodities: coal, palm oil, iron alloys, lignite, garments (2023)
Imports / Imports 2024: $279.419 billion (2024 est.)
Imports / Imports 2023: $262.694 billion (2023 est.)
Imports / Imports 2022: $273.031 billion (2022 est.)
Imports - partners: China 29%, Singapore 8%, Japan 7%, USA 5%, Malaysia 5% (2023)
Imports - commodities: refined petroleum, crude petroleum, plastics, vehicle parts/accessories, integrated circuits (2023)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024: $155.708 billion (2024 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023: $146.359 billion (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $137.222 billion (2022 est.)
Debt - external / Debt - external 2023: $225.273 billion (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Currency: Indonesian rupiah (IDR) per US dollar -
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2024: 15,855.448 (2024 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2023: 15,236.885 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2022: 14,849.854 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2021: 14,308.144 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2020: 14,582.203 (2020 est.)

## Energy
Electricity access / electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)
Electricity access / electrification - urban areas: 100%
Electricity access / electrification - rural areas: 98.2%
Electricity / installed generating capacity: 70.826 million kW (2023 est.)
Electricity / consumption: 356.135 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / imports: 828.198 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / transmission/distribution losses: 27.477 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / fossil fuels: 82% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / solar: 0.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / wind: 0.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / hydroelectricity: 6.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / geothermal: 4.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / biomass and waste: 6.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Coal / production: 783.453 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / consumption: 281.159 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / exports: 519.23 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / imports: 16.935 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / proven reserves: 35.055 billion metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum / total petroleum production: 865,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Petroleum / refined petroleum consumption: 1.645 million bbl/day (2023 est.)
Petroleum / crude oil estimated reserves: 2.48 billion barrels (2021 est.)
Natural gas / production: 58.691 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / consumption: 38.378 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / exports: 20.989 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / imports: 727.056 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / proven reserves: 1.408 trillion cubic meters (2021 est.)
Energy consumption per capita / Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 37.39 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

## Communications
Telephones - fixed lines / total subscriptions: 9.16 million (2023 est.)
Telephones - fixed lines / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 3 (2023 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / total subscriptions: 347 million (2024 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 123 (2024 est.)
Broadcast media: mix of about a dozen national TV networks, including 1 public broadcaster and the rest private; more than 100 local TV stations; widespread use of satellite and cable TV systems; public radio broadcaster operates 6 national networks, as well as regional and local stations; more than 700 radio stations, with over 650 privately operated (2019)
Internet country code: .id
Internet users / percent of population: 69% (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / total: 13.5 million (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 5 (2023 est.)

## Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: PK
Airports: 556 (2025)
Heliports: 53 (2025)
Railways / total: 8,159 km (2014)
Railways / narrow gauge: 8,159 km (2014) 1.067-m gauge (565 km electrified)
Merchant marine / total: 11,422 (2023)
Merchant marine / by type: bulk carrier 160, container ship 219, general cargo 2,347, oil tanker 714, other 7,982
Ports / total ports: 123 (2024)
Ports / large: 3
Ports / medium: 6
Ports / small: 18
Ports / very small: 96
Ports / ports with oil terminals: 79
Ports / key ports: Belawan, Cilacap, Dumai, Jakarta, Kasim Terminal, Merak Mas Terminal, Palembang, Surabaya, Ujung Pandang

## Military and Security
Military and security forces: Indonesian National Armed Forces (Tentara Nasional Indonesia, TNI): Army (TNI-Angkatan Darat, TNI-AD), Navy (TNI-Angkatan Laut, TNI-AL; includes Marine Corps (Korps Marinir or KorMar)), Air Force (TNI-Angkatan Udara, TNI-AU) Indonesian National Police (aka The State Police of the Republic of Indonesia or POLRI) Ministry of Transportation: Indonesia Sea and Coast Guard (Kesatuan Penjagaan Laut dan Pantai Republik Indonesia, KPLP); Coordinating Ministry for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs: Maritime Security Agency of the Republic of Indonesia (Badan Keamanan Laut Republik Indonesia, Bakamla) (2025)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2024: 0.8% of GDP (2024 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2023: 0.8% of GDP (2023 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2022: 0.8% of GDP (2022 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2021: 0.8% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2020: 0.8% of GDP (2020 est.)
Military and security service personnel strengths: approximately 400,000 active Armed Forces, including about 300,000 Army (2025)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the military's inventory is a mix of older and new weapons platforms from China, Russia, Europe, the US, and other countries; in recent years, major suppliers have included China, France, Germany, the Netherlands, South Korea, and the US; the TNI has been engaged in a modernization program for more than a decade; Indonesia has a growing defense industry fueled by technology transfers and cooperation agreements with several countries; it has jointly produced aircraft and naval vessels (2025)
Military service age and obligation: 18 years of age for voluntary service for men and women; upper age limits vary by military service, position, specialty; compulsory service authorized but not utilized (2025)
Military deployments: 250 (plus about 170 police) Central African Republic (MINUSCA); 1,025 Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO); 1,225 Lebanon (UNIFIL) (2025)
Military - note: the military is responsible for external defense, combatting separatism, and responding to national emergencies and natural disasters; in certain conditions it may provide operational support to police, such as for counterterrorism operations, maintaining public order, and addressing communal conflicts key operational priorities include an insurgency on Papua and the security of Indonesia's vast maritime domain; the West Papua Liberation Army, the military wing of the Free Papua Organization, has been fighting a low-level insurgency in Papua since Indonesia annexed the former Dutch colony in the 1960s; maritime issues include piracy, transnational crime, illegal fishing, and incursions by People's Republic of China (PRC) vessels; Indonesia is not a formal claimant in the South China Sea, although some of its waters lie within the PRC's “nine-dash line” maritime claims, resulting in some stand offs in recent years; over the past decade, the Indonesian military has bolstered its presence on and around the strategically located Natuna Islands (2025)

## Space
Space agency/agencies: Indonesian Space Agency (INASA; formed 2022); National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN; established 2021); Research Organization for Aeronautics and Space (ORPA; formed 2021) (2025)
Space program overview: focuses largely on rocket development and satellite acquisition/operation; manufactures remote sensing (RS) satellites; has a sounding (research) rocket program to develop an orbital satellite launch vehicle (SLV); researching and developing a range of other space-related technologies related to satellite payloads, communications, RS, and astronomy; has relations with several foreign space agencies and industries, including those of France, Germany, India, Japan, Russia, South Korea, and the US; national space program includes building up the country's private space sector (2025)
Key space-program milestones: 1964 - launched first sounding rocket (Kartika) 1976 - first communications satellite (Palapa A1) built and launched by US 2005 - re-started sounding rocket program with goal of producing a satellite launch vehicle (SLV) 2007 - first remote sensing (RS) satellite (LAPAN-A1) built by Germany and launched by India 2015 - first domestically produced RS satellite (LAPAN-A2) launched by India 2023-2024 - two communications satellites (SATRIA-1 and Merah Putih 2) to provide high-speed internet access across the Indonesian archipelago built by European company and launched by US

## Terrorism
Terrorist group(s): Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (aka Jemaah Anshorut Daulah); Jemaah Islamiyah

## Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons / refugees: 11,964 (2024 est.)
Refugees and internally displaced persons / IDPs: 95,521 (2024 est.)
Refugees and internally displaced persons / stateless persons: 2,643 (2024 est.)

=== Japan ===

## Introduction
Background: In 1603, after decades of civil warfare, the Tokugawa shogunate (a military-led, dynastic government) ushered in a long period of relative political stability and isolation from foreign influence. For more than two centuries, this policy enabled Japan to enjoy a flowering of its indigenous culture. Japan opened its ports after signing the Treaty of Kanagawa with the US in 1854 and began to intensively modernize and industrialize. During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Japan became a regional power that was able to defeat the forces of both China and Russia. It occupied Korea, Formosa (Taiwan), and southern Sakhalin Island. In 1931-32, Japan occupied Manchuria, and in 1937, it launched a full-scale invasion of China. Japan attacked US forces at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, in 1941, triggering America's entry into World War II, and Japan soon occupied much of East and Southeast Asia. After its defeat in World War II, the country recovered to become an economic power and a US ally. While the emperor retains his throne as a symbol of national unity, elected politicians hold the decision-making power. After three decades of unprecedented growth, Japan's economy experienced a major slowdown starting in the 1990s, but the country remains an economic power. In 2011, Japan's strongest-ever earthquake and an accompanying tsunami devastated the northeast part of Honshu, killed thousands, and damaged several nuclear power plants. ABE Shinzo was reelected as prime minister in 2012, and he embarked on ambitious economic and security reforms to improve Japan's economy and bolster the country's international standing. In 2019, ABE became Japan's longest-serving post-war prime minister; he resigned in 2020 and was succeeded by SUGA Yoshihide. KISHIDA Fumio became prime minister in 2021.

## Geography
Location: Eastern Asia, island chain between the North Pacific Ocean and the Sea of Japan, east of the Korean Peninsula
Geographic coordinates: 36 00 N, 138 00 E
Map references: Asia
Area / total: 377,915 sq km
Area / land: 364,485 sq km
Area / water: 13,430 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly smaller than California
Land boundaries / total: 0 km
Coastline: 29,751 km
Maritime claims / territorial sea: 12 nm; between 3 nm and 12 nm in the international straits - La Perouse or Soya, Tsugaru, Osumi, and the Korea and Tsushima Straits
Maritime claims / contiguous zone: 24 nm
Maritime claims / exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate: varies from tropical in south to cool temperate in north
Terrain: mostly rugged and mountainous
Elevation / highest point: Mount Fuji 3,776 m
Elevation / lowest point: Hachiro-gata -4 m
Elevation / mean elevation: 438 m
Natural resources: negligible mineral resources, fish
Land use / agricultural land: 12.6% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 11.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 0.7% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 0.9% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 68.3% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 19% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land: 15,730 sq km (2014)
Major lakes (area sq km) / fresh water lake(s): Biwa-ko 688 sq km
Population distribution: all primary and secondary regions of high population density lie on the coast; one third of the population resides in and around Tokyo on the central plain (Kanto Plain)
Natural hazards: many dormant and some active volcanoes; about 1,500 seismic occurrences (mostly tremors but occasional severe earthquakes) every year; tsunamis; typhoons volcanism: both Unzen (1,500 m) and Sakura-jima (1,117 m), which lies near the densely populated city of Kagoshima, have been deemed Decade Volcanoes by the International Association of Volcanology and Chemistry of the Earth's Interior, worthy of study due to their explosive history and close proximity to human populations; other notable historically active volcanoes include Asama (Honshu Island's most active volcano), Aso, Bandai, Fuji, Iwo-Jima, Kikai, Kirishima, Komaga-take, Oshima, Suwanosejima, Tokachi, Yake-dake, and Usu; see note 2 under "Geography - note"
Geography - note: note 1: strategic location in northeast Asia; composed of four main islands (the "Home Islands") -- Hokkaido, Honshu (the largest, most populous, and site of Tokyo, the capital), Shikoku, and Kyushu note 2: a 2023 Geospatial Information Authority of Japan survey detected 100,000 islands and islets, but only the 14,125 islands with a circumference of at least 100 m (330 ft) were officially counted; about 260 of the islands are inhabited note 3: Japan annually records the most earthquakes in the world; it is one of the countries along the Ring of Fire, which is a belt bordering the Pacific Ocean that contains about 75% of the world's volcanoes and up to 90% of the world's earthquakes

## People and Society
Population / total: 123,201,945 (2024 est.)
Population / male: 59,875,269
Population / female: 63,326,676
Nationality / noun: Japanese (singular and plural)
Nationality / adjective: Japanese
Ethnic groups: Japanese 97.5%, Chinese 0.6%, Vietnam 0.4%, South Korean 0.3%, other 1.2% (includes Filipino, Brazilian, Nepalese, Indonesian, American, and Taiwanese) (2022 est.)
Languages / Languages: Japanese
Languages / major-language sample(s): 必要不可欠な基本情報の源、ワールド・ファクトブック(Japanese) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
Religions: Shintoism 48.6%, Buddhism 46.4%, Christianity 1.1%, other 4% (2021 est.)
Age structure / 0-14 years: 12.1% (male 7,701,196/female 7,239,389)
Age structure / 15-64 years: 58.4% (male 36,197,840/female 35,777,966)
Age structure / 65 years and over: 29.5% (2024 est.) (male 15,976,233/female 20,309,321)
Dependency ratios / total dependency ratio: 71.2 (2024 est.)
Dependency ratios / youth dependency ratio: 20.8 (2024 est.)
Dependency ratios / elderly dependency ratio: 50.4 (2024 est.)
Dependency ratios / potential support ratio: 2 (2024 est.)
Median age / total: 50.2 years (2025 est.)
Median age / male: 48.3 years
Median age / female: 51.3 years
Population growth rate: -0.45% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 6.84 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 12.04 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: 0.73 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution: all primary and secondary regions of high population density lie on the coast; one third of the population resides in and around Tokyo on the central plain (Kanto Plain)
Urbanization / urban population: 92% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: -0.25% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 37.194 million TOKYO (capital), 19.013 million Osaka, 9.569 million Nagoya, 5.490 million Kitakyushu-Fukuoka, 2.937 million Shizuoka-Hamamatsu, 2.666 million Sapporo (2023)
Sex ratio / at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 65 years and over: 0.79 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth: 30.7 years (2018 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio: 3 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Infant mortality rate / total: 1.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Infant mortality rate / male: 2 deaths/1,000 live births
Infant mortality rate / female: 1.7 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth / total population: 85.2 years (2024 est.)
Life expectancy at birth / male: 82.3 years
Life expectancy at birth / female: 88.2 years
Total fertility rate: 1.41 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 0.68 (2025 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: total: total: 99.1% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: total: total: 0.9% of population (2022 est.)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 10.8% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 23.4% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density: 2.65 physicians/1,000 population (2022)
Hospital bed density: 12.7 beds/1,000 population (2020 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: total: total: 99.9% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: total: total: 0.1% of population (2022 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 4.3% (2016)
Alcohol consumption per capita / total: 8.36 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / beer: 1.35 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / wine: 0.29 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / spirits: 1.63 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / other alcohols: 5.09 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Tobacco use / total: 15.5% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / male: 24.4% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / female: 7.2% (2025 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49): 50% (2020 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% GDP): 3.3% of GDP (2021 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% national budget): 7.5% national budget (2022 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / total: 16 years (2022 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / male: 16 years (2022 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / female: 16 years (2022 est.)

## Environment
Environmental issues: air pollution from power plants results in acid rain; acidification of lakes and reservoirs degrading water quality; waste management issues; ongoing environmental clean-up in small area of Fukushima after nuclear accident in 2011
International environmental agreements / party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protection, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands
International environmental agreements / signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Climate: varies from tropical in south to cool temperate in north
Land use / agricultural land: 12.6% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 11.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 0.7% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 0.9% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 68.3% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 19% (2023 est.)
Urbanization / urban population: 92% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: -0.25% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / total emissions: 960.23 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from coal and metallurgical coke: 367.144 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from petroleum and other liquids: 403.042 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from consumed natural gas: 190.043 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Particulate matter emissions: 10.5 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Methane emissions / energy: 214.7 kt (2022-2024 est.)
Methane emissions / agriculture: 972.8 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Methane emissions / waste: 208.2 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Methane emissions / other: 22.7 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Waste and recycling / municipal solid waste generated annually: 42.72 million tons (2024 est.)
Waste and recycling / percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 11.5% (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / municipal: 13.5 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / industrial: 13 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / agricultural: 53 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total renewable water resources: 430 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Geoparks / total global geoparks and regional networks: 10
Geoparks / global geoparks and regional networks: Aso UNESCO; Hakusan Tedorigawa; Itoigawa; Izu Peninsula; Mt. Apoi; Muroto; Oki Islands; San'in Kaigan; Toya - Usu; Unzen (2023)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: none
Country name / conventional short form: Japan
Country name / local long form: Nihon-koku/Nippon-koku
Country name / local short form: Nihon/Nippon
Country name / etymology: the English word for Japan comes from the Chinese name for the country, Cipangu; both Nihon and Nippon come from the Japanese words nichi , or "sun," and hon , or "origin," which is frequently translated as "Land of the Rising Sun"
Government type: parliamentary constitutional monarchy
Capital / name: Tokyo
Capital / geographic coordinates: 35 41 N, 139 45 E
Capital / time difference: UTC+9 (14 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Capital / etymology: originally known as Edo, meaning "estuary" because of its location on a bay; the name was changed to Tokyo, meaning "eastern capital," in 1868, as a contrast to Kyoto, the previous capital to the west
Administrative divisions: 47 prefectures; Aichi, Akita, Aomori, Chiba, Ehime, Fukui, Fukuoka, Fukushima, Gifu, Gunma, Hiroshima, Hokkaido, Hyogo, Ibaraki, Ishikawa, Iwate, Kagawa, Kagoshima, Kanagawa, Kochi, Kumamoto, Kyoto, Mie, Miyagi, Miyazaki, Nagano, Nagasaki, Nara, Niigata, Oita, Okayama, Okinawa, Osaka, Saga, Saitama, Shiga, Shimane, Shizuoka, Tochigi, Tokushima, Tokyo, Tottori, Toyama, Wakayama, Yamagata, Yamaguchi, Yamanashi
Legal system: civil law system based on German model; also reflects Anglo-American influence and Japanese traditions; Supreme Court reviews legislative acts
Constitution / history: previous 1890; latest approved 6 October 1946, adopted 3 November 1946, effective 3 May 1947
Constitution / amendment process: proposed by the Diet; passage requires approval by at least two-thirds majority of both houses of the Diet and approval by majority in a referendum
International law organization participation: accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Citizenship / citizenship by birth: no
Citizenship / citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Japan
Citizenship / dual citizenship recognized: no
Citizenship / residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch / chief of state: Emperor NARUHITO (since 1 May 2019)
Executive branch / head of government: Prime Minister Sanae TAKAICHI (since 21 October 2025)
Executive branch / cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the prime minister
Executive branch / election/appointment process: the monarchy is hereditary; the leader of the majority party or majority coalition in the House of Representatives usually becomes prime minister
Executive branch / election results: 2025: Sanae TAKAICHI (LDP) elected prime minister on 21 October 2025; upper house vote - 125 of 171 votes (runoff); lower house vote - 237 of 386 votes 2024: Shigeru ISHIBA (LDP) elected prime minister on 27 September 2024; upper house vote - 143 of 242 votes; lower house vote - 291 of 461 votes
Legislative branch / legislature name: National Diet (Kokkai)
Legislative branch / legislative structure: bicameral
Legislative branch - lower chamber / chamber name: House of Representatives (Shugiin)
Legislative branch - lower chamber / number of seats: 465 (all directly elected)
Legislative branch - lower chamber / electoral system: mixed system
Legislative branch - lower chamber / scope of elections: full renewal
Legislative branch - lower chamber / term in office: 4 years
Legislative branch - lower chamber / most recent election date: 7/20/2025
Legislative branch - lower chamber / parties elected and seats per party: Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) (191); Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan (148); Nippon Ishin (Japan Innovation Party) (38); Democratic Party for the People (28); Komeito (24); Other (36)
Legislative branch - lower chamber / percentage of women in chamber: 15.7%
Legislative branch - lower chamber / expected date of next election: October 2028
Legislative branch - upper chamber / chamber name: House of Councillors (Sangiin)
Legislative branch - upper chamber / number of seats: 248 (all directly elected)
Legislative branch - upper chamber / electoral system: mixed system
Legislative branch - upper chamber / scope of elections: partial renewal
Legislative branch - upper chamber / term in office: 6 years
Legislative branch - upper chamber / most recent election date: 10/27/2024
Legislative branch - upper chamber / parties elected and seats per party: Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) (39); Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan (22); Democratic Party for the People (17); Sanseito (14); Komeito (8); Nippon Ishin (Japan Innovation Party) (7); Independents (8); Other (10)
Legislative branch - upper chamber / percentage of women in chamber: 29.4%
Legislative branch - upper chamber / expected date of next election: June 2028
Judicial branch / highest court(s): Supreme Court or Saiko saibansho (consists of the chief justice and 14 associate justices)
Judicial branch / judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court chief justice designated by the Cabinet and appointed by the monarch; associate justices appointed by the Cabinet and confirmed by the monarch; all justices are reviewed in a popular referendum during the first general election of the House of Representatives after each judge's appointment and every 10 years afterward
Judicial branch / subordinate courts: 8 High Courts (Koto-saiban-sho), each with a Family Court (Katei-saiban-sho); 50 District Courts (Chiho saibansho), with 203 additional branches; 438 Summary Courts (Kani saibansho)
Political parties: Conservative Party of Japan or CPJ Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan or CDP Democratic Party for the People or DPFP or DPP Japan Communist Party or JCP Japan Innovation Party or Nippon Ishin no kai or Ishin Komeito or Komei Liberal Democratic Party or LDP Okinawa Social Mass Party or Okinawa Whirlwind or OW Party to Protect the People from NHK or NHK Reiwa Shinsengumi Sanseito Party Social Democratic Party or SDP
Diplomatic representation in the US / chief of mission: Ambassador YAMADA Shigeo (since 27 February 2024)
Diplomatic representation in the US / chancery: 2520 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation in the US / telephone: [1] (202) 238-6700
Diplomatic representation in the US / FAX: [1] (202) 328-2187
Diplomatic representation in the US / email address and website: emb-consulate.dc@ws.mofa.go.jp https://www.us.emb-japan.go.jp/itprtop_en/index.html
Diplomatic representation in the US / consulate(s) general: Chicago
Diplomatic representation in the US / consulate(s): Anchorage (AK), Atlanta, Boston, Denver (CO), Detroit (MI), Hagatna (Guam), Honolulu, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, Nashville (TN), New York, Portland (OR), San Francisco, Saipan (Northern Mariana Islands), Seattle (WA)
Diplomatic representation from the US / chief of mission: Ambassador George GLASS (since 17 July 2025)
Diplomatic representation from the US / embassy: 1-10-5 Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo 107-8420
Diplomatic representation from the US / mailing address: 9800 Tokyo Place, Washington DC 20521-9800
Diplomatic representation from the US / telephone: [81] (03) 3224-5000
Diplomatic representation from the US / FAX: [81] (03) 3224-5856
Diplomatic representation from the US / email address and website: TokyoACS@state.gov https://jp.usembassy.gov/
Diplomatic representation from the US / consulate(s) general: Naha (Okinawa), Osaka-Kobe, Sapporo
Diplomatic representation from the US / consulate(s): Fukuoka, Nagoya
International organization participation: ADB, AfDB (nonregional member), APEC, Arctic Council (observer), ARF, ASEAN (dialogue partner), Australia Group, BIS, CD, CE (observer), CERN (observer), CICA (observer), CP, CPLP (associate), EAS, EBRD, EITI (implementing country), FAO, FATF, G-5, G-7, G-8, G-10, G-20, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD (partners), IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAIA (observer), MIGA, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE (partner), Pacific Alliance (observer), Paris Club, PCA, PIF (partner), Quad, SAARC (observer), SELEC (observer), SICA (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNHRC, UNIDO, UNMISS, UNOOSA, UNRWA, UNWTO, UPU, Wassenaar Arrangement, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
Independence: 3 May 1947 (current constitution adopted as amendment to Meiji Constitution); notable earlier dates: 11 February 660 B.C. (mythological date of Emperor JIMMU founding the nation); 29 November 1890 (Meiji Constitution provides for constitutional monarchy)
National holiday: Birthday of Emperor NARUHITO, 23 February (1960)
Flag: description: white with a large red disk that symbolizes the sun without rays, in the center history: the current flag was adopted in 1854, but a sun flag has been in use in Japan since at least 1184; the sun has long been a national symbol: according to tradition, the sun goddess Amaterasu founded the country in the 7th century B.C.
National symbol(s): red sun disc, chrysanthemum
National color(s): red, white
National coat of arms: the Kikumon is the Japanese emperor's family coat of arms and dates from 1183; the Imperial chrysanthemum emblem (菊の御紋, kikunogomon ) is a yellow or orange chrysanthemum with black or red outlines and background; a central disc is surrounded by a front set of 16 petals; a rear set of 16 petals are half-staggered in relation to the front set and are visible at the edges of the flower
National anthem(s) / title: "Kimigayo" (&ldquo;His Majesty&rsquo;s Reign)
National anthem(s) / lyrics/music: unknown/Hiromori HAYASHI
National anthem(s) / history: adopted 1999; unofficial national anthem since 1883; oldest anthem lyrics in the world, dating to the 10th century or earlier; some oppose the anthem because of its association with militarism and worship of the emperor
National heritage / total World Heritage Sites: 26 (21 cultural, 5 natural)
National heritage / selected World Heritage Site locales: Buddhist Monuments in the Horyu-ji Area (c); Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara (c); Himeji-jo (c); Shiretoko (n); Mozu-Furuichi Kofun Group: Mounded Tombs of Ancient Japan (c); Jomon Prehistoric Sites in Northern Japan (c); Yakushima (n); Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto (Kyoto, Uji and Otsu Cities) (c); Hiroshima Peace Memorial (Genbaku Dome) (c); Shirakami-Sanchi (n); Historic Villages of Shirakawa-go and Gokayama (c); Itsukushima Shinto Shrine (c); Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara (c); Shrines and Temples of Nikko (c); Gusuku Sites and Related Properties of the Kingdom of Ryukyu (c); Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range (c); Hiraizumi – Temples, Gardens and Archaeological Sites Representing the Buddhist Pure Land (c); Ogasawara Islands (n); Sacred Island of Okinoshima and Associated Sites in the Munakata Region (c); Hidden Christian Sites in the Nagasaki Region (c); Amami-Oshima Island, Tokunoshima Island, Northern part of Okinawa Island, and Iriomote Island (n); Jomon Prehistoric Sites in Northern Japan (c)

## Economy
Economic overview: second-largest East Asian economy; trade-oriented and highly diversified; high public debt levels; following years of near-zero interest rates, gradual increases to address inflation and depreciation of yen; strong rebound in tourism; aging population poses challenges to labor force participation
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $5.715 trillion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $5.71 trillion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $5.627 trillion (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2024: 0.1% (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2023: 1.5% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2022: 0.9% (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2024: $46,100 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2023: $45,900 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2022: $45,000 (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $4.026 trillion (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024: 2.7% (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023: 3.3% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 2.5% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / agriculture: 0.9% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / industry: 28.6% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / services: 69.8% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / household consumption: 55.5% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / government consumption: 21.6% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in fixed capital: 26.3% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in inventories: 0.5% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / exports of goods and services: 21.5% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / imports of goods and services: -25.3% (2022 est.)
Agricultural products: rice, milk, sugar beets, vegetables, eggs, chicken, potatoes, onions, cabbages, pork (2023)
Industries: motor vehicles, electronic equipment, machine tools, steel and nonferrous metals, ships, chemicals, textiles, processed foods
Industrial production growth rate: 1.4% (2023 est.)
Labor force: 69.382 million (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2024: 2.6% (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2023: 2.6% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2022: 2.6% (2022 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / total: 3.9% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / male: 4.2% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / female: 3.7% (2024 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income / Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2020: 32.3 (2020 est.)
Average household expenditures / on food: 15.8% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Average household expenditures / on alcohol and tobacco: 2.5% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / lowest 10%: 2.4% (2020 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / highest 10%: 23.9% (2020 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2024: 0.1% of GDP (2024 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2023: 0.1% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2022: 0.1% of GDP (2022 est.)
Budget / revenues: $661.986 billion (2022 est.)
Budget / expenditures: $897.03 billion (2022 est.)
Public debt / Public debt 2022: 215.9% of GDP (2022 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2024: $194.257 billion (2024 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2023: $156.592 billion (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2022: $90.21 billion (2022 est.)
Exports / Exports 2024: $922.447 billion (2024 est.)
Exports / Exports 2023: $923.488 billion (2023 est.)
Exports / Exports 2022: $922.813 billion (2022 est.)
Exports - partners: USA 19%, China 18%, Taiwan 6%, S. Korea 6%, Hong Kong 4% (2023)
Exports - commodities: cars, integrated circuits, machinery, vehicle parts/accessories, construction vehicles (2023)
Imports / Imports 2024: $965.047 billion (2024 est.)
Imports / Imports 2023: $996.364 billion (2023 est.)
Imports / Imports 2022: $1.081 trillion (2022 est.)
Imports - partners: China 22%, USA 11%, Australia 8%, UAE 5%, Saudi Arabia 5% (2023)
Imports - commodities: crude petroleum, natural gas, coal, integrated circuits, broadcasting equipment (2023)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024: $1.231 trillion (2024 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023: $1.295 trillion (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $1.228 trillion (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Currency: yen (JPY) per US dollar -
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2024: 151.366 (2024 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2023: 140.491 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2022: 131.498 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2021: 109.754 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2020: 106.775 (2020 est.)

## Energy
Electricity access / electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)
Electricity / installed generating capacity: 361.617 million kW (2023 est.)
Electricity / consumption: 902.769 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / transmission/distribution losses: 41.79 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / fossil fuels: 65.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / nuclear: 8.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / solar: 10.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / wind: 1.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / hydroelectricity: 7.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / geothermal: 0.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / biomass and waste: 6.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Nuclear energy / Number of operational nuclear reactors: 14 (2025)
Nuclear energy / Number of nuclear reactors under construction: 2 (2025)
Nuclear energy / Net capacity of operational nuclear reactors: 12.63GW (2025 est.)
Nuclear energy / Percent of total electricity production: 5.5% (2023 est.)
Nuclear energy / Number of nuclear reactors permanently shut down: 27 (2025)
Coal / production: 27.657 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / consumption: 197.612 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / exports: 1.615 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / imports: 170.874 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / proven reserves: 350 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum / total petroleum production: 8,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Petroleum / refined petroleum consumption: 3.14 million bbl/day (2024 est.)
Petroleum / crude oil estimated reserves: 44.115 million barrels (2021 est.)
Natural gas / production: 2.019 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / consumption: 88.317 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / exports: 271.607 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Natural gas / imports: 85.003 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / proven reserves: 20.898 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)
Energy consumption per capita / Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 129.504 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

## Communications
Telephones - fixed lines / total subscriptions: 59.758 million (2023 est.)
Telephones - fixed lines / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 48 (2023 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / total subscriptions: 219 million (2023 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 168 (2022 est.)
Broadcast media: a mix of public and commercial TV and radio stations; 5 national terrestrial TV networks including 1 public broadcaster; large number of radio and TV stations; satellite and cable services provide access to international channels (2023)
Internet country code: .jp
Internet users / percent of population: 87% (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / total: 47.9 million (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 39 (2023 est.)

## Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: JA
Airports: 280 (2025)
Heliports: 3,036 (2025)
Railways / total: 27,311 km (2015)
Railways / standard gauge: 4,800 km (2015) 1.435-m gauge (4,800 km electrified)
Railways / narrow gauge: 124 km (2015) 1.372-m gauge (124 km electrified)
Railways / dual gauge: 132 km (2015) 1.435-1.067-m gauge (132 km electrified)
Merchant marine / total: 5,229 (2023)
Merchant marine / by type: bulk carrier 166, container ship 49, general cargo 1,893, oil tanker 666, other 2,455
Ports / total ports: 163 (2024)
Ports / large: 11
Ports / medium: 26
Ports / small: 54
Ports / very small: 71
Ports / size unknown: 1
Ports / ports with oil terminals: 99
Ports / key ports: Kawasaki Ko, Kobe, Mikawa, Nagasaki, Nagoya Ko, Onomichi-Itozaki, Osaka, Tokyo Ko, Wakamatsu Ko, Wakayama-Shimotsu Ko, Yokohama Ko

## Military and Security
Military and security forces: Japan Self-Defense Force (JSDF): Ground Self-Defense Force (Rikujou Jieitai, GSDF; includes aviation), Maritime Self-Defense Force (Kaijou Jieitai, MSDF; includes naval aviation), Air Self-Defense Force (Koukuu Jieitai, ASDF) (2025)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2024: 1.4% of GDP (2024 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2023: 1.2% of GDP (2023 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2022: 1.1% of GDP (2022 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2021: 1% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2020: 1% of GDP (2020 est.)
Military and security service personnel strengths: approximately 230-240,000 active Self Defense Forces (2025)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the JSDF is equipped largely with domestically produced weapons platforms; most of its imported arms are from the US; Japan's defense industry is capable of producing a wide range of air, ground, and naval weapons systems; some domestically produced weapons are US-origin and manufactured under license (2025)
Military service age and obligation: 18-32 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women; no conscription (2025)
Military deployments: maintains a presence of about 400 military personnel at a permanent base in Djibouti (2025)
Military - note: the Japan Self-Defense Force (JSDF) has a range of missions, including territorial defense, monitoring the country’s air and maritime spaces, countering piracy and terrorism, and conducting humanitarian operations; the JSDF exercises regularly with the US military and increasingly with other regional countries, including Australia and the Philippines Japan’s alliance with the US is one of the cornerstones of the country’s security, as well as a large component of the US security posture in Asia; the US-Japan mutual defense treaty grants the US the right to base US military forces in Japan, including aircraft and ships, in return for US security guarantees; the Japanese Government provides approximately $3 billion on average per year to offset the cost of stationing US forces in Japan; in addition, it pays compensation to localities hosting US troops, rent for bases, and costs for new facilities to support the US presence; Japan also has Major Non-NATO Ally (MNNA) status with the US, a designation under US law that provides foreign partners with certain benefits in the areas of defense trade and security cooperation Japan was disarmed after its defeat in World War II; shortly after the Korean War began in 1950, US occupation forces in Japan created a 75,000-member lightly armed force called the National Police Reserve; the JSDF was founded in 1954; Article 9 of Japan’s 1947 constitution renounced the use of force as a means of settling international disputes; however, Japan has interpreted Article 9 to mean that it can maintain a military for national defense purposes and, since 1991, has allowed the JSDF to participate in noncombat roles overseas in a number of UN peacekeeping missions and in the US-led coalition in Iraq; in 2014-2015, the Japanese Government reinterpreted the constitution as allowing for "collective self-defense," described as the use of force on others’ behalf if Japan’s security was threatened; in 2022, the government released security policy documents that declared Japan’s intention to develop "counterstrike” capabilities, including armed drones and cruise missiles, and outlined plans to increase Japan’s security-related expenditures to 2% of GDP (2025)

## Space
Space agency/agencies: Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA; established in 2003) (2025)
Space launch site(s): Tanegashima Space Center/Yoshinobu Launch Complex (Kagoshima), Uchinoura Space Center (Kagoshima), Noshiro Testing Center (Akita) (2025)
Space program overview: has one of the world&rsquo;s largest and most advanced space programs, with independent capabilities in all areas except autonomous manned space flight; designs, builds, launches, and operates the full spectrum of satellites; designs, builds, and independently launches satellite/space launch vehicles (SLVs) and other spacecraft; has a wide range of research and development programs; has an astronaut training program; participates in international programs such as the International Space Station and the Square Kilometer Array radio telescope project; leads the Asia-Pacific Regional Space Agency Forum and co-leads the Global Earth Observation System of Systems; cooperates with a variety of foreign space agencies and industries, including those of Canada, the ESA and its member states, India, Russia, the UAE, the US; has a commercial space industry that develops space-related capabilities and technologies, including satellites, satellite payloads and subcomponents, and SLVs; in recent years, the Japanese Government has supported space startup companies (2025)
Key space-program milestones: 1966-1970 - initiated satellite launch vehicle (SLV) program and launched first domestically produced satellite (OHSUMI) 1985 - launched two Halley’s Comet observation satellites (Japan’s first missions beyond Earth’s orbit) 1992 - first astronaut in space on US Space Shuttle 1998 - launched its first Mars orbiter (failed to enter orbit) 2003 - launched world’s first uncrewed spacecraft (Hayabusa 1) to return with a sample from an asteroid (2010) 2007 - launched Lunar orbiter (Kaguya) mission 2010 - launched Venus orbiter (Akatsuki) mission 2014 - launched asteroid probe with lander/rover (Hayabusa 2); first Japanese International Space Station commander 2018 - launched joint Japan-ESA probe to Mercury (BepiColombo); began operation of a navigational/positioning satellite constellation (Quasi-Zenith Satellite System, QZSS) 2019 - began participating in US-led lunar orbital station and Moon exploration programs 2024 - soft-landed unmanned spacecraft (Smart Lander for Investigating Moon or SLIM) on the Moon; conducted first successful test launch of domestically produced H3 medium-lift SLV

## Terrorism

## Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons / refugees: 60,361 (2024 est.)
Refugees and internally displaced persons / IDPs: 29,244 (2024 est.)
Refugees and internally displaced persons / stateless persons: 505 (2024 est.)

=== North Korea ===

## Introduction
Background: The first recorded kingdom (Choson) on the Korean Peninsula dates from approximately 2300 B.C. Over the subsequent centuries, three main kingdoms -- Kogoryo, Paekche, and Silla -- were established on the Peninsula. By the 5th century A.D., Kogoryo emerged as the most powerful, with control over much of the Peninsula and part of Manchuria (modern-day northeast China). However, Silla allied with the Chinese to create the first unified Korean state in 688. Following the collapse of Silla in the 9th century, Korea was unified under the Koryo (Goryeo; 918-1392) and the Chosen (Joseon; 1392-1910) dynasties. Korea became the object of intense imperialistic rivalry among the Chinese (its traditional benefactor), Japanese, and Russian empires in the latter half of the 19th and early 20th centuries. After the Sino-Japanese War (1894-95) and the Russo-Japanese War (1904-05), Korea was occupied by Imperial Japan. In 1910, Japan formally annexed the entire peninsula. After World War II, the northern half came under Soviet-sponsored communist control. In 1948, North Korea (formally known as the Democratic People's Republic of Korea or DPRK) was founded under President KIM Il Sung, who consolidated power and cemented autocratic one-party rule under the Korean Worker's Party (KWP). North Korea failed to conquer UN-backed South Korea (formally the Republic of Korea or ROK) during the Korean War (1950-53), after which a demilitarized zone separated the two Koreas. KIM's authoritarian rule included tight control over North Korean citizens and the demonization of the US as the central threat to North Korea's political and social system. In addition, he molded the country's economic, military, and political policies around the core objective of unifying Korea under Pyongyang's control. North Korea also declared a central ideology of juche (" self-reliance") as a check against outside influence, while continuing to rely heavily on China and the Soviet Union for economic support. KIM Il Sung's son, KIM Jong Il, was officially designated as his father's successor in 1980, and he assumed a growing political and managerial role until the elder KIM's death in 1994. Under KIM Jong Il's reign, North Korea continued developing nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles. KIM Jong Un was publicly unveiled as his father's successor in 2010. Following KIM Jong Il's death in 2011, KIM Jong Un quickly assumed power and has since occupied the regime's highest political and military posts. After the end of Soviet aid in 1991, North Korea faced serious economic setbacks that exacerbated decades of economic mismanagement and resource misallocation. Since the mid-1990s, North Korea has faced chronic food shortages and economic stagnation. In recent years, the North's domestic agricultural production has improved but still falls far short of producing sufficient food for its population. Starting in 2002, North Korea began to tolerate semi-private markets but has made few other efforts to meet its goal of improving the overall standard of living. New economic development plans in the 2010s failed to meet government-mandated goals for key industrial sectors, food production, or overall economic performance. At the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, North Korea instituted a nationwide lockdown that severely restricted its economy and international engagement. Since then, KIM has repeatedly expressed concerns with the regime's economic failures and food problems, but in 2021, he vowed to continue "self-reliant" policies and has reinvigorated his pursuit of greater regime control of the economy. As of 2024, despite slowly renewing cross-border trade with China, North Korea remained one of the world's most isolated countries and one of Asia's poorest. In 2024, Pyongyang announced it was ending all economic cooperation with South Korea. The move followed earlier proclamations that it was scrapping a 2018 military pact with South Korea to de-escalate tensions along their militarized border, abandoning the country’s decades-long pursuit of peaceful unification with South Korea, and designating the South as North Korea’s “principal enemy.”

## Geography
Location: Eastern Asia, northern half of the Korean Peninsula bordering the Korea Bay and the Sea of Japan, between China and South Korea
Geographic coordinates: 40 00 N, 127 00 E
Map references: Asia
Area / total: 120,538 sq km
Area / land: 120,408 sq km
Area / water: 130 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly larger than Virginia; slightly smaller than Mississippi
Land boundaries / total: 1,607 km
Land boundaries / border countries: China 1,352 km; South Korea 237 km; Russia 18 km
Coastline: 2,495 km
Maritime claims / territorial sea: 12 nm
Maritime claims / exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate: temperate, with rainfall concentrated in summer; long, bitter winters
Terrain: mostly hills and mountains separated by deep, narrow valleys; wide coastal plains in west, discontinuous in east
Elevation / highest point: Paektu-san 2,744 m
Elevation / lowest point: Sea of Japan 0 m
Elevation / mean elevation: 600 m
Natural resources: coal, iron ore, limestone, magnesite, graphite, copper, zinc, lead, precious metals, hydropower
Land use / agricultural land: 21.6% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 19.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 2.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 0.4% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 64% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 14.5% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land: 14,600 sq km (2012)
Population distribution: population concentrated in the plains and lowlands; least-populated regions are the mountainous provinces adjacent to the Chinese border; largest concentrations are in the western provinces, particularly the municipal district of Pyongyang, and around Hungnam and Wonsan in the east
Natural hazards: late spring droughts often followed by severe flooding; occasional typhoons during the early fall volcanism: P'aektu-san (2,744 m) (also known as Baitoushan, Baegdu, or Changbaishan), on the Chinese border, is considered historically active
Geography - note: strategic location bordering China, South Korea, and Russia; mountainous interior is isolated and sparsely populated

## People and Society
Population / total: 26,402,841 (2025 est.)
Population / male: 12,884,269
Population / female: 13,518,572
Nationality / noun: Korean(s)
Nationality / adjective: Korean
Ethnic groups: racially homogeneous; there is a small Chinese community and a few ethnic Japanese
Languages / Languages: Korean
Languages / major-language sample(s): 월드 팩트북, 필수적인 기본 정보 제공처 (Korean) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
Religions: traditionally Buddhist and Confucian, some Christian and syncretic Chondogyo (Religion of the Heavenly Way)
Age structure / 0-14 years: 19.9% (male 2,673,822/female 2,548,775)
Age structure / 15-64 years: 68.9% (male 9,054,771/female 9,066,447)
Age structure / 65 years and over: 11.2% (2024 est.) (male 1,099,676/female 1,855,175)
Dependency ratios / total dependency ratio: 45.6 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / youth dependency ratio: 28.8 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / elderly dependency ratio: 16.8 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / potential support ratio: 6 (2025 est.)
Median age / total: 36.2 years (2025 est.)
Median age / male: 34.5 years
Median age / female: 37.4 years
Population growth rate: 0.4% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 12.99 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 9.01 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: -0.04 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution: population concentrated in the plains and lowlands; least-populated regions are the mountainous provinces adjacent to the Chinese border; largest concentrations are in the western provinces, particularly the municipal district of Pyongyang, and around Hungnam and Wonsan in the east
Urbanization / urban population: 63.2% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 0.85% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 3.158 million PYONGYANG (capital) (2023)
Sex ratio / at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 65 years and over: 0.59 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio: 67 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Infant mortality rate / total: 14.7 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Infant mortality rate / male: 16.9 deaths/1,000 live births
Infant mortality rate / female: 13.8 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth / total population: 73.5 years (2024 est.)
Life expectancy at birth / male: 70.2 years
Life expectancy at birth / female: 77 years
Total fertility rate: 1.8 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 0.87 (2025 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: urban: urban: 96.9% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: rural: rural: 88.8% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: total: total: 93.9% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: urban: urban: 3.1% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: rural: rural: 11.2% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: total: total: 6.1% of population (2022 est.)
Physician density: 3.63 physicians/1,000 population (2017)
Sanitation facility access / improved: urban: urban: 92.7% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: rural: rural: 73.1% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: total: total: 85.4% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: urban: urban: 7.3% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: rural: rural: 26.9% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: total: total: 14.6% of population (2022 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 6.8% (2016)
Alcohol consumption per capita / total: 3.61 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / beer: 0.12 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / wine: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / spirits: 3.48 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / other alcohols: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Tobacco use / total: 16% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / male: 32.6% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / female: 0% (2025 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 9.3% (2017 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49): 68.2% (2017 est.)
Child marriage / women married by age 15: 0% (2017)
Child marriage / women married by age 18: 0.1% (2017)
Child marriage / men married by age 18: 0% (2017)
Education expenditure: 14.6% national budget (2025 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / total: 12 years (2018 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / male: 12 years (2018 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / female: 12 years (2018 est.)

## Environment
Environmental issues: water pollution; inadequate potable water; deforestation; soil erosion and degradation
International environmental agreements / party to: Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Desertification, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
International environmental agreements / signed, but not ratified: Antarctic-Environmental Protection, Law of the Sea
Climate: temperate, with rainfall concentrated in summer; long, bitter winters
Land use / agricultural land: 21.6% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 19.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 2.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 0.4% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 64% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 14.5% (2023 est.)
Urbanization / urban population: 63.2% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 0.85% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / total emissions: 55.744 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from coal and metallurgical coke: 52.985 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from petroleum and other liquids: 2.759 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Particulate matter emissions: 41.8 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Total water withdrawal / municipal: 902.8 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / industrial: 1.145 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / agricultural: 6.61 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total renewable water resources: 77.15 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Geoparks / total global geoparks and regional networks: 1 (2025)
Geoparks / global geoparks and regional networks: Mt Paektu (2025)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: Democratic People's Republic of Korea
Country name / conventional short form: North Korea
Country name / local long form: Choson-minjujuui-inmin-konghwaguk
Country name / local short form: Choson
Country name / abbreviation: DPRK
Country name / etymology: derived from the Chinese name for Goryeo, which was the Korean dynasty that united the peninsula in the 10th century A.D.; the North Korean name "Choson" means "[Land of the] Morning Calm"
Government type: dictatorship, single-party communist state
Capital / name: Pyongyang
Capital / geographic coordinates: 39 01 N, 125 45 E
Capital / time difference: UTC+9 (14 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Capital / time zone note: on 5 May 2018, North Korea reverted to UTC+9, the same time zone as South Korea
Capital / etymology: the name translates as "flat land" in Korean
Administrative divisions: 9 provinces ( do , singular and plural) and 4 special administration cities ( si , singular and plural) provinces: Chagang, Hambuk (North Hamgyong), Hamnam (South Hamgyong), Hwangbuk (North Hwanghae), Hwangnam (South Hwanghae), Kangwon, P'yongbuk (North Pyongan), P'yongnam (South Pyongan), Ryanggang special administration cities: Kaesong, Nampo, P'yongyang, Rason
Legal system: civil law system based on the Prussian model; influenced by Japanese traditions and Communist legal theory
Constitution / history: previous 1948, 1972; latest adopted 1998
Constitution / amendment process: proposed by the Supreme People&rsquo;s Assembly (SPA); passage requires more than two-thirds majority vote of the total SPA membership
International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt
Citizenship / citizenship by birth: no
Citizenship / citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of North Korea
Citizenship / dual citizenship recognized: no
Citizenship / residency requirement for naturalization: unknown
Suffrage: 17 years of age; universal and compulsory
Executive branch / chief of state: State Affairs Commission President KIM Jong Un (since 17 December 2011)
Executive branch / head of government: Supreme People's Assembly President CHOE Ryong Hae (since 11 April 2019)
Executive branch / cabinet: Cabinet or Naegak members appointed by the Supreme People's Assembly, except the Minister of People's Armed Forces
Executive branch / election/appointment process: chief of state and premier indirectly elected by the Supreme People's Assembly
Executive branch / most recent election date: 11 April 2019
Executive branch / election results: 2019: KIM Jong Un reelected unopposed
Executive branch / expected date of next election: March 2024
Legislative branch / legislature name: Supreme People's Assembly (Choe Go In Min Hoe Ui)
Legislative branch / legislative structure: unicameral
Legislative branch / number of seats: 687 (all directly elected)
Legislative branch / electoral system: plurality/majority
Legislative branch / scope of elections: full renewal
Legislative branch / term in office: 5 years
Legislative branch / most recent election date: 3/10/2019
Legislative branch / percentage of women in chamber: 17.6%
Legislative branch / expected date of next election: December 2025
Judicial branch / highest court(s): Supreme Court or Central Court (consists of one judge and 2 "People's Assessors" or, for some cases, 3 judges)
Judicial branch / judge selection and term of office: judges elected by the Supreme People's Assembly for 5-year terms
Judicial branch / subordinate courts: lower provincial courts as determined by the Supreme People's Assembly
Political parties: major parties: Korean Workers' Party or KWP (formally known as Workers' Party of Korea) General Association of Korean Residents in Japan (Chongryon; under KWP control) minor parties: Chondoist Chongu Party (under KWP control) Social Democratic Party or KSDP (under KWP control)
Diplomatic representation in the US: none note : North Korea has a Permanent Mission to the UN in New York
Diplomatic representation from the US / embassy: none; the Swedish Embassy in Pyongyang represents the US as consular protecting power
International organization participation: ARF, FAO, G-77, ICAO, ICRM, IFAD, IFRCS, IHO, IMO, IMSO, IOC, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, NAM, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO
Independence: 15 August 1945 (from Japan)
National holiday: Founding of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), 9 September (1948)
Flag: description: three horizontal bands of blue (top), red (triple-width), and blue; the red band is edged in white; on the left side of the red band is a white disk with a red five-pointed star meaning: the red band stands for revolutionary traditions, the white for purity, strength, and dignity; blue for sovereignty, peace, and friendship; the red star represents socialism
National symbol(s): red star, chollima (winged horse)
National color(s): red, white, blue
National anthem(s) / title: "Aegukka" (Patriotic Song)
National anthem(s) / lyrics/music: PAK Se Yong/KIM Won Gyun
National anthem(s) / history: adopted 1947; North Korea's and South Korea's anthems have the same name and a similar melody, but different lyrics; the North Korean anthem is also known as "Ach'imun pinnara" (Let Morning Shine)
National heritage / total World Heritage Sites: 2 (both cultural, one mixed)
National heritage / selected World Heritage Site locales: Koguryo Tombs Complex; Historic Monuments and Sites in Kaesong; Mount Kumgang &ndash; Diamond Mountain from the Sea (m)

## Economy
Economic overview: one of the last centrally planned economies; hard hit by COVID-19, crop failures, international sanctions, and isolationist policies; declining growth and trade, and heavily reliant on China; poor exchange rate stability; economic data integrity issues
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $15.416 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $14.959 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2021: $14.982 billion (2021 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2023: $600 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2022: $600 (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2021: $600 (2021 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $16.447 billion (2023 est.)
Agricultural products: maize, vegetables, rice, apples, cabbages, fruits, sweet potatoes, potatoes, beans, soybeans (2023)
Industries: 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
Labor force: 17.637 million (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2024: 2.9% (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2023: 2.9% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2022: 2.9% (2022 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / total: 6.8% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / male: 6.1% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / female: 7.4% (2024 est.)
Exports - partners: China 74%, Poland 3%, Senegal 3%, Angola 3%, Austria 3% (2023)
Exports - commodities: fake hair, iron alloys, tungsten ore, electricity, cars (2023)
Imports - partners: China 97%, Togo 1%, Peru 1%, Gabon 1%, India 0% (2023)
Imports - commodities: processed hair, plastic products, garments, fabric, soybean oil (2023)
Exchange rates / Currency: North Korean won (KPW) per US dollar (average market rate)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2017: 135 (2017 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2016: 130 (2016 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2015: 130 (2015 est.)

## Energy
Electricity access / electrification - total population: 54.7% (2022 est.)
Electricity / installed generating capacity: 8.357 million kW (2023 est.)
Electricity / consumption: 22.448 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / transmission/distribution losses: 4.101 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / fossil fuels: 36.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / solar: 0.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / hydroelectricity: 62.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Coal / production: 21.928 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / consumption: 22.105 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / proven reserves: 10.6 billion metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum / refined petroleum consumption: 18,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Energy consumption per capita / Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 23.83 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

## Communications
Telephones - fixed lines / total subscriptions: 1.18 million (2021 est.)
Telephones - fixed lines / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 4 (2022 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / total subscriptions: 6.35 million (2022 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 24 (2022 est.)
Broadcast media: no independent media; radios and TVs are pre-tuned to government stations; 4 state-owned TV stations; the Korean Workers' Party owns and operates the Korean Central Broadcasting Station, and the state-run Voice of Korea operates an external broadcast service; the government prohibits listening to and jams foreign broadcasts (2019)
Internet country code: .kp

## Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: P
Airports: 81 (2025)
Heliports: 8 (2025)
Railways / total: 7,435 km (2014)
Railways / standard gauge: 7,435 km (2014) 1.435-m gauge (5,400 km electrified)
Merchant marine / total: 264 (2023)
Merchant marine / by type: bulk carrier 10, container ship 5, general cargo 191, oil tanker 29, other 29
Ports / total ports: 10 (2024)
Ports / large: 0
Ports / medium: 0
Ports / small: 7
Ports / very small: 3
Ports / ports with oil terminals: 0
Ports / key ports: Ch'ongjin, Haeju Hang, Hungnam, Najin, Nampo, Senbong, Wonsan

## Military and Security
Military and security forces: Korean People's Army (KPA): KPA Ground Forces, KPA Navy, KPA Air Force and Air Defense Forces, KPA Strategic Forces (missile forces), KPA Special Forces (special operations forces); Security Guard Command (aka Bodyguard Command); Military Security Command Ministry of Social Security (formerly Ministry of Public Security): Border Guard General Bureau, civil security forces; Ministry of State Security: internal security, investigations (2025)
Military expenditures: defense spending is a regime priority; between 2010 and 2020, military expenditures accounted for an estimated 20-30% of North Korea's GDP annually; spending estimates ranged from $7 billion to $11 billion annually; in 2024, North Korea announced that it would spend nearly 16% of state expenditures on defense; North Korea in the 2010s and 2020s has increasingly relied on illicit activities &mdash; including cybercrime &mdash; to generate revenue for its weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missile programs to evade US and UN sanctions
Military and security service personnel strengths: estimates vary; as many as 1.3 million active-duty Korean People's Army (2025)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the KPA is equipped with older weapon systems acquired from China, Russia, and the former Soviet Union, as well as some domestically produced armaments; North Korea produces an array of military hardware, including armored vehicles, artillery, munitions, naval vessels, and some advanced weapons systems, such as cruise and ballistic missiles; most are copies or upgrades of older foreign supplied equipment (2025)
Military service age and obligation: compulsory military service for men (17-30 years of age) and women (17-23 years of age); service obligation is reportedly up to 10 years for men and up to 7 years for women (2025)
Military deployments: estimated 10-12,000 Russia (2025)
Military - note: the Korean People's Army (KPA) is one of the World’s largest military forces; founded in 1948, the KPA’s primary responsibilities are national defense and protection of the Kim regime; it also provides support to domestic economic projects such as agriculture production and infrastructure construction; North Korea views South Korea and the US as its primary external threats and Russia as its closest security partner in addition to the invasion of South Korea and the subsequent Korean War (1950-53), North Korea from the 1960s to the 1980s launched a number of military and subversive actions against South Korea; including skirmishes along the DMZ, overt attempts to assassinate South Korean leaders, kidnappings, the bombing of an airliner, and a failed effort in 1968 to foment an insurrection and conduct a guerrilla war in the South with more than 100 seaborne commandos; from the 1990s until 2010, the North lost two submarines and a semi-submersible boat attempting to insert infiltrators into the South (1996, 1998) and provoked several engagements in the Northwest Islands area along the disputed Northern Limit Line (NLL), including naval skirmishes between patrol boats in 1999 and 2002, the torpedoing and sinking of a South Korean Navy corvette in 2010, and the bombardment of a South Korean military installation on Yeonpyeong Island, also in 2010; since 2010, further minor incidents continue to occur periodically along the DMZ, where both the KPA and the South Korean military maintain large numbers of troops North Korea also has a history of provocative regional military actions and posturing that are of major concern to the international community, including: proliferation of military-related items; ballistic and cruise missile development and testing; weapons of mass destruction (WMD) programs including tests of nuclear devices in 2006, 2009, 2013, 2016, and 2017; and large conventional armed forces (2025)

## Space
Space agency/agencies: National Aerospace Technology Administration (NATA; established 2013; re-named in 2023 from the National Aerospace Development Administration or NADA); State Space Development Bureau; Academy of National Defense Science; Ministry of People’s Armed Forces (2025)
Space launch site(s): Sohae Satellite Launching Station (aka Tongch'ang-dong Space Launch Center; North Pyongan province); Tonghae Satellite Launching Ground (North Hamgyong province) (2025)
Space program overview: North Korea&rsquo;s leader has emphasized the development of space capabilities, particularly satellite launch vehicles (SLVs) and remote sensing satellites; manufactures satellites and rockets/SLVs; independently launches rockets/SLVs; SLV program is viewed as closely related to the country's development of intercontinental ballistic missiles; passed a national space law in 2013, and revised it in 2022 to allow for the use of space for national defense; has cooperated with Iran on space-related technologies, and signed a mutual defense treaty with Russia in 2024 that stated the two countries would &ldquo;develop exchanges and joint research in science and technology, including space&rdquo; (2025)
Key space-program milestones: 1980s - initiated space program 1998 - failed first attempt to place a satellite in orbit on a 3-stage Paektusan-1 satellite launch vehicle (SLV) 2012 - successfully placed first satellite (Kwangmyŏngsŏng-3 or Bright Star-3) in orbit on Unha-3 SLV (satellite failed to operate) 2016 - second satellite (Kwangmyŏngsŏng-4) placed in orbit on Unha-3 SLV (reportedly a remote sensing (RS) satellite that also failed to operate) 2023 - placed a military RS satellite (Malligyong-1) in orbit on Chollima-1 SLV 2024 - failed attempt to place a second military RS satellite in orbit on new type SLV

## Transnational Issues
Trafficking in persons / tier rating: Tier 3 — the government of North Korea does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and is not making significant efforts to do so, therefore, North Korea remained on Tier 3; for more details, go to: https://www.state.gov/reports/2025-trafficking-in-persons-report/north-korea/

=== South Korea ===

## Introduction
Background: The first recorded kingdom (Choson) on the Korean Peninsula dates from approximately 2300 B.C. Over the subsequent centuries, three main kingdoms -- Kogoryo, Baekche, and Silla -- were established on the Peninsula. By the 5th century A.D., Kogoryo emerged as the most powerful, with control over much of the Peninsula and part of Manchuria (modern-day northeast China). However, Silla allied with the Chinese to create the first unified Korean state in 688. Following the collapse of Silla in the 9th century, Korea was unified under the Koryo (Goryeo; 918-1392) and the Chosen (Joseon; 1392-1910) dynasties. Korea became the object of intense imperialistic rivalry among the Chinese (its traditional benefactor), Japanese, and Russian empires in the latter half of the 19th and early 20th centuries. After the Sino-Japanese War (1894-95) and the Russo-Japanese War (1904-1905), Korea was occupied by Imperial Japan. In 1910, Japan formally annexed the entire Peninsula. Korea regained its independence after Japan's surrender to the US and its allies in 1945. A US-supported democratic government (Republic of Korea, ROK) was set up in the southern half of the Korean Peninsula, while a communist-style government backed by the Soviet Union was installed in the north (North Korea; aka Democratic People's Republic of Korea, DPRK). During the Korean War (1950-53), US troops and UN forces fought alongside ROK soldiers to defend South Korea from a North Korean invasion supported by communist China and the Soviet Union. After the 1953 armistice, the two Koreas were separated by a demilitarized zone. Syngman RHEE led the country as its first president from 1948 to 1960. PARK Chung-hee took over leadership of the country in a 1961 coup. During his controversial rule (1961-79), South Korea achieved rapid economic growth, with per capita income rising to roughly 17 times the level of North Korea by 1979. PARK was assassinated in 1979, and subsequent years were marked by political turmoil and continued military rule as the country's pro-democracy movement grew. South Korea held its first free presidential election under a revised democratic constitution in 1987, with former South Korean Army general ROH Tae-woo winning a close race. In 1993, KIM Young-sam became the first civilian president of South Korea's new democratic era. President KIM Dae-jung (1998-2003) won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2000 for his contributions to South Korean democracy and his "Sunshine Policy" of engagement with North Korea. President PARK Geun-hye, daughter of former South Korean President PARK Chung-hee, took office in 2013 as South Korea's first female leader. In 2016, the National Assembly passed an impeachment motion against PARK over her alleged involvement in a corruption and influence-peddling scandal, triggering an early presidential election in 2017 won by MOON Jae-in. In 2022, longtime prosecutor and political newcomer YOON Suk Yeol won the presidency by the slimmest margin in South Korean history. Discord and tensions with North Korea, punctuated by North Korean military provocations, missile launches, and nuclear tests, have permeated inter-Korean relations for years. Relations remained strained, despite a period of respite in 2018-2019 ushered in by North Korea's participation in the 2018 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games in South Korea and high-level diplomatic meetings, including historic US-North Korea summits. In 2024, Pyongyang announced it was ending all economic cooperation with South Korea, a move that followed earlier proclamations that it was scrapping a 2018 military pact to de-escalate tensions along their militarized border, abandoning the country’s decades-long pursuit of peaceful unification with South Korea, and designating the South as North Korea’s “principal enemy.”

## Geography
Location: Eastern Asia, southern half of the Korean Peninsula bordering the Sea of Japan and the Yellow Sea
Geographic coordinates: 37 00 N, 127 30 E
Map references: Asia
Area / total: 99,720 sq km
Area / land: 96,920 sq km
Area / water: 2,800 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly smaller than Pennsylvania; slightly larger than Indiana
Land boundaries / total: 237 km
Land boundaries / border countries: North Korea 237 km
Coastline: 2,413 km
Maritime claims / territorial sea: 12 nm; between 3 nm and 12 nm in the Korea Strait
Maritime claims / contiguous zone: 24 nm
Maritime claims / exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Maritime claims / continental shelf: not specified
Climate: temperate, with rainfall heavier in summer than winter; cold winters
Terrain: mostly hills and mountains; wide coastal plains in west and south
Elevation / highest point: Halla-san 1,950 m
Elevation / lowest point: Sea of Japan 0 m
Elevation / mean elevation: 282 m
Natural resources: coal, tungsten, graphite, molybdenum, lead, hydropower potential
Land use / agricultural land: 16.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 14.9% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 2.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 0.6% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 64.4% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 19.5% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land: 7,780 sq km (2012)
Population distribution: the population is primarily concentrated in the lowland areas, where density is high; Gyeonggi Province in the northwest, which surrounds the capital of Seoul and contains the port of Incheon, is the most densely populated province; Gangwon in the northeast is the least populated
Natural hazards: occasional typhoons bring high winds and floods; low-level seismic activity common in southwest volcanism: Halla (1,950 m) is considered historically active; it has not erupted in many centuries
Geography - note: strategic location on Korea Strait; about 3,000 mostly small and uninhabited islands lie off the western and southern coasts

## People and Society
Population / total: 51,486,343 (2025 est.)
Population / male: 25,636,127
Population / female: 25,850,216
Nationality / noun: Korean(s)
Nationality / adjective: Korean
Ethnic groups: Korean
Languages / Languages: Korean, English
Languages / major-language sample(s): 월드 팩트북, 필수적인 기본 정보 제공처 (Korean) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
Religions: Protestant 17%, Buddhist 16%, Catholic 6%, none 60% (2021 est.)
Age structure / 0-14 years: 11.3% (male 3,024,508/female 2,873,523)
Age structure / 15-64 years: 69.4% (male 18,653,915/female 17,465,817)
Age structure / 65 years and over: 19.3% (2024 est.) (male 4,440,688/female 5,623,348)
Dependency ratios / total dependency ratio: 44.9 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / youth dependency ratio: 14.7 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / elderly dependency ratio: 30.2 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / potential support ratio: 3.3 (2025 est.)
Median age / total: 47 years (2025 est.)
Median age / male: 44 years
Median age / female: 47.3 years
Population growth rate: -0.09% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 4.29 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 6.94 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: 1.76 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution: the population is primarily concentrated in the lowland areas, where density is high; Gyeonggi Province in the northwest, which surrounds the capital of Seoul and contains the port of Incheon, is the most densely populated province; Gangwon in the northeast is the least populated
Urbanization / urban population: 81.5% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 0.31% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 9.988 million SEOUL (capital), 3.472 million Busan, 2.849 million Incheon, 2.181 million Daegu (Taegu), 1.577 million Daejon (Taejon), 1.529 million Gwangju (Kwangju) (2023)
Sex ratio / at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 15-64 years: 1.07 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 65 years and over: 0.79 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth: 32.2 years (2019 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio: 4 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Infant mortality rate / total: 2.2 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Infant mortality rate / male: 3 deaths/1,000 live births
Infant mortality rate / female: 2.6 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth / total population: 83.4 years (2024 est.)
Life expectancy at birth / male: 80.3 years
Life expectancy at birth / female: 86.6 years
Total fertility rate: 0.68 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 0.33 (2025 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: total: total: 100% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: total: total: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 9.7% of GDP (2022)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 14.1% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density: 2.61 physicians/1,000 population (2022)
Hospital bed density: 12.8 beds/1,000 population (2021 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: total: total: 99.8% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: total: total: 0.2% of population (2022 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 4.7% (2016)
Alcohol consumption per capita / total: 7.74 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / beer: 1.72 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / wine: 0.15 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / spirits: 0.22 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / other alcohols: 5.66 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Tobacco use / total: 17.4% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / male: 29.7% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / female: 5.2% (2025 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 0.4% (2020 est.)
Education expenditure: 5.8% of GDP (2022 est.)
Literacy / total population: NA
Literacy / male: NA
Literacy / female: NA
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / total: 17 years (2022 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / male: 17 years (2022 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / female: 16 years (2022 est.)

## Environment
Environmental issues: air pollution in large cities; acid rain; water pollution from sewage and industrial effluents; drift-net fishing; solid waste disposal; transboundary air pollution from China
International environmental agreements / party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protection, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling
International environmental agreements / signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Climate: temperate, with rainfall heavier in summer than winter; cold winters
Land use / agricultural land: 16.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 14.9% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 2.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 0.6% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 64.4% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 19.5% (2023 est.)
Urbanization / urban population: 81.5% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 0.31% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / total emissions: 644.231 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from coal and metallurgical coke: 275.411 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from petroleum and other liquids: 248.599 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from consumed natural gas: 120.222 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Particulate matter emissions: 25 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Methane emissions / energy: 145.7 kt (2022-2024 est.)
Methane emissions / agriculture: 500 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Methane emissions / waste: 478.6 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Methane emissions / other: 27 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Waste and recycling / municipal solid waste generated annually: 20.453 million tons (2024 est.)
Waste and recycling / percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 67.1% (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / municipal: 6.672 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / industrial: 4.45 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / agricultural: 15.96 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total renewable water resources: 69.7 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Geoparks / total global geoparks and regional networks: 7 (2025)
Geoparks / global geoparks and regional networks: Cheongsong; Danyang; Gyeongbuk Donghaean; Hantangang; Jeju Island; Jeonbuk West Coast; Mudeungsan (2025)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: Republic of Korea
Country name / conventional short form: South Korea
Country name / local long form: Taehan-min'guk
Country name / local short form: Han'guk
Country name / abbreviation: ROK
Country name / etymology: derived from the Chinese name for Goryeo, which was the Korean dynasty that united the peninsula in the 10th century A.D.; the South Korean name "Han'guk" derives from the long form, "Taehan-min'guk," which is itself a derivation from "Daehan-je'guk," which means "the Great Han Empire"
Government type: presidential republic
Capital / name: Seoul
Capital / geographic coordinates: 37 33 N, 126 59 E
Capital / time difference: UTC+9 (14 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Capital / etymology: the name originates from the Korean word meaning "capital city;" it was the capital of the unified Korea from 1392 to 1910
Administrative divisions: 9 provinces ( do , singular and plural), 6 metropolitan cities ( gwangyeoksi , singular and plural), 1 special city ( teugbyeolsi ), and 1 special self-governing city ( teukbyeoljachisi ) provinces: Chungcheongbuk-do (North Chungcheong), Chungcheongnam-do (South Chungcheong), Gangwon-do, Gyeongsangbuk-do (North Gyeongsang), Gyeonggi-do, Gyeongsangnam-do (South Gyeongsang), Jeju-do (Jeju), Jeollabuk-do (North Jeolla), Jeollanam-do (South Jeolla) metropolitan cities: Busan (Pusan), Daegu (Taegu), Daejeon (Taejon), Gwangju (Kwangju), Incheon (Inch'on), Ulsan special city: Seoul special self-governing city: Sejong
Legal system: mixed system combining European civil law, Anglo-American law, and Chinese classical thought
Constitution / history: several previous; latest passed by National Assembly 12 October 1987, approved in referendum 28 October 1987, effective 25 February 1988
Constitution / amendment process: proposed by the president or by majority support of the National Assembly membership; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote by the Assembly membership, approval in a referendum by more than one half of the votes by more than one half of eligible voters, and promulgation by the president
International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Citizenship / citizenship by birth: no
Citizenship / citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of South Korea
Citizenship / dual citizenship recognized: no
Citizenship / residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch / chief of state: President LEE Jae-myung (since 4 June 2025)
Executive branch / head of government: Prime Minister KIM Min-seok (since 3 July 2025)
Executive branch / cabinet: State Council appointed by the president on the prime minister's recommendation
Executive branch / election/appointment process: president directly elected by simple-majority popular vote for a single 5-year term; prime minister appointed by president with consent of the National Assembly
Executive branch / most recent election date: 3 June 2025 (special snap election in the wake of the impeachment of former President YOON Suk-yeol)
Executive branch / election results: 2025: LEE Jae-myung elected president; LEE Jae-myung (DPK) 49.4%, KIM Moon-soo (PPP) 41.2%, LEE Jun-seok (New Reform Party) 8.3% 2022 : YOON Suk-yeol elected president; YOON Suk-yeol (PPP) 48.6%, LEE Jae-myung (DPK) 47.8%; other 3.6%
Executive branch / expected date of next election: 2030
Legislative branch / legislature name: National Assembly (Kuk Hoe)
Legislative branch / legislative structure: unicameral
Legislative branch / number of seats: 300 (all directly elected)
Legislative branch / electoral system: mixed system
Legislative branch / scope of elections: full renewal
Legislative branch / term in office: 4 years
Legislative branch / most recent election date: 4/10/2024
Legislative branch / parties elected and seats per party: Democratic Party of Korea (161); People Power Party (90); People Future Party (18); Other (31)
Legislative branch / percentage of women in chamber: 20.3%
Legislative branch / expected date of next election: April 2028
Judicial branch / highest court(s): Supreme Court (consists of a chief justice and 13 justices); Constitutional Court (consists of a court head and 8 justices)
Judicial branch / judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court chief justice appointed by the president with the consent of the National Assembly; other justices appointed by the president on the recommendation of the chief justice and consent of the National Assembly; position of the chief justice is a 6-year nonrenewable term; other justices serve 6-year renewable terms; Constitutional Court justices appointed - 3 by the president, 3 by the National Assembly, and 3 by the Supreme Court chief justice; court head serves until retirement at age 70, while other justices serve 6-year renewable terms with mandatory retirement at age 65
Judicial branch / subordinate courts: High Courts; District Courts; Branch Courts (organized under the District Courts); specialized courts for family and administrative issues
Political parties: Basic Income Party Democratic Party of Korea or DPK New Future Party New Reform Party Open Democratic Party or ODP People Power Party or PPP Progressive Party or Jinbo Party Rebuilding Korea Party Social Democratic Party note: the Democratic Alliance coalition consists of the DPK and the smaller Basic Income, Jinbo, Open Democratic, and Social Democratic parties, as well as two independents; for the 2024 election, the Basic Income Party, the ODP, and the Social Democratic Party formed the New Progressive Alliance
Diplomatic representation in the US / chief of mission: Ambassador KANG Kyung-wha (since 16 December 2025)
Diplomatic representation in the US / chancery: 2450 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation in the US / telephone: [1] (202) 939-5600
Diplomatic representation in the US / FAX: [1] (202) 797-0595
Diplomatic representation in the US / email address and website: generalusa@mofa.go.kr https://overseas.mofa.go.kr/us-en/index.do
Diplomatic representation in the US / consulate(s) general: Anchorage (AK), Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Hagatna (Guam), Honolulu, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, Seattle, Philadelphia
Diplomatic representation from the US / chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charg&eacute; d'Affaires James &ldquo;Jim&rdquo; HELLER (since 7 January 2026)
Diplomatic representation from the US / embassy: 188 Sejong-daero, Jongno-gu, Seoul
Diplomatic representation from the US / mailing address: 9600 Seoul Place, Washington, DC 20521-9600
Diplomatic representation from the US / telephone: [82] (2) 397-4114
Diplomatic representation from the US / FAX: [82] (2) 397-4101
Diplomatic representation from the US / email address and website: seoulinfoACS@state.gov https://kr.usembassy.gov/
Diplomatic representation from the US / consulate(s): Busan
International organization participation: ADB, AfDB (nonregional member), APEC, Arctic Council (observer), ARF, ASEAN (dialogue partner), Australia Group, BIS, CABEI, CD, CICA, CP, EAS, EBRD, FAO, FATF, G-20, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAIA (observer), MIGA, MINURSO, MINUSTAH, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE (partner), Pacific Alliance (observer), Paris Club (associate), PCA, PIF (partner), SAARC (observer), SICA (observer), UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNHRC, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNISFA, UNMIL, UNMISS, UNMOGIP, UNOCI, UNOOSA, UNWTO, UPU, Wassenaar Arrangement, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
Independence: 15 August 1945 (from Japan)
National holiday: Liberation Day, 15 August (1945)
Flag: description: white with a red-and-blue yin-yang symbol in the center; a black trigram ( kwae ) from the ancient I Ching (Book of Changes) is in each corner of the white field meaning: the flag is called Taegukki; white is a traditional Korean color and represents peace and purity; blue stands for the negative cosmic forces of the yin, and red for the opposite positive forces of the yang; each trigram represents one of the universal elements, which together express the principle of movement and harmony
National symbol(s): taegeuk (yin-yang symbol), Rose of Sharon ( Hibiscus syriacus ), Siberian tiger
National color(s): red, white, blue, black
National anthem(s) / title: "Aegukga" (Patriotic Song)
National anthem(s) / lyrics/music: YUN Ch'i-Ho or AN Ch'ang-Ho/AHN Eaktay
National anthem(s) / history: adopted 1948, well-known by 1910; North Korea's and South Korea's anthems have the same name and a similar melody, but different lyrics
National heritage / total World Heritage Sites: 17 (15 cultural, 2 natural)
National heritage / selected World Heritage Site locales: Jeju Volcanic Island and Lava Tubes (n); Changdeokgung Palace Complex (c); Jongmyo Shrine (c); Seokguram Grotto and Bulguksa Temple (c); Hwaseong Fortress (c); Gochang, Hwasun, and Ganghwa Dolmen Sites (c); Gyeongju Historic Areas (c); Namhansanseong (c); Baekje Historic Areas (c); Sansa, Buddhist Mountain Monasteries in Korea (c); Royal Tombs of the Joseon Dynasty (c); Petroglyphs along the Bangucheon Stream (c)

## Economy
Economic overview: high-income, export- and technology-oriented East Asian economy; manufacturing led by semiconductor and automotive industries; slow growth amid declining construction investment, export risks, and recent political instability; aging workforce; increased restraint in fiscal policy while maintaining industry support initiatives
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $2.607 trillion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $2.572 trillion (2022 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2021: $2.507 trillion (2021 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2023: 1.4% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2022: 2.6% (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2021: 4.3% (2021 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2023: $50,400 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2022: $49,800 (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2021: $48,400 (2021 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $1.713 trillion (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024: 2.3% (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023: 3.6% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 5.1% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / agriculture: 1.6% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / industry: 31.6% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / services: 58.4% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / household consumption: 48.9% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / government consumption: 18.9% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in fixed capital: 32.2% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in inventories: -0.1% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / exports of goods and services: 44% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / imports of goods and services: -43.9% (2023 est.)
Agricultural products: rice, vegetables, cabbages, milk, onions, pork, chicken, eggs, tangerines/mandarins, potatoes (2023)
Industries: electronics, telecommunications, automobile production, chemicals, shipbuilding, steel
Industrial production growth rate: 1.1% (2023 est.)
Labor force: 29.713 million (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2024: 2.7% (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2023: 2.7% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2022: 2.9% (2022 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / total: 5.9% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / male: 6% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / female: 5.8% (2024 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income / Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2021: 32.9 (2021 est.)
Average household expenditures / on food: 12.3% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Average household expenditures / on alcohol and tobacco: 1.5% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / lowest 10%: 2.9% (2021 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / highest 10%: 24.6% (2021 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2023: 0.4% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2022: 0.5% of GDP (2022 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2021: 0.4% of GDP (2021 est.)
Budget / revenues: $513.21 billion (2023 est.)
Budget / expenditures: $532.023 billion (2023 est.)
Public debt / Public debt 2023: 52.3% of GDP (2023 est.)
Taxes and other revenues: 15.7% (of GDP) (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2024: $99.043 billion (2024 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2023: $32.822 billion (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2022: $25.829 billion (2022 est.)
Exports / Exports 2024: $835.149 billion (2024 est.)
Exports / Exports 2023: $769.243 billion (2023 est.)
Exports / Exports 2022: $825.961 billion (2022 est.)
Exports - partners: China 25%, USA 18%, Hong Kong 4%, Japan 4%, Taiwan 4% (2023)
Exports - commodities: integrated circuits, cars, refined petroleum, plastics, machine parts (2023)
Imports / Imports 2024: $758.724 billion (2024 est.)
Imports / Imports 2023: $758.41 billion (2023 est.)
Imports / Imports 2022: $817.594 billion (2022 est.)
Imports - partners: China 31%, USA 13%, Japan 9%, Germany 5%, Australia 4% (2023)
Imports - commodities: integrated circuits, natural gas, crude petroleum, machinery, cars (2023)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024: $418.219 billion (2024 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023: $420.93 billion (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $423.366 billion (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Currency: South Korean won (KRW) per US dollar -
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2024: 1,363.375 (2024 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2023: 1,305.662 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2022: 1,291.447 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2021: 1,143.952 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2020: 1,180.266 (2020 est.)

## Energy
Electricity access / electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)
Electricity / installed generating capacity: 151.139 million kW (2023 est.)
Electricity / consumption: 575.359 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / transmission/distribution losses: 19.688 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / fossil fuels: 61.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / nuclear: 30.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / solar: 5.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / wind: 0.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / hydroelectricity: 0.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / tide and wave: 0.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / biomass and waste: 1.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Nuclear energy / Number of operational nuclear reactors: 26 (2025)
Nuclear energy / Number of nuclear reactors under construction: 2 (2025)
Nuclear energy / Net capacity of operational nuclear reactors: 25.57GW (2025 est.)
Nuclear energy / Percent of total electricity production: 30.7% (2023 est.)
Nuclear energy / Number of nuclear reactors permanently shut down: 2 (2025)
Coal / production: 16.081 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / consumption: 136.817 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / exports: 500 metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / imports: 122.845 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / proven reserves: 326 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum / total petroleum production: 38,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Petroleum / refined petroleum consumption: 2.542 million bbl/day (2024 est.)
Natural gas / production: 55.127 million cubic meters (2021 est.)
Natural gas / consumption: 57.314 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / exports: 93.639 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Natural gas / imports: 60.025 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / proven reserves: 7.079 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)
Energy consumption per capita / Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 234.668 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

## Communications
Telephones - fixed lines / total subscriptions: 22.155 million (2023 est.)
Telephones - fixed lines / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 43 (2023 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / total subscriptions: 89.2 million (2024 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 173 (2024 est.)
Broadcast media: multiple national TV networks, with 2 of the 3 largest networks publicly operated; the largest privately owned network, Seoul Broadcasting Service (SBS), has ties with other commercial TV networks; cable and satellite TV subscription services available; publicly operated radio broadcast networks and many privately owned radio broadcasting networks, each with multiple affiliates, and independent local stations
Internet country code: .kr
Internet users / percent of population: 97% (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / total: 24.1 million (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 47 (2023 est.)

## Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: HL
Airports: 92 (2025)
Heliports: 1,280 (2025)
Railways / total: 3,979 km (2016)
Railways / standard gauge: 3,979 km (2016) 1.435-m gauge (2,727 km electrified)
Merchant marine / total: 2,149 (2023)
Merchant marine / by type: bulk carrier 93, container ship 115, general cargo 362, oil tanker 219, other 1,360
Ports / total ports: 15 (2024)
Ports / large: 2
Ports / medium: 5
Ports / small: 4
Ports / very small: 4
Ports / ports with oil terminals: 10
Ports / key ports: Busan, Gwangyang Hang, Inchon, Masan, Mokpo, Pyeongtaek Hang, Ulsan

## Military and Security
Military and security forces: Armed Forces of the Republic of Korea: Republic of Korea Army (ROKA), Republic of Korea Navy (ROKN, includes Marine Corps, ROKMC), Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF) Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries: Korea Coast Guard; Ministry of Interior and Safety: Korean National Police Agency (2025)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2025: 2.3% of GDP (2025 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2024: 2.4% of GDP (2024 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2023: 2.4% of GDP (2023 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2022: 2.4% of GDP (2022 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2021: 2.4% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military and security service personnel strengths: approximately 500,000 active Armed Forces (365,000 Army; 70,000 Navy, including about 30,000 Marines; 65,000 Air Force) (2025)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the South Korean military is equipped with a mix of mostly modern domestically produced and imported weapons systems; the US is the leading provider of foreign arms; South Korea's defense industry produces a range of military hardware for both domestic use and export, including aircraft, armored fighting vehicles, artillery, missiles, and naval vessels; it also jointly produces equipment with other countries (2025)
Military service age and obligation: 18-29 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women; mandatory military service for all eligible men 18-35 years of age (typically served from 20-28 years of age); compulsory service obligation is 18-21 months based on the branch of service and up to 36 months for alternative service (2025)
Military deployments: 250 Lebanon (UNIFIL); 275 South Sudan (UNMISS); approximately 150 United Arab Emirates (2025)
Military - note: the South Korean military is responsible for external defense and is primarily focused on the threat from North Korea; it participates in bilateral and multinational exercises and deploys abroad for international missions, including peacekeeping and other security operations South Korea's primary defense partner is the US, and the 1953 US-South Korea Mutual Defense Treaty is a cornerstone of the country's national security; the Treaty committed the US to provide assistance in the event of an attack and gave the US permission to station land, air, and sea forces in and about the territory of South Korea as determined by mutual agreement; South Korea hosts approximately 28,000 US military troops and regularly conducts bilateral exercises with the US military; South Korea has Major Non-NATO Ally (MNNA) status with the US, a designation under US law that provides foreign partners with certain benefits in the areas of defense trade and security cooperation; the South Korean military has assisted the US in conflicts in Afghanistan (5,000 troops; 2001-2014), Iraq (20,000 troops; 2003-2008), and Vietnam (325,000 troops; 1964-1973) in 2016, South Korea concluded an agreement with the EU for participation in EU Common Security and Defense Policy (CSDP) missions and operations, such as EU counter-piracy operations off the coast of East Africa; South Korea has had a relationship with NATO since 2005, and in 2022 established a mission to the NATO headquarters to further cooperation; it has participated in NATO-led missions and exercises, including in Afghanistan and the Gulf of Aden (2025)

## Space
Space agency/agencies: Korea AeroSpace Administration (KASA; established 2024); Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI; established 1989 and previously acted as South Korea's space agency) (2025)
Space launch site(s): Naro Space Center (South Jeolla province) (2025)
Space program overview: has an ambitious space program focused on developing satellites, satellite launch vehicles (SLVs), and interplanetary probes; has a national space strategy; manufactures and operates satellites, including those with communications, remote sensing (RS), scientific, and multipurpose capabilities; manufactures and launches SLVs; developing interplanetary space vehicles, including orbital probes and landers; participates in international programs and works with an array of foreign space agencies and industries, including those of Australia, the ESA, individual ESA member states (particularly France, Germany, Italy, Spain, UK), India, Indonesia, Israel, Japan, Peru, Russia, UAE, and the US; has an active commercial space industry (2025)
Key space-program milestones: 1992 - first domestically made technology-demonstrator satellite (KITSAT-1) launched on European rocket 1993-1998 - launched first single-stage sounding rocket (KSR-1) and first two-stage sounding rocket (KSR-2) 1999 - first domestically built multi-purpose satellite (KOMPSAT-1, aka Arirang-1) launched by US 2008 - first South Korean astronaut in space on International Space Station 2013 - first successful satellite launch of two-stage Korean Space Launch Vehicle-I (KSLV-I; aka Naro) 2021 - maiden launch of three-stage KSLV-II (aka Nuri); signed the US-led Artemis Accords for space and lunar exploration 2022 - first successful attempt to place satellites into orbit on the KSLV-II/Nuri; domestically made lunar orbiter (Danuri) reached Moon's orbit; began development of the Korea Positioning System (KPS) satellite navigational network 2024 - third successful launch of Nuri SLV placed eight small satellites in orbit, including a remote sensing satellite (NexSat-2) with radar imaging technology

## Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons / refugees: 40,084 (2024 est.)
Refugees and internally displaced persons / stateless persons: 248 (2024 est.)
Illicit drugs / USG identification: major precursor-chemical producer (2025)

=== Laos ===

## Introduction
Background: Modern-day Laos has its roots in the ancient Lao kingdom of Lan Xang, established in the 14th century under King FA NGUM. For 300 years, Lan Xang had influence reaching into present-day Cambodia and Thailand, as well as over all of what is now Laos. After centuries of gradual decline, Laos came under the domination of Siam (Thailand) from the late 18th century until the late 19th century, when it became part of French Indochina. The Franco-Siamese Treaty of 1907 defined the current Lao border with Thailand. Following more than 15 years of civil war, the communist Pathet Lao took control of the government in 1975, ending a six-century-old monarchy and instituting a one party--the Lao People's Revolutionary Party--communist state. A gradual, limited return to private enterprise and the liberalization of foreign investment laws began in the late 1980s. Laos became a member of ASEAN in 1997 and the WTO in 2013. In the 2010s, the country benefited from direct foreign investment, particularly in the natural resource and industry sectors. Construction of a number of large hydropower dams and expanding mining activities have also boosted the economy. Laos has retained its official commitment to communism and maintains close ties with its two communist neighbors, Vietnam and China, both of which continue to exert substantial political and economic influence on the country. China, for example, provided 70% of the funding for a $5.9 billion, 400-km railway line between the Chinese border and the capital Vientiane, which opened for operations in 2021. Laos financed the remaining 30% with loans from China. At the same time, Laos has expanded its economic reliance on the West and other Asian countries, such as Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan, and Thailand. Nevertheless, despite steady economic growth for more than a decade, it remains one of Asia's poorest countries.

## Geography
Location: Southeastern Asia, northeast of Thailand, west of Vietnam
Geographic coordinates: 18 00 N, 105 00 E
Map references: Southeast Asia
Area / total: 236,800 sq km
Area / land: 230,800 sq km
Area / water: 6,000 sq km
Area - comparative: about twice the size of Pennsylvania; slightly larger than Utah
Land boundaries / total: 5,274 km
Land boundaries / border countries: Burma 238 km; Cambodia 555 km; China 475 km; Thailand 1,845 km; Vietnam 2,161 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
Climate: tropical monsoon; rainy season (May to November); dry season (December to April)
Terrain: mostly rugged mountains; some plains and plateaus
Elevation / highest point: Phu Bia 2,817 m
Elevation / lowest point: Mekong River 70 m
Elevation / mean elevation: 710 m
Natural resources: timber, hydropower, gypsum, tin, gold, gemstones
Land use / agricultural land: 9.9% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 5.3% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 1.7% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 2.9% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 56.8% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 33.3% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land: 4,410 sq km (2022)
Major rivers (by length in km): Mènam Khong (Mekong) (shared with China [s], Burma, Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam [m]) - 4,350 km note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Major watersheds (area sq km) / Pacific Ocean drainage: Mekong (805,604 sq km)
Population distribution: most densely populated area is in and around the capital city of Vientiane; large communities are primarily found along the Mekong River along the southwestern border; overall density is considered one of the lowest in Southeast Asia
Natural hazards: floods, droughts
Geography - note: landlocked; most of the country is mountainous and thickly forested; the Mekong River forms a large part of the western boundary with Thailand

## People and Society
Population / total: 7,953,556 (2024 est.)
Population / male: 3,966,320
Population / female: 3,987,236
Nationality / noun: Lao(s) or Laotian(s)
Nationality / adjective: Lao or Laotian
Ethnic groups: Lao 53.2%, Khmou 11%, Hmong 9.2%, Phouthay 3.4%, Tai 3.1%, Makong 2.5%, Katong 2.2%, Lue 2%, Akha 1.8%, other 11.6% (2015 est.)
Languages / Languages: Lao (official), French, English, various ethnic languages
Languages / major-language sample(s): ແຫລ່ງທີ່ຂາດບໍ່ໄດ້ສຳລັບຂໍ້ມູນຕົ້ນຕໍ່” (Lao) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
Religions: Buddhist 64.7%, Christian 1.7%, none 31.4%, other/not stated 2.1% (2015 est.)
Age structure / 0-14 years: 30.1% (male 1,214,429/female 1,181,845)
Age structure / 15-64 years: 65% (male 2,573,668/female 2,599,957)
Age structure / 65 years and over: 4.8% (2024 est.) (male 178,223/female 205,434)
Dependency ratios / total dependency ratio: 53.7 (2024 est.)
Dependency ratios / youth dependency ratio: 46.3 (2024 est.)
Dependency ratios / elderly dependency ratio: 7.4 (2024 est.)
Dependency ratios / potential support ratio: 13.5 (2024 est.)
Median age / total: 25.8 years (2025 est.)
Median age / male: 25 years
Median age / female: 25.7 years
Population growth rate: 1.22% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 19.22 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 6.07 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: -0.93 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution: most densely populated area is in and around the capital city of Vientiane; large communities are primarily found along the Mekong River along the southwestern border; overall density is considered one of the lowest in Southeast Asia
Urbanization / urban population: 38.2% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 2.99% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 721,000 VIENTIANE (capital) (2023)
Sex ratio / at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 0-14 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 65 years and over: 0.87 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / total population: 1 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio: 112 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Infant mortality rate / total: 34.2 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Infant mortality rate / male: 39.1 deaths/1,000 live births
Infant mortality rate / female: 31.6 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth / total population: 69 years (2024 est.)
Life expectancy at birth / male: 67.4 years
Life expectancy at birth / female: 70.7 years
Total fertility rate: 2.19 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 1.07 (2025 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: urban: urban: 97.1% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: rural: rural: 78.5% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: total: total: 85.5% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: urban: urban: 2.9% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: rural: rural: 21.5% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: total: total: 14.5% of population (2022 est.)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 2.7% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 4.3% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density: 0.33 physicians/1,000 population (2022)
Hospital bed density: 1.3 beds/1,000 population (2021 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: urban: urban: 100% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: rural: rural: 72% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: total: total: 82.5% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: urban: urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: rural: rural: 28% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: total: total: 17.5% of population (2022 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 5.3% (2016)
Alcohol consumption per capita / total: 8.15 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / beer: 3.62 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / wine: 0.07 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / spirits: 4.46 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / other alcohols: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Tobacco use / total: 24.1% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / male: 41% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / female: 7.2% (2025 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 24.3% (2023 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49): 61.6% (2017 est.)
Child marriage / women married by age 15: 7.1% (2017)
Child marriage / women married by age 18: 32.7% (2017)
Child marriage / men married by age 18: 10.8% (2017)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% GDP): 1.2% of GDP (2023 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% national budget): 8.2% national budget (2024 est.)
Literacy / total population: 75.6% (2023 est.)
Literacy / male: 85.1% (2023 est.)
Literacy / female: 66.7% (2023 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / total: 9 years (2023 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / male: 9 years (2023 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / female: 9 years (2023 est.)

## Environment
Environmental issues: unexploded ordnance; deforestation; soil erosion; loss of biodiversity; water pollution; limited access to potable water
International environmental agreements / party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands, Whaling
International environmental agreements / signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Climate: tropical monsoon; rainy season (May to November); dry season (December to April)
Land use / agricultural land: 9.9% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 5.3% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 1.7% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 2.9% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 56.8% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 33.3% (2023 est.)
Urbanization / urban population: 38.2% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 2.99% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / total emissions: 23.412 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from coal and metallurgical coke: 19.652 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from petroleum and other liquids: 3.76 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Particulate matter emissions: 20.5 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Waste and recycling / municipal solid waste generated annually: 351,900 tons (2024 est.)
Waste and recycling / percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 15.1% (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / municipal: 130 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / industrial: 170 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / agricultural: 7.05 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total renewable water resources: 333.5 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: Lao People's Democratic Republic
Country name / conventional short form: Laos
Country name / local long form: Sathalanalat Paxathipatai Paxaxon Lao
Country name / local short form: Mueang Lao (unofficial)
Country name / abbreviation: Lao PDR
Country name / etymology: name means "Land of the Lao [people];" it derives from the name of the country's founder, Lao
Government type: communist party-led state
Capital / name: Vientiane (Viangchan)
Capital / geographic coordinates: 17 58 N, 102 36 E
Capital / time difference: UTC+7 (12 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Capital / etymology: the name Viangchan means "city of sandalwood" in Laotian; the standard spelling reflects French influence
Administrative divisions: 17 provinces ( khoueng , singular and plural) and 1 prefecture* ( kampheng nakhon ); Attapu, Bokeo, Bolikhamxay, Champasak, Houaphanh, Khammouan, Louangnamtha, Louangphabang (Luang Prabang), Oudomxai, Phongsali, Salavan, Savannakhet, Viangchan (Vientiane)*, Viangchan, Xaignabouli, Xaisomboun, Xekong, Xiangkhouang
Legal system: civil law system similar in form to the French system
Constitution / history: previous 1947 (pre-independence); latest promulgated 13-15 August 1991
Constitution / amendment process: proposed by the National Assembly; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote of the Assembly membership and promulgation by the president of the republic
International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt
Citizenship / citizenship by birth: no
Citizenship / citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Laos
Citizenship / dual citizenship recognized: no
Citizenship / residency requirement for naturalization: 10 years
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch / chief of state: President THONGLOUN Sisoulith (since 22 March 2021)
Executive branch / head of government: Prime Minister SONEXAY (also spelled SONXAI) Siphandon (since 30 December 2022)
Executive branch / cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president and approved by the National Assembly
Executive branch / election/appointment process: president and vice president indirectly elected by the National Assembly for a 5-year term (no term limits); prime minister nominated by the president, elected by the National Assembly for a 5-year term
Executive branch / most recent election date: 22 March 2021
Executive branch / election results: 2021: THONGLOUN Sisoulith (LPRP) elected president; National Assembly vote - 161-1; PHANKHAM Viphavanh (LPRP) elected prime minister; National Assembly vote - 158-3 2016: BOUNNHANG Vorachit (LPRP) elected president; percent of National Assembly vote - NA; THONGLOUN Sisoulith (LPRP) elected prime minister; percent of National Assembly vote - NA
Executive branch / expected date of next election: March 2026
Legislative branch / legislature name: National Assembly (Sapha Heng Xat)
Legislative branch / legislative structure: unicameral
Legislative branch / number of seats: 164 (all directly elected)
Legislative branch / electoral system: plurality/majority
Legislative branch / scope of elections: full renewal
Legislative branch / term in office: 5 years
Legislative branch / most recent election date: 2/21/2021
Legislative branch / parties elected and seats per party: Lao People's Revolutionary Party (LPRP) (158); Other (6)
Legislative branch / percentage of women in chamber: 22%
Legislative branch / expected date of next election: February 2026
Judicial branch / highest court(s): People's Supreme Court (consists of the court president and organized into criminal, civil, administrative, commercial, family, and juvenile chambers, each with a vice president and several judges)
Judicial branch / judge selection and term of office: president of People's Supreme Court appointed by the National Assembly upon the recommendation of the president of the republic for a 5-year term; vice presidents of the People's Supreme Court appointed by the president of the republic upon the recommendation of the National Assembly; appointment of chamber judges NA; tenure of court vice presidents and chamber judges NA
Judicial branch / subordinate courts: appellate courts; provincial, municipal, district, and military courts
Political parties: Lao People's Revolutionary Party or LPRP
Diplomatic representation in the US / chief of mission: Ambassador PHOUKHONG Sisoulath (since 5 September 2025)
Diplomatic representation in the US / chancery: 2222 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation in the US / telephone: [1] (202) 332-6416
Diplomatic representation in the US / FAX: [1] (202) 332-4923
Diplomatic representation in the US / email address and website: embasslao@gmail.com https://laoembassy.com/
Diplomatic representation from the US / chief of mission: Ambassador Heather VARIAVA (since 5 February 2024)
Diplomatic representation from the US / embassy: Ban Somvang Tai, Thadeua Road, Km 9, Hatsayfong District, Vientiane
Diplomatic representation from the US / mailing address: 4350 Vientiane Place, Washington DC 20521-4350
Diplomatic representation from the US / telephone: [856] 21-48-7000
Diplomatic representation from the US / FAX: [856] 21-48-7040
Diplomatic representation from the US / email address and website: CONSLAO@state.gov https://la.usembassy.gov/
International organization participation: ADB, ARF, ASEAN, CP, EAS, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ISO (subscriber), ITU, MIGA, NAM, OIF, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Independence: 19 July 1949 (from France); 22 October 1953 (Franco-Lao Treaty recognizes full independence)
National holiday: Republic Day (National Day), 2 December (1975)
Flag: description: three horizontal bands of red (top), blue (double-width), and red, with a large white disk centered in the blue band meaning: red stands for the blood shed for liberation, and blue for the Mekong River and prosperity; the white disk represents the full moon over the Mekong River and the unity of the people under the Lao People's Revolutionary Party, as well as the country's bright future
National symbol(s): elephant
National color(s): red, white, blue
National anthem(s) / title: "Pheng Xat Lao" (Hymn of the Lao People)
National anthem(s) / lyrics/music: SISANA Sisane/THONGDY Sounthonevichit
National anthem(s) / history: music adopted 1945, lyrics adopted 1975; the anthem's lyrics were changed after the communist revolution that overthrew the monarchy in 1975
National heritage / total World Heritage Sites: 3 (all cultural)
National heritage / selected World Heritage Site locales: Town of Luangphrabang; Vat Phou and Associated Ancient Settlements; Megalithic Jar Sites in Xiengkhuang - Plain of Jars

## Economy
Economic overview: lower middle-income, industrial Southeast Asian economy; high inflation due to 2022 currency depreciation brought on by persistently high debt; new Laos-China railway and dry port; rising inequities; ongoing labor shortages
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $66.905 billion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $64.173 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $61.856 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2024: 4.3% (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2023: 3.7% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2022: 2.7% (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2024: $8,600 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2023: $8,400 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2022: $8,200 (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $16.503 billion (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024: 23.1% (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023: 31.2% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 23% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / agriculture: 16.8% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / industry: 29% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / services: 43.5% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / household consumption: 65.7% (2016 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / government consumption: 14% (2016 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in fixed capital: 29% (2016 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in inventories: 0% (2016 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / exports of goods and services: 33.2% (2016 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / imports of goods and services: -41.9% (2016 est.)
Agricultural products: cassava, root vegetables, rice, sugarcane, vegetables, bananas, maize, rubber, coffee, watermelons (2023)
Industries: mining (copper, tin, gold, gypsum); timber, electric power, agricultural processing, rubber, construction, garments, cement, tourism
Industrial production growth rate: 3.9% (2024 est.)
Labor force: 3.585 million (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2024: 1.3% (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2023: 1.2% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2022: 1.3% (2022 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / total: 2.2% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / male: 2.4% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / female: 2.1% (2024 est.)
Population below poverty line: 18.3% (2018 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income / Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2018: 38.8 (2018 est.)
Average household expenditures / on food: 50.5% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Average household expenditures / on alcohol and tobacco: 7.8% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / lowest 10%: 3% (2018 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / highest 10%: 31.2% (2018 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2023: 1.8% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2022: 1.5% of GDP (2022 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2021: 1.2% of GDP (2021 est.)
Budget / revenues: $2.288 billion (2022 est.)
Budget / expenditures: $2.259 billion (2022 est.)
Public debt / Public debt 2016: 58.4% of GDP (2016 est.)
Taxes and other revenues: 12.1% (of GDP) (2022 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2023: $404.523 million (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2022: -$458.754 million (2022 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2021: $431.636 million (2021 est.)
Exports / Exports 2023: $9.698 billion (2023 est.)
Exports / Exports 2022: $8.604 billion (2022 est.)
Exports / Exports 2021: $7.82 billion (2021 est.)
Exports - partners: China 39%, Thailand 34%, Australia 4%, USA 4%, Cambodia 2% (2023)
Exports - commodities: electricity, fertilizers, gold, garments, paper (2023)
Imports / Imports 2023: $8.596 billion (2023 est.)
Imports / Imports 2022: $7.983 billion (2022 est.)
Imports / Imports 2021: $6.527 billion (2021 est.)
Imports - partners: Thailand 58%, China 36%, Japan 1%, Singapore 1%, Germany 1% (2023)
Imports - commodities: refined petroleum, cars, raw sugar, plastic products, trucks (2023)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023: $1.77 billion (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $1.576 billion (2022 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2021: $1.951 billion (2021 est.)
Debt - external / Debt - external 2023: $9.619 billion (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Currency: kips (LAK) per US dollar -
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2023: 17,688.874 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2022: 14,035.227 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2021: 9,697.916 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2020: 9,045.788 (2020 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2019: 8,679.409 (2019 est.)

## Energy
Electricity access / electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)
Electricity / installed generating capacity: 12.738 million kW (2023 est.)
Electricity / consumption: 12.803 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / exports: 38 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / imports: 955.095 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / transmission/distribution losses: 2.447 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / fossil fuels: 23.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / solar: 0.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / hydroelectricity: 76.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / biomass and waste: 0.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Coal / production: 16.629 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / consumption: 15.944 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / exports: 1.065 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / imports: 22,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / proven reserves: 62 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum / refined petroleum consumption: 25,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Energy consumption per capita / Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 34.463 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

## Communications
Telephones - fixed lines / total subscriptions: 1.3 million (2021 est.)
Telephones - fixed lines / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 18 (2022 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / total subscriptions: 4.96 million (2023 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 65 (2023 est.)
Broadcast media: 6 TV stations operating out of Vientiane, with half state-operated and half commercial; 17 provincial stations, with nearly all programming relayed via satellite from the state-operated stations in Vientiane; multi-channel satellite and cable TV systems provide access to a wide range of foreign stations; state-controlled radio with state-operated Lao National Radio (LNR) broadcasting on 5 frequencies; transmissions of multiple international broadcasters are accessible
Internet country code: .la
Internet users / percent of population: 64% (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / total: 183,000 (2022 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 2 (2022 est.)

## Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: RDPL
Airports: 20 (2025)
Railways / total: 422 km (2023)
Railways / standard gauge: 422 km (2023) 1.435-m gauge (422 km overhead electrification)
Merchant marine / total: 1 (2023)
Merchant marine / by type: general cargo 1

## Military and Security
Military and security forces: Lao People's Armed Forces (LPAF; aka Lao People's Army): Lao People's Army (LPA, includes Riverine Force), Lao People's Air Force (LPAF); Self-Defense Militia Forces (2025)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2019: 0.2% of GDP (2019 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2018: 0.2% of GDP (2018 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2017: 0.2% of GDP (2017 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2016: 0.2% of GDP (2016 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2015: 0.2% of GDP (2015 est.)
Military and security service personnel strengths: information limited and varied; estimated 30,000 active Armed Forces; estimated 100,000 Self-Defense Militia Forces (2025)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the LPAF is armed with Chinese, Russian, and Soviet-era equipment and weapons (2025)
Military service age and obligation: 18 years of age for voluntary military service; mandatory military service for men 18-35 with a minimum 18-month service obligation (2025)
Military - note: the LPAF&rsquo;s primary missions are border and internal security, including counterinsurgency, counterterrorism, and counter-narcotics operations, as well as protecting the regime; its defense partners include Cambodia, China, Russia, and Vietnam (2025)

## Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons / IDPs: 1,274 (2024 est.)
Trafficking in persons / tier rating: Tier 3 — Laos does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and is not making significant efforts to do so, therefore, Laos was downgraded to Tier 3; for more details, go to: https://www.state.gov/reports/2025-trafficking-in-persons-report/laos/
Illicit drugs / USG identification: major illicit drug-producing and/or drug-transit country (2025)

=== Macau ===

## Introduction
Background: Portuguese ships began arriving in 1513. In the 1550s, Portuguese paying tribute to China settled in Macau, which became the official entrepôt for all international trade with China and Japan and the first European settlement in the Far East. The first governor was appointed in the 17th century, but the Portuguese remained largely under the control of the Chinese. In the 1930s and ’40s Macau was declared a neutral territory during the Sino-Japanese War and World War II and became a refuge for both Chinese and Europeans. Portugal officially made Macau an overseas province in 1951. In April 1987, Portugal and China reached an agreement to return Macau to Chinese rule in 1999, using the Hong Kong Joint Declaration between China and the UK as a model. In this agreement, China promised that, under its "one country, two systems" formula, China's political and economic system would not be imposed on Macau, and that Macau would enjoy a "high degree of autonomy" in all matters except foreign affairs and defense for the next 50 years. However, after China's multi-year crackdown against the pro-democracy movement in nearby Hong Kong, the governments of China and the Macau Special Administrative Region worked to limit Macau's political autonomy by suppressing opposition activity in the 2021 legislative elections.

## Geography
Location: Eastern Asia, bordering the South China Sea and China
Geographic coordinates: 22 10 N, 113 33 E
Map references: Southeast Asia
Area / total: 28 sq km
Area / land: 28.2 sq km
Area / water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative: less than one-sixth the size of Washington, D.C.
Land boundaries / total: 3 km
Land boundaries / regional borders: China 3 km
Coastline: 41 km
Maritime claims: not specified
Climate: subtropical; marine with cool winters, warm summers
Terrain: generally flat
Elevation / highest point: Alto Coloane 172 m
Elevation / lowest point: South China Sea 0 m
Natural resources: NEGL
Land use / agricultural land: 0% (2022 est.)
Land use / forest: 0% (2022 est.)
Land use / other: 100% (2022 est.)
Irrigated land: 0 sq km (2012)
Population distribution: population fairly equally distributed
Natural hazards: typhoons
Geography - note: primarily urban; an area of land reclaimed from the sea measuring 5.2 sq km (2 sq mi) and known as Cotai now connects the islands of Coloane and Taipa; the island area is connected to the mainland peninsula by three bridges

## People and Society
Population / total: 644,426 (2024 est.)
Population / male: 304,988
Population / female: 339,438
Nationality / noun: Chinese
Nationality / adjective: Chinese
Ethnic groups: Chinese 89.4%, Chinese and Portuguese 1%, Portuguese 0.8%, Chinese and non-Portuguese 0.2%, Portuguese and others 0.2%, other 8.5% (2021 est.)
Languages / Languages: Cantonese 81%, Mandarin 4.7%, other Chinese dialects 5.4%, English 3.6%, Tagalog 2.9%, Portuguese 0.6%, other 1.8% (2021 est.)
Languages / major-language sample(s): 世界概况, 必須擁有的基本資料参考书 (Cantonese) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
Religions: folk religion 58.9%, Buddhist 17.3%, Christian 7.2%, other 1.2%, none 15.4% (2020 est.)
Age structure / 0-14 years: 14.4% (male 47,346/female 45,216)
Age structure / 15-64 years: 69.9% (male 210,059/female 240,577)
Age structure / 65 years and over: 15.7% (2024 est.) (male 47,583/female 53,645)
Dependency ratios / total dependency ratio: 43 (2024 est.)
Dependency ratios / youth dependency ratio: 20.5 (2024 est.)
Dependency ratios / elderly dependency ratio: 22.5 (2024 est.)
Dependency ratios / potential support ratio: 4.5 (2024 est.)
Median age / total: 43 years (2025 est.)
Median age / male: 41.5 years
Median age / female: 43.1 years
Population growth rate: 0.64% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 8.31 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 5.02 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: 3.08 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution: population fairly equally distributed
Urbanization / urban population: 100% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 1.46% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 682,000 Macau (2023)
Sex ratio / at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 15-64 years: 0.87 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 65 years and over: 0.89 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / total population: 0.9 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Infant mortality rate / total: 4.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Infant mortality rate / male: 4.5 deaths/1,000 live births
Infant mortality rate / female: 4.3 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth / total population: 85.3 years (2024 est.)
Life expectancy at birth / male: 82.5 years
Life expectancy at birth / female: 88.3 years
Total fertility rate: 1.25 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 0.61 (2025 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: urban: urban: 100% of population
Education expenditure: 6.3% of GDP (2020 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / total: 18 years
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / male: 17 years
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / female: 19 years (2021)

## Environment
Environmental issues: air pollution; coastal water pollution; solid-waste disposal; noise pollution
Climate: subtropical; marine with cool winters, warm summers
Land use / agricultural land: 0% (2022 est.)
Land use / forest: 0% (2022 est.)
Land use / other: 100% (2022 est.)
Urbanization / urban population: 100% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 1.46% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / total emissions: 1.595 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from coal and metallurgical coke: -1,239 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from petroleum and other liquids: 1.358 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from consumed natural gas: 238,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Waste and recycling / municipal solid waste generated annually: 377,900 tons (2024 est.)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: Macau Special Administrative Region
Country name / conventional short form: Macau
Country name / official long form: Aomen Tebie Xingzhengqu (Chinese)/ Regiao Administrativa Especial de Macau (Portuguese)
Country name / official short form: Aomen (Chinese)/ Macau (Portuguese)
Country name / etymology: name derived from the Chinese ama-gao , or “Bay of Ama,” for Ama, the patron goddess of sailors
Government type: executive-led limited democracy; a special administrative region of the People's Republic of China
Dependency status: special administrative region of the People's Republic of China
Legal system: civil law system based on the Portuguese model
Constitution / history: previous 1976 (Organic Statute of Macau, under Portuguese authority); latest adopted 31 March 1993, effective 20 December 1999 (Basic Law of the Macau Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China serves as Macau's constitution)
Constitution / amendment process: proposed by the Standing Committee of the National People&rsquo;s Congress (NPC), the People&rsquo;s Republic of China State Council, and the Macau Special Administrative Region; submittal of proposals to the NPC requires two-thirds majority vote by the Legislative Assembly of Macau, approval by two thirds of Macau's deputies to the NPC, and consent of the Macau chief executive; final passage requires approval by the NPC
Citizenship: see China
Suffrage: 18 years of age in direct elections for some legislative positions, universal for permanent residents living in Macau for the past 7 years
Executive branch / chief of state: President of China XI Jinping (since 14 March 2013)
Executive branch / head of government: Chief Executive Sam Hou FAI (since 20 December 2024)
Executive branch / cabinet: Executive Council appointed by the chief executive
Executive branch / election/appointment process: president indirectly elected by National People's Congress for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); chief executive chosen by a 400-member Election Committee for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term)
Executive branch / most recent election date: president: 10 March 2023 chief executive: 13 October 2024
Executive branch / election results: 2024: Sam Hou FAI (unopposed; received 394 out of 400 votes) 2019: HO lat Seng (unopposed; received 392 out of 400 votes)
Executive branch / expected date of next election: president: March 2028 chief executive: 2029
Legislative branch / legislature name: Legislative Assembly (Regiao Administrativa Especial de Macau)
Legislative branch / legislative structure: unicameral
Legislative branch / number of seats: 33 (14 directly elected, 12 indirectly elected, 7 appointed)
Legislative branch / electoral system: mixed
Legislative branch / scope of elections: full renewal
Legislative branch / term in office: 4 years
Legislative branch / most recent election date: 9/12/2021
Legislative branch / parties elected and seats per party: United Citizens Association of Macau (ACUM) (3); Union for Development (UPD) (2); Macau-Guangdong Union (UGM) (2); Union for Promoting Progress (UPP) (2); Alliance for a Happy Home (ABL) (2); New Hope (NE) (2); Association of Synergy of Macau (PS) (1)
Legislative branch / expected date of next election: September 2025
Judicial branch / highest court(s): Court of Final Appeal of Macau Special Administrative Region (consists of the court president and 2 associate justices)
Judicial branch / judge selection and term of office: justices appointed by the Macau chief executive upon the recommendation of an independent commission of judges, lawyers, and "eminent" persons; judge tenure NA
Judicial branch / subordinate courts: Court of Second Instance; Court of First instance; Lower Court; Administrative Court
Political parties: Alliance for a Happy Home or ABL Association of Synergy of Macau ("Synergy Power" or Poder da Singeria) or PS Macau-Guangdong Union or UGM New Hope or NE Union for Development or UPD Union for Promoting Progress or UPP or UNIPRO United Citizens Association of Macau or ACUM
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (Special Administrative Region of China)
Diplomatic representation from the US / embassy: the US has no offices in Macau; US Consulate General in Hong Kong is accredited to Macau
International organization participation: ICC (national committees), IHO, IMF, IMO (associate), Interpol (subbureau), ISO (correspondent), UNESCO (associate), UNWTO (associate), UPU, WCO, WMO, WTO
Independence: none (special administrative region of China)
National holiday: National Day (anniversary of the Founding of the People's Republic of China), 1 October (1949)
Flag: description: green with a lotus flower above a stylized bridge and water in white, under an arc of five five-pointed gold stars meaning: the lotus is the national floral emblem, and the three petals represent the country's peninsula and two islands; the five stars echo the Chinese flag
National symbol(s): lotus blossom
National color(s): green, white, yellow
National anthem(s) / title: "Yiyongjun Jinxingqu" (The March of the Volunteers)
National anthem(s) / lyrics/music: TIAN Han/NIE Er
National anthem(s) / history: official anthem, as a Special Administrative Region of China

## Economy
Economic overview: high-income, Chinese special administrative region economy; known for apparel exports and gambling tourism; currency pegged to Hong Kong dollar; significant recession due to 2015 Chinese anticorruption campaign; COVID-19 further halved economic activity
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $77.524 billion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $71.248 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $40.699 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2024: 8.8% (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2023: 75.1% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2022: -19.6% (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2024: $112,800 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2023: $105,000 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2022: $60,100 (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $50.183 billion (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023: 0.5% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 1% (2022 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021: 0% (2021 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / industry: 5.4% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / services: 91.4% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / household consumption: 29% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / government consumption: 12.2% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in fixed capital: 13.8% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in inventories: 0.7% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / exports of goods and services: 89.8% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / imports of goods and services: -45.4% (2024 est.)
Agricultural products: pork, chicken, beef, eggs, pork offal, pork fat, pepper, beef offal, cattle hides, goose meat (2023)
Industries: tourism, gambling, clothing, textiles, electronics, footwear, toys
Industrial production growth rate: 6.8% (2023 est.)
Labor force: 382,100 (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2024: 2.5% (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2023: 2.3% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2022: 2.5% (2022 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / total: 7.2% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / male: 9.4% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / female: 5.6% (2024 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2023: 0.2% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2022: 0.4% of GDP (2022 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2021: 0.2% of GDP (2021 est.)
Budget / revenues: $12.513 billion (2023 est.)
Budget / expenditures: $11.509 billion (2023 est.)
Public debt / Public debt 2016: 0% of GDP (2016 est.)
Taxes and other revenues: 22.8% (of GDP) (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2023: $14.38 billion (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2022: $3.476 billion (2022 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2021: $2.705 billion (2021 est.)
Exports / Exports 2023: $41.839 billion (2023 est.)
Exports / Exports 2022: $21.097 billion (2022 est.)
Exports / Exports 2021: $28.163 billion (2021 est.)
Exports - partners: Hong Kong 73%, China 6%, USA 6%, Philippines 3%, Singapore 1% (2023)
Exports - commodities: jewelry, garments, broadcasting equipment, precious metal watches, video and card games (2023)
Imports / Imports 2023: $23.205 billion (2023 est.)
Imports / Imports 2022: $20.923 billion (2022 est.)
Imports / Imports 2021: $23.77 billion (2021 est.)
Imports - partners: China 36%, Hong Kong 17%, USA 6%, France 6%, Japan 5% (2023)
Imports - commodities: jewelry, garments, trunks and cases, broadcasting equipment, electricity (2023)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024: $29.392 billion (2024 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023: $27.771 billion (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $25.971 billion (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Currency: patacas (MOP) per US dollar -
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2024: 8.037 (2024 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2023: 8.063 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2022: 8.065 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2021: 8.006 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2020: 7.989 (2020 est.)

## Energy
Electricity access / electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)
Electricity / installed generating capacity: 427,000 kW (2023 est.)
Electricity / consumption: 5.659 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / imports: 5.327 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / transmission/distribution losses: 161.125 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / fossil fuels: 58.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / biomass and waste: 41.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Coal / exports: 600 metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / imports: 7 metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum / refined petroleum consumption: 11,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Natural gas / consumption: 121.747 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / imports: 121.716 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
Energy consumption per capita / Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 64.641 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

## Communications
Telephones - fixed lines / total subscriptions: 87,000 (2023 est.)
Telephones - fixed lines / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 12 (2023 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / total subscriptions: 1.37 million (2023 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 175 (2022 est.)
Broadcast media: local government dominates broadcast media; 2 TV stations operated by the government, with one broadcasting in Portuguese and the other in Cantonese and Mandarin; 1 cable TV and 4 satellite TV services available; 3 radio stations broadcasting, of which 2 are government-operated (2019)
Internet country code: .mo
Internet users / percent of population: 89% (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / total: 212,000 (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 30 (2023 est.)

## Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: B-M
Airports: 1 (2025)
Heliports: 4 (2025)
Merchant marine / total: 5 (2023)
Merchant marine / by type: other 5
Ports / total ports: 1 (2024)
Ports / large: 0
Ports / medium: 1
Ports / small: 0
Ports / very small: 0
Ports / ports with oil terminals: 1
Ports / key ports: Macau

## Military and Security
Military and security forces: Macau Public Security Police Force
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of China; the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) maintains a garrison in Macau

## Transnational Issues
Trafficking in persons / tier rating: Tier 3 — Macau does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and is not making significant efforts to do so, therefore, Macau remained on Tier 3; for more details, go to: https://www.state.gov/reports/2025-trafficking-in-persons-report/macau

=== Mongolia ===

## Introduction
Background: The peoples of Mongolia have a long history under a number of nomadic empires dating back to the Xiongnu in the 4th century B.C., and the name Mongol goes back to at least the 11th century A.D. The most famous Mongol, TEMÜÜJIN (aka Genghis Khan), emerged as the ruler of all Mongols in the early 1200s. By the time of his death in 1227, he had created through conquest a Mongol Empire that extended across much of Eurasia. His descendants, including ÖGÖDEI and KHUBILAI (aka Kublai Khan), continued to conquer Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and the rest of China, where KHUBILAI established the Yuan Dynasty in the 1270s. The Mongols attempted to invade Japan and Java before their empire broke apart in the 14th century. In the 17th century, Mongolia fell under the rule of the Manchus of the Chinese Qing Dynasty. After Manchu rule collapsed in 1911, Mongolia declared independence, finally winning it in 1921 with help from the Soviet Union. Mongolia became a socialist state (the Mongolian People’s Republic) in 1924. Until the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1989, Mongolia was a Soviet satellite state and relied heavily on economic, military, and political assistance from Moscow. The period was also marked by purges, political repression, economic stagnation, and tensions with China. Mongolia peacefully transitioned to an independent democracy in 1990. In 1992, it adopted a new constitution and established a free-market economy. Since the country's transition, it has conducted a series of successful presidential and legislative elections. Throughout the period, the ex-communist Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party -- which took the name Mongolian People’s Party (MPP) in 2010 -- has competed for political power with the Democratic Party and several other smaller parties. For most of its democratic history, Mongolia has had a divided government, with the presidency and the parliamentary majority held by different parties but that changed in 2021, when the MPP won the presidency after having secured a supermajority in parliament in 2020. Mongolia’s June 2021 presidential election delivered a decisive victory for MPP candidate Ukhnaagiin KHURELSUKH. Mongolia maintains close cultural, political, and military ties with Russia, while China is its largest economic partner. Mongolia’s foreign relations are focused on preserving its autonomy by balancing relations with China and Russia, as well as its other major partners, Japan, South Korea, and the US.

## Geography
Location: Northern Asia, between China and Russia
Geographic coordinates: 46 00 N, 105 00 E
Map references: Asia
Area / total: 1,564,116 sq km
Area / land: 1,553,556 sq km
Area / water: 10,560 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly smaller than Alaska; more than twice the size of Texas
Land boundaries / total: 8,082 km
Land boundaries / border countries: China 4,630 km; Russia 3,452 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
Climate: desert; continental (large daily and seasonal temperature ranges)
Terrain: vast semidesert and desert plains, grassy steppe, mountains in west and southwest; Gobi Desert in south-central
Elevation / highest point: Nayramadlin Orgil (Khuiten Peak) 4,374 m
Elevation / lowest point: Hoh Nuur 560 m
Elevation / mean elevation: 1,528 m
Natural resources: oil, coal, copper, molybdenum, tungsten, phosphates, tin, nickel, zinc, fluorspar, gold, silver, iron
Land use / agricultural land: 69% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 0.7% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 0% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 68.2% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 9.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 21.9% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land: 796 sq km (2022)
Major lakes (area sq km) / fresh water lake(s): Hovsgol Nuur - 2,620 sq km; Har Us Nuur - 1,760 sq km;
Major lakes (area sq km) / salt water lake(s): Uvs Nuur - 3,350 sq km; Hyargas Nuur - 1,360 sq km
Major rivers (by length in km): Amur (shared with China [s] and Russia [m]) - 4,444 km note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Population distribution: population sparsely distributed throughout the country; the capital of Ulaanbaatar and the northern city of Darhan support the highest population densities
Natural hazards: dust storms; grassland and forest fires; drought; "zud," which is harsh winter conditions
Geography - note: landlocked; strategic location between China and Russia

## People and Society
Population / total: 3,281,676 (2024 est.)
Population / male: 1,595,596
Population / female: 1,686,080
Nationality / noun: Mongolian(s)
Nationality / adjective: Mongolian
Ethnic groups: Khalkh 83.8%, Kazak 3.8%, Durvud 2.6%, Bayad 2%, Buriad 1.4%, Zakhchin 1.2%, Dariganga 1.1%, other 4.1% (2020 est.)
Languages / Languages: Mongolian 90% (official, Khalkha dialect is predominant), Turkic, Russian (1999)
Languages / major-language sample(s): Дэлхийн баримтат ном, үндсэн мэдээллийн зайлшгүй эх сурвалж. (Mongolian) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
Religions: Buddhist 51.8%, no religion 40.6%, Muslim 3.2%, Shaman 2.5%, Christian 1.3%, Other 0.6% (2020 est.)
Age structure / 0-14 years: 25.7% (male 429,867/female 412,943)
Age structure / 15-64 years: 68.4% (male 1,087,487/female 1,156,547)
Age structure / 65 years and over: 5.9% (2024 est.) (male 78,242/female 116,590)
Dependency ratios / total dependency ratio: 59.1 (2024 est.)
Dependency ratios / youth dependency ratio: 50.2 (2024 est.)
Dependency ratios / elderly dependency ratio: 8.9 (2024 est.)
Dependency ratios / potential support ratio: 11.2 (2024 est.)
Median age / total: 28.8 years (2025 est.)
Median age / male: 30.1 years
Median age / female: 32.8 years
Population growth rate: 1.08% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 18.01 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 5.35 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: -1.83 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution: population sparsely distributed throughout the country; the capital of Ulaanbaatar and the northern city of Darhan support the highest population densities
Urbanization / urban population: 69.1% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 1.4% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 1.673 million ULAANBAATAR (capital) (2023)
Sex ratio / at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 15-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 65 years and over: 0.67 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth: 20.5 years (2008 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio: 41 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Infant mortality rate / total: 8.6 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Infant mortality rate / male: 22.4 deaths/1,000 live births
Infant mortality rate / female: 16.2 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth / total population: 71.9 years (2024 est.)
Life expectancy at birth / male: 67.8 years
Life expectancy at birth / female: 76.3 years
Total fertility rate: 2.6 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 1.27 (2025 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: urban: urban: 94.2% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: rural: rural: 59.7% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: total: total: 83.5% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: urban: urban: 5.8% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: rural: rural: 40.3% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: total: total: 16.5% of population (2022 est.)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 6.9% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 9.2% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density: 4.13 physicians/1,000 population (2022)
Hospital bed density: 10.6 beds/1,000 population (2021 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: urban: urban: 97.8% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: rural: rural: 78.7% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: total: total: 91.9% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: urban: urban: 2.2% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: rural: rural: 21.3% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: total: total: 8.1% of population (2022 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 20.6% (2016)
Alcohol consumption per capita / total: 5.46 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / beer: 2.18 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / wine: 1.46 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / spirits: 1.82 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / other alcohols: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Tobacco use / total: 28.9% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / male: 51.9% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / female: 7.2% (2025 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 1.9% (2023 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49): 60.2% (2020 est.)
Child marriage / women married by age 15: 0.9% (2018)
Child marriage / women married by age 18: 12% (2018)
Child marriage / men married by age 18: 2.1% (2018)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% GDP): 3.7% of GDP (2023 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% national budget): 13.8% national budget (2024 est.)
Literacy / total population: 98.6% (2023 est.)
Literacy / male: 98.3% (2023 est.)
Literacy / female: 98.9% (2023 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / total: 14 years (2023 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / male: 13 years (2023 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / female: 14 years (2023 est.)

## Environment
Environmental issues: limited natural freshwater resources in some areas; air pollution from coal-burning power plants and lax regulations in Ulaanbaatar; soil erosion from deforestation and overgrazing; water pollution; desertification; effects from mining
International environmental agreements / party to: Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
International environmental agreements / signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Climate: desert; continental (large daily and seasonal temperature ranges)
Land use / agricultural land: 69% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 0.7% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 0% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 68.2% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 9.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 21.9% (2023 est.)
Urbanization / urban population: 69.1% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 1.4% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / total emissions: 19.203 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from coal and metallurgical coke: 13.489 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from petroleum and other liquids: 5.714 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Particulate matter emissions: 41.3 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Methane emissions / energy: 532.2 kt (2022-2024 est.)
Methane emissions / agriculture: 525.2 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Methane emissions / waste: 14.2 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Methane emissions / other: 2.9 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Waste and recycling / municipal solid waste generated annually: 2.9 million tons (2024 est.)
Waste and recycling / percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 13% (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / municipal: 45.3 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / industrial: 166.2 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / agricultural: 250.9 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total renewable water resources: 34.8 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: none
Country name / conventional short form: Mongolia
Country name / local long form: none
Country name / local short form: Mongol Uls
Country name / former: Outer Mongolia, Mongolian People's Republic
Country name / etymology: name comes from the Mongol people, whose name derives from the Mongol root word mengu or mongu , meaning "brave" or "unconquered;" the Mongolian name Mongol Uls translates as "Mongol State"
Government type: semi-presidential republic
Capital / name: Ulaanbaatar
Capital / geographic coordinates: 47 55 N, 106 55 E
Capital / time difference: UTC+8 (13 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Capital / daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Saturday in March; ends last Saturday in September
Capital / time zone note: Mongolia has two time zones - Ulaanbaatar Time (8 hours in advance of UTC) and Hovd Time (7 hours in advance of UTC)
Capital / etymology: the name means "red hero" in Mongolian and honors national hero Damdin SUKHBAATAR, leader of the partisan army that, with Soviet help, liberated Mongolia from Chinese occupation in the early 1920s
Administrative divisions: 21 provinces ( aymguud , singular - aymag ) and 1 municipality* ( hot ); Arhangay, Bayanhongor, Bayan-Olgiy, Bulgan, Darhan-Uul, Dornod, Dornogovi, Dundgovi, Dzavhan (Zavkhan), Govi-Altay, Govisumber, Hentiy, Hovd, Hovsgol, Omnogovi, Orhon, Ovorhangay, Selenge, Suhbaatar, Tov, Ulaanbaatar*, Uvs
Legal system: civil law system influenced by Soviet and Romano-Germanic systems; constitution ambiguous on judicial review of legislative acts
Constitution / history: several previous; latest adopted 13 January 1992, effective 12 February 1992
Constitution / amendment process: proposed by the State Great Hural, by the president of the republic, by the government, or by petition submitted to the State Great Hural by the Constitutional Court; conducting referenda on proposed amendments requires at least two-thirds majority vote of the State Great Hural; passage of amendments by the State Great Hural requires at least three-quarters majority vote; passage by referendum requires majority participation of qualified voters and a majority of votes
International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Citizenship / citizenship by birth: no
Citizenship / citizenship by descent only: both parents must be citizens of Mongolia; one parent if born within Mongolia
Citizenship / dual citizenship recognized: no
Citizenship / residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch / chief of state: President Ukhnaagiin KHURELSUKH (since 25 June 2021)
Executive branch / head of government: Prime Minister Gombojavyn ZANDANSHATAR (since 13 June 2025)
Executive branch / cabinet: Cabinet directly appointed by the prime minister
Executive branch / election/appointment process: presidential candidates nominated by political parties represented in the State Great Hural and directly elected by simple-majority popular vote for one 6-year term; following legislative elections, the State Great Hural usually elects the leader of the majority party or majority coalition as prime minister
Executive branch / most recent election date: 9 June 2021
Executive branch / election results: 2021: Ukhnaagiin KHURELSUKH elected president in first round; percent of vote - Ukhnaagiin KHURELSUKH (MPP) 68%, Dangaasuren ENKHBAT (RPEC) 20.1%, Sodnomzundui ERDENE (DP) 6% 2017: Khaltmaa BATTULGA elected president in second round; percent of vote in first round - Khaltmaa BATTULGA (DP) 38.1%, Miyegombo ENKHBOLD (MPP) 30.3%, Sainkhuu GANBAATAR (MPRP) 30.2%, invalid 1.4%; percent of vote in second round - Khaltmaa BATTULGA 55.2%, Miyegombo ENKHBOLD 44.8%
Executive branch / expected date of next election: 2027
Legislative branch / legislature name: State Great Hural (Ulsiin Ih Hural)
Legislative branch / legislative structure: unicameral
Legislative branch / number of seats: 126 (all directly elected)
Legislative branch / electoral system: mixed system
Legislative branch / scope of elections: full renewal
Legislative branch / term in office: 4 years
Legislative branch / most recent election date: 6/28/2024
Legislative branch / parties elected and seats per party: Mongolian People's Party (MPP) (68); Democratic Party (DP) (42); HUN Party (8); Other (8)
Legislative branch / percentage of women in chamber: 25.4%
Legislative branch / expected date of next election: June 2028
Judicial branch / highest court(s): Supreme Court (consists of the Chief Justice and 24 judges organized into civil, criminal, and administrative chambers); Constitutional Court or Tsets (consists of the chairman and 8 members)
Judicial branch / judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court chief justice and judges appointed by the president on recommendation of the General Council of Courts -- a 14-member body of judges and judicial officials -- to the State Great Hural; appointment is for life; chairman of the Constitutional Court elected from among its members; members appointed from nominations by the State Great Hural - 3 each by the president, the State Great Hural, and the Supreme Court; appointment is 6 years; chairmanship limited to a single renewable 3-year term
Judicial branch / subordinate courts: aimag (provincial) and capital city appellate courts; soum, inter-soum, and district courts; Administrative Cases Courts
Political parties: Democratic Party or DP Mongolian People's Party or MPP National Coalition (consists of Mongolian Green Party or MGP and the Mongolian National Democratic Party or MNDP) National Labor Party or HUN Civil Will-Green Party or CWGP
Diplomatic representation in the US / chief of mission: Ambassador BATBAYAR Ulziidelger (since 1 December 2021)
Diplomatic representation in the US / chancery: 2833 M Street NW, Washington, DC 20007
Diplomatic representation in the US / telephone: [1] (202) 333-7117
Diplomatic representation in the US / FAX: [1] (202) 298-9227
Diplomatic representation in the US / email address and website: washington@mfa.gov.mn http://mongolianembassy.us/
Diplomatic representation in the US / consulate(s) general: New York, San Francisco
Diplomatic representation from the US / chief of mission: Ambassador Richard L. BUANGAN (since November 2022)
Diplomatic representation from the US / embassy: Denver Street #3, 11th Micro-District, Ulaanbaatar 14190
Diplomatic representation from the US / mailing address: 4410 Ulaanbaatar Place, Washington DC 20521-4410
Diplomatic representation from the US / telephone: [976] 7007-6001
Diplomatic representation from the US / FAX: [976] 7007-6174
Diplomatic representation from the US / email address and website: UlaanbaatarACS@state.gov https://mn.usembassy.gov/
International organization participation: ADB, ARF, CD, CICA, CP, EBRD, EITI (compliant country), FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MINURSO, MONUSCO, NAM, OPCW, OSCE, SCO (observer), UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNISFA, UNMISS, UNOOSA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Independence: 29 December 1911 (independence declared from China; in actuality, autonomy attained); 11 July 1921 (from China)
National holiday: Naadam (games) holiday, 11-15 July; Constitution Day, 26 November (1924)
Flag: description: three equal vertical bands of red (left side), blue, and red; centered on the left-side red band is the national emblem in yellow, the soyombo, which is an abstract representation of fire, sun, moon, earth, water, and the yin-yang symbol meaning: blue stands for the sky, and red for progress and prosperity
National symbol(s): Soyombo character (from the Soyombo writing system)
National color(s): red, blue, yellow
National anthem(s) / title: "Mongol ulsyn toriin duulal" (National Anthem of Mongolia)
National anthem(s) / lyrics/music: Tsendiin DAMDINSUREN/Bilegiin DAMDINSUREN and Luvsanjamts MURJORJ
National anthem(s) / history: music adopted 1950, lyrics adopted 2006; lyrics altered on numerous occasions
National heritage / total World Heritage Sites: 6 (4 cultural, 2 natural)
National heritage / selected World Heritage Site locales: Uvs Nuur Basin (n); Orkhon Valley Cultural Landscape (c); Petroglyphic Complexes of the Mongolian Altai (c); Great Burkhan Khaldun Mountain and surrounding sacred landscape (c); Landscapes of Dauria (n); Deer Stone Monuments and Related Bronze Age Sites (c)

## Economy
Economic overview: lower middle-income East Asian economy; large human capital improvements over last 3 decades; agricultural and natural resource rich; export and consumption-led growth; high inflation due to supply bottlenecks and increased food and energy prices; currency depreciation
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $59.221 billion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $56.474 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $52.572 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2024: 4.9% (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2023: 7.4% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2022: 5% (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2024: $16,800 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2023: $16,200 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2022: $15,300 (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $23.586 billion (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024: 6.8% (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023: 10.3% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 15.1% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / agriculture: 7.4% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / industry: 38.1% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / services: 44.2% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / household consumption: 49.8% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / government consumption: 16.3% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in fixed capital: 26.8% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in inventories: 7.8% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / exports of goods and services: 69.1% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / imports of goods and services: -69.8% (2024 est.)
Agricultural products: milk, wheat, lamb/mutton, potatoes, beef, carrots/turnips, goat milk, goat meat, bison milk, horse meat (2023)
Industries: construction and construction materials; mining (coal, copper, molybdenum, fluorspar, tin, tungsten, gold); oil; food and beverages; processing of animal products, cashmere and natural fiber manufacturing
Industrial production growth rate: 6.5% (2024 est.)
Labor force: 1.449 million (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2024: 5.5% (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2023: 5.6% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2022: 6.3% (2022 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / total: 13.8% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / male: 15.9% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / female: 10.8% (2024 est.)
Population below poverty line: 27.1% (2022 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income / Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2022: 31.4 (2022 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / lowest 10%: 3.4% (2022 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / highest 10%: 24.6% (2022 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2023: 2.2% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2022: 2.3% of GDP (2022 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2021: 3.1% of GDP (2021 est.)
Budget / revenues: $4.721 billion (2021 est.)
Budget / expenditures: $5.623 billion (2021 est.)
Public debt / Public debt 2021: 67.6% of GDP (2021 est.)
Taxes and other revenues: 16.9% (of GDP) (2021 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2023: $121.266 million (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2022: -$2.303 billion (2022 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2021: -$2.108 billion (2021 est.)
Exports / Exports 2023: $15.501 billion (2023 est.)
Exports / Exports 2022: $10.989 billion (2022 est.)
Exports / Exports 2021: $8.95 billion (2021 est.)
Exports - partners: China 92%, Switzerland 6%, Italy 1%, Thailand 0%, Japan 0% (2023)
Exports - commodities: coal, copper ore, gold, iron ore, crude petroleum (2023)
Imports / Imports 2023: $13.545 billion (2023 est.)
Imports / Imports 2022: $12.112 billion (2022 est.)
Imports / Imports 2021: $9.256 billion (2021 est.)
Imports - partners: China 57%, Japan 13%, Germany 3%, Singapore 3%, USA 3% (2023)
Imports - commodities: cars, trucks, trailers, tractors, construction vehicles (2023)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024: $5.508 billion (2024 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023: $4.916 billion (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $3.398 billion (2022 est.)
Debt - external / Debt - external 2023: $8.379 billion (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Currency: togrog/tugriks (MNT) per US dollar -
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2024: 3,389.982 (2024 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2023: 3,465.737 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2022: 3,140.678 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2021: 2,849.289 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2020: 2,813.29 (2020 est.)

## Energy
Electricity access / electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)
Electricity / installed generating capacity: 1.51 million kW (2023 est.)
Electricity / consumption: 8.997 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / exports: 24 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / imports: 2.224 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / transmission/distribution losses: 1.113 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / fossil fuels: 90.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / solar: 2.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / wind: 6.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / hydroelectricity: 0.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Coal / production: 64.824 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / consumption: 8.941 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / exports: 55.884 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / imports: 900 metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / proven reserves: 2.52 billion metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum / total petroleum production: 15,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Petroleum / refined petroleum consumption: 39,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Energy consumption per capita / Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 67.132 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

## Communications
Telephones - fixed lines / total subscriptions: 524,000 (2023 est.)
Telephones - fixed lines / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 15 (2023 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / total subscriptions: 4.84 million (2023 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 142 (2022 est.)
Broadcast media: state-run radio and TV provider is now a public-service provider; also available are 68 radio and 160 TV stations, including multi-channel satellite and cable TV providers; transmissions of multiple international broadcasters are available (2019)
Internet country code: .mn
Internet users / percent of population: 83% (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / total: 499,000 (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 15 (2023 est.)

## Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: JU
Airports: 37 (2025)
Railways / total: 1,815 km (2017)
Railways / broad gauge: 1,815 km (2017) 1.520-m gauge
Merchant marine / total: 318 (2023)
Merchant marine / by type: bulk carrier 8, container ship 8, general cargo 151, oil tanker 58, other 93

## Military and Security
Military and security forces: Mongolian Armed Forces (MAF): Land Force, Air Force, Cyber Security Forces, Special Forces, Construction-Engineering Forces (2025)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2024: 0.7% of GDP (2024 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2023: 0.6% of GDP (2023 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2022: 0.6% of GDP (2022 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2021: 0.8% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2020: 0.8% of GDP (2020 est.)
Military and security service personnel strengths: information varies; estimated 10-20,000 active Mongolian Armed Forces (2025)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the MAF's inventory is comprised largely of Soviet-era and secondhand Russian equipment (2025)
Military service age and obligation: 18-25 years of age for voluntary service for men and women; initial service 24 months; compulsory service for men at 18; service obligation is 12 months in the military or police, which can be extended to 15 months under special circumstances; compulsory service can be exchanged for a 24‐month stint in the civil service or a cash payment determined by the Mongolian Government; after conscription, soldiers can contract into military service for up to 4 years (2025)
Military deployments: 850 South Sudan (UNMISS) (2025)
Military - note: the Mongolian Armed Forces (MAF) are responsible for ensuring the country's independence, security, and territorial integrity, as well as supporting Mongolia's developmental goals and diplomacy; it has a range of missions, including counterterrorism, international peacekeeping duties, and assisting the internal security forces in providing emergency aid and disaster relief; Mongolia hosts an annual international peacekeeping exercise known as “Khaan Quest”; it has no formal military alliances, but has defense ties and conducts training exercises with several regional countries and others, such as China, India, Russia, and the US Mongolia actively cooperates with NATO on issues such as counterterrorism, nonproliferation, and cybersecurity through an Individual Partnership and Cooperation Program; it supported the NATO-led Kosovo Force from 2005-2007 and contributed troops to the NATO-led missions in Afghanistan from 2009-2021; Mongolia also is an observer in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (2025)

## Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons / refugees: 26 (2024 est.)
Refugees and internally displaced persons / IDPs: 22 (2024 est.)
Refugees and internally displaced persons / stateless persons: 17 (2024 est.)

=== Malaysia ===

## Introduction
Background: Malaysia’s location has long made it an important cultural, economic, historical, social, and trade link between the islands of Southeast Asia and the mainland. Through the Strait of Malacca, which separates the Malay Peninsula from the archipelago, flowed maritime trade and with it influences from China, India, the Middle East, and the east coast of Africa. Prior to the 14th century, several powerful maritime empires existed in what is modern-day Malaysia, including the Srivijayan, which controlled much of the southern part of the peninsula between the 7th and 13th centuries, and the Majapahit Empire, which took control over most of the peninsula and the Malay Archipelago between the 13th and 14th centuries. The adoption of Islam between the 13th and 17th centuries also saw the rise of a number of powerful maritime states and sultanates on the Malay Peninsula and the island of Borneo, such as the port city of Malacca (Melaka), which at its height in the 15th century had a navy and hosted thousands of Chinese, Arab, Persian, and Indian merchants. The Portuguese in the 16th century and the Dutch in the 17th century were the first European colonial powers to establish themselves on the Malay Peninsula and in Southeast Asia. However, it was the British who ultimately secured hegemony across the territory and during the late 18th and 19th centuries established colonies and protectorates in the area that is now Malaysia. Japan occupied these holdings from 1942 to 1945. In 1948, the British-ruled territories on the Malay Peninsula (except Singapore) formed the Federation of Malaya, which became independent in 1957. Malaysia was formed in 1963 when the former British colonies of Singapore, as well as Sabah and Sarawak on the northern coast of Borneo, joined the Federation. A communist insurgency, confrontations with Indonesia, Philippine claims to Sabah, and Singapore's expulsion in 1965 marred the first several years of the country's independence. During the 22-year term of Prime Minister MAHATHIR Mohamad (1981-2003), Malaysia was successful in diversifying its economy from dependence on exports of raw materials to the development of manufacturing, services, and tourism. Former Prime Minister MAHATHIR and a newly formed coalition of opposition parties defeated Prime Minister Mohamed NAJIB bin Abdul Razak's United Malays National Organization (UMNO) in 2018, ending over 60 years of uninterrupted UMNO rule. From 2018-2022, Malaysia underwent considerable political upheaval, with a succession of coalition governments holding power. Following legislative elections in 2022, ANWAR Ibrahim was appointed prime minister after more than 20 years in opposition. His political coalition, Pakatan Harapan (PH), joined its longtime UNMO rival to form a government, but the two groups have remained deeply divided on many issues.

## Geography
Location: Southeastern Asia, peninsula bordering Thailand and northern one-third of the island of Borneo, bordering Indonesia, Brunei, and the South China Sea, south of Vietnam
Geographic coordinates: 2 30 N, 112 30 E
Map references: Southeast Asia
Area / total: 329,847 sq km
Area / land: 328,657 sq km
Area / water: 1,190 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly larger than New Mexico
Land boundaries / total: 2,742 km
Land boundaries / border countries: Brunei 266 km; Indonesia 1,881 km; Thailand 595 km
Coastline: 4,675 km (Peninsular Malaysia 2,068 km; East Malaysia 2,607 km)
Maritime claims / territorial sea: 12 nm
Maritime claims / exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Maritime claims / continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation; specified boundary in the South China Sea
Climate: tropical; annual southwest (April to October) and northeast (October to February) monsoons
Terrain: coastal plains rising to hills and mountains
Elevation / highest point: Gunung Kinabalu 4,095 m
Elevation / lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
Elevation / mean elevation: 419 m
Natural resources: tin, petroleum, timber, copper, iron ore, natural gas, bauxite
Land use / agricultural land: 26.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 2.4% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 22.7% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 0.9% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 57.8% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 16% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land: 4,420 sq km (2022)
Population distribution: a highly uneven distribution, with over 80% of the population residing on the Malay Peninsula
Natural hazards: flooding; landslides; forest fires
Geography - note: strategic location along Strait of Malacca and southern South China Sea

## People and Society
Population / total: 34,905,275 (2025 est.)
Population / male: 17,833,074
Population / female: 17,072,201
Nationality / noun: Malaysian(s)
Nationality / adjective: Malaysian
Ethnic groups: Bumiputera 63.8% (Malay 52.8% and indigenous peoples, including Orang Asli, Dayak, Anak Negeri, 11%), Chinese 20.6%, Indian 6%, other 0.6%, non-citizens 9% (2023 est.)
Languages / Languages: Bahasa Malaysia (official), English, Chinese (Cantonese, Mandarin, Hokkien, Hakka, Hainan, Foochow), Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Panjabi, Thai
Languages / major-language sample(s): Buku Fakta Dunia, sumber yang diperlukan untuk maklumat asas. (Bahasa Malaysia) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
Religions: Muslim (official) 63.5%, Buddhist 18.7%, Christian 9.1%, Hindu 6.1%, other (Confucianism, Taoism, other traditional Chinese religions) 0.9%, none/unspecified 1.8% (2020 est.)
Age structure / 0-14 years: 22.2% (male 3,947,914/female 3,730,319)
Age structure / 15-64 years: 69.4% (male 12,308,938/female 11,666,947)
Age structure / 65 years and over: 8.4% (2024 est.) (male 1,409,360/female 1,501,332)
Dependency ratios / total dependency ratio: 44.3 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / youth dependency ratio: 31.7 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / elderly dependency ratio: 12.6 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / potential support ratio: 7.9 (2025 est.)
Median age / total: 32.2 years (2025 est.)
Median age / male: 31.7 years
Median age / female: 31.9 years
Population growth rate: 0.97% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 14.05 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 5.8 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: 1.43 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution: a highly uneven distribution, with over 80% of the population residing on the Malay Peninsula
Urbanization / urban population: 78.7% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 1.87% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 8.622 million KUALA LUMPUR (capital), 1.086 million Johor Bahru, 857,000 Ipoh (2023)
Sex ratio / at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 15-64 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 65 years and over: 0.94 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / total population: 1.05 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio: 26 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Infant mortality rate / total: 6.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Infant mortality rate / male: 6.8 deaths/1,000 live births
Infant mortality rate / female: 6 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth / total population: 76.6 years (2024 est.)
Life expectancy at birth / male: 75 years
Life expectancy at birth / female: 78.4 years
Total fertility rate: 1.73 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 0.83 (2025 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: urban: urban: 99.1% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: rural: rural: 90.1% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: total: total: 97.2% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: urban: urban: 0.9% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: rural: rural: 9.9% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: total: total: 2.8% of population (2022 est.)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 4.4% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 8% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density: 2.34 physicians/1,000 population (2023)
Hospital bed density: 2 beds/1,000 population (2021 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: urban: urban: 100% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: rural: rural: 99.9% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: total: total: 100% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: urban: urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: rural: rural: 0.1% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: total: total: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 15.6% (2016)
Alcohol consumption per capita / total: 0.64 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / beer: 0.48 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / wine: 0.04 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / spirits: 0.11 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / other alcohols: 0.01 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Tobacco use / total: 21.5% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / male: 41.8% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / female: 0.6% (2025 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 15.3% (2022 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% GDP): 3.5% of GDP (2023 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% national budget): 14.1% national budget (2023 est.)
Literacy / total population: 95.8% (2022 est.)
Literacy / male: 96.8% (2022 est.)
Literacy / female: 94.7% (2022 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / total: 12 years (2023 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / male: 11 years (2023 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / female: 12 years (2023 est.)

## Environment
Environmental issues: air pollution from industrial and vehicular emissions; water pollution from raw sewage; deforestation; smoke/haze from Indonesian forest fires; endangered species; coastal reclamation damaging mangroves and turtle nesting sites
International environmental agreements / party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protection, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands
International environmental agreements / signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Climate: tropical; annual southwest (April to October) and northeast (October to February) monsoons
Land use / agricultural land: 26.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 2.4% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 22.7% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 0.9% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 57.8% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 16% (2023 est.)
Urbanization / urban population: 78.7% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 1.87% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / total emissions: 260.005 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from coal and metallurgical coke: 76.78 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from petroleum and other liquids: 90.273 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from consumed natural gas: 92.951 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Particulate matter emissions: 23.7 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Methane emissions / energy: 818.9 kt (2022-2024 est.)
Methane emissions / agriculture: 182.2 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Methane emissions / waste: 847.9 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Methane emissions / other: 15.3 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Waste and recycling / municipal solid waste generated annually: 12.983 million tons (2024 est.)
Waste and recycling / percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 22.1% (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / municipal: 1.342 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / industrial: 1.641 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / agricultural: 2.505 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total renewable water resources: 580 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Geoparks / total global geoparks and regional networks: 2
Geoparks / global geoparks and regional networks: Kinabalu; Langkawi (2023)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: none
Country name / conventional short form: Malaysia
Country name / local long form: none
Country name / local short form: Malaysia
Country name / former: British Malaya, Malayan Union, Federation of Malaya
Country name / etymology: devised in the early 19th century by British geographers; the suffix - sia was added to the name of the Malay people to form a classical-style name; the name Malay may come from the Tamil word malai , meaning "mountain"
Government type: federal parliamentary constitutional monarchy
Capital / name: Kuala Lumpur
Capital / geographic coordinates: 3 10 N, 101 42 E
Capital / time difference: UTC+8 (13 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Capital / etymology: the name means "muddy river junction," referring to the city's location on the confluence of the Kelang and Gombak rivers; it comes from the Malay words kuala (river junction or estuary) and lumpur (mud)
Administrative divisions: 13 states ( negeri-negeri , singular - negeri ); Johor, Kedah, Kelantan, Melaka, Negeri Sembilan, Pahang, Perak, Perlis, Pulau Pinang, Sabah, Sarawak, Selangor, Terengganu; and 1 federal territory (Wilayah Persekutuan) with 3 components, Kuala Lumpur, Labuan, and Putrajaya
Legal system: mixed system of English common law, Islamic law (sharia), and customary law; the Federal Court can review legislative acts at the request of the supreme head of the federation
Constitution / history: previous 1948; latest drafted 21 February 1957, effective 27 August 1957
Constitution / amendment process: proposed as a bill by Parliament; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote by the Parliament membership in the bill&rsquo;s second and third readings; a number of constitutional sections are excluded from amendment or repeal
International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt
Citizenship / citizenship by birth: no
Citizenship / citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Malaysia
Citizenship / dual citizenship recognized: no
Citizenship / residency requirement for naturalization: 10 out 12 years preceding application
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch / chief of state: King Sultan IBRAHIM ibni al-Marhum Sultan Iskandar (since 31 January 2024)
Executive branch / head of government: Prime Minister ANWAR Ibrahim (since 24 November 2022)
Executive branch / cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the prime minister from among members of Parliament with the consent of the king
Executive branch / election/appointment process: king elected by and from the hereditary rulers of 9 states for a 5-year term; election is on a rotational basis among rulers of the 9 states; prime minister designated from among members of the House of Representatives; following legislative elections, the leader who has support of the majority of members in the House becomes prime minister
Executive branch / most recent election date: 24 October 2023
Executive branch / expected date of next election: October 2028, with inauguration in January 2029
Legislative branch / legislature name: Parliament (Parlimen)
Legislative branch / legislative structure: bicameral
Legislative branch - lower chamber / chamber name: House of Representatives (Dewan Rakyat)
Legislative branch - lower chamber / number of seats: 223 (all directly elected)
Legislative branch - lower chamber / electoral system: plurality/majority
Legislative branch - lower chamber / scope of elections: full renewal
Legislative branch - lower chamber / term in office: 5 years
Legislative branch - lower chamber / most recent election date: 11/19/2022
Legislative branch - lower chamber / parties elected and seats per party: Pakatan Harapan (PH) (76); National Alliance (PN) (52); National Front (BN) (30); Sarawak Parties Alliance (GPS) (23); Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS) (22); Other (19)
Legislative branch - lower chamber / percentage of women in chamber: 13.5%
Legislative branch - lower chamber / expected date of next election: November 2027
Legislative branch - upper chamber / chamber name: Senate (Dewan Negara)
Legislative branch - upper chamber / number of seats: 70 (26 indirectly elected; 44 appointed)
Legislative branch - upper chamber / percentage of women in chamber: 16.1%
Judicial branch / highest court(s): Federal Court (consists of the chief justice, president of the Court of Appeal, chief justice of the High Court of Malaya, chief judge of the High Court of Sabah and Sarawak, 8 judges, and 1 "additional" judge)
Judicial branch / judge selection and term of office: Federal Court justices appointed by the monarch on advice of the prime minister; judges serve until mandatory retirement at age 66 with the possibility of a single 6-month extension
Judicial branch / subordinate courts: Court of Appeal; High Court; Sessions Court; Magistrates' Court
Political parties: National Front (Barisan Nasional) or BN: Malaysian Chinese Association (Persatuan Cina Malaysia) or MCA Malaysian Indian Congress (Kongres India Malaysia) or MIC United Malays National Organization (Pertubuhan Kebansaan Melayu Bersatu) or UMNO United Sabah People's Party (Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah) or PBRS Alliance of Hope (Pakatan Harapan) or PH: Democratic Action Party (Parti Tindakan Demokratik) or DAP National Trust Party (Parti Amanah Negara) or AMANAH People's Justice Party (Parti Keadilan Rakyat) or PKR United Progressive Kinabalu Organization (Pertubuhan Kinabalu Progresif Bersatu) or UPKO National Alliance (Perikatan Nasional) or PN: Malaysian People's Movement Party (Parti Gerakan Rakyat Malaysia) or GERAKAN or PGRM Malaysian United Indigenous Party (Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia) or PPBM or BERSATU Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party (Parti Islam Se-Malaysia) or PAS Sabah People's Alliance (Gabungan Rakya Sabah) or GRS: Homeland Solidarity Party (Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku) or STAR Love Sabah Party (Parti Cinta Sabah) or PCS Sabah People's Ideas Party (Parti Gagasan Rakyat Sabah) or GAGASAN or PGRS Sarawak Parties Alliance (Gabungan Parti Sarawak) or GPS: Progressive Democratic Party (Parti Demokratik Progresif) or PDP Sarawak People's Party (Parti Rakyat Sarawak) or PRS Sarawak United People's Party (Parti Rakyat Bersatu Sarawak) or SUPP United Bumiputera Heritage Party (Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersata) or PBB Homeland Movement/Party (Gerakan Tanah Air) or GTA Homeland Fighter's Party (Parti Pejuang Tanah Air) or PEJUANG Perkasa Bumiputera Party of Malaysia (Parti Bumiputera Perkasa Malaysia) All-Malaysian Jemaah Islamiah Front (Barisan Jemaah Islamiah Se-Malaysia) National All India Muslim Alliance Party (Parti Perikatan India Muslim Nasional) others: Malaysian Nation Party (Parti Bangsa Malaysia) or PBM Heritage Party (Parti Warisan) or WARISAN Malaysian United Democratic Alliance (Ikatan Demokratik Malaysia) or MUDA United Sarawak Party (PSB)
Diplomatic representation in the US / chief of mission: Ambassador Tan Sri Muhammad SHAHRUL Ikram bin Yaakob (since 24 July 2025)
Diplomatic representation in the US / chancery: 3516 International Court NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation in the US / telephone: [1] (202) 572-9700
Diplomatic representation in the US / FAX: [1] (202) 572-9882
Diplomatic representation in the US / email address and website: mwwashington@kln.gov.my https://www.kln.gov.my/web/usa_washington/home
Diplomatic representation in the US / consulate(s) general: Los Angeles, New York
Diplomatic representation from the US / chief of mission: Ambassador Edgard D. KAGAN (since 20 March 2024)
Diplomatic representation from the US / embassy: 376 Jalan Tun Razak, 50400 Kuala Lumpur
Diplomatic representation from the US / mailing address: 4210 Kuala Lumpur, Washington DC 20521-4210
Diplomatic representation from the US / telephone: [60] (3) 2168-5000
Diplomatic representation from the US / FAX: [60] (3) 2142-2207
Diplomatic representation from the US / email address and website: KLACS@state.gov https://my.usembassy.gov/
International organization participation: ADB, APEC, ARF, ASEAN, BIS, C, CICA (observer), CP, D-8, EAS, FAO, G-15, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MINURSO, MONUSCO, NAM, OIC, OPCW, PCA, PIF (partner), UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHRC, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNISFA, UNMIL, UNOOSA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Independence: 31 August 1957 (from the UK)
National holiday: Independence Day (or Merdeka Day), 31 August (1957) (independence of Malaya); Malaysia Day, 16 September (1963) (formation of Malaysia)
Flag: description: 14 equal horizontal stripes of red alternating with white; a dark blue rectangle in the upper-left corner has a yellow crescent and a 14-pointed yellow star meaning: the flag is often called Jalur Gemilang (Stripes of Glory); the 14 stripes stand for the equal status of the 13 member states and the federal government; the points on the star represent the unity among these entities; the crescent is a traditional symbol of Islam; blue symbolizes the unity of the Malay people, and yellow is the royal color
National symbol(s): tiger, hibiscus
National color(s): gold, black
National anthem(s) / title: "Negaraku" (My Country)
National anthem(s) / lyrics/music: collective, led by Tunku ABDUL RAHMAN/Pierre Jean DE BERANGER
National anthem(s) / history: adopted 1957; full version only performed in the king's presence, the shorter version performed for the queen and lesser officials
National heritage / total World Heritage Sites: 6 (4 cultural, 2 natural)
National heritage / selected World Heritage Site locales: Gunung Mulu National Park (n); Kinabalu Park (n); Melaka and George Town, Historic Cities of the Straits of Melaka (c); Archaeological Heritage of the Lenggong Valley (c); The Archaeological Heritage of Niah National Park&rsquo;s Caves Complex (c); Forest Research Institute Malaysia Forest Park Selangor (c)

## Economy
Economic overview: upper middle-income Southeast Asian economy; implementing key anticorruption policies; major electronics, oil, and chemicals exporter; trade sector employs over 40% of jobs; key economic equity initiative; high labor productivity
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $1.212 trillion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $1.153 trillion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $1.113 trillion (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2024: 5.1% (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2023: 3.6% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2022: 8.9% (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2024: $34,100 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2023: $32,800 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2022: $32,100 (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $421.972 billion (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024: 1.8% (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023: 2.5% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 3.4% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / agriculture: 8.2% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / industry: 37.1% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / services: 53.6% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / household consumption: 60.8% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / government consumption: 12% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in fixed capital: 20.6% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in inventories: 1.3% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / exports of goods and services: 71.4% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / imports of goods and services: -66% (2024 est.)
Agricultural products: oil palm fruit, rice, chicken, eggs, tropical fruits, coconuts, vegetables, pineapples, rubber, bananas (2023)
Industries: Peninsular Malaysia - rubber and oil palm processing and manufacturing, petroleum and natural gas, light manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, medical technology, electronics and semiconductors, timber processing; Sabah - logging, petroleum and natural gas production; Sarawak - agriculture processing, petroleum and natural gas production, logging
Industrial production growth rate: 4.9% (2024 est.)
Labor force: 18.264 million (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2024: 3.9% (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2023: 3.9% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2022: 4% (2022 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / total: 12.3% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / male: 11.3% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / female: 13.8% (2024 est.)
Population below poverty line: 6.2% (2021 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income / Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2021: 40.7 (2021 est.)
Average household expenditures / on food: 26.4% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Average household expenditures / on alcohol and tobacco: 1.6% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / lowest 10%: 2.3% (2021 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / highest 10%: 30.9% (2021 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2024: 0.4% of GDP (2024 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2023: 0.4% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2022: 0.4% of GDP (2022 est.)
Budget / revenues: $69.055 billion (2023 est.)
Budget / expenditures: $89.046 billion (2023 est.)
Public debt / Public debt 2023: 64.3% of GDP (2023 est.)
Taxes and other revenues: 12.6% (of GDP) (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2024: $7.15 billion (2024 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2023: $6.257 billion (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2022: $12.738 billion (2022 est.)
Exports / Exports 2024: $301.789 billion (2024 est.)
Exports / Exports 2023: $274.1 billion (2023 est.)
Exports / Exports 2022: $312.88 billion (2022 est.)
Exports - partners: China 21%, Singapore 12%, USA 12%, Japan 5%, Hong Kong 5% (2023)
Exports - commodities: integrated circuits, refined petroleum, crude petroleum, natural gas, palm oil (2023)
Imports / Imports 2024: $279.09 billion (2024 est.)
Imports / Imports 2023: $253.665 billion (2023 est.)
Imports / Imports 2022: $283.758 billion (2022 est.)
Imports - partners: China 24%, Singapore 11%, USA 7%, Japan 5%, Taiwan 5% (2023)
Imports - commodities: integrated circuits, refined petroleum, crude petroleum, coal, broadcasting equipment (2023)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024: $116.229 billion (2024 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023: $113.463 billion (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $114.659 billion (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Currency: ringgits (MYR) per US dollar -
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2024: 4.576 (2024 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2023: 4.561 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2022: 4.401 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2021: 4.143 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2020: 4.203 (2020 est.)

## Energy
Electricity access / electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)
Electricity / installed generating capacity: 37.22 million kW (2023 est.)
Electricity / consumption: 178.653 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / exports: 1.2 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / imports: 61.678 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / transmission/distribution losses: 13.188 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / fossil fuels: 81.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / solar: 1.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / hydroelectricity: 16.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / biomass and waste: 0.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Coal / production: 4.476 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / consumption: 35.741 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / exports: 462,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / imports: 31.706 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / proven reserves: 226 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum / total petroleum production: 582,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Petroleum / refined petroleum consumption: 672,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Petroleum / crude oil estimated reserves: 3.6 billion barrels (2021 est.)
Natural gas / production: 74.32 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / consumption: 47.112 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / exports: 37.451 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / imports: 3.359 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / proven reserves: 1.189 trillion cubic meters (2021 est.)
Energy consumption per capita / Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 113.163 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

## Communications
Telephones - fixed lines / total subscriptions: 8.402 million (2023 est.)
Telephones - fixed lines / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 24 (2023 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / total subscriptions: 49.7 million (2024 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 140 (2024 est.)
Broadcast media: state-owned TV broadcaster operates 2 TV networks with relays; the leading private commercial media group operates 4 TV stations with numerous relays; satellite TV subscription service is available; state-owned radio broadcaster operates multiple national networks, as well as regional and local stations; many private commercial radio broadcasters and some subscription satellite radio services are available; about 55 radio stations overall (2019)
Internet country code: .my
Internet users / percent of population: 98% (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / total: 4.58 million (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 13 (2023 est.)

## Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: 9M
Airports: 100 (2025)
Heliports: 24 (2025)
Railways / total: 1,851 km (2014)
Railways / standard gauge: 59 km (2014) 1.435-m gauge (59 km electrified)
Railways / narrow gauge: 1,792 km (2014) 1.000-m gauge (339 km electrified)
Merchant marine / total: 1,750 (2023)
Merchant marine / by type: bulk carrier 14, container ship 35, general cargo 169, oil tanker 148, other 1,384
Ports / total ports: 35 (2024)
Ports / large: 3
Ports / medium: 4
Ports / small: 10
Ports / very small: 18
Ports / ports with oil terminals: 24
Ports / key ports: Johor, Kota Kinabalu, Port Dickson, Port Klang, Pulau Pinang, Tanjung Pelepas, Tapis Marine Terminal A

## Military and Security
Military and security forces: Malaysian Armed Forces (Angkatan Tentera Malaysia, ATM): Malaysian Army, Royal Malaysian Navy, Royal Malaysian Air Force Ministry of Home Affairs: Royal Malaysia Police (RMP or Polis Diraja Malaysia, PDRM), Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA; aka Malaysian Coast Guard) (2025)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2024: 1% of GDP (2024 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2023: 0.9% of GDP (2023 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2022: 1.1% of GDP (2022 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2021: 1% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2020: 1.1% of GDP (2020 est.)
Military and security service personnel strengths: approximately 110,000 active Malaysian Armed Forces (2025)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the military fields a diverse array of mostly older but growing quantities of more modern weapons and equipment; its inventory originates from a variety of suppliers across Europe, Asia, and the US; Malaysia has a domestic defense industry that has some co-production agreements with countries such as France, Germany, and T&uuml;rkiye in areas such as armored vehicles and naval vessels (2025)
Military service age and obligation: 17 years 6 months of age for voluntary military service for men and women (younger with parental consent and proof of age); mandatory retirement age 60; no conscription (2025)
Military deployments: 825 Lebanon (UNIFIL) (2025)
Military - note: the Malaysian military is responsible for defense of the country's national interests, sovereignty, and territorial integrity; it also has some domestic responsibilities, such as responding to natural disasters; key areas of focus for the military include cyber defense, crime and piracy in the Strait of Malacca, and tensions in the South China Sea; the Army has traditionally been the dominant service, but air and maritime security have received increased emphasis in recent years; Malaysia has undertaken efforts to procure more modern aircraft and ships, improve air and maritime surveillance, expand the Navy’s support infrastructure (particularly bases/ports) and domestic ship-building capacities, and increase cooperation with regional and international partners such as Australia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Singapore, and the US Malaysia is a member of the Five Powers Defense Arrangements (FPDA), a series of mutual assistance agreements reached in 1971 embracing Australia, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore, and the UK; the FPDA commits the members to consult with one another in the event or threat of an armed attack on any of the members and to mutually decide what measures should be taken, jointly or separately; there is no specific obligation to intervene militarily (2025)

## Space
Space agency/agencies: Malaysian Space Agency (MYSA; established 2019) (2025)
Space launch site(s): has launched feasibility studies for potential space launch sites in Pahang, Sabah, and Sarawak (2025)
Space program overview: has a national space policy and program focused on the areas of remote sensing (RS), navigational services, and telecommunications to support domestic economic sectors; seeks to promote a domestic space industry; acquires, manufactures, and operates satellites; conducts research in RS capabilities and space sciences such as astronomy, atmospherics, space environment, and weather; has an astronaut training exchange program with Russia and works with a variety of foreign space agencies and industries, including those of the ESA, individual ESA member states, India, Japan, Russia, South Korea, the UK, and the US (2025)
Key space-program milestones: 1996 - first of a series of domestically produced commercial communications satellites (MEASAT) launched on European rocket 2000 - first multipurpose (remote sensing/RS, communications, scientific) microsatellite (TiungSat-1) produced with technology and training from the UK and launched by Russia 2007 - first Malaysian astronaut (trained in Russia) to space on International Space Station 2009 - first RS satellite (RazakSat) built with assistance from South Korea and launched by US 2011 - completed construction of a satellite assembly, integration, and testing facility 2025 - first commercial high-resolution RS satellite (UzmaSat-1) launched by US; signed US-led Artemis Accords

## Terrorism
Terrorist group(s): Abu Sayyaf Group, al-Qa'ida, Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS)

## Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons / refugees: 191,343 (2024 est.)
Refugees and internally displaced persons / stateless persons: 120,857 (2024 est.)

=== Paracel Islands ===

## Introduction
Background: The Paracel Islands are surrounded by productive fishing grounds and potential oil and gas reserves. In 1932, French Indochina annexed the islands and set up a weather station on Pattle Island. China has occupied all the Paracel Islands since 1974, when its troops seized a South Vietnamese garrison occupying the western islands. China has built a military installation on Woody Island with an airfield and artificial harbor, and it has scattered garrisons on some of the other islands. Taiwan and Vietnam also claim the Paracel Islands.

## Geography
Location: Southeastern Asia, group of small islands and reefs in the South China Sea, about one-third of the way from central Vietnam to the northern Philippines
Geographic coordinates: 16 30 N, 112 00 E
Map references: Southeast Asia
Area / total: 8 sq km ca.
Area / land: 7.75 sq km ca.
Area / water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative: land area is about 13 times the size of the National Mall in Washington, D.C.
Land boundaries / total: 0 km
Coastline: 518 km
Climate: tropical
Terrain: mostly low and flat
Elevation / highest point: unnamed location on Rocky Island 14 m
Elevation / lowest point: South China Sea 0 m
Natural resources: none
Land use / other: 100% (2018 est.)
Irrigated land: 0 sq km (2022)
Population distribution: a population of over 1,000 Chinese resides on Woody Island, the largest of the Paracels; there are scattered Chinese garrisons on some other islands
Natural hazards: typhoons
Geography - note: composed of 130 small coral islands and reefs divided into the northeast Amphitrite Group and the western Crescent Group

## People and Society
Population / total: 2,230 (2024 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.75% (2021 est.)
Net migration rate: -0.66 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2021 est.)
Population distribution: a population of over 1,000 Chinese resides on Woody Island, the largest of the Paracels; there are scattered Chinese garrisons on some other islands

## Environment
Environmental issues: harm to reef systems from China's use of dredged sand and coral to build artificial islands; damage to ecosystem from human activities, including military operations, infrastructure construction, and tourism
Climate: tropical
Land use / other: 100% (2018 est.)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: none
Country name / conventional short form: Paracel Islands

## Economy

## Communications

## Transportation
Airports: 2 (2025)
Heliports: 7 (2025)

## Military and Security
Military - note: occupied by China, which is assessed to maintain 20 outposts or bases in the Paracels (Antelope, Bombay, and North reefs; Drummond, Duncan, Lincoln, Middle, Money, North, Pattle, Quanfu, Robert, South, Tree, Triton, Woody, and Yagong islands; South Sand and West Sand; Observation Bank); Woody Island is the main military base and includes an airstrip with aircraft hangers, naval facilities, surveillance radars, and defenses such as surface-to-air missiles and anti-ship cruise missiles (2025)

## Transnational Issues

=== Spratly Islands ===

## Introduction
Background: The Spratly Islands consist of more than 100 small islands or reefs surrounded by rich fishing grounds -- and potentially by gas and oil deposits. China, Taiwan, and Vietnam all claim the islands in their entirety, while portions are claimed by Malaysia and the Philippines. Around 70 disputed islets and reefs in the Spratly Islands are occupied by China, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan, and Vietnam. Since 1985, Brunei has claimed a continental shelf that overlaps a southern reef but has not made any formal claim to the reef. Brunei claims an exclusive economic zone over this area.

## Geography
Location: Southeastern Asia, group of reefs and islands in the South China Sea, about two-thirds of the way from southern Vietnam to the southern Philippines
Geographic coordinates: 8 38 N, 111 55 E
Map references: Southeast Asia
Area / total: 5 sq km less than
Area / land: 5 sq km less than
Area / water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative: land area is about seven times the size of the National Mall in Washington, D.C.
Land boundaries / total: 0 km
Coastline: 926 km
Climate: tropical
Terrain: small, flat islands, islets, cays, and reefs
Elevation / highest point: unnamed location on Southwest Cay 6 m
Elevation / lowest point: South China Sea 0 m
Natural resources: fish, guano, undetermined oil and natural gas potential
Land use / other: 100% (2018 est.)
Natural hazards: typhoons; numerous reefs and shoals pose a serious maritime hazard
Geography - note: strategically located near several primary shipping lanes in the central South China Sea; includes numerous small islands, atolls, shoals, and coral reefs

## People and Society
Population / total: no permanent inhabitants

## Environment
Environmental issues: harm to reefs from China's use of dredged sand and coral to build artificial islands; illegal fishing practices
Climate: tropical
Land use / other: 100% (2018 est.)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: none
Country name / conventional short form: Spratly Islands
Country name / etymology: named after British whaling captain Richard SPRATLY, who sighted the islands in 1843

## Economy

## Communications

## Transportation

## Military and Security
Military - note: around 70 disputed islets and reefs in the Spratly Islands are occupied by China, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan, and Vietnam China: occupies seven outposts (Fiery Cross, Mischief, Subi, Cuarteron, Gavin, Hughes, and Johnson reefs); the outposts on Fiery Cross, Mischief, and Subi include air bases with helipads and aircraft hangers, naval port facilities, surveillance radars, air defense and anti-ship missile sites, and other military infrastructure such as communications, barracks, maintenance facilities, and ammunition and fuel bunkers Malaysia: occupies five outposts in the southern portion of the archipelago, closest to the Malaysian state of Sabah (Ardasier Reef, Eric Reef, Mariveles Reef, Shallow Reef, and Investigator Shoal); all the outposts have helicopter landing pads, while Shallow Reef also has an airstrip Philippines: occupies nine features (Commodore Reef, Second Thomas Shoal, Flat Island, Loaita Cay, Loaita Island, Nanshan Island, Northeast Cay, Thitu Island, and West York Island); Thitu Island has an airstrip and a coast guard station Taiwan: maintains a coast guard outpost with an airstrip on Itu Aba Island Vietnam: occupies about 50 outposts, plus some 14 platforms known as “economic, scientific, and technological service stations” (Dịch vụ-Khoa) that sit on underwater banks to the southeast that Vietnam does not consider part of the disputed island chain, although China and Taiwan disagree; Spratly Islands outposts are on Alison Reef, Amboyna Cay, Barque Canada Reef, Central Reef, Collins Reef, Cornwallis South Reef, Discovery Great Reef, East Reef, Grierson Reef, Ladd Reef, Landsdowne Reef, Namyit Island, Pearson Reef, Petley Reef, Sand Cay, Sin Cowe Island, South Reef, Southwest Cay, Spratly Island, Tennent Reef, West Reef; the underwater banks with stations include Vanguard, Rifleman, Prince of Wales, Prince Consort, Grainger, and Alexandra; in recent years, Vietnam has continued to make improvements to its outposts, including defensive positions and infrastructure (2025)

## Transnational Issues

=== Papua New Guinea ===

## Introduction
Background: Papua New Guinea (PNG) occupies the eastern half of the island of New Guinea; the western half is part of Indonesia. PNG was first settled between 50,000 and 60,000 years ago. Its harsh geography of mountains, jungles, and numerous river valleys kept many of the arriving groups isolated, giving rise to PNG’s ethnic and linguistic diversity. Around 500 B.C., Austronesian voyagers settled along the coast. Spanish and Portuguese explorers periodically visited the island starting in the 1500s, but none made it into the country’s interior. American and British whaling ships frequented the islands off the coast of New Guinea in the mid-1800s. In 1884, Germany declared a protectorate -- and eventually a colony -- over the northern part of what would become PNG and named it German New Guinea; days later the UK followed suit on the southern part and nearby islands and called it Papua. Most of their focus was on the coastal regions, leaving the highlands largely unexplored. The UK put its colony under Australian administration in 1902 and formalized the act in 1906. At the outbreak of World War I, Australia occupied German New Guinea and continued to rule it after the war as a League of Nations Mandate. The discovery of gold along the Bulolo River in the 1920s led prospectors to venture into the highlands, where they found about 1 million people living in isolated communities. The New Guinea campaign of World War II lasted from January 1942 to the Japanese surrender in August 1945. After the war, Australia combined the two territories and administered PNG as a UN trusteeship. In 1975, PNG gained independence and became a member of the Commonwealth. Between 1988-1997, a secessionist movement on the island province of Bougainville, located off the eastern PNG coast, fought the PNG Government, resulting in 15,000-20,000 deaths. In 1997, the PNG Government and Bougainville leaders reached a cease-fire and subsequently signed a peace agreement in 2001. The Autonomous Bougainville Government was formally established in 2005. Bougainvilleans voted in favor of independence in a 2019 non-binding referendum. The Bougainville and PNG governments are in the process of negotiating a roadmap for independence, which requires approval by the PNG parliament.

## Geography
Location: Oceania, group of islands including the eastern half of the island of New Guinea between the Coral Sea and the South Pacific Ocean, east of Indonesia
Geographic coordinates: 6 00 S, 147 00 E
Map references: Oceania
Area / total: 462,840 sq km
Area / land: 452,860 sq km
Area / water: 9,980 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly larger than California
Land boundaries / total: 824 km
Land boundaries / border countries: Indonesia 824 km
Coastline: 5,152 km
Maritime claims / territorial sea: 12 nm
Maritime claims / continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Maritime claims / exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
Climate: tropical; northwest monsoon (December to March), southeast monsoon (May to October); slight seasonal temperature variation
Terrain: mostly mountains with coastal lowlands and rolling foothills
Elevation / highest point: Mount Wilhelm 4,509 m
Elevation / lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
Elevation / mean elevation: 667 m
Natural resources: gold, copper, silver, natural gas, timber, oil, fisheries
Land use / agricultural land: 3.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 0.7% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 2% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 0.4% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 75.2% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 21.7% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land: 0 sq km (2022)
Major rivers (by length in km): Sepik river source and mouth (shared with Indonesia) - 1,126 km; Fly river source and mouth (shared with Indonesia) - 1,050 km
Population distribution: population concentrated in the highlands and eastern coastal areas on the island of New Guinea; predominantly a rural distribution with only about one fifth of the population residing in urban areas
Natural hazards: active volcanism; frequent and sometimes severe earthquakes; mud slides; tsunamis volcanism: severe volcanic activity; Ulawun (2,334 m), one of Papua New Guinea's potentially most dangerous volcanoes, has been deemed a Decade Volcano by the International Association of Volcanology and Chemistry of the Earth's Interior, worthy of study due to its explosive history and close proximity to human populations; Rabaul (688 m) destroyed the city of Rabaul in 1937 and 1994; Lamington erupted in 1951, killing 3,000 people; Manam's 2004 eruption forced the island's abandonment; other historically active volcanoes include Bam, Bagana, Garbuna, Karkar, Langila, Lolobau, Long Island, Pago, St. Andrew Strait, Victory, and Waiowa; see note 2 under "Geography - note"
Geography - note: note 1: shares island of New Guinea with Indonesia; highlands that trend from east to west break up New Guinea into diverse ecoregions; one of world's largest swamps lies along the southwest coast note 2: Papua New Guinea is one of the countries along the Ring of Fire, which is a belt bordering the Pacific Ocean that contains about 75% of the world's volcanoes and up to 90% of the world's earthquakes

## People and Society
Population / total: 10,273,996 (2025 est.)
Population / male: 5,206,211
Population / female: 5,067,785
Nationality / noun: Papua New Guinean(s)
Nationality / adjective: Papua New Guinean
Ethnic groups: Melanesian, Papuan, Negrito, Micronesian, Polynesian
Languages: Tok Pisin (official), English (official), Hiri Motu (official), some 839 living indigenous languages are spoken (about 12% of the world's total)
Religions: Protestant 64.3% (Evangelical Lutheran 18.4%, Seventh Day Adventist 12.9%, Pentecostal 10.4%, United Church 10.3%, Evangelical Alliance 5.9%, Anglican 3.2%, Baptist 2.8%, Salvation Army 0.4%), Roman Catholic 26%, other Christian 5.3%, non-Christian 1.4%, unspecified 3.1% (2011 est.)
Age structure / 0-14 years: 37.1% (male 1,902,272/female 1,825,471)
Age structure / 15-64 years: 58.9% (male 2,991,479/female 2,923,410)
Age structure / 65 years and over: 4% (2024 est.) (male 198,511/female 205,090)
Dependency ratios / total dependency ratio: 69.4 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / youth dependency ratio: 62.4 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / elderly dependency ratio: 7 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / potential support ratio: 14.2 (2025 est.)
Median age / total: 21.9 years (2025 est.)
Median age / male: 21.6 years
Median age / female: 21.9 years
Population growth rate: 2.22% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 27.57 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 5.36 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution: population concentrated in the highlands and eastern coastal areas on the island of New Guinea; predominantly a rural distribution with only about one fifth of the population residing in urban areas
Urbanization / urban population: 13.7% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 2.91% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 410,000 PORT MORESBY (capital) (2023)
Sex ratio / at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 65 years and over: 0.97 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth: 21.9 years (2016/18)
Maternal mortality ratio: 189 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Infant mortality rate / total: 31.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Infant mortality rate / male: 35.3 deaths/1,000 live births
Infant mortality rate / female: 28.6 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth / total population: 70.1 years (2024 est.)
Life expectancy at birth / male: 68.3 years
Life expectancy at birth / female: 71.9 years
Total fertility rate: 3.72 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 1.82 (2025 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: urban: urban: 86.9% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: rural: rural: 44.5% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: total: total: 50.2% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: urban: urban: 13.1% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: rural: rural: 55.5% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: total: total: 49.8% of population (2022 est.)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 2.3% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 7% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density: 0.06 physicians/1,000 population (2023)
Hospital bed density: 0.2 beds/1,000 population (2019 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: urban: urban: 57.8% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: rural: rural: 18.2% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: total: total: 23.6% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: urban: urban: 42.2% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: rural: rural: 81.8% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: total: total: 76.4% of population (2022 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 21.3% (2016)
Alcohol consumption per capita / total: 1.26 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / beer: 0.6 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / wine: 0.06 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / spirits: 0.6 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / other alcohols: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Tobacco use / total: 38.9% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / male: 53.4% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / female: 23.8% (2025 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49): 66.9% (2018 est.)
Child marriage / women married by age 15: 8% (2018)
Child marriage / women married by age 18: 27.3% (2018)
Child marriage / men married by age 18: 3.7% (2018)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% GDP): 0.8% of GDP (2023 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% national budget): 3.5% national budget (2023 est.)
Literacy / total population: 70.1% (2017 est.)
Literacy / male: 78.4% (2017 est.)
Literacy / female: 61.6% (2017 est.)
People - note: the indigenous population of Papua New Guinea (PNG) is one of the most heterogeneous in the world; PNG has several thousand separate communities, most with only a few hundred people; divided by language, customs, and tradition, some of these communities have engaged in low-scale tribal conflict with their neighbors for millennia; the advent of modern weapons and modern migrants into urban areas has greatly magnified the impact of this lawlessness

## Environment
Environmental issues: rainforest loss as a result of commercial demand for tropical timber; soil erosion, water-quality degradation, and loss of habitat from logging; effects of large-scale mining projects (discharge of heavy metals, cyanide, and acids into rivers); severe drought; land degradation from poor farming practices; poor fishing practices; coastal pollution due to runoff and oil spills
International environmental agreements / party to: Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands
International environmental agreements / signed, but not ratified: Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban
Climate: tropical; northwest monsoon (December to March), southeast monsoon (May to October); slight seasonal temperature variation
Land use / agricultural land: 3.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 0.7% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 2% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 0.4% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 75.2% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 21.7% (2023 est.)
Urbanization / urban population: 13.7% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 2.91% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / total emissions: 5.798 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from coal and metallurgical coke: 1,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from petroleum and other liquids: 4.467 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from consumed natural gas: 1.33 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Particulate matter emissions: 8.8 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Waste and recycling / municipal solid waste generated annually: 1 million tons (2024 est.)
Waste and recycling / percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 6.3% (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / municipal: 223.5 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / industrial: 167.6 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / agricultural: 1 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total renewable water resources: 801 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: Independent State of Papua New Guinea
Country name / conventional short form: Papua New Guinea
Country name / local short form: Papuaniugini
Country name / former: German New Guinea, British New Guinea, Territory of Papua and New Guinea
Country name / abbreviation: PNG
Country name / etymology: the name derives from the Malay word pua-pua , describing the tightly curled hair of the Papuan people; Spanish explorer Ynigo ORTIZ de RETEZ applied the term "Nueva Guinea" to the island in 1545 because he thought the locals resembled the peoples of the Guinea coast of Africa
Government type: parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy; a Commonwealth realm
Capital / name: Port Moresby
Capital / geographic coordinates: 9 27 S, 147 11 E
Capital / time difference: UTC+10 (15 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Capital / time zone note: Papua New Guinea has two time zones, including Bougainville (UTC+11)
Capital / etymology: named in 1873 by Captain John MORESBY in honor of his father, British Admiral Sir Fairfax MORESBY (1786-1877)
Administrative divisions: 20 provinces, 1 autonomous region*, and 1 district**; Bougainville*, Central, Chimbu, Eastern Highlands, East New Britain, East Sepik, Enga, Gulf, Hela, Jiwaka, Madang, Manus, Milne Bay, Morobe, National Capital**, New Ireland, Northern, Southern Highlands, Western, Western Highlands, West New Britain, West Sepik
Legal system: mixed system of English common law and customary law
Constitution / history: adopted 15 August 1975, effective at independence 16 September 1975
Constitution / amendment process: proposed by the National Parliament; passage has prescribed majority vote requirements depending on the constitutional sections being amended &ndash; absolute majority, two-thirds majority, or three-fourths majority
International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt
Citizenship / citizenship by birth: no
Citizenship / citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Papua New Guinea
Citizenship / dual citizenship recognized: no
Citizenship / residency requirement for naturalization: 8 years
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch / chief of state: King CHARLES III (since 8 September 2022); represented by Governor General Grand Chief Sir Bob DADAE (since 28 February 2017)
Executive branch / head of government: Prime Minister James MARAPE (since 30 May 2019)
Executive branch / cabinet: National Executive Council appointed by the governor general on the recommendation of the prime minister
Executive branch / election/appointment process: the monarchy is hereditary; governor general nominated by the National Parliament and appointed by the chief of state; following legislative elections, the governor general usually appoints the leader of the majority party or majority coalition as prime minister, pending a National Parliament vote
Executive branch / election results: James MARAPE reelected prime minister; National Parliament vote - 105 out of 118
Legislative branch / legislature name: National Parliament
Legislative branch / legislative structure: unicameral
Legislative branch / number of seats: 118 (all directly elected)
Legislative branch / electoral system: plurality/majority
Legislative branch / scope of elections: full renewal
Legislative branch / term in office: 5 years
Legislative branch / most recent election date: 7/4/2022 to 7/22/2022
Legislative branch / parties elected and seats per party: Papua & Niugini Union Pati (PANGU) (39); People's National Congress Party (PNC) (15); United Resource Party (URP) (11); Others (40); Independents (10)
Legislative branch / percentage of women in chamber: 2.7%
Legislative branch / expected date of next election: July 2027
Judicial branch / highest court(s): Supreme Court (consists of the chief justice, deputy chief justice, 35 justices, and 5 acting justices); National Courts (consists of 13 courts located in the provincial capitals, with a total of 19 resident judges)
Judicial branch / judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court chief justice appointed by the governor general on advice of the National Executive Council (cabinet) after consultation with the National Justice Administration minister; deputy chief justice and other justices appointed by the Judicial and Legal Services Commission, a 5-member body that includes the Supreme Court chief and deputy chief justices, the chief ombudsman, and a member of the National Parliament; full-time citizen judges appointed for 10-year renewable terms; non-citizen judges initially appointed for 3-year renewable terms and after first renewal can serve until age 70; appointment and tenure of National Court resident judges NA
Judicial branch / subordinate courts: district, village, and juvenile courts, military courts, taxation courts, coronial courts, mining warden courts, land courts, traffic courts, committal courts, grade five courts
Political parties: Destiny Party Liberal Party Melanesian Alliance Party or MAP Melanesian Liberal Party or MLP National Alliance Party or NAP Our Development Party or ODP Papua and Niugini Union Party or PANGU PATI Papua New Guinea Greens Party Papua New Guinea National Party Papua New Guinea Party or PNGP People's First Party or PFP People's Movement for Change or PMC People's National Congress Party or PNC People’s National Party People's Party or PP People's Progress Party or PPP People's Reform Party or PRP Social Democratic Party or SDP Triumph Heritage Empowerment Party or THE United Labor Party or ULP United Resources Party or URP
Diplomatic representation in the US / chief of mission: Ambassador Arnold Karibone AMET (since 5 September 2025)
Diplomatic representation in the US / chancery: 1825 K Street NW, Suite 1010, Washington, DC 20006
Diplomatic representation in the US / telephone: [1] (202) 745-3680
Diplomatic representation in the US / FAX: [1] (202) 745-3679
Diplomatic representation in the US / email address and website: info@pngembassy.org http://www.pngembassy.org/
Diplomatic representation from the US / chief of mission: Ambassador Ann Marie YASTISHOCK (since 22 February 2024); note - also accredited to the Solomon Islands and Vanuatu
Diplomatic representation from the US / embassy: Harbour City Road, Konedobu, Port Moresby, NCD, Papua New Guinea
Diplomatic representation from the US / mailing address: 4240 Port Moresby Pl, Washington DC 20521-4240
Diplomatic representation from the US / telephone: [675] 308-9100
Diplomatic representation from the US / email address and website: ConsularPortMoresby@state.gov https://pg.usembassy.gov/
International organization participation: ACP, ADB, AOSIS, APEC, ARF, ASEAN (observer), C, CD, CP, EITI (candidate country), FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, MIGA, NAM, OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMISS, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Independence: 16 September 1975 (from the Australia-administered UN trusteeship)
National holiday: Independence Day, 16 September (1975)
Flag: description: divided diagonally from upper-left corner; the upper triangle is red and has a soaring yellow bird of paradise in the center; the lower triangle is black with five five-pointed white stars of the Southern Cross constellation meaning: red, black, and yellow are the country's traditional colors; the bird of paradise is an emblem of regional tribal culture and represents the emergence of Papua New Guinea as a nation; the Southern Cross symbolizes the country's connection with Australia and several other countries in the South Pacific
National symbol(s): bird of paradise
National color(s): red, black
National coat of arms: Papua New Guinea's coat of arms was adopted on July 1, 1971, and features the country's national symbol, the Raggiana bird-of-paradise; the bird stands for the nation's freedom and rich natural environment; the traditional spear under the bird represents the country's ethnic groups and the protection of its heritage, and the Kundu drum, which is used in ceremonies, represents local artistic traditions and communication
National anthem(s) / title: "O Arise, All You Sons"
National anthem(s) / lyrics/music: Thomas SHACKLADY
National anthem(s) / history: adopted 1975
National heritage / total World Heritage Sites: 1 (cultural)
National heritage / selected World Heritage Site locales: Kuk Early Agricultural Site

## Economy
Economic overview: lower-middle-income Pacific island economy; primarily informal agrarian sector; natural-resource-rich and key exporter of liquified natural gas; collapse in betel nut prices, tighter monetary policy, and improved foreign-exchange availability contributing to declining inflation; challenges include lack of progress in infrastructure, agricultural reform, and corruption
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $45.487 billion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $43.697 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $42.093 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2024: 4.1% (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2023: 3.8% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2022: 5.7% (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2024: $4,300 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2023: $4,200 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2022: $4,100 (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $32.538 billion (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024: 0.6% (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023: 2.3% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 5.3% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / agriculture: 17.2% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / industry: 37.2% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / services: 41.5% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / household consumption: 43.7% (2017 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / government consumption: 19.7% (2017 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in fixed capital: 10% (2017 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in inventories: 0.4% (2017 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / exports of goods and services: 49.3% (2017 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / imports of goods and services: -22.3% (2017 est.)
Agricultural products: oil palm fruit, coconuts, bananas, fruits, sweet potatoes, game meat, yams, root vegetables, vegetables, sugarcane (2023)
Industries: oil and gas; mining (gold, copper, and nickel); palm oil processing; plywood and wood chip production; copra crushing; construction; tourism; fishing; livestock (pork, poultry, cattle) and dairy farming; spice products (turmeric, vanilla, ginger, cardamom, chili, pepper, citronella, and nutmeg)
Industrial production growth rate: 3.6% (2024 est.)
Labor force: 3.66 million (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2024: 2.8% (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2023: 2.7% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2022: 2.7% (2022 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / total: 3.8% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / male: 4.6% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / female: 3% (2024 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2023: 0% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2022: 0% of GDP (2022 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2021: 0% of GDP (2021 est.)
Budget / revenues: $5.518 billion (2023 est.)
Budget / expenditures: $6.856 billion (2023 est.)
Public debt / Public debt 2023: 52.4% of GDP (2023 est.)
Taxes and other revenues: 15.9% (of GDP) (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2023: $4.183 billion (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2022: $4.567 billion (2022 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2021: $3.284 billion (2021 est.)
Exports / Exports 2023: $12.93 billion (2023 est.)
Exports / Exports 2022: $14.862 billion (2022 est.)
Exports / Exports 2021: $11.032 billion (2021 est.)
Exports - partners: China 28%, Japan 25%, Australia 17%, Taiwan 8%, India 4% (2023)
Exports - commodities: natural gas, gold, copper ore, palm oil, nickel (2023)
Imports / Imports 2023: $7.192 billion (2023 est.)
Imports / Imports 2022: $8.568 billion (2022 est.)
Imports / Imports 2021: $6.43 billion (2021 est.)
Imports - partners: Australia 27%, China 24%, Singapore 15%, Malaysia 9%, Japan 4% (2023)
Imports - commodities: refined petroleum, trucks, rice, plastic products, excavation machinery (2023)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023: $3.901 billion (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $3.983 billion (2022 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2021: $3.24 billion (2021 est.)
Debt - external / Debt - external 2023: $7.011 billion (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Currency: kina (PGK) per US dollar -
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2023: 3.59 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2022: 3.519 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2021: 3.509 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2020: 3.46 (2020 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2019: 3.388 (2019 est.)

## Energy
Electricity access / electrification - total population: 19% (2022 est.)
Electricity access / electrification - urban areas: 65.1%
Electricity access / electrification - rural areas: 14.2%
Electricity / installed generating capacity: 1.148 million kW (2023 est.)
Electricity / consumption: 4.399 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / transmission/distribution losses: 328.234 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / fossil fuels: 76.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / solar: 0.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / hydroelectricity: 21.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / geothermal: 2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / biomass and waste: 0.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Coal / imports: 2,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum / total petroleum production: 32,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Petroleum / refined petroleum consumption: 30,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Petroleum / crude oil estimated reserves: 159.656 million barrels (2021 est.)
Natural gas / production: 11.57 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / consumption: 677.736 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / exports: 10.892 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / proven reserves: 183.125 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)
Energy consumption per capita / Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 8.781 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

## Communications
Telephones - fixed lines / total subscriptions: 166,000 (2021 est.)
Telephones - fixed lines / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 2 (2022 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / total subscriptions: 4.1 million (2024 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 39 (2024 est.)
Broadcast media: 5 TV stations: 1 commercial (TV Wan), 2 state-run (National Broadcasting Corporation and EMTV); 1 digital free-to-view network, and 1 satellite network (Click TV or PNGTV); the state-run NBC operates 3 radio networks with multiple repeaters and about 20 provincial stations; several commercial radio stations with multiple transmission points as well as several community stations; transmissions of several international broadcasters are accessible (2023)
Internet country code: .pg
Internet users / percent of population: 24% (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / total: 22,000 (2022 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2022 est.) less than 1

## Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: P2
Airports: 569 (2025)
Heliports: 3 (2025)
Merchant marine / total: 205 (2023)
Merchant marine / by type: container ship 6, general cargo 89, oil tanker 4, other 106
Ports / total ports: 22 (2024)
Ports / large: 0
Ports / medium: 0
Ports / small: 6
Ports / very small: 16
Ports / ports with oil terminals: 8
Ports / key ports: Kavieng Harbor, Kieta, Port Moresby, Rabaul, Vanimo, Wewak Harbor

## Military and Security
Military and security forces: Papua New Guinea Defense Force (PNGDF): Land, Air, Maritime elements Ministry of Internal Security: Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary (RPNGC) (2025)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2024: 0.3% of GDP (2024 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2023: 0.3% of GDP (2023 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2022: 0.3% of GDP (2022 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2021: 0.4% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2020: 0.4% of GDP (2020 est.)
Military and security service personnel strengths: estimated 4,000 active PNGDF (2025)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the PNGDF is lightly armed; the Land Force has no heavy weapons while the Air and the Maritime forces have a handful of light aircraft and small patrol boats provided by Australia and New Zealand (2025)
Military service age and obligation: 18-27 (30 for officers) for voluntary military service for men and women; no conscription (2025)
Military - note: the Papua New Guinea Defense Force (PNGDF) is tasked with defense of the country and its territories against external attack, as well as internal security and socio-economic development duties; following some inter-tribal violence in Wapenamanda in 2024, the PNGDF was given arrest powers since 2023, Papua New Guinea has signed bilateral defense cooperation agreements with Australia, Indonesia, the UK, and the US; the 2023 defense cooperation agreement with the US allowed the US military to develop and operate out of bases in PNG with the PNG Government’s approval; PNG has also military relations with France and New Zealand and has discussed a security cooperation agreement with China the PNGDF was established in 1973, and its primary combat unit, the Royal Pacific Islands Regiment (RPIR), is descended from Australian Army infantry battalions comprised of native soldiers and led by Australian officers and non-commissioned officers formed during World War II to help fight the Japanese; the RPIR was disbanded after the war, but reestablished in 1951 as part of the Australian Army where it continued to serve until PNG gained its independence in 1975, when it became part of the PNGDF (2025)

## Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons / refugees: 10,983 (2024 est.)
Refugees and internally displaced persons / IDPs: 107,985 (2024 est.)
Trafficking in persons / tier rating: Tier 3 — Papua New Guinea does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and is not making significant efforts to do so; therefore, Papua New Guinea remained on Tier 3; for more details, go to: https://www.state.gov/reports/2025-trafficking-in-persons-report/papua-new-guinea/

=== Philippines ===

## Introduction
Background: The Philippine Islands became a Spanish colony during the 16th century; they were ceded to the US in 1898 following the Spanish-American War. Led by Emilio AGUINALDO, the Filipinos conducted an insurgency against US rule from 1899-1902, although some fighting continued in outlying islands as late as 1913. In 1935, the Philippines became a self-governing commonwealth. Manuel QUEZON was elected president and was tasked with preparing the country for independence after a 10-year transition. The islands fell under Japanese occupation during World War II, and US forces and Filipinos fought together during 1944-45 to regain control. On 4 July 1946 the Republic of the Philippines attained its independence. Twenty-one years of authoritarian rule under Ferdinand MARCOS ended in 1986, when a "people power" movement in Manila ("EDSA 1") forced him into exile and installed Corazon AQUINO as president. Several coup attempts hampered her presidency, and progress on political stability and economic development faltered until Fidel RAMOS was elected president in 1992. The US closed its last military bases on the islands the same year. Joseph ESTRADA was elected president in 1998. His vice-president, Gloria MACAPAGAL-ARROYO, succeded him in 2001 after ESTRADA's stormy impeachment trial on corruption charges broke down and another "people power" movement ("EDSA 2") demanded his resignation. MACAPAGAL-ARROYO was elected president in 2004. Corruption allegations marred her presidency, but the Philippine economy was one of the few to avoid contraction after the 2008 global financial crisis. Benigno AQUINO III was elected as president in 2010, followed by Rodrigo DUTERTE in 2016. During his term, DUTERTE pursued a controversial drug war that garnered international criticism for alleged human rights abuses. Ferdinand MARCOS, Jr. was elected president in 2022 with the largest popular vote in a presidential election since his father's ouster. For decades, the country has been challenged by armed ethnic separatists, communist rebels, and Islamic terrorist groups, particularly in the southern islands and remote areas of Luzon.

## Geography
Location: Southeastern Asia, archipelago between the Philippine Sea and the South China Sea, east of Vietnam
Geographic coordinates: 13 00 N, 122 00 E
Map references: Southeast Asia
Area / total: 300,000 sq km
Area / land: 298,170 sq km
Area / water: 1,830 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly less than twice the size of Georgia; slightly larger than Arizona
Land boundaries / total: 0 km
Coastline: 36,289 km
Maritime claims / territorial sea: irregular polygon extending up to 100 nm from coastline as defined by 1898 treaty; since late 1970s has also claimed polygonal-shaped area in South China Sea as wide as 285 nm
Maritime claims / exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Maritime claims / continental shelf: to the depth of exploitation
Climate: tropical marine; northeast monsoon (November to April); southwest monsoon (May to October)
Terrain: mostly mountains with narrow to extensive coastal lowlands
Elevation / highest point: Mount Apo 2,954 m
Elevation / lowest point: Philippine Sea 0 m
Elevation / mean elevation: 442 m
Natural resources: timber, petroleum, nickel, cobalt, silver, gold, salt, copper
Land use / agricultural land: 42.7% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 18.7% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 18.9% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 5% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 24.7% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 32.7% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land: 16,270 sq km (2012)
Major lakes (area sq km) / salt water lake(s): Laguna de Bay - 890 sq km
Population distribution: population concentrated in areas with good farmland; highest concentrations are northwest and south-central Luzon, the southeastern extension of Luzon, and the islands of the Visayan Sea, particularly Cebu and Negros; Manila is home to one eighth of the national population
Natural hazards: astride typhoon belt, usually affected by several cyclonic storms each year; landslides; active volcanoes; destructive earthquakes; tsunamis volcanism: significant volcanic activity; Taal (311 m) has been deemed a Decade Volcano by the International Association of Volcanology and Chemistry of the Earth's Interior, worthy of study due to its explosive history and close proximity to human populations; Mayon (2,462 m), the country's most active volcano, erupted in 2009 and forced over 33,000 to be evacuated; other historically active volcanoes include Biliran, Babuyan Claro, Bulusan, Camiguin, Camiguin de Babuyanes, Didicas, Iraya, Jolo, Kanlaon, Makaturing, Musuan, Parker, Pinatubo, and Ragang; see note 2 under "Geography - note"
Geography - note: note 1: for decades, the Philippine archipelago was reported as having 7,107 islands; in 2016, the national mapping authority reported that hundreds of new islands had been discovered and increased the number of islands to 7,641, though not all of the new islands have been verified note 2: the Philippines is one of the countries along the Ring of Fire, which is a belt bordering the Pacific Ocean that contains about 75% of the world's volcanoes and up to 90% of the world's earthquakes note 3: the Philippines sits on the Pacific typhoon belt, and an average of 9 typhoons make landfall on the islands each year, with about 5 being destructive; the country is the most exposed in the world to tropical storms

## People and Society
Population / total: 118,277,063 (2024 est.)
Population / male: 59,227,092
Population / female: 59,049,971
Nationality / noun: Filipino(s)
Nationality / adjective: Philippine
Ethnic groups: Tagalog 26%, Bisaya/Binisaya 14.3%, Ilocano 8%, Cebuano 8%, Illonggo 7.9%, Bikol/Bicol 6.5%, Waray 3.8%, Kapampangan 3%, Maguindanao 1.9%, Pangasinan 1.9%, other local ethnicities 18.5%, foreign ethnicities 0.2% (2020 est.)
Languages / Languages: Tagalog 39.9%, Bisaya/Binisaya 16%, Hiligaynon/Ilonggo 7.3%, Ilocano 7.1%, Cebuano 6.5%, Bikol/Bicol 3.9%, Waray 2.6%, Kapampangan 2.4%, Maguindanao 1.4%, Pangasinan/Panggalato 1.3%, other languages/dialects 11.2%, unspecified 0.4% (2020 est.)
Languages / major-language sample(s): Ang World Factbook, ang mapagkukunan ng kailangang impormasyon. (Tagalog) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
Religions: Roman Catholic 78.8%, Muslim 6.4%, Iglesia ni Cristo 2.6%, other Christian 3.9%, other 8.2%, none/unspecified <0.1 (2020 est.)
Age structure / 0-14 years: 30.2% (male 18,234,279/female 17,462,803)
Age structure / 15-64 years: 64.3% (male 38,381,583/female 37,613,294)
Age structure / 65 years and over: 5.6% (2024 est.) (male 2,611,230/female 3,973,874)
Dependency ratios / total dependency ratio: 55.6 (2024 est.)
Dependency ratios / youth dependency ratio: 47 (2024 est.)
Dependency ratios / elderly dependency ratio: 8.7 (2024 est.)
Dependency ratios / potential support ratio: 11.5 (2024 est.)
Median age / total: 27.1 years (2025 est.)
Median age / male: 25.1 years
Median age / female: 26.3 years
Population growth rate: 0.74% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 16.02 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 5.8 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: -2.82 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution: population concentrated in areas with good farmland; highest concentrations are northwest and south-central Luzon, the southeastern extension of Luzon, and the islands of the Visayan Sea, particularly Cebu and Negros; Manila is home to one eighth of the national population
Urbanization / urban population: 48.3% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 2.04% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 14.667 million MANILA (capital), 1.949 million Davao, 1.025 million Cebu City, 931,000 Zamboanga, 960,000 Antipolo, 803,000 Cagayan de Oro City, 803,000 Dasmarinas (2023)
Sex ratio / at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 65 years and over: 0.66 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / total population: 1 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth: 23.6 years (2022 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio: 84 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Infant mortality rate / total: 18.5 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Infant mortality rate / male: 24.4 deaths/1,000 live births
Infant mortality rate / female: 19.6 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth / total population: 70.8 years (2024 est.)
Life expectancy at birth / male: 67.3 years
Life expectancy at birth / female: 74.5 years
Total fertility rate: 1.94 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 0.94 (2025 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: urban: urban: 97.8% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: rural: rural: 92.2% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: total: total: 94.9% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: urban: urban: 2.2% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: rural: rural: 7.8% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: total: total: 5.1% of population (2022 est.)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 5.1% of GDP (2022)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 9% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density: 0.79 physicians/1,000 population (2021)
Hospital bed density: 1 beds/1,000 population (2021 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: urban: urban: 96.5% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: rural: rural: 92.7% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: total: total: 94.5% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: urban: urban: 3.5% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: rural: rural: 7.3% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: total: total: 5.5% of population (2022 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 6.4% (2016)
Alcohol consumption per capita / total: 4.85 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / beer: 1.47 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / wine: 0.03 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / spirits: 3.34 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / other alcohols: 0.01 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Tobacco use / total: 19.2% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / male: 34.4% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / female: 3.7% (2025 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 16.7% (2021 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49): 55.6% (2022 est.)
Child marriage / women married by age 15: 1.5% (2022)
Child marriage / women married by age 18: 9.4% (2022)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% GDP): 3.6% of GDP (2023 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% national budget): 15.2% national budget (2025 est.)
Literacy / total population: 98.5% (2020 est.)
Literacy / male: 98.4% (2020 est.)
Literacy / female: 97% (2022 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / total: 12 years (2021 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / male: 12 years (2021 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / female: 13 years (2021 est.)
People - note: one of only two predominantly Christian nations in Southeast Asia, the other being Timor-Leste

## Environment
Environmental issues: deforestation, especially in watershed areas; illegal mining and logging; soil erosion; air and water pollution in major urban centers; coral reef degradation; increasing pollution of coastal mangrove swamps; coastal erosion; dynamite fishing; wildlife extinction
International environmental agreements / party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands
International environmental agreements / signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Climate: tropical marine; northeast monsoon (November to April); southwest monsoon (May to October)
Land use / agricultural land: 42.7% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 18.7% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 18.9% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 5% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 24.7% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 32.7% (2023 est.)
Urbanization / urban population: 48.3% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 2.04% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / total emissions: 156.228 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from coal and metallurgical coke: 88.581 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from petroleum and other liquids: 61.597 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from consumed natural gas: 6.05 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Particulate matter emissions: 25.4 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Methane emissions / energy: 230.7 kt (2022-2024 est.)
Methane emissions / agriculture: 1,662.2 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Methane emissions / waste: 452.7 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Methane emissions / other: 39.1 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Waste and recycling / municipal solid waste generated annually: 14.632 million tons (2024 est.)
Waste and recycling / percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 49.9% (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / municipal: 9.498 billion cubic meters (2022)
Total water withdrawal / industrial: 13.602 billion cubic meters (2022)
Total water withdrawal / agricultural: 67.937 billion cubic meters (2022)
Total renewable water resources: 479 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Geoparks / total global geoparks and regional networks: 1
Geoparks / global geoparks and regional networks: Bohol Island (2023)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: Republic of the Philippines
Country name / conventional short form: Philippines
Country name / local long form: Republika ng Pilipinas
Country name / local short form: Pilipinas
Country name / etymology: named in honor of King PHILLIP II of Spain by Spanish explorer Ruy LOPEZ de VILLALOBOS, who visited the islands in 1543
Government type: presidential republic
Capital / name: Manila
Capital / geographic coordinates: 14 36 N, 120 58 E
Capital / time difference: UTC+8 (13 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Capital / etymology: derives from the Tagalog word may , meaning "there is," and nila , the local name for a shrub in the indigo family
Administrative divisions: 81 provinces and 38 chartered cities provinces: Abra, Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Aklan, Albay, Antique, Apayao, Aurora, Basilan, Bataan, Batanes, Batangas, Biliran, Benguet, Bohol, Bukidnon, Bulacan, Cagayan, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Camiguin, Capiz, Catanduanes, Cavite, Cebu, Cotabato, Davao del Norte, Davao del Sur, Davao de Oro, Davao Occidental, Davao Oriental, Dinagat Islands, Eastern Samar, Guimaras, Ifugao, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Iloilo, Isabela, Kalinga, Laguna, Lanao del Norte, Lanao del Sur, La Union, Leyte, Maguindanao, Marinduque, Masbate, Mindoro Occidental, Mindoro Oriental, Misamis Occidental, Misamis Oriental, Mountain, Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental, Northern Samar, Nueva Ecija, Nueva Vizcaya, Palawan, Pampanga, Pangasinan, Quezon, Quirino, Rizal, Romblon, Samar, Sarangani, Siquijor, Sorsogon, South Cotabato, Southern Leyte, Sultan Kudarat, Sulu, Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, Tarlac, Tawi-Tawi, Zambales, Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur, Zamboanga Sibugay chartered cities: Angeles, Bacolod, Baguio, Butuan, Cagayan de Oro, Caloocan, Cebu, Cotabato, Dagupan, Davao, General Santos, Iligan, Iloilo, Lapu-Lapu, Las Pinas, Lucena, Makati, Malabon, Mandaluyong, Mandaue, Manila, Marikina, Muntinlupa, Naga, Navotas, Olongapo, Ormoc, Paranaque, Pasay, Pasig, Puerto Princesa, Quezon, San Juan, Santiago, Tacloban, Taguig, Valenzuela, Zamboanga
Legal system: mixed system of civil, common, Islamic (sharia), and customary law
Constitution / history: several previous; latest ratified 2 February 1987, effective 11 February 1987
Constitution / amendment process: proposed by Congress if supported by three fourths of the membership, by a constitutional convention called by Congress, or by public petition; passage by either of the three proposal methods requires a majority vote in a national referendum
International law organization participation: accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; withdrew from the ICCt in March 2019
Citizenship / citizenship by birth: no
Citizenship / citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of the Philippines
Citizenship / dual citizenship recognized: no
Citizenship / residency requirement for naturalization: 10 years
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch / chief of state: President Ferdinand "BongBong" MARCOS, Jr. (since 30 June 2022)
Executive branch / head of government: President Ferdinand "BongBong" MARCOS, Jr. (since 30 June 2022)
Executive branch / cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president with the consent of the Commission of Appointments, an independent body of 25 Congressional members that includes the Senate president (ex officio chairman) and is appointed by the president
Executive branch / election/appointment process: president and vice president directly elected on separate ballots by simple-majority popular vote for a single 6-year term
Executive branch / most recent election date: 9 May 2022
Executive branch / election results: 2022: Ferdinand MARCOS, Jr. elected president; percent of vote - Ferdinand MARCOS, Jr. (PFP) 58.7%, Leni ROBREDO (independent) 27.9%, Manny PACQUIAO (PROMDI) 6.8%, other 6.6%; Sara DUTERTE-Carpio elected vice president; percent of vote Sara DUTERTE-Carpio (Lakas-CMD) 61.5%, Francis PANGILINAN (LP) 17.8%, Tito SOTTO 15.8%, other 4.9% 2016: Rodrigo DUTERTE elected president; percent of vote - Rodrigo DUTERTE (PDP-Laban) 39%, Manuel "Mar" ROXAS (LP) 23.5%, Grace POE (independent) 21.4%, Jejomar BINAY (UNA) 12.7%, Miriam Defensor SANTIAGO (PRP) 3.4%; Leni ROBREDO elected vice president; percent of vote Leni ROBREDO (LP) 35.1%, Ferdinand MARCOS, Jr. (independent) 34.5%, Alan CAYETANO 14.4%, Francis ESCUDERO (independent) 12%, other 4%
Executive branch / expected date of next election: 9 May 2028
Legislative branch / legislature name: Congress (Kongreso)
Legislative branch / legislative structure: bicameral
Legislative branch - lower chamber / chamber name: House of Representatives (Kapulungan Ng Mga Kinatawan)
Legislative branch - lower chamber / number of seats: 317 (all directly elected)
Legislative branch - lower chamber / electoral system: mixed system
Legislative branch - lower chamber / scope of elections: full renewal
Legislative branch - lower chamber / term in office: 3 years
Legislative branch - lower chamber / most recent election date: 5/12/2025
Legislative branch - lower chamber / parties elected and seats per party: Lakas-CMD party (103), National Unity Party (NUP) (32), Nationalist People's Coalition (NPC) 31, Partido Federal ng Pilipinas (PFP) (27), Nacionalista Party (NP) (22), Liberal Party (LP) (6), others (28), independents (11)
Legislative branch - lower chamber / percentage of women in chamber: 28.3%
Legislative branch - lower chamber / expected date of next election: May 2028
Legislative branch - upper chamber / chamber name: Senate (Senado)
Legislative branch - upper chamber / number of seats: 24 (all directly elected)
Legislative branch - upper chamber / electoral system: plurality/majority
Legislative branch - upper chamber / scope of elections: partial renewal
Legislative branch - upper chamber / term in office: 6 years
Legislative branch - upper chamber / most recent election date: 5/12/2025
Legislative branch - upper chamber / parties elected and seats per party: Nationalist People's Coalition (NPC) (2); Nacionalista Party (NP) (3); Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Laban (PDP-Laban) (2); Lakas- CMD party (1); Katipunan ng Nagkakaisang Pilipino (KANP) (1); Liberal Party (1); Independents (2)
Legislative branch - upper chamber / percentage of women in chamber: 20.8%
Legislative branch - upper chamber / expected date of next election: May 2028
Judicial branch / highest court(s): Supreme Court (consists of a chief justice and 14 associate justices)
Judicial branch / judge selection and term of office: justices are appointed by the president on the recommendation of the Judicial and Bar Council, a constitutionally created, 6-member body that recommends Supreme Court nominees; justices serve until age 70
Judicial branch / subordinate courts: Court of Appeals; Sandiganbayan (special court for corruption cases of government officials); Court of Tax Appeals; regional, metropolitan, and municipal trial courts; sharia courts
Political parties: Democratic Action (Aksyon Demokratiko) Alliance for Change (Hugpong ng Pagbabago or HNP) Katipunan ng Nagkakaisang Pilipino (KANP) Lakas ng EDSA-Christian Muslim Democrats or Lakas-CMD Liberal Party or LP Nacionalista Party or NP Nationalist People's Coalition or NPC National Unity Party or NUP Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan or PDP-Laban Partido Federal ng Pilipinas or PFP
Diplomatic representation in the US / chief of mission: Ambassador Jose Manuel del Gallego ROMUALDEZ (since 29 November 2017)
Diplomatic representation in the US / chancery: 1600 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036
Diplomatic representation in the US / telephone: [1] (202) 467-9300
Diplomatic representation in the US / FAX: [1] (202) 328-7614
Diplomatic representation in the US / email address and website: info@phembassy-us.org The Embassy of the Republic of the Philippines in Washington D.C. (philippineembassy-dc.org)
Diplomatic representation in the US / consulate(s) general: Chicago, Honolulu, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, Tamuning (Guam)
Diplomatic representation from the US / chief of mission: Ambassador MaryKay Loss CARLSON (since 22 July 2022)
Diplomatic representation from the US / embassy: 1201 Roxas Boulevard, Manila 1000
Diplomatic representation from the US / mailing address: 8600 Manila Place, Washington DC 20521-8600
Diplomatic representation from the US / telephone: [63] (2) 5301-2000
Diplomatic representation from the US / FAX: [63] (2) 5301-2017
Diplomatic representation from the US / email address and website: acsinfomanila@state.gov https://ph.usembassy.gov/
International organization participation: ADB, APEC, ARF, ASEAN, BIS, CD, CICA (observer), CP, EAS, FAO, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MINUSTAH, NAM, OAS (observer), OPCW, PCA, PIF (partner), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNMIL, UNMOGIP, UNOCI, UNOOSA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Independence: 4 July 1946 (from the US)
National holiday: Independence Day, 12 June (1898)
Flag: description: two equal horizontal bands of blue (top) and red; a white equilateral triangle is based on the left side; the center of the triangle has a yellow sun with eight rays, each split into smaller rays; the triangle's corners each have a small five-pointed yellow star meaning: blue stands for peace and justice, red for courage, and the triangle for equality; the rays represent the first eight provinces that sought independence from Spain, and the stars represent the country's three parts: Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao history: the design dates to 1897
National symbol(s): three stars and sun, Philippine eagle
National color(s): red, white, blue, yellow
National coat of arms: the coat of arms was adopted on 3 July 1946; the three gold stars represent the major island groups of Luzon, the Visayas, and Mindanao; the rays of the sun represent the provinces of the Philippines; the American eagle and lion of Spain represent the nation's colonial past
National anthem(s) / title: "Lupang Hinirang" (Chosen Land)
National anthem(s) / lyrics/music: collectively/Julian FELIPE
National anthem(s) / history: music adopted 1898 and lyrics adopted 1956; only sung in Tagalog
National heritage / total World Heritage Sites: 6 (3 cultural, 3 natural)
National heritage / selected World Heritage Site locales: Baroque Churches of the Philippines (c); Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park (n); Rice Terraces of the Philippine Cordilleras (c); Historic Vigan (c); Puerto-Princesa Subterranean River National Park (n); Mount Hamiguitan Range Wildlife Sanctuary (n)

## Economy
Economic overview: growing Southeast Asian economy; commercial rebound led by transportation, construction and financial services; electronics exports recovering from sector slowdown; significant remittances; interest rate rises following heightened inflation; uncertainties due to increased regional tensions with China
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $1.202 trillion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $1.137 trillion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $1.078 trillion (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2024: 5.7% (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2023: 5.5% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2022: 7.6% (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2024: $10,400 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2023: $9,900 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2022: $9,500 (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $461.618 billion (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024: 3.2% (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023: 6% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 5.8% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / agriculture: 9.1% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / industry: 27.7% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / services: 63.2% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / household consumption: 76.1% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / government consumption: 14.5% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in fixed capital: 23.6% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in inventories: 0.1% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / exports of goods and services: 25.8% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / imports of goods and services: -40.1% (2024 est.)
Agricultural products: sugarcane, rice, coconuts, maize, bananas, vegetables, tropical fruits, plantains, pineapples, cassava (2023)
Industries: semiconductors and electronics assembly, business process outsourcing, food and beverage manufacturing, construction, electric/gas/water supply, chemical products, radio/television/communications equipment and apparatus, petroleum and fuel, textile and garments, non-metallic minerals, basic metal industries, transport equipment
Industrial production growth rate: 5.6% (2024 est.)
Labor force: 50.979 million (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2024: 2.2% (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2023: 2.3% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2022: 2.6% (2022 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / total: 6.6% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / male: 5.6% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / female: 8.3% (2024 est.)
Population below poverty line: 15.5% (2023 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income / Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2023: 39.3 (2023 est.)
Average household expenditures / on food: 37.3% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Average household expenditures / on alcohol and tobacco: 1.9% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / lowest 10%: 2.9% (2023 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / highest 10%: 31.6% (2023 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2024: 8.7% of GDP (2024 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2023: 8.9% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2022: 9.4% of GDP (2022 est.)
Budget / revenues: $65.069 billion (2022 est.)
Budget / expenditures: $93.871 billion (2022 est.)
Public debt / Public debt 2017: 39.9% of GDP (2017 est.)
Taxes and other revenues: 14.1% (of GDP) (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2024: -$17.514 billion (2024 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2023: -$12.387 billion (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2022: -$18.261 billion (2022 est.)
Exports / Exports 2024: $106.99 billion (2024 est.)
Exports / Exports 2023: $103.588 billion (2023 est.)
Exports / Exports 2022: $98.832 billion (2022 est.)
Exports - partners: China 19%, USA 13%, Hong Kong 12%, Japan 11%, Germany 5% (2023)
Exports - commodities: integrated circuits, machine parts, gold, insulated wire, semiconductors (2023)
Imports / Imports 2024: $161.154 billion (2024 est.)
Imports / Imports 2023: $151.441 billion (2023 est.)
Imports / Imports 2022: $152.638 billion (2022 est.)
Imports - partners: China 25%, Indonesia 8%, Japan 8%, S. Korea 6%, USA 6% (2023)
Imports - commodities: integrated circuits, refined petroleum, cars, crude petroleum, coal (2023)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024: $106.195 billion (2024 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023: $103.742 billion (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $96.04 billion (2022 est.)
Debt - external / Debt - external 2023: $63.241 billion (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Currency: Philippine pesos (PHP) per US dollar -
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2024: 57.291 (2024 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2023: 55.63 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2022: 54.478 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2021: 49.255 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2020: 49.624 (2020 est.)

## Energy
Electricity access / electrification - total population: 94.8% (2022 est.)
Electricity access / electrification - urban areas: 98%
Electricity access / electrification - rural areas: 91.1%
Electricity / installed generating capacity: 29.174 million kW (2023 est.)
Electricity / consumption: 100.824 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / transmission/distribution losses: 10.693 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / fossil fuels: 77.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / solar: 1.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / wind: 0.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / hydroelectricity: 9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / geothermal: 9.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / biomass and waste: 1.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Coal / production: 14.457 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / consumption: 42.859 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / exports: 8.151 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / imports: 36.542 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / proven reserves: 361 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum / total petroleum production: 10,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Petroleum / refined petroleum consumption: 457,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Petroleum / crude oil estimated reserves: 138.5 million barrels (2021 est.)
Natural gas / production: 2.325 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / consumption: 3.12 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / imports: 794.289 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / proven reserves: 98.543 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)
Energy consumption per capita / Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 17.654 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

## Communications
Telephones - fixed lines / total subscriptions: 4.627 million (2023 est.)
Telephones - fixed lines / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 4 (2023 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / total subscriptions: 135 million (2023 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 144 (2022 est.)
Broadcast media: multiple national private TV and radio networks; multi-channel satellite and cable TV systems available; more than 400 TV stations; about 1,500 cable TV providers with more than 2 million subscribers; over 1,400 radio stations; was scheduled to move to digital by the end of 2023 (2019)
Internet country code: .ph
Internet users / percent of population: 84% (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / total: 7.51 million (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 7 (2023 est.)

## Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: RP
Airports: 256 (2025)
Heliports: 416 (2025)
Railways / total: 77 km (2017)
Railways / standard gauge: 49 km (2017) 1.435-m gauge
Railways / narrow gauge: 28 km (2017) 1.067-m gauge
Merchant marine / total: 2,203 (2023)
Merchant marine / by type: bulk carrier 52, container ship 43, general cargo 955, oil tanker 207, other 946
Ports / total ports: 70 (2024)
Ports / large: 2
Ports / medium: 4
Ports / small: 8
Ports / very small: 56
Ports / ports with oil terminals: 22
Ports / key ports: Batangas City, Cagayan de Oro, Cebu, Manila, San Fernando Harbor, Subic Bay

## Military and Security
Military and security forces: Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP): Army, Navy (includes Marine Corps), Air Force Department of Transportation: Philippine Coast Guard (PCG); Department of the Interior: Philippine National Police Force (PNP) (2025)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2024: 1.7% of GDP (2024 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2023: 1.5% of GDP (2023 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2022: 1.4% of GDP (2022 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2021: 1.2% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2020: 1.1% of GDP (2020 est.)
Military and security service personnel strengths: approximately 145,000 active Armed Forces (105,000 Army; 25,000 Navy, including about 8,000 Marine Corps; 15,000 Air Force) (2025)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the AFP is equipped with a mix of imported weapons systems from more than a dozen countries, including Brazil, Israel, South Korea, and the US (2025)
Military service age and obligation: some variations in age based on the branch of service, but generally 18-27 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women; no conscription (2025)
Military - note: the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) are responsible for territorial defense and assisting with internal security; much of the AFP's operational focus is on internal security alongside the Philippines National Police, particularly in the south, where several separatist insurgent, terrorist, and criminal groups operate and a considerable portion of the AFP is typically deployed; additional combat operations are conducted against the Communist People’s Party/New People’s Army, which is active mostly on Luzon, as well as the Visayas and areas of Mindanao; prior to a peace deal in 2014, the AFP fought a decades-long conflict against the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), a separatist organization based mostly on the island of Mindanao, which had up to 40,000 fighters under arms maritime security is also a priority; the AFP's naval forces conduct naval interdiction missions in support of security operations on the southern islands, including joint maritime patrols with Indonesia and Malaysia; rising tensions with China over disputed waters and land features in the South China Sea since 2012 have spurred the AFP to place more emphasis on blue-water naval capabilities, including acquiring larger warships such as guided missile frigates, corvettes, offshore patrol vessels, and landing platform dock (LPD) amphibious assault ships the Philippine military was formally organized during the American colonial period as the Philippine Army; they were established by the National Defense Act of 1935 and comprised of both Filipinos and Americans; the US and Philippines agreed to a mutual defense treaty in 1951; based on agreements signed in 2014 and 2023, the Philippine Government allows the rotational presence of US military forces, aircraft, and ships at up to nine bases in the Philippines; also in 2023, the US agreed to assist in modernizing Philippine defense capabilities, deepen interoperability, enhance bilateral planning and information-sharing, and combat transnational and nonconventional threats (2025)

## Space
Space agency/agencies: Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA; established 2019) (2025)
Space program overview: has a small space program focused on acquiring satellites and related technologies, largely for climate studies, national security, and risk management; also prioritizing development of space expertise and industry; manufactures and operates satellites (mostly micro- and nano-sized), including remote sensing and scientific/experimental; has relations with a variety of foreign space agencies and industries, including those of China, the ESA (and some of its member states), India, Japan, Russia, and the US (2025)
Key space-program milestones: 1994 - formed a consortium of companies to acquire and operate satellites 1996 - acquired first communications satellite (Agila-1) from Indonesia after it was already in orbit 2014 - initiated a scientific remote sensing (RS) microsatellite development program in collaboration with Japan, resulting in first RS microsatellite (Diwata-1) being deployed from the International Space Station (ISS) in 2016 2018 - first domestically designed and built scientific/technology-demonstrator cube satellite (Maya-1) deployed from ISS; second RS microsatellite (Diwata-2) developed with assistance from and launched by Japan 2023 - signed agreement with the ESA and EU to expand cooperation on Earth observation/RS data sharing 2025 - signed US-led Artemis Accords for space exploration

## Terrorism
Terrorist group(s): Abu Sayyaf Group; Communist Party of the Philippines/New People's Army (CPP/NPA); Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham – East Asia (ISIS-EA) in the Philippines

## Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons / refugees: 2,342 (2024 est.)
Refugees and internally displaced persons / IDPs: 1,158,643 (2024 est.)
Refugees and internally displaced persons / stateless persons: 30 (2024 est.)

=== Singapore ===

## Introduction
Background: A Malay trading port known as Temasek existed on the island of Singapore by the 14th century. The settlement changed hands several times in the ensuing centuries and was eventually burned in the 17th century, falling into obscurity. In 1819, the British founded modern Singapore as a trading colony on the same site and granted it full internal self-government for all matters except defense and foreign affairs in 1959. Singapore joined the Malaysian Federation in 1963 but was ousted two years later and became independent. Singapore subsequently became one of the world's most prosperous countries, with strong international trading links and per capita GDP among the highest globally. The People&rsquo;s Action Party has won every general election in Singapore since the end of the British colonial era, aided by its success in delivering consistent economic growth, as well as the city-state's fragmented opposition and electoral procedures that strongly favor the ruling party.

## Geography
Location: Southeastern Asia, islands between Malaysia and Indonesia
Geographic coordinates: 1 22 N, 103 48 E
Map references: Southeast Asia
Area / total: 719 sq km
Area / land: 709.2 sq km
Area / water: 10 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly more than 3.5 times the size of Washington, D.C.
Land boundaries / total: 0 km
Coastline: 193 km
Maritime claims / territorial sea: 3 nm
Maritime claims / exclusive fishing zone: within and beyond territorial sea, as defined in treaties and practice
Climate: tropical; hot, humid, rainy; two distinct monsoon seasons - northeastern monsoon (December to March) and southwestern monsoon (June to September); inter-monsoon - frequent afternoon and early evening thunderstorms
Terrain: lowlying, gently undulating central plateau
Elevation / highest point: Bukit Timah 166 m
Elevation / lowest point: Singapore Strait 0 m
Natural resources: fish, deepwater ports
Land use / agricultural land: 0.9% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 0.8% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 0.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 0% (2022 est.)
Land use / forest: 22% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 77.1% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land: 0 sq km (2022)
Population distribution: most of the urbanization is along the southern coast, with relatively dense population clusters found in the central areas
Natural hazards: flash floods
Geography - note: focal point for Southeast Asian sea routes; consists of about 60 islands, the largest of which by far is Pulau Ujong; land reclamation has removed many former islands and created a number of new ones

## People and Society
Population / total: 6,080,545 (2025 est.)
Population / male: 3,040,862
Population / female: 3,039,683
Nationality / noun: Singaporean(s)
Nationality / adjective: Singapore
Ethnic groups: Chinese 74.2%, Malay 13.7%, Indian 8.9%, other 3.2% (2021 est.)
Languages / Languages: English (official) 48.3%, Mandarin (official) 29.9%, other Chinese dialects (includes Hokkien, Cantonese, Teochew, Hakka) 8.7%, Malay (official) 9.2%, Tamil (official) 2.5%, other 1.4% (2020 est.)
Languages / major-language sample(s): The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information. (English) 世界概況 – 不可缺少的基本消息來源 (Mandarin)
Religions: Buddhist 31.1%, Christian 18.9%, Muslim 15.6%, Taoist 8.8%, Hindu 5%, other 0.6%, none 20% (2020 est.)
Age structure / 0-14 years: 14.6% (male 455,536/female 424,969)
Age structure / 15-64 years: 71.1% (male 2,157,441/female 2,126,799)
Age structure / 65 years and over: 14.3% (2024 est.) (male 400,653/female 463,061)
Dependency ratios / total dependency ratio: 41.6 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / youth dependency ratio: 20.5 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / elderly dependency ratio: 21.2 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / potential support ratio: 4.7 (2025 est.)
Median age / total: 39.8 years (2025 est.)
Median age / male: 38 years
Median age / female: 40.6 years
Population growth rate: 0.85% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 8.77 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 4.38 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: 4.11 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution: most of the urbanization is along the southern coast, with relatively dense population clusters found in the central areas
Urbanization / urban population: 100% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 0.74% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 6.081 million SINGAPORE (capital) (2023)
Sex ratio / at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 0-14 years: 1.07 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 65 years and over: 0.87 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / total population: 1 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth: 30.5 years (2015 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio: 6 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Infant mortality rate / total: 1.5 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Infant mortality rate / male: 1.7 deaths/1,000 live births
Infant mortality rate / female: 1.4 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth / total population: 86.7 years (2024 est.)
Life expectancy at birth / male: 84 years
Life expectancy at birth / female: 89.5 years
Total fertility rate: 1.18 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 0.58 (2025 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: urban: urban: 100% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: total: total: 100% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: urban: urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: total: total: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 5.6% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 18.1% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density: 2.83 physicians/1,000 population (2022)
Hospital bed density: 2.6 beds/1,000 population (2021 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: urban: urban: 100% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: total: total: 100% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: urban: urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: total: total: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 6.1% (2016)
Alcohol consumption per capita / total: 1.81 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / beer: 1.26 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / wine: 0.27 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / spirits: 0.24 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / other alcohols: 0.04 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Tobacco use / total: 16.2% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / male: 27.6% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / female: 3.8% (2025 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49): 43.8% (2020 est.)
Child marriage / women married by age 15: 0% (2023)
Child marriage / women married by age 18: 0.1% (2023)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% GDP): 2.2% of GDP (2024 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% national budget): 12% national budget (2025 est.)
Literacy / total population: 97.7% (2021 est.)
Literacy / male: 98.9% (2021 est.)
Literacy / female: 96.4% (2021 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / total: 17 years (2022 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / male: 17 years (2022 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / female: 17 years (2022 est.)

## Environment
Environmental issues: water pollution; industrial pollution; limited freshwater resources; waste disposal problems from limited land availability; air pollution; deforestation; seasonal smoke/haze from forest fires in Indonesia
International environmental agreements / party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution
International environmental agreements / signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Climate: tropical; hot, humid, rainy; two distinct monsoon seasons - northeastern monsoon (December to March) and southwestern monsoon (June to September); inter-monsoon - frequent afternoon and early evening thunderstorms
Land use / agricultural land: 0.9% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 0.8% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 0.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 0% (2022 est.)
Land use / forest: 22% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 77.1% (2023 est.)
Urbanization / urban population: 100% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 0.74% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / total emissions: 238.962 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from coal and metallurgical coke: 2.338 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from petroleum and other liquids: 210.859 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from consumed natural gas: 25.765 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Particulate matter emissions: 10 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Waste and recycling / municipal solid waste generated annually: 1.87 million tons (2024 est.)
Waste and recycling / percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 51.7% (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / municipal: 198.207 million cubic meters (2022)
Total water withdrawal / industrial: 162.624 million cubic meters (2022)
Total water withdrawal / agricultural: 0 cubic meters (2022)
Total renewable water resources: 600 million cubic meters (2022)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: Republic of Singapore
Country name / conventional short form: Singapore
Country name / local long form: Republic of Singapore
Country name / local short form: Singapore
Country name / etymology: name derives from the Sanskrit words simha (lion) and pur (city); according to Malayan folklore, an Indian prince visited Singapore in the 7th century and mistook the first animal he saw for a lion, which is not native to the country
Government type: parliamentary republic
Capital / name: Singapore
Capital / geographic coordinates: 1 17 N, 103 51 E
Capital / time difference: UTC+8 (13 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Capital / etymology: name derives from the Sanskrit words simha (lion) and pur (city); according to Malayan folklore, an Indian prince visited Singapore in the 7th century and mistook the first animal he saw for a lion, which is not native to the country
Administrative divisions: no first-order administrative divisions; five community development councils: Central Singapore Development Council, North East Development Council, North West Development Council, South East Development Council, South West Development Council (2019)
Legal system: English common law
Constitution / history: several previous; latest adopted 22 December 1965
Constitution / amendment process: proposed by Parliament; passage requires two-thirds majority vote in the second and third readings by the elected Parliament membership and assent of the president of the republic; passage of amendments affecting sovereignty or control of the Police Force or the Armed Forces requires at least two-thirds majority vote in a referendum
International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt
Citizenship / citizenship by birth: no
Citizenship / citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Singapore
Citizenship / dual citizenship recognized: no
Citizenship / residency requirement for naturalization: 10 years
Suffrage: 21 years of age; universal and compulsory
Executive branch / chief of state: President THARMAN Shanmugaratnam (since 14 September 2023)
Executive branch / head of government: Prime Minister Lawrence WONG (since 15 May 2024)
Executive branch / cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president on the advice of the prime minister; responsible to Parliament
Executive branch / election/appointment process: president directly elected by simple-majority popular vote for a 6-year term (no term limits); following legislative elections, the president appoints the leader of the majority party or majority coalition as prime minister; deputy prime ministers also appointed by the president
Executive branch / most recent election date: 1 September 2023
Executive branch / election results: 2023: THARMAN Shanmugaratnam elected president; percent of vote - THARMAN Shanmugaratnam (independent) 70.4%, NG Kok Song (independent) 15.7%, TAN Kin Lian (independent) 13.9% 2017 : HALIMAH Yacob declared president on 13 September 2017, being the only eligible candidate
Executive branch / expected date of next election: 2029
Legislative branch / legislature name: Parliament
Legislative branch / legislative structure: unicameral
Legislative branch / number of seats: 108 (97 directly elected; 9 appointed)
Legislative branch / electoral system: plurality/majority
Legislative branch / scope of elections: full renewal
Legislative branch / term in office: 5 years
Legislative branch / most recent election date: 5/3/2025
Legislative branch / parties elected and seats per party: People's Action Party (PAP) (87); Workers' Party (WPS) (12)
Legislative branch / percentage of women in chamber: 32.3%
Legislative branch / expected date of next election: May 2030
Judicial branch / highest court(s): Supreme Court (number of judges varies but includes judicial commissioners, judges of appeal, and international judges); the court is organized into an upper-tier Appeal Court and a lower-tier High Court
Judicial branch / judge selection and term of office: judges appointed by the president from candidates recommended by the prime minister after consultation with the chief justice; judges usually serve until retirement at age 65, but terms can be extended
Judicial branch / subordinate courts: district, magistrates', juvenile, family, community, and coroners' courts; small claims tribunals; employment claims tribunals
Political parties: People's Action Party or PAP Workers' Party or WPS there are 13 additional active political parties in Singapore
Diplomatic representation in the US / chief of mission: Ambassador LUI Tuck Yew (since 30 June 2023)
Diplomatic representation in the US / chancery: 3501 International Place NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation in the US / telephone: [1] (202) 537-3100
Diplomatic representation in the US / FAX: [1] (202) 537-0876
Diplomatic representation in the US / email address and website: singemb_was@mfa.sg https://www.mfa.gov.sg/washington/
Diplomatic representation in the US / consulate(s) general: San Francisco
Diplomatic representation in the US / consulate(s): New York
Diplomatic representation from the US / chief of mission: Ambassador Anjani K. SINHA (since 17 November 2025)
Diplomatic representation from the US / embassy: 27 Napier Road, Singapore 258508
Diplomatic representation from the US / mailing address: 4280 Singapore Place, Washington DC 20521-4280
Diplomatic representation from the US / telephone: [65] 6476-9100
Diplomatic representation from the US / FAX: [65] 6476-9340
Diplomatic representation from the US / email address and website: singaporeusembassy@state.gov https://sg.usembassy.gov/
International organization participation: ADB, AOSIS, APEC, Arctic Council (observer), ARF, ASEAN, BIS, C, CP, EAS, FAO, FATF, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NAM, OPCW, Pacific Alliance (observer), PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNOOSA, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Independence: 9 August 1965 (from Malaysian Federation)
National holiday: National Day, 9 August (1965)
Flag: description: two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and white; a vertical white crescent is on the left side of the red band, with a circle of five five-pointed white stars to the right of the crescent meaning: red stands for brotherhood and equality, and white for purity and virtue; the waxing crescent moon symbolizes a young nation on the ascendancy; the stars represent the national ideals of democracy, peace, progress, justice, and equality
National symbol(s): lion, merlion (mythical half-lion, half-fish creature), orchid
National color(s): red, white
National anthem(s) / title: "Majulah Singapura" (Onward, Singapore)
National anthem(s) / lyrics/music: Zubir SAID
National anthem(s) / history: adopted 1959; the anthem is sung only in Malay; first four lines of the melody are used as a presidential salute
National heritage / total World Heritage Sites: 1 (cultural)
National heritage / selected World Heritage Site locales: Singapore Botanic Gardens

## Economy
Economic overview: high-income, service-based economy; global financial hub; business-friendly policies and open to investment and trade; inflation easing but persistent in services; public investments in education, healthcare, and infrastructure; strong human capital development challenged by aging population
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $800.304 billion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $766.662 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $752.948 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2024: 4.4% (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2023: 1.8% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2022: 4.1% (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2024: $132,600 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2023: $129,600 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2022: $133,600 (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $547.387 billion (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024: 2.4% (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023: 4.8% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 6.1% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / agriculture: 0% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / industry: 21.4% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / services: 73% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / household consumption: 31.5% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / government consumption: 10.6% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in fixed capital: 21.9% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in inventories: 0.3% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / exports of goods and services: 178.8% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / imports of goods and services: -143.6% (2024 est.)
Agricultural products: chicken, eggs, vegetables, pork, duck, spinach, lettuce, pork offal, cabbages, pork fat (2023)
Industries: electronics, chemicals, financial services, oil drilling equipment, petroleum refining, biomedical products, scientific instruments, telecommunication equipment, processed food and beverages, ship repair, offshore platform construction, entrepot trade
Industrial production growth rate: 4.2% (2024 est.)
Labor force: 3.722 million (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2024: 3.2% (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2023: 3.5% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2022: 3.6% (2022 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / total: 7.8% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / male: 5.6% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / female: 10.8% (2024 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income / Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2016: 45.8 (2016)
Average household expenditures / on food: 7% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Average household expenditures / on alcohol and tobacco: 1.7% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2023: 0% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2022: 0% of GDP (2022 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2021: 0% of GDP (2021 est.)
Budget / revenues: $80.836 billion (2022 est.)
Budget / expenditures: $73.144 billion (2022 est.)
Public debt / Public debt 2023: 175.6% of GDP (2023 est.)
Taxes and other revenues: 13.9% (of GDP) (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2024: $96.015 billion (2024 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2023: $89.403 billion (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2022: $93.771 billion (2022 est.)
Exports / Exports 2024: $978.597 billion (2024 est.)
Exports / Exports 2023: $917.683 billion (2023 est.)
Exports / Exports 2022: $947.355 billion (2022 est.)
Exports - partners: Hong Kong 13%, China 11%, USA 10%, Malaysia 9%, S. Korea 6% (2023)
Exports - commodities: integrated circuits, refined petroleum, machinery, vaccines, gold (2023)
Imports / Imports 2024: $786.02 billion (2024 est.)
Imports / Imports 2023: $728.5 billion (2023 est.)
Imports / Imports 2022: $744.364 billion (2022 est.)
Imports - partners: China 15%, Malaysia 11%, Taiwan 11%, USA 10%, S. Korea 6% (2023)
Imports - commodities: integrated circuits, refined petroleum, crude petroleum, gold, gas turbines (2023)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024: $383.946 billion (2024 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023: $359.835 billion (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $296.629 billion (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Currency: Singapore dollars (SGD) per US dollar -
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2024: 1.336 (2024 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2023: 1.343 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2022: 1.379 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2021: 1.343 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2020: 1.38 (2020 est.)

## Energy
Electricity access / electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)
Electricity / installed generating capacity: 13.134 million kW (2023 est.)
Electricity / consumption: 56.672 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / transmission/distribution losses: 169.447 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / fossil fuels: 94.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / solar: 2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / biomass and waste: 3.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Coal / consumption: 1.153 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / exports: 97 metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / imports: 1.326 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum / refined petroleum consumption: 1.514 million bbl/day (2023 est.)
Natural gas / consumption: 13.134 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / exports: 399.452 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / imports: 13.973 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Energy consumption per capita / Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 643.259 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

## Communications
Telephones - fixed lines / total subscriptions: 1.912 million (2023 est.)
Telephones - fixed lines / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 33 (2023 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / total subscriptions: 9.96 million (2024 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 171 (2024 est.)
Broadcast media: state-controlled broadcast media; 6 domestic TV stations operated by state-owned MediaCorp; broadcasts from Malaysian and Indonesian stations available; satellite dishes banned; multi-channel cable TV services available; 19 domestic radio stations, including 11 for MediaCorp, 5 for state-linked Singapore Press Holdings, 2 for Singapore Armed Forces Reservists Association, and 1 for BBC Radio; Malaysian and Indonesian radio stations available (2019)
Internet country code: .sg
Internet users / percent of population: 94% (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / total: 1.57 million (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 27 (2023 est.)

## Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: 9V
Airports: 9 (2025)
Heliports: 1 (2025)
Merchant marine / total: 3,202 (2023)
Merchant marine / by type: bulk carrier 591, container ship 604, general cargo 107, oil tanker 600, other 1,300
Ports / total ports: 5 (2024)
Ports / large: 2
Ports / medium: 1
Ports / small: 1
Ports / very small: 1
Ports / ports with oil terminals: 3
Ports / key ports: Jurong Island, Keppel - (East Singapore), Pulau Bukom, Pulau Sebarok

## Military and Security
Military and security forces: Singapore Armed Forces (SAF; aka Singapore Defense Force): Singapore Army, Republic of Singapore Navy, Republic of Singapore Air Force (includes air defense), Digital and Intelligence Service Ministry of Home Affairs: Singapore Police Force (SPF; includes Police Coast Guard and the Gurkha Contingent) (2025)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2024: 3% of GDP (2024 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2023: 3% of GDP (2023 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2022: 3% of GDP (2022 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2021: 3% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2020: 3% of GDP (2020 est.)
Military and security service personnel strengths: information varies; approximately 55,000 active-duty Armed Forces (40,000 Army; 7,000 Navy; 8,000 Air Force) (2025)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the SAF has a diverse and modern mix of domestically produced and imported Western weapons systems from such suppliers as France, Germany, and the US; Singapore has a small but sophisticated defense industry, which produces armaments such as armored vehicles and naval warships (2025)
Military service age and obligation: 18 years of age for voluntary enlistment for men and women (16.5 for early enlistment program with parental consent); 18-21 years of age for compulsory military service for men; 24-month conscript service obligation (2026)
Military deployments: maintains permanent training detachments of military personnel in Australia, France, and the US (2025)
Military - note: the SAF’s primary responsibility is external defense, particularly maritime security, but it also trains for certain domestic security operations, including joint deterrence patrols with police in instances of heightened terrorism alerts; the Army includes a “people’s defense force,” which is a divisional headquarters responsible for homeland security and counterterrorism; the SAF regularly participates in bilateral and multilateral training exercises Singapore is a member of the Five Powers Defense Arrangements (FPDA), a series of mutual assistance agreements reached in 1971 embracing Australia, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore, and the UK; the FPDA commits the members to consult with one another in the event or threat of an armed attack on any of the members and to mutually decide what measures should be taken, jointly or separately; Singapore also has close security ties with the US, including granting the US military access, basing, and overflight privileges the SAF's roots go back to 1854 when the Singapore Volunteer Rifle Corps was formed under colonial rule; the first battalion of regular soldiers, the First Singapore Infantry Regiment, was organized in 1957; the modern SAF was established in 1965 (2025)

## Terrorism

## Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons / stateless persons: 1,109 (2024 est.)

=== Thailand ===

## Introduction
Background: Two unified Thai kingdoms emerged in the mid-13th century. The Sukhothai Kingdom, located in the south-central plains, gained its independence from the Khmer Empire to the east. By the late 13th century, Sukhothai’s territory extended into present-day Burma and Laos. Sukhothai lasted until the mid-15th century. The Thai Lan Na Kingdom was established in the north with its capital at Chang Mai; the Burmese conquered Lan Na in the 16th century. The Ayutthaya Kingdom (14th-18th centuries) succeeded the Sukhothai and would become known as the Siamese Kingdom. During the Ayutthaya period, the Thai/Siamese peoples consolidated their hold on what is present-day central and north-central Thailand. Following a military defeat at the hands of the Burmese in 1767, the Siamese Kingdom rose to new heights under the military ruler TAKSIN, who defeated the Burmese occupiers and expanded the kingdom’s territory into modern-day northern Thailand (formerly the Lan Na Kingdom), Cambodia, Laos, and the Malay Peninsula. In the mid-1800s, Western pressure led to Siam signing trade treaties that reduced the country’s sovereignty and independence. In the 1890s and 1900s, the British and French forced the kingdom to cede Cambodian, Laotian, and Malay territories that had been under Siamese control. Following a bloodless revolution in 1932 that led to the establishment of a constitutional monarchy, Thailand's political history was marked by a series of mostly bloodless coups with power concentrated among military and bureaucratic elites. Periods of civilian rule were unstable. The Cold War era saw a communist insurgency and the rise of strongman leaders. Thailand became a US treaty ally in 1954 after sending troops to Korea and later fighting alongside the US in Vietnam. In the 21st century, Thailand has experienced additional turmoil, including a military coup in 2006 that ousted then Prime Minister THAKSIN Chinnawat and large-scale street protests led by competing political factions in 2008-2010. In 2011, THAKSIN's youngest sister, YINGLAK Chinnawat, led the Puea Thai Party to an electoral win and assumed control of the government. In 2014, after months of major anti-government protests in Bangkok, the Constitutional Court removed YINGLAK from office, and the Army, led by Gen. PRAYUT Chan-ocha, then staged a coup against the caretaker government. The military-affiliated National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) ruled the country under PRAYUT for more than four years, drafting a new constitution that allowed the military to appoint the entire 250-member Senate and required a joint meeting of the House and Senate to select the prime minister -- which effectively gave the military a veto on the selection. King PHUMIPHON Adunyadet passed away in 2016 after 70 years on the throne; his only son, WACHIRALONGKON (aka King RAMA X), formally ascended the throne in 2019. The same year, a long-delayed election allowed PRAYUT to continue his premiership, although the results were disputed and widely viewed as skewed in favor of the party aligned with the military. The country again experienced major anti-government protests in 2020. The reformist Move Forward Party won the most seats in the 2023 election but was unable to form a government, and Srettha THRAVISIN from the Pheu Thai Party replaced PRAYUT as prime minister after forming a coalition of moderate and conservative parties.

## Geography
Location: Southeastern Asia, bordering the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand, southeast of Burma
Geographic coordinates: 15 00 N, 100 00 E
Map references: Southeast Asia
Area / total: 513,120 sq km
Area / land: 510,890 sq km
Area / water: 2,230 sq km
Area - comparative: about three times the size of Florida; slightly more than twice the size of Wyoming
Land boundaries / total: 5,673 km
Land boundaries / border countries: Burma 2,416 km; Cambodia 817 km; Laos 1,845 km; Malaysia 595 km
Coastline: 3,219 km
Maritime claims / territorial sea: 12 nm
Maritime claims / exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Maritime claims / continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Climate: tropical; rainy, warm, cloudy southwest monsoon (mid-May to September); dry, cool northeast monsoon (November to mid-March); southern isthmus always hot and humid
Terrain: central plain; Khorat Plateau in the east; mountains elsewhere
Elevation / highest point: Doi Inthanon 2,565 m
Elevation / lowest point: Gulf of Thailand 0 m
Elevation / mean elevation: 287 m
Natural resources: tin, rubber, natural gas, tungsten, tantalum, timber, lead, fish, gypsum, lignite, fluorite, arable land
Land use / agricultural land: 43.8% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 31% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 11.2% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 1.6% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 39% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 17.2% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land: 64,150 sq km (2012)
Major lakes (area sq km) / salt water lake(s): Thalesap Songkhla - 1,290 sq km
Major rivers (by length in km): Mae Nam Khong (Mekong) (shared with China [s], Burma, Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam [m]) - 4,350 km; Salween (shared with China [s] and Burma [m]) - 3,060 km; Mun - 1,162 km note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Major watersheds (area sq km) / Indian Ocean drainage: Salween (271,914 sq km)
Major watersheds (area sq km) / Pacific Ocean drainage: Mekong (805,604 sq km)
Population distribution: highest population density is found in and around Bangkok; significant population clusters throughout large parts of the country, particularly north and northeast of Bangkok and in the extreme southern region of the country
Natural hazards: land subsidence in Bangkok area resulting from the depletion of the water table; droughts
Geography - note: controls only land route from Asia to Malaysia and Singapore

## People and Society
Population / total: 70,025,248 (2025 est.)
Population / male: 34,101,016
Population / female: 35,924,232
Nationality / noun: Thai (singular and plural)
Nationality / adjective: Thai
Ethnic groups: Thai 97.5%, Burmese 1.3%, other 1.1%, unspecified <0.1% (2015 est.)
Languages / Languages: Thai (official) only 90.7%, Thai and other languages 6.4%, only other languages 2.9% (includes Malay, Burmese); English is a secondary language among the elite (2010 est.)
Languages / major-language sample(s): สารานุกรมโลก - แหล่งข้อมูลพื้นฐานที่สำคัญ (Thai) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
Religions: Buddhist 92.5%, Muslim 5.4%, Christian 1.2%, other 0.9% (includes animist, Confucian, Hindu, Jewish, Sikh, and Taoist) (2021 est.)
Age structure / 0-14 years: 15.8% (male 5,669,592/female 5,394,398)
Age structure / 15-64 years: 69% (male 23,681,528/female 24,597,535)
Age structure / 65 years and over: 15.1% (2024 est.) (male 4,714,191/female 5,863,754)
Dependency ratios / total dependency ratio: 45.9 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / youth dependency ratio: 22.9 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / elderly dependency ratio: 23.1 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / potential support ratio: 4.3 (2025 est.)
Median age / total: 41.9 years (2025 est.)
Median age / male: 40.2 years
Median age / female: 42.7 years
Population growth rate: 0.13% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 9.82 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 8.08 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: -0.41 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution: highest population density is found in and around Bangkok; significant population clusters throughout large parts of the country, particularly north and northeast of Bangkok and in the extreme southern region of the country
Urbanization / urban population: 53.6% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 1.43% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 11.070 million BANGKOK (capital), 1.454 Chon Buri, 1.359 million Samut Prakan, 1.213 million Chiang Mai, 1.005 million Songkla, 1.001 million Nothaburi (2023)
Sex ratio / at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 65 years and over: 0.8 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth: 23.3 years (2009 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio: 34 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Infant mortality rate / total: 6.2 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Infant mortality rate / male: 6.9 deaths/1,000 live births
Infant mortality rate / female: 5.6 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth / total population: 78.2 years (2024 est.)
Life expectancy at birth / male: 75.2 years
Life expectancy at birth / female: 81.3 years
Total fertility rate: 1.55 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 0.75 (2025 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: urban: urban: 100% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: rural: rural: 100% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: total: total: 100% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: urban: urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: rural: rural: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: total: total: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 5.2% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 16.1% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density: 0.54 physicians/1,000 population (2021)
Hospital bed density: 2.3 beds/1,000 population (2021 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: urban: urban: 99.9% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: rural: rural: 100% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: total: total: 100% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: urban: urban: 0.1% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: rural: rural: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: total: total: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 10% (2016)
Alcohol consumption per capita / total: 6.86 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / beer: 1.85 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / wine: 0.23 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / spirits: 4.78 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / other alcohols: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Tobacco use / total: 18.1% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / male: 36.1% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / female: 1.6% (2025 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 6.7% (2022 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49): 52.4% (2022 est.)
Child marriage / women married by age 15: 5.5% (2022)
Child marriage / women married by age 18: 17% (2022)
Child marriage / men married by age 18: 5.8% (2022)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% GDP): 2.5% of GDP (2023 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% national budget): 12.6% national budget (2025 est.)
Literacy / total population: 91.1% (2022 est.)
Literacy / male: 90.7% (2022 est.)
Literacy / female: 91.5% (2022 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / total: 16 years (2023 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / male: 16 years (2023 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / female: 16 years (2023 est.)

## Environment
Environmental issues: air pollution from vehicle emissions; water pollution from organic and factory wastes; water scarcity; deforestation; soil erosion; illegal hunting; hazardous waste disposal
International environmental agreements / party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands
International environmental agreements / signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Climate: tropical; rainy, warm, cloudy southwest monsoon (mid-May to September); dry, cool northeast monsoon (November to mid-March); southern isthmus always hot and humid
Land use / agricultural land: 43.8% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 31% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 11.2% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 1.6% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 39% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 17.2% (2023 est.)
Urbanization / urban population: 53.6% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 1.43% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / total emissions: 336.693 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from coal and metallurgical coke: 79.928 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from petroleum and other liquids: 160.931 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from consumed natural gas: 95.834 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Particulate matter emissions: 26.3 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Methane emissions / energy: 708.8 kt (2022-2024 est.)
Methane emissions / agriculture: 2,109.9 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Methane emissions / waste: 635.8 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Methane emissions / other: 57.9 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Waste and recycling / municipal solid waste generated annually: 26.853 million tons (2024 est.)
Waste and recycling / percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 40% (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / municipal: 2.739 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / industrial: 2.777 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / agricultural: 51.79 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total renewable water resources: 438.61 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Geoparks / total global geoparks and regional networks: 2
Geoparks / global geoparks and regional networks: Khorat; Satun (2023)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: Kingdom of Thailand
Country name / conventional short form: Thailand
Country name / local long form: Ratcha Anachak Thai
Country name / local short form: Prathet Thai
Country name / former: Siam
Country name / etymology: the name means "Land of the Thai," referring to the local population; the people's name comes from the Thai word tha , meaning "to be free;" the former name of Siam comes from the Sanskrit word syama , meaning "dark"
Government type: constitutional monarchy
Capital / name: Bangkok
Capital / geographic coordinates: 13 45 N, 100 31 E
Capital / time difference: UTC+7 (12 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Capital / etymology: the name is from the Thai words bang (region) and kok (olive trees); the city's full ceremonial name holds the world record for longest place name, Krungthepmahanakhon amonrattanakosin mahintharayutthaya mahadilokphop noppharatratchathaniburirom udomratchaniwetmahasathan amonphimanawatansathit sakkathattiyawitsanukamprasit, which means "City of angels, great city of immortals, magnificent city of the nine gems, seat of the king, city of royal palaces, home of gods incarnate, erected by Vishvakarman at Indra's behest"
Administrative divisions: 76 provinces ( changwat , singular and plural) and 1 municipality* ( maha nakhon ); Amnat Charoen, Ang Thong, Bueng Kan, Buri Ram, Chachoengsao, Chai Nat, Chaiyaphum, Chanthaburi, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Chon Buri, Chumphon, Kalasin, Kamphaeng Phet, Kanchanaburi, Khon Kaen, Krabi, Krung Thep* (Bangkok), Lampang, Lamphun, Loei, Lop Buri, Mae Hong Son, Maha Sarakham, Mukdahan, Nakhon Nayok, Nakhon Pathom, Nakhon Phanom, Nakhon Ratchasima, Nakhon Sawan, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Nan, Narathiwat, Nong Bua Lamphu, Nong Khai, Nonthaburi, Pathum Thani, Pattani, Phangnga, Phatthalung, Phayao, Phetchabun, Phetchaburi, Phichit, Phitsanulok, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, Phrae, Phuket, Prachin Buri, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Ranong, Ratchaburi, Rayong, Roi Et, Sa Kaeo, Sakon Nakhon, Samut Prakan, Samut Sakhon, Samut Songkhram, Saraburi, Satun, Sing Buri, Si Sa Ket, Songkhla, Sukhothai, Suphan Buri, Surat Thani, Surin, Tak, Trang, Trat, Ubon Ratchathani, Udon Thani, Uthai Thani, Uttaradit, Yala, Yasothon
Legal system: civil law system with common law influences
Constitution / history: many previous; latest drafted and presented 29 March 2016, approved by referendum 7 August 2016, signed into law by the king on 6 April 2017
Constitution / amendment process: amendments require a majority vote in a joint session of the House and Senate and further require at least one fifth of opposition House members and one third of the Senate vote in favor; a national referendum is additionally required for certain amendments; all amendments require signature by the king
International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt
Citizenship / citizenship by birth: no
Citizenship / citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Thailand
Citizenship / dual citizenship recognized: no
Citizenship / residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Executive branch / chief of state: King WACHIRALONGKON; also spelled Vajiralongkorn (since 1 December 2016)
Executive branch / head of government: Prime Minister ANUTIN Charnvirakul (since 5 Sep 2025)
Executive branch / cabinet: Council of Ministers nominated by the prime minister, appointed by the king; a Privy Council advises the king
Executive branch / election/appointment process: the monarchy is hereditary; prime minister candidate approved by House of Representatives and appointed by the king
Legislative branch / legislature name: National Assembly (Rathhasapha)
Legislative branch / legislative structure: bicameral
Legislative branch - lower chamber / chamber name: House of Representatives (Saphaphuthan Ratsadon)
Legislative branch - lower chamber / number of seats: 500 (all directly elected)
Legislative branch - lower chamber / electoral system: mixed system
Legislative branch - lower chamber / scope of elections: full renewal
Legislative branch - lower chamber / term in office: 4 years
Legislative branch - lower chamber / most recent election date: 5/14/2023 (House of Representatives dissolved on 12 December 2025)
Legislative branch - lower chamber / parties elected and seats per party: Move Forward (151); Pheu Thai (141); Bhumjaithai (71); Palang Pracharath (40); United Thai Nation (36); Democrat Party (25); Other (36)
Legislative branch - lower chamber / percentage of women in chamber: 19.6%
Legislative branch - lower chamber / expected date of next election: 8 February 2026
Legislative branch - upper chamber / chamber name: Senate (Wuthisapha)
Legislative branch - upper chamber / number of seats: 200 (all indirectly elected)
Legislative branch - upper chamber / scope of elections: full renewal
Legislative branch - upper chamber / term in office: 5 years
Legislative branch - upper chamber / most recent election date: 6/9/2024 to 6/26/2024
Legislative branch - upper chamber / percentage of women in chamber: 22.5%
Legislative branch - upper chamber / expected date of next election: June 2029
Judicial branch / highest court(s): Supreme Court of Justice (consists of the court president, 6 vice presidents, 60-70 judges, and organized into 10 divisions); Constitutional Court (consists of the court president and 8 judges); Supreme Administrative Court (number of judges determined by Judicial Commission of the Administrative Courts)
Judicial branch / judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court judges selected by the Judicial Commission of the Courts of Justice and approved by the monarch; judge term determined by the monarch; Constitutional Court justices - 3 judges drawn from the Supreme Court, 2 judges drawn from the Administrative Court, and 4 judge candidates selected by the Selective Committee for Judges of the Constitutional Court, and confirmed by the Senate; judges appointed by the monarch serve single 9-year terms; Supreme Administrative Court judges selected by the Judicial Commission of the Administrative Courts and appointed by the monarch; judges serve for life
Judicial branch / subordinate courts: courts of first instance and appeals courts within both the judicial and administrative systems; military courts
Political parties: Bhumjaithai Party or BJT (aka Phumchai Thai Party or PJT; aka Thai Pride Party) Chat Thai Phatthana Party (Thai Nation Development Party) or CTP Democrat Party Move Forward Party or MFP (dissolved by order of the Constitutional Court, August 2024) Palang Pracharat Party (People's State Power Party) or PPRP Pheu (Puea) Thai Party (For Thais Party) or PTP Prachachat Party or PCC Prachathipat Party (Democrat Party) or DP Thai Sang Thai Party United Thai Nation (Ruam Thai Sang Chat) or UTN
Diplomatic representation in the US / chief of mission: Ambassador Dr. SURIYA Chindawongse (since 17 June 2024)
Diplomatic representation in the US / chancery: 1024 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Suite 401, Washington, DC 20007
Diplomatic representation in the US / telephone: [1] (202) 944-3600
Diplomatic representation in the US / FAX: [1] (202) 944-3611
Diplomatic representation in the US / email address and website: thai.wsn@thaiembdc.org https://washingtondc.thaiembassy.org/en/index
Diplomatic representation in the US / consulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles, New York
Diplomatic representation from the US / chief of mission: Ambassador-designate Sean O'NEILL (since 16 December 2025)
Diplomatic representation from the US / embassy: 95 Wireless Road, Bangkok 10330
Diplomatic representation from the US / mailing address: 7200 Bangkok Place, Washington DC 20521-7200
Diplomatic representation from the US / telephone: [66] 2-205-4000
Diplomatic representation from the US / FAX: [66] 2-205-4103
Diplomatic representation from the US / email address and website: acsbkk@state.gov https://th.usembassy.gov/
Diplomatic representation from the US / consulate(s) general: Chiang Mai
International organization participation: ADB, APEC, ARF, ASEAN, BIMSTEC, BIS, CD, CICA, CP, EAS, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NAM, OAS (observer), OIC (observer), OIF (observer), OPCW, OSCE (partner), PCA, PIF (partner), UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMOGIP, UNOOSA, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Independence: 1238 (traditional founding date; never colonized)
National holiday: Birthday of King WACHIRALONGKON, 28 July (1952)
Flag: description: five horizontal bands of red (top), white, blue (double-width), white, and red meaning: red stands for the nation and the blood of life, white for religion and the purity of Buddhism, and blue for the monarchy
National symbol(s): garuda (mythical half-man, half-bird figure), elephant
National color(s): red, white, blue
National coat of arms: in 1911, King Vajiravudh (Rama VI) of Thailand officially adopted the Garuda as the national coat of arms and emblem; this mythological half-man, half-bird figure from the Hindu and Buddhist traditions is considered the vahana (vehicle) of the god Vishnu (Narayana) and was a symbol of royalty in Thailand for centuries
National anthem(s) / title: "Phleng Sanlasoen Phra Barami" (A Salute to the Monarch)
National anthem(s) / lyrics/music: Narisara NUWATTIWONG and King VAJIRAVUDH/Pyotr SHCHUROVSKY
National anthem(s) / history: royal anthem, played in the presence of the royal family and during certain state ceremonies
National heritage / total World Heritage Sites: 8 (5 cultural, 3 natural)
National heritage / selected World Heritage Site locales: Historic City of Ayutthaya (c); Historic Sukhothai and Associated Historic Towns (c); Thungyai-Huai Kha Khaeng Wildlife Sanctuaries (n); Ban Chiang Archaeological Site (c); Dong Phayayen-Khao Yai Forest Complex (n); Kaeng Krachan Forest Complex (n); The Ancient Town of Si Thep and its Associated Dvaravati Monuments (n); Phu Phrabat, a testimony to the Sīma stone tradition of the Dvaravati period (c)

## Economy
Economic overview: upper middle-income Southeast Asian economy; substantial infrastructure; major electronics, food, and automobile parts exporter; globally used currency; extremely low unemployment; ongoing Thailand 4.0 economic development
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $1.558 trillion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $1.519 trillion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $1.489 trillion (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2024: 2.5% (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2023: 2% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2022: 2.6% (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2024: $21,700 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2023: $21,200 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2022: $20,800 (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $526.411 billion (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024: 1.4% (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023: 8.5% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: -1.6% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / agriculture: 8.7% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / industry: 32.1% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / services: 59.2% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / household consumption: 58.2% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / government consumption: 16.7% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in fixed capital: 22.2% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in inventories: -0.6% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / exports of goods and services: 70.1% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / imports of goods and services: -66.7% (2024 est.)
Agricultural products: sugarcane, rice, cassava, oil palm fruit, maize, rubber, tropical fruits, chicken, mangoes/guavas, fruits (2023)
Industries: 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, agricultural machinery, air conditioning and refrigeration, ceramics, aluminum, chemical, environmental management, glass, granite and marble, leather, machinery and metal work, petrochemical, petroleum refining, pharmaceuticals, printing, pulp and paper, rubber, sugar, rice, fishing, cassava, world's second-largest tungsten producer and third-largest tin producer
Industrial production growth rate: 0.9% (2024 est.)
Labor force: 40.623 million (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2024: 0.7% (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2023: 0.8% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2022: 1% (2022 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / total: 4.3% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / male: 3.1% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / female: 6% (2024 est.)
Population below poverty line: 5.4% (2022 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income / Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2023: 33.5 (2023 est.)
Average household expenditures / on food: 25.9% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Average household expenditures / on alcohol and tobacco: 3% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / lowest 10%: 3.4% (2023 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / highest 10%: 26.1% (2023 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2024: 1.8% of GDP (2024 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2023: 1.9% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2022: 1.8% of GDP (2022 est.)
Budget / revenues: $102.84 billion (2023 est.)
Budget / expenditures: $114.521 billion (2023 est.)
Public debt / Public debt 2023: 61.1% of GDP (2023 est.)
Taxes and other revenues: 15.4% (of GDP) (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2024: $11.089 billion (2024 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2023: $7.412 billion (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2022: -$17.162 billion (2022 est.)
Exports / Exports 2024: $369.191 billion (2024 est.)
Exports / Exports 2023: $337.45 billion (2023 est.)
Exports / Exports 2022: $324.111 billion (2022 est.)
Exports - partners: USA 18%, China 13%, Japan 7%, Australia 4%, Singapore 4% (2023)
Exports - commodities: machine parts, integrated circuits, trucks, cars, broadcasting equipment (2023)
Imports / Imports 2024: $351.419 billion (2024 est.)
Imports / Imports 2023: $327.008 billion (2023 est.)
Imports / Imports 2022: $334.44 billion (2022 est.)
Imports - partners: China 26%, Japan 11%, USA 7%, UAE 6%, Taiwan 5% (2023)
Imports - commodities: crude petroleum, integrated circuits, natural gas, gold, vehicle parts/accessories (2023)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024: $236.934 billion (2024 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023: $224.47 billion (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $216.501 billion (2022 est.)
Debt - external / Debt - external 2023: $37.065 billion (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Currency: baht per US dollar -
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2024: 35.294 (2024 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2023: 34.802 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2022: 35.061 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2021: 31.977 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2020: 31.294 (2020 est.)

## Energy
Electricity access / electrification - total population: 99.9% (2022 est.)
Electricity access / electrification - urban areas: 100%
Electricity access / electrification - rural areas: 100%
Electricity / installed generating capacity: 55.971 million kW (2023 est.)
Electricity / consumption: 215.281 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / exports: 2.256 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / imports: 35.805 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / transmission/distribution losses: 14.44 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / fossil fuels: 81.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / solar: 2.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / wind: 1.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / hydroelectricity: 3.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / biomass and waste: 10.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Coal / production: 12.812 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / consumption: 42.371 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / exports: 65,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / imports: 29.757 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / proven reserves: 1.063 billion metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum / total petroleum production: 386,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Petroleum / refined petroleum consumption: 1.397 million bbl/day (2023 est.)
Petroleum / crude oil estimated reserves: 252.75 million barrels (2021 est.)
Natural gas / production: 29.614 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / consumption: 52.351 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / imports: 22.738 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / proven reserves: 138.243 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)
Energy consumption per capita / Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 80.602 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

## Communications
Telephones - fixed lines / total subscriptions: 4.087 million (2023 est.)
Telephones - fixed lines / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 6 (2023 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / total subscriptions: 115 million (2024 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 161 (2024 est.)
Broadcast media: 26 digital TV stations and 6 terrestrial TV stations broadcast nationally via relay stations, with 2 of the terrestrial stations military-owned and the other 4 state-owned or state-controlled; some leased to private enterprise; all required to broadcast government-produced news; multi-channel satellite and cable TV subscriptions available; radio frequencies allotted for over 500 government and commercial radio stations; many small community radio stations operate with low-power transmitters (2017)
Internet country code: .th
Internet users / percent of population: 90% (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / total: 11.5 million (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 16 (2023 est.)

## Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: HS
Airports: 105 (2025)
Heliports: 5 (2025)
Railways / total: 4,127 km (2017)
Railways / standard gauge: 84 km (2017) 1.435-m gauge (84 km electrified)
Railways / narrow gauge: 4,043 km (2017) 1.000-m gauge
Merchant marine / total: 884 (2023)
Merchant marine / by type: bulk carrier 28, container ship 28, general cargo 88, oil tanker 251, other 489
Ports / total ports: 21 (2024)
Ports / large: 1
Ports / medium: 2
Ports / small: 3
Ports / very small: 15
Ports / ports with oil terminals: 14
Ports / key ports: Bangkok, Laem Chabang, Pattani, Phuket, Sattahip, Si Racha

## Military and Security
Military and security forces: Royal Thai Armed Forces (RTARF): Royal Thai Army (RTA), Royal Thai Navy (RTN; includes Royal Thai Marine Corps), Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) Office of the Prime Minister: Royal Thai Police (2025)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2024: 1.1% of GDP (2024 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2023: 1.3% of GDP (2023 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2022: 1.3% of GDP (2022 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2021: 1.3% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2020: 1.4% of GDP (2020 est.)
Military and security service personnel strengths: estimated 350,000 active-duty Armed Forces (250,000 Army; 70,000 Navy; 30,000 Air Force) (2025)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the RTARF has a diverse array of foreign-supplied armaments, as well as some domestically produced items; its imported weapons and equipment are from a variety of suppliers, including China, several European countries, Israel, Russia, South Korea, and the US; Thailand's domestic defense industry produces such items as armored vehicles, artillery systems, naval vessels, unmanned aerial vehicles, and other military technologies (2025)
Military service age and obligation: 18 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women; all men register at 17 years of age and are subject to selective compulsory military service at 21; volunteer service obligation may be as short as 6-18 months, depending on educational qualifications; conscript service obligation also varies by educational qualifications, but is typically 24 months (2025)
Military deployments: 280 South Sudan (UNMISS) (2025)
Military - note: the missions of the Royal Thai Armed Forces (RTARF) include defending the country’s territory and sovereignty, protecting the monarchy, ensuring internal security, and responding to natural disasters; key areas of emphasis are disputed international borders and a low-level insurgency in the country's south; the military has historically had a large role in domestic politics and has attempted as many as 20 coups since the fall of absolute monarchy in 1932, the most recent being in 2014 in July 2025, following months of rising tensions, the RTARF and Cambodian military forces clashed in multiple locations along their disputed border; both sides blamed the other for provoking the five-day conflict, which included cross-border artillery shelling by both sides and air attacks by RTARF fighter aircraft and drones; since 2004, the RTARF and Thai paramilitary forces have combated a separatist insurgency in the southern Thailand provinces of Pattani, Yala, and Narathiwat, as well as parts of Songkhla; the insurgency is rooted in ethnic Malay nationalist resistance to Thai rule that followed the extension of Siamese sovereignty over the Patani Sultanate in the 18th century; the insurgency consists of several armed groups, the largest of which is the Barisan Revolusi Nasional-Koordinasi (BRN-C): insurgent attacks have largely involved bombings; since 2020, Thai officials have been negotiating with BRN, and has parallel talks with an umbrella organization, MARA Pattani, that claims to represent the insurgency groups (2025)

## Space
Space agency/agencies: Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (GISTDA; created in 2000 from the Thailand Remote Sensing Center that was established in 1979); National Space Policy Committee (NSPC) (2025)
Space launch site(s): none; in 2023, announced intentions to build a spaceport with South Korean assistance (2025)
Space program overview: has an ambitious national space program focused on the acquisition, production, and operation of satellites, as well as research and development of related infrastructure, sciences, and technologies; operates communications and remote sensing (RS) satellites; manufactures scientific/research/testing cube satellites and is developing the capabilities to produce RS satellites (has historically built satellites with foreign assistance); works with a range of foreign space agencies and industries, including those of China, France, India, the Netherlands, Pakistan, Russia, South Korea, and the US; founding member of the China-led Asia-Pacific Space Cooperation Organization (APSCO); has a commercial space industry, including Southeast Asia&rsquo;s first dedicated satellite manufacturing facility, which opened in 2021 (2025)
Key space-program milestones: 1982 - established first satellite ground station 1993 - first foreign-built commercial communications satellite (Thaicom-1) launched on European rocket 2008 - first remote sensing satellite (Theos-1; aka Thaichote) co-developed with France and launched by Russia 2018 - first domestically produced scientific/research satellite (KNACKSAT) launched by US 2024 - signed memorandum of understanding with China for cooperation on Beijing's lunar research station project and space exploration; signed US-led Artemis Accords

## Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons / refugees: 87,025 (2024 est.)
Refugees and internally displaced persons / IDPs: 19 (2023 est.)
Refugees and internally displaced persons / stateless persons: 612,524 (2024 est.)
Illicit drugs / USG identification: major precursor-chemical producer (2025)

=== Timor-Leste ===

## Introduction
Background: The island of Timor was actively involved in Southeast Asian trading networks for centuries, and by the 14th century, it exported sandalwood, slaves, honey, and wax. The sandalwood trade attracted the Portuguese, who arrived in the early 16th century; by mid-century, they had colonized the island, which was previously ruled by local chieftains. In 1859, Portugal ceded the western portion of the island to the Dutch. Imperial Japan occupied Portuguese Timor from 1942 to 1945, but Portugal resumed colonial authority after the Japanese defeat in World War II. The eastern part of Timor declared itself independent from Portugal on 28 November 1975, but Indonesian forces invaded and occupied the area nine days later. It was incorporated into Indonesia in 1976 as the province of Timor Timur (East Timor or Timor Leste). Indonesia conducted an unsuccessful pacification campaign in the province over the next two decades, during which as many as 250,000 people died. In a UN-supervised referendum in 1999, an overwhelming majority of the people of Timor-Leste voted for independence from Indonesia. However, anti-independence Timorese militias -- organized and supported by the Indonesian military -- began a large-scale, scorched-earth campaign of retribution, killing approximately 1,400 Timorese and displacing nearly 500,000. Most of the country's infrastructure was destroyed, including homes, irrigation systems, water supply systems, schools, and most of the electrical grid. Australian-led peacekeeping troops eventually deployed to the country and ended the violence. In 2002, Timor-Leste was internationally recognized as an independent state. In 2006, Australia and the UN had to step in again to stabilize the country, which allowed presidential and parliamentary elections to be conducted in 2007 in a largely peaceful atmosphere. In 2008, rebels staged an unsuccessful attack against the president and prime minister. Since that attack, Timor-Leste has made considerable progress in building stability and democratic institutions, holding a series of successful parliamentary and presidential elections since 2012. Nonetheless, weak and unstable political coalitions have led to periodic episodes of stalemate and crisis. The UN continues to provide assistance on economic development and strengthening governing institutions. Currently, Timor-Leste is one of the world's poorest nations, with an economy that relies heavily on energy resources in the Timor Sea.

## Geography
Location: Southeastern Asia, northwest of Australia in the Lesser Sunda Islands at the eastern end of the Indonesian archipelago; note - Timor-Leste includes the eastern half of the island of Timor, the Oecussi (Ambeno) region on the northwest portion of the island of Timor, and the islands of Pulau Atauro and Pulau Jaco
Geographic coordinates: 8 50 S, 125 55 E
Map references: Southeast Asia
Area / total: 14,874 sq km
Area / land: 14,874 sq km
Area / water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly larger than Connecticut; almost half the size of Maryland
Land boundaries / total: 253 km
Land boundaries / border countries: Indonesia 253 km
Coastline: 706 km
Maritime claims / territorial sea: 12 nm
Maritime claims / contiguous zone: 24 nm
Maritime claims / exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
Climate: tropical; hot, humid; distinct rainy and dry seasons
Terrain: mountainous
Elevation / highest point: Foho Tatamailau 2,963 m
Elevation / lowest point: Timor Sea, Savu Sea, and Banda Sea 0 m
Natural resources: gold, petroleum, natural gas, manganese, marble
Land use / agricultural land: 23% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 7.5% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 5.4% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 10.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 71% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 6% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land: 350 sq km (2012)
Population distribution: most of the population is concentrated in the western third of the country, particularly around Dili
Natural hazards: floods and landslides are common; earthquakes; tsunamis; tropical cyclones
Geography - note: the island of Timor is part of the Malay Archipelago and is the largest and easternmost of the Lesser Sunda Islands; the district of Oecussi is an exclave separated from Timor-Leste proper by Indonesia; Timor-Leste is the only Asian country located completely in the Southern Hemisphere

## People and Society
Population / total: 1,404,785 (2025 est.)
Population / male: 693,940
Population / female: 710,845
Nationality / noun: Timorese
Nationality / adjective: Timorese
Ethnic groups: Austronesian (Malayo-Polynesian) (includes Tetun, Mambai, Tokodede, Galoli, Kemak, Baikeno), Melanesian-Papuan (includes Bunak, Fataluku, Bakasai), small Chinese minority
Languages: Tetun Prasa 30.6%, Mambai 16.6%, Makasai 10.5%, Tetun Terik 6.1%, Baikenu 5.9%, Kemak 5.8%, Bunak 5.5%, Tokodede 4%, Fataluku 3.5%, Waima'a 1.8%, Galoli 1.4%, Naueti 1.4%, Idate 1.2%, Midiki 1.2%, other 4.5% (2015 est.)
Religions: Catholic 90.7%, other 7.1%, Protestant Evangelical 1.9%; less than 1%: Islam, Buddhist, Hindu (2022 est.)
Age structure / 0-14 years: 38.7% (male 299,929/female 283,416)
Age structure / 15-64 years: 56.8% (male 418,493/female 437,727)
Age structure / 65 years and over: 4.5% (2024 est.) (male 32,243/female 35,101)
Dependency ratios / total dependency ratio: 62 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / youth dependency ratio: 54.3 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / elderly dependency ratio: 7.7 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / potential support ratio: 12.9 (2025 est.)
Median age / total: 23 years (2025 est.)
Median age / male: 19.8 years
Median age / female: 21.3 years
Population growth rate: 1.28% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 23.39 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 6.86 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: -3.73 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution: most of the population is concentrated in the western third of the country, particularly around Dili
Urbanization / urban population: 32.5% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 3.31% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 281,000 DILI (capital) (2018)
Sex ratio / at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 65 years and over: 0.92 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth: 23 years (2016 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio: 192 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Infant mortality rate / total: 41.9 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Infant mortality rate / male: 35.3 deaths/1,000 live births
Infant mortality rate / female: 28.9 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth / total population: 70.5 years (2024 est.)
Life expectancy at birth / male: 68.9 years
Life expectancy at birth / female: 72.3 years
Total fertility rate: 2.79 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 1.35 (2025 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: urban: urban: 98.4% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: rural: rural: 81.6% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: total: total: 87% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: urban: urban: 1.6% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: rural: rural: 18.4% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: total: total: 13% of population (2022 est.)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 11.4% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 8.9% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density: 0.75 physicians/1,000 population (2020)
Sanitation facility access / improved: urban: urban: 94.1% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: rural: rural: 64% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: total: total: 73.7% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: urban: urban: 5.9% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: rural: rural: 36% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: total: total: 26.3% of population (2022 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 3.8% (2016)
Alcohol consumption per capita / total: 0.41 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / beer: 0.27 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / wine: 0.09 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / spirits: 0.05 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / other alcohols: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Tobacco use / total: 36.1% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / male: 62.6% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / female: 8.9% (2025 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 31.9% (2020 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49): 56.4% (2022 est.)
Child marriage / women married by age 15: 2.6% (2016)
Child marriage / women married by age 18: 14.9% (2016)
Child marriage / men married by age 18: 1.2% (2016)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% GDP): 5.2% of GDP (2023 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% national budget): 4.3% national budget (2025 est.)
Literacy / total population: 72.5% (2022 est.)
Literacy / male: 73.1% (2022 est.)
Literacy / female: 71.8% (2022 est.)
People - note: one of only two predominantly Christian nations in Southeast Asia, the other being the Philippines

## Environment
Environmental issues: air pollution and deterioration of air quality; water quality, scarcity, and access; land and soil degradation; forest depletion; deforestation and soil erosion from slash-and-burn agriculture; loss of biodiversity
International environmental agreements / party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Desertification, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection
International environmental agreements / signed, but not ratified: Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban
Climate: tropical; hot, humid; distinct rainy and dry seasons
Land use / agricultural land: 23% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 7.5% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 5.4% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 10.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 71% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 6% (2023 est.)
Urbanization / urban population: 32.5% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 3.31% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / total emissions: 660,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from petroleum and other liquids: 660,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Particulate matter emissions: 20.4 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Waste and recycling / municipal solid waste generated annually: 63,900 tons (2024 est.)
Waste and recycling / percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 13.5% (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / municipal: 99 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / industrial: 2 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / agricultural: 1.071 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total renewable water resources: 8.215 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste
Country name / conventional short form: Timor-Leste
Country name / local long form: Republika Demokratika Timor Lorosa'e (Tetum)/ Republica Democratica de Timor-Leste (Portuguese)
Country name / local short form: Timor Lorosa'e (Tetum)/ Timor-Leste (Portuguese)
Country name / former: East Timor, Portuguese Timor
Country name / etymology: the name partly derives from the Indonesian and Malay word timur , meaning "east;" leste is the Portuguese word for "east," so "Timor-Leste" literally means "Eastern-East"
Government type: semi-presidential republic
Capital / name: Dili
Capital / geographic coordinates: 8 35 S, 125 36 E
Capital / time difference: UTC+9 (14 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Administrative divisions: 12 municipalities ( municipios , singular - municipio ) and 1 special adminstrative region* ( regiao administrativa especial ); Aileu, Ainaro, Baucau, Bobonaro (Maliana), Covalima (Suai), Dili, Ermera (Gleno), Lautem (Lospalos), Liquica, Manatuto, Manufahi (Same), Oe-Cusse Ambeno* (Pante Macassar), Viqueque
Legal system: civil law system based on the Portuguese model
Constitution / history: drafted 2001, approved 22 March 2002, entered into force 20 May 2002
Constitution / amendment process: proposed by Parliament and parliamentary groups; consideration of amendments requires at least four-fifths majority approval by Parliament; passage requires two-thirds majority vote by Parliament and promulgation by the president of the republic; passage of amendments to the republican form of government and the flag requires approval in a referendum
International law organization participation: accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Citizenship / citizenship by birth: no
Citizenship / citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Timor-Leste
Citizenship / dual citizenship recognized: no
Citizenship / residency requirement for naturalization: 10 years
Suffrage: 17 years of age; universal
Executive branch / chief of state: President Jos&eacute; RAMOS-HORTA (since 20 May 2022)
Executive branch / head of government: Prime Minister Kay Rala Xanana GUSMAO (since 1 July 2023)
Executive branch / cabinet: Council of Ministers; ministers proposed to the prime minister by the coalition in the Parliament and sworn in by the president
Executive branch / election/appointment process: president directly elected by absolute-majority popular vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); following parliamentary elections, the president appoints the leader of the majority party or majority coalition as the prime minister
Executive branch / most recent election date: 19 March 2022, with a runoff on 19 April 2022
Executive branch / election results: 2022 : José RAMOS-HORTA elected president in second round - RAMOS-HORTA (CNRT) 62.1%, Francisco GUTERRES (FRETILIN) 37.9% 2017 : Francisco GUTERRES elected president; Francisco GUTERRES (FRETILIN) 57.1%, António da CONCEICAO (PD) 32.5%, other 10.4%
Executive branch / expected date of next election: April 2027
Legislative branch / legislature name: National Parliament
Legislative branch / legislative structure: unicameral
Legislative branch / number of seats: 65 (all directly elected)
Legislative branch / electoral system: proportional representation
Legislative branch / scope of elections: full renewal
Legislative branch / term in office: 5 years
Legislative branch / most recent election date: 5/21/2023
Legislative branch / parties elected and seats per party: National Congress for the Reconstruction of Timor-Leste (CNRT) (31); Revolutionary Front for an independent East Timor (FRETILIN) (19); Democratic Party (PD) (6); Kmanek Haburas Unidade Nasional Timor Oan (KHUNTO) (5); People's Liberation Party (PLP) (4)
Legislative branch / percentage of women in chamber: 35.4%
Legislative branch / expected date of next election: May 2028
Judicial branch / highest court(s): Court of Appeals (consists of the court president and NA judges)
Judicial branch / judge selection and term of office: court president appointed by the president of the republic from among the other court judges to serve a 4-year term; other court judges appointed - 1 by the Parliament and the others by the Supreme Council for the Judiciary, a body chaired by the court president and that includes mostly presidential and parliamentary appointees; other judges serve for life
Judicial branch / subordinate courts: Court of Appeal; High Administrative, Tax, and Audit Court; district courts; magistrates' courts; military courts
Political parties: Democratic Party or PD National Congress for Timorese Reconstruction or CNRT National Unity of the Sons of Timor (Haburas Unidade Nasional Timor Oan or KHUNTO) People's Liberation Party or PLP Revolutionary Front of Independent Timor-Leste or FRETILIN
Diplomatic representation in the US / chief of mission: Ambassador Jos&eacute; Luis GUTERRES (since 17 June 2024)
Diplomatic representation in the US / chancery: 4201 Connecticut Avenue NW, Suite 504, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation in the US / telephone: [1] (202) 966-3202
Diplomatic representation in the US / FAX: [1] (202) 966-3205
Diplomatic representation in the US / email address and website: info@timorlesteembassy.org
Diplomatic representation from the US / chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charg&eacute; d&rsquo;Affaires Bruce BEGNELL (since July 2025)
Diplomatic representation from the US / embassy: Avenida de Portugal, Praia dos Coqueiros, Dili
Diplomatic representation from the US / mailing address: 8250 Dili Place, Washington, DC 20521-8250
Diplomatic representation from the US / telephone: (670) 332-4684, (670) 330-2400
Diplomatic representation from the US / FAX: (670) 331-3206
Diplomatic representation from the US / email address and website: ConsDili@state.gov https://tl.usembassy.gov/
International organization participation: ACP, ADB, AOSIS, ARF, ASEAN, CPLP, EITI (compliant country), FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ITU, MIGA, NAM, OPCW, PIF (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WMO
Independence: 28 November 1975 (from Portugal); 20 May 2002 (from Indonesia)
National holiday: Restoration of Independence Day, 20 May (2002); Proclamation of Independence Day, 28 November (1975)
Flag: description: red with a black isosceles triangle (based on the left side) on a slightly longer yellow arrowhead that extends to the center of the flag; a white star is in the center of the black triangle meaning: yellow stands for past colonialism, black for obscurantism that needs to be overcome, and red for the struggle for freedom; the white star represents peace and a guiding light
National symbol(s): Mount Ramelau
National color(s): red, yellow, black, white
National anthem(s) / title: "Patria" (Fatherland)
National anthem(s) / lyrics/music: Fransisco Borja DA COSTA/Afonso DE ARAUJO
National anthem(s) / history: adopted 2002; the song was first used as an anthem when Timor-Leste declared its independence from Portugal in 1975; the lyricist, Francisco Borja DA COSTA, was killed in the Indonesian invasion just days after independence was declared

## Economy
Economic overview: lower middle-income Southeast Asian economy; government expenditures funded via oil fund drawdowns; endemic corruption undermines growth; foreign aid-dependent; wide-scale poverty, unemployment, and illiteracy
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $5.863 billion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $5.995 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $7.322 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2024: -2.2% (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2023: -18.1% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2022: -20.5% (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2024: $4,200 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2023: $4,300 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2022: $5,300 (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $1.881 billion (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024: 2.1% (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023: 8.4% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 7% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / agriculture: 16.9% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / industry: 23.9% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / services: 61% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / household consumption: 70% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / government consumption: 52.9% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in fixed capital: 17.4% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in inventories: 3.1% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / exports of goods and services: 22.9% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / imports of goods and services: -66.4% (2023 est.)
Agricultural products: maize, rice, coconuts, root vegetables, vegetables, cassava, other meats, pork, beans, coffee (2023)
Industries: printing, soap manufacturing, handicrafts, woven cloth
Industrial production growth rate: -57% (2023 est.)
Labor force: 615,900 (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2024: 1.7% (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2023: 1.6% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2022: 1.6% (2022 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / total: 3.4% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / male: 3.2% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / female: 3.7% (2024 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2024: 11.7% of GDP (2024 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2023: 9.3% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2022: 5.1% of GDP (2022 est.)
Budget / revenues: $1.877 billion (2022 est.)
Budget / expenditures: $1.826 billion (2022 est.)
Public debt / Public debt 2016: 3.1% of GDP (2016 est.)
Taxes and other revenues: 21.6% (of GDP) (2022 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2024: -$529.738 million (2024 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2023: -$177.336 million (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2022: $408.059 million (2022 est.)
Exports / Exports 2024: $278.047 million (2024 est.)
Exports / Exports 2023: $701.808 million (2023 est.)
Exports / Exports 2022: $1.858 billion (2022 est.)
Exports - partners: China 46%, Singapore 25%, Japan 15%, Indonesia 5%, USA 3% (2023)
Exports - commodities: crude petroleum, natural gas, coffee, scrap iron, telephones (2023)
Imports / Imports 2024: $1.197 billion (2024 est.)
Imports / Imports 2023: $1.169 billion (2023 est.)
Imports / Imports 2022: $1.286 billion (2022 est.)
Imports - partners: Indonesia 34%, China 26%, Singapore 9%, Taiwan 5%, India 4% (2023)
Imports - commodities: refined petroleum, rice, cars, plastic products, trucks (2023)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024: $736.967 million (2024 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023: $781.995 million (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $830.81 million (2022 est.)
Debt - external / Debt - external 2023: $238.042 million (2023 est.)
Exchange rates: the US dollar is used

## Energy
Electricity access / electrification - total population: 99.7% (2022 est.)
Electricity access / electrification - urban areas: 100%
Electricity access / electrification - rural areas: 100%
Electricity / installed generating capacity: 277,000 kW (2023 est.)
Electricity / consumption: 411.519 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / transmission/distribution losses: 99.481 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / fossil fuels: 99.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / solar: 0.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Coal / imports: 122,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum / total petroleum production: 5,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Petroleum / refined petroleum consumption: 5,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Natural gas / production: 521.034 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / exports: 521.034 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
Energy consumption per capita / Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 6.825 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

## Communications
Telephones - fixed lines / total subscriptions: 2,000 (2023 est.)
Telephones - fixed lines / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2023 est.) less than 1
Telephones - mobile cellular / total subscriptions: 1.63 million (2024 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 116 (2024 est.)
Broadcast media: 7 TV stations (3 nationwide satellite coverage; 2 terrestrial coverage, mostly in Dili; 2 cable) and 21 radio stations (3 nationwide coverage) (2019)
Internet country code: .tl
Internet users / percent of population: 34% (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / total: 0 (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2023 est.) less than 1

## Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: 4W
Airports: 11 (2025)
Heliports: 2 (2025)
Merchant marine / total: 1 (2023)
Merchant marine / by type: other 1
Ports / total ports: 1 (2024)
Ports / large: 0
Ports / medium: 0
Ports / small: 1
Ports / very small: 0
Ports / ports with oil terminals: 0
Ports / key ports: Dili

## Military and Security
Military and security forces: Timor-Leste Defense Force (Falintil-Forcas de Defesa de Timor-L'este, Falintil (F-FDTL)): Land Component, Air Force Component, Naval Component Ministry of Interior: National Police of Timor-Leste (Polícia Nacional de Timor-Leste, PNTL) (2025)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2024: 2.5% of GDP (2024 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2023: 2.5% of GDP (2023 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2022: 1.4% of GDP (2022 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2021: 1.2% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2020: 1.8% of GDP (2020 est.)
Military and security service personnel strengths: approximately 2,000 Defense Forces (2025)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the military is lightly armed with a limited inventory consisting mostly of donated equipment from countries such as Australia, China, Portugal, South Korea, and the US (2025)
Military service age and obligation: 18 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women; according to Timorese law on military service, all citizens 18-30 must contribute to the defense of independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity of the country and render their contribution through defense and security institutions (2025)
Military - note: the Timor-Leste Defense Force (F-FDTL) has both external defense and internal security roles; it also engages in national development missions, international peacekeeping, and regional security cooperation; the F-FDTL has ties with a variety of partners, including Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Indonesia, Malaysia, New Zealand, the Philippines, Portugal, the UN, and the US (2025)

## Transnational Issues

=== Taiwan ===

## Introduction
Background: First inhabited by Austronesian people, Taiwan became home to Han immigrants beginning in the late Ming Dynasty (17th century). In 1895, military defeat forced China's Qing Dynasty to cede Taiwan to Japan, which then governed Taiwan for 50 years. Taiwan came under Chinese Nationalist (Kuomintang, KMT) control after World War II. With the communist victory in the Chinese civil war in 1949, the Nationalist-controlled Republic of China government and 2 million Nationalists fled to Taiwan and continued to claim to be the legitimate government for mainland China and Taiwan, based on a 1947 constitution drawn up for all of China. Until 1987, however, the Nationalist Government ruled Taiwan under a civil war martial law declaration dating to 1948. Beginning in the 1970s, Nationalist authorities gradually began to incorporate the native population into the governing structure beyond the local level. The democratization process expanded rapidly in the 1980s, leading to the then-illegal founding of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), Taiwan’s first opposition party, in 1986 and the lifting of martial law the following year. Taiwan held legislative elections in 1992, the first in over 40 years, and its first direct presidential election in 1996. In the 2000 presidential elections, Taiwan underwent its first peaceful transfer of power with the KMT loss to the DPP and afterwards experienced two additional democratic transfers of power in 2008 and 2016. Throughout this period, the island prospered and turned into one of East Asia's economic "Tigers," becoming a major investor in mainland China after 2000 as cross-Strait ties matured. The dominant political issues continue to be economic reform and growth, as well as management of sensitive relations between Taiwan and China.

## Geography
Location: Eastern Asia, islands bordering the East China Sea, Philippine Sea, South China Sea, and Taiwan Strait, north of the Philippines, off the southeastern coast of China
Geographic coordinates: 23 30 N, 121 00 E
Map references: Southeast Asia
Area / total: 35,980 sq km
Area / land: 32,260 sq km
Area / water: 3,720 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly smaller than Maryland and Delaware combined
Land boundaries / total: 0 km
Coastline: 1,566.3 km
Maritime claims / territorial sea: 12 nm
Maritime claims / exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate: tropical; marine; rainy season during southwest monsoon (June to August); persistent and extensive cloudiness all year
Terrain: eastern two-thirds mostly rugged mountains; flat to gently rolling plains in west
Elevation / highest point: Yu Shan 3,952 m
Elevation / lowest point: South China Sea 0 m
Elevation / mean elevation: 1,150 m
Natural resources: small deposits of coal, natural gas, limestone, marble, asbestos, arable land
Land use / agricultural land: 22% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 16.6% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 5.4% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 0% (2022 est.)
Land use / forest: 0% (2022 est.)
Land use / other: 78% (2022 est.)
Irrigated land: 3,820 sq km (2012)
Population distribution: distribution exhibits a peripheral coastal settlement pattern, with the largest populations on the north and west coasts
Natural hazards: earthquakes; typhoons volcanism: Kueishantao Island (401 m), east of Taiwan, is the only historically active volcano, but it has not erupted in centuries
Geography - note: strategic location adjacent to both the Taiwan Strait and the Luzon Strait

## People and Society
Population / total: 23,600,776 (2025 est.)
Population / male: 11,596,835
Population / female: 12,003,941
Nationality / noun: Taiwan (singular and plural)
Nationality / adjective: Taiwan (or Taiwanese)
Ethnic groups: Han Chinese (including Holo, who compose approximately 70% of Taiwan's population, Hakka, and other groups originating in mainland China) more than 95%, indigenous Malayo-Polynesian peoples 2.3%
Languages / Languages: Mandarin (official), Min Nan, Hakka dialects, approximately 16 indigenous languages
Languages / major-language sample(s): 世界概況 – 不可缺少的基本消息來源 (Mandarin) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
Religions: Buddhist 35.3%, Taoist 33.2%, Christian 3.9%, folk religion (includes Confucian) approximately 10%, none or unspecified 18.2% (2005 est.)
Age structure / 0-14 years: 12.1% (male 1,472,059/female 1,391,031)
Age structure / 15-64 years: 69% (male 8,132,356/female 8,155,582)
Age structure / 65 years and over: 18.8% (2024 est.) (male 2,002,076/female 2,442,170)
Dependency ratios / total dependency ratio: 46.5 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / youth dependency ratio: 17.7 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / elderly dependency ratio: 28.7 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / potential support ratio: 3.5 (2025 est.)
Median age / total: 45.1 years (2025 est.)
Median age / male: 43.6 years
Median age / female: 45.5 years
Population growth rate: 0.02% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 7.22 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 8.18 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: 1.17 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution: distribution exhibits a peripheral coastal settlement pattern, with the largest populations on the north and west coasts
Urbanization / urban population: 80.1% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 0.65% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 4.504 million New Taipei City, 2.754 million TAIPEI (capital), 2.319 million Taoyuan, 1.553 million Kaohsiung, 1.369 million Taichung, 863,000 Tainan (2023)
Sex ratio / at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 65 years and over: 0.82 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Infant mortality rate / total: 3.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Infant mortality rate / male: 4.2 deaths/1,000 live births
Infant mortality rate / female: 3.5 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth / total population: 81.6 years (2024 est.)
Life expectancy at birth / male: 78.6 years
Life expectancy at birth / female: 84.7 years
Total fertility rate: 1.12 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 0.54 (2025 est.)

## Environment
Environmental issues: air pollution; water pollution from industrial emissions, raw sewage; contamination of drinking water supplies; trade in endangered species; low-level radioactive waste disposal
Climate: tropical; marine; rainy season during southwest monsoon (June to August); persistent and extensive cloudiness all year
Land use / agricultural land: 22% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 16.6% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 5.4% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 0% (2022 est.)
Land use / forest: 0% (2022 est.)
Land use / other: 78% (2022 est.)
Urbanization / urban population: 80.1% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 0.65% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / total emissions: 289.109 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from coal and metallurgical coke: 140.734 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from petroleum and other liquids: 92.014 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from consumed natural gas: 56.361 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Waste and recycling / municipal solid waste generated annually: 7.336 million tons (2015 est.)
Waste and recycling / percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 13.8% (2022 est.)
Total renewable water resources: 67 cubic meters (2011)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: none
Country name / conventional short form: Taiwan
Country name / local long form: none
Country name / local short form: Taiwan
Country name / former: Formosa
Country name / etymology: the name may derive from the Chinese words tai (terrace) and wan (bay), referring to the island's terrain; in 1590, the Portuguese named it Formosa, meaning "beautiful"
Government type: semi-presidential republic
Capital / name: Taipei
Capital / geographic coordinates: 25 02 N, 121 31 E
Capital / time difference: UTC+8 (13 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Capital / etymology: the name means "Northern Taiwan," from the Chinese words tai (a short form of Taiwan) and bei (north), reflecting the city's position in the far north of the island
Administrative divisions: includes main island of Taiwan, plus smaller islands nearby and off coast of China's Fujian Province; Taiwan is divided into 13 counties ( xian , singular and plural), 3 cities ( shi , singular and plural), and 6 special municipalities directly under the jurisdiction of the Executive Yuan counties: Changhua, Chiayi, Hsinchu, Hualien, Kinmen, Lienchiang, Miaoli, Nantou, Penghu, Pingtung, Taitung, Yilan, Yunlin cities: Chiayi, Hsinchu, Keelung special municipalities: Kaohsiung (city), New Taipei (city), Taichung (city), Tainan (city), Taipei (city), Taoyuan (city)
Legal system: civil law system
Constitution / history: previous 1912, 1931; latest adopted 25 December 1946, promulgated 1 January 1947, effective 25 December 1947
Constitution / amendment process: proposed by at least one fourth of the Legislative Yuan membership; passage requires approval by at least three-fourths majority vote of at least three fourths of the Legislative Yuan membership and approval in a referendum by more than half of eligible voters
International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt
Citizenship / citizenship by birth: no
Citizenship / citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Taiwan
Citizenship / dual citizenship recognized: yes, except that citizens of Taiwan are not recognized as dual citizens of the People's Republic of China
Citizenship / residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years
Suffrage: 20 years of age; universal
Executive branch / chief of state: President LAI Ching-te (since 20 May 2024)
Executive branch / head of government: Premier CHO Jung-tai (President of the Executive Yuan) (since 20 May 2024)
Executive branch / cabinet: Executive Yuan; ministers appointed by president on recommendation of premier
Executive branch / election/appointment process: president and vice president directly elected on the same ballot by simple-majority popular vote for a 4-year term (eligible for a second term); premier appointed by the president; vice premiers appointed by the president on the recommendation of the premier
Executive branch / most recent election date: 13 January 2024
Executive branch / election results: 2024: LAI Ching-te elected president; percent of vote - LAI Ching-te (DPP) 40.1%, HOU Yu-ih (KMT) 33.5%, KO Wen-je (TPP) 26.5%) 2020: TSAI Ing-wen reelected president; percent of vote - TSAI Ing-wen (DPP) 57.1%, HAN Kuo-yu (KMT) 38.6%, James SOONG (PFP) 4.3%
Executive branch / expected date of next election: 2028
Legislative branch / legislature name: Legislative Yuan
Legislative branch / legislative structure: unicameral
Legislative branch / number of seats: 113 (directly elected)
Legislative branch / electoral system: plurality/majority
Legislative branch / scope of elections: full renewal
Legislative branch / term in office: 4 years
Legislative branch / most recent election date: 13 January 2024
Legislative branch / parties elected and seats per party: Kuomintang (KMT) 52, Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) 51, Taiwan People's Party (TPP) 8, independent 2
Legislative branch / percentage of women in chamber: 41.6%
Legislative branch / expected date of next election: January 2028
Judicial branch / highest court(s): Supreme Court (consists of the court president, vice president, and approximately 100 judges organized into civil and criminal panels, each with a chief justice and 4 associate justices); Constitutional Court (consists of the court president, vice president, and 13 justices)
Judicial branch / judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court justices appointed for life by the president; Constitutional Court justices appointed by the president, with approval of the Legislative Yuan, for 8-year terms, with half the membership renewed every 4 years
Judicial branch / subordinate courts: high courts; district courts; hierarchy of administrative courts
Political parties: Democratic Progressive Party or DPP Kuomintang or KMT (Nationalist Party) Taiwan People's Party or TPP
Diplomatic representation in the US / chief of mission: none
Diplomatic representation in the US / Taipei Economic and Cultural Offices (branch offices): Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Denver (CO), Hagatna (Guam), Honolulu, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, San Francisco, Seattle, Washington DC
Diplomatic representation from the US / chief of mission: the US does not have an embassy in Taiwan; commercial and cultural relations with the people of Taiwan are maintained through an unofficial instrumentality, the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT), a private nonprofit corporation that performs citizen and consular services similar to those at diplomatic posts; it is managed by Director Raymond F. GREENE (since 8 July 2024)
Diplomatic representation from the US / mailing address: 4170 AIT Taipei Place, Washington DC 20521-4170
Diplomatic representation from the US / telephone: [886] 2-2162-2000
Diplomatic representation from the US / FAX: [886] 2-2162-2251
Diplomatic representation from the US / email address and website: TaipeiACS@state.gov https://www.ait.org.tw/
Diplomatic representation from the US / branch office(s): American Institute in Taiwan No. 100, Jinhu Road, Neihu District 11461, Taipei City
Diplomatic representation from the US / other offices: Kaohsiung (Branch Office)
International organization participation: ADB (Chinese Taipei), APEC (Chinese Taipei), BCIE, CABEI, IOC, ITUC (NGOs), SICA (observer), WTO (Chinese Taipei)
National holiday: Republic Day (National Day), 10 October (1911)
Flag: description: red field with a dark blue rectangle in the upper-left corner, bearing a white sun with 12 triangular rays meaning: blue stands for liberty, justice, and democracy; red for fraternity, sacrifice, and nationalism; white for equality, frankness, and the people's livelihood; the 12 rays represent the months of the year and the traditional Chinese hours (each ray equals two hours) history: the blue-and-white design of the canton (symbolizing the sun of progress) dates to 1895
National symbol(s): white sun with 12 rays on a blue field
National color(s): blue, white, red
National anthem(s) / title: "Zhonghua Minguo guoge" (National Anthem of the Republic of China)
National anthem(s) / lyrics/music: HU Han-min, TAI Chi-t'ao, and LIAO Chung-k'ai/CHENG Mao-yun
National anthem(s) / history: adopted 1937; also the song of the Kuomintang Party; informally known as "San Min Chu I" or "San Min Zhu Yi" (Three Principles of the People); the anthem is banned from performance in mainland China, Hong Kong, and Macau

## Economy
Economic overview: high-income East Asian economy; most technologically advanced computer microchip manufacturing; increasing Chinese interference threatens market capabilities; minimum wages rising; longstanding regional socioeconomic inequality
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $1.743 trillion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $1.664 trillion (2022 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2021: $1.512 trillion (2021 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2023: 1.28% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2022: 2.59% (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2021: 6.62% (2021 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2023: $32,300 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2022: $32,600 (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2021: $32,900 (2021 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $611.391 billion (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024: 2.2% (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023: 2.5% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 2.9% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / household consumption: 48.3% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / government consumption: 13.3% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in fixed capital: 23.7% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in inventories: -0.6% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / exports of goods and services: 64% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / imports of goods and services: -49.1% (2023 est.)
Agricultural products: rice, vegetables, pork, chicken, cabbages, milk, sugarcane, tropical fruits, pineapples, eggs (2023)
Industries: electronics, communications and information technology products, petroleum refining, chemicals, textiles, iron and steel, machinery, cement, food processing, vehicles, consumer products, pharmaceuticals
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2024: 3.4% (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2023: 3.5% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2022: 3.7% (2022 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income / Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2023: 33.9 (2023 est.)
Average household expenditures / on food: 13.8% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Average household expenditures / on alcohol and tobacco: 2.5% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Budget / revenues: $94.943 billion (2019 est.)
Budget / expenditures: $105.833 billion (2019 est.)
Public debt / Public debt 2017: 35.7% of GDP (2017 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2023: $105.076 billion (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2022: $101.032 billion (2022 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2021: $118.298 billion (2021 est.)
Exports / Exports 2023: $432.432 billion (2023 est.)
Exports / Exports 2022: $479.415 billion (2022 est.)
Exports / Exports 2021: $446.371 billion (2021 est.)
Exports - partners: China 20%, USA 17%, Hong Kong 13%, Singapore 9%, Japan 7% (2023)
Exports - commodities: integrated circuits, machine parts, broadcasting equipment, computers, plastics (2023)
Imports / Imports 2023: $351.441 billion (2023 est.)
Imports / Imports 2022: $428.083 billion (2022 est.)
Imports / Imports 2021: $381.958 billion (2021 est.)
Imports - partners: China 21%, Japan 13%, USA 11%, S. Korea 9%, Australia 5% (2023)
Imports - commodities: integrated circuits, crude petroleum, machinery, natural gas, coal (2023)
Exchange rates / Currency: New Taiwan dollars (TWD) per US dollar -
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2024: 32.108 (2024 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2023: 31.15 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2022: 29.777 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2021: 28.022 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2020: 28.211 (2020 est.)

## Energy
Electricity / installed generating capacity: 64.535 million kW (2023 est.)
Electricity / consumption: 270.648 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / transmission/distribution losses: 7.907 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / fossil fuels: 84.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / nuclear: 6.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / solar: 4.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / wind: 2.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / hydroelectricity: 1.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / biomass and waste: 1.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Nuclear energy / Number of operational nuclear reactors: 1 (2025)
Nuclear energy / Net capacity of operational nuclear reactors: 0.94GW (2025 est.)
Nuclear energy / Percent of total electricity production: 6.9% (2023 est.)
Nuclear energy / Number of nuclear reactors permanently shut down: 5 (2025)
Coal / production: 5.212 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / consumption: 64.609 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / exports: 47,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / imports: 58.15 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / proven reserves: 1 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum / total petroleum production: 800 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Petroleum / refined petroleum consumption: 954,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Petroleum / crude oil estimated reserves: 2.38 million barrels (2021 est.)
Natural gas / production: 60.761 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / consumption: 27.222 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / imports: 26.997 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / proven reserves: 6.23 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)
Energy consumption per capita / Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 206.102 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

## Communications
Telephones - fixed lines / total subscriptions: 10 million (2023 est.)
Telephones - fixed lines / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 43 (2023 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / total subscriptions: 29.8 million (2024 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 128 (2024 est.)
Broadcast media: 5 national TV networks with about 22 stations; over 300 satellite TV channels available; about half of households use multi-channel cable TV; almost all subscribe to digital cable TV; national and regional radio networks with about 171 radio stations (2023)
Internet country code: .tw
Internet users / percent of population: 90% (2021 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / total: 5,831,470 (2019 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 25 (2019 est.)

## Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: B
Airports: 57 (2025)
Heliports: 56 (2025)
Railways / total: 1,613.1 km (2018)
Railways / standard gauge: 345 km (2018) 1.435-m gauge (345 km electrified)
Railways / narrow gauge: 1,118.1 km (2018) 1.067-m gauge (793.9 km electrified)
Merchant marine / total: 465 (2023)
Merchant marine / by type: bulk carrier 29, container ship 53, general cargo 58, oil tanker 35, other 290
Ports / total ports: 8 (2024)
Ports / large: 1
Ports / medium: 3
Ports / small: 2
Ports / very small: 2
Ports / ports with oil terminals: 8
Ports / key ports: Chi-Lung, Hua-Lien Kang, Kao-Hsiung, Su-Ao

## Military and Security
Military and security forces: Taiwan Armed Forces: Army, Navy (includes Marine Corps), Air Force, Information Communication and Electronic Force (ICEF) Ocean Affairs Council: Coast Guard Administration (CGA) Ministry of Interior: National Police (2025)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2024: 2.4% of GDP (2024 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2023: 2.5% of GDP (2023 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2022: 2.1% of GDP (2022 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2021: 2.1% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2020: 2.1% of GDP (2020 est.)
Military and security service personnel strengths: approximately 170,000 active duty Armed Forces (2025)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the military's inventory is a mix of domestically produced and foreign-supplied armaments, mostly from the US either as secondhand or direct acquisitions; Taiwan's domestic defense industry produces weapons systems such as aircraft, armored vehicles, missiles, and naval platforms (2025)
Military service age and obligation: men 18-36 years of age may volunteer or must complete 12 months of compulsory military service; civil service can be substituted for military service in some cases; women can volunteer (2025)
Military - note: the military&rsquo;s primary responsibility is external security, including the defense and protection of the country&rsquo;s air space, maritime claims, sea lines of communications, sovereignty, and territory; its main focus is the challenge posed by the People&rsquo;s Republic of China (2025)

## Space
Space agency/agencies: Taiwan Space Agency (TASA; renamed and reorganized in 2023 from the former National Space Program Organization or NSPO, which was established in 1991) (2025)
Space launch site(s): sounding rockets launched from Jui Peng Air Base (Pingtung); has announced intentions to build a future national space port on the southeast coast (Pingtung) (2025)
Space program overview: has had a national space program since the early 1990s, with a focus on acquiring satellites and developing independent space capabilities, such as rocket manufacturing and satellite launch services; manufactures and operates satellites and sounding rockets; researching and developing other space technologies, including remote sensing, telecommunications, small satellites, satellite payloads and ground station components, spacecraft components, navigational control, and rocket propulsion systems; has bilateral relations with the space programs of France, India, Japan, Paraguay, Poland, the UK, and the US; has a commercial space industry that provides components and expertise for the Taiwan Space Agency and is independently developing satellites and a small satellite launch vehicle; the government passed a space promotion act in 2021 to encourage private investment in the space industry (2025)
Key space-program milestones: 1997 - launched first sounding rocket 1999 - first scientific satellite (FORMOSAT-1) built and launched by the US 2004 - first remote sensing (RS) satellite (FORMOSAT-2) built by France and launched by US 2017 - first domestically built RS satellite (FORMOSAT-5) launched by US 2021 - initiated development of a commercial 3-stage, hybrid-engine rocket (Hapith-5) 2023 - first domestically made RS/meteorological satellite (FormoSat-7R/Triton) launched on European rocket

## Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons / IDPs: 380 (2024 est.)
Illicit drugs / USG identification: major precursor-chemical producer (2025)

=== Vietnam ===

## Introduction
Background: Vietnam's early history included periods of occupation by outside forces and eventual power consolidation under Vietnamese dynastic families. A succession of Han Chinese emperors ruled the area, which was centered on the Red River Valley, until approximately the 10th century. The Ly Dynasty (11th-13th century) created the first independent Vietnamese state, which was known as Dai Viet, and established their capital at Thang Long (Hanoi). Under the Tran Dynasty (13th-15th century), TRAN Hung Dao, one of Vietnam’s national heroes, led Dai Viet forces to fight off Mongol invaders in 1279. After a brief Chinese occupation in the early 1400s, Vietnamese resistance leader LE Thai To made himself emperor and established the Le Dynasty, which lasted until the late 18th century despite decades of political turmoil, civil war, and division. During this period, Dai Viet expanded southward to the Central Highlands and Mekong Delta, reaching the approximate boundaries of modern-day Vietnam by the 1750s. Dai Viet suffered additional civil war and division in the latter half of the 18th century, but it was reunited and renamed Vietnam under Emperor NGUYEN Phuc Anh (aka Gia Long) in 1802. France began its conquest of Vietnam in 1858 and made Vietnam part of French Indochina in 1887. Vietnam declared independence after World War II, but the French continued to rule until communist forces under Ho Chi MINH defeated them in 1954. Under the Geneva Accords of 1954, Vietnam was divided into the communist North and anti-communist South. Fighting erupted between the two governments shortly afterwards with the North supporting communist rebels in the South and eventually committing thousands of combat troops. The US provided to the South significant economic and military assistance, including large numbers of US military forces, which reached a peak strength of over 500,000 troops in 1968. US combat forces were withdrawn following a cease-fire agreement in 1973. Two years later, North Vietnamese forces overran the South, reuniting the country under communist rule. The conflict, known as the Second Indochina War (1955-1975), devastated Vietnam, spilled over into the neighboring countries of Cambodia and Laos, and is estimated to have resulted in the deaths of up to 3 million Vietnamese civilians and soldiers. It also caused more than 58,000 US combat and non-combat deaths and created deep domestic divisions in the US. Despite the return of peace, the country experienced little economic growth for over a decade because of its diplomatic isolation, leadership policies, and the persecution and mass exodus of citizens, many of them successful South Vietnamese merchants. However, since the enactment of Vietnam's "doi moi" (renovation) policy in 1986, the economy has seen strong growth, particularly in agricultural and industrial production, construction, exports, foreign investment, and tourism. Nevertheless, the Communist Party maintains tight political and social control of the country, and Vietnam faces many related challenges, such as rising income inequality and corruption.

## Geography
Location: Southeastern Asia, bordering the Gulf of Thailand, Gulf of Tonkin, and South China Sea, as well as China, Laos, and Cambodia
Geographic coordinates: 16 10 N, 107 50 E
Map references: Southeast Asia
Area / total: 331,210 sq km
Area / land: 310,070 sq km
Area / water: 21,140 sq km
Area - comparative: about three times the size of Tennessee; slightly larger than New Mexico
Land boundaries / total: 4,616 km
Land boundaries / border countries: Cambodia 1,158 km; China 1,297 km; Laos 2,161 km
Coastline: 3,444 km (excludes islands)
Maritime claims / territorial sea: 12 nm
Maritime claims / contiguous zone: 24 nm
Maritime claims / exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Maritime claims / continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
Climate: tropical in south; monsoonal in north with hot, rainy season (May to September) and warm, dry season (October to March)
Terrain: low, flat delta in south and north; central highlands; hilly, mountainous in far north and northwest
Elevation / highest point: Fan Si Pan 3,144 m
Elevation / lowest point: South China Sea 0 m
Elevation / mean elevation: 398 m
Natural resources: antimony, phosphates, coal, manganese, rare earth elements, bauxite, chromate, offshore oil and gas deposits, timber, hydropower, arable land
Land use / agricultural land: 39.2% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 21.5% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 15.7% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 2% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 47% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 13.7% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land: 46,000 sq km (2012)
Major rivers (by length in km): Sông Tiên Giang (Mekong) river mouth (shared with China [s], Burma, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia) - 4,350 km; Pearl river source (shared with China [m]) - 2,200 km; Red river mouth (shared with China [s]) - 1,149 km note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Major watersheds (area sq km) / Pacific Ocean drainage: Mekong (805,604 sq km)
Population distribution: though it has one of the highest population densities in the world, the population is not evenly dispersed; clustering is heaviest along the South China Sea and Gulf of Tonkin, with the Mekong Delta (in the south) and the Red River Valley (in the north) having the largest concentrations of people
Natural hazards: occasional typhoons (May to January) with extensive flooding, especially in the Mekong River delta
Geography - note: note 1: extending 1,650 km (1,025 mi) north to south, the country is only 50 km (31 mi) across at its narrowest point note 2: Son Doong in Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park is the world's largest cave (greatest cross-sectional area) and is the largest known cave passage in the world by volume at 38.5 million cu m (about 1.35 billion cu ft); it connects to Thoong cave, but not yet officially -- when recognized, it will add an additional 1.6 million cu m; it is so massive that it contains its own jungle, underground river, and localized weather system, with clouds forming inside the cave and spewing from its exits

## People and Society
Population / total: 106,688,169 (2025 est.)
Population / male: 53,597,784
Population / female: 53,090,385
Nationality / noun: Vietnamese (singular and plural)
Nationality / adjective: Vietnamese
Ethnic groups: Kinh (Viet) 85.3%, Tay 1.9%, Thai 1.9%, Muong 1.5%, Khmer 1.4%, Mong 1.4%, Nung 1.1%, other 5.5% (2019 est.)
Languages / Languages: Vietnamese (official); English (often as a second language); some French, Chinese, and Khmer; mountain-area languages (including Mon-Khmer and Malayo-Polynesian)
Languages / major-language sample(s): Dữ kiện thế giới, là nguồn thông tin cơ bản không thể thiếu. (Vietnamese) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
Religions: Catholic 6.1%, Buddhist 5.8%, Protestant 1%, other 0.8%, none 86.3% (2019 est.)
Age structure / 0-14 years: 23.2% (male 12,953,719/female 11,579,690)
Age structure / 15-64 years: 68.5% (male 36,591,845/female 35,887,201)
Age structure / 65 years and over: 8.3% (2024 est.) (male 3,563,611/female 5,182,909)
Dependency ratios / total dependency ratio: 46.4 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / youth dependency ratio: 33.6 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / elderly dependency ratio: 12.8 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / potential support ratio: 7.8 (2025 est.)
Median age / total: 33.5 years (2025 est.)
Median age / male: 32 years
Median age / female: 34.2 years
Population growth rate: 0.86% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 14.58 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 5.81 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: -0.21 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution: though it has one of the highest population densities in the world, the population is not evenly dispersed; clustering is heaviest along the South China Sea and Gulf of Tonkin, with the Mekong Delta (in the south) and the Red River Valley (in the north) having the largest concentrations of people
Urbanization / urban population: 39.5% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 2.7% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 9.321 million Ho Chi Minh City, 5.253 million HANOI (capital), 1.865 million Can Tho, 1.423 million Hai Phong, 1.221 million Da Nang, 1.111 million Bien Hoa (2023)
Sex ratio / at birth: 1.1 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 0-14 years: 1.12 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 65 years and over: 0.69 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio: 48 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Infant mortality rate / total: 13.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Infant mortality rate / male: 14.4 deaths/1,000 live births
Infant mortality rate / female: 13.7 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth / total population: 76.1 years (2024 est.)
Life expectancy at birth / male: 73.5 years
Life expectancy at birth / female: 78.9 years
Total fertility rate: 2.01 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 0.96 (2025 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: urban: urban: 99.1% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: rural: rural: 97.2% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: total: total: 98% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: urban: urban: 0.9% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: rural: rural: 2.8% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: total: total: 2% of population (2022 est.)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 4.6% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 10.7% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density: 1.11 physicians/1,000 population (2021)
Hospital bed density: 2.6 beds/1,000 population (2017 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: urban: urban: 99.9% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: rural: rural: 90.9% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: total: total: 94.4% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: urban: urban: 0.1% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: rural: rural: 9.1% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: total: total: 5.6% of population (2022 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 2.1% (2016)
Alcohol consumption per capita / total: 3.41 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / beer: 3.18 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / wine: 0.02 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / spirits: 0.21 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / other alcohols: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Tobacco use / total: 22% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / male: 43.1% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / female: 2.1% (2025 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 9.7% (2023 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49): 72.8% (2021 est.)
Child marriage / women married by age 15: 1.1% (2021)
Child marriage / women married by age 18: 14.6% (2021)
Child marriage / men married by age 18: 1.9% (2021)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% GDP): 2.9% of GDP (2022 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% national budget): 15.4% national budget (2022 est.)
Literacy / total population: 96.1% (2022 est.)
Literacy / male: 97.2% (2022 est.)
Literacy / female: 95.1% (2022 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / total: 14 years (2022 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / male: 15 years (2022 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / female: 14 years (2022 est.)

## Environment
Environmental issues: deforestation and soil degradation from logging and slash-and-burn agriculture; water pollution; overfishing; groundwater contamination limits potable water supply; air pollution
International environmental agreements / party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands
International environmental agreements / signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Climate: tropical in south; monsoonal in north with hot, rainy season (May to September) and warm, dry season (October to March)
Land use / agricultural land: 39.2% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 21.5% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 15.7% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 2% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 47% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 13.7% (2023 est.)
Urbanization / urban population: 39.5% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 2.7% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / total emissions: 305.404 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from coal and metallurgical coke: 218.502 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from petroleum and other liquids: 72.383 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from consumed natural gas: 14.52 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Particulate matter emissions: 20.9 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Methane emissions / energy: 806.7 kt (2022-2024 est.)
Methane emissions / agriculture: 2,146.3 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Methane emissions / waste: 683.4 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Methane emissions / other: 40.4 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Waste and recycling / municipal solid waste generated annually: 9.57 million tons (2024 est.)
Waste and recycling / percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 46% (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / municipal: 1.206 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / industrial: 3.074 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / agricultural: 77.75 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total renewable water resources: 884.12 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Geoparks / total global geoparks and regional networks: 4 (2025)
Geoparks / global geoparks and regional networks: Dak Nong; Dong Van Karst Plateau; Lang Son; Non nuoc Cao Bang (2025)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: Socialist Republic of Vietnam
Country name / conventional short form: Vietnam
Country name / local long form: Cong Hoa Xa Hoi Chu Nghia Viet Nam
Country name / local short form: Viet Nam
Country name / former: Democratic Republic of Vietnam (North Vietnam), Republic of Vietnam (South Vietnam)
Country name / abbreviation: SRV
Country name / etymology: the name translates as "Viet south;" Viet is an ethnic term of unknown origin that dates back to ancient times, and nam (south) refers to the country's location
Government type: communist party-led state
Capital / name: Hanoi (Ha Noi)
Capital / geographic coordinates: 21 02 N, 105 51 E
Capital / time difference: UTC+7 (12 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Capital / etymology: the name means "inside the river," from the Vietnamese words ha (river) and noi (inside), and refers to its location in a bend of the Red River
Administrative divisions: 58 provinces ( tinh , singular and plural) and 5 municipalities ( thanh pho , singular and plural) provinces: An Giang, Bac Giang, Bac Kan, Bac Lieu, Bac Ninh, Ba Ria-Vung Tau, Ben Tre, Binh Dinh, Binh Duong, Binh Phuoc, Binh Thuan, Ca Mau, Cao Bang, Dak Lak, Dak Nong, Dien Bien, Dong Nai, Dong Thap, Gia Lai, Ha Giang, Ha Nam, Ha Tinh, Hai Duong, Hau Giang, Hoa Binh, Hung Yen, Khanh Hoa, Kien Giang, Kon Tum, Lai Chau, Lam Dong, Lang Son, Lao Cai, Long An, Nam Dinh, Nghe An, Ninh Binh, Ninh Thuan, Phu Tho, Phu Yen, Quang Binh, Quang Nam, Quang Ngai, Quang Ninh, Quang Tri, Soc Trang, Son La, Tay Ninh, Thai Binh, Thai Nguyen, Thanh Hoa, Thua Thien-Hue, Tien Giang, Tra Vinh, Tuyen Quang, Vinh Long, Vinh Phuc, Yen Bai municipalities: Can Tho, Da Nang, Ha Noi (Hanoi), Hai Phong, Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Legal system: civil law system with European influences
Constitution / history: several previous; latest adopted 28 November 2013, effective 1 January 2014
Constitution / amendment process: proposed by the president, by the National Assembly&rsquo;s Standing Committee, or by at least two thirds of the National Assembly membership; a decision to draft an amendment requires approval by at least a two-thirds majority vote of the Assembly membership, followed by the formation of a constitutional drafting committee to write a draft and collect citizens&rsquo; opinions; passage requires at least two-thirds majority of the Assembly membership; the Assembly can opt to conduct a referendum
International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt
Citizenship / citizenship by birth: no
Citizenship / citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Vietnam
Citizenship / dual citizenship recognized: no
Citizenship / residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch / chief of state: President Luong CUONG (since 21 Oct 2024)
Executive branch / head of government: Prime Minister Pham Minh CHINH (since 26 July 2021)
Executive branch / cabinet: Cabinet proposed by the prime minister, confirmed by the National Assembly, and appointed by the president
Executive branch / election/appointment process: president indirectly elected by the National Assembly from among its members for a single 5-year term; prime minister recommended by the president and confirmed by the National Assembly; deputy prime ministers appointed by the president and confirmed by the National Assembly
Legislative branch / legislature name: National Assembly (Quoc-Hoi)
Legislative branch / legislative structure: unicameral
Legislative branch / number of seats: 500 (all directly elected)
Legislative branch / electoral system: plurality/majority
Legislative branch / scope of elections: full renewal
Legislative branch / term in office: 5 years
Legislative branch / most recent election date: 5/23/2021
Legislative branch / parties elected and seats per party: Communist Party (485); Other (14)
Legislative branch / percentage of women in chamber: 31.4%
Legislative branch / expected date of next election: March 2026
Judicial branch / highest court(s): Supreme People's Court (consists of the chief justice and 13 judges)
Judicial branch / judge selection and term of office: chief justice elected by the National Assembly upon the recommendation of the president for a 5-year, renewable term; deputy chief justice appointed by the president from among the judges for a 5-year term; judges appointed by the president and confirmed by the National Assembly for 5-year terms
Judicial branch / subordinate courts: High Courts (administrative, civil, criminal, economic, labor, family, juvenile); provincial courts; district courts; Military Court
Political parties: Communist Party of Vietnam or CPV
Diplomatic representation in the US / chief of mission: Ambassador Nguyen Quoc DZUNG (since 19 April 2022)
Diplomatic representation in the US / chancery: 1233 20th Street NW, Suite 400, Washington, DC 20036
Diplomatic representation in the US / telephone: [1] (202) 861-0737
Diplomatic representation in the US / FAX: [1] (202) 861-0917
Diplomatic representation in the US / email address and website: vanphong@vietnamembassy.us http://vietnamembassy-usa.org/
Diplomatic representation in the US / consulate(s) general: Houston, San Francisco
Diplomatic representation in the US / consulate(s): New York
Diplomatic representation from the US / chief of mission: Ambassador Marc KNAPPER (since 11 February 2022)
Diplomatic representation from the US / embassy: 7 Lang Ha Street, Hanoi
Diplomatic representation from the US / mailing address: 4550 Hanoi Place, Washington, DC 20521-4550
Diplomatic representation from the US / telephone: [84] (24) 3850-5000
Diplomatic representation from the US / FAX: [84] (24) 3850-5010
Diplomatic representation from the US / email address and website: ACShanoi@state.gov https://vn.usembassy.gov/
Diplomatic representation from the US / consulate(s) general: Ho Chi Minh City
International organization participation: ADB, APEC, ARF, ASEAN, CICA, CP, EAS, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, MIGA, NAM, OIF, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHRC, UNIDO, UNOOSA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (2024)
Independence: 2 September 1945 (from France)
National holiday: Independence Day (National Day), 2 September (1945)
Flag: description: red field with a five-pointed yellow star in the center meaning: red stands for revolution and blood, and the five-pointed star for the five elements of the populace -- peasants, workers, intellectuals, traders, and soldiers -- that unite to build socialism
National symbol(s): five-pointed yellow star on a red field, lotus blossom
National color(s): red, yellow
National anthem(s) / title: "Tien quan ca" (The Song of the Marching Troops)
National anthem(s) / lyrics/music: Nguyen Van CAO
National anthem(s) / history: adopted as the national anthem of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam in 1945; it became the national anthem of the unified Socialist Republic of Vietnam in 1976; only the first verse is used as the official anthem
National heritage / total World Heritage Sites: 9 (6 cultural, 2 natural, 1 mixed)
National heritage / selected World Heritage Site locales: Complex of Hué Monuments (c); Ha Long Bay (n); Hoi An Ancient Town (c); My Son Sanctuary (c); Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park (n); Imperial Citadel of Thang Long - Hanoi (c); Citadel of the Ho Dynasty (c); Trang An Landscape Complex (m); Yen Tu-Vinh Nghiem-Con Son, Kiep Bac Complex of Monuments and Landscapes (c)

## Economy
Economic overview: lower middle-income socialist East Asian economy; rapid economic growth since Đổi Mới reforms; strong investment and productivity growth; tourism and manufacturing hub; TPP signatory; declining poverty aside from ethnic minorities; systemic corruption
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $1.456 trillion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $1.359 trillion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $1.294 trillion (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2024: 7.1% (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2023: 5.1% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2022: 8.5% (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2024: $14,400 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2023: $13,500 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2022: $13,000 (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $476.388 billion (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024: 3.6% (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023: 3.3% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 3.2% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / agriculture: 11.9% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / industry: 37.6% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / services: 42.4% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / household consumption: 54.3% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / government consumption: 8.8% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in fixed capital: 30.1% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in inventories: 1.5% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / exports of goods and services: 86.5% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / imports of goods and services: -78.4% (2023 est.)
Agricultural products: rice, vegetables, sugarcane, cassava, maize, pork, fruits, bananas, coconuts, coffee (2023)
Industries: food processing, garments, shoes, machine-building; mining, coal, steel; cement, chemical fertilizer, glass, tires, oil, mobile phones
Industrial production growth rate: 8.2% (2024 est.)
Labor force: 57.133 million (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2024: 1.5% (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2023: 1.7% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2022: 1.6% (2022 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / total: 6.8% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / male: 7% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / female: 6.6% (2024 est.)
Population below poverty line: 4.3% (2022 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income / Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2022: 36.1 (2022 est.)
Average household expenditures / on food: 34.9% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Average household expenditures / on alcohol and tobacco: 1.9% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / lowest 10%: 2.6% (2022 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / highest 10%: 28.1% (2022 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2023: 3.2% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2022: 3.2% of GDP (2022 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2021: 3.5% of GDP (2021 est.)
Budget / revenues: $68.818 billion (2022 est.)
Budget / expenditures: $83.707 billion (2022 est.)
Public debt / Public debt 2017: 58.5% of GDP (2017 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2024: $28.047 billion (2024 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2023: $25.793 billion (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2022: $1.402 billion (2022 est.)
Exports / Exports 2024: $429.383 billion (2024 est.)
Exports / Exports 2023: $374.986 billion (2023 est.)
Exports / Exports 2022: $385.241 billion (2022 est.)
Exports - partners: USA 28%, China 20%, Japan 6%, Hong Kong 4%, Germany 3% (2023)
Exports - commodities: broadcasting equipment, garments, integrated circuits, machine parts, footwear (2023)
Imports / Imports 2024: $398.672 billion (2024 est.)
Imports / Imports 2023: $339.785 billion (2023 est.)
Imports / Imports 2022: $369.746 billion (2022 est.)
Imports - partners: China 49%, Singapore 6%, Japan 6%, Hong Kong 5%, Taiwan 4% (2023)
Imports - commodities: integrated circuits, broadcasting equipment, fabric, plastics, telephones (2023)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024: $83.082 billion (2024 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023: $92.238 billion (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $86.54 billion (2022 est.)
Debt - external / Debt - external 2023: $34.426 billion (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Currency: dong (VND) per US dollar -
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2024: 24,164.886 (2024 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2023: 23,787.319 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2022: 23,271.212 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2021: 23,159.783 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2020: 23,208.368 (2020 est.)

## Energy
Electricity access / electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)
Electricity / installed generating capacity: 85.725 million kW (2023 est.)
Electricity / consumption: 277.501 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / exports: 933.237 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / imports: 3.106 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / transmission/distribution losses: 18.197 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / fossil fuels: 50.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / solar: 9.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / wind: 4.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / hydroelectricity: 34.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / biomass and waste: 1.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Coal / production: 51.519 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / consumption: 96.099 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / exports: 815,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / imports: 43.637 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / proven reserves: 3.116 billion metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum / total petroleum production: 187,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Petroleum / refined petroleum consumption: 544,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Petroleum / crude oil estimated reserves: 4.4 billion barrels (2021 est.)
Natural gas / production: 7.48 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / consumption: 7.48 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / proven reserves: 699.426 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)
Energy consumption per capita / Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 40.263 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

## Communications
Telephones - fixed lines / total subscriptions: 2.316 million (2023 est.)
Telephones - fixed lines / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 2 (2023 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / total subscriptions: 129 million (2024 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 128 (2024 est.)
Broadcast media: state-controlled broadcast media, with oversight from the Ministry of Information and Communication (MIC); state-controlled national TV provider, Vietnam Television (VTV), has several channels with regional broadcasting centers; law limits access to satellite TV, but many access foreign programming via home satellite equipment; state-controlled Voice of Vietnam, the national radio broadcaster, broadcasts on several channels and is repeated on AM, FM, and shortwave stations (2018)
Internet country code: .vn
Internet users / percent of population: 78% (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / total: 22.8 million (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 23 (2023 est.)

## Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: VN
Airports: 36 (2025)
Heliports: 26 (2025)
Railways / total: 2,600 km (2014)
Railways / standard gauge: 178 km (2014) 1.435-m gauge; 253 km mixed gauge
Railways / narrow gauge: 2,169 km (2014) 1.000-m gauge
Merchant marine / total: 1,973 (2022)
Merchant marine / by type: bulk carrier 117, container ship 45, general cargo 1,176, oil tanker 134, other 501
Ports / total ports: 16 (2024)
Ports / large: 0
Ports / medium: 1
Ports / small: 6
Ports / very small: 9
Ports / ports with oil terminals: 12
Ports / key ports: Da Nang, Hai Phong, Nghe Tinh, Nha Trang, Thanh Ho Chi Minh, Vinh Cam Ranh, Vung Tau

## Military and Security
Military and security forces: People's Army of Vietnam (PAVN; aka Vietnam People's Army, VPA): Ground Forces (Army), Navy (includes naval infantry), Air Defense - Air Force, Vietnam Border Guard, Vietnam Coast Guard Vietnam People's Ministry of Public Security; Vietnam Civil Defense Force (2025)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2023: 1.8% of GDP (2023 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2022: 2.3% of GDP (2022 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2021: 2.3% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2020: 2.4% of GDP (2020 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2019: 2.3% of GDP (2019 est.)
Military and security service personnel strengths: approximately 450,000 active-duty People's Army of Vietnam (2025)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the PAVN is equipped largely with armaments from Russia and the former Soviet Union; in recent years, Vietnam has moved to diversify its arms suppliers and has acquired items from countries such as India, Israel, the Netherlands, South Korea, and the US; Vietnam has a small defense industry involved in the manufacture of small arms, ground combat vehicles, and naval systems (2025)
Military service age and obligation: 18-27 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military service for men and women (in practice only men are drafted); service obligation is 24-36 months depending on the branch of service (including Coast Guard and Ministry of Public Security) (2025)
Military deployments: 200 Abyei/South Sudan/Sudan (UNISFA) (2025)
Military - note: since withdrawing its military occupation forces from Cambodia in the late 1980s and the end of Soviet aid in 1991, Vietnam has practiced a non-aligned foreign policy and security doctrine known as the "Four Nos" (no alliances, no siding with one country against another, no foreign bases, and no using force in international relations); despite longstanding tensions with Beijing over maritime boundaries in the South China Sea, Vietnam puts a priority on stable relations with China, given its proximity, size, and status as Vietnam's largest trading partner the responsibilities of the People's Army of Vietnam (PAVN) include protecting the country's independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity, and national interests, as well as assisting civilian authorities with natural disasters; in recent years, the PAVN has placed additional emphasis on protecting Vietnam's interests in the disputed South China Sea; the military is also involved in economic projects, such as electrical infrastructure, oil and gas services, hydroelectric projects, aviation and seaport services, telecommunications, and the shipbuilding industry, while military-owned factories and enterprises produce weapons and equipment (2025)

## Space
Space agency/agencies: Vietnam National Space Center (VNSC; established 2011) (2025)
Space program overview: has a growing national space program focused on acquiring, operating, and exploiting satellites, as well as expanding domestic capabilities in satellites and associated sub-system production, space sciences, and technology applications; builds and operates communications and remote sensing satellites; conducting research and development on space science and applied space technologies, such as advanced optics and space data exploitation; has worked closely with Japan on its space program; has also established relationships with the space agencies or commercial space sectors of some European countries (such as France), India, and the US (2025)
Key space-program milestones: 1980 - first Vietnamese astronaut/cosmonaut into space on Soviet spacecraft 2008 - first telecommunications satellite (VINASAT-1) built by US company and launched on European rocket 2012 - first educational/scientific cube satellite (F-1) built jointly with and launched by Japan; second telecommunications satellite (VINASAT-2) built by US and launched on European rocket 2013 - first domestically built remote-sensing (RS)/technology-demonstrator cube satellite (PicoDragon) launched by Japan; first RS satellite (VNREDSat-1a or Vietnam Natural Resources, Environment, and Disaster Monitoring Satellite) launched on European rocket 2016 - signed an agreement with India to establish a satellite tracking and imaging center in Ho Chi Minh City in exchange for access to Indian RS imagery 2018 - completed National Space Center in Hanoi 2021 - announced a developmental roadmap for producing “Made in Vietnam” small satellites as part of a larger effort to increase space sciences and technology through 2030; signed an agreement with Japan to increase cooperation on space defense

## Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons / refugees: 19 (2024 est.)
Refugees and internally displaced persons / IDPs: 2,568 (2024 est.)
Refugees and internally displaced persons / stateless persons: 20,590 (2024 est.)

=== Albania ===

## Introduction
Background: After declaring independence from the Ottoman Empire in 1912, Albania experienced a period of political upheaval that led to a short-lived monarchy, which ended in 1939 when Italy conquered the country. Germany then occupied Albania in 1943, and communist partisans took over the country in 1944. Albania allied itself first with the USSR (until 1960) and then with China (until 1978). In the early 1990s, Albania ended communist rule and established a multiparty democracy. Government-endorsed pyramid schemes in 1997 led to economic collapse and civil disorder, which only ended when UN peacekeeping troops intervened. In 1999, some 450,000 ethnic Albanians fled from Kosovo to Albania to escape the war with the Serbs. Albania joined NATO in 2009 and became an official candidate for EU membership in 2014.

## Geography
Location: Southeastern Europe, bordering the Adriatic Sea and Ionian Sea, between Greece to the south and Montenegro and Kosovo to the north
Geographic coordinates: 41 00 N, 20 00 E
Map references: Europe
Area / total: 28,748 sq km
Area / land: 27,398 sq km
Area / water: 1,350 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly smaller than Maryland
Land boundaries / total: 691 km
Land boundaries / border countries: Greece 212 km; Kosovo 112 km; North Macedonia 181 km; Montenegro 186 km
Coastline: 362 km
Maritime claims / territorial sea: 12 nm
Maritime claims / continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Climate: mild temperate; cool, cloudy, wet winters; hot, clear, dry summers; interior is cooler and wetter
Terrain: mostly mountains and hills; small plains along coast
Elevation / highest point: Maja e Korabit (Golem Korab) 2,764 m
Elevation / lowest point: Adriatic Sea 0 m
Elevation / mean elevation: 708 m
Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas, coal, bauxite, chromite, copper, iron ore, nickel, salt, timber, hydropower, arable land
Land use / agricultural land: 38.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 21.6% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 3.2% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 13.4% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 34.3% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 27.5% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land: 1,907 sq km (2022)
Major lakes (area sq km) / fresh water lake(s): Lake Scutari (shared with Montenegro) - 400 sq km note - largest lake in the Balkans
Major watersheds (area sq km) / Atlantic Ocean drainage: (Black Sea) Danube (795,656 sq km)
Population distribution: a fairly even distribution, with somewhat higher concentrations of people in the western and central parts of the country
Natural hazards: destructive earthquakes; tsunamis occur along southwestern coast; floods; drought
Geography - note: strategic location along Strait of Otranto (links Adriatic Sea to Ionian Sea and Mediterranean Sea)

## People and Society
Population / total: 2,551,837 (2025 est.)
Population / male: 1,229,151
Population / female: 1,322,686
Nationality / noun: Albanian(s)
Nationality / adjective: Albanian
Ethnic groups: Albanian 82.6%, Greek 0.9%, other 1% (including Vlach, Romani, Macedonian, Montenegrin, and Egyptian), unspecified 15.5% (2011 est.)
Languages / Languages: Albanian 98.8% (official - derived from Tosk dialect), Greek 0.5%, other 0.6% (including Macedonian, Romani, Vlach, Turkish, Italian, and Serbo-Croatian), unspecified 0.1% (2011 est.)
Languages / major-language sample(s): Libri i fakteve boterore, burimi i pazevendesueshem per informacione elementare (Albanian) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
Religions: Muslim 56.7%, Roman Catholic 10%, Orthodox 6.8%, atheist 2.5%, Bektashi (a Sufi order) 2.1%, other 5.7%, unspecified 16.2% (2011 est.)
Age structure / 0-14 years: 18% (male 292,296/female 267,052)
Age structure / 15-64 years: 66.9% (male 1,023,515/female 1,055,388)
Age structure / 65 years and over: 15.1% (2024 est.) (male 215,252/female 253,597)
Dependency ratios / total dependency ratio: 49 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / youth dependency ratio: 24.1 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / elderly dependency ratio: 24.9 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / potential support ratio: 4 (2025 est.)
Median age / total: 37.9 years (2025 est.)
Median age / male: 34.8 years
Median age / female: 37.8 years
Population growth rate: -1.06% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 8.71 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 7.9 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: -11.37 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution: a fairly even distribution, with somewhat higher concentrations of people in the western and central parts of the country
Urbanization / urban population: 64.6% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 1.29% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 520,000 TIRANA (capital) (2023)
Sex ratio / at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 0-14 years: 1.09 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 65 years and over: 0.85 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth: 26.6 years (2020 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio: 7 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Infant mortality rate / total: 10.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Infant mortality rate / male: 11.3 deaths/1,000 live births
Infant mortality rate / female: 9.2 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth / total population: 79.9 years (2024 est.)
Life expectancy at birth / male: 77.3 years
Life expectancy at birth / female: 82.8 years
Total fertility rate: 1.09 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 0.52 (2025 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: urban: urban: 95.7% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: rural: rural: 94.1% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: total: total: 95.1% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: urban: urban: 4.3% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: rural: rural: 5.9% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: total: total: 4.9% of population (2022 est.)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 7.3% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 9.2% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density: 1.88 physicians/1,000 population (2020)
Hospital bed density: 2.9 beds/1,000 population (2020 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: urban: urban: 99.8% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: rural: rural: 100% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: total: total: 99.9% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: urban: urban: 0.2% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: rural: rural: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: total: total: 0.1% of population (2022 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 21.7% (2016)
Alcohol consumption per capita / total: 4.4 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / beer: 1.75 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / wine: 1.15 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / spirits: 1.43 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / other alcohols: 0.08 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Tobacco use / total: 21.4% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / male: 37% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / female: 6.2% (2025 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 1.5% (2017 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49): 65.7% (2018 est.)
Child marriage / women married by age 15: 1.4% (2018)
Child marriage / women married by age 18: 11.8% (2018)
Child marriage / men married by age 18: 1.2% (2018)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% GDP): 3.1% of GDP (2023 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% national budget): 10.9% national budget (2023 est.)
Literacy / total population: 97.7% (2023 est.)
Literacy / male: 98.2% (2023 est.)
Literacy / female: 97.2% (2023 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / total: 15 years (2023 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / male: 14 years (2023 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / female: 15 years (2023 est.)

## Environment
Environmental issues: deforestation; soil erosion; water pollution from industrial and domestic effluents; air pollution from industrial and power plants; loss of biodiversity
International environmental agreements / party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands
International environmental agreements / signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Climate: mild temperate; cool, cloudy, wet winters; hot, clear, dry summers; interior is cooler and wetter
Land use / agricultural land: 38.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 21.6% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 3.2% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 13.4% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 34.3% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 27.5% (2023 est.)
Urbanization / urban population: 64.6% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 1.29% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / total emissions: 3.392 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from coal and metallurgical coke: 566,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from petroleum and other liquids: 2.734 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from consumed natural gas: 93,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Particulate matter emissions: 16.6 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Waste and recycling / municipal solid waste generated annually: 1.087 million tons (2024 est.)
Waste and recycling / percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 20.5% (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / municipal: 221 million cubic meters (2022)
Total water withdrawal / industrial: 11 million cubic meters (2022)
Total water withdrawal / agricultural: 565 million cubic meters (2022)
Total renewable water resources: 30.2 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: Republic of Albania
Country name / conventional short form: Albania
Country name / local long form: Republika e Shqiperise
Country name / local short form: Shqiperia
Country name / former: People's Socialist Republic of Albania
Country name / etymology: name may be derived from the pre-Celtic word alb , meaning "hill," or from the Indo-European root word albh , meaning "white;" the local name "Shqiperia" is derived from the Albanian word shqiponje ("eagle") and is popularly interpreted to mean "Land of the Eagles"
Government type: parliamentary republic
Capital / name: Tirana (Tirane)
Capital / geographic coordinates: 41 19 N, 19 49 E
Capital / time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Capital / daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October
Capital / etymology: the name "Tirana" first appears in a 1418 Venetian document; the origin of the name is unclear
Administrative divisions: 12 counties ( qarqe , singular - qark ); Berat, Diber, Durres, Elbasan, Fier, Gjirokaster, Korce, Kukes, Lezhe, Shkoder, Tirane (Tirana), Vlore
Legal system: civil law system except in the northern rural areas where customary law known as the "Code of Leke" is still present
Constitution / history: several previous; latest approved by the Assembly 21 October 1998, adopted by referendum 22 November 1998, promulgated 28 November 1998
Constitution / amendment process: proposed by at least one-fifth of the Assembly membership; passage requires at least a two-thirds majority vote by the Assembly; referendum required only if approved by two-thirds of the Assembly; amendments approved by referendum effective upon declaration by the president of the republic
International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Citizenship / citizenship by birth: no
Citizenship / citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Albania
Citizenship / dual citizenship recognized: yes
Citizenship / residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch / chief of state: President Bajram BEGAJ (since 24 July 2022)
Executive branch / head of government: Prime Minister Edi RAMA (since 10 September 2013)
Executive branch / cabinet: Council of Ministers proposed by the prime minister, nominated by the president, and approved by the Assembly
Executive branch / election/appointment process: president indirectly elected by the Assembly for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); a candidate needs three-fifths majority vote of the Assembly in 1 of 3 rounds or a simple majority in 2 additional rounds to become president; prime minister appointed by the president on the proposal of the majority party or coalition of parties in the Assembly
Executive branch / most recent election date: held in 4 rounds on 16, 23, and 30 May and 4 June 2022
Executive branch / election results: 2022: Bajram BEGAJ elected president in the fourth round; Assembly vote - 78-4, opposition parties boycotted 2017: Ilir META elected president in the fourth round; Assembly vote - 87-2
Executive branch / expected date of next election: 2027
Legislative branch / legislature name: Albanian Parliament
Legislative branch / legislative structure: unicameral
Legislative branch / chamber name: Parliament (Kuvendi)
Legislative branch / number of seats: 140 (all directly elected)
Legislative branch / electoral system: proportional representation
Legislative branch / scope of elections: full renewal
Legislative branch / term in office: 4 years
Legislative branch / most recent election date: 5/11/2025
Legislative branch / parties elected and seats per party: Socialist Party of Albania (PS) (83); Democratic Party - Alliance for a Greater Albania (PD-ASHM) (50); Other (7)
Legislative branch / percentage of women in chamber: 35%
Legislative branch / expected date of next election: May 2029
Judicial branch / highest court(s): Supreme Court (consists of 19 judges, including the chief justice); Constitutional Court (consists of 9 judges, including the chairman)
Judicial branch / judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court judges appointed by the High Judicial Council with the consent of the president to serve single 9-year terms; Supreme Court chairman is elected for a single 3-year term by the court members; appointments of Constitutional Court judges are rotated among the president, Parliament, and Supreme Court from a list of pre-qualified candidates (each institution selects 3 judges), to serve single 9-year terms; candidates are pre-qualified by a randomly selected body of experienced judges and prosecutors; Constitutional Court chairman is elected by the court members for a single, renewable 3-year term
Judicial branch / subordinate courts: Courts of Appeal; Courts of First Instance; specialized courts: Court for Corruption and Organized Crime, Appeals Court for Corruption and Organized Crime (responsible for corruption, organized crime, and crimes of high officials)
Political parties: Alliance for Change (electoral coalition led by PD) Democratic Party or PD Party for Justice, Integration and Unity or PDIU (part of the Alliance for Change) Social Democratic Party or PSD Freedom Party of Albania or PL (formerly the Socialist Movement for Integration or LSI) Socialist Party or PS
Diplomatic representation in the US / chief of mission: Ambassador Ervin BUSHATI (since 15 September 2023)
Diplomatic representation in the US / chancery: 2100 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation in the US / telephone: [1] (202) 223-4942
Diplomatic representation in the US / FAX: [1] (202) 628-7342
Diplomatic representation in the US / email address and website: embassy.washington@mfa.gov.al http://www.ambasadat.gov.al/usa/en
Diplomatic representation in the US / consulate(s) general: New York
Diplomatic representation from the US / chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charg&eacute; d&rsquo;Affaires Nancy VANHORN (since August 2024)
Diplomatic representation from the US / embassy: Rruga Stavro Vinjau, No. 14, Tirana
Diplomatic representation from the US / mailing address: 9510 Tirana Place, Washington DC 20521-9510
Diplomatic representation from the US / telephone: [355] 4 2247-285
Diplomatic representation from the US / FAX: [355] 4 2232-222
Diplomatic representation from the US / email address and website: ACSTirana@state.gov https://al.usembassy.gov/
International organization participation: BSEC, CD, CE, CEI, EAPC, EBRD, EITI (compliant country), FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NATO, OAS (observer), OIC, OIF, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, SELEC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHRC, UNIDO, UNOOSA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Independence: 28 November 1912 (from the Ottoman Empire)
National holiday: Independence Day, 28 November (1912), also known as Flag Day
Flag: description: red with a black two-headed eagle in the center meaning: Albanians traditionally see themselves as descendants of the eagle; they refer to themselves as "Shqiptare," which translates as "sons of the eagle" history: the design is said to originate with 15th-century Albanian hero Georgi Kastrioti SKANDERBEG, who led a successful uprising against the Ottoman Turks
National symbol(s): black double-headed eagle
National color(s): red, black
National coat of arms: adopted in 1998 and features the national symbol, the double-headed black eagle, in the national colors of red and black; red represents the courage and strength of the Albanian people, and the golden border represents the country’s wealth; the helmet above the eagle is modeled on the helmet of Skanderbeg, a 15th-century Albanian military hero who led a rebellion against the Ottoman Empire; the goat on top of the helmet represents defiance and resistance
National anthem(s) / title: "Hymni i Flamurit" (Hymn to the Flag)
National anthem(s) / lyrics/music: Aleksander Stavre DRENOVA/Ciprian PORUMBESCU
National anthem(s) / history: adopted 1912; only the first two stanzas of the original poem are used, with the second stanza as a chorus
National heritage / total World Heritage Sites: 4 (2 cultural, 1 natural, 1 mixed)
National heritage / selected World Heritage Site locales: Butrint (c); Historic Berat and Gjirokast&euml;r (c); Primeval Beech Forests (n); Lake Ohrid Region (m)

## Economy
Economic overview: upper-middle-income Balkan economy; EU accession candidate; growth bolstered by tourism, agriculture, mining, construction, and private consumption; fiscal consolidation through revenue collection and tax compliance enhancements to address public debt; challenges include weak governance, corruption, and high emigration rates
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $51.36 billion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $49.403 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $47.532 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2024: 4% (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2023: 3.9% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2022: 4.8% (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2024: $18,900 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2023: $18,000 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2022: $17,100 (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $27.178 billion (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024: 2.2% (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023: 4.8% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 6.7% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / agriculture: 15.5% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / industry: 22.4% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / services: 48.9% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / household consumption: 70.2% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / government consumption: 12% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in fixed capital: 24% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in inventories: -1.1% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / exports of goods and services: 38.7% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / imports of goods and services: -43.8% (2023 est.)
Agricultural products: milk, maize, tomatoes, watermelons, potatoes, wheat, grapes, onions, cucumbers/gherkins, olives (2023)
Industries: food; footwear, apparel and clothing; lumber, oil, cement, chemicals, mining, basic metals, hydropower
Industrial production growth rate: -0.2% (2024 est.)
Labor force: 1.37 million (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2024: 10.3% (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2023: 10.2% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2022: 10.2% (2022 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / total: 25.1% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / male: 23.9% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / female: 26.9% (2024 est.)
Population below poverty line: 22% (2020 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income / Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2020: 29.4 (2020 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / lowest 10%: 3.4% (2020 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / highest 10%: 22.8% (2020 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2024: 8.4% of GDP (2024 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2023: 8.6% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2022: 9.2% of GDP (2022 est.)
Budget / revenues: $6.636 billion (2023 est.)
Budget / expenditures: $6.966 billion (2023 est.)
Public debt / Public debt 2021: 81.9% of GDP (2021 est.)
Taxes and other revenues: 17.8% (of GDP) (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2024: -$646.107 million (2024 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2023: -$281.7 million (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2022: -$1.117 billion (2022 est.)
Exports / Exports 2024: $9.848 billion (2024 est.)
Exports / Exports 2023: $9.099 billion (2023 est.)
Exports / Exports 2022: $7.057 billion (2022 est.)
Exports - partners: Italy 41%, Greece 10%, Germany 5%, Spain 5%, Serbia 4% (2023)
Exports - commodities: garments, footwear, electricity, crude petroleum, iron alloys (2023)
Imports / Imports 2024: $11.697 billion (2024 est.)
Imports / Imports 2023: $10.374 billion (2023 est.)
Imports / Imports 2022: $9.016 billion (2022 est.)
Imports - partners: Italy 22%, China 11%, Turkey 9%, Germany 7%, Greece 6% (2023)
Imports - commodities: cars, refined petroleum, garments, packaged medicine, iron bars (2023)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024: $6.516 billion (2024 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023: $6.455 billion (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $5.266 billion (2022 est.)
Debt - external / Debt - external 2023: $5.363 billion (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Currency: leke (ALL) per US dollar -
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2024: 93.123 (2024 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2023: 100.645 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2022: 113.042 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2021: 103.52 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2020: 108.65 (2020 est.)

## Energy
Electricity access / electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)
Electricity / installed generating capacity: 2.857 million kW (2023 est.)
Electricity / consumption: 7.49 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / exports: 2.2 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / imports: 1.922 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / transmission/distribution losses: 1.238 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / solar: 3.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / hydroelectricity: 96.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Coal / production: 473,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / consumption: 255,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / exports: 345,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / imports: 180,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / proven reserves: 522 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum / total petroleum production: 14,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Petroleum / refined petroleum consumption: 21,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Petroleum / crude oil estimated reserves: 150 million barrels (2021 est.)
Natural gas / production: 49.977 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / consumption: 49.977 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / proven reserves: 5.692 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)
Energy consumption per capita / Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 27.407 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

## Communications
Telephones - fixed lines / total subscriptions: 165,000 (2024 est.)
Telephones - fixed lines / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 6 (2024 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / total subscriptions: 2.49 million (2024 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 89 (2024 est.)
Broadcast media: over 65 TV stations, including several that broadcast nationally and are sometimes available to neighboring countries; many viewers have access to Italian and Greek TV via terrestrial reception; TV stations have begun a government-mandated conversion from analog to digital broadcast; cable TV service is available; 2 public radio networks and roughly 78 private radio stations; several international broadcasters are available (2024)
Internet country code: .al
Internet users / percent of population: 83% (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / total: 632,000 (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 22 (2023 est.)

## Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: ZA
Airports: 3 (2025)
Heliports: 9 (2025)
Railways / total: 424 km (2017)
Merchant marine / total: 69 (2023)
Merchant marine / by type: general cargo 46, oil tanker 1, other 22
Ports / total ports: 3 (2024)
Ports / large: 0
Ports / medium: 0
Ports / small: 1
Ports / very small: 2
Ports / ports with oil terminals: 0
Ports / key ports: Durres, Shengjin, Vlores

## Military and Security
Military and security forces: Republic of Albania Armed Forces (Forcat e Armatosura të Republikës së Shqipërisë (FARSH); aka Albanian Armed Forces (AAF)): Land Forces, Naval Force (includes Coast Guard), Air Forces Ministry of Interior: Guard of the Republic, State Police (includes the Border and Migration Police) (2025)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2025: 2% of GDP (2025 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2024: 1.7% of GDP (2024 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2023: 1.7% of GDP (2023 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2022: 1.2% of GDP (2022 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2021: 1.2% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military and security service personnel strengths: approximately 7,500 active-duty military personnel (2025)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the military is in the process of modernizing by replacing its inventory of Soviet-era weapons with NATO standard armaments; in recent years, acquisitions have included equipment from France, Israel, Italy, Turkey and the US (2025)
Military service age and obligation: 18-30 for voluntary military service for men and women; conscription abolished 2010 (2025)
Military deployments: 250 Kosovo (NATO/KFOR) (2025)
Military - note: the Albanian Armed Forces (AAF) are responsible for defending the country&rsquo;s independence, sovereignty, and territory, assisting with internal security, providing disaster and humanitarian relief, and participating in international peacekeeping missions; the AAF is a small, lightly armed force that has been undergoing a modernization effort to improve its ability to fulfill NATO missions; the AAF has contributed small numbers of forces to several NATO missions since Albania joined NATO in 2009, including peacekeeping/stability missions in Afghanistan, Kosovo, and Iraq, and multinational battlegroups in Bulgaria and Latvia; it has also contributed to EU and UN missions (2025)

## Terrorism
Terrorist group(s): Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps/Qods Force; Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS)

## Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons / refugees: 9,381 (2024 est.)
Refugees and internally displaced persons / stateless persons: 2,203 (2024 est.)

=== Andorra ===

## Introduction
Background: The landlocked Principality of Andorra -- one of the smallest states in Europe and nestled high in the Pyrenees between the French and Spanish borders -- is the last independent survivor of the Hispanic March states created by Frankish King Charlemagne in 795 after he halted the Moorish invasion of Spain. The March states were a series of buffer states to keep the Muslim Moors from advancing into Christian France. For 715 years, from 1278 to 1993, Andorrans lived under a unique co-principality, ruled by French and Spanish leaders (from 1607 onward, the French chief of state and the Bishop of Urgell). In 1993, this feudal system was modified with the introduction of a modern constitution; the co-princes remained as titular heads of state, but the government transformed into a parliamentary democracy. Andorra's winter sports, summer climate, and duty-free shopping attract approximately 8 million people each year. Andorra has also become a wealthy international commercial center because of its mature banking sector and low taxes. As part of the effort to modernize its economy, Andorra has opened to foreign investment and engaged in other reforms, such as tax initiatives aimed at supporting broader infrastructure. Although not a member of the EU, Andorra enjoys a special relationship with the bloc that is governed by various customs and cooperation agreements, and Andorra uses the euro as its national currency.

## Geography
Location: Southwestern Europe, Pyrenees mountains, on the border between France and Spain
Geographic coordinates: 42 30 N, 1 30 E
Map references: Europe
Area / total: 468 sq km
Area / land: 468 sq km
Area / water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative: 2.5 times the size of Washington, D.C.
Land boundaries / total: 118 km
Land boundaries / border countries: France 55 km; Spain 63 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
Climate: temperate; snowy, cold winters and warm, dry summers
Terrain: rugged mountains dissected by narrow valleys
Elevation / highest point: Pic de Coma Pedrosa 2,946 m
Elevation / lowest point: Riu Runer 840 m
Elevation / mean elevation: 1,996 m
Natural resources: hydropower, mineral water, timber, iron ore, lead
Land use / agricultural land: 39.9% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 1.6% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 0% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 38.3% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 38.7% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 21.4% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land: 0 sq km (2022)
Population distribution: population is unevenly distributed and is concentrated in the seven urbanized valleys that make up the country's parishes (political administrative divisions)
Natural hazards: avalanches
Geography - note: landlocked; straddles a number of important crossroads in the Pyrenees

## People and Society
Population / total: 85,370 (2024 est.)
Population / male: 43,652
Population / female: 41,718
Nationality / noun: Andorran(s)
Nationality / adjective: Andorran
Ethnic groups: Spanish 34.3%, Andorran 32.1%, Portuguese 10%, French 5.6%, other 18% (2024 est.)
Languages: Catalan (official) 44.1%, Castilian 40.3%, Portuguese 13.5%, French 10%, English 3%, other 6.8% (2022 est.)
Religions: Christian (predominantly Roman Catholic) 89.5, other 8.8%, unaffiliated 1.7% (2020 est.)
Age structure / 0-14 years: 12% (male 5,276/female 4,954)
Age structure / 15-64 years: 67.7% (male 29,562/female 28,201)
Age structure / 65 years and over: 20.4% (2024 est.) (male 8,814/female 8,563)
Dependency ratios / total dependency ratio: 47.8 (2024 est.)
Dependency ratios / youth dependency ratio: 17.7 (2024 est.)
Dependency ratios / elderly dependency ratio: 30.1 (2024 est.)
Dependency ratios / potential support ratio: 3.3 (2024 est.)
Median age / total: 49.4 years (2025 est.)
Median age / male: 48.7 years
Median age / female: 48.8 years
Population growth rate: -0.12% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 6.88 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 8.14 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution: population is unevenly distributed and is concentrated in the seven urbanized valleys that make up the country's parishes (political administrative divisions)
Urbanization / urban population: 87.8% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 0.11% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 23,000 ANDORRA LA VELLA (capital) (2018)
Sex ratio / at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 15-64 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 65 years and over: 1.03 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / total population: 1.05 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth: 32.8 years (2019)
Maternal mortality ratio: 11 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Infant mortality rate / total: 3.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Infant mortality rate / male: 3.4 deaths/1,000 live births
Infant mortality rate / female: 3.2 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth / total population: 83.8 years (2024 est.)
Life expectancy at birth / male: 81.6 years
Life expectancy at birth / female: 86.2 years
Total fertility rate: 1.47 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 0.71 (2025 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: urban: urban: 100% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: rural: rural: 100% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: total: total: 100% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: urban: urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: rural: rural: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: total: total: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 8.3% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 15.9% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density: 5.07 physicians/1,000 population (2023)
Sanitation facility access / improved: urban: urban: 100% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: rural: rural: 100% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: total: total: 100% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: urban: urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: rural: rural: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: total: total: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 25.6% (2016)
Alcohol consumption per capita / total: 10.99 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / beer: 3.59 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / wine: 4.98 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / spirits: 2.32 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / other alcohols: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Tobacco use / total: 33% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / male: 31.7% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / female: 34.4% (2025 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% GDP): 1.9% of GDP (2023 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% national budget): 12.1% national budget (2025 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / total: 14 years (2023 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / male: 14 years (2023 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / female: 15 years (2023 est.)

## Environment
Environmental issues: deforestation; soil erosion from overgrazing; air pollution; wastewater treatment and solid waste disposal
International environmental agreements / party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
International environmental agreements / signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Climate: temperate; snowy, cold winters and warm, dry summers
Land use / agricultural land: 39.9% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 1.6% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 0% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 38.3% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 38.7% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 21.4% (2023 est.)
Urbanization / urban population: 87.8% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 0.11% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Particulate matter emissions: 8.5 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Waste and recycling / municipal solid waste generated annually: 43,000 tons (2024 est.)
Total renewable water resources: 315.6 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: Principality of Andorra
Country name / conventional short form: Andorra
Country name / local long form: Principat d'Andorra
Country name / local short form: Andorra
Country name / etymology: the origin of the country's name is obscure; may originate from the Navarrese word andurrial, meaning "shrub-covered land;" alternatively, may derive from the Arabic ad-darra meaning "the forest," a reference to its location; many other theories exist
Government type: parliamentary democracy (since March 1993) that retains its chiefs of state in the form of a co-principality; the two princes are the President of France and Bishop of Seu d'Urgell, Spain
Capital / name: Andorra la Vella
Capital / geographic coordinates: 42 30 N, 1 31 E
Capital / time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Capital / daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October
Capital / etymology: translates as "Andorra the Old" in Catalan
Administrative divisions: 7 parishes ( parroquies , singular - parroquia ); Andorra la Vella, Canillo, Encamp, Escaldes-Engordany, La Massana, Ordino, Sant Julia de Loria
Legal system: mixed legal system of civil and customary law with the influence of canon (religious) law
Constitution / history: drafted 1991, approved by referendum 14 March 1993, effective 28 April 1993
Constitution / amendment process: proposed by the co-princes jointly or by the General Council; passage requires at least a two-thirds majority vote by the General Council, ratification in a referendum, and sanctioning by the co-princes
International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Citizenship / citizenship by birth: no
Citizenship / citizenship by descent only: the mother must be an Andorran citizen or the father must have been born in Andorra and both parents maintain permanent residence in Andorra
Citizenship / dual citizenship recognized: no
Citizenship / residency requirement for naturalization: 25 years
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch / chief of state: Co-prince Emmanuel MACRON (since 14 May 2017); represented by Patrick STROZDA (since 14 May 2017); and Co-prince Archbishop Joan-Enric VIVES i Sicilia (since 12 May 2003); represented by Eduard Ibanez PULIDO (since 27 November 2023)
Executive branch / head of government: Prime Minister Xavier Espot ZAMORA (since 16 May 2019)
Executive branch / cabinet: Executive Council composed of head of government and 11 ministers designated by the head of government
Executive branch / election/appointment process: head of government indirectly elected by the General Council (Andorran parliament), formally appointed by the co-princes for a 4-year term; the leader of the majority party in the General Council is usually elected head of government
Executive branch / most recent election date: 2 April 2023
Executive branch / election results: 2023: Xaviar Espot ZAMORA (DA) reelected head of government; percent of General Council vote - 57.1% 2019: Xaviar Espot ZAMORA (DA) elected head of government; percent of General Council vote - 60.7
Executive branch / expected date of next election: April 2027
Legislative branch / legislature name: General Council (Consell General)
Legislative branch / legislative structure: unicameral
Legislative branch / number of seats: 28 (all directly elected)
Legislative branch / electoral system: mixed system
Legislative branch / scope of elections: full renewal
Legislative branch / term in office: 4 years
Legislative branch / most recent election date: 4/2/2023
Legislative branch / parties elected and seats per party: Democrats for Andorra (DA) and its allies (17); Concordia (Concòrdia) and its allies (5); Andorra Forward (Andorra Endavant) (3); Social Democrat Party (PS) - Social Democracy and Progress (SDP) (3)
Legislative branch / percentage of women in chamber: 50%
Legislative branch / expected date of next election: April 2027
Judicial branch / highest court(s): Supreme Court of Justice of Andorra or Tribunal Superior de la Justicia d'Andorra (consists of the court president and 8 judges organized into civil, criminal, and administrative chambers); Constitutional Court or Tribunal Constitucional (consists of 4 magistrates)
Judicial branch / judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court president and judges appointed by the Supreme Council of Justice, a 5-member judicial policy and administrative body appointed 1 each by the co-princes, 1 by the General Council, 1 by the executive council president, and 1 by the courts; judges serve 6-year renewable terms; Constitutional magistrates - 2 appointed by the co-princes and 2 by the General Council; magistrates' appointments limited to 2 consecutive 8-year terms
Judicial branch / subordinate courts: Tribunal of Judges or Tribunal de Batlles; Tribunal of the Courts or Tribunal de Corts
Political parties: Concordia or C Democrats for Andorra or DA Forward Andorra or AE Liberals of Andorra or L'A Social Democratic Party or PS Social Democracy and Progress or SDP
Diplomatic representation in the US / chief of mission: Ambassador Joan FORNER ROVIRA (since 13 January 2025); note - also Permanent Representative to the UN
Diplomatic representation in the US / chancery: 2 United Nations Plaza, 27th Floor, New York, NY 10017
Diplomatic representation in the US / telephone: [1] (212) 750-8064
Diplomatic representation in the US / FAX: [1] (212) 750-6630
Diplomatic representation in the US / email address and website: contact@andorraun.org https://www.exteriors.ad/en/embassies-of-andorra/andorra-usa-embassy
Diplomatic representation from the US / embassy: the US does not have an embassy in Andorra; the US ambassador to Spain is accredited to Andorra; US interests in Andorra are represented by the US Consulate General's office in Barcelona (Spain); mailing address: Paseo Reina Elisenda de Montcada, 23, 08034 Barcelona, Espana; telephone: [34] (93) 280-22-27; FAX: [34] (93) 280-61-75; email address: Barcelonaacs@state.gov
International organization participation: CE, FAO, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), ICCt, ICRM, IFRCS, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ITU, OIF, OPCW, OSCE, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, Union Latina, UNWTO, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WTO (observer)
Independence: 1278 (formed under the joint sovereignty of the French Count of Foix and the Spanish Bishop of Urgell)
National holiday: Our Lady of Meritxell Day, 8 September (1278)
Flag: description: three vertical bands of blue (left side), yellow, and red, with the national coat of arms centered in the yellow band, which is slightly wider than the other two; the coat of arms features a quartered shield with the emblems of Urgell, Foix, Bearn, and Catalonia; the motto reads VIRTUS UNITA FORTIOR (Strength United is Stronger) meaning: the flag combines the blue and red French colors with the red and yellow of Spain to symbolize Franco-Spanish protection
National symbol(s): red cow (breed unspecified)
National color(s): blue, yellow, red
National anthem(s) / title: "El Gran Carlemany" (The Great Charlemagne)
National anthem(s) / lyrics/music: Joan BENLLOCH i VIVO/Enric MARFANY BONS
National anthem(s) / history: adopted 1921; the anthem provides a brief history of Andorra in a first-person narrative
National heritage / total World Heritage Sites: 1 (cultural)
National heritage / selected World Heritage Site locales: Madriu-Perafita-Claror Valley

## Economy
Economic overview: high GDP; low unemployment; non-EU Euro user; co-principality duty-free area between Spain and France; tourist hub but hit hard by COVID-19; modern, non-tax haven financial sector; looking for big tech investments; new member of SEPA and IMF
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $5.402 billion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $5.226 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $5.094 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2024: 3.4% (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2023: 2.6% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2022: 9.6% (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2024: $65,900 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2023: $64,600 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2022: $63,900 (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $4.04 billion (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 6.2% (2022 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021: 1.7% (2021 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2020: 0.1% (2020 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / agriculture: 0.5% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / industry: 12.8% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / services: 77.6% (2024 est.)
Agricultural products: small quantities of rye, wheat, barley, oats, vegetables, tobacco, sheep, cattle
Industries: tourism (particularly skiing), banking, timber, furniture
Industrial production growth rate: 6% (2024 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2023: 1.3% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2022: 1.3% of GDP (2022 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2021: 1.6% of GDP (2021 est.)
Budget / revenues: $1.054 billion (2023 est.)
Budget / expenditures: $989.38 million (2023 est.)
Public debt / Public debt 2013: 41.4% of GDP (2013 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2023: $538.287 million (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2022: $393.62 million (2022 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2021: $499.422 million (2021 est.)
Exports / Exports 2023: $3.169 billion (2023 est.)
Exports / Exports 2022: $2.736 billion (2022 est.)
Exports / Exports 2021: $2.446 billion (2021 est.)
Exports - partners: Spain 39%, USA 21%, France 11%, UK 5%, UAE 3% (2023)
Exports - commodities: paintings, integrated circuits, cars, orthopedic appliances, garments (2023)
Imports / Imports 2023: $2.716 billion (2023 est.)
Imports / Imports 2022: $2.44 billion (2022 est.)
Imports / Imports 2021: $2.143 billion (2021 est.)
Imports - partners: Spain 65%, France 11%, Germany 4%, China 3%, Italy 3% (2023)
Imports - commodities: cars, refined petroleum, garments, perfumes, electricity (2023)
Exchange rates / Currency: euros (EUR) per US dollar -
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2024: 0.924 (2024 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2023: 0.925 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2022: 0.951 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2021: 0.845 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2020: 0.876 (2020 est.)

## Energy
Electricity access / electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)

## Communications
Telephones - fixed lines / total subscriptions: 52,000 (2023 est.)
Telephones - fixed lines / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 64 (2023 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / total subscriptions: 126,214 (2023 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 156 (2024 est.)
Broadcast media: the media scene is partly shaped by the proximity to France and Spain; Andorrans have access to broadcasts from both countries (2023)
Internet country code: .ad
Internet users / percent of population: 95% (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / total: 42,000 (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 52 (2023 est.)

## Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: C3
Heliports: 2 (2025)

## Military and Security
Military and security forces: no regular military forces; Police Corps of Andorra (under the Ministry of Justice and Interior)
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of France and Spain

## Transnational Issues

=== Austria ===

## Introduction
Background: Once the center of power for the large Austro-Hungarian Empire, Austria was reduced to a small republic after its defeat in World War I. Nazi Germany annexed Austria in 1938, and the victorious Allies then occupied the country in 1945. As a result, Austria's status remained unclear for a decade after World War II, until a State Treaty signed in 1955 ended the occupation, recognized Austria's independence, and forbade unification with Germany. A constitutional law that same year declared the country's "perpetual neutrality" as a condition for Soviet military withdrawal. Austria joined the EU in 1995, but the obligation to remain neutral kept it from joining NATO, although the country became a member of NATO's Partnership for Peace program in 1995. Austria entered the EU Economic and Monetary Union in 1999.

## Geography
Location: Central Europe, north of Italy and Slovenia
Geographic coordinates: 47 20 N, 13 20 E
Map references: Europe
Area / total: 83,871 sq km
Area / land: 82,445 sq km
Area / water: 1,426 sq km
Area - comparative: about the size of South Carolina; slightly more than two-thirds the size of Pennsylvania
Land boundaries / total: 2,524 km
Land boundaries / border countries: Czech Republic 402 km; Germany 801 km; Hungary 321 km; Italy 404 km; Liechtenstein 34 km; Slovakia 105 km; Slovenia 299 km; Switzerland 158 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
Climate: temperate; continental, cloudy; cold winters with frequent rain and some snow in lowlands and snow in mountains; moderate summers with occasional showers
Terrain: mostly mountains (Alps) in the west and south; mostly flat or gently sloping along the eastern and northern margins
Elevation / highest point: Grossglockner 3,798 m
Elevation / lowest point: Neusiedler See 115 m
Elevation / mean elevation: 910 m
Natural resources: oil, coal, lignite, timber, iron ore, copper, zinc, antimony, magnesite, tungsten, graphite, salt, hydropower
Land use / agricultural land: 31.5% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 16% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 0.8% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 14.7% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 47.2% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 20.9% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land: 382 sq km (2016)
Major lakes (area sq km) / fresh water lake(s): Lake Constance (shared with Switzerland and Germany) - 540 sq km
Major rivers (by length in km): Donau (Danube) (shared with Germany [s], Slovakia, Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Bulgaria, Ukraine, Moldova, and Romania [m]) - 2,888 km note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Major watersheds (area sq km) / Atlantic Ocean drainage: Rhine-Maas (198,735 sq km), (Black Sea) Danube (795,656 sq km)
Population distribution: the northern and eastern portions of the country are more densely populated; nearly two thirds of the populace lives in urban areas
Natural hazards: landslides; avalanches; earthquakes
Geography - note: note 1 : landlocked; strategic location at the crossroads of central Europe with many easily traversable Alpine passes and valleys; major river is the Danube; population is concentrated on eastern lowlands because of steep slopes, poor soils, and low temperatures elsewhere note 2 : the world's largest and longest ice cave system at 42 km (26 mi) is the Eisriesenwelt (Ice Giants World) inside the Hochkogel mountain near Werfen, about 40 km south of Salzburg; ice caves are bedrock caves that contain year-round ice formations; they differ from glacial caves, which are transient and are formed by melting ice and flowing water within and under glaciers

## People and Society
Population / total: 9,174,390 (2025 est.)
Population / male: 4,471,802
Population / female: 4,702,588
Nationality / noun: Austrian(s)
Nationality / adjective: Austrian
Ethnic groups: Austrian 80.8%, German 2.6%, Bosnian and Herzegovinian 1.9%, Turkish 1.8%, Serbian 1.6%, Romanian 1.3%, other 10% (2018 est.)
Languages / Languages: German (official nationwide) 88.6%, Turkish 2.3%, Serbian 2.2%, Croatian (official in Burgenland) 1.6%, other (includes Slovene, official in southern Carinthia, and Hungarian, official in Burgenland) 5.3% (2001 est.)
Languages / major-language sample(s): Das World Factbook, die unverzichtbare Quelle für grundlegende Informationen. (German) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
Religions: Roman Catholic 55.2%, Muslim 8.3%, Orthodox 4.9%, Evangelical Christian 3.8%, Jewish 0.1%, other 5.4%, none 22.4% (2021 est.)
Age structure / 0-14 years: 14.1% (male 648,639/female 616,334)
Age structure / 15-64 years: 64.7% (male 2,904,587/female 2,898,339)
Age structure / 65 years and over: 21.2% (2024 est.) (male 839,672/female 1,060,411)
Dependency ratios / total dependency ratio: 54.3 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / youth dependency ratio: 21.8 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / elderly dependency ratio: 32.5 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / potential support ratio: 3.1 (2025 est.)
Median age / total: 44.5 years (2025 est.)
Median age / male: 43.6 years
Median age / female: 46.3 years
Population growth rate: 0.28% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 8.81 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 10.21 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: 4.19 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution: the northern and eastern portions of the country are more densely populated; nearly two thirds of the populace lives in urban areas
Urbanization / urban population: 59.5% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 0.68% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 1.975 million VIENNA (capital) (2023)
Sex ratio / at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 65 years and over: 0.79 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth: 29.7 years (2020 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio: 6 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Infant mortality rate / total: 3.2 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Infant mortality rate / male: 3.6 deaths/1,000 live births
Infant mortality rate / female: 2.7 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth / total population: 82.7 years (2024 est.)
Life expectancy at birth / male: 80.1 years
Life expectancy at birth / female: 85.4 years
Total fertility rate: 1.35 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 0.66 (2025 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: urban: urban: 100% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: rural: rural: 100% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: total: total: 100% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: urban: urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: rural: rural: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: total: total: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 12.1% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 16.3% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density: 5.52 physicians/1,000 population (2023)
Hospital bed density: 7.1 beds/1,000 population (2020 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: urban: urban: 100% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: rural: rural: 100% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: total: total: 100% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: urban: urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: rural: rural: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: total: total: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 20.1% (2016)
Alcohol consumption per capita / total: 11.9 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / beer: 6.3 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / wine: 3.7 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / spirits: 1.9 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / other alcohols: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Tobacco use / total: 19.7% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / male: 21.1% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / female: 18.3% (2025 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% GDP): 5.3% of GDP (2022 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% national budget): 9.9% national budget (2022 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / total: 16 years (2023 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / male: 16 years (2023 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / female: 17 years (2023 est.)

## Environment
Environmental issues: some forest degradation from air and soil pollution; soil pollution from agricultural chemicals; air pollution from coal- and oil-fired power stations and industrial plants, and from trucks transiting Austria; water pollution
International environmental agreements / party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling
International environmental agreements / signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Multi-effect Protocol, Antarctic-Environmental Protection
Climate: temperate; continental, cloudy; cold winters with frequent rain and some snow in lowlands and snow in mountains; moderate summers with occasional showers
Land use / agricultural land: 31.5% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 16% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 0.8% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 14.7% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 47.2% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 20.9% (2023 est.)
Urbanization / urban population: 59.5% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 0.68% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / total emissions: 56.959 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from coal and metallurgical coke: 10.527 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from petroleum and other liquids: 33.036 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from consumed natural gas: 13.397 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Particulate matter emissions: 10.3 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Waste and recycling / municipal solid waste generated annually: 5.22 million tons (2024 est.)
Waste and recycling / percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 36% (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / municipal: 34.36 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / industrial: 2.21 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / agricultural: 124 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total renewable water resources: 77.7 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Geoparks / total global geoparks and regional networks: 3
Geoparks / global geoparks and regional networks: Ore of the Alps; Styrian Eisenwurzen; Karawanken/Karavanke (includes Slovenia) (2023)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: Republic of Austria
Country name / conventional short form: Austria
Country name / local long form: Republik Oesterreich
Country name / local short form: Oesterreich
Country name / etymology: the name Oesterreich means "eastern realm" and dates to the 10th century; the designation refers to the fact that Austria was the easternmost extension of Bavaria and the German peoples; the word Austria is a Latinization of the German name
Government type: federal parliamentary republic
Capital / name: Vienna
Capital / geographic coordinates: 48 12 N, 16 22 E
Capital / time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Capital / daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October
Capital / etymology: the name may have evolved from the Roman name Vindobona, which was taken from the Celtic words vindo (white) and bona (fort)
Administrative divisions: 9 states ( Bundeslaender , singular - Bundesland ); Burgenland, Kaernten (Carinthia), Niederoesterreich (Lower Austria), Oberoesterreich (Upper Austria), Salzburg, Steiermark (Styria), Tirol (Tyrol), Vorarlberg, Wien (Vienna)
Legal system: civil law system; Constitutional Court reviews legislative acts
Constitution / history: several previous; latest adopted 1 October 1920, revised 1929, replaced May 1934, replaced by German Weimar constitution in 1938 following German annexation, reinstated 1 May 1945
Constitution / amendment process: proposed through laws designated "constitutional laws" or through the constitutional process if the amendment is part of another law; approval required by at least a two-thirds majority vote by the National Assembly and the presence of one-half of the members; a referendum is required only if requested by one-third of the National Council or Federal Council membership; passage by referendum requires absolute majority vote
International law organization participation: accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Citizenship / citizenship by birth: no
Citizenship / citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Austria
Citizenship / dual citizenship recognized: no
Citizenship / residency requirement for naturalization: 10 years
Suffrage: 16 years of age; universal
Executive branch / chief of state: President Alexander VAN DER BELLEN (since 26 January 2017)
Executive branch / head of government: Chancellor Christian STOCKER (since 3 March 2025)
Executive branch / cabinet: Council of Ministers proposed by the chancellor and appointed by the president
Executive branch / election/appointment process: president directly elected by absolute-majority popular vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a 6-year term (eligible for a second term); chancellor appointed by the president but determined by the majority coalition parties in the Federal Assembly; vice chancellor appointed by the president on the advice of the chancellor
Executive branch / most recent election date: 9 October 2022
Executive branch / election results: 2022: Alexander VAN DER BELLEN reelected in first round; percent of vote - Alexander VAN DER BELLEN (independent) 56.7%, Walter ROSENKRANZ (FPO) 17.7%, Dominik WLAZNY (Beer Party) 8.3%, Tassilo WALLENTIN (independent) 8.1%, Gerald GROSZ (independent) 5.6% 2016: Alexander VAN DER BELLEN elected in second round; percent of vote in first round - Norbert HOFER (FPOe) 35.1%, Alexander VAN DER BELLEN (independent, allied with the Greens) 21.3%, Irmgard GRISS (independent) 18.9%, Rudolf HUNDSTORFER (SPOe) 11.3%, Andreas KHOL (OeVP) 11.1%, Richard LUGNER (independent) 2.3%; percent of vote in second round - Alexander VAN DER BELLEN 53.8%, Norbert HOFER 46.2%
Executive branch / expected date of next election: 2028
Legislative branch / legislature name: Parliament (Parlament)
Legislative branch / legislative structure: bicameral
Legislative branch - lower chamber / chamber name: National Council (Nationalrat)
Legislative branch - lower chamber / number of seats: 183 (all directly elected)
Legislative branch - lower chamber / electoral system: proportional representation
Legislative branch - lower chamber / scope of elections: full renewal
Legislative branch - lower chamber / term in office: 5 years
Legislative branch - lower chamber / most recent election date: 9/29/2024
Legislative branch - lower chamber / parties elected and seats per party: Freedom Party (FPÖ) (57); People's Party (ÖVP) (51); Social Democratic Party (SPÖ) (41); NEOS (“New Austria”) (18); Greens (16)
Legislative branch - lower chamber / percentage of women in chamber: 35.5%
Legislative branch - lower chamber / expected date of next election: September 2029
Legislative branch - upper chamber / chamber name: Federal Council (Bundesrat)
Legislative branch - upper chamber / number of seats: 60 (all indirectly elected)
Legislative branch - upper chamber / parties elected and seats per party: People's Party (OVP) (22); Social Democratic Party (SPO) (18); Freedom Party (16); Greens (3); NEOS (New Austria) (1)
Legislative branch - upper chamber / percentage of women in chamber: 46.7%
Judicial branch / highest court(s): Supreme Court of Justice or Oberster Gerichtshof (consists of 85 judges organized into 17 senates or panels of 5 judges each); Constitutional Court or Verfassungsgerichtshof (consists of 20 judges including 6 substitutes; Administrative Court or Verwaltungsgerichtshof - 2 judges plus other members depending on the importance of the case)
Judicial branch / judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court judges nominated by executive branch departments and appointed by the president; judges serve for life; Constitutional Court judges nominated by several executive branch departments and approved by the president; judges serve for life; Administrative Court judges recommended by executive branch departments and appointed by the president; terms of judges and members determined by the president
Judicial branch / subordinate courts: Courts of Appeal (4); Regional Courts (20); district courts (120); county courts
Political parties: Austrian People's Party or OeVP Freedom Party of Austria or FPOe The Greens - The Green Alternative NEOS - The New Austria and Liberal Forum Social Democratic Party of Austria or SPOe
Diplomatic representation in the US / chief of mission: Ambassador Petra SCHNEEBAUER (since 19 APRIL 2023)
Diplomatic representation in the US / chancery: 3524 International Court NW, Washington, DC 20008-3035
Diplomatic representation in the US / telephone: [1] (202) 895-6700
Diplomatic representation in the US / FAX: [1] (202) 895-6750
Diplomatic representation in the US / email address and website: washington-ob@bmeia.gv.at https://www.austria.org/
Diplomatic representation in the US / consulate(s) general: Los Angeles, New York
Diplomatic representation in the US / consulate(s): Chicago
Diplomatic representation from the US / chief of mission: Ambassador Art FISHER (since 19 November 2025)
Diplomatic representation from the US / embassy: Boltzmanngasse 16, 1090, Vienna
Diplomatic representation from the US / mailing address: 9900 Vienna Place, Washington DC 20521-9900
Diplomatic representation from the US / telephone: [43] (1) 31339 0
Diplomatic representation from the US / FAX: [43] (1) 31339 2017
Diplomatic representation from the US / email address and website: ConsulateVienna@state.gov https://at.usembassy.gov/
International organization participation: ADB (nonregional member), AfDB (nonregional member), Australia Group, BIS, BSEC (observer), CD, CE, CEI, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECB, EIB, EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, FATF, G-9, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD (partners), ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MINURSO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OIF (observer), OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, PFP, Schengen Convention, SELEC (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNOOSA, UNTSO, UNWTO, UPU, Wassenaar Arrangement, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
Independence: no official date of independence: 976 (Margravate of Austria established); 17 September 1156 (Duchy of Austria founded); 6 January 1453 (Archduchy of Austria acknowledged); 11 August 1804 (Austrian Empire proclaimed); 30 March 1867 (Austro-Hungarian dual monarchy established); 12 November 1918 (First Republic proclaimed); 27 April 1945 (Second Republic proclaimed)
National holiday: National Day (commemorates passage of the law on permanent neutrality), 26 October (1955)
Flag: description: three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and red history: one of the oldest national flags in the world; according to tradition, after a fierce battle in the Third Crusade in 1191, Duke Leopold V of Austria's white tunic became blood-spattered; when his sash was removed, a white band was revealed, and the red-white-red color combination was adopted as his banner
National symbol(s): eagle, edelweiss, Alpine gentian
National color(s): red, white
National anthem(s) / title: "Bundeshymne" (Federal Hymn)
National anthem(s) / lyrics/music: Paula von PRERADOVIC/Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART or Johann HOLZER (disputed)
National anthem(s) / history: adopted 1947; Austria adopted a new national anthem after World War II to replace the former imperial anthem composed by Franz Josef HAYDN, which Germany had appropriated in 1922 and was thereafter associated with the Nazi regime; the Austrian Federal Assembly adopted a gender-neutral version of the lyrics in 2012
National heritage / total World Heritage Sites: 12 (11 cultural, 1 natural)
National heritage / selected World Heritage Site locales: Historic Salzburg (c); Palace and Gardens of Schönbrunn (c); Halstadt–Dachstein/Salzkammergut Cultural Landscape (c); Semmering railway (c); Historic Graz and Schloss Eggenberg (c); Wachau Cultural Landscape (c); Historic Vienna (c); Fertő/Neusiedlersee Cultural Landscape (c); Baden bei Wien (c); Primeval Beech Forests - Dürrenstein, Kalkalpen (n)

## Economy
Economic overview: one of the strongest EU and euro economies; diversified trade portfolios and relations; enormous trade economy; Russian energy dependence, but investing in alternative energy; aging labor force but large refugee population; large government debt
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $581.131 billion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $588.031 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $593.701 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2024: -1.2% (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2023: -1% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2022: 5.3% (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2024: $63,300 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2023: $64,400 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2022: $65,700 (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $521.642 billion (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024: 2.9% (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023: 7.8% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 8.5% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / agriculture: 1.2% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / industry: 23.1% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / services: 65.3% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / household consumption: 52.2% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / government consumption: 20.5% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in fixed capital: 24.9% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in inventories: 0.5% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / exports of goods and services: 59.5% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / imports of goods and services: -57.3% (2023 est.)
Agricultural products: milk, sugar beets, maize, wheat, barley, potatoes, pork, grapes, triticale, soybeans (2023)
Industries: construction, machinery, vehicles and parts, food, metals, chemicals, lumber and paper, electronics, tourism
Industrial production growth rate: -5.5% (2024 est.)
Labor force: 4.768 million (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2024: 5.5% (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2023: 5.3% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2022: 5% (2022 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / total: 11.7% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / male: 11.4% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / female: 12% (2024 est.)
Population below poverty line: 14.8% (2021 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income / Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2022: 30.9 (2022 est.)
Average household expenditures / on food: 10.1% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Average household expenditures / on alcohol and tobacco: 3.5% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / lowest 10%: 2.8% (2022 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / highest 10%: 24.6% (2022 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2024: 0.7% of GDP (2024 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2023: 0.6% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2022: 0.6% of GDP (2022 est.)
Budget / revenues: $231.132 billion (2023 est.)
Budget / expenditures: $241.516 billion (2023 est.)
Public debt / Public debt 2023: 78.3% of GDP (2023 est.)
Taxes and other revenues: 25.9% (of GDP) (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2024: $12.642 billion (2024 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2023: $6.783 billion (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2022: -$3.911 billion (2022 est.)
Exports / Exports 2024: $299.366 billion (2024 est.)
Exports / Exports 2023: $303.914 billion (2023 est.)
Exports / Exports 2022: $291.804 billion (2022 est.)
Exports - partners: Germany 25%, USA 9%, Italy 7%, Switzerland 5%, Hungary 4% (2023)
Exports - commodities: cars, packaged medicine, vaccines, vehicle parts/accessories, nitrogen compounds (2023)
Imports / Imports 2024: $284.467 billion (2024 est.)
Imports / Imports 2023: $293.692 billion (2023 est.)
Imports / Imports 2022: $294.324 billion (2022 est.)
Imports - partners: Germany 34%, China 7%, Italy 7%, Switzerland 5%, Czechia 4% (2023)
Imports - commodities: cars, garments, vaccines, vehicle parts/accessories, refined petroleum (2023)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024: $35.406 billion (2024 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023: $31.212 billion (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $33.078 billion (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Currency: euros (EUR) per US dollar -
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2024: 0.924 (2024 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2023: 0.925 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2022: 0.95 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2021: 0.845 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2020: 0.876 (2020 est.)

## Energy
Electricity access / electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)
Electricity / installed generating capacity: 33.371 million kW (2023 est.)
Electricity / consumption: 64.611 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / exports: 21.631 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / imports: 21.55 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / transmission/distribution losses: 3.095 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / fossil fuels: 14.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / solar: 9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / wind: 11.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / hydroelectricity: 56.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / biomass and waste: 7.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Coal / production: 1.288 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / consumption: 5.403 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / exports: 2,000 metric tons (2022 est.)
Coal / imports: 4.179 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum / total petroleum production: 18,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Petroleum / refined petroleum consumption: 244,000 bbl/day (2024 est.)
Petroleum / crude oil estimated reserves: 35.2 million barrels (2021 est.)
Natural gas / production: 548.976 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / consumption: 6.971 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / imports: 7.084 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / proven reserves: 5.04 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)
Energy consumption per capita / Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 120.211 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

## Communications
Telephones - fixed lines / total subscriptions: 3.48 million (2024 est.)
Telephones - fixed lines / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 38 (2024 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / total subscriptions: 11.4 million (2024 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 124 (2024 est.)
Broadcast media: public broadcaster, Oesterreichischer Rundfunk (ORF), is a major player in the TV and radio markets; private broadcasters, cable, and satellite TV are available in most homes are widely used; some German stations carry programs for Austrian viewers; national and regional newspapers compete fiercely for readers; the print media are owned by a handful of mostly Austrian and German media groups (2023)
Internet country code: .at
Internet users / percent of population: 95% (2024 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / total: 2.71 million (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 30 (2023 est.)

## Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: OE
Airports: 62 (2025)
Heliports: 112 (2025)
Railways / total: 6,123 km (2022) 3,523 km electrified
Merchant marine / total: 1 (2023)
Merchant marine / by type: other 1

## Military and Security
Military and security forces: Austrian Armed Forces (Bundesheer): Land Forces, Air Force, Cyber Forces, Special Operations Forces, Militia (reserves) (2025)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2024: 1% of GDP (2024 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2023: 0.9% of GDP (2023 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2022: 0.7% of GDP (2022 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2021: 0.8% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2020: 0.7% of GDP (2020 est.)
Military and security service personnel strengths: approximately 22,000 active Armed Forces (includes about 14,000 regular troops and around 8,000 reservists/militia undergoing refresher training) (2025)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the military's inventory includes a mix of domestically produced and imported armaments from European countries and the US; the Austrian defense industry produces a range of equipment and partners with other countries (2025)
Military service age and obligation: registration requirement at age 17, the legal minimum age for voluntary military service; men above the age of 18 are subject to compulsory military service; women may volunteer; compulsory service is for 6 months, or optionally, alternative civil/community service (Zivildienst) for 9 months (2025)
Military deployments: 210 Bosnia-Herzegovina (EUFOR stabilization force); 100 Kosovo (NATO/KFOR); 160 Lebanon (UNIFIL) (2025)
Military - note: the military’s primary responsibilities are national defense and protecting Austria’s neutrality; it also has some domestic security and disaster response responsibilities; each of the nine federal states has a military command that provides a link between the military and civil authorities; the main tasks of these commands include providing military assistance during disasters and supporting security police operations the Austrian military contributes to international peacekeeping and humanitarian missions; Austria has been constitutionally militarily non-aligned since 1955 but is an EU member and actively participates in EU peacekeeping and crisis management operations under the EU Common Security and Defense Policy; Austria is not a member of NATO but joined NATO’s Partnership for Peace framework in 1995 and participates in some NATO-led crisis management and peacekeeping operations; more than 100,000 Austrian military and civilian personnel have taken part in more than 50 international peace support and humanitarian missions since 1960 (2025)

## Space
Space agency/agencies: Aeronautics and Space Agency (ALR; established in 1972 as the Austrian Space Agency) (2025)
Space program overview: established a national space program in 2002; develops, builds, operates, and tracks satellites, including remote sensing and research/scientific satellites; member of the ESA; works closely with ESA and EU member states and the commercial sector to develop a range of space capabilities and technologies, including applications for satellite payloads, space flight, and space research; participates in a range of ESA/EU programs, including Space Surveillance and Tracking (SST), Copernicus Earth observation, and Galileo global navigation satellite system; also cooperates with other foreign space agencies and industries, including those of China, India, Russia, and the US (2025)
Key space-program milestones: 1981 - became an associate ESA member (full member in 1987) 1991 - first Austrian in space on Soviet Mir Space Station 2013 - first domestically built science/technology (star observation) satellites (TUGSAT-1 and UniBRITE) launched by India 2017 - worked with China to produce world’s first quantum-encrypted satellite communications teleconference from Beijing to Vienna 2024 - signed US-led Artemis Accords outlining best practices for cooperative space exploration

## Terrorism
Terrorist group(s): Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS)

## Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons / refugees: 313,711 (2024 est.)
Refugees and internally displaced persons / stateless persons: 3,919 (2024 est.)

=== Akrotiri ===

## Introduction
Background: By terms of the 1960 Treaty of Establishment that created the independent Republic of Cyprus, the UK retained full sovereignty and jurisdiction over two areas of almost 254 square kilometers - Akrotiri and Dhekelia. The southernmost and smaller of the two is the Akrotiri Sovereign Base Area, which is also referred to as the Western Sovereign Base Area.

## Geography
Location: Eastern Mediterranean, peninsula on the southwest coast of Cyprus
Geographic coordinates: 34 37 N, 32 58 E
Map references: Middle East
Area / total: 123 sq km
Area - comparative: about 0.7 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries / total: 48 km
Land boundaries / border countries: Cyprus 48 km
Coastline: 56.3 km
Climate: temperate; Mediterranean with hot, dry summers and cool winters
Geography - note: British extraterritorial rights also extended to several small off-post sites scattered across Cyprus; of the Sovereign Base Area (SBA) land, 60% is privately owned and farmed, 20% is owned by the Ministry of Defense, and 20% is SBA Crown land

## People and Society
Population: (2020) approximately 18,195 on the Sovereign Base Areas of Akrotiri and Dhekelia including 11,000 Cypriots and 7,195 Service and UK-based contract personnel and dependents
Languages / Languages: English, Greek
Languages / major-language sample(s): Το Παγκόσμιο Βιβλίο Δεδομένων, η απαραίτητη πηγή βασικών πληροφοριών. (Greek) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
Age structure / 0-14 years: NA
Age structure / 15-64 years: NA
Age structure / 65 years and over: NA
Dependency ratios / total dependency ratio: NA
Dependency ratios / youth dependency ratio: NA
Dependency ratios / elderly dependency ratio: NA
Dependency ratios / potential support ratio: NA
Birth rate: NA
Death rate: NA
Contraceptive prevalence rate: NA
Drinking water source / improved: urban: urban: NA
Drinking water source / improved: rural: rural: NA
Drinking water source / improved: total: total: NA
Drinking water source / unimproved: urban: urban: NA
Drinking water source / unimproved: rural: rural: NA
Drinking water source / unimproved: total: total: NA
Current health expenditure: NA
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: NA
Education expenditures: NA

## Environment
Environment - current issues: hunting around the salt lake; note - breeding place for loggerhead and green turtles; only remaining colony of griffon vultures is on the base
Climate: temperate; Mediterranean with hot, dry summers and cool winters

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: none
Country name / conventional short form: Akrotiri
Country name / etymology: named for the village that lies within the Western Sovereign Base Area on Cyprus
Dependency status: a special form of UK overseas territory; administered by an administrator who is also the Commander, British Forces Cyprus
Capital / name: Episkopi Cantonment (base administrative center for Akrotiri and Dhekelia)
Capital / geographic coordinates: 34 40 N, 32 51 E
Capital / time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Capital / daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October
Capital / etymology: "Episkopi" means "episcopal" in Greek and stems from the fact that the site previously served as the bishop's seat of an Orthodox diocese
Constitution / history: presented 3 August 1960, effective 16 August 1960 (The Sovereign Base Areas of Akrotiri and Dhekelia Order in Council 1960 serves as a basic legal document)
Constitution / amendments: amended 1966
Legal system: laws applicable to the Cypriot population are, as far as possible, the same as the laws of the Republic of Cyprus; note - the Sovereign Base Area Administration has its own court system to deal with civil and criminal matters
Executive branch / chief of state: King CHARLES III (since 8 September 2022)
Executive branch / head of government: Administrator Air Vice-Marshal Peter J.M. SQUIRES (since 1 September 2022); note - administrator reports to the British Ministry of Defense and is also Commander, British Forces Cyprus (BFC); the chief officer, an appointed civilian, is responsible for the day-to-day running of the civil government of the Sovereign Base Areas
Executive branch / elections/appointments: the monarchy is hereditary; administrator appointed by the monarch on the advice of the Ministry of Defense
Judicial branch / highest court(s): Senior Judges' Court (consists of several visiting judges from England and Wales)
Judicial branch / judge selection and term of office: see entry for United Kingdom
Judicial branch / subordinate courts: Resident Judges' Court; Courts Martial
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (overseas territory of the UK)
Diplomatic representation from the US / embassy: none (overseas territory of the UK)
Flag description: the flag of the UK is used
National anthem: note: as a UK area of special sovereignty, "God Save the King" is official (see United Kingdom)

## Economy
Exchange rates: note: uses the euro

## Communications
Broadcast media: British Forces Broadcast Service (BFBS) provides multi-channel satellite TV service as well as BFBS radio broadcasts to the Akrotiri Sovereign Base Area

## Transportation

## Military and Security
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of the UK; Akrotiri (aka the Western Sovereign Base Area) has a full Royal Air Force base, headquarters for British Forces Cyprus, and the Episkopi Cantonment

## Transnational Issues
Illicit drugs: NA

=== Belgium ===

## Introduction
Background: Belgium became independent from the Netherlands in 1830; it was occupied by Germany during World Wars I and II. The country prospered as a modern, technologically advanced European state and member of NATO and the EU. In recent years, longstanding tensions between the Dutch-speaking Flemish of the north and the French-speaking Walloons of the south have led to constitutional amendments granting these regions formal recognition and autonomy. The capital city of Brussels is home to numerous international organizations, including the EU and NATO.

## Geography
Location: Western Europe, bordering the North Sea, between France and the Netherlands
Geographic coordinates: 50 50 N, 4 00 E
Map references: Europe
Area / total: 30,528 sq km
Area / land: 30,278 sq km
Area / water: 250 sq km
Area - comparative: about the size of Maryland
Land boundaries / total: 1,297 km
Land boundaries / border countries: France 556 km; Germany 133 km; Luxembourg 130 km; Netherlands 478 km
Coastline: 66.5 km
Maritime claims / territorial sea: 12 nm
Maritime claims / contiguous zone: 24 nm
Maritime claims / exclusive economic zone: geographic coordinates define outer limit
Maritime claims / continental shelf: median line with neighbors
Climate: temperate; mild winters, cool summers; rainy, humid, cloudy
Terrain: flat coastal plains in northwest, central rolling hills, rugged mountains of Ardennes Forest in southeast
Elevation / highest point: Botrange 694 m
Elevation / lowest point: North Sea 0 m
Elevation / mean elevation: 181 m
Natural resources: construction materials, silica sand, carbonates, arable land
Land use / agricultural land: 44.4% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 28.3% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 0.8% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 15.3% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 22% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 33.6% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land: 57 sq km (2013)
Major watersheds (area sq km) / Atlantic Ocean drainage: Seine (78,919 sq km), Rhine-Maas (198,735 sq km)
Population distribution: most of the population is concentrated in the northern two thirds of the country; the southeast is more thinly populated; considered to have one of the highest population densities in the world, with approximately 97% living in urban areas
Natural hazards: flooding is a threat along rivers and in areas of reclaimed coastal land, protected from the sea by concrete dikes
Geography - note: crossroads of Western Europe; most West European capitals are within 1,000 km of Brussels, the seat of both the EU and NATO

## People and Society
Population / total: 11,960,170 (2025 est.)
Population / male: 5,907,498
Population / female: 6,052,672
Nationality / noun: Belgian(s)
Nationality / adjective: Belgian
Ethnic groups: Belgian 75.2%, Italian 4.1%, Moroccan 3.7%, French 2.4%, Turkish 2%, Dutch 2%, other 10.6% (2012 est.)
Languages / Languages: Dutch (official) 60%, French (official) 40%, German (official) less than 1%
Languages / major-language sample(s): Het Wereld Feitenboek, een onmisbare bron van informatie. (Dutch) The World Factbook, une source indispensable d'informations de base. (French) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
Religions: Roman Catholic 57.1%, Protestant 2.3%, other Christian, 2.8%, Muslim 6.8%, other 1.7%, atheist 9.1%, nonbeliever/agnostic 20.2% (2018 est.)
Age structure / 0-14 years: 16.9% (male 1,038,578/female 990,215)
Age structure / 15-64 years: 62.8% (male 3,796,844/female 3,730,784)
Age structure / 65 years and over: 20.2% (2024 est.) (male 1,073,635/female 1,347,578)
Dependency ratios / total dependency ratio: 57.6 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / youth dependency ratio: 24.9 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / elderly dependency ratio: 32.6 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / potential support ratio: 3.1 (2025 est.)
Median age / total: 42.4 years (2025 est.)
Median age / male: 40.8 years
Median age / female: 43.1 years
Population growth rate: 0.45% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 9.09 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 9.55 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: 4.96 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution: most of the population is concentrated in the northern two thirds of the country; the southeast is more thinly populated; considered to have one of the highest population densities in the world, with approximately 97% living in urban areas
Urbanization / urban population: 98.2% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 0.38% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 2.122 million BRUSSELS (capital), 1.057 million Antwerp (2023)
Sex ratio / at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 65 years and over: 0.8 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth: 29.2 years (2020 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio: 4 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Infant mortality rate / total: 3 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Infant mortality rate / male: 3.5 deaths/1,000 live births
Infant mortality rate / female: 2.7 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth / total population: 82.3 years (2024 est.)
Life expectancy at birth / male: 79.7 years
Life expectancy at birth / female: 85 years
Total fertility rate: 1.46 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 0.71 (2025 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: urban: urban: 100% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: rural: rural: 100% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: total: total: 100% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: urban: urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: rural: rural: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: total: total: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 11% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 15.2% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density: 6.53 physicians/1,000 population (2023)
Hospital bed density: 5.5 beds/1,000 population (2021 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: urban: urban: 100% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: rural: rural: 100% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: total: total: 100% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: urban: urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: rural: rural: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: total: total: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 22.1% (2016)
Alcohol consumption per capita / total: 9.15 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / beer: 4.35 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / wine: 3.41 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / spirits: 1.09 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / other alcohols: 0.3 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Tobacco use / total: 24.1% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / male: 26.4% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / female: 22% (2025 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 0.3% (2023 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49): 52.4% (2021 est.)
Child marriage / women married by age 15: 0% (2020)
Child marriage / women married by age 18: 0.1% (2020)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% GDP): 6.3% of GDP (2022 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% national budget): 12% national budget (2022 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / total: 19 years (2022 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / male: 18 years (2022 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / female: 20 years (2022 est.)

## Environment
Environmental issues: urbanization; possible risks from industry and intensive farming; air and water pollution
International environmental agreements / party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Multi-effect Protocol, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protection, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling
International environmental agreements / signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Climate: temperate; mild winters, cool summers; rainy, humid, cloudy
Land use / agricultural land: 44.4% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 28.3% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 0.8% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 15.3% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 22% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 33.6% (2023 est.)
Urbanization / urban population: 98.2% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 0.38% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / total emissions: 112.083 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from coal and metallurgical coke: 8.166 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from petroleum and other liquids: 76.635 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from consumed natural gas: 27.282 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Particulate matter emissions: 12.3 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Waste and recycling / municipal solid waste generated annually: 4.766 million tons (2024 est.)
Waste and recycling / percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 31.7% (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / municipal: 740.19 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / industrial: 4.14 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / agricultural: 41.97 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total renewable water resources: 18.3 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Geoparks / total global geoparks and regional networks: 2 (2024)
Geoparks / global geoparks and regional networks: Famenne-Ardenne; Schelde Delta (includes Netherlands) (2024)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: Kingdom of Belgium
Country name / conventional short form: Belgium
Country name / local long form: Royaume de Belgique (French)/Koninkrijk Belgie (Dutch)/Koenigreich Belgien (German)
Country name / local short form: Belgique/Belgie/Belgien
Country name / etymology: the name derives from the Belgae, an ancient Celtic tribal confederation that inhabited an area between the English Channel and the west bank of the Rhine in the first centuries B.C.
Government type: federal parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy
Capital / name: Brussels
Capital / geographic coordinates: 50 84 N, 4 35 E
Capital / time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Capital / daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October
Capital / etymology: the name is of Germanic origin, from broca (marsh) and sali (room or building)
Administrative divisions: 3 regions (French: régions , singular - région ; Dutch: gewesten , singular - gewest ); Brussels-Capital Region, also known as Brussels Hoofdstedelijk Gewest (Dutch), R é gion de Bruxelles-Capitale (French long form), Bruxelles-Capitale (French short form); Flemish Region (Flanders), also known as Vlaams Gewest (Dutch long form), Vlaanderen (Dutch short form), Région Flamande (French long form), Flandre (French short form); Walloon Region (Wallonia), also known as Région Wallonne (French long form), Wallonie (French short form), Waals Gewest (Dutch long form), Wallonie (Dutch short form)
Legal system: civil law system based on the French Civil Code; judicial review of legislative acts
Constitution / history: drafted 25 November 1830, approved 7 February 1831, entered into force 26 July 1831, revised 14 July 1993 (creating a federal state)
Constitution / amendment process: "revisions" proposed as declarations by the federal government in accord with the king or by Parliament followed by dissolution of Parliament and new elections; adoption requires two-thirds majority vote of a two-thirds quorum in both houses of the next elected Parliament
International law organization participation: accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Citizenship / citizenship by birth: no
Citizenship / citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Belgium
Citizenship / dual citizenship recognized: yes
Citizenship / residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Executive branch / chief of state: King PHILIPPE (since 21 July 2013)
Executive branch / head of government: Prime Minister Bart DE WEVER (since 3 February 2025)
Executive branch / cabinet: Council of Ministers formally appointed by the monarch
Executive branch / election/appointment process: the monarchy is hereditary and constitutional; following legislative elections, the monarch usually appoints the leader of the majority party or majority coalition as prime minister, which the legislature approves
Legislative branch / legislature name: Federal Parliament (Parlement fédéral - Federaal Parlement - Föderales Parlament)
Legislative branch / legislative structure: bicameral
Legislative branch - lower chamber / chamber name: House of Representatives (Chambre des Représentants)
Legislative branch - lower chamber / number of seats: 150 (all directly elected)
Legislative branch - lower chamber / electoral system: proportional representation
Legislative branch - lower chamber / scope of elections: full renewal
Legislative branch - lower chamber / term in office: 5 years
Legislative branch - lower chamber / most recent election date: 6/9/2024
Legislative branch - lower chamber / parties elected and seats per party: New Flemish Alliance (N-VA) (24); Vlaams Belang (Flemish Interest) (20); Movement for Reform (MR) (20); Socialist Party in Wallonia (PS) (16); Workers' Party of Belgium (PTB*PVDA) (15); LES ENGAGÉS (14); Vooruit (13); Christian Democratic and Flemish (CD&V) (11); Other (17)
Legislative branch - lower chamber / percentage of women in chamber: 41.3%
Legislative branch - lower chamber / expected date of next election: June 2029
Legislative branch - upper chamber / chamber name: Senate (Sénat - Senaat - Senat)
Legislative branch - upper chamber / number of seats: 60 (all indirectly elected)
Legislative branch - upper chamber / scope of elections: full renewal
Legislative branch - upper chamber / term in office: 5 years
Legislative branch - upper chamber / most recent election date: 7/18/2024
Legislative branch - upper chamber / percentage of women in chamber: 47.5%
Legislative branch - upper chamber / expected date of next election: July 2029
Judicial branch / highest court(s): Constitutional Court or Grondwettelijk Hof (in Dutch) and Cour Constitutionelle (in French) (consists of 12 judges - 6 Dutch-speaking and 6 French-speaking); Supreme Court of Justice or Hof van Cassatie (in Dutch) and Cour de Cassation (in French) (court organized into 3 chambers: civil and commercial; criminal; social, fiscal, and armed forces; each chamber includes a Dutch division and a French division, each with a chairperson and 5-6 judges)
Judicial branch / judge selection and term of office: Constitutional Court judges appointed by the monarch from candidates submitted by Parliament; judges appointed for life with mandatory retirement at age 70; Supreme Court judges appointed by the monarch from candidates submitted by the High Council of Justice, a 44-member independent body of judicial and non-judicial members; judges appointed for life
Judicial branch / subordinate courts: Courts of Appeal; regional courts; specialized courts for administrative, commercial, labor, immigration, and audit issues; magistrate's courts; justices of the peace
Political parties: Flemish parties: Christian Democratic and Flemish or CD&V Vooruit or Forward (formerly Social Progressive Alternative or SP.A) Groen or Green (formerly AGALEV, Flemish Greens) New Flemish Alliance or N-VA Open Flemish Liberals and Democrats or Open VLD Vlaams Belang (Flemish Interest) or VB Francophone parties: Ecolo (Francophone Greens) Francophone Federalist Democrats or Defi Les Engages (formerly Humanist and Democratic Center or CDH) Movement for Reform or MR Socialist Party or PS Workers' Party or PVDA-PTB
Diplomatic representation in the US / chief of mission: Ambassador Fr&eacute;d&eacute;ric BERNARD (since 25 February 2025)
Diplomatic representation in the US / chancery: 1430 K Street NW, Washington DC 20005
Diplomatic representation in the US / telephone: [1] (202) 333-6900
Diplomatic representation in the US / FAX: [1] (202) 338-4960
Diplomatic representation in the US / email address and website: Washington@diplobel.fed.be https://unitedstates.diplomatie.belgium.be/en
Diplomatic representation in the US / consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Los Angeles, New York
Diplomatic representation from the US / chief of mission: Ambassador Bill WHITE (since 17 November 2025)
Diplomatic representation from the US / embassy: Regentlaan 27 Boulevard du Regent, B-1000 Brussels
Diplomatic representation from the US / mailing address: 7600 Brussels Place, Washington DC 20521-7600
Diplomatic representation from the US / telephone: [32] (2) 811-4000
Diplomatic representation from the US / FAX: [32] (2) 811-4500
Diplomatic representation from the US / email address and website: uscitizenBrussels@state.gov https://be.usembassy.gov/
International organization participation: ADB (nonregional members), AfDB (nonregional members), Australia Group, Benelux, BIS, CD, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECB, EIB, EITI (implementing country), EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, FATF, G-9, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD (partners), IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MONUSCO, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OIF, OPCW, OSCE, Pacific Alliance (observer), Paris Club, PCA, Schengen Convention, SELEC (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNOOSA, UNRWA, UNTSO, UPU, Wassenaar Arrangement, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
Independence: 4 October 1830 (a provisional government declared independence from the Netherlands); 21 July 1831 (King LEOPOLD I ascended to the throne)
National holiday: Belgian National Day (ascension to the throne of King LEOPOLD I), 21 July (1831)
Flag: description: three equal vertical bands of black (left side), yellow, and red history: the vertical design was based on the flag of France; the colors are from the arms of the duchy of Brabant (yellow lion with red claws and tongue on a black field)
National symbol(s): golden rampant lion
National color(s): red, black, yellow
National anthem(s) / title: "La Braban&ccedil;onne" (The Song of Brabant)
National anthem(s) / lyrics/music: Louis-Alexandre DECHET [French] and Victor CEULEMANS [Dutch]/Francois VAN CAMPENHOUT
National anthem(s) / history: adopted 1830; according to legend Louis-Alexandre DECHET, an actor at the theater where the revolution against the Netherlands began, wrote the lyrics with a group of young people in a Brussels cafe
National heritage / total World Heritage Sites: 16 (15 cultural, 1 natural)
National heritage / selected World Heritage Site locales: Belfries of Belgium (c); Historic Brugge (c); The Grand Place, Brussels (c); Major Town Houses of Victor Horta (c); Notre-Dame Cathedral, Tournai (c); Spa, Liege (c); Primeval Beech Forests - Sonian Wood (n); Stoclet Palace (c)

## Economy
Economic overview: high-income, core EU and eurozone economy; slow growth with weakened domestic consumption and export demand; high public debt and structural deficits linked to social spending; aging workforce with weak productivity growth and participation rates
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $749.229 billion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $741.672 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $732.865 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2024: 1% (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2023: 1.2% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2022: 4.3% (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2024: $63,100 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2023: $62,900 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2022: $62,700 (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $664.564 billion (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024: 3.1% (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023: 4% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 9.6% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / agriculture: 0.8% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / industry: 17.6% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / services: 72.1% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / household consumption: 50.4% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / government consumption: 23.8% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in fixed capital: 24.4% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in inventories: 1% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / exports of goods and services: 84.2% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / imports of goods and services: -84.8% (2023 est.)
Agricultural products: sugar beets, milk, potatoes, wheat, pork, lettuce, maize, chicken, barley, pears (2023)
Industries: engineering and metal products, motor vehicle assembly, transportation equipment, scientific instruments, processed food and beverages, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, base metals, textiles, glass, petroleum
Industrial production growth rate: -0.6% (2024 est.)
Labor force: 5.416 million (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2024: 5.5% (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2023: 5.6% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2022: 5.6% (2022 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / total: 16.8% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / male: 18.6% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / female: 14.7% (2024 est.)
Population below poverty line: 12.3% (2022 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income / Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2022: 26.4 (2022 est.)
Average household expenditures / on food: 12.2% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Average household expenditures / on alcohol and tobacco: 4% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / lowest 10%: 3.8% (2022 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / highest 10%: 22.2% (2022 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2024: 2.3% of GDP (2024 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2023: 2.3% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2022: 2.3% of GDP (2022 est.)
Budget / revenues: $220.657 billion (2022 est.)
Budget / expenditures: $235.767 billion (2022 est.)
Public debt / Public debt 2022: 92.5% of GDP (2022 est.)
Taxes and other revenues: 22.7% (of GDP) (2022 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2024: -$5.679 billion (2024 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2023: -$4.503 billion (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2022: -$7.031 billion (2022 est.)
Exports / Exports 2024: $525.458 billion (2024 est.)
Exports / Exports 2023: $542.508 billion (2023 est.)
Exports / Exports 2022: $565.233 billion (2022 est.)
Exports - partners: France 20%, Netherlands 15%, Germany 14%, Italy 6%, USA 5% (2023)
Exports - commodities: refined petroleum, natural gas, vaccines, cars, packaged medicine (2023)
Imports / Imports 2024: $531.029 billion (2024 est.)
Imports / Imports 2023: $546.426 billion (2023 est.)
Imports / Imports 2022: $573.192 billion (2022 est.)
Imports - partners: Netherlands 20%, Germany 13%, France 11%, USA 7%, Ireland 4% (2023)
Imports - commodities: cars, natural gas, vaccines, packaged medicine, crude petroleum (2023)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024: $41.449 billion (2024 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023: $40.813 billion (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $41.274 billion (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Currency: euros (EUR) per US dollar -
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2024: 0.924 (2024 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2023: 0.925 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2022: 0.95 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2021: 0.845 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2020: 0.876 (2020 est.)

## Energy
Electricity access / electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)
Electricity / installed generating capacity: 28.248 million kW (2023 est.)
Electricity / consumption: 74.537 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / exports: 18.279 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / imports: 18.626 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / transmission/distribution losses: 3.147 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / fossil fuels: 24.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / nuclear: 40.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / solar: 9.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / wind: 20% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / hydroelectricity: -0.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) note: Belgium has negative net hydroelectric power generation based on losses from use of pumped storage hydropower
Electricity generation sources / biomass and waste: 6.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Nuclear energy / Number of operational nuclear reactors: 4 (2025)
Nuclear energy / Net capacity of operational nuclear reactors: 3.46GW (2025 est.)
Nuclear energy / Percent of total electricity production: 41.2% (2023 est.)
Nuclear energy / Number of nuclear reactors permanently shut down: 3 (2025)
Coal / production: 1.269 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / consumption: 4.372 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / exports: 184,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / imports: 4.046 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / proven reserves: 4.1 billion metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum / total petroleum production: 11,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Petroleum / refined petroleum consumption: 596,000 bbl/day (2024 est.)
Natural gas / production: 12.938 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / consumption: 14.382 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / exports: 8.461 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / imports: 23.007 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Energy consumption per capita / Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 190.416 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

## Communications
Telephones - fixed lines / total subscriptions: 2.49 million (2024 est.)
Telephones - fixed lines / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 21 (2024 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / total subscriptions: 12.2 million (2024 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 104 (2024 est.)
Broadcast media: a segmented market with the three major linguistic communities (Flemish-, French-, and German-speaking) each responsible for their own broadcast media; multiple TV channels exist for each community; over 90% of households are connected to cable and can access TV broadcasts from neighboring countries; each community has a public radio network coexisting with private broadcasters
Internet country code: .be
Internet users / percent of population: 95% (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / total: 5.12 million (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 44 (2023 est.)

## Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: OO
Airports: 48 (2025)
Heliports: 112 (2025)
Railways / total: 3,602 km (2020) 3,160 km electrified
Merchant marine / total: 198 (2023)
Merchant marine / by type: bulk carrier 17, container ship 2, general cargo 16, oil tanker 21, other 142
Ports / total ports: 7 (2024)
Ports / large: 1
Ports / medium: 2
Ports / small: 2
Ports / very small: 2
Ports / ports with oil terminals: 5
Ports / key ports: Antwerpen, Bruxelles, Ghent, Oostende, Zeebrugge

## Military and Security
Military and security forces: Belgian Armed Forces (Defensie or La Défense): Land Component, Marine (Naval) Component, Air Component, Medical Component, Cyber Command (2025)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2025: 2% of GDP (2025 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2024: 1.3% of GDP (2024 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2023: 1.2% of GDP (2023 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2022: 1.2% of GDP (2022 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2021: 1.1% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military and security service personnel strengths: approximately 23,000 active-duty military personnel (2025)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the armed forces have a mix of weapons systems from European suppliers and the US; Belgium has an export-focused defense industry that focuses on components and subcontracting (2025)
Military service age and obligation: 18 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women; maximum age varies by position; conscription abolished in 1995 (2025)
Military deployments: has on average about 1,000 personnel deployed on foreign missions, including more than 300 ground forces deployed in Eastern Europe for the defense of NATO's eastern flank (2025)
Military - note: the Belgian military's responsibilities include territorial defense, humanitarian/disaster relief, assistance to the police if required, international peacekeeping missions, and support to its NATO and EU security commitments, which Belgium considers vital components of its national security policy; outside of the country, the military operates almost always within an international organization or a coalition; Belgium was one of the original 12 countries to sign the North Atlantic Treaty (also known as the Washington Treaty) establishing NATO in 1949; it hosts the NATO headquarters in Brussels; Belgium also cooperates bilaterally with neighboring countries, such as Luxembourg and the Netherlands, in conducting joint patrols of their respective air spaces and in a composite combined special operations command with Denmark and the Netherlands (2025)

## Space
Space agency/agencies: Royal Belgian Institute for Space Aeronomy-Interfederal Space Agency of Belgium (BIRA-IASB; established 1964; IASB added 2017); Belgium Federal Science Policy Office (BELSPO) (2025)
Space program overview: builds satellites, particularly research/science/technology and remote sensing platforms; researches, develops, and produces a wide variety of space technologies, including telecommunications, optics, robotics, scientific instruments, and space launch vehicle components; founding member of the ESA and participates in a variety of ESA and EU projects, such as Space Surveillance and Tracking, Copernicus Earth observation, and Galileo global navigation satellite system; hosts the European Space Security and Education Center (established 1968); participates in international astronomy efforts, particularly through the European Southern Observatory (ESO); has worked with a variety of foreign space agencies and commercial entities outside Europe, including those of Argentina, China, India, Russia, South Africa, UAE, Vietnam, and the US (2025)
Key space-program milestones: 1986 - joined first European Earth Observation program; founding member of European Organization for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites 1992 - first Belgian astronaut in space on the US Space Shuttle 2001 - first remote sensing satellite (PROBA-1) launched by India 2024 - signed US-led Artemis Accords outlining best practices for space exploration

## Terrorism
Terrorist group(s): Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps/Qods Force; Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS)

## Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons / refugees: 236,689 (2024 est.)
Refugees and internally displaced persons / stateless persons: 849 (2024 est.)
Illicit drugs / USG identification: major precursor-chemical producer (2025)

=== Bosnia and Herzegovina ===

## Introduction
Background: After four centuries of Ottoman rule over Bosnia and Herzegovina, Austria-Hungary took control in 1878 and held the region until 1918, when it was incorporated into the newly created Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes. After World War II, Bosnia and Herzegovina joined the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (SFRY). Bosnia and Herzegovina declared sovereignty in October 1991 and independence from the SFRY on 3 March 1992 after a referendum boycotted by ethnic Serbs. Bosnian Serb militias, with the support of Serbia and Croatia, then tried to take control of territories they claimed as their own. From 1992 to 1995, ethnic cleansing campaigns killed thousands and displaced more than two million people. On 21 November 1995, in Dayton, Ohio, the warring parties initialed a peace agreement, and the final agreement was signed in Paris on 14 December 1995. The Dayton Accords retained Bosnia and Herzegovina's international boundaries and created a multiethnic and democratic government composed of two entities roughly equal in size: the predominantly Bosniak-Bosnian Croat Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the predominantly Bosnian Serb-led Republika Srpska (RS). The Dayton Accords also established the Office of the High Representative to oversee the agreement's implementation. In 1996, the NATO-led Stabilization Force (SFOR) took over responsibility for enforcing the peace. In 2004, European Union peacekeeping troops (EUFOR) replaced SFOR. As of 2022, EUFOR deploys around 1,600 troops in Bosnia in a peacekeeping capacity. Bosnia and Herzegovina became an official candidate for EU membership in 2022.

## Geography
Location: Southeastern Europe, bordering the Adriatic Sea and Croatia
Geographic coordinates: 44 00 N, 18 00 E
Map references: Europe
Area / total: 51,197 sq km
Area / land: 51,187 sq km
Area / water: 10 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly smaller than West Virginia
Land boundaries / total: 1,543 km
Land boundaries / border countries: Croatia 956 km; Montenegro 242 km; Serbia 345 km
Coastline: 20 km
Maritime claims: NA
Climate: hot summers and cold winters; areas of high elevation have short, cool summers and long, severe winters; mild, rainy winters along coast
Terrain: mountains and valleys
Elevation / highest point: Maglic 2,386 m
Elevation / lowest point: Adriatic Sea 0 m
Elevation / mean elevation: 500 m
Natural resources: coal, iron ore, antimony, bauxite, copper, lead, zinc, chromite, cobalt, manganese, nickel, clay, gypsum, salt, sand, timber, hydropower
Land use / agricultural land: 21.7% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 7.2% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 1.4% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 12.8% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 42.2% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 36.1% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land: 30 sq km (2012)
Major watersheds (area sq km) / Atlantic Ocean drainage: (Black Sea) Danube (795,656 sq km)
Population distribution: the northern and central areas of the country are the most densely populated
Natural hazards: destructive earthquakes
Geography - note: within Bosnia and Herzegovina's recognized borders, the country is divided into a joint Bosniak/Croat Federation (about 51% of the territory) and the Bosnian Serb-led Republika Srpska or RS (about 49% of the territory); the region called Herzegovina is contiguous to Croatia and Montenegro

## People and Society
Population / total: 3,653,499 (2025 est.)
Population / male: 1,778,548
Population / female: 1,874,951
Nationality / noun: Bosnian(s), Herzegovinian(s)
Nationality / adjective: Bosnian, Herzegovinian
Ethnic groups: Bosniak 50.1%, Serb 30.8%, Croat 15.4%, other 2.7%, not declared/no answer 1% (2013 est.)
Languages / Languages: Bosnian (official) 52.9%, Serbian (official) 30.8%, Croatian (official) 14.6%, other 1.6%, no answer 0.2% (2013 est.)
Languages / major-language sample(s): Knjiga svjetskih činjenica, neophodan izvor osnovnih informacija. (Bosnian) Knjiga svetskih činjenica, neophodan izvor osnovnih informacija. (Serbian) Knjiga svjetskih činjenica, nužan izvor osnovnih informacija. (Croatian) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
Religions: Muslim 50.7%, Orthodox 30.7%, Roman Catholic 15.2%, atheist 0.8%, agnostic 0.3%, other 1.2%, undeclared/no answer 1.1% (2013 est.)
Age structure / 0-14 years: 13.1% (male 257,444/female 240,209)
Age structure / 15-64 years: 68.3% (male 1,305,271/female 1,290,920)
Age structure / 65 years and over: 18.6% (2024 est.) (male 289,449/female 415,378)
Dependency ratios / total dependency ratio: 44.5 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / youth dependency ratio: 16.7 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / elderly dependency ratio: 27.8 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / potential support ratio: 3.6 (2025 est.)
Median age / total: 45.7 years (2025 est.)
Median age / male: 43.1 years
Median age / female: 46.5 years
Population growth rate: -0.67% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 6.88 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 12.29 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: -1.28 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution: the northern and central areas of the country are the most densely populated
Urbanization / urban population: 50.3% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 0.61% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 346,000 SARAJEVO (capital) (2023)
Sex ratio / at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 0-14 years: 1.07 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth: 27.7 years (2019 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio: 6 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Infant mortality rate / total: 3.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Infant mortality rate / male: 5.1 deaths/1,000 live births
Infant mortality rate / female: 4.9 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth / total population: 78.5 years (2024 est.)
Life expectancy at birth / male: 75.5 years
Life expectancy at birth / female: 81.6 years
Total fertility rate: 1.15 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 0.56 (2025 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: urban: urban: 94.8% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: rural: rural: 97.3% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: total: total: 96.1% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: urban: urban: 5.2% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: rural: rural: 2.7% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: total: total: 3.9% of population (2022 est.)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 9.6% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 14.8% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density: 2.58 physicians/1,000 population (2019)
Hospital bed density: 2.3 beds/1,000 population (2019 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: urban: urban: 99.5% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: urban: urban: 0.5% of population (2022 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 17.9% (2016)
Alcohol consumption per capita / total: 5.46 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / beer: 4.19 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / wine: 0.47 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / spirits: 0.62 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / other alcohols: 0.17 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Tobacco use / total: 34% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / male: 39.2% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / female: 29% (2025 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% GDP): 3.2% of GDP (2023 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% national budget): 10.2% national budget (2021 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / total: 14 years (2023 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / male: 14 years (2023 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / female: 15 years (2023 est.)

## Environment
Environmental issues: air pollution; deforestation and illegal logging; inadequate wastewater treatment and flood management facilities; urban waste disposal; uncleared land mines from the 1990s
International environmental agreements / party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
International environmental agreements / signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Climate: hot summers and cold winters; areas of high elevation have short, cool summers and long, severe winters; mild, rainy winters along coast
Land use / agricultural land: 21.7% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 7.2% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 1.4% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 12.8% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 42.2% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 36.1% (2023 est.)
Urbanization / urban population: 50.3% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 0.61% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / total emissions: 24.513 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from coal and metallurgical coke: 19.292 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from petroleum and other liquids: 4.785 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from consumed natural gas: 436,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Particulate matter emissions: 26.2 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Waste and recycling / municipal solid waste generated annually: 1.249 million tons (2024 est.)
Waste and recycling / percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 23.8% (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / municipal: 320 million cubic meters (2022)
Total water withdrawal / industrial: 475 million cubic meters (2022)
Total renewable water resources: 37.5 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: none
Country name / conventional short form: Bosnia and Herzegovina
Country name / local long form: none
Country name / local short form: Bosna i Hercegovina
Country name / former: People's Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Socialist Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina
Country name / abbreviation: BiH
Country name / etymology: the larger northern territory is named for the Bosna River; the smaller southern section takes its name from the Old Serbian word herceg , meaning "duke," combined with the possessive - ov and the suffix - ina , meaning "country," to denote "dukedom"
Government type: parliamentary republic
Capital / name: Sarajevo
Capital / geographic coordinates: 43 52 N, 18 25 E
Capital / time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Capital / daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October
Capital / etymology: the name derives from the Turkish word saray , meaning "palace" or "mansion"
Administrative divisions: 3 first-order administrative divisions - Brcko District (Brcko Distrikt) (ethnically mixed), Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (Federacija Bosne i Hercegovine) (predominantly Bosniak-Croat), Republika Srpska (predominantly Serb)
Legal system: civil law system; Constitutional Court review of legislative acts
Constitution / history: 14 December 1995 (constitution included as part of the Dayton Peace Accords)
Constitution / amendment process: decided by the Parliamentary Assembly, including a two-thirds majority vote of members present in the House of Representatives; the constitutional article on human rights and fundamental freedoms cannot be amended
International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Citizenship / citizenship by birth: no
Citizenship / citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Bosnia and Herzegovina
Citizenship / dual citizenship recognized: yes, provided there is a bilateral agreement with the other state
Citizenship / residency requirement for naturalization: 8 years
Suffrage: 18 years of age, 16 if employed; universal
Executive branch / chief of state: Chairperson of the Presidency Zeljko KOMSIC (chairperson since 16 July 2025; presidency member since 20 November 2018 - Croat seat); Denis BECIROVIC (presidency member since 16 November 2022 - Bosniak seat); Zeljka CVIJANOVIC (presidency member since 16 November 2022 - Serb seat)
Executive branch / head of government: Chairperson of the Council of Ministers Borjana KRISTO (since 25 January 2023)
Executive branch / cabinet: Council of Ministers nominated by the council chairperson, approved by the state-level House of Representatives
Executive branch / election/appointment process: 3-member presidency (1 Bosniak and 1 Croat elected from the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and 1 Serb elected from the Republika Srpska) directly elected by simple-majority popular vote for a 4-year term (eligible for a second term but then ineligible for 4 years); the presidency chairpersonship rotates every 8 months, with the new member of the presidency elected with the highest number of votes starting the new mandate as chair; the chairperson of the Council of Ministers appointed by the presidency and confirmed by the state-level House of Representatives
Executive branch / most recent election date: 2 October 2022
Executive branch / election results: 2022: percent of vote - Denis BECIROVIC - (SDP BiH) 57.4% - Bosniak seat; Zeljko KOMSIC (DF) 55.8% - Croat seat; Zeljka CVIJANOVIC (SNSD) 51.7% - Serb seat 2018: percent of vote - Milorad DODIK (SNSD) 53.9% - Serb seat; Zeljko KOMSIC (DF) 52.6% - Croat seat; Sefik DZAFEROVIC (SDA) 36.6% - Bosniak seat
Executive branch / expected date of next election: October 2026
Legislative branch / legislature name: Parliamentary Assembly (Skupstina)
Legislative branch / legislative structure: bicameral
Legislative branch - lower chamber / chamber name: House of Representatives (Predstavnicki dom)
Legislative branch - lower chamber / number of seats: 42 (all directly elected)
Legislative branch - lower chamber / electoral system: proportional representation
Legislative branch - lower chamber / scope of elections: full renewal
Legislative branch - lower chamber / term in office: 4 years
Legislative branch - lower chamber / most recent election date: 2/16/2023
Legislative branch - lower chamber / parties elected and seats per party: Party of Democratic Action (SDA) (9); Alliance of Independent Social Democrats (SNSD) (6); Social Democratic Party of Bosnia and Herzegovina (SDP) (5); HDZ BiH, HSS, HSP BiH, HKDU, HSPAS, HDU, HSPHB, HRAST (4); Democratic Front (DF) - Civic Alliance (GS) (3); People and Justice (NAROD I PRAVDA) (3); (3); Republican Party of the Social Order (PROS) (3); Other (15)
Legislative branch - lower chamber / percentage of women in chamber: 19%
Legislative branch - lower chamber / expected date of next election: October 2026
Legislative branch - upper chamber / chamber name: House of Peoples (Dom Naroda)
Legislative branch - upper chamber / number of seats: 15 (all appointed)
Legislative branch - upper chamber / scope of elections: full renewal
Legislative branch - upper chamber / term in office: 4 years
Legislative branch - upper chamber / most recent election date: 10/2/2022
Legislative branch - upper chamber / percentage of women in chamber: 6.7%
Legislative branch - upper chamber / expected date of next election: February 2027
Judicial branch / highest court(s): Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) Constitutional Court (consists of 9 members); Court of BiH (consists of 44 national judges and 7 international judges organized into 3 divisions - Administrative, Appellate, and Criminal, which includes a War Crimes Chamber)
Judicial branch / judge selection and term of office: BiH Constitutional Court judges - 4 selected by the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina House of Representatives, 2 selected by the Republika Srpska's National Assembly, and 3 non-Bosnian judges selected by the president of the European Court of Human Rights; Court of BiH president and national judges appointed by the High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council; Court of BiH president appointed for renewable 6-year term; other national judges appointed to serve until age 70; international judges recommended by the president of the Court of BiH and appointed by the High Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina; international judges appointed to serve until age 70
Judicial branch / subordinate courts: the Federation has 10 cantonal courts plus a number of municipal courts; the Republika Srpska has a supreme court, 5 district courts, and a number of municipal courts
Political parties: Alliance of Independent Social Democrats or SNSD Bosnian-Herzegovinian Initiative or BHI KF Civic Alliance or GS Croatian Democratic Union of Bosnia and Herzegovina or HDZ-BiH Democratic Front or DF Democratic Union or DEMOS For Justice and Order Our Party or NS/HC Party for Democratic Action or SDA Party of Democratic Progress or PDP People and Justice Party or NiP People's European Union of Bosnia and Herzegovina or NES Serb Democratic Party or SDS Social Democratic Party or SDP United Srpska or US
Diplomatic representation in the US / chief of mission: Ambassador Sven ALKALAJ (since 30 June 2023)
Diplomatic representation in the US / chancery: 2109 E Street NW, Washington, DC 20037
Diplomatic representation in the US / telephone: [1] (202) 337-1500
Diplomatic representation in the US / FAX: [1] (202) 337-1502
Diplomatic representation in the US / email address and website: info@bhembassy.org http://www.bhembassy.org/index.html
Diplomatic representation in the US / consulate(s) general: Chicago
Diplomatic representation from the US / chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charg&eacute; d&rsquo;Affaires John GINKEL (since September 2025)
Diplomatic representation from the US / embassy: 1 Robert C. Frasure Street, 71000 Sarajevo
Diplomatic representation from the US / mailing address: 7130 Sarajevo Place, Washington DC 20521-7130
Diplomatic representation from the US / telephone: [387] (33) 704-000
Diplomatic representation from the US / FAX: [387] (33) 659-722
Diplomatic representation from the US / email address and website: sarajevoACS@state.gov https://ba.usembassy.gov/
Diplomatic representation from the US / branch office(s): Banja Luka, Mostar
International organization participation: BIS, CD, CE, CEI, EAPC, EBRD, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MONUSCO, NAM (observer), OAS (observer), OIC (observer), OIF (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PFP, SELEC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)
Independence: 1 March 1992 (from Yugoslavia)
National holiday: Independence Day, 1 March (1992) and Statehood Day, 25 November (1943) - both observed in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina entity; Victory Day, 9 May (1945) and Dayton Agreement Day, 21 November (1995) - both observed in the Republika Srpska entity
Flag: description: a wide blue vertical band on the right side, with a large yellow isosceles triangle in the middle of the flag, based at the top; the rest of the flag is blue, with seven five-pointed white stars and two half-stars along the triangle's hypotenuse meaning: the triangle approximates the country's shape, and its three points stand for the Bosniaks, Croats, and Serbs; the stars represent Europe; the colors (white, blue, and yellow) are traditional and are also associated with neutrality and peace
National symbol(s): golden lily
National color(s): blue, yellow, white
National anthem(s) / title: "Drzavna himna Bosne i Hercegovine" (The National Anthem of Bosnia and Herzegovina)
National anthem(s) / lyrics/music: none officially/Dusan SESTIC
National anthem(s) / history: music adopted 1999; lyrics proposed in 2009 were accepted by a parliamentary commission but are still awaiting adoption, so the anthem remains officially wordless
National heritage / total World Heritage Sites: 5 (3 cultural, 2 natural)
National heritage / selected World Heritage Site locales: Old Bridge Area of Mostar (c); Mehmed Paša Sokolović Bridge in Višegrad (c); Stećci Medieval Tombstones Graveyards (c); Ancient and Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians and Other Regions of Europe - Janj Forest (n); Vjetrenica Cave, Ravno (n)

## Economy
Economic overview: import-dominated economy; remains consumption-heavy; lack of private sector investments and diversification; jointly addressing structural economic challenges; Chinese energy infrastructure investments; high unemployment; tourism industry impacted by COVID-19
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $64.641 billion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $63.077 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $61.843 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2024: 2.5% (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2023: 2% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2022: 4.2% (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2024: $20,400 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2023: $19,800 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2022: $19,300 (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $28.343 billion (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024: 1.7% (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023: 6.1% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 14% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / agriculture: 4.3% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / industry: 22% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / services: 58% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / household consumption: 68.3% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / government consumption: 19.1% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in fixed capital: 23.1% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in inventories: 3.2% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / exports of goods and services: 43.9% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / imports of goods and services: -55.7% (2023 est.)
Agricultural products: maize, milk, vegetables, potatoes, plums, wheat, apples, barley, chicken, tomatoes (2023)
Industries: steel, coal, iron ore, lead, zinc, manganese, bauxite, aluminum, motor vehicle assembly, textiles, tobacco products, wooden furniture, ammunition, domestic appliances, oil refining
Industrial production growth rate: -2.4% (2024 est.)
Labor force: 1.356 million (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2024: 10.8% (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2023: 10.7% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2022: 12.7% (2022 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / total: 27.3% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / male: 25.4% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / female: 30.9% (2024 est.)
Population below poverty line: 16.9% (2015 est.)
Average household expenditures / on food: 32.1% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Average household expenditures / on alcohol and tobacco: 7.1% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2024: 11% of GDP (2024 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2023: 10.2% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2022: 10.5% of GDP (2022 est.)
Budget / revenues: $10.196 billion (2023 est.)
Budget / expenditures: $10.463 billion (2023 est.)
Public debt / Public debt 2023: 40.3% of GDP (2023 est.)
Taxes and other revenues: 19.1% (of GDP) (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2024: -$1.176 billion (2024 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2023: -$638.769 million (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2022: -$1.078 billion (2022 est.)
Exports / Exports 2024: $12.141 billion (2024 est.)
Exports / Exports 2023: $12.126 billion (2023 est.)
Exports / Exports 2022: $11.838 billion (2022 est.)
Exports - partners: Germany 15%, Croatia 14%, Serbia 12%, Austria 10%, Slovenia 9% (2023)
Exports - commodities: footwear, electricity, garments, plastic products, insulated wire (2023)
Imports / Imports 2024: $16.202 billion (2024 est.)
Imports / Imports 2023: $15.37 billion (2023 est.)
Imports / Imports 2022: $15.166 billion (2022 est.)
Imports - partners: Italy 13%, Germany 11%, Serbia 11%, China 9%, Croatia 8% (2023)
Imports - commodities: refined petroleum, cars, garments, plastic products, packaged medicine (2023)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024: $9.419 billion (2024 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023: $9.205 billion (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $8.762 billion (2022 est.)
Debt - external / Debt - external 2023: $5.359 billion (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Currency: konvertibilna markas (BAM) per US dollar -
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2024: 1.808 (2024 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2023: 1.809 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2022: 1.859 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2021: 1.654 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2020: 1.717 (2020 est.)

## Energy
Electricity access / electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)
Electricity / installed generating capacity: 4.682 million kW (2023 est.)
Electricity / consumption: 12.867 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / exports: 7.104 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / imports: 3.6 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / transmission/distribution losses: 1.339 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / fossil fuels: 64% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / solar: 0.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / wind: 2.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / hydroelectricity: 31.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / biomass and waste: 1.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Coal / production: 12.311 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / consumption: 12.304 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / exports: 1.254 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / imports: 1.327 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / proven reserves: 2.264 billion metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum / refined petroleum consumption: 34,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Natural gas / consumption: 228.855 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / imports: 228.855 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
Energy consumption per capita / Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 91.227 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

## Communications
Telephones - fixed lines / total subscriptions: 583,000 (2024 est.)
Telephones - fixed lines / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 18 (2024 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / total subscriptions: 3.84 million (2024 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 121 (2024 est.)
Broadcast media: 3 public TV broadcasters: Radio and TV of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Federation TV (operating 2 networks), and Republika Srpska Radio-TV; a local commercial network of 5 TV stations; 3 private, near-national TV stations and dozens of small independent TV stations; 3 large public radio broadcasters and many private radio stations (2019)
Internet country code: .ba
Internet users / percent of population: 83% (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / total: 908,000 (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 29 (2023 est.)

## Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: T9
Airports: 20 (2025)
Heliports: 3 (2025)
Railways / total: 965 km (2014)
Railways / standard gauge: 965 km (2014) 1.435-m gauge (565 km electrified)
Ports / total ports: 1 (2024)
Ports / large: 0
Ports / medium: 0
Ports / small: 1
Ports / very small: 0
Ports / ports with oil terminals: 0
Ports / key ports: Neum

## Military and Security
Military and security forces: Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina (AFBiH or Oruzanih Snaga Bosne i Hercegovine, OSBiH): Army, Air, Air Defense forces organized into an Operations Command and a Support Command Ministry of Security: Border Police (2025)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2024: 0.8% of GDP (2024 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2023: 0.8% of GDP (2023 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2022: 0.8% of GDP (2022 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2021: 0.9% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2020: 0.9% of GDP (2020 est.)
Military and security service personnel strengths: approximately 10,000 active duty Armed Forces (2025)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the military's inventory of weapons and equipment is a combination of material originating from the former Soviet Union/former Yugoslavia and some newer acquisitions from suppliers such as T&uuml;rkiye, the UK, and the US (2025)
Military service age and obligation: 18 -27 years of age for voluntary military service; conscription ended in January 2006 (2025)
Military - note: the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina (AFBiH) are responsible for territorial defense, providing assistance to civil authorities during disasters or other emergencies, and participating in collective security and peace support operations; each of the AFBiH's three combat brigades are headquartered inside of their respective ethnicity territory, while its main headquarters is in Sarajevo; Bosnia and Herzegovina aspires to join NATO; Bosnia and Herzegovina joined NATO’s Partnership for Peace (PfP) program in 2006 and was invited to join NATO’s Membership Action Plan in 2010; the AFBiH is undergoing a 10-year (2017-2027) defense modernization and reform program for preparing to join and integrate with NATO; it has contributed small numbers of troops to EU, NATO, and UN missions NATO maintains a military headquarters in Sarajevo with the mission of assisting Bosnia and Herzegovina with the PfP program and promoting closer integration with NATO, as well as providing logistics and other support to the EU Force Bosnia and Herzegovina (EUFOR), which has operated in the country to oversee implementation of the Dayton/Paris Agreement since taking over from NATO's Stabilization Force (SFOR) in 2004 (2025)

## Terrorism
Terrorist group(s): Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps/Qods Force

## Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons / refugees: 685 (2024 est.)
Refugees and internally displaced persons / IDPs: 94,796 (2024 est.)
Refugees and internally displaced persons / stateless persons: 23 (2024 est.)

=== Belarus ===

## Introduction
Background: After seven decades as a constituent republic of the USSR, Belarus attained its independence in 1991. It has retained closer political and economic ties to Russia than any of the other former Soviet republics. In 1999, Belarus and Russia signed a treaty on a two-state union, envisioning greater political and economic integration. Although Belarus agreed to a framework to carry out the accord, serious implementation has yet to take place and negotiations on further integration have been contentious. Since taking office in 1994 as the country's first and only directly elected president, Alyaksandr LUKASHENKA has steadily consolidated his power through authoritarian means and a centralized economic system. Government restrictions on political and civil freedoms, freedom of speech and the press, peaceful assembly, and religion have remained in place. Restrictions on political freedoms have tightened in the wake of the disputed presidential election in 2020. The election results sparked large-scale protests as members of the opposition and civil society criticized the election&rsquo;s validity. LUKASHENKA has remained in power as the disputed winner of the presidential election after quelling protests in 2020. Since 2022, Belarus has facilitated Russia's war in Ukraine, which was launched in part from Belarusian territory.

## Geography
Location: Eastern Europe, east of Poland
Geographic coordinates: 53 00 N, 28 00 E
Map references: Europe
Area / total: 207,600 sq km
Area / land: 202,900 sq km
Area / water: 4,700 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly less than twice the size of Kentucky; slightly smaller than Kansas
Land boundaries / total: 3,599 km
Land boundaries / border countries: Latvia 161 km; Lithuania 640 km; Poland 375 km; Russia 1,312 km; Ukraine 1,111 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
Climate: cold winters, cool and moist summers; transitional between continental and maritime
Terrain: generally flat with much marshland
Elevation / highest point: Dzyarzhynskaya Hara 346 m
Elevation / lowest point: Nyoman River 90 m
Elevation / mean elevation: 160 m
Natural resources: timber, peat deposits, small quantities of oil and natural gas, granite, dolomitic limestone, marl, chalk, sand, gravel, clay
Land use / agricultural land: 39.6% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 27.4% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 0.4% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 11.7% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 44% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 16.5% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land: 260 sq km (2022)
Major rivers (by length in km): Dnyapro (Dnieper) (shared with Russia [s] and Ukraine [m]) - 2,287 km note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Major watersheds (area sq km) / Atlantic Ocean drainage: (Black Sea) Dnieper (533,966 sq km)
Population distribution: a fairly even distribution throughout most of the country, with urban areas attracting larger and denser populations
Natural hazards: large tracts of marshy land
Geography - note: landlocked; glacial scouring accounts for the flatness of Belarusian terrain and for its 11,000 lakes

## People and Society
Population / total: 9,460,972 (2025 est.)
Population / male: 4,414,771
Population / female: 5,046,201
Nationality / noun: Belarusian(s)
Nationality / adjective: Belarusian
Ethnic groups: Belarusian 83.7%, Russian 8.3%, Polish 3.1%, Ukrainian 1.7%, other 2.4%, unspecified 0.9% (2009 est.)
Languages / Languages: Russian (official) 71.4%, Belarusian (official) 26%, other 0.3% (includes small Polish- and Ukrainian-speaking minorities), unspecified 2.3% (2019 est.)
Languages / major-language sample(s): Книга фактов о мире – незаменимый источник базовой информации. (Russian) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
Religions: Orthodox 48.3%, Catholic 7.1%, other 3.5%, non-believers 41.1% (2011 est.)
Age structure / 0-14 years: 16.1% (male 787,849/female 741,293)
Age structure / 15-64 years: 66.1% (male 3,073,507/female 3,204,088)
Age structure / 65 years and over: 17.8% (2024 est.) (male 572,483/female 1,122,231)
Dependency ratios / total dependency ratio: 52 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / youth dependency ratio: 24.1 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / elderly dependency ratio: 27.9 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / potential support ratio: 3.6 (2025 est.)
Median age / total: 42.5 years (2025 est.)
Median age / male: 39.5 years
Median age / female: 45 years
Population growth rate: -0.44% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 8.16 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 13.21 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: 0.67 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution: a fairly even distribution throughout most of the country, with urban areas attracting larger and denser populations
Urbanization / urban population: 80.7% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 0.28% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 2.057 million MINSK (capital) (2023)
Sex ratio / at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 65 years and over: 0.51 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / total population: 0.88 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth: 26.8 years (2019 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio: 1 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Infant mortality rate / total: 2.1 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Infant mortality rate / male: 2.5 deaths/1,000 live births
Infant mortality rate / female: 1.7 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth / total population: 74.7 years (2024 est.)
Life expectancy at birth / male: 69.8 years
Life expectancy at birth / female: 80 years
Total fertility rate: 1.45 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 0.7 (2025 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: urban: urban: 99.5% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: rural: rural: 98.1% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: total: total: 99.2% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: urban: urban: 0.5% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: rural: rural: 1.9% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: total: total: 0.8% of population (2022 est.)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 6.6% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 12.3% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density: 4.72 physicians/1,000 population (2023)
Hospital bed density: 9.7 beds/1,000 population (2019 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: urban: urban: 99.9% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: rural: rural: 98.3% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: total: total: 99.6% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: urban: urban: 0.1% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: rural: rural: 1.7% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: total: total: 0.4% of population (2022 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 24.5% (2016)
Alcohol consumption per capita / total: 10.57 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / beer: 2.26 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / wine: 0.98 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / spirits: 4.67 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / other alcohols: 2.66 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Tobacco use / total: 26.4% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / male: 44.5% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / female: 11.6% (2025 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49): 62.4% (2019 est.)
Child marriage / women married by age 15: 0.1% (2019)
Child marriage / women married by age 18: 4.7% (2019)
Child marriage / men married by age 18: 1.6% (2019)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% GDP): 5% of GDP (2023 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% national budget): 13.2% national budget (2024 est.)
Literacy / total population: 99.9% (2019 est.)
Literacy / male: 99.9% (2019 est.)
Literacy / female: 99.9% (2019 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / total: 14 years (2023 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / male: 14 years (2023 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / female: 15 years (2023 est.)

## Environment
Environmental issues: soil pollution from pesticide use; southern part of the country contaminated with fallout from 1986 nuclear reactor accident at Chornobyl' in northern Ukraine
International environmental agreements / party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Antarctic-Environmental Protection, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
International environmental agreements / signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Climate: cold winters, cool and moist summers; transitional between continental and maritime
Land use / agricultural land: 39.6% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 27.4% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 0.4% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 11.7% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 44% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 16.5% (2023 est.)
Urbanization / urban population: 80.7% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 0.28% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / total emissions: 46.709 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from coal and metallurgical coke: 1.497 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from petroleum and other liquids: 15.884 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from consumed natural gas: 29.328 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Particulate matter emissions: 13.4 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Waste and recycling / municipal solid waste generated annually: 4.28 million tons (2024 est.)
Waste and recycling / percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 19% (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / municipal: 600 million cubic meters (2022)
Total water withdrawal / industrial: 430 million cubic meters (2022)
Total water withdrawal / agricultural: 385 million cubic meters (2022)
Total renewable water resources: 57.9 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: Republic of Belarus
Country name / conventional short form: Belarus
Country name / local long form: Respublika Byelarus' (Belarusian)/ Respublika Belarus' (Russian)
Country name / local short form: Byelarus' (Belarusian)/ Belarus' (Russian)
Country name / former: Belorussian (Byelorussian) Soviet Socialist Republic
Country name / etymology: the name is a compound of the Slavic words "bel" (white) and "Rus" (the Old East Slavic ethnic designation) to form the meaning White Rusian or White Ruthenian
Government type: presidential republic in name, although in fact a dictatorship
Capital / name: Minsk
Capital / geographic coordinates: 53 54 N, 27 34 E
Capital / time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Capital / etymology: the origin of the name is disputed; it may be derived from the Menka River
Administrative divisions: 6 regions ( voblastsi , singular - voblasts ') and 1 municipality* ( horad ); Brest, Homyel' (Gomel'), Horad Minsk* (Minsk City), Hrodna (Grodno), Mahilyow (Mogilev), Minsk, Vitsyebsk (Vitebsk)
Legal system: civil law system
Constitution / history: several previous; latest drafted between late 1991 and early 1994, signed 15 March 1994
Constitution / amendment process: proposed by the president of the republic through petition to the National Assembly or by petition of least 150,000 eligible voters; approval required by at least two-thirds majority vote in both chambers or by simple majority of votes cast in a referendum
International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt
Citizenship / citizenship by birth: no
Citizenship / citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Belarus
Citizenship / dual citizenship recognized: no
Citizenship / residency requirement for naturalization: 7 years
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch / chief of state: President Alyaksandr LUKASHENKA (since 20 July 1994)
Executive branch / head of government: Prime Minister Alyaksandr TURCHYN (since 10 March 2025)
Executive branch / cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
Executive branch / election/appointment process: president directly elected by absolute-majority popular vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a 5-year term (no term limits); prime minister and deputy prime ministers appointed by the president and approved by the National Assembly
Executive branch / most recent election date: first election held on 23 June and 10 July 1994; the 1994 constitution set the next election for 1999, but Alyaksandr LUKASHENKA extended his term to 2001 via a referendum; subsequent election held in 2001; a 2004 referendum ended presidential term limits and allowed LUKASHENKA to run and win a third term (19 March 2006), fourth term (19 December 2010), fifth term (11 October 2015), sixth term (9 August 2020), and seventh term (26 January 2025)
Executive branch / election results: 2025: Alyaksandr LUKASHENKA reelected president; percent of vote - Alyaksandr LUKASHENKA (independent) 86.8%, Sergey Syrankov (Communist Party) 3.2%, 3.6% voting against all 2020: Alyaksandr LUKASHENKA reelected president; percent of vote - Alyaksandr LUKASHENKA (independent) 80.1%, Svyatlana TSIKHANOWSKAYA (independent) 10.1%, other 9.8%; note - widespread street protests erupted following announcement of the election results amid allegations of voter fraud 2015: Alyaksandr LUKASHENKA elected president; percent of vote - Alyaksandr LUKASHENKA (independent) 84.1%, Tatsyana KARATKEVIC (BSDPH) 4.4%, Sergey GAYDUKEVICH (LDP) 3.3%, other 8.2%.
Executive branch / expected date of next election: 2030
Legislative branch / legislature name: National Assembly (Natsionalnoye Sobranie)
Legislative branch / legislative structure: bicameral
Legislative branch - lower chamber / chamber name: House of Representatives (Palata Predstaviteley)
Legislative branch - lower chamber / number of seats: 110 (all directly elected)
Legislative branch - lower chamber / electoral system: plurality/majority
Legislative branch - lower chamber / scope of elections: full renewal
Legislative branch - lower chamber / term in office: 5 years
Legislative branch - lower chamber / most recent election date: 2/25/2024
Legislative branch - lower chamber / parties elected and seats per party: Belaya Rus party (51); Republican Party of Labour and Justice (8); Communist Party of Belarus (7); Non-partisans (40); Other (4)
Legislative branch - lower chamber / percentage of women in chamber: 33.9%
Legislative branch - lower chamber / expected date of next election: February 2029
Legislative branch - upper chamber / chamber name: Council of the Republic (Soviet Respubliki)
Legislative branch - upper chamber / number of seats: 65 (56 indirectly elected; 8 appointed)
Legislative branch - upper chamber / scope of elections: full renewal
Legislative branch - upper chamber / term in office: 5 years
Legislative branch - upper chamber / most recent election date: 4/4/2024
Legislative branch - upper chamber / percentage of women in chamber: 30.5%
Legislative branch - upper chamber / expected date of next election: March 2029
Judicial branch / highest court(s): Supreme Court (consists of the chairman and deputy chairman and organized into several specialized panels, including economic and military; number of judges set by the president of the republic and the court chairman); Constitutional Court (consists of 12 judges, including a chairman and deputy chairman)
Judicial branch / judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court judges appointed by the president with the consent of the Council of the Republic; judges initially appointed for 5 years and evaluated for life appointment; Constitutional Court judges - 6 appointed by the president and 6 elected by the Council of the Republic; the presiding judge directly elected by the president and approved by the Council of the Republic; judges can serve for 11 years with an age limit of 70
Judicial branch / subordinate courts: oblast courts; Minsk City Court; town courts; Minsk city and oblast economic courts
Political parties: Belaya Rus or BR Republican Party of Labour and Justice or RPTS Communist Party of Belarus or CBP Liberal Democratic Party of Belarus or LDPB
Diplomatic representation in the US / chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant; recalled by Belarus in 2008); Charg&eacute; d'Affaires Pavel SHIDLOWSKI (since 9 August 2022)
Diplomatic representation in the US / chancery: 1619 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009
Diplomatic representation in the US / telephone: [1] (202) 986-1606
Diplomatic representation in the US / FAX: [1] (202) 986-1805
Diplomatic representation in the US / email address and website: usa@mfa.gov.by Embassy of the Republic of Belarus in the United States of America (mfa.gov.by)
Diplomatic representation from the US / chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charg&eacute; d&rsquo;Affaires Michael KREIDLER (since July 2025)
Diplomatic representation from the US / embassy: 46 Starovilenskaya Street, Minsk 220002
Diplomatic representation from the US / mailing address: 7010 Minsk Place, Washington DC 20521-7010
Diplomatic representation from the US / telephone: [375] (17) 210-12-83
Diplomatic representation from the US / FAX: [375] (17) 334-78-53
Diplomatic representation from the US / email address and website: ConsularMinsk@state.gov https://by.usembassy.gov/
International organization participation: BSEC (observer), CBSS (observer), CEI, CIS, CSTO, EAEC, EAEU, EAPC, EBRD, FAO, GCTU, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NAM, NSG, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, SCO (dialogue member), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNOOSA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer), ZC
Independence: 25 August 1991 (from the Soviet Union)
National holiday: Independence Day, 3 July (1944)
Flag: description: red horizontal band (top), with a green horizontal band below that is half the width of the red band; a white vertical stripe on the left side has traditional Belarusian designs in red meaning: the red stands for past struggles to escape oppression, and the green for hope and the country's forests
National symbol(s): no official symbol; the mounted knight known as Pahonia (the Chaser) is the traditional symbol
National color(s): green, red, white
National anthem(s) / title: "My, Bielarusy" (We Belarusians)
National anthem(s) / lyrics/music: Mikhas KLIMKOVICH and Uladzimir KARYZNA/Nester SAKALOUSKI
National anthem(s) / history: music adopted 1955, lyrics adopted 2002; after the fall of the Soviet Union, Belarus kept the music of its Soviet-era anthem but adopted new lyrics; also known as "Dziarzauny himn Respubliki Bielarus" (State Anthem of the Republic of Belarus)
National heritage / total World Heritage Sites: 4 (3 cultural, 1 natural)
National heritage / selected World Heritage Site locales: Białowieża Forest (n); Mir Castle Complex (c); Architectural, Residential, and Cultural Complex of the Radziwill Family at Nesvizh (c)

## Economy
Economic overview: declining Russian energy subsidies will end in 2024; growing public debt; strong currency pressures have led to higher inflation; recent price controls on basic food and drugs; public sector wage increases and fragile private sector threaten household income gains and economic growth
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $265.22 billion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $254.995 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $244.89 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2024: 4% (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2023: 4.1% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2022: -4.7% (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2024: $29,000 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2023: $27,800 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2022: $26,500 (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $75.962 billion (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024: 5.8% (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023: 5% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 15.2% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / agriculture: 6.9% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / industry: 30.7% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / services: 49.7% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / household consumption: 56.8% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / government consumption: 19% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in fixed capital: 23.8% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in inventories: 2% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / exports of goods and services: 65.1% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / imports of goods and services: -66.9% (2024 est.)
Agricultural products: milk, sugar beets, potatoes, wheat, triticale, barley, maize, rapeseed, rye, chicken (2023)
Industries: metal-cutting machine tools, tractors, trucks, earthmovers, motorcycles, synthetic fibers, fertilizer, textiles, refrigerators, washing machines and other household appliances
Industrial production growth rate: 6% (2024 est.)
Labor force: 4.817 million (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2024: 3.4% (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2023: 3.5% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2022: 3.6% (2022 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / total: 10.1% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / male: 11.7% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / female: 8.4% (2024 est.)
Population below poverty line: 3.9% (2022 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income / Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2020: 24.4 (2020 est.)
Average household expenditures / on food: 29.5% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Average household expenditures / on alcohol and tobacco: 7.6% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / lowest 10%: 4.5% (2020 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / highest 10%: 20.7% (2020 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2024: 1.8% of GDP (2024 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2023: 1.7% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2022: 2% of GDP (2022 est.)
Budget / revenues: $22.876 billion (2023 est.)
Budget / expenditures: $21.912 billion (2023 est.)
Public debt / Public debt 2019: 33.2% of GDP (2019 est.)
Taxes and other revenues: 12.7% (of GDP) (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2024: -$1.925 billion (2024 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2023: -$1.104 billion (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2022: $2.628 billion (2022 est.)
Exports / Exports 2024: $49.386 billion (2024 est.)
Exports / Exports 2023: $47.714 billion (2023 est.)
Exports / Exports 2022: $47.124 billion (2022 est.)
Exports - partners: China 34%, Kazakhstan 10%, Uzbekistan 7%, Poland 6%, Brazil 5% (2023)
Exports - commodities: fertilizers, rapeseed oil, wood, poultry, beef (2023)
Imports / Imports 2024: $50.679 billion (2024 est.)
Imports / Imports 2023: $47.459 billion (2023 est.)
Imports / Imports 2022: $42.438 billion (2022 est.)
Imports - partners: China 33%, Poland 16%, Germany 11%, Lithuania 10%, Turkey 9% (2023)
Imports - commodities: cars, broadcasting equipment, fabric, plastic products, video displays (2023)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024: $8.912 billion (2024 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023: $8.118 billion (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $7.923 billion (2022 est.)
Debt - external / Debt - external 2023: $18.01 billion (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Currency: Belarusian rubles (BYB/BYR) per US dollar -
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2024: 3.246 (2024 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2023: 3.007 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2022: 2.626 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2021: 2.539 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2020: 2.44 (2020 est.)

## Energy
Electricity access / electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)
Electricity / installed generating capacity: 12.653 million kW (2023 est.)
Electricity / consumption: 39.883 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / exports: 4.553 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / imports: 4 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / transmission/distribution losses: 3.149 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / fossil fuels: 70% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / nuclear: 26.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / solar: 0.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / wind: 0.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / hydroelectricity: 0.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / biomass and waste: 1.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Nuclear energy / Number of operational nuclear reactors: 2 (2025)
Nuclear energy / Net capacity of operational nuclear reactors: 2.22GW (2025 est.)
Nuclear energy / Percent of total electricity production: 28.6% (2023 est.)
Coal / consumption: 710,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / exports: 966,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / imports: 1.635 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum / total petroleum production: 30,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Petroleum / refined petroleum consumption: 125,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Petroleum / crude oil estimated reserves: 198 million barrels (2021 est.)
Natural gas / production: 68.494 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / consumption: 15.094 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / imports: 15.433 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / proven reserves: 2.832 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)
Energy consumption per capita / Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 104.821 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

## Communications
Telephones - fixed lines / total subscriptions: 4.14 million (2024 est.)
Telephones - fixed lines / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 46 (2024 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / total subscriptions: 11.9 million (2024 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 131 (2024 est.)
Broadcast media: 7 state-controlled national TV channels; Polish and Russian TV broadcasts are available in some areas; state-run Belarusian Radio operates 5 national networks and an external service; Russian and Polish radio broadcasts are available (2019)
Internet country code: .by
Internet users / percent of population: 92% (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / total: 3.2 million (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 35 (2023 est.)

## Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: EW
Airports: 46 (2025)
Heliports: 4 (2025)
Railways / total: 5,528 km (2014)
Railways / standard gauge: 25 km (2014) 1.435-m gauge
Railways / broad gauge: 5,503 km (2014) 1.520-m gauge (874 km electrified)
Merchant marine / total: 4 (2023)
Merchant marine / by type: other 4

## Military and Security
Military and security forces: Belarus Armed Forces: Army, Air and Air Defense Force, Special Operations Force, Special Troops, Territorial Defense Forces Ministry of Interior: State Border Troops, Militia, Internal Troops (2025)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2024: 2% of GDP (2024 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2023: 1.8% of GDP (2023 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2022: 1.7% of GDP (2022 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2021: 1.4% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2020: 1.5% of GDP (2020 est.)
Military and security service personnel strengths: approximately 50-60,000 active-duty military personnel (2025)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the military's inventory is comprised mostly of Russian and Soviet-origin equipment; Belarus's defense industry manufactures some equipment (mostly modernized Soviet designs), including vehicles, guided weapons, and electronic warfare systems (2025)
Military service age and obligation: 18-27 years of age for compulsory military or alternative service; conscript service obligation is 12-18 months, depending on academic qualifications, and 24-36 months for alternative service; 17-year-olds are eligible to become cadets at military higher education institutes, where they are classified as military personnel (2025)
Military - note: the military of Belarus is responsible for territorial defense; Russia is the country’s closest security partner, and the military conducts joint training exercises with Russian forces; in 2022, Belarus allowed the Russian military to stage on its territory for their invasion of Ukraine; in 2023, Belarus agreed to permit Russia to deploy nuclear weapons on its soil Belarus has been a member of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) since 1994 and has committed an airborne brigade to CSTO's rapid reaction force; the military trains regularly with other CSTO members (2025)

## Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons / refugees: 44,621 (2024 est.)
Refugees and internally displaced persons / stateless persons: 5,620 (2024 est.)
Trafficking in persons / tier rating: Tier 3 — Belarus does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and is not making significant efforts to do so, therefore, Belarus remained on Tier 3; for more details, go to: https://www.state.gov/reports/2025-trafficking-in-persons-report/belarus/

=== Bulgaria ===

## Introduction
Background: The Bulgars, a Central Asian Turkic tribe, merged with the local Slavic inhabitants in the late 7th century to form the first Bulgarian state. In succeeding centuries, Bulgaria struggled with the Byzantine Empire to assert its place in the Balkans, but by the end of the 14th century, the Ottoman Turks overran the country. Northern Bulgaria attained autonomy in 1878, and all of Bulgaria became independent from the Ottoman Empire in 1908. Having fought on the losing side in both World Wars, Bulgaria fell within the Soviet sphere of influence and became a People's Republic in 1946. Communist domination ended in 1990, when Bulgaria held its first multiparty election since World War II and began the contentious process of moving toward political democracy and a market economy while combating inflation, unemployment, corruption, and crime. The country joined NATO in 2004, the EU in 2007, and the Schengen Area for air and sea travel in 2024.

## Geography
Location: Southeastern Europe, bordering the Black Sea, between Romania and Turkey
Geographic coordinates: 43 00 N, 25 00 E
Map references: Europe
Area / total: 110,879 sq km
Area / land: 108,489 sq km
Area / water: 2,390 sq km
Area - comparative: almost identical in size to Virginia; slightly larger than Tennessee
Land boundaries / total: 1,806 km
Land boundaries / border countries: Greece 472 km; Macedonia 162 km; Romania 605 km; Serbia 344 km; Turkey 223 km
Coastline: 354 km
Maritime claims / territorial sea: 12 nm
Maritime claims / contiguous zone: 24 nm
Maritime claims / exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate: temperate; cold, damp winters; hot, dry summers
Terrain: mostly mountains with lowlands in north and southeast
Elevation / highest point: Musala 2,925 m
Elevation / lowest point: Black Sea 0 m
Elevation / mean elevation: 472 m
Natural resources: bauxite, copper, lead, zinc, coal, timber, arable land
Land use / agricultural land: 46.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 32.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 1.3% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 12.7% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 36.2% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 17.7% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land: 929 sq km (2016)
Major rivers (by length in km): Dunav (Danube) (shared with Germany [s], Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Ukraine, Moldova, and Romania [m]) - 2,888 km note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Major watersheds (area sq km) / Atlantic Ocean drainage: (Black Sea) Danube (795,656 sq km)
Population distribution: a fairly even distribution throughout most of the country, with urban areas attracting larger populations
Natural hazards: earthquakes; landslides
Geography - note: strategic location near Turkish Straits; controls key land routes from Europe to Middle East and Asia

## People and Society
Population / total: 6,737,997 (2025 est.)
Population / male: 3,281,215
Population / female: 3,456,782
Nationality / noun: Bulgarian(s)
Nationality / adjective: Bulgarian
Ethnic groups: Bulgarian 78.5%, Turkish 7.8%, Roma 4.1%, other 1.2%, unspecified 9.4% (2021 est.)
Languages / Languages: Bulgarian (official) 77.3%, Turkish 7.9%, Romani 3.5%, other 1%, unspecified 10.4% (2021 est.)
Languages / major-language sample(s): Светoвен Алманах, незаменимият източник за основна информация. (Bulgarian) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
Religions: Christian 64.7%, Muslim 9.8%, other 0.1%, none 4.7%, unspecified 20.7% (2021 est.)
Age structure / 0-14 years: 13.8% (male 479,586/female 453,423)
Age structure / 15-64 years: 65.2% (male 2,250,962/female 2,171,279)
Age structure / 65 years and over: 21% (2024 est.) (male 572,943/female 854,466)
Dependency ratios / total dependency ratio: 53.3 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / youth dependency ratio: 20.7 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / elderly dependency ratio: 32.7 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / potential support ratio: 3.1 (2025 est.)
Median age / total: 45.5 years (2025 est.)
Median age / male: 43.3 years
Median age / female: 47 years
Population growth rate: -0.66% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 7.88 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 14.18 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: -0.3 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution: a fairly even distribution throughout most of the country, with urban areas attracting larger populations
Urbanization / urban population: 76.7% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: -0.28% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 1.288 million SOFIA (capital) (2023)
Sex ratio / at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 15-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 65 years and over: 0.67 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth: 26.4 years (2020 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio: 6 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Infant mortality rate / total: 7.5 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Infant mortality rate / male: 8.7 deaths/1,000 live births
Infant mortality rate / female: 6.6 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth / total population: 76.1 years (2024 est.)
Life expectancy at birth / male: 72.9 years
Life expectancy at birth / female: 79.4 years
Total fertility rate: 1.52 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 0.74 (2025 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: urban: urban: 99.6% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: rural: rural: 97.3% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: total: total: 99.1% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: urban: urban: 0.4% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: rural: rural: 2.7% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: total: total: 0.9% of population (2022 est.)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 8.6% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 11.6% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density: 4.33 physicians/1,000 population (2022)
Hospital bed density: 7.8 beds/1,000 population (2020 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: urban: urban: 100% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: rural: rural: 100% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: total: total: 100% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: urban: urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: rural: rural: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: total: total: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 25% (2016)
Alcohol consumption per capita / total: 11.18 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / beer: 4.44 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / wine: 1.72 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / spirits: 4.96 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / other alcohols: 0.06 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Tobacco use / total: 33.1% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / male: 36.2% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / female: 30.3% (2025 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 1.6% (2014)
Currently married women (ages 15-49): 56.6% (2023 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% GDP): 4.5% of GDP (2022 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% national budget): 12% national budget (2022 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / total: 15 years (2023 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / male: 15 years (2023 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / female: 16 years (2023 est.)

## Environment
Environmental issues: air pollution from industrial emissions; rivers polluted from raw sewage, heavy metals, detergents; deforestation; forest damage from air pollution and acid rain; soil contamination from heavy metals from metallurgical plants and industrial wastes
International environmental agreements / party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Multi-effect Protocol, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protection, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling
International environmental agreements / signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Climate: temperate; cold, damp winters; hot, dry summers
Land use / agricultural land: 46.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 32.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 1.3% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 12.7% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 36.2% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 17.7% (2023 est.)
Urbanization / urban population: 76.7% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: -0.28% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / total emissions: 33.465 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from coal and metallurgical coke: 14.486 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from petroleum and other liquids: 13.958 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from consumed natural gas: 5.021 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Particulate matter emissions: 18.6 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Waste and recycling / municipal solid waste generated annually: 2.859 million tons (2024 est.)
Waste and recycling / percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 29.8% (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / municipal: 838 million cubic meters (2022)
Total water withdrawal / industrial: 3.879 billion cubic meters (2022)
Total water withdrawal / agricultural: 726.434 million cubic meters (2022)
Total renewable water resources: 21.3 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: Republic of Bulgaria
Country name / conventional short form: Bulgaria
Country name / local long form: Republika Bulgaria
Country name / local short form: Bulgaria
Country name / former: Kingdom of Bulgaria, People's Republic of Bulgaria
Country name / etymology: named after the Bulgar tribes who settled the lower Balkan region in the 7th century A.D.; the tribal name may come from the Turkic word bulga , or "mixed," referring to the blend of Turkic and Slavic ethnicities in the tribes
Government type: parliamentary republic
Capital / name: Sofia
Capital / geographic coordinates: 42 41 N, 23 19 E
Capital / time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Capital / daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October
Capital / etymology: named after the Church of Saint Sofia in the city, parts of which may date to the 4th century
Administrative divisions: 28 provinces ( oblasti , singular - oblast ); Blagoevgrad, Burgas, Dobrich, Gabrovo, Haskovo, Kardzhali, Kyustendil, Lovech, Montana, Pazardzhik, Pernik, Pleven, Plovdiv, Razgrad, Ruse, Shumen, Silistra, Sliven, Smolyan, Sofia, Sofia-Grad (Sofia City), Stara Zagora, Targovishte, Varna, Veliko Tarnovo, Vidin, Vratsa, Yambol
Legal system: civil law
Constitution / history: several previous; latest drafted between late 1990 and early 1991, adopted 13 July 1991
Constitution / amendment process: proposed by the National Assembly or by the president of the republic; passage requires three-fourths majority vote of National Assembly members in three ballots; signed by the National Assembly chairperson; note - under special circumstances, a "Grand National Assembly" is elected with the authority to write a new constitution and amend certain articles of the constitution, including those affecting basic civil rights and national sovereignty; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote in each of several readings
International law organization participation: accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Citizenship / citizenship by birth: no
Citizenship / citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Bulgaria
Citizenship / dual citizenship recognized: yes
Citizenship / residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch / chief of state: President Rumen RADEV (since 22 January 2017)
Executive branch / head of government: Prime Minister Rosen ZHELYAZKOV (since 16 January 2025)
Executive branch / cabinet: Council of Ministers nominated by the prime minister, elected by the National Assembly
Executive branch / election/appointment process: president and vice president elected on the same ballot by absolute-majority popular vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); chairman of the Council of Ministers (prime minister) elected by the National Assembly; deputy prime ministers nominated by the prime minister, elected by the National Assembly
Executive branch / most recent election date: 14 and 21 November 2021
Executive branch / election results: 2021 : Rumen RADEV reelected president in second round; percent of vote in the first round - Rumen RADEV (independent) 49.4%, Anastas GERDZHIKOV (independent) 22.8%, Mustafa KARADAYI (DPS) 11.6%, Kostadin KOSTADINOV (Revival) 3.9%, Lozan PANOV (independent) 3.7%, other 8.6%; percent of vote in the second round - Rumen RADEV 66.7%, Anastas GERDZHIKOV 31.8%, neither 1.5% 2016: Rumen RADEV elected president in second round; percent of vote - Rumen RADEV (independent, supported by Bulgarian Socialist Party) 59.4%, Tsetska TSACHEVA (GERB) 36.2%, neither 4.5%
Executive branch / expected date of next election: fall 2026
Legislative branch / legislature name: National Assembly (Narodno sabranie)
Legislative branch / legislative structure: unicameral
Legislative branch / number of seats: 240 (all directly elected)
Legislative branch / electoral system: proportional representation
Legislative branch / scope of elections: full renewal
Legislative branch / term in office: 4 years
Legislative branch / most recent election date: 10/27/2024
Legislative branch / parties elected and seats per party: Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria Party (GERB) - Union of Democratic Forces (UDF) (66); We Continue the Change - Democratic Bulgaria (36); Revival (Vuzrazhdane) (33); Movement for Rights and Freedoms (DPS) - New Beginning (29); Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP) - United Left (19); Alliance for Rights and Freedoms (APS) (19); There is Such a People (PP-ITN) (17); Other (21)
Legislative branch / percentage of women in chamber: 25%
Legislative branch / expected date of next election: October 2028
Judicial branch / highest court(s): Supreme Court of Cassation consists of a chairman and approximately 72 judges organized into penal, civil, and commercial colleges; Supreme Administrative Court is organized into 2 colleges with various panels of 5 judges each; Constitutional Court consists of 12 justices) and resides outside the judiciary
Judicial branch / judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court of Cassation and Supreme Administrative judges elected by the Supreme Judicial Council or SJC (consists of 25 members with extensive legal experience) and appointed by the president; judges can serve until mandatory retirement at age 65; Constitutional Court justices elected by the National Assembly and appointed by the president and the SJC; justices appointed for 9-year terms with renewal of 4 justices every 3 years
Judicial branch / subordinate courts: appeals courts; regional and district courts; administrative courts; courts martial
Political parties: BSP for Bulgaria (electoral alliance of BSP, PKT, Ecoglasnost) Bulgarian Rise or BV Bulgarian Socialist Party or BSP Citizens for the European Development of Bulgaria or GERB (alliance with SDS) Democratic Bulgaria or DB (electoral alliance of Yes! Bulgaria, DSB, and The Greens) Democrats for a Strong Bulgaria or DSB Ecoglasnost Green Movement or The Greens Movement for Rights and Freedoms or DPS Political Club Thrace or PKT Revival Stand Up.BG or IS.BG There is Such a People or ITN Union of Democratic Forces or SDS (alliance with GERB) Yes! Bulgaria We Continue the Change or PP We Continue the Change and Democratic Bulgaria or PP-DB (electoral alliance of PP, DB, Yes! Bulgaria)
Diplomatic representation in the US / chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charg&eacute; d&rsquo;Affaires Stefka YOVCHEVA (since 7 May 2025)
Diplomatic representation in the US / chancery: 1621 22nd Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation in the US / telephone: [1] (202) 387 5770
Diplomatic representation in the US / FAX: [1] (202) 234-7973
Diplomatic representation in the US / email address and website: office@bulgaria-embassy.org https://www.bulgaria-embassy.org/en/homepage/
Diplomatic representation in the US / consulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles, New York
Diplomatic representation from the US / chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charg&eacute; d'Affaires H. Martin McDOWELL (since May 2025)
Diplomatic representation from the US / embassy: 16, Kozyak Street, Sofia 1408
Diplomatic representation from the US / mailing address: 5740 Sofia Place, Washington, DC 20521-5740
Diplomatic representation from the US / telephone: [359] (2) 937-5100
Diplomatic representation from the US / FAX: [359] (2) 937-5209
Diplomatic representation from the US / email address and website: acs_sofia@state.gov https://bg.usembassy.gov/
International organization participation: Australia Group, BIS, BSEC, CD, CE, CEI, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECB, EIB, EU, FAO, G- 9, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, IHO (pending member), ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NATO, NSG, OAS (observer), OIF, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, SELEC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNHRC, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNOOSA, UNWTO, UPU, Wassenaar Arrangement, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
Independence: 3 March 1878 (as an autonomous principality within the Ottoman Empire); 22 September 1908 (complete independence from the Ottoman Empire)
National holiday: Liberation Day, 3 March (1878)
Flag: description: three equal horizontal bands of white (top), green, and red meaning: white stands for peace, love, and freedom; green for the country's agricultural wealth; red for the independence struggle and military courage history: originally adopted in 1879 as a modified version of the Russian tricolor flag, using green instead of blue; the communist coat of arms was added to the flag in various forms between 1948 and 1990, when it was removed after the communist government collapsed
National symbol(s): lion
National color(s): white, green, red
National coat of arms: Bulgaria&rsquo;s coat of arms in the national colors of white, green, and red was adopted in 1997; the three lions are a national symbol for strength, courage, and leadership that was used during the country&rsquo;s liberation movement in the 1870s and the kingdom period in the early 20th century; above the shield is the crown of Bulgaria (originally the crown of the medieval Bulgarian tsars) with a gold cross on top; a white scroll over the oak branches bears the Bulgarian national motto, &ldquo;United we stand strong&rdquo;
National anthem(s) / title: &ldquo;Mila Rodino&rdquo; (Dear Homeland)
National anthem(s) / lyrics/music: Tsvetan RADOSLAVOV
National anthem(s) / history: adopted 1964; composed in 1885 by a student en route to fight in the Serbo-Bulgarian War
National heritage / total World Heritage Sites: 10 (7 cultural, 3 natural)
National heritage / selected World Heritage Site locales: Boyana Church (c); Madara Rider (c); Thracian Tomb of Kazanlak (c); Rock-Hewn Churches of Ivanovo (c); Rila Monastery (c); Ancient City of Nessebar (c); Thracian Tomb of Sveshtari (c); Srebarna Nature Reserve (n); Pirin National Park (n); Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians (n)

## Economy
Economic overview: upper-middle-income EU economy; currency pegged to the euro, with eurozone accession pending; declining energy prices helping lower inflation rate; EU structural funds contributing to investment recovery; skilled labor shortage driven by emigration and aging population
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $219.645 billion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $213.64 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $209.683 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2024: 2.8% (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2023: 1.9% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2022: 4% (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2024: $34,100 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2023: $33,100 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2022: $32,400 (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $112.212 billion (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024: 2.4% (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023: 9.4% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 15.3% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / agriculture: 2.1% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / industry: 22.5% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / services: 62.6% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / household consumption: 57.6% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / government consumption: 19.7% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in fixed capital: 17.9% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in inventories: 2.5% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / exports of goods and services: 55.8% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / imports of goods and services: -53.5% (2024 est.)
Agricultural products: wheat, maize, sunflower seeds, barley, milk, rapeseed, grapes, potatoes, triticale, tomatoes (2023)
Industries: electricity, gas, water; food, beverages, tobacco; machinery and equipment, automotive parts, base metals, chemical products, coke, refined petroleum, nuclear fuel; outsourcing centers
Industrial production growth rate: 1.9% (2024 est.)
Labor force: 3.124 million (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2024: 4.2% (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2023: 4.4% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2022: 4.3% (2022 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / total: 12.1% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / male: 12.4% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / female: 11.8% (2024 est.)
Population below poverty line: 20.6% (2022 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income / Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2022: 38.2 (2022 est.)
Average household expenditures / on food: 20.7% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Average household expenditures / on alcohol and tobacco: 4.8% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / lowest 10%: 2.1% (2022 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / highest 10%: 30.1% (2022 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2024: 2.4% of GDP (2024 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2023: 2.2% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2022: 2.3% of GDP (2022 est.)
Budget / revenues: $35.615 billion (2023 est.)
Budget / expenditures: $37.546 billion (2023 est.)
Public debt / Public debt 2023: 30.1% of GDP (2023 est.)
Taxes and other revenues: 20.5% (of GDP) (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2024: -$2.014 billion (2024 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2023: -$894.86 million (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2022: -$2.43 billion (2022 est.)
Exports / Exports 2024: $62.661 billion (2024 est.)
Exports / Exports 2023: $63.415 billion (2023 est.)
Exports / Exports 2022: $63.246 billion (2022 est.)
Exports - partners: Germany 14%, Romania 11%, Italy 8%, Greece 6%, Turkey 5% (2023)
Exports - commodities: refined petroleum, garments, refined copper, wheat, natural gas (2023)
Imports / Imports 2024: $60.029 billion (2024 est.)
Imports / Imports 2023: $59.158 billion (2023 est.)
Imports / Imports 2022: $62.261 billion (2022 est.)
Imports - partners: Germany 12%, Turkey 8%, Romania 8%, Russia 7%, Italy 6% (2023)
Imports - commodities: crude petroleum, copper ore, cars, packaged medicine, electricity (2023)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024: $43.698 billion (2024 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023: $46.334 billion (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $40.989 billion (2022 est.)
Debt - external / Debt - external 2022: $14.277 billion (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Currency: leva (BGN) per US dollar -
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2024: 1.808 (2024 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2023: 1.809 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2022: 1.86 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2021: 1.654 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2020: 1.716 (2020 est.)

## Energy
Electricity access / electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)
Electricity access / electrification - urban areas: 100%
Electricity access / electrification - rural areas: 99.6%
Electricity / installed generating capacity: 12.939 million kW (2023 est.)
Electricity / consumption: 34.221 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / exports: 7.748 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / imports: 4.415 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / transmission/distribution losses: 1.972 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / fossil fuels: 35.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / nuclear: 40.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / solar: 8.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / wind: 4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / hydroelectricity: 7.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / biomass and waste: 4.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Nuclear energy / Number of operational nuclear reactors: 2 (2025)
Nuclear energy / Net capacity of operational nuclear reactors: 2.01GW (2025 est.)
Nuclear energy / Percent of total electricity production: 40.3% (2023 est.)
Nuclear energy / Number of nuclear reactors permanently shut down: 4 (2025)
Coal / production: 20.97 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / consumption: 20.557 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / exports: 1.091 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / imports: 753,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / proven reserves: 2.174 billion metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum / total petroleum production: 4,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Petroleum / refined petroleum consumption: 101,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Petroleum / crude oil estimated reserves: 15 million barrels (2021 est.)
Natural gas / production: 10.444 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / consumption: 2.607 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / exports: 2.75 million cubic meters (2020 est.)
Natural gas / imports: 2.544 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / proven reserves: 5.663 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)
Energy consumption per capita / Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 102.171 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

## Communications
Telephones - fixed lines / total subscriptions: 552,000 (2024 est.)
Telephones - fixed lines / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 8 (2024 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / total subscriptions: 7.98 million (2024 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 118 (2024 est.)
Broadcast media: 4 national terrestrial TV stations with 1 state-owned and 3 privately owned; a vast array of TV stations are available from cable and satellite TV providers; state-owned national radio broadcasts over 3 networks; large number of private radio stations, especially in urban areas
Internet country code: .bg
Internet users / percent of population: 80% (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / total: 2.45 million (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 36 (2023 est.)

## Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: LZ
Airports: 107 (2025)
Heliports: 8 (2025)
Railways / total: 4,029 km (2020) 2,871 km electrified
Merchant marine / total: 78 (2023)
Merchant marine / by type: bulk carrier 2, general cargo 13, oil tanker 8, other 55
Ports / total ports: 2 (2024)
Ports / large: 1
Ports / medium: 0
Ports / small: 1
Ports / very small: 0
Ports / ports with oil terminals: 2
Ports / key ports: Burgas, Varna

## Military and Security
Military and security forces: Bulgarian Armed Forces (aka Bulgarian Army): Land Forces, Air Force, Navy Ministry of Interior: General Directorate National Police (GDNP), General Directorate Border Police (GDBP), Special Unit for Combating Terrorism (SOBT) (2025)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2025: 2.1% of GDP (2025 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2024: 2% of GDP (2024 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2023: 1.9% of GDP (2023 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2022: 1.6% of GDP (2022 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2021: 1.6% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military and security service personnel strengths: approximately 28,000 active duty Armed Forces (2025)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the military's inventory consists largely of Soviet-era armaments, although in recent years Bulgaria has procured some more modern Western weapons systems in an effort to modernize and achieve NATO interoperability (2025)
Military service age and obligation: 18 years of age for voluntary service for men and women (2025)
Military deployments: 160 Kosovo (NATO/KFOR) (2025)
Military - note: the Bulgarian military is responsible for guaranteeing Bulgaria’s independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity, providing support to international peace and security missions, and contributing to national security in peacetime, including such missions as responding to disasters or assisting with border security; the military trains regularly including in multinational exercises with regional partners and with NATO since Bulgaria joined the organization in 2004; it also participates in overseas peacekeeping and other security missions under the EU, NATO, and the UN; in 2022, Bulgaria established and began leading a NATO multinational battlegroup as part of an effort to boost NATO defenses in Eastern Europe following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine; in 2021, Bulgaria approved a 10-year defense development program, which included calls for equipment upgrades and procurements, boosts in manpower, organizational reforms, and greater focus on such areas as cyber defense, communications, logistics support, and research and development the Bulgarian military has participated in several significant conflicts since its establishment in 1878, including the Serbo-Bulgarian War (1885), the First Balkan War (1912-13), the Second Balkan War (1913), World War I (1915-1918), and World War II (1941-45); during the Cold War it was one of the Warsaw Pact’s largest militaries with over 150,000 personnel and more than 200 Soviet-made combat aircraft (2025)

## Space
Space agency/agencies: Space Research and Technology Institute - Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (SRTI-BAS; formed in 1987 but originated from the Central Laboratory for Space Research and the Bulgarian Aerospace Agency, which was established in 1969) (2025)
Space program overview: has a long history of space-related activities going back to the 1960s; develops, produces, and operates satellites; researches, develops, and produces other space technologies, including those related to astrophysics, remote sensing, data exploitation, optics, and electronics; has specialized in producing scientific instruments for space research; has more than 20 research institutes; Cooperating State of the ESA since 2015; works with a variety of foreign space agencies and commercial entities, including those of the ESA, EU, individual ESA and EU member states, India, Japan, Russia, and the US (2025)
Key space-program milestones: 1960s-1990s - participated in the Soviet Interkosmos program, which included the first Bulgarian in space (1979), first domestically produced scientific satellite launched on a Soviet rocket (1981), and participation in the Soviet VEGA project (1985) 2017 - first communications satellite (BulgariaSat-1) built and launched by US 2019 - first domestically built data/educational cube satellite (EnduroSat-1) launched by US 2023 - signed the US-led Artemis Accords outlining principles for cooperation in space exploration 2025 - domestically produced, multispectral remote sensing satellite (Balkan-1) launched by US as part of EU's Copernicus Earth observation program

## Terrorism
Terrorist group(s): Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS); Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps/Qods Force

## Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons / refugees: 114,728 (2024 est.)
Refugees and internally displaced persons / stateless persons: 862 (2024 est.)

=== Cyprus ===

## Introduction
Background: A former British colony, Cyprus became independent in 1960 after years of resistance to British rule. Tensions between the Greek Cypriot majority and Turkish Cypriot minority came to a head in December 1963, when violence broke out in the capital of Nicosia. Despite the deployment of UN peacekeepers in 1964, sporadic intercommunal violence continued and forced most Turkish Cypriots into enclaves throughout the island. In 1974, a Greek Government-sponsored attempt to overthrow the elected president of Cyprus was met by military intervention from Turkey, which soon controlled more than a third of the island. In 1983, the Turkish Cypriot administered area declared itself the "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus" (TRNC), but it is recognized only by Turkey. A UN-mediated agreement to reunite Cyprus, the Annan Plan, failed to win approval from both communities in 2004. The most recent round of reunification negotiations was suspended in 2017 after failure to achieve a breakthrough. The entire island joined the EU in 2004, although the EU acquis -- the body of common rights and obligations -- applies only to the areas under the internationally recognized government and is suspended in the TRNC. However, individual Turkish Cypriots able to document their eligibility for Republic of Cyprus citizenship have the same legal rights accorded to citizens of other EU states.

## Geography
Location: Middle East, island in the Mediterranean Sea, south of Turkey; note - Cyprus views itself as part of Europe; geopolitically, it can be classified as falling within Europe, the Middle East, or both
Geographic coordinates: 35 00 N, 33 00 E
Map references: Middle East
Area / total: 9,251 sq km (of which 3,355 sq km are in north Cyprus)
Area / land: 9,241 sq km
Area / water: 10 sq km
Area - comparative: about 0.6 times the size of Connecticut
Land boundaries / total: 156 km
Land boundaries / border sovereign base areas: Akrotiri 48 km; Dhekelia 108 km
Coastline: 648 km
Maritime claims / territorial sea: 12 nm
Maritime claims / contiguous zone: 24 nm
Maritime claims / continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Climate: temperate; Mediterranean with hot, dry summers and cool winters
Terrain: central plain with mountains to north and south; scattered but significant plains along southern coast
Elevation / highest point: Mount Olympus 1,951 m
Elevation / lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m
Elevation / mean elevation: 91 m
Natural resources: copper, pyrites, asbestos, gypsum, timber, salt, marble, clay earth pigment
Land use / agricultural land: 14% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 10.6% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 3.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 0.2% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 18.6% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 67.1% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land: 269 sq km (2020)
Population distribution: population concentrated in central Nicosia and in the major cities of the south: Paphos, Limassol, and Larnaca
Natural hazards: moderate earthquake activity; droughts
Geography - note: the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea (after Sicily and Sardinia)

## People and Society
Population / total: 1,332,293 (2025 est.)
Population / male: 681,128
Population / female: 651,165
Nationality / noun: Cypriot(s)
Nationality / adjective: Cypriot
Ethnic groups: Greek 98.8%, other 1% (includes Maronite, Armenian, Turkish-Cypriot), unspecified 0.2% (2011 est.)
Languages / Languages: Greek (official) 80.9%, Turkish (official) 0.2%, English 4.1%, Romanian 2.9%, Russian 2.5%, Bulgarian 2.2%, Arabic 1.2%, Filipino 1.1%, other 4.3%, unspecified 0.6% (2011 est.)
Languages / major-language sample(s): Το Παγκόσμιο Βιβλίο Δεδομένων, η απαραίτητη πηγή βασικών πληροφοριών. (Greek) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
Religions: Eastern Orthodox Christian 89.1%, Roman Catholic 2.9%, Protestant/Anglican 2%, Muslim 1.8%, Buddhist 1%, other (includes Maronite Catholic, Armenian Apostolic, Hindu) 1.4%, unknown 1.1%, none/atheist 0.6% (2011 est.)
Age structure / 0-14 years: 15.6% (male 105,533/female 100,099)
Age structure / 15-64 years: 70% (male 486,569/female 437,651)
Age structure / 65 years and over: 14.4% (2024 est.) (male 83,094/female 107,579)
Dependency ratios / total dependency ratio: 43.6 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / youth dependency ratio: 22.3 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / elderly dependency ratio: 21.4 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / potential support ratio: 4.7 (2025 est.)
Median age / total: 39.9 years (2025 est.)
Median age / male: 38.2 years
Median age / female: 41 years
Population growth rate: 0.89% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 9.95 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 7.11 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: 6.04 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution: population concentrated in central Nicosia and in the major cities of the south: Paphos, Limassol, and Larnaca
Urbanization / urban population: 67% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 0.76% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 269,000 NICOSIA (capital) (2018)
Sex ratio / at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 15-64 years: 1.11 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 65 years and over: 0.77 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / total population: 1.05 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth: 30 years (2020 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio: 14 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Infant mortality rate / total: 7.9 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Infant mortality rate / male: 9.7 deaths/1,000 live births
Infant mortality rate / female: 6.4 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth / total population: 80.2 years (2024 est.)
Life expectancy at birth / male: 77.4 years
Life expectancy at birth / female: 83.1 years
Total fertility rate: 1.49 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 0.73 (2025 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: urban: urban: 99.7% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: rural: rural: 99.8% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: total: total: 99.8% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: urban: urban: 0.3% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: rural: rural: 0.2% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: total: total: 0.2% of population (2022 est.)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 9.4% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 18.3% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density: 3.56 physicians/1,000 population (2022)
Hospital bed density: 2.2 beds/1,000 population (2019 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: urban: urban: 99.7% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: rural: rural: 98.8% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: total: total: 99.4% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: urban: urban: 0.3% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: rural: rural: 1.2% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: total: total: 0.6% of population (2022 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 21.8% (2016)
Alcohol consumption per capita / total: 9.59 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / beer: 2.85 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / wine: 2.72 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / spirits: 4.02 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / other alcohols: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Tobacco use / total: 33.1% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / male: 44.1% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / female: 22.2% (2025 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% GDP): 4.7% of GDP (2022 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% national budget): 12.5% national budget (2022 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / total: 16 years (2022 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / male: 16 years (2022 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / female: 17 years (2022 est.)
People - note: demographic data for Cyprus represent the population of the government-controlled area and the area administered by Turkish Cypriots, unless otherwise indicated

## Environment
Environmental issues: scarce water resources; salination; water pollution from sewage, industrial wastes, and pesticides; coastal degradation; erosion; loss of wildlife habitats from urbanization
International environmental agreements / party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Multi-effect Protocol, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling
International environmental agreements / signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Climate: temperate; Mediterranean with hot, dry summers and cool winters
Land use / agricultural land: 14% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 10.6% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 3.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 0.2% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 18.6% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 67.1% (2023 est.)
Urbanization / urban population: 67% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 0.76% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / total emissions: 6.837 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from coal and metallurgical coke: 100,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from petroleum and other liquids: 6.737 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Particulate matter emissions: 14.5 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Waste and recycling / municipal solid waste generated annually: 769,500 tons (2024 est.)
Waste and recycling / percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 17.6% (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / municipal: 112 million cubic meters (2022)
Total water withdrawal / industrial: 17 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / agricultural: 177 million cubic meters (2022)
Total renewable water resources: 780 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Geoparks / total global geoparks and regional networks: 1
Geoparks / global geoparks and regional networks: Troodos (2023)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: Republic of Cyprus
Country name / conventional short form: Cyprus
Country name / local long form: Kypriaki Dimokratia (Greek)/ Kibris Cumhuriyeti (Turkish)
Country name / local short form: Kypros (Greek)/ Kibris (Turkish)
Country name / etymology: the Greek name for the island is Kupros, which is probably derived from the Sumerian kabar , meaning "copper" or "bronze;" copper mines were located on the island in antiquity
Government type: Republic of Cyprus - presidential republic; self-declared "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus" (TRNC) - parliamentary republic with enhanced presidency
Capital / name: Nicosia (Lefkosia/Lefkosa)
Capital / geographic coordinates: 35 10 N, 33 22 E
Capital / time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Capital / daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October
Capital / etymology: may have been named after Nike, the Greek goddess of victory; the Greek name for the city, Lefkosia, and the Turkish name, Lefkosa, both mean "White City"
Administrative divisions: 6 districts; Ammochostos (Famagusta; all but a small part located in the Turkish Cypriot community), Keryneia (Kyrenia; the only district located entirely in the Turkish Cypriot community), Larnaka (Larnaca; with a small part located in the Turkish Cypriot community), Lefkosia (Nicosia; a small part administered by Turkish Cypriots), Lemesos (Limassol), Pafos (Paphos)
Legal system: mixed system of English common law and civil law, with European law supremacy
Constitution / history: ratified 16 August 1960
Constitution / amendment process: constitution of the Republic of Cyprus -- proposed by the House of Representatives; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote of the total membership of the "Greek Community" and the "Turkish Community"; however, all seats of Turkish Cypriot members have remained vacant since 1964 constitution of the “Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus” -- proposed by at least 10 members of the "Assembly of the Republic"; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote of the total Assembly membership and approval by referendum
International law organization participation: accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Citizenship / citizenship by birth: no
Citizenship / citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Cyprus
Citizenship / dual citizenship recognized: yes
Citizenship / residency requirement for naturalization: 7 years
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch / chief of state: President Nikos CHRISTODOULIDIS (since 28 February 2023)
Executive branch / head of government: President Nikos CHRISTODOULIDIS (since 28 February 2023)
Executive branch / cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
Executive branch / election/appointment process: president directly elected by absolute-majority popular vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a 5-year term (limited to 2 consecutive terms)
Executive branch / most recent election date: 5 February 2023, with a runoff on 12 February 2023
Executive branch / election results: 2023: Nikos CHRISTODOULIDIS elected president in second round; percent of vote in first round - Nikos CHRISTODOULIDIS (independent) 32%, Andreas MAVROGIANNIS (independent) 29.6%, Averof NEOFYTOU (DISY) 26.1%, Christos CHRISTOU (ELAM) 6%, other 6.3%; percent of vote in second round - Nikos CHRISTODOULIDS 52%, Andreas MAVROGIANNIS 48% 2018: Nikos ANASTASIADIS reelected president in second round; percent of vote in first round - Nikos ANASTASIADIS (DISY) 35.5%, Stavros MALAS (AKEL) 30.2%, Nicolas PAPADOPOULOS (DIKO) 25.7%, other 8.6%; percent of vote in second round - Nikos ANASTASIADIS 56%, Stavros MALAS 44%
Executive branch / expected date of next election: 2028
Legislative branch / legislature name: House of Representatives (Vouli Antiprosopon)
Legislative branch / legislative structure: unicameral
Legislative branch / number of seats: 80 (all directly elected)
Legislative branch / electoral system: proportional representation
Legislative branch / scope of elections: full renewal
Legislative branch / term in office: 5 years
Legislative branch / most recent election date: 5/30/2021
Legislative branch / parties elected and seats per party: Democratic Rally (DISY) (17); Progressive Party of the Working People (AKEL) (15); Democratic Party (DIKO) (9); National Popular Front (ELAM) (4); Movement of Social Democrats (EDEK) (4); Democratic Alignment (DIPA) (4); Cyprus Green Party (KOP) (3)
Legislative branch / percentage of women in chamber: 14.3%
Legislative branch / expected date of next election: May 2026
Judicial branch / highest court(s): Supreme Court of Cyprus (consists of 13 judges, including the court president)
Judicial branch / judge selection and term of office: Republic of Cyprus Supreme Court judges appointed by the president of the republic on the recommendation of the Supreme Court judges; judges can serve until age 68; "TRNC Supreme Court" judges appointed by the "Supreme Council of Judicature," a 12-member body of judges, the attorney general, appointees by the president of the "TRNC," and by the "Legislative Assembly," and members elected by the bar association; judge tenure NA
Judicial branch / subordinate courts: Republic of Cyprus district courts; Assize Courts; Administrative Court; specialized courts for issues relating to family, industrial disputes, the military, and rent control; "TRNC Assize Courts"; "TNRC district and family courts"
Political parties: area under government control: Democratic Front or DIPA Democratic Party or DIKO Democratic Rally or DISY Movement of Ecologists - Citizens' Alliance Movement of Social Democrats EDEK National Popular Front or ELAM Progressive Party of the Working People or AKEL (Communist Party) Solidarity Movement area administered by Turkish Cypriots: Communal Democracy Party or TDP Communal Liberation Party - New Forces or TKP-YG Cyprus Socialist Party or KSP Democratic Party or DP National Democratic Party or NDP National Unity Party or UBP New Cyprus Party or YKP People's Party or HP Rebirth Party or YDP Republican Turkish Party or CTP United Cyprus Party or BKP
Diplomatic representation in the US / chief of mission: Ambassador Evangelos SAVVA (since 15 September 2023)
Diplomatic representation in the US / chancery: 2211 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation in the US / telephone: [1] (202) 462-5772
Diplomatic representation in the US / FAX: [1] (202) 483-6710
Diplomatic representation in the US / email address and website: info@cyprusembassy.net https://www.cyprusembassy.net/
Diplomatic representation in the US / consulate(s) general: New York
Diplomatic representation in the US / honorary consulate(s): Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, Kirkland (WA), Los Angeles, New Orleans, San Francisco
Diplomatic representation from the US / chief of mission: Ambassador Julie Davis FISHER (since 21 February 2023); note - Ambassador FISHER is temporarily assigned to the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv, Ukraine as Charg&eacute; d&rsquo; Affaires ad interim; she remains fully accredited in Cyprus
Diplomatic representation from the US / embassy: Metochiou and Ploutarchou Street, 2407, Engomi, Nicosia
Diplomatic representation from the US / mailing address: 5450 Nicosia Place, Washington DC 20521-5450
Diplomatic representation from the US / telephone: [357] (22) 393939
Diplomatic representation from the US / FAX: [357] (22) 780944
Diplomatic representation from the US / email address and website: ACSNicosia@state.gov https://cy.usembassy.gov/
International organization participation: Australia Group, C, CD, CE, EBRD, ECB, EIB, EMU, EU, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NAM, NSG, OAS (observer), OIF, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNOOSA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Independence: 16 August 1960 (from the UK)
National holiday: Independence Day, 1 October (1960)
Flag: description: a copper-colored silhouette of the island is centered on a white field above two crossed green olive branches meaning: the olive branches symbolize hope for peace and reconciliation between the Greek and Turkish communities
National symbol(s): Cypriot mouflon (wild sheep), white dove
National color(s): blue, white
National coat of arms: The coat of arms of Cyprus features a yellow shield representing the island’s copper deposits. A dove, one of the national symbols, holds an olive branch symbolizing peace, and olive branches encircle the shield. The year 1960 on the shield is the date of Cyprus’s independence from the United Kingdom.
National anthem(s) / title: "Ymnos eis tin Eleftherian" (Hymn to Freedom)
National anthem(s) / lyrics/music: Dionysios SOLOMOS/Nikolaos MANTZAROS
National anthem(s) / history: adopted 1966; Cyprus uses the Greek national anthem; the Turkish Cypriot community in Cyprus uses Turkey's national anthem
National heritage / total World Heritage Sites: 3 (all cultural)
National heritage / selected World Heritage Site locales: Paphos; Painted Churches in the Troodos Region; Choirokoitia

## Economy
Economic overview: services-based, high-income EU island economy; heavy tourism; sustained growth between recovery of national banking system and COVID-19 trade restrictions; high living standards; a known financial hub, its stock exchange functions as an investment bridge between EU-and EEU-member countries
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $50.055 billion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $48.386 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $47.085 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2024: 3.4% (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2023: 2.8% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2022: 7.2% (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2024: $53,300 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2023: $52,200 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2022: $51,600 (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $36.333 billion (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024: 1.8% (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023: 3.5% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 8.4% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / agriculture: 1.2% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / industry: 10.3% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / services: 76.9% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / household consumption: 58.9% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / government consumption: 18.6% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in fixed capital: 20.5% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in inventories: -1.6% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / exports of goods and services: 96.7% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / imports of goods and services: -93.1% (2024 est.)
Agricultural products: milk, potatoes, sheep milk, pork, goat milk, wheat, chicken, olives, grapes, barley (2023)
Industries: tourism, food and beverage processing, cement and gypsum, ship repair and refurbishment, textiles, light chemicals, metal products, wood, paper, stone and clay products
Industrial production growth rate: 4.6% (2024 est.)
Labor force: 772,300 (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2024: 5.7% (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2023: 6.1% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2022: 6.9% (2022 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / total: 15.6% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / male: 17.4% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / female: 13.7% (2024 est.)
Population below poverty line: 13.9% (2021 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income / Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2022: 31.5 (2022 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / lowest 10%: 3.6% (2022 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / highest 10%: 26.2% (2022 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2023: 1.8% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2022: 1.7% of GDP (2022 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2021: 2.1% of GDP (2021 est.)
Budget / revenues: $14.39 billion (2023 est.)
Budget / expenditures: $13.733 billion (2023 est.)
Public debt / Public debt 2017: 97.5% of GDP (2017 est.)
Taxes and other revenues: 24.1% (of GDP) (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2024: -$3.05 billion (2024 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2023: -$3.831 billion (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2022: -$2.178 billion (2022 est.)
Exports / Exports 2024: $35.12 billion (2024 est.)
Exports / Exports 2023: $32.922 billion (2023 est.)
Exports / Exports 2022: $32.563 billion (2022 est.)
Exports - partners: Libya 14%, Greece 11%, Lebanon 8%, Bermuda 7%, Marshall Islands 5% (2023)
Exports - commodities: ships, refined petroleum, packaged medicine, cheese, scented mixtures (2023)
Imports / Imports 2024: $33.802 billion (2024 est.)
Imports / Imports 2023: $32.556 billion (2023 est.)
Imports / Imports 2022: $31.486 billion (2022 est.)
Imports - partners: Greece 20%, UK 10%, Italy 7%, Turkey 6%, Spain 6% (2023)
Imports - commodities: refined petroleum, ships, cars, packaged medicine, coal tar oil (2023)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024: $2.088 billion (2024 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023: $1.789 billion (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $1.671 billion (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Currency: euros (EUR) per US dollar -
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2024: 0.924 (2024 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2023: 0.925 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2022: 0.95 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2021: 0.845 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2020: 0.876 (2020 est.)

## Energy
Electricity access / electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)
Electricity / installed generating capacity: 2.288 million kW (2023 est.)
Electricity / consumption: 5.197 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / transmission/distribution losses: 146.11 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / fossil fuels: 79.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / solar: 16% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / wind: 3.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / biomass and waste: 1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Coal / consumption: 46,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / exports: 71.6 metric tons (2022 est.)
Coal / imports: 22,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum / refined petroleum consumption: 45,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Energy consumption per capita / Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 107.188 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

## Communications
Telephones - fixed lines / total subscriptions: 245,000 (2024 est.)
Telephones - fixed lines / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 25 (2024 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / total subscriptions: 1.51 million (2024 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 156 (2024 est.)
Broadcast media: mix of state and privately run TV and radio; the public broadcaster operates 2 TV channels and 4 radio stations; 6 private TV broadcasters, satellite and cable TV services (including from Greece and Turkey), and a number of private radio stations; in areas administered by Turkish Cypriots, there are 2 public TV stations, 4 public radio stations, 7 privately owned TV stations and 21 privately owned radio stations, 6 radio and 4 TV channels at local universities, 1 military radio station, and 1 radio station for civil defense cooperation, as well as relay stations from Turkey (2019)
Internet country code: .cy
Internet users / percent of population: 91% (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / total: 357,000 (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 39 (2023 est.)

## Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: 5B
Airports: 14 (2025)
Heliports: 68 (2025)
Merchant marine / total: 1,005 (2023)
Merchant marine / by type: bulk carrier 243, container ship 154, general cargo 211, oil tanker 47, other 350
Ports / total ports: 6 (2024)
Ports / large: 0
Ports / medium: 0
Ports / small: 3
Ports / very small: 3
Ports / ports with oil terminals: 4
Ports / key ports: Dhekelia, Famagusta, Kyrenia, Larnaca, Limassol, Xeros

## Military and Security
Military and security forces: Cypriot National Guard (Ethniki Froura, EF): Army, Navy, Air Force (2025)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2024: 1.7% of GDP (2024 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2023: 1.8% of GDP (2023 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2022: 1.8% of GDP (2022 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2021: 1.8% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2020: 1.8% of GDP (2020 est.)
Military and security service personnel strengths: approximately 12-15,000 active Cypriot National Guard (2025)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the National Guard's inventory includes a mix of armaments from a variety of suppliers, including Brazil, Israel, Russia, several European countries, and the US (2025)
Military service age and obligation: all Cypriot men must complete 14 months of compulsory service upon reaching the age of 18; women may volunteer for 6 months of service at age 18; men and women may also enlist as contract soldiers up to age 42 (2025)
Military - note: established in 1964, the National Guard (EF) is responsible for ensuring Cyprus’s territorial integrity and sovereignty; its primary focus is Turkey, which invaded Cyprus in 1974 and maintains a large military presence in the unrecognized Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus; the majority of the force is deployed along the “Green Line” that separates the Greek Cypriots from the Turkish Cypriots; the EF also participates in some internal missions, such as providing assistance during natural disasters; Greece is its primary security partner and maintains a military presence on Cyprus; the EF has conducted training exercises with other militaries including France, Israel, and the US; since Cyprus joined the EU in 2004, the EF has actively participated in the EU’s Common Security and Defense Policy and has sent small numbers of personnel to some EU and missions; Cyprus is also part of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe the UN Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) has been deployed in Cyprus since 1964; its mandate includes supervising the de facto ceasefire that came into effect in August 1974 and maintaining a buffer zone between the lines of the Cypriot National Guard and of the Turkish and Turkish Cypriot forces; UNFICYP has about 1,100 personnel assigned (2025)

## Terrorism
Terrorist group(s): Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS)

## Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons / refugees: 73,303 (2024 est.)
Refugees and internally displaced persons / IDPs: 244,944 (2024 est.)
Refugees and internally displaced persons / stateless persons: 130 (2024 est.)

=== Denmark ===

## Introduction
Background: Once the seat of Viking raiders and later a major north European power, Denmark has evolved into a modern, prosperous nation that is part of the general political and economic integration of Europe. It joined NATO in 1949 and the EEC (now the EU) in 1973. The country has opted out of certain elements of the EU's Maastricht Treaty, including the European Economic and Monetary Union and justice and home affairs issues. a 2022 referendum resulted in the removal of Denmark's 30-year opt-out on defense issues, now allowing Denmark to participate fully in the EU's Common Security and Defense Policy.

## Geography
Location: Northern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea and the North Sea, on a peninsula north of Germany (Jutland); also includes several major islands (Sjaelland, Fyn, and Bornholm)
Geographic coordinates: 56 00 N, 10 00 E
Map references: Europe
Area / total: 43,094 sq km
Area / land: 42,434 sq km
Area / water: 660 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly less than twice the size of Massachusetts; about two-thirds the size of West Virginia
Land boundaries / total: 141 km
Land boundaries / border countries: Germany 140 km; Canada 1.3 km
Coastline: 7,314 km
Maritime claims / territorial sea: 12 nm
Maritime claims / contiguous zone: 24 nm
Maritime claims / exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Maritime claims / continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Climate: temperate; humid and overcast; mild, windy winters and cool summers
Terrain: low and flat to gently rolling plains
Elevation / highest point: Store Mollehoj 171 m
Elevation / lowest point: Lammefjord -7 m
Elevation / mean elevation: 34 m
Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas, fish, arable land, salt, limestone, chalk, stone, gravel and sand
Land use / agricultural land: 65.5% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 59.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 0.7% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 5.6% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 16% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 18.5% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land: 2,420 sq km (2022)
Population distribution: population centers tend to be along coastal areas, particularly in Copenhagen and the eastern side of the country's mainland
Natural hazards: flooding is a threat in some areas of the country (e.g., parts of Jutland, along the southern coast of the island of Lolland) that are protected from the sea by a system of dikes
Geography - note: composed of the Jutland Peninsula and a group of more than 400 islands (Danish Archipelago); controls Danish Straits (Skagerrak and Kattegat) linking Baltic and North Seas; about one-quarter of the population lives in greater Copenhagen

## People and Society
Population / total: 6,051,491 (2025 est.)
Population / male: 3,001,698
Population / female: 3,049,793
Nationality / noun: Dane(s)
Nationality / adjective: Danish
Ethnic groups: Danish (includes Greenlandic (who are predominantly Inuit) and Faroese) 84.2%, Turkish 1.1%, other 14.7% (largest groups are Polish, Romanian, Syrian, Ukrainian, German, and Iraqi) (2023 est.)
Languages / Languages: Danish, Faroese, Greenlandic (an Inuit dialect), German (small minority); note - English is the predominant second language
Languages / major-language sample(s): Verdens Faktabog, den uundværlig kilde til grundlæggende oplysninger. (Danish) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
Religions: Evangelical Lutheran (official) 71.4%, Muslim 4.3%, other/none/unspecified (denominations include Roman Catholic, Jehovah's Witness, Serbian Orthodox Christian, Jewish, Baptist, Buddhist, Church of Jesus Christ, Pentecostal, and nondenominational Christian) 24.3% (2024 est.)
Age structure / 0-14 years: 16.2% (male 496,793/female 471,018)
Age structure / 15-64 years: 62.9% (male 1,903,315/female 1,856,615)
Age structure / 65 years and over: 20.8% (2024 est.) (male 575,153/female 670,242)
Dependency ratios / total dependency ratio: 57.2 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / youth dependency ratio: 24.5 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / elderly dependency ratio: 32.7 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / potential support ratio: 3.1 (2025 est.)
Median age / total: 42.2 years (2025 est.)
Median age / male: 41 years
Median age / female: 43.4 years
Population growth rate: 0.64% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 9.81 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 10.56 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: 7.12 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution: population centers tend to be along coastal areas, particularly in Copenhagen and the eastern side of the country's mainland
Urbanization / urban population: 88.5% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 0.54% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 1.381 million COPENHAGEN (capital) (2023)
Sex ratio / at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 65 years and over: 0.86 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth: 29.8 years (2020 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio: 4 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Infant mortality rate / total: 3.1 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Infant mortality rate / male: 3.4 deaths/1,000 live births
Infant mortality rate / female: 2.5 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth / total population: 82.1 years (2024 est.)
Life expectancy at birth / male: 80.2 years
Life expectancy at birth / female: 84.1 years
Total fertility rate: 1.5 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 0.73 (2025 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: urban: urban: 100% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: rural: rural: 100% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: total: total: 100% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: urban: urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: rural: rural: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: total: total: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 9.5% of GDP (2022)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 17.7% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density: 7.24 physicians/1,000 population (2021)
Hospital bed density: 2.5 beds/1,000 population (2021 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: urban: urban: 100% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: rural: rural: 100% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: total: total: 100% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: urban: urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: rural: rural: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: total: total: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 19.7% (2016)
Alcohol consumption per capita / total: 9.16 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / beer: 3.42 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / wine: 4.08 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / spirits: 1.66 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / other alcohols: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Tobacco use / total: 14.3% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / male: 14.4% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / female: 14.3% (2025 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49): 54.3% (2024 est.)
Child marriage / women married by age 18: 0.7% (2021)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% GDP): 6.4% of GDP (2022 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% national budget): 14.2% national budget (2022 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / total: 18 years (2023 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / male: 18 years (2023 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / female: 19 years (2023 est.)

## Environment
Environmental issues: air pollution, principally from vehicle and power-plant emissions; nitrogen and phosphorus pollution of the North Sea; water pollution from animal wastes and pesticides
International environmental agreements / party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Multi-effect Protocol, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling
International environmental agreements / signed, but not ratified: Antarctic-Environmental Protection
Climate: temperate; humid and overcast; mild, windy winters and cool summers
Land use / agricultural land: 65.5% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 59.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 0.7% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 5.6% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 16% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 18.5% (2023 est.)
Urbanization / urban population: 88.5% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 0.54% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / total emissions: 29.915 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from coal and metallurgical coke: 2.54 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from petroleum and other liquids: 22.535 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from consumed natural gas: 4.841 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Particulate matter emissions: 10.1 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Methane emissions / energy: 49.7 kt (2022-2024 est.)
Methane emissions / agriculture: 236.5 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Methane emissions / waste: 54.4 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Methane emissions / other: 5.3 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Waste and recycling / municipal solid waste generated annually: 4.911 million tons (2024 est.)
Waste and recycling / percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 35.4% (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / municipal: 382.787 million cubic meters (2022)
Total water withdrawal / industrial: 45.076 million cubic meters (2022)
Total water withdrawal / agricultural: 506.487 million cubic meters (2022)
Total renewable water resources: 6 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Geoparks / total global geoparks and regional networks: 3 (2024)
Geoparks / global geoparks and regional networks: Odsherred; South Fyn Archipelago; Vestjylland (2024)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: Kingdom of Denmark
Country name / conventional short form: Denmark
Country name / local long form: Kongeriget Danmark
Country name / local short form: Danmark
Country name / etymology: the name derives from the words Dane , a tribal name with unclear Germanic origins, and mark , a Danish word that refers to a march (borderland)
Government type: parliamentary constitutional monarchy
Capital / name: Copenhagen
Capital / geographic coordinates: 55 40 N, 12 35 E
Capital / time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Capital / daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October; note - applies to continental Denmark only, not to its North Atlantic components
Capital / etymology: name derives from the Danish words køber (merchant or buyer) and havn (harbor or port)
Administrative divisions: metropolitan Denmark - 5 regions ( regioner , singular - region ); Hovedstaden (Capital), Midtjylland (Central Jutland), Nordjylland (North Jutland), Sjaelland (Zealand), Syddanmark (Southern Denmark)
Legal system: civil law; judicial review of legislative acts
Constitution / history: several previous; latest adopted 5 June 1953
Constitution / amendment process: proposed by the Folketing (Parliament) with consent of the government; passage requires approval by the next Folketing following a general election, approval by simple majority vote of at least 40% of voters in a referendum, and assent of the chief of state
International law organization participation: accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Citizenship / citizenship by birth: no
Citizenship / citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Denmark
Citizenship / dual citizenship recognized: yes
Citizenship / residency requirement for naturalization: 7 years
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch / chief of state: King FREDERIK X (since 14 January 2024)
Executive branch / head of government: Prime Minister Mette FREDERIKSEN (since 27 June 2019)
Executive branch / cabinet: Council of State appointed by the monarch
Executive branch / election/appointment process: the monarchy is hereditary; following legislative elections, the monarch usually appoints the leader of the majority party or majority coalition as prime minister
Legislative branch / legislature name: Parliament (Folketinget)
Legislative branch / legislative structure: unicameral
Legislative branch / chamber name: The Danish Parliament (Folketinget)
Legislative branch / number of seats: 179 (all directly elected)
Legislative branch / electoral system: proportional representation
Legislative branch / scope of elections: full renewal
Legislative branch / term in office: 4 years
Legislative branch / most recent election date: 11/1/2022
Legislative branch / parties elected and seats per party: Social Democratic Party (50); Liberal Party (Venstre) (23); Moderates (M) (16); Socialist People's Party (SF) (15); Danish Democrats (Æ) (14); Liberal Alliance (14); Conservative People's Party (10); Unity List-Red-Green Alliance (9); Other (24)
Legislative branch / percentage of women in chamber: 43.6%
Legislative branch / expected date of next election: October 2026
Judicial branch / highest court(s): Supreme Court (consists of the court president and 18 judges)
Judicial branch / judge selection and term of office: judges appointed by the monarch upon the recommendation of the Minister of Justice, with the advice of the Judicial Appointments Council, a 6-member independent body of judges and lawyers; judges appointed for life with retirement at age 70
Judicial branch / subordinate courts: Special Court of Indictment and Revision; 2 High Courts; Maritime and Commercial Court; county courts
Political parties: The Alternative or AP Conservative People's Party or DKF or C Danish People's Party or DF or O Denmark Democrats or E Green Left or SF or F (formerly Socialist People's Party or SF or F) Liberal Alliance or LA or I Liberal Party (Venstre) or V Moderates or M New Right Party or NB or D Red-Green Alliance (Unity List) or EL Social Democrats or SDP or A Social Liberal Party or SLP or B
Diplomatic representation in the US / chief of mission: Ambassador Jesper M&oslash;ller S&Oslash;RENSEN (since 15 September 2023)
Diplomatic representation in the US / chancery: 3200 Whitehaven Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation in the US / telephone: [1] (202) 234-4300
Diplomatic representation in the US / FAX: [1] (202) 328-1470
Diplomatic representation in the US / email address and website: wasamb@um.dk https://usa.um.dk/en
Diplomatic representation in the US / consulate(s) general: Chicago, Houston, New York, Silicon Valley (CA)
Diplomatic representation from the US / chief of mission: Ambassador Kenneth A. HOWERY (since 5 November 2025)
Diplomatic representation from the US / embassy: Dag Hammarskjolds Alle 24, 2100 Kobenhavn 0
Diplomatic representation from the US / mailing address: 5280 Copenhagen Place, Washington DC 20521-5280
Diplomatic representation from the US / telephone: [45] 33-41-71-00
Diplomatic representation from the US / FAX: [45] 35-43-02-23
Diplomatic representation from the US / email address and website: CopenhagenACS@state.gov https://dk.usembassy.gov/
International organization participation: ADB (nonregional member), AfDB (nonregional member), Arctic Council, Australia Group, BIS, CBSS, CD, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECB, EIB, EITI (implementing country), ESA, EU, FAO, FATF, G-9, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD (partners), IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NATO, NC, NEA, NIB, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, Schengen Convention, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNMISS, UNOOSA, UNRWA, UNTSO, UPU, Wassenaar Arrangement, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
Independence: ca. 965 (unified and Christianized under Harald I GORMSSON); 5 June 1849 (became a parliamentary constitutional monarchy)
National holiday: Constitution Day, 5 June (1849)
Flag: description: red field with a white cross that extends to the edges of the flag; the vertical part of the cross is shifted to the left history: referred to as the Dannebrog (Danish flag) and is one of the oldest national flags in the world; the origin of the design is unclear; one legend says that the banner fell from the sky during an early-13th-century battle and inspired the royal army to victory; in actuality, the flag may derive from a crusade banner
National symbol(s): lion, mute swan
National color(s): red, white
National coat of arms: Denmark’s King Frederick VI adopted the national coat of arms in 1819; the crown of King Christian V, who ruled Denmark and Norway from 1670 to 1699, sits atop the shield, symbolizing royal and national authority; the three lions represent a strong and powerful country, with red lily pads in the shape of hearts that stand for strength, valor, and joy
National anthem(s) / title: &ldquo;Kong Christian stod ved h&oslash;jen mast&rdquo; (King Christian Stood by the Lofty Mast)
National anthem(s) / lyrics/music: Johannes EWALD/unknown
National anthem(s) / history: adopted 1780; one of the oldest royal anthems in the world; used for events when Danish royalty is present; anthem has equal status with the national anthem
National heritage / total World Heritage Sites: 12 (8 cultural, 4 natural)
National heritage / selected World Heritage Site locales: Denmark: Mounds, Runic Stones, and Church at Jelling (c); Roskilde Cathedral (c); Kronborg Castle (c); Wadden Sea (n); Stevns Klint (n); Christiansfeld, Moravian Church Settlement (c); Par force hunting landscape, North Zealand (c); Greenland: Ilulissat Icefjord (n); Kujataa, Norse and Inuit Farming (c); Aasivissuit–Nipisat, Inuit Hunting Ground (c); Viking-Age Ring Fortresses (c); Møns Klint (n)

## Economy
Economic overview: high-income, EU-member, trade-oriented Nordic economy; growth driven by pharmaceuticals, energy, and services; large share of employment in public sector; fixed exchange rate pegged to euro; strong fiscal position and declining public debt; tight labor market mitigated by migrant workers and higher retirement age
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $440.558 billion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $424.937 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $414.592 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2024: 3.7% (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2023: 2.5% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2022: 1.5% (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2024: $73,700 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2023: $71,500 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2022: $70,200 (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $429.457 billion (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024: 1.4% (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023: 3.3% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 7.7% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / agriculture: 0.7% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / industry: 24% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / services: 64% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / household consumption: 45.5% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / government consumption: 22.5% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in fixed capital: 22.6% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in inventories: 0.2% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / exports of goods and services: 68% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / imports of goods and services: -59.8% (2023 est.)
Agricultural products: milk, wheat, potatoes, barley, sugar beets, pork, rapeseed, rye, oats, chicken (2023)
Industries: wind turbines, pharmaceuticals, medical equipment, shipbuilding and refurbishment, iron, steel, nonferrous metals, chemicals, food processing, machinery and transportation equipment, textiles and clothing, electronics, construction, furniture and other wood products
Industrial production growth rate: 12% (2024 est.)
Labor force: 3.21 million (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2024: 5.6% (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2023: 5.1% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2022: 4.5% (2022 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / total: 12.1% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / male: 12.3% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / female: 11.9% (2024 est.)
Population below poverty line: 12.4% (2021 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income / Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2022: 29.3 (2022 est.)
Average household expenditures / on food: 11.9% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Average household expenditures / on alcohol and tobacco: 3.5% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / lowest 10%: 3.6% (2022 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / highest 10%: 24.5% (2022 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2024: 0.4% of GDP (2024 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2023: 0.4% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2022: 0.3% of GDP (2022 est.)
Budget / revenues: $149.393 billion (2023 est.)
Budget / expenditures: $136.662 billion (2023 est.)
Public debt / Public debt 2017: 35.3% of GDP (2017 est.)
Taxes and other revenues: 31.4% (of GDP) (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2024: $55.901 billion (2024 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2023: $40.061 billion (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2022: $46.488 billion (2022 est.)
Exports / Exports 2024: $299.405 billion (2024 est.)
Exports / Exports 2023: $276.646 billion (2023 est.)
Exports / Exports 2022: $283.37 billion (2022 est.)
Exports - partners: Germany 13%, USA 10%, Sweden 9%, Netherlands 7%, China 5% (2023)
Exports - commodities: packaged medicine, fish, vaccines, refined petroleum, pork (2023)
Imports / Imports 2024: $252.954 billion (2024 est.)
Imports / Imports 2023: $243.478 billion (2023 est.)
Imports / Imports 2022: $245.07 billion (2022 est.)
Imports - partners: Germany 18%, Sweden 11%, Norway 10%, Netherlands 9%, China 7% (2023)
Imports - commodities: natural gas, cars, garments, packaged medicine, refined petroleum (2023)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024: $108.405 billion (2024 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023: $109.371 billion (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $96.073 billion (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Currency: Danish kroner (DKK) per US dollar -
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2024: 6.894 (2024 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2023: 6.89 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2022: 7.076 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2021: 6.287 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2020: 6.542 (2020 est.)

## Energy
Electricity access / electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)
Electricity / installed generating capacity: 20.794 million kW (2023 est.)
Electricity / consumption: 35.253 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / exports: 16.698 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / imports: 19.831 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / transmission/distribution losses: 1.825 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / fossil fuels: 11.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / solar: 9.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / wind: 57.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / hydroelectricity: 0.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / biomass and waste: 21.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Coal / consumption: 1.135 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / exports: 124,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / imports: 1.296 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum / total petroleum production: 63,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Petroleum / refined petroleum consumption: 151,000 bbl/day (2024 est.)
Petroleum / crude oil estimated reserves: 441 million barrels (2021 est.)
Natural gas / production: 2.021 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / consumption: 2.309 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / exports: 8.388 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / imports: 8.612 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / proven reserves: 29.534 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)
Energy consumption per capita / Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 98.513 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

## Communications
Telephones - fixed lines / total subscriptions: 698,000 (2024 est.)
Telephones - fixed lines / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 12 (2024 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / total subscriptions: 7.57 million (2024 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 127 (2024 est.)
Broadcast media: strong public-sector TV presence, with Danmarks Radio (DR) operating 6 channels and TV2 operating roughly a half-dozen channels; private stations are available via satellite and cable feed; DR operates 4 FM radio stations, 10 digital audio stations, and 14 web-based radio stations; 140 commercial and 187 community (non-commercial) radio stations (2019)
Internet country code: .dk
Internet users / percent of population: 100% (2024 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / total: 2.65 million (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 44 (2023 est.)

## Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: OY
Airports: 102 (2025)
Heliports: 29 (2025)
Railways / total: 2,682 km (2020) 876 km electrified
Merchant marine / total: 715 (2023)
Merchant marine / by type: bulk carrier 15, container ship 132, general cargo 69, oil tanker 107, other 392
Ports / total ports: 69 (2024)
Ports / large: 1
Ports / medium: 2
Ports / small: 30
Ports / very small: 36
Ports / ports with oil terminals: 33
Ports / key ports: Abenra, Alborg, Arhus, Assens, Augustenborg, Bandholm, Esbjerg, Faborg, Fredericia, Frederikshavn, Haderslev, Holstebro-Stuer, Kalundborg, Kobenhavn, Kolding, Korsor, Marstal, Middelfart, Naestved, Nakskov, Nyborg, Nykobing, Odense, Randers, Ronne, Rudkobing, Sakskobing, Skagen Havn, Sonderborg, Stubbekobing, Studstrup, Svendborg, Vejle

## Military and Security
Military and security forces: Danish Armed Forces (Forsvaret): Royal Danish Army, Royal Danish Navy, Royal Danish Air Force (2025)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2025: 3.2% of GDP (2025 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2024: 2.3% of GDP (2024 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2023: 2% of GDP (2023 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2022: 1.4% of GDP (2022 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2021: 1.3% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military and security service personnel strengths: approximately 17,000 active-duty military personnel (2025)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the Danish military inventory is comprised of modern European, Israeli, US, and domestically produced weapons and equipment; the Danish defense industry is active in the production of naval vessels, defense electronics, and subcomponents of larger weapons systems, such as the US F-35 fighter aircraft; the major warships of the Royal Danish Navy are produced domestically (2025)
Military service age and obligation: 18 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military service for men and women; draftees serve 11 months, including five months of basic training, followed by six months in an operational unit (2025)
Military deployments: Denmark contributes air, ground, and naval forces to a variety of international missions, including grounds troops to NATO's forward defenses in Latvia (2025)
Military - note: the Danish Armed Forces (Forsvaret) have a variety of missions, including enforcing the country’s sovereignty, monitoring Danish waters and airspace, search and rescue, environmental protection, host nation support for alliance partners, international peacekeeping, fulfilling Denmark’s commitments to NATO, and providing assistance to the police for border control, guard tasks, air surveillance, and during national disasters and other emergencies NATO has been a cornerstone of Danish security and defense police since it joined in 1949 as one of the organization’s original members under the North Atlantic Treaty (also known as the Washington Treaty); the Forsvaret regularly exercises with NATO allies and participates in a number of NATO missions, including its Enhanced Forward Presence in Eastern Europe, air policing in the Baltics, naval operations in the Baltic Sea and North Atlantic, and an advisory mission in Iraq; the Forsvaret leads NATO’s Multinational Division – North (inaugurated 2019), a headquarters based in Latvia that supports the defense planning of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, and the coordination of regional military activities, including NATO’s forward deployed forces; it also takes part in other international missions for Europe and the UN ranging from peacekeeping in Africa to protecting Europe's external borders by patrolling the Mediterranean Sea in support of the European Border and Coast Guard Agency; Denmark is a member of the EU and voted to join the EU’s Common Defense and Security Policy in a 2022 referendum; the Forsvaret cooperates closely with the militaries of other Nordic countries through the Nordic Defense Cooperation (NORDEFCO; established 2009), which consists of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden in such areas as armaments, training and exercises, and operations; it also has a joint composite special operations command with Belgium and the Netherlands the Forsvaret has an Arctic Command to protect the sovereignty of Denmark in the Arctic region, including the Faroe Islands and Greenland, and conducts maritime pollution prevention, environmental monitoring, fishery inspections, search and rescue, and hydrographical surveys, plus support to governmental science missions; there is also a joint service Special Operations Command (SOKOM), which includes the Sirius Dog Sled Patrol, an elite unit that patrols the most remote parts of northeast Greenland (2025)

## Terrorism
Terrorist group(s): Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS); Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC)/Qods Force

## Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons / refugees: 100,832 (2024 est.)
Refugees and internally displaced persons / stateless persons: 8,566 (2024 est.)

=== Dhekelia ===

## Introduction
Background: By terms of the 1960 Treaty of Establishment that created the independent Republic of Cyprus, the UK retained full sovereignty and jurisdiction over two areas of almost 254 square kilometers -- Akrotiri and Dhekelia. The larger of these is the Dhekelia Sovereign Base Area, which is also referred to as the Eastern Sovereign Base Area.

## Geography
Location: Eastern Mediterranean, on the southeast coast of Cyprus near Famagusta
Geographic coordinates: 34 59 N, 33 45 E
Map references: Middle East
Area / total: 131 sq km
Area - comparative: about three-quarters the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries / total: 108 km
Land boundaries / border countries: Cyprus 108 km
Coastline: 27.5 km
Climate: temperate; Mediterranean with hot, dry summers and cool winters
Geography - note: British extraterritorial rights also extended to several small off-post sites scattered across Cyprus; several small Cypriot enclaves exist within the Sovereign Base Area (SBA); of the SBA land, 60% is privately owned and farmed, 20% is owned by the Ministry of Defense, and 20% is SBA Crown land

## People and Society
Population: approximately 15,500 on the Sovereign Base Areas of Akrotiri and Dhekelia including 9,700 Cypriots and 5,800 Service and UK-based contract personnel and dependents
Languages / Languages: English, Greek
Languages / major-language sample(s): Το Παγκόσμιο Βιβλίο Δεδομένων, η απαραίτητη πηγή βασικών πληροφοριών. (Greek) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
Age structure / 0-14 years: NA
Age structure / 15-64 years: NA
Age structure / 65 years and over: NA
Dependency ratios / total dependency ratio: NA
Dependency ratios / youth dependency ratio: NA
Dependency ratios / elderly dependency ratio: NA
Dependency ratios / potential support ratio: NA
Birth rate: NA
Death rate: NA
Contraceptive prevalence rate: NA
Drinking water source / improved: urban: urban: NA
Drinking water source / improved: rural: rural: NA
Drinking water source / improved: total: total: NA
Drinking water source / unimproved: urban: urban: NA
Drinking water source / unimproved: rural: rural: NA
Drinking water source / unimproved: total: total: NA
Current health expenditure: NA
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: NA
Education expenditures: NA

## Environment
Environment - current issues: netting and trapping of small migrant songbirds in the spring and autumn
Climate: temperate; Mediterranean with hot, dry summers and cool winters

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: none
Country name / conventional short form: Dhekelia
Dependency status: a special form of UK overseas territory; administered by an administrator who is also the Commander, British Forces Cyprus
Capital / name: Episkopi Cantonment (base administrative center for Akrotiri and Dhekelia); located in Akrotiri
Capital / geographic coordinates: 34 40 N, 32 51 E
Capital / time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Capital / daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October
Capital / etymology: "Episkopi" means "episcopal" in Greek and stems from the fact that the site previously served as the bishop's seat of an Orthodox diocese
Constitution / history: presented 3 August 1960, effective 16 August 1960 (The Sovereign Base Areas of Akrotiri and Dhekelia Order in Council 1960, serves as a basic legal document); amended 1966
Legal system: laws applicable to the Cypriot population are, as far as possible, the same as the laws of the Republic of Cyprus; note - the Sovereign Base Area Administration has its own court system to deal with civil and criminal matters
Executive branch / chief of state: King CHARLES III (since 8 September 2022)
Executive branch / head of government: Administrator Air Vice-Marshal Peter J.M. SQUIRES (since 1 September 2022); note - the administrator reports to the British Ministry of Defense and is also Commander, British Forces Cyprus (BFC); the chief officer, an appointed civilian, is responsible for the day-to-day running of the civil government of the Sovereign Base Areas
Executive branch / elections/appointments: the monarchy is hereditary; administrator appointed by the monarch on the advice of the Ministry of Defense
Judicial branch / highest court(s): Senior Judges' Court (consists of several visiting judges from England and Wales)
Judicial branch / judge selection and term of office: see entry for United Kingdom
Judicial branch / subordinate courts: Resident Judges' Court; military courts
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (overseas territory of the UK)
Diplomatic representation from the US: none (overseas territory of the UK)
Flag description: the flag of the UK is used
National anthem: note: as a United Kingdom area of special sovereignty, "God Save the King" is official (see United Kingdom)

## Economy
Industries: none
Exchange rates: note: uses the euro

## Communications
Broadcast media: British Forces Broadcast Service (BFBS) provides multi-channel satellite TV service as well as BFBS radio broadcasts to the Dhekelia Sovereign Base

## Transportation

## Military and Security
Military - note: defense of Dhekelia (aka Eastern Sovereign Base Area) is the responsibility of the UK; includes Dhekelia Garrison and Ayios Nikolaos Station connected by a roadway

=== EE ===

## Introduction
Preliminary statement: The European Union's (EU) evolution is unprecedented in history, transforming from a regional economic agreement among six neighboring states in 1951 to today's hybrid intergovernmental and supranational organization of 27 countries across the European continent. Such a large number of nation-states ceding some of their sovereignty to an overarching entity is unique. Dynastic unions for territorial consolidation were long the norm in Europe, although country-level unions were sometimes arranged, such as the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and the Austro-Hungarian Empire. The EU is not a federation in the strict sense, but it is far more than a free-trade association such as ASEAN or Mercosur. It has certain attributes associated with independent nations: its own flag, currency (for some members), and law-making abilities, as well as diplomatic representation and a common foreign and security policy in its dealings with external partners. For these reasons, The World Factbook includes basic information on the EU as a separate entity.
Background: In the aftermath and devastation of the two World Wars, a number of far-sighted European leaders in the late 1940s sought to respond to the overwhelming desire for peace and reconciliation on the continent. In 1950, French Foreign Minister Robert SCHUMAN proposed pooling the production of coal and steel in Western Europe, which would bring France and West Germany together and be open to other countries as well. The following year, the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) was set up when six members -- Belgium, France, West Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands -- signed the Treaty of Paris. Within a few years, the ECSC was so successful that member states decided to further integrate their economies. In 1957, envisioning an "ever closer union," the Treaties of Rome created the European Economic Community (EEC) and the European Atomic Energy Community (Euratom), which eliminated trade barriers among the six member states to create a common market. In 1967, the institutions of all three communities were formally merged into the European Community (EC), creating a single Commission, a single Council of Ministers, and a legislative body known today as the European Parliament. Members of the European Parliament were initially selected by national parliaments, but direct elections began in 1979 and have been held every five years since. In 1973, the first enlargement of the EC added Denmark, Ireland, and the UK. The 1980s saw further membership expansion, with Greece joining in 1981 and Spain and Portugal in 1986. The 1992 Treaty of Maastricht laid the basis for further cooperation in foreign and defense policy and judicial and internal affairs, as well as the creation of an economic and monetary union -- including a common currency. The Maastricht Treaty created the European Union (EU), at the time standing alongside the EC. In 1995, Austria, Finland, and Sweden joined the EU/EC, raising the total number of member states to 15. On 1 January 1999, the new euro currency was launched in world markets and became the unit of exchange for all EU member states except Denmark, Sweden, and the UK. In 2002, citizens of the 12 participating member states began using euro banknotes and coins. In an effort to ensure that the EU could function efficiently with an expanded membership, the Treaty of Nice in 2000 set forth rules to streamline the size and procedures of the EU's institutions. An effort to establish a "Constitution for Europe," growing out of a Convention held in 2002-2003, foundered when it was rejected in referenda in France and the Netherlands in 2005. A subsequent effort in 2007 incorporated many features of the rejected draft Constitutional Treaty, while also making a number of substantive as well as symbolic changes. The new treaty, referred to as the Treaty of Lisbon, sought to amend existing treaties rather than replace them. The treaty was approved at a conference of member states, and after all member states ratified, the Lisbon Treaty came into force on 1 December 2009, at which point the EU officially replaced and succeeded the EC. Ten new countries joined the EU in 2004 -- Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia, and Slovenia. Bulgaria and Romania joined in 2007 and Croatia in 2013. UK citizens on 23 June 2016 narrowly voted to leave the EU; the formal exit, widely known as "Brexit," took place on 31 January 2020. The EU and the UK negotiated a withdrawal agreement that included a status quo transition period through December 2020, when the follow-on EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement was concluded. Current EU membership stands at 27. Eight of the newer member states -- Croatia, Cyprus, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Slovakia, and Slovenia -- have now adopted the euro, bringing total euro-zone membership to 20.

## Geography
Location: Europe between the North Atlantic Ocean in the west and Russia, Belarus, and Ukraine to the east
Map references: Europe
Area / total: 4,236,351 sq km
Area - comparative: less than one-half the size of the United States
Land boundaries / total: 13,770 km
Land boundaries / border countries: Albania 212 km; Andorra 118 km; Belarus 1,176 km; Bosnia and Herzegovina 956 km; Holy See 3 km; Liechtenstein 34 km; North Macedonia 396 km; Moldova 683 km; Monaco 6 km; Montenegro 19 km; Norway 2,375 km; Russia 2,435 km; San Marino 37 km; Serbia 1,353 km; Switzerland 1,729 km; Turkey 415 km; United Kingdom 499 km; Ukraine 1,324 km
Coastline: 53,563.9 km
Climate: cold temperate; potentially subarctic in the north to temperate; mild wet winters; hot dry summers in the south
Terrain: fairly flat along Baltic and Atlantic coasts; mountainous in the central and southern areas
Elevation / highest point: Mont Blanc, France 4,810 m
Elevation / lowest point: Zuidplaspolder, Netherlands -7 m
Natural resources: iron ore, natural gas, petroleum, coal, copper, lead, zinc, bauxite, uranium, potash, salt, hydropower, arable land, timber, fish
Irrigated land: 154,539.82 sq km (2011 est.)
Population distribution: population distribution varies considerably from country to country but tends to follow a pattern of coastal and river settlement, with urban agglomerations forming large hubs; the area in and around the Netherlands, Belgium, and Luxembourg (known collectively as Benelux), is the most densely populated area in the EU
Natural hazards: flooding along coasts; avalanches in mountainous area; earthquakes in the south; volcanic eruptions in Italy; periodic droughts in Spain; ice floes in the Baltic Sea region

## People and Society
Population / total: 451,815,312 (2024 est.)
Population / male: 220,631,332
Population / female: 231,183,980
Languages: Bulgarian, Croatian, Czech, Danish, Dutch, English, Estonian, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Hungarian, Irish, Italian, Latvian, Lithuanian, Maltese, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Slovak, Slovene, Spanish, Swedish
Religions: Roman Catholic 41%, Orthodox 10%, Protestant 9%, other Christian 4%, Muslim 2%, other 4% (includes Jewish, Sikh, Buddhist, Hindu), atheist 10%, non-believer/agnostic 17%, unspecified 3% (2019 est.)
Age structure / 0-14 years: 14.5% (male 33,606,273/female 31,985,118)
Age structure / 15-64 years: 63.5% (male 143,874,460/female 143,104,994)
Age structure / 65 years and over: 22% (2024 est.) (male 43,150,599/female 56,093,868)
Dependency ratios / total dependency ratio: 57.2 (2024)
Dependency ratios / youth dependency ratio: 22.8 (2024)
Dependency ratios / elderly dependency ratio: 34.5 (2024)
Dependency ratios / potential support ratio: 3 (2024)
Median age / total: 44 years (2020)
Median age / male: 42.6 years
Median age / female: 45.5 years
Population growth rate: 0.1% (2021 est.)
Birth rate: 8.9 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)
Death rate: 11.2 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)
Net migration rate: -2.85 migrant(s)/1,000 population
Population distribution: population distribution varies considerably from country to country but tends to follow a pattern of coastal and river settlement, with urban agglomerations forming large hubs; the area in and around the Netherlands, Belgium, and Luxembourg (known collectively as Benelux), is the most densely populated area in the EU
Sex ratio / at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 65 years and over: 0.77 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Infant mortality rate / total: 3.4 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)
Life expectancy at birth / total population: 77.63 years (2021)
Life expectancy at birth / male: 72.98 years
Life expectancy at birth / female: 82.51 years
Total fertility rate: 1.54 children born/woman (2024 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 0.75 (2024 est.)
Health expenditure: 10.9% of GDP (2021)
Education expenditure: 5% of GDP (2020 est.)

## Environment
Environmental issues: various forms of air, soil, and water pollution; see individual country entries
International environmental agreements / party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Multi-effect Protocol, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 2006
International environmental agreements / signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds
Climate: cold temperate; potentially subarctic in the north to temperate; mild wet winters; hot dry summers in the south
Carbon dioxide emissions / total emissions: 2.651 billion metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from coal and metallurgical coke: 518.857 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from petroleum and other liquids: 1.489 billion metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from consumed natural gas: 643.8 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Total renewable water resources: 1.7 trillion cubic meters (2019)

## Government
Union name / conventional long form: European Union
Union name / abbreviation: EU
Government type: a hybrid and unique intergovernmental and supranational organization
Capital / name: Brussels (Belgium), Strasbourg (France), Luxembourg, Frankfurt (Germany)
Capital / geographic coordinates: (Brussels) 50 50 N, 4 20 E
Capital / time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Capital / daylight saving time: +1 hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October
Capital / time zone note: the 27 European Union member states are spread across three time zones
Member states: 27 countries: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden 13 overseas countries and territories: 1 with Denmark (Greenland), 6 with France (French Polynesia, French Southern and Antarctic Lands, New Caledonia, Saint Barthelemy, Saint Pierre and Miquelon, Wallis and Futuna), and 6 with the Netherlands (Aruba, Bonaire, Curacao, Saba, Sint Eustatius, Sint Maarten); all are part of the Overseas Countries and Territories Association (OCTA)
Legal system: unique supranational system in which EU treaties and EU law have primacy over member-state law
Constitution / history: none; the EU legal order relies primarily on the Treaty on European Union (TEU) and the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU (TFEU)
Constitution / amendment process: EU treaties can be amended in several ways: 1) Ordinary Revision Procedure (for key amendments to the treaties); initiated by an EU member state, the European Parliament, or the European Commission; after the proposal is adopted by the European Council, a conference of national government representatives then reviews the proposal; passage requires ratification by all EU member states 2) Simplified Revision Procedure (for amendment of EU internal policies and actions); passage of a proposal requires unanimous European Council vote after European Council consultation with the European Commission, the European Parliament, and the European Central Bank (if the amendment concerns monetary matters) and requires ratification by all EU member states 3) Passerelle Clause; allows the alteration of a legislative procedure without a formal amendment of the treaties 4) Flexibility Clause; permits the EU to decide in subject areas where EU competences have not been explicitly granted in the treaties but are necessary to the attainment of treaty objectives
Suffrage: 18 years of age (16 years in Austria); universal; voting for the European Parliament occurs in each member state
Executive branch: three EU institutions have functions that can be regarded as executive in nature: European Council - composed of member-state heads of state or government, along with the president of the European Commission; meets at least four times a year to issue general policy guidance; the president of the European Council is appointed by leaders of the EU member states for a 2 1/2 year term, renewable once president: António Costa (since 1 December 2024) Council of the European Union - consists of member-state officials, ranging from working-level diplomats to cabinet ministers in specific policy fields such as foreign affairs, agriculture, or economy; has policymaking, coordinating, and legislative functions president: the six-month presidency rotates among the member states European Commission - composed of 27 commissioners (one from each member state), including the president; the president assigns each commissioner one or more policy areas, called portfolios; the Commission has the sole right to initiate EU legislation, except for foreign and security/defense policy, and is responsible for monitoring the application of EU law, implementing/executing the EU budget, negotiating in certain policy areas, and ensuring the EU's external representation in some policy areas; the president is nominated for a 5-year term by the European Council and confirmed by the European Parliament; the European Parliament also confirms the entire Commission for a 5-year term president: Ursula von der Leyen (since 1 December 2019)
Legislative branch / legislature name: Council of the European Union (Council) and the European Parliament (EP) (separate legislative bodies; see note 2 )
Legislative branch / number of seats: Council - 27; EP - 720
Legislative branch / electoral system: Council - none, composed of ministers from EU member states; EP - proportional representation
Legislative branch / scope of elections: EP - full renewal
Legislative branch / term in office: 5 years note: for the EP
Legislative branch / most recent election date: EP - 6/9/2024
Legislative branch / parties elected and seats per party: EP - PP (188); S&D (136); PfE (84); ECR (78); Renew (77); Greens/EFA (53); GUE-NGL (46); ESN (25); non-attached (12); other (21)
Legislative branch / percentage of women in chamber: 39.8% note: for the EP
Legislative branch / expected date of next election: EP - June 2029
Judicial branch / highest court(s): Court of Justice of the European Union, which includes the Court of Justice (informally known as the European Court of Justice or ECJ, includes 11 advocates general) and the General Court (consists of 27 judges, one drawn from each member state; can include additional judges); both the ECJ and the General Court sit in chambers of 3 to 5 judges but may sit in a Grand Chamber of 15 judges in special cases
Judicial branch / judge selection and term of office: judges appointed by the common consent of the member states to serve 6-year renewable terms
Political parties: The Left or GUE/NGL European Conservatives and Reformists or ECR Greens/European Free Alliance or Greens/EFA European People's Party or EPP Europe of Sovereign Nations or ESN Patriots for Europe or PfE Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats or S&D Renew Europe or Renew (formerly Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe or ALDE)
Diplomatic representation in the US / chief of mission: Ambassador Jovita NELIUP&Scaron;IENĖ, Head of Delegation (since 27 February 2024)
Diplomatic representation in the US / chancery: 2175 K Street NW, Washington, DC 20037
Diplomatic representation in the US / telephone: [1] (202) 862-9500
Diplomatic representation in the US / FAX: [1] (202) 429-1766
Diplomatic representation in the US / email address and website: delegation-usa-info@eeas.europa.eu Delegation of the European Union to the United States of America | EEAS (europa.eu)
Diplomatic representation from the US / chief of mission: Ambassador Andrew PUZDER (since 11 September 2025)
Diplomatic representation from the US / embassy: Zinnerstraat - 13 - Rue Zinner, B-1000 Brussels
Diplomatic representation from the US / mailing address: use embassy street address
Diplomatic representation from the US / telephone: [32] (2) 811-4100
Diplomatic representation from the US / email address and website: https://useu.usmission.gov/
International organization participation: ARF, ASEAN (dialogue member), Australian Group, BIS, BSEC (observer), CBSS, CERN, EBRD, FAO, FATF, G-7, G-10, G-20, IDA, IEA, IGAD (partners), LAIA (observer), NSG (observer), OAS (observer), OECD, PIF (partner), SAARC (observer), SICA (observer), UN (observer), UNRWA (observer), WCO, WTO, ZC (observer)
Independence: 7 February 1992 (Maastricht Treaty signed establishing the European Union); 1 November 1993 (Maastricht Treaty entered into force)
National holiday: Europe Day (also known as Schuman Day), 9 May (1950)
Flag: description: a blue field with 12 five-pointed gold stars arranged in a circle in the center; blue stands for the sky of the Western world, and the stars for unity, solidarity, and harmony meaning: the number of stars is fixed and does not correspond to the number of member states
National symbol(s): a circle of 12 five-pointed golden-yellow stars on a blue field
National color(s): blue, yellow
National anthem(s) / title: "European Anthem" (Ode to Joy)
National anthem(s) / lyrics/music: no lyrics/Ludwig VAN BEETHOVEN, arranged by Herbert VON KARAJAN
National anthem(s) / history: adopted 1985; the anthem is meant to represent all of Europe rather than just the organization, conveying the ideals of peace, freedom, and unity

## Economy
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $24.441 trillion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $24.17 trillion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $24.036 trillion (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2024: 1% (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2023: 0.5% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2022: 3.5% (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2024: $54,300 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2023: $53,800 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2022: $53,700 (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $19.423 trillion (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024: 2.4% (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023: 6.3% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 8.8% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / agriculture: 1.6% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / industry: 22.1% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / services: 66.1% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / household consumption: 51.6% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / government consumption: 20.8% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in fixed capital: 22% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in inventories: 0.4% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / exports of goods and services: 51.9% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / imports of goods and services: -48.3% (2023 est.)
Agricultural products: milk, wheat, sugar beets, maize, potatoes, barley, grapes, pork, rapeseed, tomatoes (2022)
Industries: among the world's largest and most technologically advanced regions, 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 beverages, furniture, paper, textiles
Industrial production growth rate: -0.7% (2024 est.)
Labor force: 221.391 million (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2024: 6% (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2023: 6.1% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2022: 6.2% (2022 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / total: 15.9% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / male: 16% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / female: 16% (2024 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income / Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2015: 31 (2015 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2024: 0.8% of GDP (2024 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2023: 0.8% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2022: 0.8% of GDP (2022 est.)
Public debt / Public debt 2013: 85.5% of GDP (2013)
Taxes and other revenues: 19.8% (of GDP) (2022 est.)
Exports / Exports 2024: $9.783 trillion (2024 est.)
Exports / Exports 2023: $9.689 trillion (2023 est.)
Exports / Exports 2022: $9.425 trillion (2022 est.)
Exports - partners: US 20%, UK 12%, China 10%, Switzerland 7%, Turkey 4% (2023)
Exports - commodities: cars, packaged medicine, refined petroleum, vehicle parts/accessories, vaccines (2023)
Imports / Imports 2024: $8.953 trillion (2024 est.)
Imports / Imports 2023: $8.978 trillion (2023 est.)
Imports / Imports 2022: $9.072 trillion (2022 est.)
Imports - partners: China 21%, US 14%, UK 7%, Switzerland 6%, Norway 5% (2023)
Imports - commodities: cars, crude petroleum, natural gas, refined petroleum, vehicle parts/accessories (2023)
Exchange rates / Currency: euros (EUR) per US dollar -
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2024: 0.924 (2024 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2023: 0.925 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2022: 0.95 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2021: 0.845 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2020: 0.876 (2020 est.)

## Energy
Electricity access / electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)
Electricity / installed generating capacity: 1.142 billion kW (2023 est.)
Electricity / consumption: 2.511 trillion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / exports: 407.824 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / imports: 405.154 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / transmission/distribution losses: 169.694 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / fossil fuels: 33.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / nuclear: 22.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / solar: 9.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / wind: 17.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / hydroelectricity: 11.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / geothermal: 0.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / biomass and waste: 6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Nuclear energy / Number of operational nuclear reactors: 100 (2025)
Nuclear energy / Number of nuclear reactors under construction: 1 (2025)
Nuclear energy / Net capacity of operational nuclear reactors: 97.63GW (2025 est.)
Nuclear energy / Number of nuclear reactors permanently shut down: 75 (2025)
Coal / production: 304.827 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / consumption: 398.817 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / exports: 32.326 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / imports: 127.304 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / proven reserves: 84.193 billion metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum / total petroleum production: 748,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Petroleum / refined petroleum consumption: 11.022 million bbl/day (2023 est.)
Natural gas / production: 40.239 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / consumption: 335.326 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / exports: 100.238 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / imports: 396.993 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Energy consumption per capita / Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 114.309 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

## Communications
Telephones - fixed lines / total subscriptions: 155,004,603 (2022 est.)
Telephones - fixed lines / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 36 (2022 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / total subscriptions: 552,315,605 (2022 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 124 (2022 est.)
Internet country code: .eu
Internet users / percent of population: 90% (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / total: 172.888 million (2022 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 39 (2022 est.)

## Transportation
Airports: 5,211 (2025)
Heliports: 2,069 (2025)
Railways / total: 4,894,173 km (2019)

## Military and Security
Military and security forces: the EU's Common Security and Defense Policy (CSDP) provides the civilian, military, and political structures for EU crisis management and security issues; the highest bodies are: the Political and Security Committee (PSC), which meets at the ambassadorial level as a preparatory body for the Council of the EU; it assists with defining policies and preparing a crisis response the European Union Military Committee (EUMC) is the EU's highest military body; it is composed of the chiefs of defense (CHODs) of the Member States, who are regularly represented by their permanent Military Representatives; the EUMC provides the PSC with advice and recommendations on all military matters within the EU the Committee for Civilian Aspects of Crisis Management (CIVCOM) provides advice and recommendations to the PSC in parallel with the EUMC on civilian aspects of crisis management the Politico-Military Group (PMG) provides advice and recommendations to the PSC on political aspects of EU military and civil-military issues, including concepts, capabilities and operations and missions, and monitors implementation other bodies set up under the CSDP include the Security and Defense Policy Directorate (SECDEFPOL), the Integrated approach for Security and Peace Directorate (ISP), the EU Military Staff (EUMS), the Civilian Planning and Conduct Capability (CPCC), the Civilian Operations Headquarters (CivOpsHQ), the Military Planning and Conduct Capability (MPCC), the European Defense Agency (EDA), the European Security and Defense College (ESDC), the EU Institute for Security Studies, the EU Satellite Center, the Peace, Partnerships and Crisis Management Directorate (PCM) (2025)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2024: 1.9% of GDP (2024 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2023: 1.8% of GDP (2023 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2022: 1.6% of GDP (2022 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2021: 1.6% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2020: 1.6% of GDP (2020 est.)
Military deployments: since 2003, the EU has launched more than 30 civilian and military crisis-management, advisory, and training missions in Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Middle East, as well as counter-piracy operations off the coast of Somalia and a naval operation in the Mediterranean to disrupt human smuggling and trafficking networks and prevent the loss of life at sea (2025)
Military - note: the EU partners with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO); NATO is an alliance of 32 countries from North America and Europe; its role is to safeguard the security of its member countries by political and military means; NATO conducts crisis management and peacekeeping missions; member countries that participate in the military aspect of the Alliance contribute forces and equipment, which remain under national command and control until a time when they are required by NATO for a specific purpose (i.e., conflict or crisis, peacekeeping); NATO, however, does possess some common capabilities owned and operated by the Alliance, such as some early warning radar aircraft; relations between NATO and the EU were institutionalized in the early 2000s, building on steps taken during the 1990s to promote greater European responsibility in defense matters; cooperation and coordination covers a broad array of issues, including crisis management, defense and political consultations, civil preparedness, capacity building, military capabilities, maritime security, planning, cyber defense, countering hybrid threats, information sharing, logistics, defense industry, counterterrorism, etc.; since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the EU and NATO have intensified their work and cooperation; NATO and the EU have 23 member countries in common there are no permanent standing EU forces, but Europe has a variety of multinational military organizations that may be deployed through the EU, in a NATO environment, upon the mandate of the participating countries, or upon the mandate of other international organizations, such as the UN or OSCE including: the EU Rapid Deployment Capacity (EU RDC) was declared operational in May 2025; the RDC's purpose is to enable the EU to respond to different crisis scenarios by providing a flexible and scalable military instrument of up to 5,000 troops that can be deployed in a swift manner; missions could include capacity building, conflict prevention, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, rescue and evacuation, or stabilization; the use of the RDC is subject to a unanimous decision by the EU Member States EU Battlegroups (BGs) are rapid reaction multinational army units that form a key part of the EU's capacity to respond to crises and conflicts; their deployment is subject to a unanimous decision by the European Council; BGs typically consists of 1,500-2,000 troops organized around an infantry battalion depending on the mission; the troops and equipment are drawn from EU member states and under the direction of a lead nation; two BGs are always on standby for a period of six months; the BGs were declared operational in 2007 but have never been used operationally due to political and financial obstacles the European Corps (Eurocorps) is an independent multinational land force corps headquarters composed of personnel from six framework nations and five associated nations; the corps has no standing operational units; during a crisis, units would be drawn from participating states, and the corps would be placed at the service of the EU and NATO; Eurocorps was established in 1992 by France and Germany; Belgium (1993), Spain (1994), and Luxembourg (1996) joined over the next few years; Poland joined in 2022; Greece and Turkey (since 2002), Italy, Romania, and Austria (since 2009, 2016, and 2021 respectively) participate as associated nations; Eurocorps is headquartered in France the European Gendarmerie Force (EURGENDFOR) is an operational, pre-organized, and rapidly deployable European gendarmerie/police force; it is not established at the EU level, but is capable of performing police tasks, including law enforcement, stability operations, and training in support of the EU, the UN, OSCE, NATO, and other international organizations or ad hoc coalitions; member state gendarmeries include those of France, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, and Spain; the Lithuanian Public Security Service is a partner, while Turkey's Gendarmerie is an observer force the European Medical Corps (EMC) was set up in the aftermath of the Ebola crisis in West Africa in 2014 to enable the deployment of teams and equipment from EU member states to provide medical assistance and public health expertise in response to emergencies inside and outside the EU; 12 European states have committed teams and equipment to the EMC the European Medical Command (EMC) was formed to provide a standing EU medical capability, increase medical operational readiness, and improve interoperability amongst the participating EU members; it operates closely with the NATO Framework Nations Concept’s Multinational Medical Coordination Center (MMCC) under a single administrative and infrastructural framework (MMCC/EMC); the EMC was declared operational in May 2022 the European Air Transport Command (EATC) is a single multinational command for more than 150 military air mobility assets from seven member states, including transport, air-to-air refueling, and aeromedical evacuation; the EATC headquarters is located in the Netherlands, but the air assets remain located at member national air bases; the EATC was established in 2010 the European Air Group (EAG) is an independent organization formed by the air forces of its seven member nations (Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Spain, and the UK) that is focused on improving interoperability between the air forces of EAG members and its 14 partner and associate nations; it was established in the late 1990s and is headquartered in the UK the European Maritime Force (EUROMARFOR or EMF) is a four-nation (France, Italy, Portugal, and Spain), non-standing naval force with the ability to carry out naval, air, and amphibious operations; EUROMARFOR was formed in 1995 to conduct missions such as crisis response, humanitarian missions, peacekeeping, peace enforcement, and sea control; it can deploy under EU, NATO, or UN mandate, but also as long as the four partner nations agree the Combined Joint Expeditionary Force (CJEF) is a deployable, combined France-UK military force of up to 10,000 personnel for use in a wide range of crisis scenarios, up to and including high intensity combat operations; the CJEF has no standing forces but would be available at short notice for French-UK bilateral, NATO, EU, UN, or other operations; it was established in 2010 and declared operational in 2020 the 1st German/Netherlands (Dutch) Corps is a combined army corps headquarters that has the ability to conduct operations under the command and control of Germany and the Netherlands, NATO, or the EU; in peacetime, approximately 1,100 Dutch and German soldiers are assigned, but during a crisis up to 80,000 troops may be assigned; it was formed in 1995 and is headquartered in Germany the Lithuanian-Polish-Ukrainian Brigade (LITPOLUKRBRIG) is comprised of an international staff, three battalions, and specialized units; units affiliated with the multinational brigade remain within the structures of the armed forces of their respective countries until the brigade is activated for participation in an international operation; it was formed in 2014 and is headquartered in Poland (2025)

## Space
Space agency/agencies: the only EU agency dedicated to space is the EU Agency for the Space Program (EUSPA; established in 2021); the EUSPA originated with the Galileo Joint Undertaking (GJU) set up in 2002 by the European Community (EC) and the European Space Agency (ESA) to manage the development phase of Europe’s Galileo satellite navigation program; the GJU’s responsibilities were assumed by the European Global Navigation Satellite System Supervisory Authority (GSA) in 2007 the ESA (established 1975 from the European Launcher Development Organization and the European Space Research Organization, which were established in the early 1960s) is an independent organization although it maintains close ties with the EU through an ESA/EC Framework Agreement; the ESA and EC share a joint European Strategy for Space and have together developed a European Space Policy the ESA has 23 member states; the national bodies responsible for space in these countries sit on ESA’s governing Council: Austria, Belgium, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the UK; Canada also sits on the Council and takes part in some projects under a Cooperation Agreement; Latvia, Lithuania, and Slovakia are Associate Members; Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, and Malta have cooperation agreements with ESA; ESA has established formal cooperation with all member states of the EU that are not ESA members (2025)
Space launch site(s): ESA&rsquo;s spaceport is located in Kourou, French Guiana; EU members Norway and Sweden have operational commercial space ports; the UK, non-EU member, has two operational commercial space ports (2025)
Space program overview: EU member states have a large and advanced commercial space sector that develops and produces a full range of capabilities and technologies; a key focus for both the European Space Agency (ESA) and the EU Agency for the Space Program (EUSPA) is encouraging this sector; Europe is a global leader in satellite-based communications and hosts the headquarters of three of the world’s major satellite communications companies ESA is comprehensive space agency that is active across the space sector, except for launching humans into space; its activities include producing and operating satellites with a full spectrum of capabilities (communications, multipurpose, navigational, remote sensing, science/technology), satellite launch vehicles (SLVs), space launches, astronaut training, space transportation/automated transfer vehicles, reusable spacecraft, space station modules, spacecraft components, robotic space labs, lunar/planetary surface rovers, interplanetary space probes and exploration, and space telescopes; ESA participates in international programs such as the International Space Station and works closely with Europe’s commercial space industry; it also works with a broad range of space agencies and industries of non-member countries, including China, Japan, Russia, and the US; many of its programs are conducted jointly, particularly with the US space program the EUSPA is responsible for the operational management of the European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service (EGNOS) and Galileo satellite navigation programs; the EU space strategy encourages investment in and the use of space services and data, fosters competition and innovation, develops space technologies, and reinforces Europe’s autonomy in accessing space (2025)
Key space-program milestones: 1979 - first launch of Ariane heavy-lift satellite launch vehicle (SLV) 1980s-2011 - participated in US Space Shuttle program (included more than 20 Spacelab missions, 1983-1998) 1995 - first solar satellite/orbiter (SOHO) launched 1997-2017 - Cassini-Huygens research mission to Saturn 1998-present - participating in a series of missions with varying start dates, including the International Space Station, International Gamma-Ray Astrophysics Laboratory mission (INTEGRAL), Mars Express orbiter exploration mission, Rosetta comet probe (included world’s first landing on a comet, 2014), Copernicus Earth observation program, Mars orbiter mission (ExoMars), Mercury planetary orbiter mission (BepiColombo), Solar Orbiter mission, US Gateway Lunar orbital station project 2016 - Galileo satellite-based global navigational positioning system reached initial operational capability 2019 - began development of quantum communications infrastructure (EuroQCI) 2021 - implemented EU government satellite communications (GOVSATCOM) and Space Surveillance and Awareness (SSA) components of EU space program; launched world’s first commercial, fully flexible, reprogrammable quantum satellite; launched US-built James Webb Space Telescope 2023 - launched Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer (JUICE) mission; launched Euclid space observatory/telescope 2024 - successful test launch of Ariane-6 SLV; launched probe (Hera) to study asteroid Didymos and its moon Dimorphos 2025 - announced EU Space Act, a cooperative framework for space activities across the EU

## Terrorism
Terrorist group(s): see individual EU member states

## Transnational Issues

=== Ireland ===

## Introduction
Background: Celtic tribes arrived in Ireland between 600 and 150 B.C. Norse invasions that began in the late 8th century finally ended when King Brian BORU defeated the Danes in 1014. Norman invasions began in the 12th century and set off more than seven centuries of Anglo-Irish struggle marked by fierce rebellions and harsh repressions. The Irish famine of the mid-19th century caused an almost 25-percent decline in the island's population through starvation, disease, and emigration. The population of the island continued to fall until the 1960s, but over the last 50 years, Ireland's high birthrate has made it demographically one of the youngest populations in the EU. The modern Irish state traces its origins to the failed 1916 Easter Monday Uprising that galvanized nationalist sentiment. The ensuing guerrilla war led to independence from the UK in 1921 with the signing of the Anglo-Irish Treaty and the creation of the Irish Free State. The treaty was deeply controversial in Ireland, in part because it helped solidify the country's partition, with six of the 32 counties remaining in the UK as Northern Ireland. The split between pro-Treaty and anti-Treaty partisans led to the Irish Civil War (1922-23). The traditionally dominant political parties in Ireland, Fine Gael and Fianna Fail, are de facto descendants of the opposing sides of the treaty debate. Ireland declared itself a republic in 1949 and formally left the British Dominion. Beginning in the 1960s, deep sectarian divides between the Catholic and Protestant populations and systemic discrimination in Northern Ireland erupted into years of violence known as the Troubles. In 1998, the governments of Ireland and the UK, along with most political parties in Northern Ireland, reached the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement with the support of the US. This agreement helped end the Troubles and initiated a new phase of cooperation between the Irish and British Governments. Ireland was neutral in World War II and continues its policy of military neutrality. Ireland joined the European Community in 1973 and the euro-zone currency union in 1999. The economic boom years of the Celtic Tiger (1995-2007) saw rapid economic growth that came to an abrupt end in 2008 with the meltdown of the Irish banking system. As a small, open economy, Ireland has excelled at courting foreign direct investment, especially from US multi-nationals, which has helped the economy recover from the financial crisis and insulated it somewhat from the economic shocks of the COVID-19 pandemic.

## Geography
Location: Western Europe, occupying five-sixths of the island of Ireland in the North Atlantic Ocean, west of Great Britain
Geographic coordinates: 53 00 N, 8 00 W
Map references: Europe
Area / total: 70,273 sq km
Area / land: 68,883 sq km
Area / water: 1,390 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly larger than West Virginia
Land boundaries / total: 490 km
Land boundaries / border countries: UK 499 km
Coastline: 1,448 km
Maritime claims / territorial sea: 12 nm
Maritime claims / exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
Climate: temperate maritime; modified by North Atlantic Current; mild winters, cool summers; consistently humid; overcast about half the time
Terrain: mostly flat to rolling interior plain surrounded by rugged hills and low mountains; sea cliffs on west coast
Elevation / highest point: Carrauntoohil 1,041 m
Elevation / lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
Elevation / mean elevation: 118 m
Natural resources: natural gas, peat, copper, lead, zinc, silver, barite, gypsum, limestone, dolomite
Land use / agricultural land: 60.8% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 6.4% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 0% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 54.4% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 11.9% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 27.3% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land: 0 sq km (2022)
Population distribution: population distribution is weighted to the eastern side of the island, with the largest concentration in and around Dublin; populations in the west are small due to mountainous land, poorer soil, and lack of transport routes
Natural hazards: rare extreme weather events
Geography - note: strategic location on major air and sea routes between North America and northern Europe; over 40% of the population resides within 100 km of Dublin

## People and Society
Population / total: 5,233,461 (2024 est.)
Population / male: 2,590,542
Population / female: 2,642,919
Nationality / noun: Irishman(men), Irishwoman(women), Irish (collective plural)
Nationality / adjective: Irish
Ethnic groups: Irish 76.6%, Irish travelers 0.6%, other White 9.9%, Asian 3.3%, Black 1.5%, other (includes Arab, Roma, and persons of mixed backgrounds) 2%, unspecified 2.6% (2022 est.)
Languages: English (official, the language generally used), Irish (Gaelic or Gaeilge) (official, spoken by approximately 37.7% of the population)
Religions: Roman Catholic 69.2% (includes lapsed), Protestant 3.7% (Church of Ireland/England/Anglican/Episcopalian 2.5%, other Protestant 1.2%), Orthodox 2%, other Christian 0.9%, Muslim 1.6%, other 1.4%, agnostic/atheist 0.1%, none 14.5%, unspecified 6.7% (2022 est.)
Age structure / 0-14 years: 18.6% (male 498,124/female 477,848)
Age structure / 15-64 years: 65.5% (male 1,701,680/female 1,728,041)
Age structure / 65 years and over: 15.8% (2024 est.) (male 390,738/female 437,030)
Dependency ratios / total dependency ratio: 52.6 (2024 est.)
Dependency ratios / youth dependency ratio: 28.5 (2024 est.)
Dependency ratios / elderly dependency ratio: 24.1 (2024 est.)
Dependency ratios / potential support ratio: 4.1 (2024 est.)
Median age / total: 40.5 years (2025 est.)
Median age / male: 39.7 years
Median age / female: 40.6 years
Population growth rate: 0.8% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 10.95 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 7.43 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: 4.48 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution: population distribution is weighted to the eastern side of the island, with the largest concentration in and around Dublin; populations in the west are small due to mountainous land, poorer soil, and lack of transport routes
Urbanization / urban population: 64.5% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 1.15% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 1.270 million DUBLIN (capital) (2023)
Sex ratio / at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 65 years and over: 0.89 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth: 30.9 years (2020 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio: 4 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Infant mortality rate / total: 3.2 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Infant mortality rate / male: 3.2 deaths/1,000 live births
Infant mortality rate / female: 3.3 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth / total population: 82 years (2024 est.)
Life expectancy at birth / male: 80.3 years
Life expectancy at birth / female: 83.9 years
Total fertility rate: 1.72 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 0.83 (2025 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: urban: urban: 95.4% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: rural: rural: 97% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: total: total: 96% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: urban: urban: 4.6% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: rural: rural: 3% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: total: total: 4% of population (2022 est.)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 6.1% of GDP (2022)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 22.3% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density: 3.88 physicians/1,000 population (2023)
Hospital bed density: 2.9 beds/1,000 population (2020 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: urban: urban: 94.8% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: rural: rural: 98.2% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: total: total: 96.1% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: urban: urban: 5.2% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: rural: rural: 1.8% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: total: total: 3.9% of population (2022 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 25.3% (2016)
Alcohol consumption per capita / total: 10.91 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / beer: 4.92 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / wine: 2.88 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / spirits: 2.29 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / other alcohols: 0.82 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Tobacco use / total: 16.8% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / male: 19.2% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / female: 14.4% (2025 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49): 47.1% (2022 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% GDP): 2.9% of GDP (2021 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% national budget): 12.3% national budget (2021 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / total: 19 years (2022 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / male: 19 years (2022 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / female: 20 years (2022 est.)

## Environment
Environmental issues: water pollution, especially of lakes, from agricultural runoff; deforestation, including problems with acid rain
International environmental agreements / party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling
International environmental agreements / signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Multi-effect Protocol, Marine Life Conservation
Climate: temperate maritime; modified by North Atlantic Current; mild winters, cool summers; consistently humid; overcast about half the time
Land use / agricultural land: 60.8% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 6.4% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 0% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 54.4% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 11.9% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 27.3% (2023 est.)
Urbanization / urban population: 64.5% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 1.15% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / total emissions: 35.486 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from coal and metallurgical coke: 3.029 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from petroleum and other liquids: 22.635 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from consumed natural gas: 9.822 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Particulate matter emissions: 7.5 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Waste and recycling / municipal solid waste generated annually: 2.911 million tons (2024 est.)
Waste and recycling / percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 42.4% (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / municipal: 1.106 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / industrial: 531.82 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / agricultural: 39.63 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total renewable water resources: 52 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Geoparks / total global geoparks and regional networks: 3
Geoparks / global geoparks and regional networks: Burren & Cliffs of Moher; Copper Coast; Marble Arch Caves (includes United Kingdom) (2023)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: none
Country name / conventional short form: Ireland
Country name / local long form: none
Country name / local short form: Eire
Country name / etymology: the Irish name Eire evolved from the Gaelic name Eriu, which is possibly derived from the Old Celtic iveriu , meaning "good land;" the English name, Ireland, is a direct translation
Government type: parliamentary republic
Capital / name: Dublin
Capital / geographic coordinates: 53 19 N, 6 14 W
Capital / time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Capital / daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October
Capital / etymology: derived from the Irish words dubh (black or dark) and linn (pool), referring to the color of the Liffey River
Administrative divisions: 28 counties and 3 cities*; Carlow, Cavan, Clare, Cork, Cork*, Donegal, Dublin*, Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown, Fingal, Galway, Galway*, Kerry, Kildare, Kilkenny, Laois, Leitrim, Limerick, Longford, Louth, Mayo, Meath, Monaghan, Offaly, Roscommon, Sligo, South Dublin, Tipperary, Waterford, Westmeath, Wexford, Wicklow
Legal system: common law system based on the English model but substantially modified by customary law; Supreme Court reviews legislative acts
Constitution / history: previous 1922; latest drafted 14 June 1937, adopted by plebiscite 1 July 1937, effective 29 December 1937
Constitution / amendment process: proposed as bills by Parliament; passage requires majority vote by both the Senate and House of Representatives, majority vote in a referendum, and presidential signature
International law organization participation: accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Citizenship / citizenship by birth: no, unless a parent of a child born in Ireland has been legally resident in Ireland for at least three of the four years prior to the birth of the child
Citizenship / citizenship by descent only: yes
Citizenship / dual citizenship recognized: yes
Citizenship / residency requirement for naturalization: 4 of the previous 8 years
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch / chief of state: President Catherine CONNOLLY (since 11 November 2025)
Executive branch / head of government: Taoiseach (Prime Minister) Michael MARTIN (since 23 January 2025)
Executive branch / cabinet: Cabinet nominated by the prime minister, appointed by the president, approved by the Dali Eireann (lower house of Parliament)
Executive branch / election/appointment process: president directly elected by majority popular vote for a 7-year term (eligible for a second term); taoiseach (prime minister) nominated by the House of Representatives (Dail Eireann), appointed by the president
Executive branch / most recent election date: 26 October 2018
Executive branch / election results: 2025: Michael MARTIN is elected taoiseach by parliament, 95 votes to 76, and is appointed taoiseach by the president 2024: Simon HARRIS is elected taoiseach by parliament, 88 votes to 69, and is appointed taoiseach by the president 2018: Michael D. HIGGINS reelected president in first round; percent of vote in first round - Michael D. HIGGINS (independent) 55.8%, Peter CASEY (independent) 23.3%, Sean GALLAGHER (independent) 6.4%, Liadh NI RIADA (Sinn Fein) 6.4%, Joan FREEMAN (independent) 6%, Gavin DUFFY (independent) 2.2%
Executive branch / expected date of next election: no later than November 2025
Legislative branch / legislature name: Parliament (Oireachtas)
Legislative branch / legislative structure: bicameral
Legislative branch - lower chamber / chamber name: House of Representatives (Dáil Éireann)
Legislative branch - lower chamber / number of seats: 174 (all directly elected)
Legislative branch - lower chamber / electoral system: proportional representation
Legislative branch - lower chamber / scope of elections: full renewal
Legislative branch - lower chamber / term in office: 5 years
Legislative branch - lower chamber / most recent election date: 1/29/2025 to 1/30/2025
Legislative branch - lower chamber / parties elected and seats per party: Fianna Fáil (48); Sinn Féin (39); Fine Gael (38); Social Democratic Party (11); Labour Party (11); Independents (16); Other (11)
Legislative branch - lower chamber / percentage of women in chamber: 25.3%
Legislative branch - lower chamber / expected date of next election: November 2029
Legislative branch - upper chamber / chamber name: Senate (Seanad Éireann - Senate)
Legislative branch - upper chamber / number of seats: 60 (49 indirectly elected; 11 appointed)
Legislative branch - upper chamber / scope of elections: full renewal
Legislative branch - upper chamber / term in office: 5 years
Legislative branch - upper chamber / most recent election date: 11/29/2024
Legislative branch - upper chamber / parties elected and seats per party: Fianna Fail (19); Fine Gael (18); Sinn Fein (6); Independents (12); other (5)
Legislative branch - upper chamber / percentage of women in chamber: 45%
Legislative branch - upper chamber / expected date of next election: January 2030
Judicial branch / highest court(s): Supreme Court of Ireland (consists of the chief justice, 9 judges, 2 ex-officio members -- the presidents of the High Court and Court of Appeal -- and organized in 3-, 5-, or 7-judge panels, depending on the importance or complexity of an issue of law)
Judicial branch / judge selection and term of office: judges nominated by the prime minister and Cabinet and appointed by the president; chief justice serves in the position for 7 years; judges can serve until age 70
Judicial branch / subordinate courts: High Court, Court of Appeal; circuit and district courts; criminal courts
Political parties: Aontu Solidarity-People Before Profit or PBP-S Fianna Fail Fine Gael Green Party Human Dignity Alliance Independent Ireland Labor (Labour) Party 100% Redress Right to Change or RTC Sinn Fein Social Democrats Socialist Party The Workers' Party
Diplomatic representation in the US / chief of mission: Ambassador Geraldine BYRNE NASON (since 16 September 2022)
Diplomatic representation in the US / chancery: 2234 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation in the US / telephone: [1] (202) 462-3939
Diplomatic representation in the US / FAX: [1] (202) 232-5993
Diplomatic representation in the US / email address and website: https://www.ireland.ie/en/usa/washington/
Diplomatic representation in the US / consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Austin (TX), Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, San Francisco
Diplomatic representation from the US / chief of mission: Ambassador Edward S. WALSH (since 1 July 2025)
Diplomatic representation from the US / embassy: 42 Elgin Road, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4
Diplomatic representation from the US / mailing address: 5290 Dublin Place, Washington DC 20521-5290
Diplomatic representation from the US / telephone: [353] (1) 668-8777
Diplomatic representation from the US / FAX: [353] (1) 688-8056
Diplomatic representation from the US / email address and website: ACSDublin@state.gov https://ie.usembassy.gov/
International organization participation: ADB (nonregional member), Australia Group, BIS, CD, CE, EAPC, EBRD, ECB, EIB, EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, FATF, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD (partners), IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MINURSO, MONUSCO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNDOF, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNOCI, UNRWA, UNTSO, UPU, Wassenaar Arrangement, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
Independence: 6 December 1921 (from the UK); 6 December 1922 (Irish Free State established); 18 April 1949 (Republic of Ireland Act enabled)
National holiday: Saint Patrick's Day, 17 March
Flag: description: three equal vertical bands of green (left side), white, and orange meaning: the flag colors have no official meaning, but a common interpretation is that the green stands for the Irish nationalist tradition, orange for the Orange tradition (minority supporters of William of Orange), and white for peace or a lasting truce between the green and the orange
National symbol(s): harp, shamrock (trefoil)
National color(s): blue, green
National coat of arms: the coat of arms features a gold harp on a blue shield and dates back to the 13th century, although it only became official in 1945; the harp, a national symbol that Ireland adopted after gaining independence from the United Kingdom in 1921, represents the country’s history, culture, and national identity
National anthem(s) / title: "Amhran na bhFiann" (The Soldier's Song)
National anthem(s) / lyrics/music: Peadar KEARNEY [English], Liam O RINN [Irish]/Patrick HEENEY and Peadar KEARNEY
National anthem(s) / history: adopted 1926; the song "Ireland's Call" is often used as the anthem at athletic events if citizens of Ireland and Northern Ireland are competing as a unified team
National heritage / total World Heritage Sites: 2 (both cultural)
National heritage / selected World Heritage Site locales: Brú na Bóinne - Archaeological Ensemble of the Bend of the Boyne; Sceilg Mhichíl

## Economy
Economic overview: high-income, export-oriented EU economy; large multinational business sector contributes to growth and tax revenues but poses volatility risks; high living standards; strong labor market challenged by skill shortages and aging workforce
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $620.544 billion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $613.056 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $648.943 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2024: 1.2% (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2023: -5.5% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2022: 8.6% (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2024: $115,300 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2023: $115,500 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2022: $124,500 (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $577.389 billion (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024: 2.1% (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023: 6.3% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 7.8% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / agriculture: 1.1% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / industry: 30.8% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / services: 61.8% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / household consumption: 26.8% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / government consumption: 12.2% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in fixed capital: 23.2% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in inventories: 3.1% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / exports of goods and services: 135.1% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / imports of goods and services: -102.2% (2023 est.)
Agricultural products: milk, barley, beef, wheat, potatoes, pork, oats, chicken, rapeseed, beans (2023)
Industries: pharmaceuticals, chemicals, computer hardware and software, food products, beverages and brewing; medical devices
Industrial production growth rate: -4.9% (2024 est.)
Labor force: 2.857 million (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2024: 4.4% (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2023: 4.3% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2022: 4.6% (2022 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / total: 11.1% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / male: 11.2% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / female: 11% (2024 est.)
Population below poverty line: 14% (2021 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income / Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2022: 29.9 (2022 est.)
Average household expenditures / on food: 8.6% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Average household expenditures / on alcohol and tobacco: 4% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / lowest 10%: 3.6% (2022 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / highest 10%: 24.5% (2022 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2023: 0.1% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2022: 0.1% of GDP (2022 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2021: 0% of GDP (2021 est.)
Budget / revenues: $118.231 billion (2022 est.)
Budget / expenditures: $108.693 billion (2022 est.)
Public debt / Public debt 2022: 45.4% of GDP (2022 est.)
Taxes and other revenues: 16.8% (of GDP) (2022 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2023: $44.744 billion (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2022: $48.427 billion (2022 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2021: $65.118 billion (2021 est.)
Exports / Exports 2023: $761.876 billion (2023 est.)
Exports / Exports 2022: $763.233 billion (2022 est.)
Exports / Exports 2021: $722.655 billion (2021 est.)
Exports - partners: USA 28%, Germany 11%, UK 8%, Belgium 8%, China 7% (2023)
Exports - commodities: vaccines, packaged medicine, nitrogen compounds, integrated circuits, hormones (2023)
Imports / Imports 2023: $580.399 billion (2023 est.)
Imports / Imports 2022: $536.882 billion (2022 est.)
Imports / Imports 2021: $500.334 billion (2021 est.)
Imports - partners: UK 20%, USA 17%, France 10%, China 7%, Germany 7% (2023)
Imports - commodities: aircraft, nitrogen compounds, vaccines, packaged medicine, integrated circuits (2023)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024: $12.698 billion (2024 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023: $12.905 billion (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $13.039 billion (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Currency: euros (EUR) per US dollar -
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2024: 0.924 (2024 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2023: 0.925 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2022: 0.95 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2021: 0.845 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2020: 0.876 (2020 est.)

## Energy
Electricity access / electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)
Electricity / installed generating capacity: 12.321 million kW (2023 est.)
Electricity / consumption: 32.282 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / exports: 441.615 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / imports: 3.89 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / transmission/distribution losses: 2.489 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / fossil fuels: 55.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / solar: 1.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / wind: 37% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / hydroelectricity: 2.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / biomass and waste: 3.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Coal / consumption: 1.341 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / exports: 76,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / imports: 1.711 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / proven reserves: 40 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum / total petroleum production: 600 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Petroleum / refined petroleum consumption: 159,000 bbl/day (2024 est.)
Natural gas / production: 1.165 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / consumption: 4.919 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / imports: 3.707 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / proven reserves: 9.911 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)
Energy consumption per capita / Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 113.837 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

## Communications
Telephones - fixed lines / total subscriptions: 1.176 million (2023 est.)
Telephones - fixed lines / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 23 (2023 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / total subscriptions: 5.76 million (2023 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 113 (2022 est.)
Broadcast media: publicly owned broadcaster Radio Telefis Eireann (RTE) operates 4 TV stations; commercial TV stations are available; about 75% of households use multi-channel satellite and TV services that provide access to a wide range of stations; RTE operates 4 national radio stations and has launched digital audio broadcasts on several; a number of commercial broadcast stations operate at the national, regional, and local levels (2019)
Internet country code: .ie
Internet users / percent of population: 97% (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / total: 1.65 million (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 32 (2023 est.)

## Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: EI
Airports: 100 (2025)
Heliports: 10 (2025)
Railways / total: 1,688 km (2020) 53 km electrified
Merchant marine / total: 94 (2023)
Merchant marine / by type: bulk carrier 12, general cargo 32, oil tanker 1, other 49
Ports / total ports: 21 (2024)
Ports / large: 1
Ports / medium: 3
Ports / small: 3
Ports / very small: 14
Ports / ports with oil terminals: 8
Ports / key ports: Cobh, Cork, Dublin, Foynes

## Military and Security
Military and security forces: Irish Defense Forces (Oglaigh na h-Eireannn): Army, Air Corps, Naval Service, Reserve Defense Forces (2025)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2024: 0.2% of GDP (2024 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2023: 0.2% of GDP (2023 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2022: 0.3% of GDP (2022 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2021: 0.3% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2020: 0.3% of GDP (2020 est.)
Military and security service personnel strengths: approximately 7,500 active-duty Defense Forces (authorized establishment of 9,500) (2025)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the Irish Defense Forces have an inventory of imported weapons systems from a variety of mostly European countries (2025)
Military service age and obligation: 18-38 years of age for men and women for voluntary military service (2026)
Military deployments: 330 Lebanon (UNIFIL); also contributes small numbers of troops to EU, NATO, and other UN missions (2025)
Military - note: the Irish Defense Forces (IDF) are responsible for external defense, assisting civil authorities upon request, participating in multinational peacekeeping and humanitarian operations, and providing for maritime security; the IDF traces its origins back to the Irish Volunteers, a unit established in 1913 which took part in the 1916 Easter Rising and the Irish War of Independence (1919-1921) Ireland has a long-standing policy of military neutrality; however, Ireland is a signatory of the EU’s Common Security and Defense Policy and has committed a battalion of troops to the EU’s Rapid Reaction Force; Ireland is not a member of NATO but has a relationship with it going back to 1997, when it deployed personnel in support of the NATO-led peacekeeping operation in Bosnia and Herzegovina; Ireland joined NATO’s Partnership for Peace program in 1999; it has been active in UN peacekeeping operations since the 1950s (2025)

## Terrorism
Terrorist group(s): Continuity Irish Republican Army (CIRA); Real Irish Republican Army (RIRA); Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS)

## Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons / refugees: 156,441 (2024 est.)
Refugees and internally displaced persons / stateless persons: 48 (2024 est.)

=== Estonia ===

## Introduction
Background: After centuries of Danish, Swedish, German, and Russian rule, Estonia attained independence in 1918. Forcibly incorporated into the USSR in 1940 -- an action never recognized by the US and many other countries -- it regained its freedom in 1991 with the collapse of the Soviet Union. Since the last Russian troops left in 1994, Estonia has been free to promote economic and political ties with the West. It joined both NATO and the EU in 2004, formally joined the OECD in 2010, and adopted the euro as its official currency in 2011.

## Geography
Location: Eastern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea and Gulf of Finland, between Latvia and Russia
Geographic coordinates: 59 00 N, 26 00 E
Map references: Europe
Area / total: 45,228 sq km
Area / land: 42,388 sq km
Area / water: 2,840 sq km
Area - comparative: about twice the size of New Jersey
Land boundaries / total: 657 km
Land boundaries / border countries: Latvia 333 km; Russia 324 km
Coastline: 3,794 km
Maritime claims / territorial sea: 12 nm
Maritime claims / exclusive economic zone: limits as agreed to by Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Sweden, and Russia
Climate: maritime; wet, moderate winters, cool summers
Terrain: marshy, lowlands; flat in the north, hilly in the south
Elevation / highest point: Suur Munamagi 318 m
Elevation / lowest point: Baltic Sea 0 m
Elevation / mean elevation: 61 m
Natural resources: oil shale, peat, rare earth elements, phosphorite, clay, limestone, sand, dolomite, arable land, sea mud
Land use / agricultural land: 23.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 16.6% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 0.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 6.4% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 57.2% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 19.6% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land: 20 sq km (2016)
Major lakes (area sq km) / fresh water lake(s): Lake Peipus - 4,300 sq km (shared with Russia); Lake V&otilde;rtsj&auml;rv - 270 sq km
Population distribution: a fairly even distribution throughout most of the country, with urban areas attracting larger and denser populations
Natural hazards: sometimes flooding occurs in the spring
Geography - note: the mainland terrain is flat, boggy, and partly wooded; over 1,500 islands lie offshore

## People and Society
Population / total: 1,340,478 (2025 est.)
Population / male: 634,988
Population / female: 705,490
Nationality / noun: Estonian(s)
Nationality / adjective: Estonian
Ethnic groups: Estonian 69.1%, Russian 23.7%, Ukrainian 2.1%, other 4.6%, unspecified 0.5% (2021 est.)
Languages: Estonian (official) 67.2%, Russian 28.5%, other 3.7%, unspecified 0.6% (2021est.)
Religions: Orthodox 16.5%, Protestant 9.2% (Lutheran 7.7%, other Protestant 1.5%), other 3% (includes Roman Catholic, Muslim, Jehovah's Witness, Pentecostal, Buddhist, and Taara Believer), none 58.4%, unspecified 12.9% (2021 est.)
Age structure / 0-14 years: 15.2% (male 92,980/female 88,753)
Age structure / 15-64 years: 62.2% (male 373,989/female 368,113)
Age structure / 65 years and over: 22.6% (2024 est.) (male 96,110/female 173,846)
Dependency ratios / total dependency ratio: 57.5 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / youth dependency ratio: 24.8 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / elderly dependency ratio: 32.7 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / potential support ratio: 3.1 (2025 est.)
Median age / total: 42.9 years (2025 est.)
Median age / male: 41.9 years
Median age / female: 48.2 years
Population growth rate: -0.47% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 7.86 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 12.57 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution: a fairly even distribution throughout most of the country, with urban areas attracting larger and denser populations
Urbanization / urban population: 69.8% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: -0.03% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 454,000 TALLINN (capital) (2023)
Sex ratio / at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 65 years and over: 0.55 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / total population: 0.89 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth: 28.2 years (2020 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio: 5 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Infant mortality rate / total: 2 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Infant mortality rate / male: 3.2 deaths/1,000 live births
Infant mortality rate / female: 3.4 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth / total population: 78.4 years (2024 est.)
Life expectancy at birth / male: 73.8 years
Life expectancy at birth / female: 83.2 years
Total fertility rate: 1.36 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 0.66 (2025 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: urban: urban: 100% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: rural: rural: 100% of population (2022 est.) NA
Drinking water source / improved: total: total: 100% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: urban: urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: rural: rural: 0% of population (2022 est.) NA
Drinking water source / unimproved: total: total: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 6.9% of GDP (2022)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 13.2% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density: 3.47 physicians/1,000 population (2022)
Hospital bed density: 4.5 beds/1,000 population (2020 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: urban: urban: 99.7% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: rural: rural: 100% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: total: total: 99.8% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: urban: urban: 0.3% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: rural: rural: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: total: total: 0.2% of population (2022 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 21.2% (2016)
Alcohol consumption per capita / total: 11.65 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / beer: 4 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / wine: 1.92 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / spirits: 4.6 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / other alcohols: 1.13 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Tobacco use / total: 23.7% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / male: 29.9% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / female: 18.3% (2025 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49): 54.1% (2021 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% GDP): 5.2% of GDP (2022 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% national budget): 13% national budget (2022 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / total: 16 years (2023 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / male: 15 years (2023 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / female: 16 years (2023 est.)

## Environment
Environmental issues: air pollution from sulfur dioxide from oil-shale-burning power plants; coastal seawater pollution
International environmental agreements / party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling
International environmental agreements / signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Climate: maritime; wet, moderate winters, cool summers
Land use / agricultural land: 23.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 16.6% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 0.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 6.4% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 57.2% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 19.6% (2023 est.)
Urbanization / urban population: 69.8% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: -0.03% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / total emissions: 4.607 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from coal and metallurgical coke: -19,814 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from petroleum and other liquids: 3.977 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from consumed natural gas: 649,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Particulate matter emissions: 6.6 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Methane emissions / energy: 11.9 kt (2022-2024 est.)
Methane emissions / agriculture: 27.3 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Methane emissions / waste: 23.7 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Methane emissions / other: 2.2 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Waste and recycling / municipal solid waste generated annually: 489,500 tons (2024 est.)
Waste and recycling / percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 39.1% (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / municipal: 64.998 million cubic meters (2022)
Total water withdrawal / industrial: 1.135 billion cubic meters (2022)
Total water withdrawal / agricultural: 5 million cubic meters (2022)
Total renewable water resources: 12.806 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: Republic of Estonia
Country name / conventional short form: Estonia
Country name / local long form: Eesti Vabariik
Country name / local short form: Eesti
Country name / former: Estonian Soviet Socialist Republic (while occupied by the USSR)
Country name / etymology: derives from the name of the people who lived along the eastern Baltic Sea in the first centuries A.D., which came from the Baltic word aueist , meaning "waterside dwellers"
Government type: parliamentary republic
Capital / name: Tallinn
Capital / geographic coordinates: 59 26 N, 24 43 E
Capital / time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Capital / daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October
Capital / etymology: the name derives from the Old Estonian term tan-linn , meaning "Danish fort," a reference to Danish King VALDEMAR II founding the city in 1219
Administrative divisions: 15 urban municipalities ( linnad , singular - linn ), 64 rural municipalities ( vallad , singular - vald ) urban municipalities: Haapsalu, Keila, Kohtla-Jarve, Loksa, Maardu, Narva, Narva-Joesuu, Paide, Parnu, Rakvere, Sillamae, Tallinn, Tartu, Viljandi, Voru rural municipalities: Alutaguse, Anija, Antsla, Elva, Haademeeste, Haljala, Harku, Hiiumaa, Jarva, Joelahtme, Jogeva, Johvi, Kadrina, Kambja, Kanepi, Kastre, Kehtna, Kihnu, Kiili, Kohila, Kose, Kuusalu, Laane-Harju, Laane-Nigula, Laaneranna, Luganuse, Luunja, Marjamaa, Muhu, Mulgi, Mustvee, Noo, Otepaa, Peipsiaare, Pohja-Parnumaa, Pohja-Sakala, Poltsamaa, Polva, Raasiku, Rae, Rakvere, Räpina, Rapla, Rouge, Ruhnu, Saarde, Saaremaa, Saku, Saue, Setomaa, Tapa, Tartu, Toila, Tori, Torva, Turi, Vaike-Maarja, Valga, Viimsi, Viljandi, Vinni, Viru-Nigula, Vormsi, Voru
Legal system: civil law system
Constitution / history: several previous; latest adopted 28 June 1992, entered into force 3 July 1992
Constitution / amendment process: proposed by at least one-fifth of Parliament members or by the president of the republic; passage requires three readings of the proposed amendment and a simple majority vote in two successive memberships of Parliament; passage of amendments to the "General Provisions" and "Amendment of the Constitution" chapters requires at least three-fifths majority vote by Parliament to conduct a referendum and majority vote in a referendum
International law organization participation: accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Citizenship / citizenship by birth: no
Citizenship / citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Estonia
Citizenship / dual citizenship recognized: no
Citizenship / residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal; age 16 for local elections
Executive branch / chief of state: President Alar KARIS (since 11 October 2021)
Executive branch / head of government: Prime Minister Kristen MICHAL (since 23 July 2024)
Executive branch / cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the prime minister, approved by Parliament
Executive branch / election/appointment process: president indirectly elected by Parliament for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); if a candidate does not secure two thirds of the votes after 3 rounds of balloting, then an electoral college consisting of Parliament members and local council members elects the president, choosing between the 2 candidates with the most votes; if a president is still not elected, the process begins again; prime minister nominated by the president and approved by Parliament
Executive branch / most recent election date: 30-31 August 2021
Executive branch / election results: 2021: Alar KARIS (independent) elected president; won second round of voting in parliament with 72 of 101 votes 2016: Kersti KALJULAID elected president; won sixth round of voting in parliament with 81 of 98 votes (17 ballots blank); KALJULAID sworn in on 10 October 2016 - first female head of state of Estonia
Executive branch / expected date of next election: 2026
Legislative branch / legislature name: The Estonian Parliament (Riigikogu)
Legislative branch / legislative structure: unicameral
Legislative branch / number of seats: 101 (all directly elected)
Legislative branch / electoral system: proportional representation
Legislative branch / scope of elections: full renewal
Legislative branch / term in office: 4 years
Legislative branch / most recent election date: 3/5/2023
Legislative branch / parties elected and seats per party: Reform Party (37); Conservative People's Party (EKRE) (17); Centre Party (16); Estonia 200 (Eesti 200) (14); Social Democratic Party (9); Pro Patria (Isamaa) (8)
Legislative branch / percentage of women in chamber: 28.7%
Legislative branch / expected date of next election: March 2027
Judicial branch / highest court(s): Supreme Court (consists of 19 justices, including the chief justice, and organized into civil, criminal, administrative, and constitutional review chambers)
Judicial branch / judge selection and term of office: the chief justice is proposed by the president of the republic and appointed by the Riigikogu; other justices proposed by the chief justice and appointed by the Riigikogu; justices appointed for life
Judicial branch / subordinate courts: circuit (appellate) courts; administrative, county, city, and specialized courts
Political parties: Conservative People's Party of Estonia (Konservatiivne Rahvaerakond) or EKRE Estonia 200 or E200 Estonia Centre Party of (Keskerakond) or EK Estonian Free Party or VAP Estonian Freedom Party - Farmers' Assembly or V-PK Estonian Greens or EER Estonian Nationalists and Conservatives or ERK Estonian Reform Party (Reformierakond) or RE Fatherland or I Left Alliance or VL Social Democratic Party or SDE The Right or PP TOGETHER organization points to sovereignty or KOOS
Diplomatic representation in the US / chief of mission: Ambassador Kristjan PRIKK (since 7 July 2021)
Diplomatic representation in the US / chancery: 2131 Massachusetts Ave, NW Washington, DC, 20008
Diplomatic representation in the US / telephone: [1] (202) 588-0101
Diplomatic representation in the US / FAX: [1] (202) 588-0108
Diplomatic representation in the US / email address and website: Embassy.Washington@mfa.ee https://washington.mfa.ee/
Diplomatic representation in the US / consulate(s) general: New York, San Francisco
Diplomatic representation from the US / chief of mission: Ambassador Roman PIPKO (since 26 November 2025)
Diplomatic representation from the US / embassy: Kentmanni 20, 15099 Tallinn
Diplomatic representation from the US / mailing address: 4530 Tallinn Place, Washington DC 20521-4530
Diplomatic representation from the US / telephone: [372] 668-8100
Diplomatic representation from the US / FAX: [372] 668-8265
Diplomatic representation from the US / email address and website: acstallinn@state.gov https://ee.usembassy.gov/
International organization participation: Australia Group, BA, BIS, CBSS, CD, CE, EAPC, EBRD, ECB, EIB, EMU, ESA (cooperating state), EU, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NATO, NIB, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OIF (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, Schengen Convention, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNTSO, UPU, Wassenaar Arrangement, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Independence: 24 February 1918 (from Soviet Russia); 20 August 1991 (declared from the Soviet Union); 6 September 1991 (recognized by the Soviet Union)
National holiday: Independence Day, 24 February (1918)
Flag: description: three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), black, and white meaning: blue stands for faith, loyalty, and devotion, and also the sky, sea, and lakes; black for the country's soil and the Estonian people's past suffering; white for striving for enlightenment and virtue and also for birch bark, snow, and summer nights illuminated by the midnight sun
National symbol(s): barn swallow, cornflower
National color(s): blue, black, white
National anthem(s) / title: "Mu isamaa, mu onn ja room" (My Native Land, My Pride and Joy)
National anthem(s) / lyrics/music: Johann Voldemar JANNSEN/Fredrik PACIUS
National anthem(s) / history: adopted 1920, but banned between 1940 and 1990 under Soviet occupation; unofficially in use since 1869, it has the same melody as Finland's anthem, but with different lyrics
National heritage / total World Heritage Sites: 2 (both cultural)
National heritage / selected World Heritage Site locales: Historic Center (Old Town) of Tallinn; Struve Geodetic Arc

## Economy
Economic overview: high-income, service-based EU and eurozone economy; rebound in exports playing a role in economic recovery; rising food prices contributing to inflation; decrease in labor force participation and rising unemployment rate; recovery depends on boosting private investment and productivity rates
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $57.001 billion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $57.15 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $58.931 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2024: -0.3% (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2023: -3% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2022: 0.1% (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2024: $41,500 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2023: $41,700 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2022: $43,700 (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $42.765 billion (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024: 3.5% (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023: 9.2% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 19.4% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / agriculture: 1.9% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / industry: 20.5% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / services: 65.1% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / household consumption: 52.3% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / government consumption: 20.6% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in fixed capital: 27.9% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in inventories: -0.2% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / exports of goods and services: 77.9% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / imports of goods and services: -77% (2023 est.)
Agricultural products: milk, wheat, barley, rapeseed, peas, oats, potatoes, rye, pork, triticale (2023)
Industries: food, engineering, electronics, wood and wood products, textiles; information technology, telecommunications
Industrial production growth rate: -7% (2024 est.)
Labor force: 756,200 (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2024: 7.9% (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2023: 6.4% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2022: 5.6% (2022 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / total: 20.9% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / male: 21.9% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / female: 20% (2024 est.)
Population below poverty line: 22.5% (2022 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income / Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2022: 32.3 (2022 est.)
Average household expenditures / on food: 19.9% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Average household expenditures / on alcohol and tobacco: 6.7% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / lowest 10%: 2.8% (2022 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / highest 10%: 24.4% (2022 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2024: 1.2% of GDP (2024 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2023: 1.2% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2022: 1.2% of GDP (2022 est.)
Budget / revenues: $15.784 billion (2023 est.)
Budget / expenditures: $16.721 billion (2023 est.)
Public debt / Public debt 2023: 28.3% of GDP (2023 est.)
Taxes and other revenues: 21.4% (of GDP) (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2024: -$489.659 million (2024 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2023: -$722.668 million (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2022: -$1.496 billion (2022 est.)
Exports / Exports 2024: $32.637 billion (2024 est.)
Exports / Exports 2023: $32.147 billion (2023 est.)
Exports / Exports 2022: $33.178 billion (2022 est.)
Exports - partners: Finland 14%, Latvia 10%, Lithuania 9%, Sweden 7%, Russia 6% (2023)
Exports - commodities: cars, wood, broadcasting equipment, refined petroleum, prefabricated buildings (2023)
Imports / Imports 2024: $32.375 billion (2024 est.)
Imports / Imports 2023: $31.796 billion (2023 est.)
Imports / Imports 2022: $33.655 billion (2022 est.)
Imports - partners: Finland 11%, Germany 11%, China 10%, Lithuania 6%, Poland 6% (2023)
Imports - commodities: cars, refined petroleum, broadcasting equipment, natural gas, packaged medicine (2023)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024: $2.075 billion (2024 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023: $2.593 billion (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $2.217 billion (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Currency: euros (EUR) per US dollar -
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2024: 0.924 (2024 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2023: 0.925 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2022: 0.95 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2021: 0.845 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2020: 0.876 (2020 est.)

## Energy
Electricity access / electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)
Electricity / installed generating capacity: 3.225 million kW (2023 est.)
Electricity / consumption: 8.636 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / exports: 4.355 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / imports: 7.66 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / transmission/distribution losses: 1.164 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / fossil fuels: 52.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / solar: 9.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / wind: 10.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / hydroelectricity: 0.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / biomass and waste: 27.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Coal / consumption: 800 metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / exports: 7,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / imports: 800 metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum / total petroleum production: 24,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Petroleum / refined petroleum consumption: 27,000 bbl/day (2024 est.)
Natural gas / consumption: 334.748 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / exports: 675.708 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / imports: 1.01 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Energy consumption per capita / Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 73.679 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

## Communications
Telephones - fixed lines / total subscriptions: 227,000 (2024 est.)
Telephones - fixed lines / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 17 (2024 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / total subscriptions: 2.06 million (2024 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 151 (2024 est.)
Broadcast media: the publicly owned broadcaster, Eesti Rahvusringhaaling (ERR), operates 3 TV channels and 5 radio networks; growing number of private commercial radio stations broadcasting nationally, regionally, and locally; fully transitioned to digital television in 2010; national private TV channels expanding service, with a range of channels aimed at Russian-speaking viewers; in 2016, there were 42 on-demand services available in Estonia, including 19 pay TVOD and SVOD services; roughly 85% of households accessed digital television services
Internet country code: .ee
Internet users / percent of population: 93% (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / total: 516,000 (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 38 (2023 est.)

## Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: ES
Airports: 34 (2025)
Heliports: 10 (2025)
Railways / total: 1,441 km (2020) 225 km electrified
Merchant marine / total: 72 (2023)
Merchant marine / by type: general cargo 3, oil tanker 3, other 66
Ports / total ports: 20 (2024)
Ports / large: 4
Ports / medium: 1
Ports / small: 4
Ports / very small: 11
Ports / ports with oil terminals: 5
Ports / key ports: Muuga - Port of Tallin, Paldiski Lounasadam, Paljassaare, Sillamae, Vanasadam - Port of Tallinn

## Military and Security
Military and security forces: Estonian Defense Forces: Land Forces, Navy, Air Force; Estonian Defense League Ministry of Interior: Police and Border Guard Board, Internal Security Service (2025)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2025: 3.4% of GDP (2025 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2024: 3.4% of GDP (2024 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2023: 3% of GDP (2023 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2022: 2.2% of GDP (2022 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2021: 2% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military and security service personnel strengths: approximately 7,500 active-duty military personnel (2025)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the Estonian military has a mix of Soviet-era and more modern, Western-origin weapons and equipment; suppliers in recent years include France, Israel, South Korea, Sweden, T&uuml;rkiye, and the US (2025)
Military service age and obligation: 18-27 for compulsory military or governmental service for men; conscript service requirement 8-11 months depending on education; non-commissioned officers, reserve officers, and specialists serve 11 months; women can volunteer, and as of 2018 could serve in any military branch (2025)
Military - note: Estonia’s defense policy aims to guarantee the country’s independence and sovereignty, protect its territorial integrity, including waters and airspace, and preserve constitutional order; Estonia’s main defense goals are developing and maintaining a credible deterrent to outside aggression and ensuring the Estonian Defense Forces (EDF) can fulfill their commitments to NATO and interoperate with the armed forces of NATO and EU member states; the EDF’s primary external focus is Russia; since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Estonia has boosted defense spending, sent arms to Ukraine, and sought to boost the EDF’s capabilities in such areas as air defense, artillery, personnel readiness, and surveillance Estonia has been a member of NATO since 2004, is fully integrated within the NATO structure, and relies on its NATO partners for defense; since 2017, Estonia has hosted a UK-led multinational NATO ground force battlegroup as part of the Alliance’s Enhanced Forward Presence initiative; as the EDF Air Force does not have any combat aircraft, NATO has provided airspace protection for Estonia since 2004 through its Baltic Air Policing mission; NATO member countries that possess air combat capabilities voluntarily contribute to the mission on four-month rotations; NATO fighter aircraft have been hosted at Estonia’s Ämari Air Base since 2014; Estonia also hosts a NATO cyber security center; it cooperates closely with the EU on defense issues through the EU Common Security and Defense Policy and is a member of the UK-led Joint Expeditionary Force, a pool of high-readiness military forces from 10 Baltic and Scandinavian countries designed to respond to a wide range of contingencies in the North Atlantic, Baltic Sea, and High North regions; Estonia also has close defense ties with its Baltic neighbors and has bilateral military agreements with a number of European countries, as well as Canada and the US (2025)

## Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons / refugees: 42,439 (2024 est.)
Refugees and internally displaced persons / stateless persons: 63,944 (2024 est.)

=== Czechia ===

## Introduction
Background: At the close of World War I, the Czechs and Slovaks of the former Austro-Hungarian Empire merged to form Czechoslovakia, a parliamentarian democracy. During the interwar years, having rejected a federal system, the new country's predominantly Czech leaders were frequently preoccupied with meeting the increasingly strident demands of other ethnic minorities within the republic, most notably the Slovaks, the Sudeten Germans, and the Ruthenians (Ukrainians). On the eve of World War II, Nazi Germany occupied the territory that today comprises Czechia, and Slovakia became an independent state allied with Germany. After the war, a reunited but truncated Czechoslovakia (less Ruthenia) fell within the Soviet sphere of influence when the pro-Soviet Communist party staged a coup in February 1948. In 1968, an invasion by fellow Warsaw Pact troops ended the efforts of the country's leaders to liberalize communist rule and create "socialism with a human face," ushering in a period of repression known as "normalization." The peaceful "Velvet Revolution" swept the Communist Party from power at the end of 1989 and inaugurated a return to democratic rule and a market economy. On 1 January 1993, the country underwent a nonviolent "velvet divorce" into its two national components, the Czech Republic and Slovakia. The Czech Republic joined NATO in 1999 and the European Union in 2004. The country formally added the short-form name Czechia in 2016, while also continuing to use the full form name, the Czech Republic.

## Geography
Location: Central Europe, between Germany, Poland, Slovakia, and Austria
Geographic coordinates: 49 45 N, 15 30 E
Map references: Europe
Area / total: 78,867 sq km
Area / land: 77,247 sq km
Area / water: 1,620 sq km
Area - comparative: about two-thirds the size of Pennsylvania; slightly smaller than South Carolina
Land boundaries / total: 2,046 km
Land boundaries / border countries: Austria 402 km; Germany 704 km; Poland 699 km; Slovakia 241 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
Climate: temperate; cool summers; cold, cloudy, humid winters
Terrain: Bohemia in the west consists of rolling plains, hills, and plateaus surrounded by low mountains; Moravia in the east consists of very hilly country
Elevation / highest point: Snezka 1,602 m
Elevation / lowest point: Labe (Elbe) River 115 m
Elevation / mean elevation: 433 m
Natural resources: hard coal, soft coal, kaolin, clay, graphite, timber, arable land
Land use / agricultural land: 45.8% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 32.7% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 0.5% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 12.5% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 38.2% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 16% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land: 220 sq km (2022)
Major rivers (by length in km): Labe (Elbe) river source (shared with Germany [m]) - 1,252 km note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Major watersheds (area sq km) / Atlantic Ocean drainage: (Black Sea) Danube (795,656 sq km)
Population distribution: a fairly even distribution throughout most of the country, but the northern and eastern regions tend to have larger urban concentrations
Natural hazards: flooding
Geography - note: note 1: landlocked; strategically located on some of oldest and most significant land routes in Europe; Moravian Gate is a traditional military corridor between the North European Plain and the Danube in central Europe note 2: the Hranice Abyss in Czechia is the world's deepest surveyed freshwater cave at 519 m (1,703 ft); its survey is not complete, and it may be up to 800-1,200 m (2,625-3,937 ft) deep

## People and Society
Population / total: 10,838,703 (2025 est.)
Population / male: 5,337,128
Population / female: 5,501,575
Nationality / noun: Czech(s)
Nationality / adjective: Czech
Ethnic groups: Czech 57.3%, Moravian 3.4%, other 7.7%, unspecified 31.6% (2021 est.)
Languages / Languages: Czech (official) 88.4%, Slovak 1.5%, other 2.6%, unspecified 7.2% (2021 est.)
Languages / major-language sample(s): World Factbook, nepostradatelný zdroj základních informací. (Czech) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
Religions: Roman Catholic 7%, other believers belonging to a church or religious society 6% (includes Evangelical United Brethren Church and Czechoslovak Hussite Church), believers unaffiliated with a religious society 9.1%, none 47.8%, unspecified 30.1% (2021 est.)
Age structure / 0-14 years: 15.7% (male 871,303/female 826,896)
Age structure / 15-64 years: 63.8% (male 3,542,298/female 3,373,127)
Age structure / 65 years and over: 20.5% (2024 est.) (male 922,136/female 1,302,130)
Dependency ratios / total dependency ratio: 56.5 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / youth dependency ratio: 24.3 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / elderly dependency ratio: 32.2 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / potential support ratio: 3.1 (2025 est.)
Median age / total: 44.4 years (2025 est.)
Median age / male: 42.7 years
Median age / female: 45.7 years
Population growth rate: -0.02% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 9.56 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 11.82 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: 2.02 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution: a fairly even distribution throughout most of the country, but the northern and eastern regions tend to have larger urban concentrations
Urbanization / urban population: 74.6% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 0.2% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 1.323 million PRAGUE (capital) (2023)
Sex ratio / at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 15-64 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth: 28.5 years (2020 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio: 3 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Infant mortality rate / total: 2.5 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Infant mortality rate / male: 2.7 deaths/1,000 live births
Infant mortality rate / female: 2.4 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth / total population: 78.6 years (2024 est.)
Life expectancy at birth / male: 75.6 years
Life expectancy at birth / female: 81.8 years
Total fertility rate: 1.73 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 0.84 (2025 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: urban: urban: 99.9% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: rural: rural: 99.8% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: total: total: 99.9% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: urban: urban: 0.1% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: rural: rural: 0.2% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: total: total: 0.1% of population (2022 est.)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 9.5% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 16.7% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density: 4.35 physicians/1,000 population (2022)
Hospital bed density: 6.6 beds/1,000 population (2020 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: urban: urban: 100% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: rural: rural: 100% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: total: total: 100% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: urban: urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: rural: rural: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: total: total: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 26% (2016)
Alcohol consumption per capita / total: 12.73 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / beer: 6.77 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / wine: 2.73 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / spirits: 3.24 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / other alcohols: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Tobacco use / total: 26.8% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / male: 30.8% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / female: 23% (2025 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49): 53.7% (2021 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% GDP): 4.3% of GDP (2022 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% national budget): 10% national budget (2022 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / total: 17 years (2022 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / male: 16 years (2022 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / female: 18 years (2022 est.)

## Environment
Environmental issues: air and water pollution (including acid rain) in areas of northwest Bohemia and in northern Moravia around Ostrava; pollution from industry, mining, and agriculture
International environmental agreements / party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Multi-effect Protocol, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protection, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling
International environmental agreements / signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Climate: temperate; cool summers; cold, cloudy, humid winters
Land use / agricultural land: 45.8% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 32.7% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 0.5% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 12.5% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 38.2% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 16% (2023 est.)
Urbanization / urban population: 74.6% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 0.2% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / total emissions: 79.901 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from coal and metallurgical coke: 41.667 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from petroleum and other liquids: 25.707 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from consumed natural gas: 12.527 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Particulate matter emissions: 15 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Waste and recycling / municipal solid waste generated annually: 5.335 million tons (2024 est.)
Waste and recycling / percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 37.3% (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / municipal: 626 million cubic meters (2022)
Total water withdrawal / industrial: 776 million cubic meters (2022)
Total water withdrawal / agricultural: 44 million cubic meters (2022)
Total renewable water resources: 13.15 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Geoparks / total global geoparks and regional networks: 1
Geoparks / global geoparks and regional networks: Bohemian Paradise (2023)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: Czech Republic
Country name / conventional short form: Czechia
Country name / local long form: Ceska republika
Country name / local short form: Cesko
Country name / etymology: name derives from the Czechs, a West Slavic tribe who rose to prominence in the late 9th century A.D.; the tribal name is said to come from an ancestral chief
Government type: parliamentary republic
Capital / name: Prague
Capital / geographic coordinates: 50 05 N, 14 28 E
Capital / time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Capital / daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October
Capital / etymology: the name may derive from the old Slavic word "praga" or "prah," meaning "threshold;" it could also be related to the same Slavic root word as the modern Czech "pražiti," a term for woodland cleared by burning
Administrative divisions: 13 regions ( kraje , singular - kraj ) and 1 capital city* ( hlavni mesto ); Jihocesky (South Bohemia), Jihomoravsky (South Moravia), Karlovarsky (Karlovy Vary), Kralovehradecky (Hradec Kralove), Liberecky (Liberec), Moravskoslezsky (Moravia-Silesia), Olomoucky (Olomouc), Pardubicky (Pardubice), Plzensky (Pilsen), Praha (Prague)*, Stredocesky (Central Bohemia), Ustecky (Usti), Vysocina (Highlands), Zlinsky (Zlin)
Legal system: new civil code enacted in 2014, replacing civil code of 1964 based on former Austro-Hungarian civil codes and socialist theory
Constitution / history: previous 1960; latest ratified 16 December 1992, effective 1 January 1993
Constitution / amendment process: passage requires at least three-fifths concurrence of members present in both houses of Parliament
International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Citizenship / citizenship by birth: no
Citizenship / citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Czechia
Citizenship / dual citizenship recognized: no
Citizenship / residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch / chief of state: President Petr PAVEL (since 9 March 2023)
Executive branch / head of government: Prime Minister Andrej BABIS (since 9 December 2025)
Executive branch / cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister
Executive branch / election/appointment process: president directly elected by absolute-majority popular vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a 5-year term (limited to 2 consecutive terms); prime minister appointed by the president for a 4-year term
Executive branch / most recent election date: 13-14 January 2023, with a second round on 27-28 January 2023
Executive branch / election results: 2023: Petr PAVEL elected in the second round; percent of vote in the first round - Petr PAVEL (independent) 35.4%, Andrej BABIS (ANO) 35 % , Danuse NERUDOVA (Mayors and Independents) 13.9%, Pavel FISCHER (independent) 6.8%; percent of vote in the second round - Petr PAVEL 58.3%, Andrej BABIS 41.6% 2018: Milos ZEMAN reelected president in the second round; percent of vote - Milos ZEMAN (SPO) 51.4%, Jiri DRAHOS (independent) 48.6%
Executive branch / expected date of next election: by January 2028
Legislative branch / legislature name: Parliament (Parlament)
Legislative branch / legislative structure: bicameral
Legislative branch - lower chamber / chamber name: Chamber of Deputies (Poslanecka Snemovna)
Legislative branch - lower chamber / number of seats: 200 (all directly elected)
Legislative branch - lower chamber / electoral system: proportional representation
Legislative branch - lower chamber / scope of elections: full renewal
Legislative branch - lower chamber / term in office: 4 years
Legislative branch - lower chamber / most recent election date: 10/3/2025 to 10/4/2025
Legislative branch - lower chamber / parties elected and seats per party: ANO (80); SPOLU (52); Mayors and independents (STAN) (22); Czech Pirate Party (18); Freedom and Direct Democracy (SPD) (15); Motoristé sobě (AUTO) (13)
Legislative branch - lower chamber / percentage of women in chamber: 33.5%
Legislative branch - lower chamber / expected date of next election: October 2029
Legislative branch - upper chamber / chamber name: Senate (Senat)
Legislative branch - upper chamber / number of seats: 81 (all directly elected)
Legislative branch - upper chamber / electoral system: plurality/majority
Legislative branch - upper chamber / scope of elections: partial renewal
Legislative branch - upper chamber / term in office: 6 years
Legislative branch - upper chamber / most recent election date: 9/20/2024 to 9/28/2024
Legislative branch - upper chamber / parties elected and seats per party: Civic Democratic Party (ODS) (8); Christian Democratic Union - Czechoslovak People's Party (KDU - CSL) (7); TOP 09 (3); ANO 2011 (3); Independents (2); Other (4)
Legislative branch - upper chamber / percentage of women in chamber: 21.3%
Legislative branch - upper chamber / expected date of next election: September 2026
Judicial branch / highest court(s): Supreme Court (organized into Civil Law and Commercial Division, and Criminal Division each with a court chief justice, vice justice, and several judges); Constitutional Court (consists of 15 justices); Supreme Administrative Court (consists of 36 judges, including the court president and vice president, and organized into 6-, 7-, and 9-member chambers)
Judicial branch / judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court judges proposed by the Chamber of Deputies and appointed by the president; judges appointed for life; Constitutional Court judges appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate; judges appointed for 10-year, renewable terms; Supreme Administrative Court judges selected by the president of the Court; unlimited terms
Judicial branch / subordinate courts: High Court; regional and district courts
Political parties: Action of Dissatisfied Citizens or ANO ( Akce nespokojených občanů) Christian and Democratic Union - Czechoslovak People's Party or KDU-ČSL Civic Democratic Party or ODS Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia or KSČM Czech Pirate Party or Piráti ForMOST or ProMOST Freedom and Direct Democracy or SPD Independents or NEZ Mayors and Independents or STAN Mayors for the Liberec Region or SLK Přísaha Senator 21 or SEN 21 Social Democracy SOCDEM Svobodni Tradition Responsibility Prosperity 09 or TOP 09 Tábor 2020 or T2020 United Democrats - Association of Independents or SD-SN
Diplomatic representation in the US / chief of mission: Ambassador Miloslav STA&Scaron;EK (since 16 September 2022)
Diplomatic representation in the US / chancery: 3900 Spring of Freedom Street NW, Washington, DC 20008-3803
Diplomatic representation in the US / telephone: [1] (202) 274-9100
Diplomatic representation in the US / FAX: [1] (202) 966-8540
Diplomatic representation in the US / email address and website: washington@embassy.mzv.cz https://www.mzv.cz/washington/
Diplomatic representation in the US / consulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles, New York
Diplomatic representation from the US / chief of mission: Ambassador Nicholas MERRICK (since 23 October 2025)
Diplomatic representation from the US / embassy: Trziste 15, 118 01 Praha 1 - Mala Strana
Diplomatic representation from the US / mailing address: 5630 Prague Place, Washington DC 20521-5630
Diplomatic representation from the US / telephone: [420] 257-022-000
Diplomatic representation from the US / FAX: [420] 257-022-809
Diplomatic representation from the US / email address and website: ACSPrg@state.gov https://cz.usembassy.gov/
International organization participation: Australia Group, BIS, BSEC (observer), CD, CE, CEI, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECB, EIB, ESA, EU, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MONUSCO, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OIF (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, Schengen Convention, SELEC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNOOSA, UNWTO, UPU, Wassenaar Arrangement, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
Independence: 1 January 1993 (Czechoslovakia split into the Czech Republic and Slovakia)
National holiday: Czechoslovak Founding Day, 28 October (1918)
Flag: description: two equal horizontal bands of white (top) and red with a blue isosceles triangle based on the left side
National symbol(s): silver (or white) double-tailed rampant lion
National color(s): white, red, blue
National anthem(s) / title: "Kde domov muj?" (Where is My Home?)
National anthem(s) / lyrics/music: Josef Kajetan TYL/Frantisek Jan SKROUP
National anthem(s) / history: adopted 1993; the anthem was originally written as incidental music for the play "Fidlovacka" (1834), but it soon became popular as an unofficial anthem of the Czech nation; its first verse served as the official Czechoslovak anthem beginning in 1918, and the second verse (Slovak) was dropped after Czechoslovakia was dissolved in 1993
National heritage / total World Heritage Sites: 17 (16 cultural, 1 natural)
National heritage / selected World Heritage Site locales: Historic Prague (c); Historic Telč (c); Historic Český Krumlov (c); Lednice-Valtice Cultural Landscape (c); Historic Kutná Hora (c); Holy Trinity Column, Olomouc (c); Karlovy Vary Spa (c); Zatec and the Landscape of Saaz Hops; Žatec and the Landscape of Saaz Hops (n)

## Economy
Economic overview: high-income, diversified EU economy; manufacturing-oriented exporter led by automotive industry; moderate growth driven by household consumption and investments, despite negative contribution from net exports; tight labor market with low unemployment; gained energy independence from Russian oil in April 2025
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $521.928 billion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $516.145 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $516.431 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2024: 1.1% (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2023: -0.1% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2022: 2.8% (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2024: $48,000 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2023: $47,500 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2022: $48,400 (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $345.037 billion (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024: 2.4% (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023: 10.7% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 15.1% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / agriculture: 1.5% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / industry: 30.2% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / services: 59.5% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / household consumption: 44% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / government consumption: 19.7% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in fixed capital: 27.3% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in inventories: 0.7% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / exports of goods and services: 69% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / imports of goods and services: -64% (2023 est.)
Agricultural products: wheat, sugar beets, milk, barley, rapeseed, potatoes, maize, triticale, pork, chicken (2023)
Industries: motor vehicles, metallurgy, machinery and equipment, glass, armaments
Industrial production growth rate: -1% (2024 est.)
Labor force: 5.541 million (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2024: 2.6% (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2023: 2.6% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2022: 2.3% (2022 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / total: 8.4% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / male: 8.2% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / female: 8.6% (2024 est.)
Population below poverty line: 10.2% (2021 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income / Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2022: 25.9 (2022 est.)
Average household expenditures / on food: 15.7% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Average household expenditures / on alcohol and tobacco: 7.7% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / lowest 10%: 3.8% (2022 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / highest 10%: 21.8% (2022 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2024: 1.2% of GDP (2024 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2023: 1.2% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2022: 1.4% of GDP (2022 est.)
Budget / revenues: $94.01 billion (2022 est.)
Budget / expenditures: $106.07 billion (2022 est.)
Public debt / Public debt 2016: 36.8% of GDP (2016 est.)
Taxes and other revenues: 12.6% (of GDP) (2022 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2024: $6.047 billion (2024 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2023: -$432.727 million (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2022: -$13.644 billion (2022 est.)
Exports / Exports 2024: $239.259 billion (2024 est.)
Exports / Exports 2023: $236.103 billion (2023 est.)
Exports / Exports 2022: $219.419 billion (2022 est.)
Exports - partners: Germany 29%, Slovakia 7%, Poland 6%, France 5%, UK 5% (2023)
Exports - commodities: cars, vehicle parts/accessories, broadcasting equipment, computers, plastic products (2023)
Imports / Imports 2024: $216.741 billion (2024 est.)
Imports / Imports 2023: $219.09 billion (2023 est.)
Imports / Imports 2022: $216.042 billion (2022 est.)
Imports - partners: Germany 22%, China 17%, Poland 8%, Slovakia 5%, Italy 4% (2023)
Imports - commodities: broadcasting equipment, vehicle parts/accessories, cars, plastic products, computers (2023)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024: $146.281 billion (2024 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023: $148.379 billion (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $139.981 billion (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Currency: koruny (CZK) per US dollar -
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2024: 23.217 (2024 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2023: 22.198 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2022: 23.357 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2021: 21.678 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2020: 23.21 (2020 est.)

## Energy
Electricity access / electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)
Electricity / installed generating capacity: 21.802 million kW (2023 est.)
Electricity / consumption: 63.628 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / exports: 22.648 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / imports: 13.465 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / transmission/distribution losses: 3.012 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / fossil fuels: 45.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / nuclear: 40.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / solar: 4.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / wind: 0.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / hydroelectricity: 2.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / biomass and waste: 7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Nuclear energy / Number of operational nuclear reactors: 6 (2025)
Nuclear energy / Net capacity of operational nuclear reactors: 3.96GW (2025 est.)
Nuclear energy / Percent of total electricity production: 40% (2023 est.)
Coal / production: 31.946 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / consumption: 33.239 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / exports: 2.128 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / imports: 4.09 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / proven reserves: 3.595 billion metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum / total petroleum production: 4,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Petroleum / refined petroleum consumption: 219,000 bbl/day (2024 est.)
Petroleum / crude oil estimated reserves: 15 million barrels (2021 est.)
Natural gas / production: 163.333 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / consumption: 6.499 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / imports: 6.812 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / proven reserves: 3.964 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)
Energy consumption per capita / Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 136.306 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

## Communications
Telephones - fixed lines / total subscriptions: 1.16 million (2024 est.)
Telephones - fixed lines / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 11 (2024 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / total subscriptions: 13.6 million (2024 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 127 (2024 est.)
Broadcast media: 22 national TV stations, with 17 privately owned; publicly operated Czech Television has 5 national channels; over 350 TV channels, many through cable, satellite, and IPTV subscription services; 63 radio broadcasters operate over 80 radio stations, including 7 multiregional radio stations or networks; publicly owned broadcaster Czech Radio operates 4 national, 14 regional, and 4 Internet stations; both Czech Radio and Czech Television are partly financed through a license fee (2019)
Internet country code: .cz
Internet users / percent of population: 86% (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / total: 4.1 million (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 38 (2023 est.)

## Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: OK
Airports: 252 (2025)
Heliports: 107 (2025)
Railways / total: 9,548 km (2020) 3,242 km electrified

## Military and Security
Military and security forces: Czech Armed Forces: Land Forces, Air Force, Special Forces (2025)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2025: 2% of GDP (2025 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2024: 2.1% of GDP (2024 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2023: 1.5% of GDP (2023 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2022: 1.3% of GDP (2022 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2021: 1.4% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military and security service personnel strengths: approximately 28,000 active-duty military personnel (2025)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the Czech military has a mix of domestically produced, Soviet-era, and more recently acquired modern weapons and equipment from such suppliers as France, Germany, Italy, Sweden, and the US; its domestic defense industry produces such items as armored combat vehicles and light attack aircraft (2025)
Military service age and obligation: 18-28 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women; conscription abolished 2004 (2025)
Military deployments: up to 130 Lithuania (NATO); 130 Slovakia (NATO) (2024)
Military - note: the Czech military is responsible for national and territorial defense, assisting civil authorities during natural disasters or other emergencies, boosting border security alongside the police, participating in international peacekeeping operations, and supporting its collective security commitments to the EU and NATO, both of which Czechia considers pillars of its national security strategy; Czechia is a member of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, contributes to UN peacekeeping operations, and actively participates in EU military and security missions under the EU Common Security and Defense Policy; the Czech military has been an active member of NATO since the country joined in 2009 and participates in a variety of NATO’s collective defense missions, including contributing to the Enhanced Forward Presence in Eastern Europe, Baltic Air Policing operations, rapid response forces, and operations in Kosovo; it also exercises regularly with NATO partners and maintains close bilateral ties to a number of militaries particularly partner members of the Visegrad Group (Hungary, Poland, and Slovakia) and Germany the military has commands for its land, air, cyber/information operations, and territorial forces, as well as a joint operations command and a separate special forces directorate; the Territorial Command is responsible for the active reserves and regional military commands that align with each of Czechia’s 13 regions and the capital, Prague (2025)

## Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons / refugees: 392,198 (2024 est.)
Refugees and internally displaced persons / IDPs: 5 (2024 est.)
Refugees and internally displaced persons / stateless persons: 588 (2024 est.)

=== Finland ===

## Introduction
Background: Finland was a province and then a grand duchy under Sweden from the 12th to the 19th centuries and an autonomous grand duchy of Russia after 1809. It gained complete independence in 1917. During World War II, Finland successfully defended its independence through cooperation with Germany and resisted subsequent invasions by the Soviet Union, albeit with some loss of territory. During the next half-century, Finland transformed from a farm/forest economy to a diversified modern industrial economy; per-capita income is among the highest in Western Europe. A member of the EU since 1995, Finland was the only Nordic state to join the euro single currency at its initiation in January 1999. In the 21st century, the key features of Finland's modern welfare state are high-quality education, promotion of equality, and a national social welfare system, although the system is currently facing the challenges of an aging population and the fluctuations of an export-driven economy. Following Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Finland opted to join NATO; it became the organization's 31st member in April 2023.

## Geography
Location: Northern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, Gulf of Bothnia, and Gulf of Finland, between Sweden and Russia
Geographic coordinates: 64 00 N, 26 00 E
Map references: Europe
Area / total: 338,145 sq km
Area / land: 303,815 sq km
Area / water: 34,330 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly more than two times the size of Georgia; slightly smaller than Montana
Land boundaries / total: 2,563 km
Land boundaries / border countries: Norway 709 km; Sweden 545 km; Russia 1,309 km
Coastline: 1,250 km
Maritime claims / territorial sea: 12 nm (in the Gulf of Finland - 3 nm)
Maritime claims / contiguous zone: 24 nm
Maritime claims / continental shelf: 200 m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Maritime claims / exclusive fishing zone: 12 nm; extends to continental shelf boundary with Sweden, Estonia, and Russia
Climate: cold temperate; potentially subarctic but comparatively mild because of moderating influence of the North Atlantic Current, Baltic Sea, and more than 60,000 lakes
Terrain: mostly low, flat to rolling plains interspersed with lakes and low hills
Elevation / highest point: Halti (alternatively Haltia, Haltitunturi, Haltiatunturi) 1,328 m
Elevation / lowest point: Baltic Sea 0 m
Elevation / mean elevation: 164 m
Natural resources: timber, iron ore, copper, lead, zinc, chromite, nickel, gold, silver, limestone
Land use / agricultural land: 7.4% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 7.4% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 0% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 0% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 74.2% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 18.4% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land: 80 sq km (2016)
Major lakes (area sq km) / fresh water lake(s): Saimaa - 1,760 sq km; Paijanne - 1,090 sq km; Inarijarvi - 1,000 sq km; Oulujarvi - 900 sq km; Pielinen - 850 sq km
Population distribution: the vast majority of people are found in the south; the northern interior areas remain sparsely populated
Natural hazards: severe winters in the north
Geography - note: long boundary with Russia; Helsinki is northernmost national capital on European continent; population concentrated on small southwestern coastal plain

## People and Society
Population / total: 5,550,449 (2025 est.)
Population / male: 2,750,057
Population / female: 2,800,392
Nationality / noun: Finn(s)
Nationality / adjective: Finnish
Ethnic groups: Finnish, Swedish, Russian, Estonian, Romani, Sami
Languages / Languages: Finnish (official) 85.9%, Swedish (official) 5.2%, Russian 1.7%, other 7.2% (2022 est.)
Languages / major-language sample(s): World Factbook, korvaamaton perustietolähde. (Finnish) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
Religions: Lutheran 66.6%, Greek Orthodox 1.1%, other 1.7%, none 30.6% (2022 est.)
Age structure / 0-14 years: 16.2% (male 464,939/female 444,585)
Age structure / 15-64 years: 60.3% (male 1,725,072/female 1,668,604)
Age structure / 65 years and over: 23.5% (2024 est.) (male 583,645/female 739,569)
Dependency ratios / total dependency ratio: 62.3 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / youth dependency ratio: 23.3 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / elderly dependency ratio: 39 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / potential support ratio: 2.6 (2025 est.)
Median age / total: 44 years (2025 est.)
Median age / male: 41.8 years
Median age / female: 44.9 years
Population growth rate: 0.02% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 7.75 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 11.01 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: 3.44 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution: the vast majority of people are found in the south; the northern interior areas remain sparsely populated
Urbanization / urban population: 85.8% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 0.42% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 1.338 million HELSINKI (capital) (2023)
Sex ratio / at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 65 years and over: 0.79 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth: 29.5 years (2020 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio: 8 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Infant mortality rate / total: 1.9 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Infant mortality rate / male: 2.3 deaths/1,000 live births
Infant mortality rate / female: 1.9 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth / total population: 82.2 years (2024 est.)
Life expectancy at birth / male: 79.3 years
Life expectancy at birth / female: 85.2 years
Total fertility rate: 1.28 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 0.63 (2025 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: urban: urban: 100% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: rural: rural: 100% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: total: total: 100% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: urban: urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: rural: rural: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: total: total: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 10.2% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 14.8% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density: 3.61 physicians/1,000 population (2021)
Hospital bed density: 2.8 beds/1,000 population (2020 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: urban: urban: 100% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: rural: rural: 100% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: total: total: 100% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: urban: urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: rural: rural: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: total: total: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 22.2% (2016)
Alcohol consumption per capita / total: 8.23 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / beer: 3.76 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / wine: 1.59 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / spirits: 1.96 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / other alcohols: 0.91 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Tobacco use / total: 18% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / male: 21.7% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / female: 14.3% (2025 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49): 57.1% (2023 est.)
Child marriage / women married by age 18: 0.1% (2017)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% GDP): 6.4% of GDP (2022 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% national budget): 12.1% national budget (2022 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / total: 20 years (2023 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / male: 18 years (2023 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / female: 21 years (2023 est.)

## Environment
Environmental issues: limited air pollution in urban centers; some water pollution from industrial wastes, agricultural chemicals; habitat loss threatens wildlife populations
International environmental agreements / party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Multi-effect Protocol, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protection, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling
International environmental agreements / signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Climate: cold temperate; potentially subarctic but comparatively mild because of moderating influence of the North Atlantic Current, Baltic Sea, and more than 60,000 lakes
Land use / agricultural land: 7.4% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 7.4% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 0% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 0% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 74.2% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 18.4% (2023 est.)
Urbanization / urban population: 85.8% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 0.42% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / total emissions: 33.594 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from coal and metallurgical coke: 7.536 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from petroleum and other liquids: 23.069 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from consumed natural gas: 2.989 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Particulate matter emissions: 6 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Waste and recycling / municipal solid waste generated annually: 3.124 million tons (2024 est.)
Waste and recycling / percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 35.4% (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / municipal: 500 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / industrial: 1.299 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / agricultural: 1 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total renewable water resources: 110 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Geoparks / total global geoparks and regional networks: 4 (2024)
Geoparks / global geoparks and regional networks: Impact Crater Lake - Lappajarvi; Rokua; Lauhanvuori-Haemeenkangas; Saimaa; Salpausselka (2024)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: Republic of Finland
Country name / conventional short form: Finland
Country name / local long form: Suomen tasavalta (Finnish)/ Republiken Finland (Swedish)
Country name / local short form: Suomi (Finnish)/ Finland (Swedish)
Country name / etymology: name derives from the Finns, an ethnic group in northeastern Europe; their name comes from the Germanic word finna , meaning "fish scale;" the local name, Suomi, may come from two local words: suo , meaning "marsh," and maa , meaning "land"
Government type: parliamentary republic
Capital / name: Helsinki
Capital / geographic coordinates: 60 10 N, 24 56 E
Capital / time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Capital / daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October
Capital / etymology: the modern name is a Finnish derivation; King Gustav VASA of Sweden founded the city in 1550 as Helsingfors; the name came from Helsing , the Old Norwegian name for a local people, and the word fors , or "waterfall," referring to a waterfall at the city's original location on the Vantaa River
Administrative divisions: 19 regions ( maakunnat , singular - maakunta (Finnish); landskapen , singular - landskapet (Swedish)); Aland (Swedish), Ahvenanmaa (Finnish); Etela-Karjala (Finnish), Sodra Karelen (Swedish) [South Karelia]; Etela-Pohjanmaa (Finnish), Sodra Osterbotten (Swedish) [South Ostrobothnia]; Etela-Savo (Finnish), Sodra Savolax (Swedish) [South Savo]; Kanta-Hame (Finnish), Egentliga Tavastland (Swedish); Kainuu (Finnish), Kajanaland (Swedish); Keski-Pohjanmaa (Finnish), Mellersta Osterbotten (Swedish) [Central Ostrobothnia]; Keski-Suomi (Finnish), Mellersta Finland (Swedish) [Central Finland]; Kymenlaakso (Finnish), Kymmenedalen (Swedish); Lappi (Finnish), Lappland (Swedish); Paijat-Hame (Finnish), Paijanne-Tavastland (Swedish); Pirkanmaa (Finnish), Birkaland (Swedish) [Tampere]; Pohjanmaa (Finnish), Osterbotten (Swedish) [Ostrobothnia]; Pohjois-Karjala (Finnish), Norra Karelen (Swedish) [North Karelia]; Pohjois-Pohjanmaa (Finnish), Norra Osterbotten (Swedish) [North Ostrobothnia]; Pohjois-Savo (Finnish), Norra Savolax (Swedish) [North Savo]; Satakunta (Finnish and Swedish); Uusimaa (Finnish), Nyland (Swedish) [Newland]; Varsinais-Suomi (Finnish), Egentliga Finland (Swedish) [Southwest Finland]
Legal system: civil law system based on the Swedish model
Constitution / history: previous 1906, 1919; latest drafted 17 June 1997, approved by Parliament 11 June 1999, entered into force 1 March 2000
Constitution / amendment process: proposed by Parliament; passage normally requires simple majority vote in two readings in the first parliamentary session and at least two-thirds majority vote in a single reading by the newly elected Parliament; proposals declared "urgent" by five-sixths of Parliament members can be passed by at least two-thirds majority vote in the first parliamentary session only
International law organization participation: accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Citizenship / citizenship by birth: no
Citizenship / citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Finland
Citizenship / dual citizenship recognized: yes
Citizenship / residency requirement for naturalization: 6 years
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch / chief of state: President Alexander STUBB (since 1 March 2024)
Executive branch / head of government: Prime Minister Petteri ORPO (since 20 June 2023)
Executive branch / cabinet: Council of State or Valtioneuvosto appointed by the president, responsible to Parliament
Executive branch / election/appointment process: president directly elected by absolute-majority popular vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a 6-year term (eligible for a second term); prime minister appointed by Parliament
Executive branch / most recent election date: 28 January 2024, with a runoff on 11 February 2024
Executive branch / election results: 2024: Alexander STUBB elected in the second round; percent of vote in the first round - Alexander STUBB (KoK) 27.2%, Pekka HAAVISTO (Vihr) 25.8%, Jussi HALLA-AHO (PS) 19.0%, Olli REHN (Kesk) 15.3%; percent of vote in second round - STUBB 51.6%, HAAVISTO 48.4% 2018: Sauli NIINISTO reelected president; percent of vote - Sauli NIINISTO (independent) 62.7%, Pekka HAAVISTO (Vihr) 12.4%, Laura HUHTASAARI (PS) 6.9%, Paavo VAYRYNEN (independent) 6.2%, Matti VANHANEN (Kesk) 4.1%, other 7.7%
Executive branch / expected date of next election: by 28 January 2030
Legislative branch / legislature name: Parliament (Eduskunta - Riksdagen)
Legislative branch / legislative structure: unicameral
Legislative branch / number of seats: 200 (all directly elected)
Legislative branch / electoral system: proportional representation
Legislative branch / scope of elections: full renewal
Legislative branch / term in office: 4 years
Legislative branch / most recent election date: 4/2/2023
Legislative branch / parties elected and seats per party: National Coalition Party (KOK) (48); The Finns Party (PS) (46); Social Democratic Party (SDP) (43); Center Party (KESK) (23); The Greens (13); Left Alliance (Vas) (11); Other (16)
Legislative branch / percentage of women in chamber: 45.5%
Legislative branch / expected date of next election: April 2027
Judicial branch / highest court(s): Supreme Court or Korkein Oikeus (consists of the court president and 18 judges); Supreme Administrative Court (consists of 21 judges, including the court president; organized into 3 chambers)
Judicial branch / judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court and Supreme Administrative Court judges appointed by the president of the republic; judges serve until mandatory retirement at age 68
Judicial branch / subordinate courts: 6 Courts of Appeal; 8 regional administrative courts; 27 district courts; special courts for issues relating to markets, labor, insurance, impeachment, land, tenancy, and water rights
Political parties: Aland Coalition (a coalition of several political parties on the Aland Islands) Center Party or Kesk Christian Democrats or KD Finns Party or PS Green League or Vihr Left Alliance or Vas Movement Now or Liike Nyt National Coalition Party or Kok Social Democratic Party or SDP Swedish People's Party or RKP or SFP
Diplomatic representation in the US / chief of mission: Ambassador Leena-Kaisa MIKKOLA (since 18 September 2024)
Diplomatic representation in the US / chancery: 3301 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation in the US / telephone: [1] (202) 298-5800
Diplomatic representation in the US / FAX: [1] (202) 298-6030
Diplomatic representation in the US / email address and website: sanomat.WAS@gov.fi https://finlandabroad.fi/web/usa/mission
Diplomatic representation in the US / consulate(s) general: Los Angeles, New York
Diplomatic representation from the US / chief of mission: Ambassador Howard W. BRODIE (since 13 November 2025)
Diplomatic representation from the US / embassy: Itainen Puistotie 14 B, 00140 Helsinki
Diplomatic representation from the US / mailing address: 5310 Helsinki Place, Washington DC 20521-5310
Diplomatic representation from the US / telephone: [358] (9) 616-250
Diplomatic representation from the US / FAX: [358] (9) 174-681
Diplomatic representation from the US / email address and website: HelsinkiACS@state.gov https://fi.usembassy.gov/
International organization participation: ADB (nonregional member), AfDB (nonregional member), Arctic Council, Australia Group, BIS, CBSS, CD, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECB, EIB, EITI (implementing country), EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, FATF, G-9, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NATO, NC, NEA, NIB, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, Pacific Alliance (observer), Paris Club, PCA, PFP, Schengen Convention, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNHRC, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNMIL, UNMOGIP, UNOOSA, UNRWA, UNSOM, UNTSO, UPU, Wassenaar Arrangement, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
Independence: 6 December 1917 (from Russia)
National holiday: Independence Day, 6 December (1917)
Flag: description: white with a blue cross extending to the edges of the flag; the cross is shifted to the left in the style of the Dannebrog (Danish flag) meaning: the blue stands for the country's thousands of lakes, and the white for snow
National symbol(s): lion
National color(s): blue, white
National anthem(s) / title: "Maamme" (Our Land)
National anthem(s) / lyrics/music: Paavo Eemil KAJANDER, Johan Ludvig RUNEBERG/Fredrik PACIUS
National anthem(s) / history: in use since 1848; although never officially adopted, the anthem has been popular since a student group first sang it in 1848
National heritage / total World Heritage Sites: 7 (6 cultural, 1 natural)
National heritage / selected World Heritage Site locales: Fortress of Suomenlinna (c); Old Rauma (c); Pet&auml;j&auml;vesi Old Church (c); Verla Groundwood and Board Mill (c); Bronze Age Burial Site of Sammallahdenm&auml;ki (c); High Coast / Kvarken Archipelago (n); Struve Geodetic Arc (c)

## Economy
Economic overview: high-income, export-based EU and eurozone economy; major timber, metals, engineering, telecom, and electronics industries; emerging from recession triggered by inflation, weak consumer and export demand, and lower private investment; labor market reform plan to address structural rigidities
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $313.591 billion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $314.075 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $317.078 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2024: -0.2% (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2023: -0.9% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2022: 0.8% (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2024: $55,600 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2023: $56,200 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2022: $57,100 (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $299.836 billion (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024: 1.6% (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023: 6.3% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 7.1% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / agriculture: 2.5% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / industry: 22.1% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / services: 62.9% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / household consumption: 53.4% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / government consumption: 25.6% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in fixed capital: 23.4% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in inventories: -0.4% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / exports of goods and services: 43.1% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / imports of goods and services: -42.8% (2023 est.)
Agricultural products: milk, barley, oats, wheat, potatoes, sugar beets, pork, chicken, peas, rye (2023)
Industries: metals and metal products, electronics, machinery and scientific instruments, shipbuilding, pulp and paper, foodstuffs, chemicals, textiles, clothing
Industrial production growth rate: -2.2% (2024 est.)
Labor force: 2.898 million (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2024: 8.3% (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2023: 7.2% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2022: 6.8% (2022 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / total: 19.2% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / male: 20% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / female: 18.3% (2024 est.)
Population below poverty line: 12.2% (2022 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income / Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2022: 27.9 (2022 est.)
Average household expenditures / on food: 12.3% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Average household expenditures / on alcohol and tobacco: 4.4% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / lowest 10%: 3.8% (2022 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / highest 10%: 23.1% (2022 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2024: 0.2% of GDP (2024 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2023: 0.3% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2022: 0.2% of GDP (2022 est.)
Budget / revenues: $126.337 billion (2023 est.)
Budget / expenditures: $131.978 billion (2023 est.)
Public debt / Public debt 2017: 61.3% of GDP (2017 est.)
Taxes and other revenues: 25.4% (of GDP) (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2024: $930.393 million (2024 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2023: -$1.58 billion (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2022: -$7.026 billion (2022 est.)
Exports / Exports 2024: $124.531 billion (2024 est.)
Exports / Exports 2023: $127.098 billion (2023 est.)
Exports / Exports 2022: $129.389 billion (2022 est.)
Exports - partners: USA 11%, Germany 11%, Sweden 10%, Netherlands 7%, China 5% (2023)
Exports - commodities: paper, refined petroleum, steel, wood pulp, ships (2023)
Imports / Imports 2024: $122.644 billion (2024 est.)
Imports / Imports 2023: $126.175 billion (2023 est.)
Imports / Imports 2022: $135.119 billion (2022 est.)
Imports - partners: Germany 14%, Sweden 12%, China 9%, Norway 8%, Netherlands 5% (2023)
Imports - commodities: crude petroleum, cars, refined petroleum, packaged medicine, broadcasting equipment (2023)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024: $17.993 billion (2024 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023: $16.929 billion (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $16.036 billion (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Currency: euros (EUR) per US dollar -
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2024: 0.924 (2024 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2023: 0.925 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2022: 0.95 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2021: 0.845 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2020: 0.876 (2020 est.)

## Energy
Electricity access / electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)
Electricity / installed generating capacity: 26.782 million kW (2023 est.)
Electricity / consumption: 77.419 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / exports: 7.883 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / imports: 9.644 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / transmission/distribution losses: 2.721 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / fossil fuels: 5.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / nuclear: 41.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / solar: 0.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / wind: 18.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / hydroelectricity: 19.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / biomass and waste: 13.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Nuclear energy / Number of operational nuclear reactors: 5 (2025)
Nuclear energy / Net capacity of operational nuclear reactors: 4.37GW (2025 est.)
Nuclear energy / Percent of total electricity production: 42% (2025 est.)
Coal / production: 811,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / consumption: 3.933 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / exports: 113,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / imports: 2.624 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum / total petroleum production: 8,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Petroleum / refined petroleum consumption: 172,000 bbl/day (2024 est.)
Natural gas / consumption: 1.55 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / exports: 479.457 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / imports: 2.112 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Energy consumption per capita / Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 183.54 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

## Communications
Telephones - fixed lines / total subscriptions: 158,000 (2024 est.)
Telephones - fixed lines / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 3 (2024 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / total subscriptions: 7.07 million (2024 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 126 (2024 est.)
Broadcast media: 3 publicly operated TV stations and numerous privately owned TV stations; several free and special-interest pay-TV channels; cable and satellite multi-channel subscription services are available; all TV signals are digital; 13 national and 25 regional public radio stations; a large number of private radio broadcasters
Internet country code: .fi
Internet users / percent of population: 94% (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / total: 1.98 million (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 35 (2023 est.)

## Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: OH
Airports: 98 (2025)
Heliports: 17 (2025)
Railways / total: 5,918 km (2020) 3,349 km electrified
Merchant marine / total: 282 (2023)
Merchant marine / by type: bulk carrier 9, general cargo 75, oil tanker 4, other 194
Ports / total ports: 37 (2024)
Ports / large: 5
Ports / medium: 7
Ports / small: 11
Ports / very small: 14
Ports / ports with oil terminals: 21
Ports / key ports: Helsinki, Kaskinen, Kokkola, Kotka, Kristinestad, Mantyluoto, Oulu, Pietarsaari, Pori, Rauma, Turku, Vaasa

## Military and Security
Military and security forces: Finnish Defense Forces (FDF; Puolustusvoimat): Army (Maavoimat), Navy (Merivoimat), Air Force (Ilmavoimat) (2025)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2025: 2.8% of GDP (2025 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2024: 2.4% of GDP (2024 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2023: 2.1% of GDP (2023 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2022: 1.7% of GDP (2022 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2021: 1.4% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military and security service personnel strengths: approximately 31,000 active-duty military personnel (2025)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the military's inventory consists of a mix of modern European, Israeli, South Korean, US, and domestically produced weapons systems; the Finnish defense industry produces a variety of military equipment, including wheeled armored vehicles and naval vessels; Finland also cooperates with other European countries and the US in the joint production of armaments (2025)
Military service age and obligation: all Finnish men are obligated to serve 5.5-12 months of service within a branch of the military or the Border Guard upon reaching the age of 18 (length of service depends on the type of duty); women 18-29 may volunteer for service; there is also an option to perform non-military service which lasts for 8.5 or 11.5 months; after completing their initial conscript obligation, individuals enter the reserves and remain eligible for mobilization until the age of 50 for rank-and-file and 60 for non-commissioned and commissioned officers (2025)
Military deployments: 165 Lebanon (UNIFIL); Finland also contributes to several ongoing EU and NATO missions (2025)
Military - note: the Finnish Defense Forces (FDF) are focused primarily on territorial defense, which is based on having a large, trained reserve force created by general conscription; other FDF responsibilities include support to international peacekeeping operations and some domestic security duties, such as assisting the National Police in maintaining law and order in crises the FDF is also focused on fulfilling its commitment to NATO; following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Finland applied for NATO membership, gaining entry in April 2023; Finland had been part of NATO’s Partnership for Peace program since 1994 and participated in NATO-led military missions in the Balkans, Afghanistan, and Iraq; in 2024, it joined NATO's Air Policing mission in Eastern Europe Finland is a signatory of the EU’s Common Security and Defense Policy and actively participates in EU crisis management missions and operations; the FDF also cooperates closely with the militaries of other Nordic countries through the Nordic Defense Cooperation structure (NORDEFCO; established 2009), which consists of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden and involves cooperation in such areas as armaments, education, human resources, training and exercises, and operations; Sweden, the UK, and the US are close bi-lateral defense partners; in 2022, Finland signed a mutual security agreement with the UK, and since 2014 has been part of the UK-led Joint Expeditionary Force, a pool of high-readiness military forces from 10 Baltic and Scandinavian countries designed to respond to a wide range of contingencies in the North Atlantic, Baltic Sea, and High North regions (2025)

## Terrorism
Terrorist group(s): Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS)

## Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons / refugees: 97,568 (2024 est.)
Refugees and internally displaced persons / stateless persons: 1,326 (2024 est.)

=== Faroe Islands ===

## Introduction
Background: The Faroe Islands were already populated by about A.D. 500, but whether the original settlers were Celtic or early Norse (or someone else) has yet to be determined. Viking settlers arrived on the islands in the 9th century, and the islands served as an important stepping stone for medieval Viking exploration of the North Atlantic. The islands have been connected politically to Denmark since the 14th century, and today the Faroe Islands are a self-governing dependency of Denmark. The Home Rule Act of 1948 granted a high degree of self-government to the Faroese, who have autonomy over most internal affairs and external trade, while Denmark is responsible for justice, defense, and some foreign affairs. The Faroe Islands are not part of the European Union.

## Geography
Location: Northern Europe, island group between the Norwegian Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, about halfway between Iceland and Norway
Geographic coordinates: 62 00 N, 7 00 W
Map references: Europe
Area / total: 1,393 sq km
Area / land: 1,393 sq km
Area / water: 0 sq km (some lakes and streams)
Area - comparative: eight times the size of Washington, D.C.
Land boundaries / total: 0 km
Coastline: 1,117 km
Maritime claims / territorial sea: 12 nm
Maritime claims / continental shelf: 200 nm or agreed boundaries or median line
Maritime claims / exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm or agreed boundaries or median line
Climate: mild winters, cool summers; usually overcast; foggy, windy
Terrain: rugged, rocky, some low peaks; cliffs along most of coast
Elevation / highest point: Slaettaratindur 882 m
Elevation / lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
Natural resources: fish, whales, hydropower, possible oil and gas
Land use / agricultural land: 70.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 0.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 0% (2022 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 70.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 0.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 29.8% (2023 est.)
Population distribution: the island of Streymoy is by far the most populous with over 40% of the population; it has approximately twice as many inhabitants as Eysturoy, the second most populous island; seven of the inhabited islands have fewer than 100 people
Natural hazards: strong winds and heavy rains can occur throughout the year
Geography - note: archipelago of 17 inhabited islands, one uninhabited island, and a few uninhabited islets; strategically located along important sea lanes in northeastern Atlantic; precipitous terrain limits habitation to small coastal lowlands

## People and Society
Population / total: 52,933 (2024 est.)
Population / male: 27,400
Population / female: 25,533
Nationality / noun: Faroese (singular and plural)
Nationality / adjective: Faroese
Ethnic groups: Faroese 83.8% (Scandinavian and Anglo-Saxon descent), Danish 8.3%, Filipino 1.2%, other Nordic 0.9%, other 4.5% (includes Polish and Romanian) (2024 est.)
Languages: Faroese 93.8% (derived from Old Norse), Danish 3.2%, other 3% (2011 est.)
Religions: Christian 87% (predominantly Evangelical Lutheran), other 0.9%, none 3.7%, unspecified 8.9% (2011 est.)
Age structure / 0-14 years: 20% (male 5,489/female 5,122)
Age structure / 15-64 years: 61.5% (male 17,188/female 15,346)
Age structure / 65 years and over: 18.5% (2024 est.) (male 4,723/female 5,065)
Dependency ratios / total dependency ratio: 62.7 (2024 est.)
Dependency ratios / youth dependency ratio: 32.6 (2024 est.)
Dependency ratios / elderly dependency ratio: 30.1 (2024 est.)
Dependency ratios / potential support ratio: 3.3 (2024 est.)
Median age / total: 37 years (2025 est.)
Median age / male: 36.9 years
Median age / female: 36.8 years
Population growth rate: 0.62% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 14.76 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 8.58 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution: the island of Streymoy is by far the most populous with over 40% of the population; it has approximately twice as many inhabitants as Eysturoy, the second most populous island; seven of the inhabited islands have fewer than 100 people
Urbanization / urban population: 43% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 0.89% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 21,000 TORSHAVN (capital) (2018)
Sex ratio / at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 0-14 years: 1.07 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 15-64 years: 1.12 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 65 years and over: 0.93 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / total population: 1.07 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Infant mortality rate / total: 5.6 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Infant mortality rate / male: 6.3 deaths/1,000 live births
Infant mortality rate / female: 5.1 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth / total population: 81.7 years (2024 est.)
Life expectancy at birth / male: 79.2 years
Life expectancy at birth / female: 84.4 years
Total fertility rate: 2.26 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 1.09 (2025 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: urban: urban: NA
Drinking water source / improved: rural: rural: NA
Drinking water source / improved: total: total: 100% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: urban: urban: NA
Drinking water source / unimproved: rural: rural: NA
Drinking water source / unimproved: total: total: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Physician density: 2.62 physicians/1,000 population (2016)
Currently married women (ages 15-49): 52.3% (2021 est.)
Education expenditure: 7.6% of GDP (2019 est.)

## Environment
Environmental issues: coastal erosion, landslides and rockfalls, flash flooding, wind storms; oil spills
Climate: mild winters, cool summers; usually overcast; foggy, windy
Land use / agricultural land: 70.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 0.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 0% (2022 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 70.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 0.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 29.8% (2023 est.)
Urbanization / urban population: 43% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 0.89% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / total emissions: 742,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from petroleum and other liquids: 742,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Waste and recycling / municipal solid waste generated annually: 61,000 tons (2024 est.)
Waste and recycling / percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 67% (2012 est.)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: none
Country name / conventional short form: Faroe Islands
Country name / local long form: none
Country name / local short form: Foroyar
Country name / etymology: the archipelago's name derives from the Old Norse name Faeroyar, meaning "sheep islands;" faer means "sheep," and - oyar means "islands"
Government type: parliamentary democracy (Faroese Parliament); part of the Kingdom of Denmark
Dependency status: part of the Kingdom of Denmark; self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark since 1948
Capital / name: Torshavn
Capital / geographic coordinates: 62 00 N, 6 46 W
Capital / time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Capital / daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October
Capital / etymology: the name means "Thor's harbor" in Danish
Administrative divisions: 29 first-order municipalities ( kommunur , singular - kommuna ) Eidhi, Eystur, Famjin, Fuglafjordhur, Fugloy, Hov, Husavik, Hvalba, Hvannasund, Klaksvik, Kunoy, Kvivik, Nes, Porkeri, Runavik, Sandur, Sjovar, Skalavik, Skopun, Skuvoy, Sorvagur, Sumba, Sunda, Torshavn, Tvoroyri, Vagar, Vagur, Vestmanna, Vidhareidhi
Legal system: the laws of Denmark apply
Constitution / history: 5 June 1953 (Danish Constitution), 23 March 1948 (Home Rule Act), and 24 June 2005 (Takeover Act) serve as the Faroe Islands' constitutional position in the Unity of the Realm
Constitution / amendment process: see entry for Denmark
Citizenship: see Denmark
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch / chief of state: King FREDERIK X of Denmark (since 14 January 2024), represented by High Commissioner Lene Moyell JOHANSEN, chief administrative officer (since 15 May 2017) (2024)
Executive branch / head of government: Prime Minister Aksel V. JOHANNESEN (since 22 December 2022)
Executive branch / cabinet: Landsstyri appointed by the prime minister
Executive branch / election/appointment process: the monarchy is hereditary; high commissioner appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the Parliament usually elects the leader of the majority party or majority coalition as the prime minister
Executive branch / most recent election date: 8 December 2022
Executive branch / expected date of next election: 2026
Legislative branch / legislature name: Faroese Parliament (Logting)
Legislative branch / legislative structure: unicameral
Legislative branch / number of seats: 33 (directly elected)
Legislative branch / electoral system: proportional representation
Legislative branch / scope of elections: full renewal
Legislative branch / term in office: 4 years
Legislative branch / most recent election date: 12/8/2022
Legislative branch / parties elected and seats per party: JF (9); B (7); A (6); E (6); F (3); H (2)
Legislative branch / percentage of women in chamber: 27.3%
Legislative branch / expected date of next election: 2026
Judicial branch / highest court(s): Faroese Court or Raett (Rett in Danish) decides both civil and criminal cases; the Court is part of the Danish legal system
Judicial branch / subordinate courts: Court of the First Instance or Tribunal de Premi&egrave;re Instance; Court of Administrative Law or Tribunal Administratif; Mixed Commercial Court; Land Court
Political parties: Center Party or H (Midflokkurin) People's Party or A (Folkaflokkurin) Progress Party or F (Framsokn) Republic or E (Tjodveldi) (formerly the Republican Party) Social Democratic Party or JF (Javnadarflokkurin) or JF Union Party or B (Sambandsflokkurin)
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark)
Diplomatic representation from the US / embassy: none (self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark)
International organization participation: Arctic Council, IMO (associate), NC, NIB, UNESCO (associate), UPU
Independence: none (self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark)
National holiday: Olaifest (Olavsoka), 29 July (1030)
Flag: description: white with a red cross outlined in blue that extends to the edges of the flag; the cross is shifted toward the left side in the style of the Dannebrog (Danish flag) meaning: white represents waves breaking on the shore; red and blue are traditional Faroese colors history: the flag is referred to as Merkid, meaning "the banner" or "the mark;" a group of students designed it in 1919, although it wasn't officially adopted until 1940
National symbol(s): ram
National anthem(s) / title: "Mitt alfagra land" (My Fairest Land)
National anthem(s) / lyrics/music: Simun av SKAROI/Peter ALBERG
National anthem(s) / history: adopted 1948; the anthem is also known as "Tu alfagra land mitt" (Thou Fairest Land of Mine); as a self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark, the Faroe Islands are permitted to have their own national anthem

## Economy
Economic overview: high-income Danish territorial economy; party neither to the EU nor the Schengen Area; associate Nordic Council member; very low unemployment; unique foreign ownership allowance in fishing industry; known salmon exporter; growing IT industries
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $3.834 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $3.741 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2021: $3.613 billion (2021 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2023: 2.5% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2022: 3.6% (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2021: 5.5% (2021 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2023: $70,400 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2022: $69,400 (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2021: $67,800 (2021 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $3.907 billion (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / agriculture: 18.2% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / industry: 19.7% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / services: 52% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / household consumption: 40.6% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / government consumption: 27.3% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in fixed capital: 31% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in inventories: 0% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / exports of goods and services: 57.7% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / imports of goods and services: -56.6% (2023 est.)
Agricultural products: milk, potatoes, lamb/mutton, sheepskins, sheep offal, beef, sheep fat, beef offal, cattle hides, beef suet (2023)
Industries: fishing, fish processing, tourism, small ship repair and refurbishment, handicrafts
Remittances / Remittances 2023: 4.1% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2022: 4.4% of GDP (2022 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2021: 4.3% of GDP (2021 est.)
Exports / Exports 2023: $2.255 billion (2023 est.)
Exports / Exports 2022: $2.219 billion (2022 est.)
Exports / Exports 2021: $1.923 billion (2021 est.)
Exports - partners: Russia 26.4%, UK 14.1%, Germany 8.4%, China 7.9%, Spain 6.8%, Denmark 6.2%, US 4.7%, Poland 4.4%, Norway 4.1% (2017)
Exports - commodities: fish and fish products (2021)
Imports / Imports 2023: $2.212 billion (2023 est.)
Imports / Imports 2022: $2.223 billion (2022 est.)
Imports / Imports 2021: $1.906 billion (2021 est.)
Imports - partners: Denmark 33%, China 10.7%, Germany 7.6%, Poland 6.8%, Norway 6.7%, Ireland 5%, Chile 4.3% (2017)
Imports - commodities: goods for household consumption, machinery and transport equipment, fuels, raw materials and semi-manufactures, cars
Exchange rates / Currency: Danish kroner (DKK) per US dollar -
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2024: 6.894 (2024 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2023: 6.89 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2022: 7.076 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2021: 6.287 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2020: 6.542 (2020 est.)

## Energy
Electricity access / electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)
Electricity access / electrification - urban areas: 99.9%
Electricity access / electrification - rural areas: 100%
Electricity / installed generating capacity: 180,000 kW (2023 est.)
Electricity / consumption: 463.285 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / transmission/distribution losses: 25.115 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / fossil fuels: 53.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / wind: 18.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / hydroelectricity: 26.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / biomass and waste: 1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Coal / imports: 1 metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum / refined petroleum consumption: 5,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

## Communications
Telephones - fixed lines / total subscriptions: 15,000 (2021 est.)
Telephones - fixed lines / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 28 (2022 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / total subscriptions: 57,146 (2022 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 106 (2022 est.)
Broadcast media: 1 publicly owned TV station; the Faroese telecommunications company distributes local and international channels through its digital terrestrial network; publicly owned radio station supplemented by 3 privately owned stations broadcasting over multiple frequencies
Internet country code: .fo
Internet users / percent of population: 98% (2017 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / total: 19,000 (2022 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 35 (2022 est.)

## Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: OY-H
Airports: 1 (2025)
Heliports: 12 (2025)
Merchant marine / total: 91 (2023)
Merchant marine / by type: container ships 6, general cargo 45, other 40
Ports / total ports: 9 (2024)
Ports / large: 0
Ports / medium: 0
Ports / small: 0
Ports / very small: 9
Ports / ports with oil terminals: 5
Ports / key ports: Fuglafjordur, Klaksvik, Kongshavn, Runavik, Sorvagur, Torshavn, Tvoroyri, Vagur, Vestmanna

## Military and Security
Military and security forces: no regular military forces or conscription
Military - note: the Government of Denmark has responsibility for defense; as such, the Danish military&rsquo;s Joint Arctic Command in Nuuk, Greenland is responsible for coordinating the defense of the Faroe Islands; the Joint Arctic Command has a contact element in the capital of Torshavn

## Transnational Issues

=== France ===

## Introduction
Background: France today is one of the most modern countries in the world and is a leader among European nations. It plays an influential global role as a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, NATO, the G-7, the G-20, the EU, and other multilateral organizations. France rejoined NATO's integrated military command structure in 2009, reversing then President Charles DE GAULLE's 1966 decision to withdraw French forces from NATO. Since 1958, it has constructed a hybrid presidential-parliamentary governing system resistant to the instabilities experienced in earlier, more purely parliamentary administrations. In recent decades, its reconciliation and cooperation with Germany have proved central to the economic integration of Europe, including the introduction of a common currency, the euro, in January 1999. In the early 21st century, five French overseas entities -- French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Mayotte, and Reunion -- became French regions and were made part of France proper.

## Geography
Location: metropolitan France: Western Europe, bordering the Bay of Biscay and English Channel, between Belgium and Spain, southeast of the UK; bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Italy and Spain French Guiana: Northern South America, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Brazil and Suriname Guadeloupe: Caribbean, islands between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, southeast of Puerto Rico Martinique: Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and North Atlantic Ocean, north of Trinidad and Tobago Mayotte: Southern Indian Ocean, island in the Mozambique Channel, about halfway between northern Madagascar and northern Mozambique Reunion: Southern Africa, island in the Indian Ocean, east of Madagascar
Geographic coordinates: metropolitan France: 46 00 N, 2 00 E French Guiana: 4 00 N, 53 00 W Guadeloupe: 16 15 N, 61 35 W Martinique: 14 40 N, 61 00 W Mayotte: 12 50 S, 45 10 E Reunion: 21 06 S, 55 36 E
Map references: metropolitan France: Europe French Guiana: South America Guadeloupe: Central America and the Caribbean Martinique: Central America and the Caribbean Mayotte: Africa Reunion: World
Area / total: 643,801 sq km ; 551,500 sq km (metropolitan France)
Area / land: 640,427 sq km ; 549,970 sq km (metropolitan France)
Area / water: 3,374 sq km ; 1,530 sq km (metropolitan France)
Area - comparative: slightly more than four times the size of Georgia; slightly less than the size of Texas
Land boundaries / total: 3,956 km
Land boundaries / border countries: Andorra 55 km; Belgium 556 km; Germany 418 km; Italy 476 km; Luxembourg 69 km; Monaco 6 km; Spain 646 km; Switzerland 525 km
Land boundaries / metropolitan France - total: 2751 km
Land boundaries / French Guiana - total: 1205 km
Coastline: 4,853 km
Maritime claims / territorial sea: 12 nm
Maritime claims / contiguous zone: 24 nm
Maritime claims / exclusive economic zone: 200 nm (does not apply to the Mediterranean Sea)
Maritime claims / continental shelf: 200m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Climate: metropolitan France: generally cool winters and mild summers, but mild winters and hot summers along the Mediterranean; occasional strong, cold, dry, north-to-northwesterly wind known as the mistral
Terrain: metropolitan France: mostly flat plains or gently rolling hills in north and west; remainder is mountainous, especially Pyrenees in south, Alps in east French Guiana: low-lying coastal plains rising to hills and small mountains Guadeloupe: Basse-Terre is volcanic in origin with interior mountains; Grande-Terre is low limestone formation; most of the seven other islands are volcanic in origin Martinique: mountainous with indented coastline; dormant volcano Mayotte: generally undulating, with deep ravines and ancient volcanic peaks Reunion: mostly rugged and mountainous; fertile lowlands along coast
Elevation / highest point: Mont Blanc 4,810
Elevation / lowest point: Rhone River delta -2 m
Elevation / mean elevation: 375 m
Natural resources: metropolitan France: coal, iron ore, bauxite, zinc, uranium, antimony, arsenic, potash, feldspar, fluorspar, gypsum, timber, arable land, fish; French Guiana : gold deposits, petroleum, kaolin, niobium, tantalum, clay
Land use / agricultural land: 52.5% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 31.4% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 1.9% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 19.2% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 32.7% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 15% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land: 14,236 sq km (2020)
Major lakes (area sq km) / fresh water lake(s): Lake Geneva (shared with Switzerland) - 580 sq km
Major rivers (by length in km): Rhin (Rhine) (shared with Switzerland [s], Germany, and Netherlands [m]) - 1,233 km; Loire - 1,012 km note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Major watersheds (area sq km) / Atlantic Ocean drainage: Loire (115,282 sq km), Seine (78,919 sq km), Rhine-Maas (198,735 sq km), (Adriatic Sea) Po (76,997 sq km), (Mediterranean Sea) Rhone (100,543 sq km)
Major aquifers: Paris Basin
Population distribution: much of the population is concentrated in the north and southeast; although there are many urban agglomerations throughout the country, Paris is by far the largest city, with Lyon ranked a distant second
Natural hazards: metropolitan France: flooding; avalanches; midwinter windstorms; drought; forest fires in south overseas departments: hurricanes (cyclones); flooding volcanism: Montagne Pelée (1,394 m) on the island of Martinique in the Caribbean is the most active volcano of the Lesser Antilles arc, although it last erupted in 1932; a catastrophic eruption in 1902 destroyed the city of St. Pierre, killing an estimated 30,000 people; La Soufrière (1,467 m) on the island of Guadeloupe has also had explosive eruptions in recent years
Geography - note: largest Western European nation; most major French rivers -- the Meuse, Seine, Loire, Charente, Dordogne, and Garonne -- flow northward or westward into the Atlantic Ocean, only the Rhone flows southward into the Mediterranean Sea

## People and Society
Population / total: 68,512,806 (2025 est.)
Population / male: 33,627,639
Population / female: 34,885,167
Nationality / noun: Frenchman(men), Frenchwoman(women)
Nationality / adjective: French
Ethnic groups: Celtic and Latin with Teutonic, Slavic, North African (Algerian, Moroccan, Tunisian), Indochinese, Basque minorities
Languages / Languages: French (official) 100%, declining regional dialects and languages (Proven&ccedil;al, Breton, Alsatian, Corsican, Catalan, Basque, Flemish, Occitan, Picard)
Languages / major-language sample(s): The World Factbook, une source indispensable d'informations de base. (French) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
Religions: Roman Catholic 47%, Muslim 4%, Protestant 2%, Buddhist 2%, Orthodox 1%, Jewish 1%, other 1%, none 33%, unspecified 9% (2021 est.)
Age structure / 0-14 years: 17.3% (male 6,060,087/female 5,792,805)
Age structure / 15-64 years: 60.7% (male 20,875,861/female 20,615,847)
Age structure / 65 years and over: 22% (2024 est.) (male 6,621,146/female 8,408,845)
Dependency ratios / total dependency ratio: 65.2 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / youth dependency ratio: 28.4 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / elderly dependency ratio: 36.8 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / potential support ratio: 2.7 (2025 est.)
Median age / total: 42.7 years (2025 est.)
Median age / male: 41 years
Median age / female: 44.2 years
Population growth rate: 0.2% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 10.88 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 9.91 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: 1.06 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution: much of the population is concentrated in the north and southeast; although there are many urban agglomerations throughout the country, Paris is by far the largest city, with Lyon ranked a distant second
Urbanization / urban population: 81.8% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 0.67% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 11.208 million PARIS (capital), 1.761 million Lyon, 1.628 million Marseille-Aix-en-Provence, 1.079 million Lille, 1.060 million Toulouse, 1.000 million Bordeaux (2023)
Sex ratio / at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 65 years and over: 0.79 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth: 28.9 years (2020 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio: 7 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Infant mortality rate / total: 3.1 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Infant mortality rate / male: 3.4 deaths/1,000 live births
Infant mortality rate / female: 2.8 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth / total population: 82.6 years (2024 est.)
Life expectancy at birth / male: 79.8 years
Life expectancy at birth / female: 85.5 years
Total fertility rate: 1.9 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 0.93 (2025 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: urban: urban: 100% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: rural: rural: 100% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: total: total: 100% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: urban: urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: rural: rural: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: total: total: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 12.3% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 15.3% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density: 3.28 physicians/1,000 population (2022)
Hospital bed density: 6 beds/1,000 population (2020 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: urban: urban: 100% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: rural: rural: 100% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: total: total: 100% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: urban: urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: rural: rural: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: total: total: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 21.6% (2016)
Alcohol consumption per capita / total: 11.44 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / beer: 2.52 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / wine: 6.44 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / spirits: 2.3 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / other alcohols: 0.18 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Tobacco use / total: 28.9% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / male: 30.7% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / female: 27.3% (2025 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49): 54.9% (2020 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% GDP): 5.3% of GDP (2022 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% national budget): 9.1% national budget (2022 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / total: 16 years (2022 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / male: 16 years (2022 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / female: 17 years (2022 est.)

## Environment
Environmental issues: air pollution and acid rain from industrial and vehicle emissions; water pollution from urban wastes, agricultural runoff
International environmental agreements / party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Multi-effect Protocol, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protection, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling
International environmental agreements / signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Climate: metropolitan France: generally cool winters and mild summers, but mild winters and hot summers along the Mediterranean; occasional strong, cold, dry, north-to-northwesterly wind known as the mistral
Land use / agricultural land: 52.5% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 31.4% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 1.9% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 19.2% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 32.7% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 15% (2023 est.)
Urbanization / urban population: 81.8% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 0.67% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / total emissions: 303.779 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from coal and metallurgical coke: 25.355 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from petroleum and other liquids: 209.4 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from consumed natural gas: 69.025 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Particulate matter emissions: 9 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Methane emissions / energy: 232 kt (2022-2024 est.)
Methane emissions / agriculture: 1,496.1 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Methane emissions / waste: 550.9 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Methane emissions / other: 37.7 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Waste and recycling / municipal solid waste generated annually: 36.749 million tons (2024 est.)
Waste and recycling / percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 31.6% (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / municipal: 5.271 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / industrial: 16.641 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / agricultural: 2.515 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total renewable water resources: 211 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Geoparks / total global geoparks and regional networks: 9 (2024)
Geoparks / global geoparks and regional networks: Armorique; Beaujolais; Causses du Quersey; Chablais; Haute-Provence; Luberon; Massif des Bauges; Monts d'Ard&egrave;che; Normandie-Maine (2024)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: French Republic
Country name / conventional short form: France
Country name / local long form: R&eacute;publique fran&ccedil;aise
Country name / local short form: France
Country name / etymology: derives from the Latin name Francia, meaning "Land of the Franks"; the Franks were a group of Germanic tribes located along the middle and lower Rhine River in the 3rd century A.D.; the origin of the tribal name is unclear but may come from the Old German word franka , meaning "brave," or from a personal name such as Francio or Francus
Government type: semi-presidential republic
Capital / name: Paris
Capital / geographic coordinates: 48 52 N, 2 20 E
Capital / time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Capital / daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October
Capital / time zone note: applies to metropolitan France only; for its overseas regions the time difference is UTC-4 for Guadeloupe and Martinique, UTC-3 for French Guiana, UTC+3 for Mayotte, and UTC+4 for Reunion
Capital / etymology: name derives from the Parisii, a Celtic tribe that inhabited the area from the 3rd century B.C.; the Celtic settlement became the Roman town of Lutetia Parisiorum (Lutetia of the Parisii); over subsequent centuries it became Parisium and then Paris
Administrative divisions: 18 regions ( régions , singular - région ); Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, Bourgogne-Franche-Comté, Bretagne (Brittany), Centre-Val de Loire (Center-Loire Valley), Corse (Corsica), Grand Est (Grand East), Guadeloupe, Guyane (French Guiana), Hauts-de-France (Upper France), Ile-de-France, Martinique, Mayotte, Normandie (Normandy), Nouvelle-Aquitaine (New Aquitaine), Occitanie (Occitania), Pays de la Loire (Lands of the Loire), Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, Réunion
Dependent areas: Clipperton Island, French Polynesia, French Southern and Antarctic Lands, New Caledonia, Saint Barthelemy, Saint Martin, Saint Pierre and Miquelon, Wallis and Futuna (8)
Legal system: civil law; review of administrative but not legislative acts
Constitution / history: many previous; latest effective 4 October 1958
Constitution / amendment process: proposed by the president of the republic (upon recommendation of the prime minister and Parliament) or by Parliament; proposals submitted by Parliament members require passage by both houses followed by approval in a referendum; passage of proposals submitted by the government can bypass a referendum if submitted by the president to Parliament and passed by at least three-fifths majority vote by Parliament&rsquo;s National Assembly
International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Citizenship / citizenship by birth: no
Citizenship / citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of France
Citizenship / dual citizenship recognized: yes
Citizenship / residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch / chief of state: President Emmanuel MACRON (since 14 May 2017)
Executive branch / head of government: S&eacute;bastien LECORNU (since 10 September 2025)
Executive branch / cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president at the suggestion of the prime minister
Executive branch / election/appointment process: president directly elected by absolute-majority popular vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); prime minister appointed by the president
Executive branch / most recent election date: 10 April 2022, with a runoff held on 24 April 2022
Executive branch / election results: 2022: Emmanuel MACRON reelected in second round; percent of vote in first round - Emmanuel MACRON (LREM) 27.8%, Marine LE PEN (RN) 23.2%, Jean-Luc MELENCHON (LFI) 22%, Eric ZEMMOUR (Reconquête) 7.1%, Valerie PECRESSE (LR) 4.8%, Yannick JADOT (EELV) 4.6%, other 10.6%; percent of vote in second round - MACRON 58.5%, LE PEN 41.5% 2017: Emmanuel MACRON elected president in second round; percent of vote in first round - Emmanuel MACRON (EM) 24%, Marine LE PEN (FN) 21.3%, Francois FILLON (LR) 20%, Jean-Luc MELENCHON (FI) 19.6%, Benoit HAMON (PS) 6.4%, other 8.7%; percent of vote in second round - MACRON 66.1%, LE PEN 33.9%
Executive branch / expected date of next election: April 2027
Legislative branch / legislature name: Parliament (Parlement)
Legislative branch / legislative structure: bicameral
Legislative branch - lower chamber / chamber name: National Assembly (Assemblée nationale)
Legislative branch - lower chamber / number of seats: 577 (all directly elected)
Legislative branch - lower chamber / electoral system: plurality/majority
Legislative branch - lower chamber / scope of elections: full renewal
Legislative branch - lower chamber / term in office: 5 years
Legislative branch - lower chamber / most recent election date: 9/24/2023
Legislative branch - lower chamber / parties elected and seats per party: New Popular Front (NFP)/UG (178); Ensemble (presidential majority) (150); National Rally (RN) (125); The Republicans (LR) (39); Other (85)
Legislative branch - lower chamber / percentage of women in chamber: 36.2%
Legislative branch - lower chamber / expected date of next election: June 2029
Legislative branch - upper chamber / chamber name: Senate (S&eacute;nat)
Legislative branch - upper chamber / number of seats: 348 (all indirectly elected)
Legislative branch - upper chamber / scope of elections: partial renewal
Legislative branch - upper chamber / term in office: 6 years
Legislative branch - upper chamber / most recent election date: 6/30/2024 to 7/7/2024
Legislative branch - upper chamber / percentage of women in chamber: 37.1%
Legislative branch - upper chamber / expected date of next election: September 2026
Judicial branch / highest court(s): Court of Cassation or Cour de Cassation (consists of the court president, 6 divisional presiding judges, 120 trial judges, and 70 deputy judges organized into 6 divisions -- 3 civil, 1 commercial, 1 labor, and 1 criminal); Constitutional Council (consists of 9 members)
Judicial branch / judge selection and term of office: Court of Cassation judges appointed by the president of the republic from nominations from the High Council of the Judiciary, presided over by the Court of Cassation and 15 appointed members; judges appointed for life; Constitutional Council has 3 members appointed by the president of the republic and 3 each by the National Assembly and Senate presidents; members serve 9-year, non-renewable terms with one third of the membership renewed every 3 years
Judicial branch / subordinate courts: appellate courts or cours d'appel; regional courts or tribunaux judiciaires; first instance courts or tribunaux de proximit&eacute;; administrative courts
Political parties: Citizen and Republican Movement or MRC Debout la France or DLF Democratic Movement or MoDem Ensemble or ENS (electoral coalition including RE, MoDem, Horizons, PRV, UDI) The Ecologists - the Greens or EELV French Communist Party or PCF Horizons La France Insoumise or FI Liberties, Independents, Overseas and Territories or LIOT Movement of Progressives or MDP National Rally or RN (formerly National Front or FN) New Democrats or LND (formerly Ecology Democracy Solidarity or EDS) New Popular Front or NFP (electoral coalition including FI, EELV, PS, PCF) Radical Party of the Left or PRV Reconquete or REC Renaissance or RE Résistons! Socialist Party or PS The Republicans or LR Union of Democrats and Independents or UDI Union of Far Right or UXD (electoral coalition of LR, RN)
Diplomatic representation in the US / chief of mission: Ambassador Laurent BILI (since 19 April 2023)
Diplomatic representation in the US / chancery: 4101 Reservoir Road NW, Washington, DC 20007
Diplomatic representation in the US / telephone: [1] (202) 944-6000
Diplomatic representation in the US / FAX: [1] (202) 944-6166
Diplomatic representation in the US / email address and website: info@ambafrance-us.org https://franceintheus.org/
Diplomatic representation in the US / consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, San Francisco
Diplomatic representation from the US / chief of mission: Ambassador Charles KUSHNER (since 11 July 2025); note - also accredited to Monaco
Diplomatic representation from the US / embassy: 2 avenue Gabriel, 75008 Paris
Diplomatic representation from the US / mailing address: 9200 Paris Place, Washington DC 20521-9200
Diplomatic representation from the US / telephone: [33] (1) 43-12-22-22, [33] (1) 42-66-97-83
Diplomatic representation from the US / FAX: [33] (1) 42-66-97-83
Diplomatic representation from the US / email address and website: Citizeninfo@state.gov https://fr.usembassy.gov/
Diplomatic representation from the US / consulate(s) general: Marseille, Strasbourg
Diplomatic representation from the US / consulate(s): Bordeaux, Lyon, Rennes
International organization participation: ADB (nonregional member), AfDB (nonregional member), Arctic Council (observer), Australia Group, BDEAC, BIS, BSEC (observer), CBSS (observer), CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECB, EIB, EITI (implementing country), EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, FATF, FZ, G-5, G-7, G-8, G-10, G-20, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD (partners), IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, InOC, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MINURSO, MINUSTAH, MONUSCO, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OIF, OPCW, OSCE, Pacific Alliance (observer), Paris Club, PCA, PIF (partner), Schengen Convention, SELEC (observer), SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNHRC, UNIDO, UNIFIL, Union Latina, UNMIL, UNOCI, UNOOSA, UNRWA, UN Security Council (permanent), UNTSO, UNWTO, UPU, Wassenaar Arrangement, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
Independence: 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 established); 4 October 1958 (Fifth French Republic established)
National holiday: Fête de la Fédération, 14 July (1790)
Flag: description: three equal vertical bands of blue (left side), white, and red history: known as the le tricolore (tricolor), the flag dates to 1790 and the French Revolution, when the traditional color of white was combined with the blue and red of the Paris militia; for the first four years of the flag's use (1790-94), the order of colors was reversed (red-white-blue)
National symbol(s): Gallic rooster, fleur-de-lis, Marianne (female personification of the country)
National color(s): blue, white, red
National anthem(s) / title: "La Marseillaise" (The Song of Marseille)
National anthem(s) / lyrics/music: Claude-Joseph ROUGET de Lisle
National anthem(s) / history: adopted 1795, restored 1870; acquired its name when the National Guard of Marseille sang the song while marching into Paris in 1792 during the French Revolution; one of the most recognized anthems in the world
National heritage / total World Heritage Sites: 54 (46 cultural, 7 natural, 1 mixed); note - includes one site in New Caledonia and one site in French Polynesia
National heritage / selected World Heritage Site locales: Chartres Cathedral (c); Palace and Park of Versailles (c); Mont-Saint-Michel and its Bay (c); Prehistoric Sites and Decorated Caves of the Vézère Valley (c); Pyrénées - Mont Perdu (m); Cistercian Abbey of Fontenay (c); Paris, Banks of the Seine (c); The Loire Valley between Sully-sur-Loire and Chalonnes (c); Pont du Gard (Roman Aqueduct) (c); Amiens Cathedral (c); Palace and Park of Fontainebleau (c); Historic Fortified City of Carcassonne (c); The Maison Carrée of Nîmes (c); Gulf of Porto: Calanche of Piana, Gulf of Girolata, Scandola Reserve (Corsica) (n); Megaliths of Carnac and of the shores of Morbihan (c)

## Economy
Economic overview: high-income, advanced EU economy and eurozone member; strong tourism, aircraft manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, and industrial sectors; high public debt; ongoing pension reform efforts; transitioning to a green economy via "France 2030" strategy
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $3.732 trillion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $3.689 trillion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $3.655 trillion (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2024: 1.2% (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2023: 0.9% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2022: 2.6% (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2024: $54,500 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2023: $54,000 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2022: $53,700 (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $3.162 trillion (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024: 2% (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023: 4.9% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 5.2% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / agriculture: 1.4% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / industry: 17.5% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / services: 70.4% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / household consumption: 53.4% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / government consumption: 23.1% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in fixed capital: 23.1% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in inventories: 0.1% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / exports of goods and services: 34.3% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / imports of goods and services: -36.3% (2023 est.)
Agricultural products: wheat, sugar beets, milk, maize, barley, potatoes, grapes, rapeseed, pork, sunflower seeds (2023)
Industries: machinery, chemicals, automobiles, metallurgy, aircraft, electronics, textiles, food processing, tourism
Industrial production growth rate: 0.7% (2024 est.)
Labor force: 31.725 million (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2024: 7.4% (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2023: 7.4% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2022: 7.4% (2022 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / total: 16.6% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / male: 17.1% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / female: 16% (2024 est.)
Population below poverty line: 15.6% (2021 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income / Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2022: 31.2 (2022 est.)
Average household expenditures / on food: 12.6% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Average household expenditures / on alcohol and tobacco: 3.5% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / lowest 10%: 3% (2022 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / highest 10%: 24.6% (2022 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2024: 1.2% of GDP (2024 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2023: 1.2% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2022: 1.2% of GDP (2022 est.)
Budget / revenues: $1.29 trillion (2023 est.)
Budget / expenditures: $1.447 trillion (2023 est.)
Public debt / Public debt 2023: 98.5% of GDP (2023 est.)
Taxes and other revenues: 23.1% (of GDP) (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2024: $12.382 billion (2024 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2023: -$30.334 billion (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2022: -$33.069 billion (2022 est.)
Exports / Exports 2024: $1.071 trillion (2024 est.)
Exports / Exports 2023: $1.05 trillion (2023 est.)
Exports / Exports 2022: $1.021 trillion (2022 est.)
Exports - partners: Germany 11%, Italy 9%, USA 8%, Belgium 8%, Spain 7% (2023)
Exports - commodities: aircraft, cars, packaged medicine, gas turbines, vehicle parts/accessories (2023)
Imports / Imports 2024: $1.074 trillion (2024 est.)
Imports / Imports 2023: $1.094 trillion (2023 est.)
Imports / Imports 2022: $1.092 trillion (2022 est.)
Imports - partners: Germany 15%, Belgium 11%, Netherlands 9%, Spain 8%, Italy 8% (2023)
Imports - commodities: cars, natural gas, crude petroleum, refined petroleum, garments (2023)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024: $282.857 billion (2024 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023: $240.792 billion (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $242.416 billion (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Currency: euros (EUR) per US dollar -
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2024: 0.924 (2024 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2023: 0.925 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2022: 0.95 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2021: 0.845 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2020: 0.876 (2020 est.)

## Energy
Electricity access / electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)
Electricity / installed generating capacity: 151.463 million kW (2023 est.)
Electricity / consumption: 415.542 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / exports: 76.207 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / imports: 25.107 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / transmission/distribution losses: 35.282 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / fossil fuels: 7.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / nuclear: 63.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / solar: 4.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / wind: 10.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / hydroelectricity: 10.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / tide and wave: 0.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / biomass and waste: 2.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Nuclear energy / Number of operational nuclear reactors: 57 (2025)
Nuclear energy / Net capacity of operational nuclear reactors: 61.37GW (2025 est.)
Nuclear energy / Percent of total electricity production: 64.8% (2023 est.)
Nuclear energy / Number of nuclear reactors permanently shut down: 14 (2025)
Coal / production: 2.157 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / consumption: 12.57 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / exports: 64,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / imports: 10.347 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / proven reserves: 160 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum / total petroleum production: 80,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Petroleum / refined petroleum consumption: 1.536 million bbl/day (2024 est.)
Petroleum / crude oil estimated reserves: 61.719 million barrels (2021 est.)
Natural gas / production: 17.928 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / consumption: 33.238 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / exports: 13.584 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / imports: 46.909 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / proven reserves: 7.787 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)
Energy consumption per capita / Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 123.526 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

## Communications
Telephones - fixed lines / total subscriptions: 37.3 million (2023 est.)
Telephones - fixed lines / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 56 (2023 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / total subscriptions: 77.5 million (2023 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 117 (2023 est.)
Broadcast media: a mix of both publicly operated and privately owned TV stations; state-owned TV stations operate 4 networks and have part-interest in several thematic cable/satellite channels and international channels; large number of privately owned regional and local TV stations; multi-channel satellite and cable services; public broadcaster Radio France operates 7 national networks, a series of regional networks, and services for overseas territories and foreign audiences; Radio France Internationale, under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, is a leading international broadcaster; large number of commercial FM stations
Internet country code: metropolitan France - .fr; French Guiana - .gf; Guadeloupe - .gp; Martinique - .mq; Mayotte - .yt; Reunion - .re
Internet users / percent of population: 87% (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / total: 32.3 million (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 49 (2023 est.)

## Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: F
Airports: 1,218 (2025)
Heliports: 405 (2025)
Railways / total: 27,860 km (2020) 16,660 km electrified
Railways / narrow gauge: -5 km
Merchant marine / total: 553 (2023)
Merchant marine / by type: container ship 32, general cargo 48, oil tanker 25, other 448
Ports / total ports: 66 (2024)
Ports / large: 6
Ports / medium: 12
Ports / small: 22
Ports / very small: 26
Ports / ports with oil terminals: 31
Ports / key ports: Bayonne, Bordeaux, Boulogne-sur-Mer, Dunkerque Port Est, Dunkerque Port Ouest, La Pallice, La Rochelle, Les Sables d'Olonne, Lorient, Montoir, Nantes, Le Havre, Rouen, Rade de Brest, Rade de Cherbourg, Rochefort, St. Nazaire, Toulon
Transportation - note: begun in 1988 and completed in 1994, the Channel Tunnel (nicknamed the Chunnel) is a 50.5-km (31.4-mi) rail tunnel under the English Channel at the Strait of Dover; it runs from Folkestone, Kent, in England to Coquelles, Pas-de-Calais, in northern France and is the only fixed link between the island of Great Britain and mainland Europe

## Military and Security
Military and security forces: French Armed Forces (Forces Armées Françaises): Army (l'Armee de Terre; includes Foreign Legion), Navy (Marine Nationale), Air and Space Force (l'Armee de l’Air et de l’Espace); includes Air Defense), National Guard (Garde Nationale), National Gendarmerie (Gendarmerie Nationale) (2025)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2025: 2.1% of GDP (2025 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2024: 2% of GDP (2024 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2023: 1.9% of GDP (2023 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2022: 1.9% of GDP (2022 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2021: 1.9% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military and security service personnel strengths: approximately 200,000 active duty Armed Forces; approximately 150,000 National Gendarmerie; approximately 80,000 National Guard (2025)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the French military's inventory consists mostly of domestically produced weapons systems, including some jointly produced with other European countries; there is a smaller mix of armaments from other Western countries, particularly the US; France has a large and sophisticated defense industry capable of manufacturing the full spectrum of air, land, and naval military weapons systems (2025)
Military service age and obligation: generally 17-30 years of age for both men and women with some variations by service, position, and enlisted versus officer; 17-40 for National Gendarmerie; basic service contract is for 12 months; no conscription (abolished 2001) (2025)
Military deployments: France typically has up to 30,000 total air, ground, and naval forces deployed on permanent or temporary foreign missions; up to 10,000 are permanently deployed, including Djibouti (1,500); French Guyana (2,600); French Polynesia (1,000); French West Indies (1,000); Reunion Island (2,100); UAE (800) other non-permanent deployments include military missions under NATO, the EU, and the UN, as well as some unilateral operations, in such places as Europe, Africa, and the Middle East and adjacent waters (2025)
Military - note: the French military has a global footprint and a wide range of missions and responsibilities, to include protecting French territory, population, and interests, and fulfilling France’s commitments to NATO, European security, and international peacekeeping operations under the UN; it is the largest military in the EU and has a leading role in the EU security framework, as well as in NATO; in recent years, it has actively participated in coalition peacekeeping and other security operations in regions such as Africa, the Middle East, and the Balkans, often in a lead role; the military regularly conducts large-scale exercises and participates in a variety of bi-lateral and multinational exercises; it also has a domestic security mission, including providing enhanced security at sensitive sites and large events and support during national crises or disasters, such as fighting forest fires; in recent years, defense responsibilities have expanded to include cyber and space domains in 2010, France and the UK signed a declaration on defense and security cooperation that included greater military interoperability and a Combined Joint Expeditionary Force (CJEF), a deployable, combined Anglo-French military force for use in a wide range of crisis scenarios, including high intensity operations, peacekeeping, disaster relief, and humanitarian assistance; the CJEF has no standing forces, but would be available at short notice for French-UK bilateral, NATO, EU, UN, or other operations (2025)

## Space
Space agency/agencies: National Center for Space Studies (Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales, CNES; established 1961) (2025)
Space launch site(s): Guiana Space Center (Kourou, French Guiana; also serves as the spaceport for the ESA); note &ndash; prior to the completion of the Guiana Space Center in 1969, France launched rockets from Algeria (2025)
Space program overview: has one of Europe&rsquo;s largest space programs and is one of the top contributors to the ESA; has independent capabilities in all areas, except for autonomous manned space flight; can build, launch, and operate a range of space/satellite launch vehicles (SLVs) and spacecraft, including exploratory probes and a full spectrum of satellites; shifted astronaut training to ESA in 2001; hosts the ESA headquarters and its space launch facility; participates in international space programs such as the Square Kilometer Array radio telescope and International Space Station; works with a broad range of space agencies and commercial space companies, including those of China, Egypt, individual ESA and EU member countries, India, Indonesia, Israel, Japan, Mexico, Russia, the UAE, the US, and several African countries; has a large commercial space sector involved in satellite construction and payloads, launch capabilities, and a range of other space-related capabilities and technologies (2025)
Key space-program milestones: early 1960s - began rocket program and launched animals into space 1965 - launched first domestically produced satellite (Asterix) into space on a French Diamant rocket (third country to do so after the Soviet Union and US) 1973 - began development of Ariane heavy-lift satellite launch vehicle (SLV) along with other European states, particularly Germany and the UK; Ariane would become the ESA's SLV 1970s-1990s - development of a space plane/shuttle program (Hermes) 1982 - first French astronaut into space on a Soviet rocket 1986 - launched first joint European Earth observation/remote sensing program (SPOT) 2018 - launched project (Spaceship FR) to lay the groundwork for robotic and crewed missions to the Moon and Mars 2024 - debut launch of Ariane-6 SLV; claimed world's first satellite to ground communications via laser

## Terrorism
Terrorist group(s): Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps/Qods Force; Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS); al-Qa'ida

## Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons / refugees: 810,325 (2024 est.)
Refugees and internally displaced persons / IDPs: 59 (2024 est.)
Refugees and internally displaced persons / stateless persons: 2,634 (2024 est.)

=== Gibraltar ===

## Introduction
Background: Spain reluctantly ceded the strategically important Gibraltar to Great Britain in the 1713 Treaty of Utrecht, and the British garrison at Gibraltar was formally declared a colony in 1830. In a referendum held in 1967, Gibraltarians voted overwhelmingly to remain a British dependency. After the UK granted Gibraltar autonomy in 1969, Spain closed the border and severed all communication links. Between 1997 and 2002, the UK and Spain held a series of talks on establishing temporary joint sovereignty over Gibraltar. In response to these talks, the Gibraltar Government called a referendum in 2002 in which the majority of citizens voted overwhelmingly against sharing sovereignty with Spain. Since 2004, Spain, the UK, and Gibraltar have held tripartite talks to resolve problems that affect the local population, and work continues on cooperation agreements in areas such as taxation and financial services, communications and maritime security, legal and customs services, environmental protection, and education and visa services. A new noncolonial constitution came into force in 2007, and the European Court of First Instance recognized Gibraltar's right to regulate its own tax regime in 2008. The UK retains responsibility for defense, foreign relations, internal security, and financial stability. Spain and the UK continue to spar over the territory. In 2009, for example, a dispute over Gibraltar's claim to territorial waters extending out three miles gave rise to periodic non-violent maritime confrontations between Spanish and UK naval patrols. Spain renewed its demands for an eventual return of Gibraltar to Spanish control after the UK’s 2016 vote to leave the EU, but London has dismissed any connection between the vote and its sovereignty over Gibraltar.

## Geography
Location: Southwestern Europe, bordering the Strait of Gibraltar, which links the Mediterranean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, on the southern coast of Spain
Geographic coordinates: 36 08 N, 5 21 W
Map references: Europe
Area / total: 7 sq km
Area / land: 6.5 sq km
Area / water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative: more than 10 times the size of the National Mall in Washington, D.C.
Land boundaries / total: 1.2 km
Land boundaries / border countries: Spain 1.2 km
Coastline: 12 km
Maritime claims / territorial sea: 3 nm
Climate: Mediterranean with mild winters and warm summers
Terrain: a narrow coastal lowland borders the Rock of Gibraltar
Elevation / highest point: Rock of Gibraltar 426 m
Elevation / lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m
Natural resources: none
Land use / agricultural land: 0% (2022 est.)
Land use / forest: 0% (2022 est.)
Land use / other: 100% (2022 est.)
Irrigated land: NA
Natural hazards: occasional droughts; no streams or large bodies of water on the peninsula (all potable water comes from desalination)
Geography - note: strategic location on Strait of Gibraltar that links the North Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea

## People and Society
Population / total: 29,733 (2025 est.)
Population / male: 14,923
Population / female: 14,810
Nationality / noun: Gibraltarian(s)
Nationality / adjective: Gibraltar
Ethnic groups: Gibraltarian 79%, other British 13.2%, Spanish 2.1%, Moroccan 1.6%, other EU 2.4%, other 1.6% (2012 est.)
Languages: English (used in schools and for official purposes), Spanish, Italian, Portuguese
Religions: Roman Catholic 72.1%, Church of England 7.7%, other Christian 3.8%, Muslim 3.6%, Jewish 2.4%, Hindu 2%, other 1.1%, none 7.1%, unspecified 0.1% (2012 est.)
Age structure / 0-14 years: 20% (male 3,045/female 2,895)
Age structure / 15-64 years: 62.5% (male 9,383/female 9,179)
Age structure / 65 years and over: 17.5% (2024 est.) (male 2,491/female 2,690)
Dependency ratios / total dependency ratio: 60 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / youth dependency ratio: 32.1 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / elderly dependency ratio: 28 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / potential support ratio: 3.6 (2025 est.)
Median age / total: 37.1 years (2025 est.)
Median age / male: 36.2 years
Median age / female: 37.5 years
Population growth rate: 0.16% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 13.55 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 8.71 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: -3.23 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Urbanization / urban population: 100% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 0.45% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 35,000 GIBRALTAR (capital) (2018)
Sex ratio / at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 65 years and over: 0.93 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Infant mortality rate / total: 5.9 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Infant mortality rate / male: 6.8 deaths/1,000 live births
Infant mortality rate / female: 5.2 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth / total population: 80.9 years (2024 est.)
Life expectancy at birth / male: 78.1 years
Life expectancy at birth / female: 83.8 years
Total fertility rate: 1.88 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 0.92 (2025 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: urban: urban: 100% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: total: total: 100% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: urban: urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: total: total: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: urban: urban: 100% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: total: total: 100% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: urban: urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: total: total: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Education expenditure: 8.6% national budget (2025 est.)

## Environment
Environmental issues: limited natural freshwater resources
Climate: Mediterranean with mild winters and warm summers
Land use / agricultural land: 0% (2022 est.)
Land use / forest: 0% (2022 est.)
Land use / other: 100% (2022 est.)
Urbanization / urban population: 100% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 0.45% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / total emissions: 15.608 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from petroleum and other liquids: 15.458 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from consumed natural gas: 150,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Waste and recycling / municipal solid waste generated annually: 17,000 tons (2024 est.)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: none
Country name / conventional short form: Gibraltar
Country name / etymology: from the Spanish derivation of the Arabic jabal tariq , which means "Mountain of Tariq" and refers to the Berber chief who captured the peninsula in A.D. 711
Government type: parliamentary democracy (Parliament); self-governing overseas territory of the UK
Dependency status: overseas territory of the UK
Capital / name: Gibraltar
Capital / geographic coordinates: 36 08 N, 5 21 W
Capital / time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Capital / daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October
Capital / etymology: from the Spanish derivation of the Arabic jabal tariq , which means "Mountain of Tariq" and refers to the Berber chief who captured the peninsula in A.D. 711
Legal system: the laws of the UK apply
Constitution / history: previous 1969; latest passed by referendum 30 November 2006, entered into effect 14 December 2006, entered into force 2 January 2007
Constitution / amendment process: proposed by Parliament and requires prior consent of the British monarch (through the Secretary of State); passage requires at least three-fourths majority vote in Parliament followed by simple majority vote in a referendum; note &ndash; only sections 1 through 15 in Chapter 1 (Protection of Fundamental Rights and Freedoms) can be amended by Parliament
Citizenship: see United Kingdom
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal; and British citizens with six months residence or more
Executive branch / chief of state: King CHARLES III (since 8 September 2022); represented by Governor Sir David STEEL (since 11 June 2020)
Executive branch / head of government: Chief Minister Fabian PICARDO (since 9 December 2011)
Executive branch / cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed from among the 17 elected members of Parliament by the governor, in consultation with the chief minister
Executive branch / election/appointment process: the monarchy is hereditary; governor appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the governor usually appoints the leader of the majority party or majority coalition as chief minister
Legislative branch / legislature name: Parliament
Legislative branch / legislative structure: unicameral
Legislative branch / number of seats: 18 (17 directly elected, 1 appointed)
Legislative branch / electoral system: plurality/majority
Legislative branch / scope of elections: full renewal
Legislative branch / term in office: 4 years
Legislative branch / most recent election date: 10/12/2023
Legislative branch / parties elected and seats per party: GSLP-Liberal Alliance (9) (GSLP 7, LPG 2); GSD (8)
Legislative branch / percentage of women in chamber: 38.5%
Legislative branch / expected date of next election: October 2027
Judicial branch / highest court(s): Court of Appeal (consists of at least 3 judges, including the court president); Supreme Court of Gibraltar (consists of the chief justice and 3 judges)
Judicial branch / judge selection and term of office: Court of Appeal and Supreme Court judges appointed by the governor upon the advice of the Judicial Service Commission, a 7-member body of judges and appointees of the governor; tenure of the Court of Appeal president based on terms of appointment; Supreme Court chief justice and judges normally appointed until retirement at age 67, but tenure can be extended 3 years
Judicial branch / subordinate courts: Court of First Instance; Magistrates' Court; specialized tribunals for issues relating to social security, taxes, and employment
Political parties: Gibraltar Liberal Party or Liberal Party of Gibraltar or LPG Gibraltar Social Democrats or GSD Gibraltar Socialist Labor Party or GSLP GSLP-Liberal Alliance Together Gibraltar or TG
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (overseas territory of the UK)
Diplomatic representation from the US / embassy: none (overseas territory of the UK)
International organization participation: ICC (NGOs), Interpol (subbureau), UPU
Independence: none (overseas territory of the UK)
National holiday: National Day, 10 September (1967)
Flag: description: two horizontal bands of white (top, double-width) and red with a three-towered red castle in the center of the white band; a gold key hangs from the castle gate and is centered in the red band meaning: the castle symbolizes Gibraltar as a fortress, and the key represents Gibraltar's strategic importance -- the key to the Mediterranean history: the design comes from Gibraltar's coat of arms, which King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain granted on 10 July 1502
National symbol(s): Barbary partridge
National color(s): red, white, yellow
National coat of arms: King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain granted this coat of arms to Gibraltar in 1502; the castle in the center of the shield represents Gibraltar as a fortress, and the gold key represents its strategic position as the gateway to the Mediterranean; below the shield is the national motto, Montis Insignia Calpe (“Badge of the Rock of Gibraltar”); the coat of arms uses the national colors of red, white, and yellow
National anthem(s) / title: "God Save the King"
National anthem(s) / lyrics/music: unknown
National anthem(s) / history: official anthem, as an overseas UK territory

## Economy
Economic overview: British territorial high-income economy; Brexit caused significant economic disruption to longstanding financial services, shipping, and tourism industries; ongoing negotiations to rejoin EU Schengen Area; independent taxation authority
GDP (official exchange rate): $2.044 billion (2014 est.)
Agricultural products: none
Industries: tourism, banking and finance, ship repairing, tobacco
Exports - partners: Netherlands 38%, France 26%, Cyprus 7%, Poland 7%, Sweden 6% (2023)
Exports - commodities: refined petroleum, natural gas, ships, cars, scrap iron (2023)
Imports - partners: Italy 26%, Greece 12%, Spain 10%, Netherlands 9%, India 9% (2023)
Imports - commodities: refined petroleum, crude petroleum, coal tar oil, natural gas, ships (2023)
Exchange rates / Currency: Gibraltar pounds (GIP) per US dollar -
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2024: 0.782 (2024 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2023: 0.805 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2022: 0.811 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2021: 0.727 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2020: 0.78 (2020 est.)

## Energy
Electricity access / electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)
Electricity / installed generating capacity: 50,000 kW (2023 est.)
Electricity / consumption: 213.744 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / transmission/distribution losses: 6.256 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / fossil fuels: 100% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Petroleum / refined petroleum consumption: 91,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Natural gas / consumption: 77.196 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / imports: 77.196 million cubic meters (2023 est.)

## Communications
Telephones - fixed lines / total subscriptions: 17,200 (2022 est.)
Telephones - fixed lines / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 46 (2022 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / total subscriptions: 36,700 (2022 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 98 (2022 est.)
Broadcast media: Gibraltar Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) provides TV and radio services via 1 TV station and 4 radio stations; British Forces Broadcasting Service (BFBS) operates 1 radio station; broadcasts from Spanish radio and TV stations are accessible
Internet country code: .gi
Internet users / percent of population: 94% (2016 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / total: 23,000 (2022 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 61 (2022 est.)

## Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: VP-G
Airports: 1 (2025)
Merchant marine / total: 129 (2023)
Merchant marine / by type: bulk carrier 8, container ship 5, general cargo 31, oil tanker 16, other 69
Ports / total ports: 1 (2024)
Ports / large: 0
Ports / medium: 1
Ports / small: 0
Ports / very small: 0
Ports / ports with oil terminals: 1
Ports / key ports: Europa Point

## Military and Security
Military and security forces: Royal Gibraltar Regiment (UK) (2025)
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of the UK

## Transnational Issues

=== Guernsey ===

## Introduction
Background: Guernsey and the other Channel Islands represent the last remnants of the medieval Duchy of Normandy, which held sway in both France and England. The islands were the only British soil that Germany occupied in World War II. The Bailiwick of Guernsey consists of the main island of Guernsey and a number of smaller islands, including Alderney, Sark, Herm, Jethou, Brecqhou, and Lihou. The Bailiwick is a self-governing British Crown dependency that is not part of the UK. However, the UK Government is constitutionally responsible for its defense and international representation.

## Geography
Location: Western Europe, islands in the English Channel, northwest of France
Geographic coordinates: 49 28 N, 2 35 W
Map references: Europe
Area / total: 78 sq km
Area / land: 78 sq km
Area / water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative: about one-half the size of Washington, D.C.
Land boundaries / total: 0 km
Coastline: 50 km
Maritime claims / territorial sea: 12 nm
Maritime claims / exclusive fishing zone: 12 nm
Climate: temperate with mild winters and cool summers; about 50% of days are overcast
Terrain: mostly flat with low hills in southwest
Elevation / highest point: Le Moulin on Sark 114 m
Elevation / lowest point: English Channel 0 m
Natural resources: cropland
Land use / agricultural land: 43.3% (2022 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 18.3% (2022 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 0% (2022 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 24.9% (2022 est.)
Land use / forest: 5.2% (2022 est.)
Land use / other: 51.6% (2022 est.)
Irrigated land: NA
Natural hazards: very large tidal variation and fast currents can make local waters dangerous
Geography - note: large, deepwater harbor at Saint Peter Port

## People and Society
Population / total: 67,923 (2025 est.)
Population / male: 33,760
Population / female: 34,163
Nationality / noun: Channel Islander(s)
Nationality / adjective: Channel Islander
Ethnic groups: Guernsey 53.5%, UK and Ireland 23.8%, Portugal 2.1%, Latvia 1.4%, other Europe 2.7%, other Crown Dependencies 0.7%, other 5.3%, unspecified 10.5% (2022 est.)
Languages: English, French, Norman-French dialect spoken in country districts
Religions: Protestant (Anglican, Presbyterian, Baptist, Congregational, Methodist), Roman Catholic
Age structure / 0-14 years: 14.3% (male 4,999/female 4,717)
Age structure / 15-64 years: 64.1% (male 21,937/female 21,547)
Age structure / 65 years and over: 21.5% (2024 est.) (male 6,776/female 7,811)
Dependency ratios / total dependency ratio: 56.8 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / youth dependency ratio: 22.4 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / elderly dependency ratio: 34.4 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / potential support ratio: 2.9 (2025 est.)
Median age / total: 45.1 years (2025 est.)
Median age / male: 43.8 years
Median age / female: 46.2 years
Population growth rate: 0.19% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 9.64 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 9.19 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: 1.47 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Urbanization / urban population: 31.2% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 0.68% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 16,000 SAINT PETER PORT (capital) (2018)
Sex ratio / at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 65 years and over: 0.87 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Infant mortality rate / total: 3.2 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Infant mortality rate / male: 3.7 deaths/1,000 live births
Infant mortality rate / female: 2.7 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth / total population: 83.6 years (2024 est.)
Life expectancy at birth / male: 80.9 years
Life expectancy at birth / female: 86.4 years
Total fertility rate: 1.59 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 0.78 (2025 est.)

## Environment
Environmental issues: coastal erosion, coastal flooding; declining biodiversity
Climate: temperate with mild winters and cool summers; about 50% of days are overcast
Land use / agricultural land: 43.3% (2022 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 18.3% (2022 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 0% (2022 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 24.9% (2022 est.)
Land use / forest: 5.2% (2022 est.)
Land use / other: 51.6% (2022 est.)
Urbanization / urban population: 31.2% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 0.68% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Waste and recycling / municipal solid waste generated annually: 178,900 tons (2024 est.)
Waste and recycling / percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 28.4% (2016 est.)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: Bailiwick of Guernsey
Country name / conventional short form: Guernsey
Country name / former: Norman Isles
Country name / etymology: the name is of Old Norse origin; the meaning of the root "Guern(s)" is unclear but may refer to a person's name, Grani, or to the color green; the "-ey" ending means "island"
Government type: parliamentary democracy (States of Deliberation)
Dependency status: British crown dependency
Capital / name: Saint Peter Port
Capital / geographic coordinates: 49 27 N, 2 32 W
Capital / time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Capital / daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October
Capital / etymology: named for the patron saint of fishermen; "port" distinguishes it from the Saint Peter (sometimes called Saint Peter in the Wood) on the other side of the island
Administrative divisions: no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US government, but 10 parishes: Castel, Forest, Saint Andrew, Saint Martin, Saint Peter Port, Saint Pierre du Bois, Saint Sampson, Saint Saviour, Torteval, Vale
Legal system: customary system based on Norman customary law; includes elements of the French civil code and English common law
Constitution / history: unwritten; includes royal charters, statutes, and common law and practice
Constitution / amendment process: new laws or changes to existing laws are initiated by the States of Deliberation; passage requires majority vote
Citizenship: see United Kingdom
Suffrage: 16 years of age; universal
Executive branch / chief of state: King CHARLES III (since 8 September 2022); represented by Lieutenant-Governor Richard CRIPWELL (since 15 February 2022)
Executive branch / head of government: Chief Minister Lindsay de SAUSMAREZ (since 1 July 2025)
Executive branch / cabinet: none
Executive branch / election/appointment process: the monarchy is hereditary; lieutenant governor and bailiff appointed by the monarch; chief minister, who is the president of the Policy and Resources Committee, indirectly elected by the States of Deliberation for a 4-year term
Executive branch / most recent election date: 7/1/2025
Executive branch / election results: 2025: Lindsay de SAUSMAREZ (independent) elected president of the Policy and Resources Committee and chief minister 2020: Peter FERBRACHE (independent) elected president of the Policy and Resources Committee and chief minister: percent of States of Guernsey vote - 57.5% 2016: Gavin ST. PIER (independent) elected president of the Policy and Resources Committee and chief minister
Executive branch / expected date of next election: 2029
Legislative branch / legislature name: States of Deliberation
Legislative branch / legislative structure: unicameral
Legislative branch / number of seats: 38 (directly elected)
Legislative branch / electoral system: plurality/majority
Legislative branch / scope of elections: full renewal
Legislative branch / term in office: 4 years
Legislative branch / most recent election date: 7/1/2025
Legislative branch / parties elected and seats per party: independent (35); Forward Guernsey (3)
Legislative branch / percentage of women in chamber: 20%
Legislative branch / expected date of next election: 2030
Judicial branch / highest court(s): Guernsey Court of Appeal (consists of the Bailiff of Guernsey, who is the ex-officio president of the Guernsey Court of Appeal, and at least 12 judges); Royal Court (organized into 3 divisions - Full Court sits with 1 judge and 7 to 12 jurats acting as judges of fact, Ordinary Court sits with 1 judge and normally 3 jurats, and Matrimonial Causes Division sits with 1 judge and 4 jurats)
Judicial branch / judge selection and term of office: Royal Court Bailiff, Deputy Bailiff, and Court of Appeal justices appointed by the British Crown and hold office at Her Majesty's pleasure; jurats elected by the States of Election, a body chaired by the Bailiff and a number of jurats
Judicial branch / subordinate courts: Court of Alderney; Court of the Seneschal of Sark; Magistrates' Court (includes Juvenile Court); Contracts Court; Ecclesiastical Court; Court of Chief Pleas
Political parties: Forward Guernsey
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (British crown dependency)
Diplomatic representation from the US / embassy: none (British crown dependency)
International organization participation: UPU
Independence: none (British Crown dependency)
National holiday: Liberation Day, 9 May (1945)
Flag: description: 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 on top of the Saint George cross meaning: the red cross represents Guernsey's status as a British Crown dependency history: the gold cross is a replica of the one William the Conqueror carried at the Battle of Hastings in 1066
National symbol(s): Guernsey cow, donkey
National color(s): red, white, yellow
National anthem(s) / title: "God Save the King"
National anthem(s) / lyrics/music: unknown
National anthem(s) / history: official anthem, as a British crown dependency

## Economy
Economic overview: high-income English Channel island economy; strong financial sector but stressed due to COVID-19 disruptions; manufacturing, tourism, and construction industries suffered but expected to recover; stable inflation; maintains independent taxation authority
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2023: 3.7% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2022: 5.3% (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2021: 9.9% (2021 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $12.508 billion (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / agriculture: 0.6% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / industry: 8.2% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / services: 91.2% (2023 est.)
Agricultural products: tomatoes, greenhouse flowers, sweet peppers, eggplant, fruit; Guernsey cattle
Industries: tourism, banking
Industrial production growth rate: 1.3% (2023 est.)
Labor force: 82,400 (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2024: 6.3% (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2023: 6.2% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2022: 6.2% (2022 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / total: 14.1% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / male: 14.2% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / female: 13.9% (2024 est.)
Exports - partners: almost entirely United Kingdom (2022)
Exports - commodities: aircraft, photo lab equipment, clocks, ships, paintings (2022)
Imports - partners: almost entirely United Kingdom (2022)
Imports - commodities: ships, aircraft, refined petroleum, mineral manufactures, beverages (2022)
Exchange rates / Currency: Guernsey pound per US dollar
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2024: 0.782 (2024 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2023: 0.805 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2022: 0.811 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2021: 0.727 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2020: 0.78 (2020 est.)

## Energy
Electricity access / electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)

## Communications
Telephones - fixed lines / total subscriptions: 32,637 (2023 est.)
Telephones - fixed lines / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 51 (2023 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / total subscriptions: 75,126 (2023 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 117 (2023 est.)
Broadcast media: multiple UK terrestrial TV broadcasts are received via a transmitter in Jersey with relays in Jersey, Guernsey, and Alderney; satellite packages are available; BBC Radio Guernsey and 1 other radio station
Internet country code: .gg
Internet users / percent of population: 86.6% (2021 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / total: 25,336 (2020 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 40 (2020 est.)

## Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: 2
Airports: 2 (2025)
Heliports: 1 (2025)
Ports / total ports: 3 (2024)
Ports / large: 0
Ports / medium: 0
Ports / small: 1
Ports / very small: 2
Ports / ports with oil terminals: 2
Ports / key ports: Alderney Harbour, Saint Peter Port, Saint Sampson

## Military and Security
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of the UK

## Transnational Issues

=== Germany ===

## Introduction
Background: As Europe's largest economy and second most-populous nation (after Russia), Germany is a key member of the continent's economic, political, and defense organizations. European power struggles immersed Germany in two devastating world wars in the first half of the 20th century and left the country occupied by the victorious Allied powers of the US, UK, France, and the Soviet Union in 1945. With the advent of the Cold War, two German states were formed in 1949: the western Federal Republic of Germany (FRG) and the eastern German Democratic Republic (GDR). The democratic FRG embedded itself in key western economic and security organizations, including the EC (now the EU) and NATO, while the communist GDR was on the front line of the Soviet-led Warsaw Pact. The decline of the Soviet Union and the end of the Cold War allowed German reunification to occur in 1990. Since then, Germany has expended considerable funds to bring eastern productivity and wages up to western standards. In January 1999, Germany and 10 other EU countries introduced a common European exchange currency, the euro.

## Geography
Location: Central Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea and the North Sea, between the Netherlands and Poland, south of Denmark
Geographic coordinates: 51 00 N, 9 00 E
Map references: Europe
Area / total: 357,022 sq km
Area / land: 348,672 sq km
Area / water: 8,350 sq km
Area - comparative: three times the size of Pennsylvania; slightly smaller than Montana
Land boundaries / total: 3,694 km
Land boundaries / border countries: Austria 801 km; Belgium 133 km; Czechia 704 km; Denmark 140 km; France 418 km; Luxembourg 128 km; Netherlands 575 km; Poland 447 km; Switzerland 348 km
Coastline: 2,389 km
Maritime claims / territorial sea: 12 nm
Maritime claims / exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Maritime claims / continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Climate: temperate and marine; cool, cloudy, wet winters and summers; occasional warm mountain (foehn) wind
Terrain: lowlands in north, uplands in center, Bavarian Alps in south
Elevation / highest point: Zugspitze 2,963 m
Elevation / lowest point: Neuendorf bei Wilster -3.5 m
Elevation / mean elevation: 263 m
Natural resources: coal, lignite, natural gas, iron ore, copper, nickel, uranium, potash, salt, construction materials, timber, arable land
Land use / agricultural land: 47.5% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 33.4% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 0.6% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 13.5% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 32.8% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 15% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land: 5,065 sq km (2020)
Major lakes (area sq km) / fresh water lake(s): Lake Constance (shared with Switzerland and Austria) - 540 sq km
Major lakes (area sq km) / salt water lake(s): Stettiner Haff/Zalew Szczecinski (shared with Poland) - 900 sq km
Major rivers (by length in km): Donau (Danube) river source (shared with Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Bulgaria, Ukraine, Moldova, and Romania [m]) - 2,888 km; Elbe river mouth (shared with Czechia [s]) - 1,252 km; Rhein (Rhine) (shared with Switzerland [s], France, and Netherlands [m]) - 1,233 km note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Major watersheds (area sq km) / Atlantic Ocean drainage: Rhine-Maas (198,735 sq km), (Black Sea) Danube (795,656 sq km)
Population distribution: second most populous country in Europe; a fairly even distribution throughout most of the country, with urban areas attracting larger and denser populations, particularly in the far-western part of the industrial state of North Rhine-Westphalia
Natural hazards: flooding
Geography - note: strategic location on North European Plain and along the entrance to the Baltic Sea; most major rivers in Germany -- the Rhine, Weser, Oder, Elbe -- flow northward; the Danube, which originates in the Black Forest, flows eastward

## People and Society
Population / total: 84,012,284 (2025 est.)
Population / male: 41,517,301
Population / female: 42,494,983
Nationality / noun: German(s)
Nationality / adjective: German
Ethnic groups: German 85.4%, Turkish 1.8%, Ukrainian 1.4%, Syrian 1.1%, Romanian 1%, Poland 1%, other/stateless/unspecified 8.3% (2022 est.)
Languages / Languages: German (official); note - Danish, Frisian, Sorbian, and Romani are official minority languages; Low German, Danish, North Frisian, Sater Frisian, Lower Sorbian, Upper Sorbian, and Romani are recognized as regional languages
Languages / major-language sample(s): Das World Factbook, die unverzichtbare Quelle für grundlegende Informationen. (German) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
Religions: Roman Catholic 24.8%, Protestant 22.6%, Muslim 3.7%, other 5.1%, none 43.8% (2022 est.)
Age structure / 0-14 years: 13.8% (male 5,925,800/female 5,688,603)
Age structure / 15-64 years: 62.5% (male 26,705,657/female 25,875,865)
Age structure / 65 years and over: 23.7% (2024 est.) (male 8,941,245/female 10,981,930)
Dependency ratios / total dependency ratio: 61.3 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / youth dependency ratio: 22.4 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / elderly dependency ratio: 38.9 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / potential support ratio: 2.6 (2025 est.)
Median age / total: 46.9 years (2025 est.)
Median age / male: 45.5 years
Median age / female: 48.3 years
Population growth rate: -0.13% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 8.87 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 11.96 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: 1.79 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution: second most populous country in Europe; a fairly even distribution throughout most of the country, with urban areas attracting larger and denser populations, particularly in the far-western part of the industrial state of North Rhine-Westphalia
Urbanization / urban population: 77.8% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 0.13% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 3.574 million BERLIN (capital), 1.788 million Hamburg, 1.576 million Munich, 1.144 million Cologne, 796,000 Frankfurt (2023)
Sex ratio / at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 65 years and over: 0.81 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth: 29.9 years (2020 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio: 4 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Infant mortality rate / total: 3 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Infant mortality rate / male: 3.5 deaths/1,000 live births
Infant mortality rate / female: 2.7 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth / total population: 81.9 years (2024 est.)
Life expectancy at birth / male: 79.6 years
Life expectancy at birth / female: 84.4 years
Total fertility rate: 1.59 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 0.77 (2025 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: urban: urban: 100% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: rural: rural: 100% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: total: total: 100% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: urban: urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: rural: rural: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: total: total: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 12.7% of GDP (2022)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 20.5% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density: 4.53 physicians/1,000 population (2022)
Hospital bed density: 7.8 beds/1,000 population (2020 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: urban: urban: 100% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: rural: rural: 100% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: total: total: 100% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: urban: urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: rural: rural: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: total: total: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 22.3% (2016)
Alcohol consumption per capita / total: 10.56 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / beer: 5.57 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / wine: 3.02 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / spirits: 1.97 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / other alcohols: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Tobacco use / total: 17.2% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / male: 19.4% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / female: 15% (2025 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 0.6% (2016 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49): 54.4% (2023 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% GDP): 5.2% of GDP (2022 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% national budget): 10.7% national budget (2022 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / total: 17 years (2023 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / male: 17 years (2023 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / female: 17 years (2023 est.)

## Environment
Environmental issues: air pollution and acid rain from coal-burning utilities and industries; water pollution from raw sewage and industrial effluents; hazardous waste disposal
International environmental agreements / party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Multi-effect Protocol, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protection, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling
International environmental agreements / signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Climate: temperate and marine; cool, cloudy, wet winters and summers; occasional warm mountain (foehn) wind
Land use / agricultural land: 47.5% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 33.4% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 0.6% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 13.5% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 32.8% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 15% (2023 est.)
Urbanization / urban population: 77.8% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 0.13% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / total emissions: 600.192 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from coal and metallurgical coke: 163.407 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from petroleum and other liquids: 277.688 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from consumed natural gas: 159.097 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Particulate matter emissions: 10.6 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Methane emissions / energy: 476.2 kt (2022-2024 est.)
Methane emissions / agriculture: 1,197.8 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Methane emissions / waste: 459 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Methane emissions / other: 110 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Waste and recycling / municipal solid waste generated annually: 50.628 million tons (2024 est.)
Waste and recycling / percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 49.8% (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / municipal: 10.713 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / industrial: 14.005 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / agricultural: 1.075 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total renewable water resources: 154 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Geoparks / total global geoparks and regional networks: 8
Geoparks / global geoparks and regional networks: Bergstra&szlig;e-Odenwald ; Harz, Braunschweiger Land; Swabian Alb; TERRA.vita; Vulkaneifel; Thuringia Inselsberg -Drei Gleichen; Muskauer Faltenbogen / Łuk Mużakowa (includes Poland); Ries (2023)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: Federal Republic of Germany
Country name / conventional short form: Germany
Country name / local long form: Bundesrepublik Deutschland
Country name / local short form: Deutschland
Country name / former: German Reich
Country name / etymology: the origin of the name is unclear; it may come from Celtic words meaning "neighboring people," or it may derive from Germanic words meaning either "spear man" or "head man;" the native designation "Deutsch" comes from the Old High German "diutisc" meaning "national"
Government type: federal parliamentary republic
Capital / name: Berlin
Capital / geographic coordinates: 52 31 N, 13 24 E
Capital / time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Capital / daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October
Capital / etymology: the origin of the name is unclear but may be related to the Old Slavic (Polabian) word berl or birl , meaning "swamp" and referring to the original settlement site by the Spree River
Administrative divisions: 16 states ( Laender , singular - Land ); Baden-Wuerttemberg, Bayern (Bavaria), Berlin, Brandenburg, Bremen, Hamburg, Hessen (Hesse), Mecklenburg-Vorpommern (Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania), Niedersachsen (Lower Saxony), Nordrhein-Westfalen (North Rhine-Westphalia), Rheinland-Pfalz (Rhineland-Palatinate), Saarland, Sachsen (Saxony), Sachsen-Anhalt (Saxony-Anhalt), Schleswig-Holstein, Thueringen (Thuringia)
Legal system: civil law system
Constitution / history: previous 1919 (Weimar Constitution); latest drafted 10-23 August 1948, approved 12 May 1949, promulgated 23 May 1949, entered into force 24 May 1949
Constitution / amendment process: proposed by Parliament; passage and enactment into law require two-thirds majority vote by both the Bundesrat (upper house) and the Bundestag (lower house) of Parliament; articles including those on basic human rights and freedoms cannot be amended
International law organization participation: accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Citizenship / citizenship by birth: no
Citizenship / citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a German citizen or a resident alien who has lived in Germany at least 8 years
Citizenship / dual citizenship recognized: yes, but requires prior permission from government
Citizenship / residency requirement for naturalization: 8 years
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal; age 16 for some state and municipal elections
Executive branch / chief of state: President Frank-Walter STEINMEIER (since 19 March 2017)
Executive branch / head of government: Chancellor Friedrich MERZ (since 6 May 2025)
Executive branch / cabinet: Cabinet or Bundesminister (Federal Ministers) recommended by the chancellor, appointed by the president
Executive branch / election/appointment process: president indirectly elected by a Federal Convention consisting of all members of the Federal Parliament (Bundestag) and an equivalent number of delegates indirectly elected by the state parliaments; president serves a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); following the most recent Federal Parliament election, the party or coalition with the most representatives usually elects the chancellor, who is appointed by the president to serve a renewable 4-year term
Executive branch / most recent election date: president: 13 February 2022 chancellor: 6 May 2025
Executive branch / election results: 2025: Friedrich MERZ (CDU) elected chancellor in second round; Federal Parliament vote - 325 to 289 2022: Frank-Walter STEINMEIER reelected president; Federal Convention vote count - Frank-Walter STEINMEIER (SPD) 1,045, Max OTTE (CDU) 140, Gerhard TRABERT (The Left) 96, Stefanie GEBAUER (Free Voters) 58, abstentions 86
Executive branch / expected date of next election: president: February 2027
Legislative branch / legislative structure: bicameral
Legislative branch - lower chamber / chamber name: German Bundestag (Deutscher Bundestag)
Legislative branch - lower chamber / number of seats: 630 (all directly elected)
Legislative branch - lower chamber / electoral system: mixed system
Legislative branch - lower chamber / scope of elections: full renewal
Legislative branch - lower chamber / term in office: 4 years
Legislative branch - lower chamber / most recent election date: 2/23/2025
Legislative branch - lower chamber / parties elected and seats per party: Christian Democratic Union (CDU) (164); Alternative for Germany (AfD) (152); Social Democratic Party (SPD) (120); Green Party (85); Left Party (Die Linke) (64); Christian Social Union of Bavaria (CSU) (44); Other (1)
Legislative branch - lower chamber / percentage of women in chamber: 32.4%
Legislative branch - lower chamber / expected date of next election: February 2029
Legislative branch - upper chamber / chamber name: Federal Council (Bundesrat)
Legislative branch - upper chamber / number of seats: 69 (all appointed)
Legislative branch - upper chamber / parties elected and seats per party: SPD 23; CDU 17; Green Party 15; Left Party 4; CSU 3; FW 3; FDP 2; other 2
Legislative branch - upper chamber / percentage of women in chamber: 34.8%
Judicial branch / highest court(s): Federal Court of Justice (court consists of 127 judges, including the court president, vice presidents, presiding judges, other judges; organized into 25 Senates subdivided into 12 civil panels, 5 criminal panels, and 8 special panels); Federal Constitutional Court or Bundesverfassungsgericht (consists of 2 Senates each subdivided into 3 chambers, each with a chairman and 8 members)
Judicial branch / judge selection and term of office: Federal Court of Justice judges selected by the Judges Election Committee, which consists of the Secretaries of Justice from each of the 16 federated states and 16 members appointed by the Federal Parliament; judges appointed by the president; judges serve until mandatory retirement at age 65; half of Federal Constitutional Court judges are elected by the House of Representatives and half by the Senate; judges appointed for 12-year terms with mandatory retirement at age 68
Judicial branch / subordinate courts: Federal Administrative Court; Federal Finance Court; Federal Labor Court; Federal Social Court; each of the 16 federated states or Land has its own constitutional court and a hierarchy of ordinary (civil, criminal, family) and specialized (administrative, finance, labor, social) courts; two English-speaking commercial courts opened in 2020 in the state of Baden-Wuerttemberg -- the Stuttgart Commercial Court and the Mannheim Commercial Court
Political parties: Alliance '90/Greens Alternative for Germany or AfD Christian Democratic Union or CDU Christian Social Union or CSU Free Democratic Party or FDP Free Voters or FW The Left or Die Linke Social Democratic Party or SPD
Diplomatic representation in the US / chief of mission: Ambassador Jens HANEFELD (since 5 September 2025)
Diplomatic representation in the US / chancery: 4645 Reservoir Road NW, Washington, DC 20007
Diplomatic representation in the US / telephone: [1] (202) 298-4000
Diplomatic representation in the US / FAX: [1] (202) 298-4261
Diplomatic representation in the US / email address and website: info@washington.diplo.de https://www.germany.info/us-en
Diplomatic representation in the US / consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, San Francisco
Diplomatic representation from the US / chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charg&eacute; d&rsquo;Affaires Alan MELTZER (since July 2024)
Diplomatic representation from the US / embassy: Pariser Platz 2, 10117 Berlin Clayallee 170, 14191 Berlin (administrative services)
Diplomatic representation from the US / mailing address: 5090 Berlin Place, Washington DC 20521-5090
Diplomatic representation from the US / telephone: [49] (30) 8305-0
Diplomatic representation from the US / FAX: [49] (30) 8305-1215
Diplomatic representation from the US / email address and website: BerlinPCO@state.gov https://de.usembassy.gov/
Diplomatic representation from the US / consulate(s) general: Dusseldorf, Frankfurt am Main, Hamburg, Leipzig, Munich
International organization participation: ADB (nonregional member), AfDB (nonregional member), Arctic Council (observer), Australia Group, BIS, BSEC (observer), CBSS, CD, CDB, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECB, EIB, EITI (implementing country), EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, FATF, G-5, G-7, G-8, G-10, G-20, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD (partners), IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MINURSO, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, Pacific Alliance (observer), Paris Club, PCA, Schengen Convention, SELEC (observer), SICA (observer), UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNHRC, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNMISS, UNOOSA, UNRWA, UNSOM, UNWTO, UPU, Wassenaar Arrangement, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
Independence: 18 January 1871 (establishment of the German Empire); divided into four zones of occupation (UK, US, USSR, and France) in 1945 after World War II; Federal Republic of Germany (FRG or West Germany) proclaimed on 23 May 1949 and included the former UK, US, and French zones; German Democratic Republic (GDR or East Germany) proclaimed on 7 October 1949 and included the former USSR zone; West Germany and East Germany unified on 3 October 1990, with all four powers formally relinquishing rights on 15 March 1991; notable earlier dates: 10 August 843 (Eastern Francia established from the division of the Carolingian Empire); 2 February 962 (crowning of OTTO I, recognized as the first Holy Roman Emperor)
National holiday: German Unity Day, 3 October (1990)
Flag: description: three equal horizontal bands of black (top), red, and gold history: the colors 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
National symbol(s): eagle
National color(s): black, red, yellow
National coat of arms: Germany’s coat of arms is the world’s oldest, said to date back to 1200, and uses the country’s national colors; it features the oldest European national symbol, an eagle known as the Bundesadler (Federal Eagle); the coat of arms has varied over time for military or political reasons, but the eagle has always been part of the design; the Federal Republic of Germany adopted this version in 1950
National anthem(s) / title: &ldquo;Lied der Deutschen&rdquo;(Song of the Germans)
National anthem(s) / lyrics/music: August Heinrich HOFFMANN VON FALLERSLEBEN/Franz Joseph HAYDN
National anthem(s) / history: first adopted 1922; the anthem, also known as "Deutschlandlied" (Song of Germany), was originally adopted for its connection to the March 1848 liberal revolution; the Nazis later appropriated the first verse -- specifically the phrase "Deutschland, Deutschland ueber alles" (Germany, Germany above all) -- to promote nationalism, and the anthem was banned after 1945; in 1952, West Germany adopted the third verse as its national anthem; in 1990, it became the national anthem for the reunited Germany
National heritage / total World Heritage Sites: 56 (54 cultural, 2 natural)
National heritage / selected World Heritage Site locales: Museumsinsel (Museum Island), Berlin (c); Palaces and Parks of Potsdam and Berlin (c); Speyer Cathedral (c); Aachen Cathedral (c); Bauhaus and its Sites in Weimar, Dessau, and Bernau (c); Caves and Ice Age Art in the Swabian Jura (c); Roman Monuments, Cathedral of St. Peter, and Church of Our Lady in Trier (c); Hanseatic City of Lübeck (c); Old Town of Regensburg with Stadtamhof (c); Würzburg Residence with the Court Gardens and Residence Square (c); Pilgrimage Church of Wies (c); Castles of Augustusburg and Falkenlust at Brühl (c); St Mary's Cathedral and St Michael's Church at Hildesheim (c); Abbey and Altenmünster of Lorsch (c); Maulbronn Monastery Complex (c); Collegiate Church, Castle and Old Town of Quedlinburg (c); Cologne Cathedral (c); Castle Church in Wittenberg (c); Classical Weimar (c); Wartburg Castle (c); Garden Kingdom of Dessau-Wörlitz (c); Monastic Island of Reichenau (c); Berlin Modernism Housing Estates (c); Prehistoric Pile Dwellings around the Alps (c); Moravian Church Settlements (c); Speicherstadt and Kontorhaus District with Chilehaus (c); The Architectural Work of Le Corbusier, an Outstanding Contribution to the Modern Movement (c); Archaeological Border complex of Hedeby and the Danevirke (c); Naumburg Cathedral (c); Mathildenhöhe Darmstadt (c); ShUM Sites of Speyer, Worms and Mainz (c); The Great Spa Towns of Europe (c); Jewish-Medieval Heritage of Erfurt (c); Schwerin Residence Ensemble (c); The Palaces of King Ludwig II of Bavaria: Neuschwanstein, Linderhof, Schachen and Herrenchiemsee (c); The Palaces of King Ludwig II of Bavaria: Neuschwanstein, Linderhof, Schachen and Herrenchiemsee (c)

## Economy
Economic overview: leading export-driven, core EU and eurozone economy; key automotive, chemical, engineering, finance, and green energy industries; growth stalled by energy crisis and declining exports; tight labor market with falling working-age population; fiscal rebalancing with phaseout of energy price supports
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $5.247 trillion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $5.26 trillion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $5.274 trillion (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2024: -0.2% (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2023: -0.3% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2022: 1.4% (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2024: $62,800 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2023: $62,700 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2022: $62,900 (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $4.66 trillion (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024: 2.3% (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023: 5.9% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 6.9% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / agriculture: 0.8% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / industry: 25.8% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / services: 63.9% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / household consumption: 49.9% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / government consumption: 21.2% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in fixed capital: 21.5% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in inventories: 0.2% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / exports of goods and services: 43.4% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / imports of goods and services: -39.4% (2023 est.)
Agricultural products: milk, sugar beets, wheat, potatoes, barley, maize, rapeseed, pork, rye, triticale (2023)
Industries: iron, steel, coal, cement, chemicals, machinery, vehicles, machine tools, electronics, automobiles, food and beverages, shipbuilding, textiles
Industrial production growth rate: -3% (2024 est.)
Labor force: 43.772 million (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2024: 3.5% (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2023: 3.1% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2022: 3.2% (2022 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / total: 6.7% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / male: 7.4% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / female: 5.9% (2024 est.)
Population below poverty line: 14.8% (2021 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income / Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2020: 32.4 (2020 est.)
Average household expenditures / on food: 11.6% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Average household expenditures / on alcohol and tobacco: 3.1% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / lowest 10%: 2.9% (2020 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / highest 10%: 25% (2020 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2024: 0.5% of GDP (2024 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2023: 0.5% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2022: 0.5% of GDP (2022 est.)
Budget / revenues: $1.279 trillion (2023 est.)
Budget / expenditures: $1.369 trillion (2023 est.)
Public debt / Public debt 2017: 63.9% of GDP (2017 est.)
Taxes and other revenues: 11% (of GDP) (2022 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2024: $267.056 billion (2024 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2023: $251.479 billion (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2022: $161.759 billion (2022 est.)
Exports / Exports 2024: $1.949 trillion (2024 est.)
Exports / Exports 2023: $1.958 trillion (2023 est.)
Exports / Exports 2022: $1.917 trillion (2022 est.)
Exports - partners: USA 10%, France 8%, Netherlands 7%, China 7%, Italy 6% (2023)
Exports - commodities: cars, vehicle parts/accessories, packaged medicine, plastic products, vaccines (2023)
Imports / Imports 2024: $1.774 trillion (2024 est.)
Imports / Imports 2023: $1.781 trillion (2023 est.)
Imports / Imports 2022: $1.808 trillion (2022 est.)
Imports - partners: China 12%, Netherlands 7%, USA 7%, Poland 6%, France 5% (2023)
Imports - commodities: cars, vehicle parts/accessories, garments, natural gas, vaccines (2023)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024: $377.936 billion (2024 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023: $322.7 billion (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $293.914 billion (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Currency: euros (EUR) per US dollar -
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2024: 0.924 (2024 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2023: 0.925 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2022: 0.95 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2021: 0.845 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2020: 0.876 (2020 est.)

## Energy
Electricity access / electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)
Electricity / installed generating capacity: 275.658 million kW (2023 est.)
Electricity / consumption: 519.691 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / exports: 60.316 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / imports: 69.353 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / transmission/distribution losses: 25.774 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / fossil fuels: 49% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / nuclear: 1.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / solar: 11.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / wind: 25.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / hydroelectricity: 3.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / biomass and waste: 9.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Nuclear energy / Percent of total electricity production: 1.4% (2023 est.)
Nuclear energy / Number of nuclear reactors permanently shut down: 33 (2025)
Coal / production: 109.741 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / consumption: 140.994 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / exports: 1.68 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / imports: 32.933 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / proven reserves: 35.4 billion metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum / total petroleum production: 131,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Petroleum / refined petroleum consumption: 2.062 million bbl/day (2024 est.)
Petroleum / crude oil estimated reserves: 115.2 million barrels (2021 est.)
Natural gas / production: 4.337 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / consumption: 82.371 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / imports: 74.989 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / proven reserves: 23.39 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)
Energy consumption per capita / Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 120.457 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

## Communications
Telephones - fixed lines / total subscriptions: 38.4 million (2024 est.)
Telephones - fixed lines / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 45 (2024 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / total subscriptions: 109 million (2024 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 129 (2024 est.)
Broadcast media: a mix of publicly operated and privately owned TV and radio stations; 70 national and regional public broadcasters compete with nearly 400 privately owned national and regional TV stations; more than 90% of households have cable or satellite TV; hundreds of radio stations, including national and regional networks and a large number of local stations
Internet country code: .de
Internet users / percent of population: 94% (2024 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / total: 38.4 million (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 45 (2023 est.)

## Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: D
Airports: 840 (2025)
Heliports: 449 (2025)
Railways / total: 39,379 km (2020) 20,942 km electrified
Merchant marine / total: 595 (2023)
Merchant marine / by type: bulk carrier 1, container ship 69, general cargo 82, oil tanker 32, other 411
Ports / total ports: 35 (2024)
Ports / large: 5
Ports / medium: 4
Ports / small: 11
Ports / very small: 15
Ports / ports with oil terminals: 12
Ports / key ports: Brake, Bremen, Bremerhaven, Cuxhaven, Emden, Hamburg, Kiel, Lubeck, Rostock

## Military and Security
Military and security forces: Federal Armed Forces (Bundeswehr): German Army (Deutsche Heer), German Navy (Deutsche Marine, includes naval air arm), German Air Force (Deutsche Luftwaffe, includes air defense), Cyber and Information Space (Cyber und Informationsraum) (2025)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2025: 2.4% of GDP (2025 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2024: 2% of GDP (2024 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2023: 1.6% of GDP (2023 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2022: 1.5% of GDP (2022 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2021: 1.4% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military and security service personnel strengths: approximately 185,000 active-duty military personnel (2025)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the inventory of Federal Armed Forces is comprised of weapons systems produced domestically or jointly with other European countries and Western imports, particularly from the US; Germany's defense industry is capable of manufacturing the full spectrum of air, land, and naval military weapons systems; it also participates in joint defense production projects with European partners and the US (2025)
Military service age and obligation: 17-23 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women (must have completed compulsory full-time education and have German citizenship); service obligation 7-23 months or 12 years (2025)
Military deployments: up to 500 Iraq (NATO); 300 Kosovo (NATO/KFOR), Lebanon 170 (UNIFIL); up to 1,700 Lithuania (NATO) (2025)
Military - note: the Bundeswehr’s core mission is the defense of Germany and its NATO partners; it has a wide range of peacetime duties, including crisis management, cyber security, deterrence, homeland security, humanitarian and disaster relief, and international peacekeeping and stability operations; as a key member of NATO and the EU, the Bundeswehr typically operates in a coalition environment, and its capabilities are largely based on NATO and EU planning goals and needs; it has participated in a range of NATO and EU missions in Europe, Africa, and Asia, as well as global maritime operations; the Bundeswehr has close bilateral defense ties with a number of EU countries, including the Czechia, France, the Netherlands, and Romania, as well as the UK and the US; it also contributes forces to UN peacekeeping missions the Bundeswehr was established in 1955; at the height of the Cold War in the 1980s, it had nearly 600,000 personnel, over 7,000 tanks, and 1,000 combat aircraft; in addition, over 400,000 soldiers from other NATO countries—including about 200,000 US military personnel—were stationed in West Germany; in the years following the collapse of the Soviet Union and the end of the Cold War, the Bundeswehr shrank by more than 60% in size (over 90% in tanks and about 80% in aircraft), while funding fell from nearly 3% of GDP and over 4% of government spending in the mid-1980s to 1.2% and 1.6% respectively; by the 2010s, the Bundeswehr’s ability to fulfill its regional security commitments had deteriorated; the Russian annexation of Crimea in 2014 and full-scale assault on Ukraine in 2022 led to renewed emphasis on Germany’s leadership role in European defense and NATO and efforts to boost funding for the Bundeswehr to improve readiness, modernize, and expand (2025)

## Space
Space agency/agencies: German Aerospace Center (Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt, DLR; established 1997) (2025)
Space launch site(s): a commercial offshore launch platform that will operate from the North Sea is under development with both government and private funding (2025)
Space program overview: has one of Europe&rsquo;s largest space programs and is a top contributor to the ESA; builds and operates satellites, satellite/space launch vehicles (SLVs), probes, and unmanned orbiters; researches and develops a range of capabilities and technologies, including reusable space planes, satellite payloads, rockets, propulsion-assisted landing technologies, and aeronautics; participates in EU and ESA programs, including the Cassini-Huygens research mission to Saturn, Mars and Venus exploration missions, and the Galileo global navigation satellite system; participates in ESA&rsquo;s astronaut training program and human space flight operations; hosts the European Astronaut Center; participates in international programs such as the International Space Station (ISS) and the James Webb Space Telescope; hosts mission control centers for the ISS, the ESA, and the European Organization for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites (EUMETSAT); has ties to foreign space programs, including those of China, Japan, Russia, and the US; has a robust commercial space sector (2025)
Key space-program milestones: 1969 - first German scientific satellite (Azur) launched by US 1973 - participated with other European states, particularly France and the UK, in development of Ariane satellite launch vehicle 1978 - first German in space on Soviet Salyut space station 1980s-1990s - participated in US Space Shuttle program, including providing astronauts 1999 - launched a space-based X-ray telescope (ABRAXIS) on Russian rocket 2005 - began development of reusable space plane/shuttle/transporter 2019 - launched first space-based X-ray telescope (eROSITA) capable of imaging the entire sky (joint project with Russia) 2023 - signed US-led Artemis Accords for the exploration of space and the Moon; adopted a new national space strategy

## Terrorism
Terrorist group(s): Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps/Qods Force; Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS); al-Qa'ida

## Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons / refugees: 3,098,169 (2024 est.)
Refugees and internally displaced persons / IDPs: 100 (2023 est.)
Refugees and internally displaced persons / stateless persons: 28,813 (2024 est.)
Illicit drugs / USG identification: major precursor-chemical producer (2025)

=== Greece ===

## Introduction
Background: Greece won independence from the Ottoman Empire in 1830 and became a kingdom. During the second half of the 19th century and the first half of the 20th century, it gradually added neighboring islands and territories, most with Greek-speaking populations. In World War II, Greece was first invaded by Italy (1940) and subsequently occupied by Germany (1941-44); fighting endured in a protracted civil war between supporters of the king and other anti-communist and communist rebels. The communists were defeated in 1949, and Greece joined NATO in 1952. In 1967, a military coup forced the king to flee the country. The ensuing military dictatorship collapsed in 1974, and Greece abolished the monarchy to become a parliamentary republic. In 1981, Greece joined the EC (now the EU); it became the 12th member of the European Economic and Monetary Union in 2001. From 2009 until 2019, Greece suffered a severe economic crisis due to nearly a decade of chronic overspending and structural rigidities. Beginning in 2010, Greece entered three bailout agreements -- the first two with the European Commission, the European Central Bank, and the IMF; and the third in 2015 with the European Stability Mechanism -- worth in total about $300 billion. The Greek Government formally exited the third bailout in 2018, and Greece's economy has since improved significantly. In 2022, the country finalized its early repayment to the IMF and graduated on schedule from the EU's enhanced surveillance framework.

## Geography
Location: Southern Europe, bordering the Aegean Sea, Ionian Sea, and the Mediterranean Sea, between Albania and Turkey
Geographic coordinates: 39 00 N, 22 00 E
Map references: Europe
Area / total: 131,957 sq km
Area / land: 130,647 sq km
Area / water: 1,310 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly smaller than Alabama
Land boundaries / total: 1,110 km
Land boundaries / border countries: Albania 212 km; Bulgaria 472 km; North Macedonia 234 km; Turkey 192 km
Coastline: 13,676 km
Maritime claims / territorial sea: 6 nm
Maritime claims / continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Climate: temperate; mild, wet winters; hot, dry summers
Terrain: mountainous with ranges extending into the sea as peninsulas or chains of islands
Elevation / highest point: Mount Olympus 2,917
Elevation / lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m
Elevation / mean elevation: 498 m
Natural resources: lignite, petroleum, iron ore, bauxite, lead, zinc, nickel, magnesite, marble, salt, hydropower potential
Land use / agricultural land: 41.7% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 14.4% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 8% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 19.2% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 36.9% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 21.3% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land: 12,191 sq km (2021)
Population distribution: one third of the population lives in and around metropolitan Athens; the remainder of the country has moderate population density mixed with sizeable urban clusters
Natural hazards: severe earthquakes volcanism: Santorini (367 m) has been deemed a Decade Volcano by the International Association of Volcanology and Chemistry of the Earth's Interior, worthy of study due to its explosive history and close proximity to human populations; Methana and Nisyros in the Aegean are also classified as historically active
Geography - note: strategic location dominating the Aegean Sea and southern approach to Turkish Straits; a peninsular country, with an archipelago of about 2,000 islands

## People and Society
Population / total: 10,424,536 (2025 est.)
Population / male: 5,105,879
Population / female: 5,318,657
Nationality / noun: Greek(s)
Nationality / adjective: Greek
Ethnic groups: Greek 91.6%, Albanian 4.4%, other 4% (2011 est.)
Languages / Languages: Greek (official) 99%, other (includes English and French) 1%
Languages / major-language sample(s): Το Παγκόσμιο Βιβλίο Δεδομένων, η απαραίτητη πηγή βασικών πληροφοριών. (Greek) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
Religions: Greek Orthodox 81-90%, Muslim 2%, other 3%, none 4-15%, unspecified 1% (2015 est.)
Age structure / 0-14 years: 13.8% (male 742,131/female 699,079)
Age structure / 15-64 years: 62.6% (male 3,278,906/female 3,267,140)
Age structure / 65 years and over: 23.6% (2024 est.) (male 1,096,825/female 1,377,010)
Dependency ratios / total dependency ratio: 60.1 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / youth dependency ratio: 21.7 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / elderly dependency ratio: 38.4 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / potential support ratio: 2.6 (2025 est.)
Median age / total: 46.8 years (2025 est.)
Median age / male: 44.6 years
Median age / female: 48.3 years
Population growth rate: -0.35% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 7.38 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 11.99 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: 1.1 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution: one third of the population lives in and around metropolitan Athens; the remainder of the country has moderate population density mixed with sizeable urban clusters
Urbanization / urban population: 80.7% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 0.11% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 3.154 million ATHENS (capital), 815,000 Thessaloniki (2023)
Sex ratio / at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 65 years and over: 0.8 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth: 30.7 years (2020 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio: 5 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Infant mortality rate / total: 3.4 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Infant mortality rate / male: 3.8 deaths/1,000 live births
Infant mortality rate / female: 3 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth / total population: 81.9 years (2024 est.)
Life expectancy at birth / male: 79.4 years
Life expectancy at birth / female: 84.6 years
Total fertility rate: 1.42 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 0.69 (2025 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: urban: urban: 100% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: rural: rural: 100% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: total: total: 100% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: urban: urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: rural: rural: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: total: total: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 9.2% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 8.7% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density: 6.58 physicians/1,000 population (2022)
Hospital bed density: 4.2 beds/1,000 population (2019 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: urban: urban: 100% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: rural: rural: 100% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: total: total: 100% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: urban: urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: rural: rural: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: total: total: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 24.9% (2016)
Alcohol consumption per capita / total: 6.33 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / beer: 2.13 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / wine: 2.66 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / spirits: 1.45 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / other alcohols: 0.08 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Tobacco use / total: 27.3% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / male: 30.3% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / female: 24.6% (2025 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49): 52.4% (2023 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% GDP): 3.4% of GDP (2022 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% national budget): 6.4% national budget (2022 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / total: 21 years (2022 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / male: 21 years (2022 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / female: 21 years (2022 est.)

## Environment
Environmental issues: air pollution; air emissions from transport and electricity power stations; water pollution; degradation of coastal zones; loss of biodiversity; municipal and industrial waste disposal
International environmental agreements / party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Antarctic-Environmental Protection, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands
International environmental agreements / signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Multi-effect Protocol, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds
Climate: temperate; mild, wet winters; hot, dry summers
Land use / agricultural land: 41.7% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 14.4% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 8% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 19.2% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 36.9% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 21.3% (2023 est.)
Urbanization / urban population: 80.7% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 0.11% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / total emissions: 62.06 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from coal and metallurgical coke: 10.794 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from petroleum and other liquids: 44.649 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from consumed natural gas: 6.617 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Particulate matter emissions: 14.6 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Waste and recycling / municipal solid waste generated annually: 5.615 million tons (2024 est.)
Waste and recycling / percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 22.4% (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / municipal: 1.687 billion cubic meters (2022)
Total water withdrawal / industrial: 279.8 million cubic meters (2022)
Total water withdrawal / agricultural: 8.107 billion cubic meters (2022)
Total renewable water resources: 68 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Geoparks / total global geoparks and regional networks: 9 (2024)
Geoparks / global geoparks and regional networks: Chelmos Vouraikos; Grevena - Kozani; Kefalonia-Ithaca; Lavreotiki; Lesvos Island; Meteora Pyli; Psiloritis; Sitia; Vikos - Aoos (2024)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: Hellenic Republic
Country name / conventional short form: Greece
Country name / local long form: Elliniki Dimokratia
Country name / local short form: Ellas or Ellada
Country name / former: Hellenic State, Kingdom of Greece
Country name / etymology: the English name derives from the Roman (Latin) designation Graecia , meaning "Land of the Greeks"; the Greeks call their country Ellas or Ellada, which is probably derived from Hellas, the name of the mythical son of Deucalian
Government type: parliamentary republic
Capital / name: Athens
Capital / geographic coordinates: 37 59 N, 23 44 E
Capital / time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Capital / daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October
Capital / etymology: the origin of the name is uncertain; according to tradition, the city is named after Athena, the Greek goddess of wisdom, but the name is probably pre-Hellenic
Administrative divisions: 13 regions ( perifereies , singular - perifereia ) and 1 autonomous monastic state* ( aftonomi monastiki politeia ); Agion Oros* (Mount Athos), Anatoliki Makedonia kai Thraki (East Macedonia and Thrace), Attiki (Attica), Dytiki Ellada (West Greece), Dytiki Makedonia (West Macedonia), Ionia Nisia (Ionian Islands), Ipeiros (Epirus), Kentriki Makedonia (Central Macedonia), Kriti (Crete), Notio Aigaio (South Aegean), Peloponnisos (Peloponnese), Sterea Ellada (Central Greece), Thessalia (Thessaly), Voreio Aigaio (North Aegean)
Legal system: civil legal system based on Roman law
Constitution / history: many previous; latest entered into force 11 June 1975
Constitution / amendment process: proposed by at least 50 members of Parliament and agreed by three-fifths majority vote in two separate ballots at least 30 days apart; passage requires absolute majority vote by the next elected Parliament; entry into force finalized through a "special parliamentary resolution"; articles on human rights and freedoms and the form of government cannot be amended
International law organization participation: accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Citizenship / citizenship by birth: no
Citizenship / citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Greece
Citizenship / dual citizenship recognized: yes
Citizenship / residency requirement for naturalization: 10 years
Suffrage: 17 years of age; universal and compulsory
Executive branch / chief of state: President Konstantinos TASOULAS (since 13 March 2025)
Executive branch / head of government: Prime Minister Kyriakos MITSOTAKIS (since 26 June 2023)
Executive branch / cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister
Executive branch / election/appointment process: president elected by Hellenic Parliament for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); president appoints as prime minister the leader of the majority party or coalition in the Hellenic Parliament
Executive branch / most recent election date: 12 February 2025
Executive branch / election results: 2025: Konstantinos TASOULAS (ND) elected president by Parliament - 160 of 300 votes 2020: Katerina SAKELLAROPOULOU (independent) elected president by Parliament - 261 of 300 votes
Executive branch / expected date of next election: 2030
Legislative branch / legislature name: Hellenic Parliament (Vouli Ton Ellinon)
Legislative branch / legislative structure: unicameral
Legislative branch / number of seats: 300 (all directly elected)
Legislative branch / electoral system: proportional representation
Legislative branch / scope of elections: full renewal
Legislative branch / term in office: 4 years
Legislative branch / most recent election date: 6/25/2023
Legislative branch / parties elected and seats per party: New Democracy (ND) (158); Coalition of the Radical Left (SYRIZA) (47); Panhellenic Socialist Movement - Movement for Change (PASOK-KINAL) (32); Communist Party (KKE) (21); Other (42)
Legislative branch / percentage of women in chamber: 22.9%
Legislative branch / expected date of next election: June 2027
Judicial branch / highest court(s): Supreme Civil and Criminal Court or Areios Pagos (consists of 56 judges, including the court presidents); Council of State (supreme administrative court) consists of the president, 7 vice presidents, 42 privy councilors, 48 associate councilors and 50 reporting judges, organized into six 5- and 7-member chambers; Court of Audit (government audit and enforcement) consists of the president, 5 vice presidents, 20 councilors, and 90 associate and reporting judges
Judicial branch / judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court judges appointed by presidential decree on the advice of the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC), which includes the president of the Supreme Court, other judges, and the prosecutor of the Supreme Court; judges appointed for life after a 2-year probationary period; Council of State president appointed by the Greek Cabinet to serve a 4-year term; other judge appointments and tenure NA; Court of Audit president appointed by decree of the president of the republic on the advice of the SJC; court president serves a 4-year term or until age 67; tenure of vice presidents, councilors, and judges NA
Judicial branch / subordinate courts: Courts of Appeal and Courts of First Instance (district courts)
Political parties: Coalition of the Radical Left-Progressive Alliance or SYRIZA-PS Communist Party of Greece or KKE Course of Freedom Democratic Patriotic Movement-Victory or NIKI Greek Solution New Democracy or ND PASOK - Movement for Change or PASOK-KINAL Spartans
Diplomatic representation in the US / chief of mission: Ambassador Ekaterini NASSIKA (since 27 February 2024)
Diplomatic representation in the US / chancery: 2217 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation in the US / telephone: [1] (202) 939-1300
Diplomatic representation in the US / FAX: [1] (202) 939-1324
Diplomatic representation in the US / email address and website: gremb.was@mfa.gr https://www.mfa.gr/usa/en/the-embassy/
Diplomatic representation in the US / consulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, Tampa (FL), San Francisco
Diplomatic representation in the US / consulate(s): Atlanta, Houston
Diplomatic representation from the US / chief of mission: Ambassador Kimberly Ann GUILFOYLE (since 4 November 2025)
Diplomatic representation from the US / embassy: 91 Vasillisis Sophias Avenue, 10160 Athens
Diplomatic representation from the US / mailing address: 7100 Athens Place, Washington DC 20521-7100
Diplomatic representation from the US / telephone: [30] (210) 721-2951
Diplomatic representation from the US / FAX: [30] (210) 724-5313
Diplomatic representation from the US / email address and website: athensamericancitizenservices@state.gov https://gr.usembassy.gov/
Diplomatic representation from the US / consulate(s) general: Thessaloniki
International organization participation: Australia Group, BIS, BSEC, CD, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECB, EIB, EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, FATF, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD (partners), IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OIF, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, Schengen Convention, SELEC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNOOSA, UNWTO, UPU, Wassenaar Arrangement, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
Independence: 3 February 1830 (from the Ottoman Empire)
National holiday: Independence Day, 25 March (1821)
Flag: description: nine equal horizontal stripes of blue alternating with white; a blue square with a white cross is in the upper-left corner meaning: the cross symbolizes Greek Orthodoxy, the established religion; there is no set meaning for the stripes and colors
National symbol(s): Greek cross (white cross on a blue field)
National color(s): blue, white
National coat of arms: the coat of arms was designed by Greek artist Kostas Grammatopoulos and has been in use since 1975; depicted in the national colors of blue and white; the white cross represents the country&rsquo;s primary religion, Greek Orthodoxy, and the laurel branches symbolize victory
National anthem(s) / title: "Ymnos eis tin Eleftherian" (Hymn to Freedom)
National anthem(s) / lyrics/music: Dionysios SOLOMOS/Nikolaos MANTZAROS
National anthem(s) / history: adopted 1864; the anthem is based on a 158-stanza poem by the same name, which was inspired by the Greek Revolution of 1821 against the Ottomans (only the first two stanzas are used); Cyprus also uses "Hymn to Freedom" as its anthem
National heritage / total World Heritage Sites: 20 (18 cultural, 2 mixed)
National heritage / selected World Heritage Site locales: Acropolis, Athens (c); Archaeological site of Delphi (c); Meteora (m); Medieval City of Rhodes (c); Archaeological site of Olympia (c); Archaeological site of Mycenae and Tiryns (c); Old Town of Corfu (c); Mount Athos (m); Delos (c); Archaeological Site of Philippi (c); Minoan Palatial Centres (c)

## Economy
Economic overview: high-income EU and eurozone economy; growth above euro average, supported by private consumption and EU fund investments; structural reforms strengthening public finances and enhancing resilience within banking system; declining unemployment but low labor productivity and skill shortages
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $392.205 billion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $383.493 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $374.753 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2024: 2.3% (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2023: 2.3% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2022: 5.7% (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2024: $37,800 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2023: $36,900 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2022: $35,900 (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $257.145 billion (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024: 2.7% (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023: 3.5% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 9.6% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / agriculture: 3.3% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / industry: 15.4% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / services: 68% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / household consumption: 66.9% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / government consumption: 19.3% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in fixed capital: 15.2% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in inventories: 1.5% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / exports of goods and services: 43.7% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / imports of goods and services: -48.4% (2023 est.)
Agricultural products: maize, wheat, sheep milk, oranges, tomatoes, milk, peaches/nectarines, grapes, watermelons, barley (2023)
Industries: tourism, food and tobacco processing, textiles, chemicals, metal products; mining, petroleum
Industrial production growth rate: 6.1% (2024 est.)
Labor force: 4.655 million (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2024: 10.2% (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2023: 11.1% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2022: 12.5% (2022 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / total: 24.7% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / male: 23.2% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / female: 26.6% (2024 est.)
Population below poverty line: 18.8% (2021 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income / Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2022: 33.4 (2022 est.)
Average household expenditures / on food: 16.4% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Average household expenditures / on alcohol and tobacco: 4.4% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / lowest 10%: 2.7% (2022 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / highest 10%: 25.7% (2022 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2024: 0.2% of GDP (2024 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2023: 0.2% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2022: 0.3% of GDP (2022 est.)
Budget / revenues: $111.938 billion (2023 est.)
Budget / expenditures: $114.497 billion (2023 est.)
Public debt / Public debt 2023: 190.6% of GDP (2023 est.)
Taxes and other revenues: 26.6% (of GDP) (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2024: -$16.399 billion (2024 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2023: -$15.008 billion (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2022: -$22.623 billion (2022 est.)
Exports / Exports 2024: $108.424 billion (2024 est.)
Exports / Exports 2023: $107.218 billion (2023 est.)
Exports / Exports 2022: $106.189 billion (2022 est.)
Exports - partners: Italy 12%, Germany 6%, Cyprus 6%, Bulgaria 4%, USA 4% (2023)
Exports - commodities: refined petroleum, packaged medicine, aluminum, olive oil, tobacco (2023)
Imports / Imports 2024: $122.408 billion (2024 est.)
Imports / Imports 2023: $119.234 billion (2023 est.)
Imports / Imports 2022: $127.82 billion (2022 est.)
Imports - partners: Germany 10%, China 10%, Italy 8%, Iraq 7%, Netherlands 6% (2023)
Imports - commodities: crude petroleum, refined petroleum, natural gas, cars, packaged medicine (2023)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024: $15.222 billion (2024 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023: $13.608 billion (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $12.061 billion (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Currency: euros (EUR) per US dollar -
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2024: 0.924 (2024 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2023: 0.925 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2022: 0.95 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2021: 0.845 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2020: 0.876 (2020 est.)

## Energy
Electricity access / electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)
Electricity / installed generating capacity: 24.169 million kW (2023 est.)
Electricity / consumption: 46.929 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / exports: 3.24 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / imports: 8.152 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / transmission/distribution losses: 5.346 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / fossil fuels: 48.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / solar: 17.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / wind: 23.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / hydroelectricity: 9.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / biomass and waste: 0.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Coal / production: 10.469 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / consumption: 10.091 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / exports: 5 metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / imports: 49,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / proven reserves: 2.876 billion metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum / total petroleum production: 5,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Petroleum / refined petroleum consumption: 308,000 bbl/day (2024 est.)
Petroleum / crude oil estimated reserves: 10 million barrels (2021 est.)
Natural gas / production: 1.323 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / consumption: 3.344 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / exports: 8.362 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / imports: 11.619 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / proven reserves: 991.09 million cubic meters (2021 est.)
Energy consumption per capita / Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 92.693 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

## Communications
Telephones - fixed lines / total subscriptions: 4.69 million (2024 est.)
Telephones - fixed lines / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 47 (2024 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / total subscriptions: 11.4 million (2024 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 114 (2024 est.)
Broadcast media: broadcast media dominated by the private sector; roughly 150 private TV channels, about 10 of which broadcast nationwide; 1 state-owned terrestrial TV channel with national coverage; 3 privately owned satellite channels; multi-channel satellite and cable TV services available; over 1,500 radio stations, all privately owned; state-owned broadcaster has 2 national radio stations
Internet country code: .gr
Internet users / percent of population: 85% (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / total: 4.48 million (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 44 (2023 est.)

## Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: SX
Airports: 82 (2025)
Heliports: 59 (2025)
Railways / total: 2,345 km (2020) 731 km electrified
Merchant marine / total: 1,215 (2023)
Merchant marine / by type: bulk carrier 132, container ship 4, general cargo 79, oil tanker 299, other 701
Ports / total ports: 57 (2024)
Ports / large: 1
Ports / medium: 7
Ports / small: 7
Ports / very small: 42
Ports / ports with oil terminals: 13
Ports / key ports: Alexandroupoli, Iraklion, Kerkira, Ormos Aliveriou, Piraievs, Soudha, Thessaloniki, Volos

## Military and Security
Military and security forces: Hellenic Armed Forces (HAF; Ellinikes Enoples Dynamis, EED): Hellenic Army (Ellinikos Stratos, ES; includes National Guard), Hellenic Navy (Elliniko Polemiko Navtiko, EPN), Hellenic Air Force (Elliniki Polemiki Aeroporia, EPA; includes air defense) (2025)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2025: 2.9% of GDP (2025 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2024: 2.7% of GDP (2024 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2023: 2.8% of GDP (2023 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2022: 3.9% of GDP (2022 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2021: 3.7% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military and security service personnel strengths: approximately 112,000 active-duty military personnel (2025)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the military's inventory consists of a mix of domestically produced and imported armaments from Europe and the US; in recent years, France, Germany, the UK, and the US have been major suppliers of weapons systems; Greece's defense industry is capable of producing a range of military hardware, including naval vessels and associated subsystems (2025)
Military service age and obligation: 18 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women; all Greek men 19-45 are subject to compulsory military service; 12-month obligation for all services (note - as an exception, the duration of the full military service is 9 instead of 12 months if conscripts, after the initial training, serve the entire remaining time in certain areas of the eastern borders, in Cyprus, or in certain military units) (2026)
Military deployments: approximately 1,000 Cyprus; 120 Kosovo (NATO); 130 Lebanon (UNIFIL) (2025)
Military - note: the Hellenic Armed Forces (HAF) are responsible for protecting Greece’s independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity; the HAF also maintains a presence on Cyprus (the Hellenic Force in Cyprus or ELDYK) to assist and support the Cypriot National Guard; as a member of the EU, NATO, and other international organizations, the HAF participates in multinational peacekeeping and other security missions abroad, taking a particular interest in missions occurring in the near regions, such as the Balkans, the Mediterranean and Aegean seas, the Middle East, and North Africa; areas of focus for the HAF include instability in the Balkans, territorial disputes with Turkey, and support to European security through the EU and NATO Greece’s NATO membership is a key component of its security; it became a NATO member in 1952 and occupies a strategic location in the Eastern Mediterranean on NATO’s southern flank; Greece is host to several NATO facilities, including the Deployable Corps Greece (NDC-GR) headquarters in Thessaloniki, the Combined Air Operations Center in Larissa, the Multinational Peace Support Operations Training Center in Kilkis, the Multinational Sealift Coordination Center in Athens, and the Naval Base, Maritime Interdiction Operational Training Centre, and NATO Missile Firing Installation at Souda, Crete (2025)

## Space
Space agency/agencies: Hellenic Space Center (HSC; aka Hellenic Space Agency; established 2018) (2025)
Space program overview: focuses on building and operating satellites for communications and remote sensing (RS); researches and develops space-related technologies in a variety of sectors, including agriculture, defense, environmental studies, RS, and telecommunications; contributes to and participates in ESA capabilities and programs; also participates in EU space programs and cooperates bilaterally with European and US space agencies and commercial space sectors; has a commercial space sector that researches, develops, and produces a variety of space technologies and capabilities (2025)
Key space-program milestones: 1994 - signed first cooperation agreement with the ESA 2005 - first satellite (Hellas-Sat) for a domestic telecommunications satellite network launched by US; joined ESA (became member state in 2011) 2017 - first domestically manufactured communications satellite (UPSat) released from International Space Station 2019 - began participating in ESA’s quantum communications infrastructure (EuroQCI or “fiber in the sky”) and the US Gateway Lunar orbital/landing programs 2021 - launched ESA-assisted national program to develop, manufacture, launch, and operate small satellites 2024 - signed US-led Artemis Accords for space and Moon exploration 2025 - launched demonstrator/experimental RS cube satellite (DUTHSat-2) under ESA-assisted national small satellite program

## Terrorism
Terrorist group(s): Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS); Revolutionary Struggle (RS); Revolutionary People's Liberation Party/Front (DHKP/C)

## Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons / refugees: 144,694 (2024 est.)
Refugees and internally displaced persons / stateless persons: 3,743 (2024 est.)

=== Croatia ===

## Introduction
Background: The lands that today comprise Croatia were part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire until the end of World War I. In 1918, the Croats, Serbs, and Slovenes formed a kingdom known after 1929 as Yugoslavia. Following World War II, Yugoslavia became a federal independent communist state consisting of six socialist republics, including Croatia, under the strong hand of Josip Broz, aka TITO. Although Croatia declared its independence from Yugoslavia in 1991, it took four years of sporadic, but often bitter, fighting before Yugoslav forces were cleared from Croatian lands, along with a majority of Croatia's ethnic Serb population. Under UN supervision, the last Serb-held enclave in eastern Slavonia was returned to Croatia in 1998. The country joined NATO in 2009 and the EU in 2013. In January 2023, Croatia further integrated into the EU by joining the Eurozone and the Schengen Area.

## Geography
Location: Southeastern Europe, bordering the Adriatic Sea, between Bosnia and Herzegovina and Slovenia
Geographic coordinates: 45 10 N, 15 30 E
Map references: Europe
Area / total: 56,594 sq km
Area / land: 55,974 sq km
Area / water: 620 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly smaller than West Virginia
Land boundaries / total: 2,237 km
Land boundaries / border countries: Bosnia and Herzegovina 956 km; Hungary 348 km; Montenegro 19 km; Serbia 314 km; Slovenia 600 km
Coastline: 5,835 km (mainland 1,777 km; islands 4,058 km)
Maritime claims / territorial sea: 12 nm
Maritime claims / continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Climate: Mediterranean and continental; continental climate predominant with hot summers and cold winters; mild winters, dry summers along coast
Terrain: geographically diverse; flat plains along Hungarian border, low mountains and highlands near Adriatic coastline and islands
Elevation / highest point: Dinara 1,831 m
Elevation / lowest point: Adriatic Sea 0 m
Elevation / mean elevation: 331 m
Natural resources: oil, some coal, bauxite, low-grade iron ore, calcium, gypsum, natural asphalt, silica, mica, clays, salt, hydropower
Land use / agricultural land: 26.6% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 15.5% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 1.4% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 9.6% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 34.7% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 38.2% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land: 170 sq km (2022)
Major rivers (by length in km): Dunav (Danube) (shared with Germany [s], Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, Serbia, Bulgaria, Ukraine, Moldova, and Romania [m]) - 2,888 km note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Major watersheds (area sq km) / Atlantic Ocean drainage: (Black Sea) Danube (795,656 sq km)
Population distribution: more of the population lives in the northern half of the country, with approximately a quarter of the populace residing in and around the capital of Zagreb; many of the islands are sparsely populated
Natural hazards: destructive earthquakes
Geography - note: controls most land routes from Western Europe to the Aegean Sea and Turkish Straits; most Adriatic Sea islands lie off the coast of Croatia -- some 1,200 islands, islets, ridges, and rocks

## People and Society
Population / total: 4,071,208 (2025 est.)
Population / male: 1,968,334
Population / female: 2,102,874
Nationality / noun: Croat(s), Croatian(s)
Nationality / adjective: Croatian
Ethnic groups: Croat 91.6%, Serb 3.2%, other 3.9% (including Bosniak, Romani, Albanian, Italian, and Hungarian), unspecified 1.3% (2021 est.)
Languages / Languages: Croatian (official) 95.2%, Serbian 1.2%, other 3.1% (including Bosnian, Romani, Albanian, and Italian) unspecified 0.5% (2021 est.)
Languages / major-language sample(s): Knjiga svjetskih činjenica, nužan izvor osnovnih informacija. (Croatian) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
Religions: Roman Catholic 79%, Orthodox 3.3%, Protestant 0.3%, other Christian 4.8%, Muslim 1.3%, other 1.1%, agnostic 1.7%, none or atheist 4.7%, unspecified 3.9% (2021 est.)
Age structure / 0-14 years: 13.8% (male 296,527/female 278,236)
Age structure / 15-64 years: 63.1% (male 1,307,814/female 1,309,394)
Age structure / 65 years and over: 23.1% (2024 est.) (male 399,090/female 559,055)
Dependency ratios / total dependency ratio: 55.9 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / youth dependency ratio: 21.5 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / elderly dependency ratio: 34.4 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / potential support ratio: 2.9 (2025 est.)
Median age / total: 44.9 years (2025 est.)
Median age / male: 43.2 years
Median age / female: 47 years
Population growth rate: -0.53% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 8.49 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 12.87 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: -0.87 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution: more of the population lives in the northern half of the country, with approximately a quarter of the populace residing in and around the capital of Zagreb; many of the islands are sparsely populated
Urbanization / urban population: 58.6% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 0.05% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 684,000 ZAGREB (capital) (2023)
Sex ratio / at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 0-14 years: 1.07 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / total population: 0.93 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth: 29 years (2020 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio: 3 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Infant mortality rate / total: 3.4 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Infant mortality rate / male: 8.2 deaths/1,000 live births
Infant mortality rate / female: 8.7 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth / total population: 77.7 years (2024 est.)
Life expectancy at birth / male: 74.6 years
Life expectancy at birth / female: 81 years
Total fertility rate: 1.43 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 0.69 (2025 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: urban: urban: 100% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: urban: urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 8.1% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 13.7% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density: 3.91 physicians/1,000 population (2022)
Hospital bed density: 5.6 beds/1,000 population (2020 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 24.4% (2016)
Alcohol consumption per capita / total: 9.64 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / beer: 4.75 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / wine: 3.52 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / spirits: 1.37 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / other alcohols: 0.36 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Tobacco use / total: 32.8% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / male: 33.6% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / female: 32.1% (2025 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49): 50.1% (2021 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% GDP): 4.1% of GDP (2021 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% national budget): 8.5% national budget (2021 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / total: 16 years (2022 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / male: 15 years (2022 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / female: 17 years (2022 est.)

## Environment
Environmental issues: air pollution in urban areas, as well as emissions from neighboring countries; surface water pollution in the Danube River Basin
International environmental agreements / party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Multi-effect Protocol, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling
International environmental agreements / signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Climate: Mediterranean and continental; continental climate predominant with hot summers and cold winters; mild winters, dry summers along coast
Land use / agricultural land: 26.6% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 15.5% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 1.4% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 9.6% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 34.7% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 38.2% (2023 est.)
Urbanization / urban population: 58.6% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 0.05% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / total emissions: 16.467 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from coal and metallurgical coke: 1.335 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from petroleum and other liquids: 9.858 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from consumed natural gas: 5.275 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Particulate matter emissions: 15.2 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Waste and recycling / municipal solid waste generated annually: 1.81 million tons (2024 est.)
Waste and recycling / percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 20% (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / municipal: 465 million cubic meters (2022)
Total water withdrawal / industrial: 475 million cubic meters (2022)
Total water withdrawal / agricultural: 76 million cubic meters (2022)
Total renewable water resources: 105.5 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Geoparks / total global geoparks and regional networks: 3 (2024)
Geoparks / global geoparks and regional networks: Biokovo-Imotski Lakes; Papuk; Vis Archipelago (2024)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: Republic of Croatia
Country name / conventional short form: Croatia
Country name / local long form: Republika Hrvatska
Country name / local short form: Hrvatska
Country name / former: People's Republic of Croatia, Socialist Republic of Croatia
Country name / etymology: name probably derives from the Croats, a Slavic tribe who migrated to the Balkans in the 7th century A.D., but that name may be related to the Russian word khrebet , meaning "mountain chain"
Government type: parliamentary republic
Capital / name: Zagreb
Capital / geographic coordinates: 45 48 N, 16 00 E
Capital / time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Capital / daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October
Capital / etymology: the city's name means "beyond the bank (or ditch)"; za in Old Croat means "beyond," and greb means "bank" or "ditch," relating to the city's original site above the Sava River
Administrative divisions: 20 counties ( zupanije , singular - zupanija ) and 1 city* ( grad - singular) with special county status; Bjelovarsko-Bilogorska (Bjelovar-Bilogora), Brodsko-Posavska (Brod-Posavina), Dubrovacko-Neretvanska (Dubrovnik-Neretva), Istarska (Istria), Karlovacka (Karlovac), Koprivnicko-Krizevacka (Koprivnica-Krizevci), Krapinsko-Zagorska (Krapina-Zagorje), Licko-Senjska (Lika-Senj), Medimurska (Medimurje), Osjecko-Baranjska (Osijek-Baranja), Pozesko-Slavonska (Pozega-Slavonia), Primorsko-Goranska (Primorje-Gorski Kotar), Sibensko-Kninska (Sibenik-Knin), Sisacko-Moslavacka (Sisak-Moslavina), Splitsko-Dalmatinska (Split-Dalmatia), Varazdinska (Varazdin), Viroviticko-Podravska (Virovitica-Podravina), Vukovarsko-Srijemska (Vukovar-Syrmia), Zadarska (Zadar), Zagreb*, Zagrebacka (Zagreb county)
Legal system: civil law system influenced by legal heritage of Austria-Hungary
Constitution / history: several previous; latest adopted 22 December 1990
Constitution / amendment process: proposed by at least one fifth of the Assembly membership, by the president of the republic, by the Government of Croatia, or through petition by at least 10% of the total electorate; proceedings to amend require majority vote by the Assembly; passage requires two-thirds majority vote by the Assembly; passage by petition requires a majority vote in a referendum and promulgation by the Assembly
International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Citizenship / citizenship by birth: no
Citizenship / citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Croatia
Citizenship / dual citizenship recognized: yes
Citizenship / residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch / chief of state: President Zoran MILANOVIC (since 18 February 2020)
Executive branch / head of government: Prime Minister Andrej PLENKOVIC (since 19 October 2016)
Executive branch / cabinet: Council of Ministers named by the prime minister and approved by the Assembly
Executive branch / election/appointment process: president directly elected by absolute-majority popular vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); the leader of the majority party or majority coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the president and approved by the Assembly
Executive branch / most recent election date: December 2024 (first round) and January 2025 (second round)
Executive branch / election results: 2025: Zoran MILANOVIC elected president in second round; percent of vote in second round - Zoran MILANOVIC (SDP) 74.6%, Dragan PRIMORAC (independent) 25.3% 2019: Zoran MILANOVIC elected president in second round; percent of vote in second round - Zoran MILANOVIC (SDP) 52.7%, Kolinda GRABAR-KITAROVIC (HDZ) 47.3%
Executive branch / expected date of next election: 2029
Legislative branch / legislature name: Croatian Parliament (Hrvatski Sabor)
Legislative branch / legislative structure: unicameral
Legislative branch / number of seats: 151 (all directly elected)
Legislative branch / electoral system: proportional representation
Legislative branch / scope of elections: full renewal
Legislative branch / term in office: 4 years
Legislative branch / most recent election date: 4/17/2024
Legislative branch / parties elected and seats per party: Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) (55); Social Democratic Party of Croatia (SDP) (37); Homeland Movement (DP) (11); We Can! – Political Platform (Možemo!) (10); Bridge (Most) (7); Other (20)
Legislative branch / percentage of women in chamber: 33.1%
Legislative branch / expected date of next election: April 2028
Judicial branch / highest court(s): Supreme Court (consists of the court president and vice president, 25 civil department justices, and 16 criminal department justices)
Judicial branch / judge selection and term of office: president of Supreme Court nominated by the president of Croatia and elected by the Sabor for a 4-year term; other Supreme Court justices appointed by the National Judicial Council; all judges serve until age 70
Judicial branch / subordinate courts: Administrative Court; county, municipal, and specialized courts
Political parties: Bosniaks Together The Bridge or MOST (formerly the Bridge of Independent Lists) Croatia Romani Union Kali Sara (SRRH) Croatian Democratic Union or HDZ Democratic Union of Hungarians in Croatia (DZMH) Focus or Fokus Homeland Movement or DP (also known as Miroslav Škoro Homeland Movement or DPMS) Independent Democratic Serb Party or SDSS Independent Platform of the North (NPS) Istrian Democratic Assembly or IDS Social Democratic Party of Croatia or SDP We Can! or Mozemo!
Diplomatic representation in the US / chief of mission: Ambassador Pjer &Scaron;IMUNOVIĆ (since 8 September 2017)
Diplomatic representation in the US / chancery: 2343 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation in the US / telephone: [1] (202) 588-5899
Diplomatic representation in the US / FAX: [1] (202) 588-8937
Diplomatic representation in the US / email address and website: washington@mvep.hr https://mvep.gov.hr/embassy-114969/114969
Diplomatic representation in the US / consulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, Seattle (WA)
Diplomatic representation in the US / consulate(s): Anchorage (AL), Houston, Kansas City (MO),Minneapolis/St. Paul (MN), New Orleans, Pittsburgh (PA)
Diplomatic representation from the US / chief of mission: Ambassador Nicole McGRAW (since 21 October 2025)
Diplomatic representation from the US / embassy: Ulica Thomasa Jeffersona 2, 10010 Zagreb
Diplomatic representation from the US / mailing address: 5080 Zagreb Place, Washington DC 20521-5080
Diplomatic representation from the US / telephone: [385] (1) 661-2200
Diplomatic representation from the US / FAX: [385] (1) 665-8933
Diplomatic representation from the US / email address and website: ZagrebACS@state.gov https://hr.usembassy.gov/
International organization participation: AIIB, Australia Group, BIS, BSEC (observer), CD, CE, CEI, EAPC, EBRD, ECB, EMU, EU, FAO, G-11, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MINURSO, NAM (observer), NATO, NSG, OAS (observer), OIF (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, Schengen Convention, SELEC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNMIL, UNMOGIP, UNWTO, UPU, Wassenaar Arrangement, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
Independence: 25 June 1991 (from Yugoslavia); notable earlier dates: ca. 925 (Kingdom of Croatia established), 1 December 1918 (Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes established, later became Yugoslavia)
National holiday: Statehood Day (National Day), 30 May (1990)
Flag: description: three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and blue -- the pan-Slav colors -- with the Croatian coat of arms in the center, which consists of a main shield (a checkerboard of 13 red and 12 silver fields) with five smaller shields that form a crown over the main shield meaning: the small shields represent the five historic regions (from left to right): Croatia, Dubrovnik, Dalmatia, Istria, and Slavonia history: Russia's 19th-century flag inspired the pan-Slav colors
National symbol(s): red-and-white checkerboard
National color(s): red, white, blue
National anthem(s) / title: "Lijepa nasa domovino" (Our Beautiful Homeland)
National anthem(s) / lyrics/music: Antun MIHANOVIC/Josip RUNJANIN
National anthem(s) / history: adopted in 1972 while still part of Yugoslavia; the lyrics were written in 1835, and it served as an unofficial anthem beginning in 1891
National heritage / total World Heritage Sites: 10 (8 cultural, 2 natural)
National heritage / selected World Heritage Site locales: Plitvice Lakes National Park (n); Historic Split (c); Old City of Dubrovnik (c); Euphrasian Basilica; Historic Trogir (c); Šibenik Cathedral (c); Stari Grad Plain (c); Zadar and Fort St. Nikola Venetian Defense Works (c); Primeval Beech Forests (n); Stećci Medieval Tombstones Graveyards (c)

## Economy
Economic overview: upper-middle-income Balkan economy; newest euro user (introduced in 2023); increased investments from EU structural funds and tourism sector contributing to strong but moderating economic growth; declining energy prices and restrictive monetary policy easing inflation; historically low unemployment rate with labor shortages within services and manufacturing sectors
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $164.825 billion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $158.769 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $153.693 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2024: 3.8% (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2023: 3.3% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2022: 7.3% (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2024: $42,600 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2023: $41,100 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2022: $39,900 (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $92.526 billion (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024: 3% (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023: 7.9% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 10.8% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / agriculture: 3.4% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / industry: 19.8% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / services: 59.7% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / household consumption: 57% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / government consumption: 22.6% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in fixed capital: 23.7% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in inventories: -0.2% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / exports of goods and services: 49.8% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / imports of goods and services: -52.9% (2024 est.)
Agricultural products: maize, wheat, sugar beets, milk, barley, soybeans, sunflower seeds, potatoes, pork, grapes (2023)
Industries: 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
Industrial production growth rate: 2.1% (2024 est.)
Labor force: 1.733 million (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2024: 5.3% (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2023: 6.1% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2022: 7% (2022 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / total: 16.6% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / male: 15.5% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / female: 18.2% (2024 est.)
Population below poverty line: 18% (2021 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income / Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2022: 30 (2022 est.)
Average household expenditures / on food: 18.5% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Average household expenditures / on alcohol and tobacco: 7.9% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / lowest 10%: 2.9% (2022 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / highest 10%: 23% (2022 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2024: 7.3% of GDP (2024 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2023: 7.2% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2022: 7.5% of GDP (2022 est.)
Budget / revenues: $32.487 billion (2023 est.)
Budget / expenditures: $33.715 billion (2023 est.)
Public debt / Public debt 2023: 75.6% of GDP (2023 est.)
Taxes and other revenues: 21.5% (of GDP) (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2024: -$1.049 billion (2024 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2023: $635.97 million (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2022: -$2.621 billion (2022 est.)
Exports / Exports 2024: $46.601 billion (2024 est.)
Exports / Exports 2023: $45.064 billion (2023 est.)
Exports / Exports 2022: $41.907 billion (2022 est.)
Exports - partners: Italy 14%, Germany 11%, Slovenia 11%, Bosnia & Herzegovina 6%, Austria 6% (2023)
Exports - commodities: ships, garments, electricity, packaged medicine, wood (2023)
Imports / Imports 2024: $49.86 billion (2024 est.)
Imports / Imports 2023: $46.811 billion (2023 est.)
Imports / Imports 2022: $46.769 billion (2022 est.)
Imports - partners: Italy 14%, Germany 14%, Slovenia 11%, Hungary 6%, Austria 5% (2023)
Imports - commodities: refined petroleum, cars, garments, natural gas, crude petroleum (2023)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024: $3.336 billion (2024 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023: $3.176 billion (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $29.726 billion (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Currency: euros (EUR) per US dollar -
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2024: 0.924 (2024 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2023: 0.925 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2022: 0.95 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2021: 0.845 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2020: 0.876 (2020 est.)

## Energy
Electricity access / electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)
Electricity / installed generating capacity: 5.518 million kW (2023 est.)
Electricity / consumption: 16.408 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / exports: 8.461 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / imports: 10.038 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / transmission/distribution losses: 2.053 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / fossil fuels: 31.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / solar: 1.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / wind: 14.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / hydroelectricity: 48.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / geothermal: 0.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / biomass and waste: 3.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Coal / consumption: 596,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / exports: 1,000 metric tons (2022 est.)
Coal / imports: 663,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum / total petroleum production: 11,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Petroleum / refined petroleum consumption: 70,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Petroleum / crude oil estimated reserves: 71 million barrels (2021 est.)
Natural gas / production: 722.231 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / consumption: 2.689 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / exports: 1.119 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / imports: 2.995 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / proven reserves: 24.919 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)
Energy consumption per capita / Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 79.907 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

## Communications
Telephones - fixed lines / total subscriptions: 1.1 million (2024 est.)
Telephones - fixed lines / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 29 (2024 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / total subscriptions: 4.72 million (2024 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 122 (2024 est.)
Broadcast media: the national state-owned public broadcaster, Croatian Radiotelevision, operates 4 terrestrial TV networks, a satellite channel that rebroadcasts programs for Croatians overseas, and 6 regional TV centers; 2 private broadcasters with national terrestrial networks; 29 privately owned regional TV stations; multi-channel cable and satellite TV subscription services are available; state-owned public broadcaster operates 4 national radio networks and 23 regional radio stations; 2 privately owned national radio networks and 117 local radio stations (2019)
Internet country code: .hr
Internet users / percent of population: 83% (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / total: 1.11 million (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 28 (2023 est.)

## Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: 9A
Airports: 45 (2025)
Heliports: 7 (2025)
Railways / total: 2,617 km (2020) 980 km electrified
Merchant marine / total: 384 (2023)
Merchant marine / by type: bulk carrier 10, general cargo 32, oil tanker 14, other 328
Ports / total ports: 16 (2024)
Ports / large: 2
Ports / medium: 0
Ports / small: 6
Ports / very small: 8
Ports / ports with oil terminals: 8
Ports / key ports: Bakar, Dubrovnik, Omisalj, Rijeka Luka, Rovinj, Sibenik, Split, Zadar

## Military and Security
Military and security forces: Armed Forces of the Republic of Croatia (Oruzane Snage Republike Hrvatske, OSRH): Croatian Army (Hrvatska Kopnena Vojska, HKoV), Croatian Navy (Hrvatska Ratna Mornarica, HRM; includes Coast Guard), Croatian Air Force (Hrvatsko Ratno Zrakoplovstvo, HRZ) (2025)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2025: 2% of GDP (2025 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2024: 1.9% of GDP (2024 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2023: 1.7% of GDP (2023 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2022: 1.8% of GDP (2022 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2021: 2% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military and security service personnel strengths: approximately 15,000 active-duty military personnel (2025)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the military's inventory is a mix of Soviet-era (largely from the former Yugoslavia) equipment and a growing amount of more modern, NATO-compatible weapon systems from suppliers such as France, Germany, T&uuml;rkiye, and the US (2025)
Military service age and obligation: 18-29 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women; conscription abolished in 2008 but will be reinstated in 2026 when it will become mandatory for men aged 19-29 to undergo two months of basic military training (2025)
Military deployments: 150 Kosovo (KFOR/NATO); also has a few hundred personnel participating in several other EU, NATO, and UN missions (2025)
Military - note: the Armed Forces of Croatia (OSRH) are responsible for the defense of Croatia’s sovereignty and territory, contributing to international humanitarian, peacekeeping, and security missions, and providing assistance to civil authorities for such missions as responding to disasters, search and rescue, anti-terrorism, and internal security in times of crisis if called upon by the prime minister or the president; Croatia joined NATO in 2009, and the OSRH participates in NATO missions, including its peacekeeping force in Kosovo and the Enhanced Forward Presence mission in Eastern Europe; it also contributes to EU and UN missions; the OSRH trains regularly with NATO and regional partners the OSRH was established in 1991 from the Croatian National Guard during the Croatian War of Independence (1991-95); during the war, the ground forces grew to as many as 60 brigades and dozens of independent battalions, and a single military offensive against Serbian forces in 1995 included some 100,000 Croatian troops; in 2000, Croatia initiated an effort to modernize and reform the OSRH into a small, professional military capable of meeting the challenges of NATO membership (2025)

## Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons / refugees: 29,927 (2024 est.)
Refugees and internally displaced persons / stateless persons: 758 (2024 est.)

=== Hungary ===

## Introduction
Background: Hungary became a Christian kingdom in A.D. 1000 and for many centuries served as a bulwark against Ottoman Turkish expansion in Europe. The kingdom eventually became part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, which collapsed during World War I. The country fell under communist rule after World War II. In 1956, Moscow responded to a Hungarian revolt and announcement of its withdrawal from the Warsaw Pact with a massive military intervention. Under the leadership of Janos KADAR in 1968, Hungary began liberalizing its economy, introducing so-called "Goulash Communism." Hungary held its first multiparty elections in 1990 and initiated a free market economy. It joined NATO in 1999 and the EU five years later.

## Geography
Location: Central Europe, northwest of Romania
Geographic coordinates: 47 00 N, 20 00 E
Map references: Europe
Area / total: 93,028 sq km
Area / land: 89,608 sq km
Area / water: 3,420 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly smaller than Virginia; about the same size as Indiana
Land boundaries / total: 2,106 km
Land boundaries / border countries: Austria 321 km; Croatia 348 km; Romania 424 km; Serbia 164 km; Slovakia 627 km; Slovenia 94 km; Ukraine 128 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
Climate: temperate; cold, cloudy, humid winters; warm summers
Terrain: mostly flat to rolling plains; hills and low mountains on the Slovakian border
Elevation / highest point: Kekes 1,014 m
Elevation / lowest point: Tisza River 78 m
Elevation / mean elevation: 143 m
Natural resources: bauxite, coal, natural gas, fertile soils, arable land
Land use / agricultural land: 55.7% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 45.4% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 1.6% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 8.6% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 22.7% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 20.9% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land: 1,331 sq km (2022)
Major lakes (area sq km) / fresh water lake(s): Lake Balaton - 590 sq km
Major rivers (by length in km): Duna (Danube) (shared with Germany [s], Austria, Slovakia, Croatia, Serbia, Bulgaria, Ukraine, Moldova, and Romania [m]) - 2,888 km note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Major watersheds (area sq km) / Atlantic Ocean drainage: (Black Sea) Danube (795,656 sq km)
Population distribution: a fairly even distribution throughout most of the country, with urban areas attracting larger and denser populations
Geography - note: landlocked; strategic location on main land routes between Western Europe and Balkan Peninsula, as well as between Ukraine and the Mediterranean basin; the Duna (Danube) and Tisza Rivers divide the country into three large regions

## People and Society
Population / total: 9,855,745 (2024 est.)
Population / male: 4,812,668
Population / female: 5,043,077
Nationality / noun: Hungarian(s)
Nationality / adjective: Hungarian
Ethnic groups: Hungarian 84.3%, Romani 2.1%, German 1%, other 1.2%, unspecified 13.7% (2022 est.)
Languages / Languages: Hungarian (official) 98.8%, English 25.3%, German 12.6%, Russian 2.1%, French 1.5%, Romanian 1.4%, other 5.1% (2022 est.)
Languages / major-language sample(s): A World Factbook nélkülözhetetlen forrása az alapvető információnak. (Hungarian) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
Religions: Catholic 30.1% (Roman Catholic 27.5%, Greek Catholic 1.7%, other Catholic 0.9%), Calvinist 9.8%, Lutheran 1.8%, other Christian (includes Orthodox) 1.6%, other 0.4%, none 16.1%, no answer 40.1% (2022 est.)
Age structure / 0-14 years: 14.6% (male 753,955/female 683,943)
Age structure / 15-64 years: 63.9% (male 3,195,761/female 3,104,750)
Age structure / 65 years and over: 21.5% (2024 est.) (male 862,952/female 1,254,384)
Dependency ratios / total dependency ratio: 56.4 (2024 est.)
Dependency ratios / youth dependency ratio: 22.8 (2024 est.)
Dependency ratios / elderly dependency ratio: 33.6 (2024 est.)
Dependency ratios / potential support ratio: 3 (2024 est.)
Median age / total: 45.1 years (2025 est.)
Median age / male: 42.8 years
Median age / female: 46.7 years
Population growth rate: -0.29% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 9.03 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 14.41 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: 2.45 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution: a fairly even distribution throughout most of the country, with urban areas attracting larger and denser populations
Urbanization / urban population: 72.9% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 0.05% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 1.778 million BUDAPEST (capital) (2023)
Sex ratio / at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 0-14 years: 1.1 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 65 years and over: 0.69 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth: 28.4 years (2020 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio: 12 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Infant mortality rate / total: 4.6 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Infant mortality rate / male: 5 deaths/1,000 live births
Infant mortality rate / female: 4.3 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth / total population: 76 years (2024 est.)
Life expectancy at birth / male: 72.9 years
Life expectancy at birth / female: 79.3 years
Total fertility rate: 1.6 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 0.78 (2025 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: urban: urban: 100% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: rural: rural: 100% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: total: total: 100% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: urban: urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: rural: rural: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: total: total: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 7.4% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 9.9% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density: 3.46 physicians/1,000 population (2022)
Hospital bed density: 6.8 beds/1,000 population (2021 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: urban: urban: 100% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: rural: rural: 100% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: total: total: 100% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: urban: urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: rural: rural: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: total: total: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 26.4% (2016)
Alcohol consumption per capita / total: 10.79 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / beer: 3.96 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / wine: 3.33 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / spirits: 3.5 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / other alcohols: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Tobacco use / total: 28.5% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / male: 33.7% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / female: 23.8% (2025 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49): 52.3% (2022 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% GDP): 3.8% of GDP (2022 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% national budget): 7.8% national budget (2022 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / total: 16 years (2023 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / male: 15 years (2023 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / female: 16 years (2023 est.)

## Environment
Environmental issues: air and soil pollution; water pollution from industry and large-scale agriculture
International environmental agreements / party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Multi-effect Protocol, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling
International environmental agreements / signed, but not ratified: Antarctic-Environmental Protection
Climate: temperate; cold, cloudy, humid winters; warm summers
Land use / agricultural land: 55.7% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 45.4% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 1.6% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 8.6% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 22.7% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 20.9% (2023 est.)
Urbanization / urban population: 72.9% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 0.05% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / total emissions: 40.161 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from coal and metallurgical coke: 3.373 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from petroleum and other liquids: 20.887 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from consumed natural gas: 15.901 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Particulate matter emissions: 14.2 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Waste and recycling / municipal solid waste generated annually: 3.781 million tons (2024 est.)
Waste and recycling / percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 31% (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / municipal: 660 million cubic meters (2022)
Total water withdrawal / industrial: 3.758 billion cubic meters (2022)
Total water withdrawal / agricultural: 548.613 million cubic meters (2022)
Total renewable water resources: 104 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Geoparks / total global geoparks and regional networks: 4 (2024)
Geoparks / global geoparks and regional networks: Bakony-Balaton; Bukk Region; Hungary; Novohrad-N&oacute;gr&aacute;d (includes Slovakia) (2024)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: none
Country name / conventional short form: Hungary
Country name / local long form: none
Country name / local short form: Magyarorszag
Country name / former: Kingdom of Hungary, Hungarian People's Republic, Hungarian Soviet Republic, Hungarian Republic
Country name / etymology: the Byzantine Greeks referred to the tribes that arrived on the steppes of Eastern Europe in the 9th century as the "Oungroi," a name that later became "Hungari," which originally meant an "[alliance of] ten tribes;" the Hungarian name Magyarorszag means "Country of the Magyars," which may be derived from the name of the most prominent of the Hungarian tribes
Government type: parliamentary republic
Capital / name: Budapest
Capital / geographic coordinates: 47 30 N, 19 05 E
Capital / time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Capital / daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October
Capital / etymology: Buda on the western shore of the Danube and Pest on the eastern shore merged in 1873 to form Budapest; Buda's name may derive from the name of its founder or from a local word meaning "water;" Pest derives from a Slavic word meaning "furnace" or "oven"
Administrative divisions: 19 counties ( megyek , singular - megye ), 25 cities with county rights ( megyei jogu varosok , singular - megyei jogu varos ), and 1 capital city ( fovaros ) counties: Bacs-Kiskun, Baranya, Bekes, Borsod-Abauj-Zemplen, Csongrad-Csanad, Fejer, Gyor-Moson-Sopron, Hajdu-Bihar, Heves, Jasz-Nagykun-Szolnok, Komarom-Esztergom, Nograd, Pest, Somogy, Szabolcs-Szatmar-Bereg, Tolna, Vas, Veszprem, Zala cities with county rights: Baja, Bekescsaba, Debrecen, Dunaujvaros, Eger, Erd, Esztergom, Gyor, Hodmezovasarhely, Kaposvar, Kecskemet, Miskolc, Nagykanizsa, Nyiregyhaza, Pecs, Salgotarjan, Sopron, Szeged, Szekesfehervar, Szekszard, Szolnok, Szombathely, Tatabanya, Veszprem, Zalaegerszeg capital city: Budapest
Legal system: civil system influenced by the German model
Constitution / history: previous 1949 (heavily amended in 1989 following the collapse of communism); latest approved 18 April 2011, signed 25 April 2011, effective 1 January 2012
Constitution / amendment process: proposed by the president of the republic, by the government, by parliamentary committee, or by Parliament members; passage requires two-thirds majority vote of Parliament members and approval by the president
International law organization participation: accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICC jurisdiction
Citizenship / citizenship by birth: no
Citizenship / citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Hungary
Citizenship / dual citizenship recognized: yes
Citizenship / residency requirement for naturalization: 8 years
Suffrage: 18 years of age, 16 if married and marriage is registered in Hungary; universal
Executive branch / chief of state: President Tamas SULYOK (since 5 March 2024)
Executive branch / head of government: Prime Minister Viktor ORBAN (since 29 May 2010)
Executive branch / cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers proposed by the prime minister and appointed by the president
Executive branch / election/appointment process: president indirectly elected by the National Assembly with two-thirds majority vote in first round or simple majority vote in second round for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); prime minister elected by the National Assembly on the recommendation of the president
Executive branch / most recent election date: president: 26 February 2024 prime minister: 3 April 2022
Executive branch / election results: 2024: Tamas SULYOK elected president; National Assembly vote - 134 to 5 2022: Katalin NOVAK (Fidesz) elected president; National Assembly vote - 137 to 51
Executive branch / expected date of next election: president: spring 2029 prime minister: April or May 2027
Legislative branch / legislature name: National Assembly (Országgyülés)
Legislative branch / legislative structure: unicameral
Legislative branch / chamber name: National Assembly (Orszaggyules)
Legislative branch / number of seats: 199 (all directly elected)
Legislative branch / electoral system: mixed system
Legislative branch / scope of elections: full renewal
Legislative branch / term in office: 4 years
Legislative branch / most recent election date: 4/3/2022
Legislative branch / parties elected and seats per party: Hungarian Civic Union-Christian Democratic People's Party (FIDESZ-KDNP) (135); Democratic Coalition (DK) (15); Movement for a Better Hungary (Jobbik) (10); Hungarian Socialist Party (MSZP) (10); Momentum (10); Other (19)
Legislative branch / percentage of women in chamber: 15.6%
Legislative branch / expected date of next election: April 2026
Judicial branch / highest court(s): Curia or Supreme Judicial Court (consists of the president, vice president, department heads, and has a maximum of 113 judges, and is organized into civil, criminal, and administrative-labor departments; Constitutional Court (consists of 15 judges, including the court president and vice president)
Judicial branch / judge selection and term of office: Curia president elected by the National Assembly on the recommendation of the president of the republic; other Curia judges appointed by the president on the recommendation of the National Judicial Council, a separate 15-member administrative body; judge tenure based on interim evaluations until normal retirement at age 62; Constitutional Court judges, including the president of the court, elected by the National Assembly; court vice president elected by the court itself; members serve 12-year terms with mandatory retirement at age 62
Judicial branch / subordinate courts: 5 regional courts of appeal; 19 regional or county courts (including Budapest Metropolitan Court); 20 administrative-labor courts; 111 district or local courts
Political parties: Christian Democratic People's Party or KDNP Democratic Coalition or DK Dialogue for Hungary or Párbeszéd Fidesz-Hungarian Civic Alliance or Fidesz Hungarian Socialist Party or MSZP Jobbik - Conservatives or Jobbik LMP-Hungary's Green Party or LMP Mi Hazank (Our Homeland Movement) or MHM Momentum Movement or Momentum Movement for a Better Hungary or Jobbik National Self-Government of Germans in Hungary or MNOÖ On the People's Side or A Nép Pártján Our Homeland Movement or Mi Hazánk TISZA – Respect and Freedom Party or TISZA
Diplomatic representation in the US / chief of mission: Ambassador Szabolcs Ferenc TAK&Aacute;CS (since 23 December 2020)
Diplomatic representation in the US / chancery: 1500 Rhode Island Avenue, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20005
Diplomatic representation in the US / telephone: [1] (202) 362-6730
Diplomatic representation in the US / FAX: [1] (202) 966-8135
Diplomatic representation in the US / email address and website: info.was@mfa.gov.hu https://washington.mfa.gov.hu/eng
Diplomatic representation in the US / consulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles, New York
Diplomatic representation in the US / consulate(s): Houston, Miami
Diplomatic representation from the US / chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charg&eacute; d&rsquo;Affaires Caroline SAVAGE (since November 2025)
Diplomatic representation from the US / embassy: Szabadsag ter 12, H-1054 Budapest
Diplomatic representation from the US / mailing address: 5270 Budapest Place, US Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-5270
Diplomatic representation from the US / telephone: [36] (1) 475-4400
Diplomatic representation from the US / FAX: [36] (1) 475-4248
Diplomatic representation from the US / email address and website: acs.budapest@state.gov https://hu.usembassy.gov/
International organization participation: Australia Group, BIS, CD, CE, CEI, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECB, EIB, ESA (cooperating state), EU, FAO, G-9, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MINURSO, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OIF (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, Schengen Convention, SELEC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNOOSA, UNWTO, UPU, Wassenaar Arrangement, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
Independence: 16 November 1918 (republic proclaimed); notable earlier dates: 25 December 1000 (crowning of King STEPHEN I, traditional founding date); 30 March 1867 (Austro-Hungarian dual monarchy established)
National holiday: Saint Stephen's Day, 20 August (1083)
Flag: description: three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and green meaning: folklore attributes virtues to the colors: red for strength, white for faithfulness, and green for hope; alternatively, the red can stand for the blood spilled in defense of the land, white for freedom, and green for pasturelands history: 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 of the French flag
National symbol(s): Holy Crown of Hungary (Crown of Saint Stephen)
National color(s): red, white, green
National anthem(s) / title: "Himnusz" (Hymn)
National anthem(s) / lyrics/music: Ferenc KOLCSEY/Ferenc ERKEL
National anthem(s) / history: adopted 1844
National heritage / total World Heritage Sites: 8 (7 cultural, 1 natural)
National heritage / selected World Heritage Site locales: Budapest, including the Banks of the Danube, the Buda Castle Quarter, and Andrássy Avenue (c); Old Village of Hollókő and its Surroundings (c); Caves of Aggtelek Karst and Slovak Karst (n); Millenary Benedictine Abbey of Pannonhalma and its Natural Environment (c); Hortobágy National Park - the Puszta (c); Early Christian Necropolis of Pécs (Sopianae) (c); Fertö / Neusiedlersee Cultural Landscape (c); Tokaj Wine Region Historic Cultural Landscape (c)

## Economy
Economic overview: high-income EU and OECD economy; modest recovery from 2024 recession driven by private consumption and moderated inflation; challenges include high fiscal deficits, frozen access to EU funds, and risks from export reliance; implementing tax exemptions, price controls, and mortgage interest caps ahead of 2026 elections
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $389.207 billion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $387.223 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $390.513 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2024: 0.5% (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2023: -0.8% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2022: 4.3% (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2024: $40,700 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2023: $40,400 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2022: $40,700 (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $222.905 billion (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024: 3.7% (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023: 17.1% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 14.6% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / agriculture: 2.4% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / industry: 23.9% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / services: 59.7% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / household consumption: 49.1% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / government consumption: 19.9% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in fixed capital: 25.6% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in inventories: 0.3% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / exports of goods and services: 80.8% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / imports of goods and services: -76.3% (2023 est.)
Agricultural products: maize, wheat, barley, milk, sunflower seeds, sugar beets, rapeseed, apples, pork, grapes (2023)
Industries: mining, metallurgy, construction materials, processed foods, textiles, chemicals (especially pharmaceuticals), motor vehicles
Industrial production growth rate: -2.5% (2024 est.)
Labor force: 4.954 million (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2024: 4.5% (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2023: 4.2% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2022: 3.7% (2022 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / total: 14.1% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / male: 14.8% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / female: 13.1% (2024 est.)
Population below poverty line: 12.1% (2021 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income / Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2022: 30.2 (2022 est.)
Average household expenditures / on food: 16.8% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Average household expenditures / on alcohol and tobacco: 7% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / lowest 10%: 2.8% (2022 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / highest 10%: 24.4% (2022 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2024: 2.3% of GDP (2024 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2023: 2.4% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2022: 2.2% of GDP (2022 est.)
Budget / revenues: $69.793 billion (2022 est.)
Budget / expenditures: $80.429 billion (2022 est.)
Public debt / Public debt 2022: 75.3% of GDP (2022 est.)
Taxes and other revenues: 23.4% (of GDP) (2022 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2024: $5.074 billion (2024 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2023: $751.071 million (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2022: -$14.699 billion (2022 est.)
Exports / Exports 2024: $166.503 billion (2024 est.)
Exports / Exports 2023: $173.034 billion (2023 est.)
Exports / Exports 2022: $158.98 billion (2022 est.)
Exports - partners: Germany 25%, Italy 6%, Romania 6%, USA 5%, Slovakia 4% (2023)
Exports - commodities: cars, vehicle parts/accessories, electric batteries, packaged medicine, computers (2023)
Imports / Imports 2024: $154.077 billion (2024 est.)
Imports / Imports 2023: $163.192 billion (2023 est.)
Imports / Imports 2022: $167.262 billion (2022 est.)
Imports - partners: Germany 23%, China 7%, Austria 6%, Poland 6%, S. Korea 6% (2023)
Imports - commodities: vehicle parts/accessories, natural gas, integrated circuits, broadcasting equipment, industrial acids/oils/alcohols (2023)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024: $46.422 billion (2024 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023: $45.719 billion (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $41.219 billion (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Currency: forints (HUF) per US dollar -
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2024: 365.691 (2024 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2023: 353.088 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2022: 372.596 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2021: 303.141 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2020: 307.997 (2020 est.)

## Energy
Electricity access / electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)
Electricity / installed generating capacity: 14.829 million kW (2023 est.)
Electricity / consumption: 42.739 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / exports: 8.863 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / imports: 19.963 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / transmission/distribution losses: 2.454 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / fossil fuels: 28.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / nuclear: 44.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / solar: 19.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / wind: 1.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / hydroelectricity: 0.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / biomass and waste: 4.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Nuclear energy / Number of operational nuclear reactors: 4 (2025)
Nuclear energy / Net capacity of operational nuclear reactors: 1.92GW (2025 est.)
Nuclear energy / Percent of total electricity production: 48.8% (2023 est.)
Coal / production: 4.293 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / consumption: 4.694 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / exports: 115,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / imports: 452,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / proven reserves: 2.633 billion metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum / total petroleum production: 36,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Petroleum / refined petroleum consumption: 179,000 bbl/day (2024 est.)
Petroleum / crude oil estimated reserves: 12.1 million barrels (2021 est.)
Natural gas / production: 1.612 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / consumption: 8.293 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / imports: 8.216 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / proven reserves: 3.738 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)
Energy consumption per capita / Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 96.152 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

## Communications
Telephones - fixed lines / total subscriptions: 2.693 million (2023 est.)
Telephones - fixed lines / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 28 (2023 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / total subscriptions: 10.2 million (2023 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 104 (2022 est.)
Broadcast media: mixed system of state-supported media and private broadcasters; the 5 publicly owned TV channels and the 2 main privately owned TV stations are the major national broadcasters; large number of special-interest channels; highly developed market for satellite and cable TV with about two-thirds of viewers utilizing the services; 4 state-supported radio networks; large number of local stations, including commercial, public service, nonprofit, and community radio stations; digital transition completed in 2013 (2019)
Internet country code: .hu
Internet users / percent of population: 92% (2024 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / total: 3.56 million (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 37 (2023 est.)

## Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: HA
Airports: 109 (2025)
Heliports: 15 (2025)
Railways / total: 7,687 km (2020) 3,111 km electrified
Merchant marine / total: 1 (2023)
Merchant marine / by type: other 1

## Military and Security
Military and security forces: Hungarian Defense Forces (HDF or Magyar Honvédség): the HDF is organized as a joint force under a general staff with commands for land, air, cyber, special operations, territorial defense, and support forces (2025)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2025: 2.1% of GDP (2025 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2024: 2.1% of GDP (2024 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2023: 2.1% of GDP (2023 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2022: 1.8% of GDP (2022 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2021: 1.7% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military and security service personnel strengths: approximately 30,000 active-duty military personnel (2025)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the HDF has a mix of Soviet-era and more modern, NATO-compatible arms from such countries as Germany, France, Norway, Sweden, T&uuml;rkiye, and the US; in 2017, Budapest launched a modernization program aimed at replacing its Soviet-era weaponry with modern systems; Hungary has also placed emphasis on building up its defense industrial capacity (2025)
Military service age and obligation: 18 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription (abolished 2005) (2026)
Military deployments: 250 Bosnia-Herzegovina (EUFOR stabilization force); 200 Chad; 470 Kosovo (NATO/KFOR) (2025)
Military - note: the Hungarian Defense Forces (HDF) are responsible for ensuring the defense of the country’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, and citizens, and fulfilling Hungary’s commitments to the EU and NATO, as well as contributing to other international peacekeeping efforts under the UN; key areas of concern for the HDF the HDF is also responsible for some aspects of domestic security, crisis management, disaster response, and assisting law enforcement forces in border security Hungary has been a member of NATO since 1999 and considers the collective defense ensured within the Alliance as a cornerstone of the country’s security; NATO membership is complemented by Hungary’s ties to the EU under its Common Security and Defense Policy; the HDF has participated in multiple NATO-led security missions, including in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Kosovo, as well as EU-led missions in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Mali; it hosts a NATO battlegroup comprised of troops from Croatia, Hungary, Italy, and the US, and NATO’s Multinational Division Center, a headquarters capable of commanding a division-sized force (typically 15-20,000 troops) in a crisis; both organizations were established as a result of Russian aggression against Ukraine; Hungary is a member of the Visegrad Group, a regional platform that brings together Czechia, Hungary, Poland, and Slovakia to discuss cultural, defense, and political cooperation (2025)

## Terrorism
Terrorist group(s): Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS)

## Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons / refugees: 72,359 (2024 est.)
Refugees and internally displaced persons / stateless persons: 101 (2024 est.)

=== Iceland ===

## Introduction
Background: Settled by Norwegian and Celtic (Scottish and Irish) immigrants during the late 9th and 10th centuries A.D., Iceland boasts the world's oldest functioning legislative assembly, the Althingi, which was established in 930. Independent for over 300 years, Iceland was subsequently ruled by Norway and Denmark. Fallout from the Askja volcano of 1875 devastated the Icelandic economy and caused widespread famine. Over the next quarter-century, 20% of the island's population emigrated, mostly to Canada and the US. Denmark granted limited home rule in 1874 and complete independence in 1944. The second half of the 20th century saw substantial economic growth driven primarily by the fishing industry. The economy diversified greatly after the country joined the European Economic Area in 1994, but the global financial crisis hit Iceland especially hard in the years after 2008. The economy is now on an upward trajectory, primarily thanks to a tourism and construction boom. Literacy, longevity, and social cohesion are first-rate by world standards.

## Geography
Location: Northern Europe, island between the Greenland Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, northwest of the United Kingdom
Geographic coordinates: 65 00 N, 18 00 W
Map references: Arctic Region
Area / total: 103,000 sq km
Area / land: 100,250 sq km
Area / water: 2,750 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly smaller than Pennsylvania; about the same size as Kentucky
Land boundaries / total: 0 km
Coastline: 4,970 km
Maritime claims / territorial sea: 12 nm
Maritime claims / exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Maritime claims / continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
Climate: temperate; moderated by North Atlantic Current; mild, windy winters; damp, cool summers
Terrain: mostly plateau interspersed with mountain peaks, icefields; coast deeply indented by bays and fiords
Elevation / highest point: Hvannadalshnukur (at Vatnajokull Glacier) 2,110 m
Elevation / lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
Elevation / mean elevation: 557 m
Natural resources: fish, hydropower, geothermal power, diatomite
Land use / agricultural land: 16.2% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 1.2% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 0% (2022 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 15% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 0.6% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 82.6% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land: 0.5 sq km (2022)
Population distribution: Iceland is almost entirely urban, with half of the population located in and around the capital of Reykjavik; smaller clusters are primarily found along the coast in the north and west
Natural hazards: earthquakes and volcanic activity volcanism: Iceland is situated on top of a hotspot and experiences severe volcanic activity; Eyjafjallajokull (1,666 m) erupted in 2010, sending ash high into the atmosphere and seriously disrupting European air traffic; scientists continue to monitor nearby Katla (1,512 m), which has a high probability of eruption; Grimsvoetn and Hekla are Iceland's most active volcanoes; other historically active volcanoes include Askja, Bardarbunga, Brennisteinsfjoll, Esjufjoll, Hengill, Krafla, Krisuvik, Kverkfjoll, Oraefajokull, Reykjanes, Torfajokull, and Vestmannaeyjar
Geography - note: strategic location between Greenland and Europe; westernmost European country; Reykjavik is the northernmost national capital in the world; more land covered by glaciers than in all of continental Europe

## People and Society
Population / total: 364,036 (2024 est.)
Population / male: 182,268
Population / female: 181,768
Nationality / noun: Icelander(s)
Nationality / adjective: Icelandic
Ethnic groups: Icelandic 78.7%, Polish 5.8%, Danish 1%, Ukrainian 1%, other 13.5% (2024 est.)
Languages: Icelandic, English, Polish, Nordic languages, German
Religions: Evangelical Lutheran Church of Iceland (official) 58.6% Roman Catholic 3.8%, Independent Congregation of Reykjavik 2.6%, Independent Congregation of Hafnarfjordur 1.9%, pagan worship 1.5%, Icelandic Ethical Humanist Association 1.4%, other (includes Zuist and Pentecostal) or unspecified 18.7%, none 7.7% (2024 est.)
Age structure / 0-14 years: 19.8% (male 36,692/female 35,239)
Age structure / 15-64 years: 63.2% (male 116,210/female 113,810)
Age structure / 65 years and over: 17.1% (2024 est.) (male 29,366/female 32,719)
Dependency ratios / total dependency ratio: 58.3 (2024 est.)
Dependency ratios / youth dependency ratio: 31.3 (2024 est.)
Dependency ratios / elderly dependency ratio: 27 (2024 est.)
Dependency ratios / potential support ratio: 3.7 (2024 est.)
Median age / total: 38.2 years (2025 est.)
Median age / male: 37.4 years
Median age / female: 38.6 years
Population growth rate: 0.82% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 12.47 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 6.62 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: 2.3 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution: Iceland is almost entirely urban, with half of the population located in and around the capital of Reykjavik; smaller clusters are primarily found along the coast in the north and west
Urbanization / urban population: 94% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 0.74% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 216,000 REYKJAVIK (capital) (2018)
Sex ratio / at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 65 years and over: 0.9 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / total population: 1 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth: 28.7 years (2020 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio: 3 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Infant mortality rate / total: 1.6 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Infant mortality rate / male: 1.8 deaths/1,000 live births
Infant mortality rate / female: 1.4 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth / total population: 84 years (2024 est.)
Life expectancy at birth / male: 81.8 years
Life expectancy at birth / female: 86.3 years
Total fertility rate: 1.93 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 0.94 (2025 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: urban: urban: 100% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: rural: rural: 100% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: total: total: 100% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: urban: urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: rural: rural: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: total: total: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 8.6% of GDP (2022)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 16.5% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density: 4.37 physicians/1,000 population (2023)
Hospital bed density: 2.8 beds/1,000 population (2020 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: urban: urban: 100% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: rural: rural: 100% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: total: total: 100% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: urban: urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: rural: rural: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: total: total: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 21.9% (2016)
Alcohol consumption per capita / total: 7.72 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / beer: 4.39 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / wine: 2.11 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / spirits: 1.22 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / other alcohols: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Tobacco use / total: 8% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / male: 7.9% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / female: 8% (2025 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49): 48.5% (2023 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% GDP): 7.3% of GDP (2022 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% national budget): 15.7% national budget (2022 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / total: 19 years (2022 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / male: 18 years (2022 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / female: 20 years (2022 est.)

## Environment
Environmental issues: water pollution from fertilizer runoff
International environmental agreements / party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
International environmental agreements / signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Environmental Modification, Marine Life Conservation
Climate: temperate; moderated by North Atlantic Current; mild, windy winters; damp, cool summers
Land use / agricultural land: 16.2% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 1.2% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 0% (2022 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 15% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 0.6% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 82.6% (2023 est.)
Urbanization / urban population: 94% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 0.74% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / total emissions: 3.101 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from coal and metallurgical coke: 376,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from petroleum and other liquids: 2.725 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Particulate matter emissions: 5.8 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Waste and recycling / municipal solid waste generated annually: 225,300 tons (2024 est.)
Waste and recycling / percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 55.5% (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / municipal: 80 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / industrial: 198 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / agricultural: 300,000 cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total renewable water resources: 170 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Geoparks / total global geoparks and regional networks: 2
Geoparks / global geoparks and regional networks: Katla; Reykjanes (2023)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: none
Country name / conventional short form: Iceland
Country name / local long form: none
Country name / local short form: Island
Country name / etymology: Floki VILGERDARSON, an early Norse explorer of the island in the 10th century, applied the name "Land of Ice," from the local words ís (ice) and land (land)
Government type: unitary parliamentary republic
Capital / name: Reykjavik
Capital / geographic coordinates: 64 09 N, 21 57 W
Capital / time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Capital / etymology: the name means "smoky bay" in Icelandic and refers to the steam from the hot springs in the area
Administrative divisions: 64 municipalities ( sveitarfelog , singular - sveitarfelagidh ); Akranes, Akureyri, Arneshreppur, Asahreppur, Blaskogabyggdh, Bolungarvik, Borgarbyggdh, Dalabyggdh, Dalvikurbyggdh, Eyjafjardharsveit, Eyja-og Miklaholtshreppur, Fjallabyggdh, Fjardhabyggdh, Fljotsdalshreppur, Floahreppur, Gardhabaer, Grimsnes-og Grafningshreppur, Grindavikurbaer, Grundarfjardharbaer, Grytubakkahreppur, Hafnarfjordhur, Horgarsveit, Hrunamannahreppur, Hunathing Vestra, Hunabyggdh, Hvalfjardharsveit, Hveragerdhi, Isafjardharbaer, Kaldrananeshreppur, Kjosarhreppur, Kopavogur, Langanesbyggdh, Mosfellsbaer, Mulathing, Myrdalshreppur, Nordhurthing, Rangarthing Eystra, Rangarthing Ytra, Reykholahreppur, Reykjanesbaer, Reykjavik, Seltjarnarnes, Skaftarhreppur, Skagabyggdh, Skagafjordhur, Skeidha-og Gnupverjahreppur, Skorradalshreppur, Snaefellsbaer, Strandabyggdh, Stykkisholmur, Sudhavikurhreppur, Sudhurnesjabaer, Svalbardhsstrandarhreppur, Sveitarfelagidh Arborg, Sveitarfelagidh Hornafjordhur, Sveitarfelagidh Olfus, Sveitarfelagidh Skagastrond, Sveitarfelagidh Vogar, Talknafjardharhreppur, Thingeyjarsveit, Tjorneshreppur, Vestmannaeyjar, Vesturbyggdh, Vopnafjardharhreppur
Legal system: civil law system influenced by the Danish model
Constitution / history: several previous; latest ratified 16 June 1944, effective 17 June 1944 (at independence)
Constitution / amendment process: proposed by the Althingi; passage requires approval by the Althingi and by the next elected Althingi, and confirmation by the president of the republic; proposed amendments to Article 62 of the constitution &ndash; that the Evangelical Lutheran Church shall be the state church of Iceland &ndash; also require passage by referendum
International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Citizenship / citizenship by birth: no
Citizenship / citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Iceland
Citizenship / dual citizenship recognized: yes
Citizenship / residency requirement for naturalization: 3 to 7 years
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch / chief of state: President Halla TOMASDOTTIR (since 1 August 2024)
Executive branch / head of government: Prime Minister Kristrun FROSTADOTTIR (since 21 December 2024)
Executive branch / cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president upon the recommendation of the prime minister
Executive branch / election/appointment process: president directly elected by simple-majority popular vote for a 4-year term (no term limits); following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or majority coalition becomes prime minister
Executive branch / most recent election date: 1 June 2024
Executive branch / election results: 2024: Halla TOMASDOTTIR elected president; percent of vote - Halla TOMASDOTTIR (independent) 34.1%, Katrin JAKOBSDOTTIR (Left-Green Movement) 25.2%, Halla Hrund LOGADOTTIR (independent) 15.7%, Jon GNARR (Social Democratic Alliance) 10.1%, Baldur PORHALLSSON (independent) 8.4%, other 6.5% 2020: Gudni Thorlacius JOHANNESSON reelected president; percent of vote - Gudni Thorlacius JOHANNESSON (independent) 92.2%, Gudmundur Franklin JONSSON (independent) 7.8%
Executive branch / expected date of next election: June 2028
Legislative branch / legislature name: Parliament (Althingi)
Legislative branch / legislative structure: unicameral
Legislative branch / number of seats: 63 (all directly elected)
Legislative branch / electoral system: proportional representation
Legislative branch / scope of elections: full renewal
Legislative branch / term in office: 4 years
Legislative branch / most recent election date: 11/30/2024
Legislative branch / parties elected and seats per party: Social Democratic Alliance (SDA) (15); Independence Party (IP) (14); Liberal Reform Party (11); People’s Party (10); Center Party (8); Progressive Party (PP) (5)
Legislative branch / percentage of women in chamber: 46%
Legislative branch / expected date of next election: November 2028
Judicial branch / highest court(s): Supreme Court or Haestirettur (consists of 7 judges)
Judicial branch / judge selection and term of office: judges proposed by Ministry of Interior selection committee and appointed by the president for an indefinite period
Judicial branch / subordinate courts: Appellate Court or Landsrettur; 8 district courts; Labor Court
Political parties: Center Party or M Independence Party or D Liberal Reform Party or C People's Party or F Progressive Party or B Social Democratic Alliance or S
Diplomatic representation in the US / chief of mission: Ambassador Svanhildur H&oacute;lm VALSD&Oacute;TTIR (since 18 September 2024)
Diplomatic representation in the US / chancery: House of Sweden, 2900 K Street NW, #509, Washington, DC 20007
Diplomatic representation in the US / telephone: [1] (202) 265-6653
Diplomatic representation in the US / FAX: [1] (202) 265-6656
Diplomatic representation in the US / email address and website: washington@mfa.is https://www.government.is/diplomatic-missions/embassy-of-iceland-in-washington-d.c/
Diplomatic representation from the US / chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charg&eacute; d&rsquo;Affaires Erin SAWYER (since January 2025)
Diplomatic representation from the US / embassy: Engjateigur 7, 105 Reykjavik
Diplomatic representation from the US / mailing address: 5640 Reykjavik Place, Washington, D.C. 20521-5640
Diplomatic representation from the US / telephone: [354] 595-2200
Diplomatic representation from the US / FAX: [354] 562-9118
Diplomatic representation from the US / email address and website: ReykjavikConsular@state.gov https://is.usembassy.gov/
International organization participation: Arctic Council, Australia Group, BIS, CBSS, CD, CE, EAPC, EBRD, EFTA, FAO, FATF, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NATO, NC, NEA, NIB, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, Schengen Convention, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Independence: 1 December 1918 (became a sovereign state under the Danish Crown); 17 June 1944 (from Denmark; birthday of Jon SIGURDSSON, leader of Iceland's 19th-century independence movement)
National holiday: Independence Day, 17 June (1944)
Flag: description: blue with a red cross outlined in white extending to the edges of the flag; the cross is shifted to the left in the style of the Dannebrog (Danish flag) meaning: red stands for the island's volcanic fires, white for the snow and ice fields, and blue for the ocean
National symbol(s): gyrfalcon
National color(s): blue, white, red
National coat of arms: Iceland’s coat of arms is derived from a 13th-century folktale about four guardians who protect the four corners of the nation; the bull protects the northwest, the eagle the northeast, the dragon the southeast, and the rock-giant the southwest; the shield displays the national flag, with red standing for Iceland’s volcanic fires, white for its snow and ice fields, and blue for the ocean
National anthem(s) / title: "Lofsongur" (Song of Praise)
National anthem(s) / lyrics/music: Matthias JOCHUMSSON/Sveinbjorn SVEINBJORNSSON
National anthem(s) / history: adopted 1918
National heritage / total World Heritage Sites: 3 (1 cultural, 2 natural)
National heritage / selected World Heritage Site locales: Thingvellir National Park (c); Surtsey (n); Vatnajökull National Park - Dynamic Nature of Fire and Ice (n)

## Economy
Economic overview: high-income North Atlantic island economy; not an EU member but market integration via European Economic Area (EEA); dominant tourism, fishing, and aluminum industries vulnerable to demand swings and disruption from volcanic activity; inflation remains above target rate; barriers to foreign business access and economic diversification
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $26.561 billion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $26.424 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $25.012 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2024: 0.5% (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2023: 5.6% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2022: 9% (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2024: $65,600 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2023: $67,200 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2022: $65,500 (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $33.463 billion (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024: 5.9% (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023: 8.7% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 8.3% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / agriculture: 4% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / industry: 19.4% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / services: 65.5% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / household consumption: 49.3% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / government consumption: 25.3% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in fixed capital: 24.8% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in inventories: 0.7% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / exports of goods and services: 43.4% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / imports of goods and services: -43.3% (2023 est.)
Agricultural products: milk, chicken, lamb/mutton, barley, potatoes, pork, beef, eggs, other meats, cucumbers/gherkins (2023)
Industries: tourism, fish processing; aluminum smelting; geothermal power, hydropower; medical/pharmaceutical products
Industrial production growth rate: -2.3% (2024 est.)
Labor force: 248,400 (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2024: 3.2% (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2023: 3.6% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2022: 3.8% (2022 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / total: 7.6% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / male: 8.3% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / female: 7% (2024 est.)
Population below poverty line: 8.8% (2017 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income / Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2018: 26.6 (2018 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / lowest 10%: 3.7% (2018 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / highest 10%: 21.7% (2018 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2024: 0.7% of GDP (2024 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2023: 0.7% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2022: 0.7% of GDP (2022 est.)
Budget / revenues: $10.023 billion (2023 est.)
Budget / expenditures: $10.364 billion (2023 est.)
Public debt / Public debt 2023: 80.7% of GDP (2023 est.)
Taxes and other revenues: 23.3% (of GDP) (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2024: -$845.319 million (2024 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2023: $290.603 million (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2022: -$698.165 million (2022 est.)
Exports / Exports 2024: $13.916 billion (2024 est.)
Exports / Exports 2023: $13.702 billion (2023 est.)
Exports / Exports 2022: $13.114 billion (2022 est.)
Exports - partners: Netherlands 27%, Germany 11%, USA 10%, UK 8%, Norway 6% (2023)
Exports - commodities: aluminum, fish, orthopedic appliances, animal meal, iron alloys (2023)
Imports / Imports 2024: $14.298 billion (2024 est.)
Imports / Imports 2023: $13.63 billion (2023 est.)
Imports / Imports 2022: $13.237 billion (2022 est.)
Imports - partners: Norway 11%, China 9%, Germany 9%, Netherlands 8%, USA 7% (2023)
Imports - commodities: refined petroleum, cars, carbon-based electronics, aluminum oxide, computers (2023)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024: $6.403 billion (2024 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023: $5.809 billion (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $5.887 billion (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Currency: Icelandic kronur (ISK) per US dollar -
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2024: 137.958 (2024 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2023: 137.943 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2022: 135.28 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2021: 126.989 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2020: 135.422 (2020 est.)

## Energy
Electricity access / electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)
Electricity / installed generating capacity: 3.005 million kW (2023 est.)
Electricity / consumption: 19.584 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / transmission/distribution losses: 543 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / hydroelectricity: 70.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / geothermal: 29.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Coal / consumption: 137,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / exports: 81 metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / imports: 106,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum / refined petroleum consumption: 19,000 bbl/day (2024 est.)

## Communications
Telephones - fixed lines / total subscriptions: 82,000 (2023 est.)
Telephones - fixed lines / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 21 (2023 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / total subscriptions: 478,000 (2023 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 123 (2022 est.)
Broadcast media: state-owned public TV broadcaster (RUV) operates 21 TV channels nationally; every household is required to have RUV, which doubles as the emergency broadcast network; 3 privately owned TV stations; 100% of households have multi-channel services though digital and/or fiber-optic connections; RUV operates 3 national and 4 regional radio stations; 1 privately owned radio conglomerate, Syn (4 stations), broadcasts nationwide; over 20 regional radio stations (2019)
Internet country code: .is
Internet users / percent of population: 100% (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / total: 145,000 (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 37 (2023 est.)

## Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: TF
Airports: 82 (2025)
Heliports: 1 (2025)
Merchant marine / total: 39 (2023)
Merchant marine / by type: general cargo 5, oil tanker 2, other 32
Ports / total ports: 43 (2024)
Ports / large: 0
Ports / medium: 2
Ports / small: 2
Ports / very small: 17
Ports / size unknown: 22
Ports / ports with oil terminals: 5
Ports / key ports: Grundartangi, Reykjavik, Seydhisfjordhur, Vestmannaeyjar

## Military and Security
Military and security forces: no regular military forces; the Icelandic National Police, the regional police forces, and the Icelandic Coast Guard fall under the purview of the Ministry of Justice (2025)
Military - note: Iceland was one of the original 12 countries to sign the North Atlantic Treaty (also known as the Washington Treaty) in 1949; Iceland is the only NATO member that has no standing military force; defense of Iceland is a NATO commitment, and NATO maintains an air policing presence in Icelandic airspace; Iceland participates in international peacekeeping missions with the civilian-manned Icelandic Crisis Response Unit (ICRU) Iceland also cooperates with the militaries of other regional countries through the Nordic Defense Cooperation (Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden) and the Joint Expeditionary Force (Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and the UK); in 1951, Iceland and the US concluded an agreement to make arrangements regarding the defense of Iceland and for the use of facilities in Iceland to that end (2025)

## Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons / refugees: 8,960 (2024 est.)
Refugees and internally displaced persons / IDPs: 3,700 (2024 est.)
Refugees and internally displaced persons / stateless persons: 31 (2024 est.)

=== Isle of Man ===

## Introduction
Background: The Isle of Man was part of the Norwegian Kingdom of the Hebrides until the 13th century, when it was ceded to Scotland. The isle came under English lordship in the 14th century before being purchased by the British Government in 1765. Current concerns include reviving the almost extinct Manx Gaelic language. The Isle of Man is a British Crown dependency, which makes it a self-governing possession of the British Crown that is not part of the UK. The UK Government, however, remains constitutionally responsible for its defense and international representation.

## Geography
Location: Western Europe, island in the Irish Sea, between Great Britain and Ireland
Geographic coordinates: 54 15 N, 4 30 W
Map references: Europe
Area / total: 572 sq km
Area / land: 572 sq km
Area / water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly more than three times the size of Washington, D.C.
Land boundaries / total: 0 km
Coastline: 160 km
Maritime claims / territorial sea: 12 nm
Maritime claims / exclusive fishing zone: 12 nm
Climate: temperate; cool summers and mild winters; overcast about a third of the time
Terrain: hills in north and south bisected by central valley
Elevation / highest point: Snaefell 621 m
Elevation / lowest point: Irish Sea 0 m
Natural resources: none
Land use / agricultural land: 69.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 41.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 0% (2022 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 28% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 6.4% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 24.5% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land: 0 sq km (2022)
Population distribution: most people concentrated in cities and large towns; Douglas, in the southeast, is the largest
Natural hazards: occasional high winds and rough seas
Geography - note: one small islet, the Calf of Man, lies to the southwest and is a bird sanctuary

## People and Society
Population / total: 92,666 (2025 est.)
Population / male: 46,543
Population / female: 46,123
Nationality / noun: Manxman (men), Manxwoman (women)
Nationality / adjective: Manx
Ethnic groups: White 94.7%, Asian 3.1%, Mixed 1%, Black 0.6%, other 0.4% (2021 est.)
Languages: English, Manx Gaelic (about 2% of the population has some knowledge)
Religions: Christian 54.7%, Muslim 0.5%, Buddhist 0.5%, Hindu 0.4%, Jewish 0.2%, none 43.8% (2021 est.)
Age structure / 0-14 years: 16% (male 7,701/female 7,100)
Age structure / 15-64 years: 61.9% (male 29,035/female 28,044)
Age structure / 65 years and over: 22.1% (2024 est.) (male 9,595/female 10,794)
Dependency ratios / total dependency ratio: 62.4 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / youth dependency ratio: 25.9 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / elderly dependency ratio: 36.5 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / potential support ratio: 2.7 (2025 est.)
Median age / total: 45.1 years (2025 est.)
Median age / male: 43.7 years
Median age / female: 46.1 years
Population growth rate: 0.41% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 10.25 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 10.2 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: 4.06 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution: most people concentrated in cities and large towns; Douglas, in the southeast, is the largest
Urbanization / urban population: 53.5% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 0.97% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 27,000 DOUGLAS (capital) (2018)
Sex ratio / at birth: 1.08 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 0-14 years: 1.08 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 15-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 65 years and over: 0.89 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Infant mortality rate / total: 4 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Infant mortality rate / male: 4.4 deaths/1,000 live births
Infant mortality rate / female: 3.7 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth / total population: 82.5 years (2024 est.)
Life expectancy at birth / male: 80.7 years
Life expectancy at birth / female: 84.4 years
Total fertility rate: 1.87 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 0.9 (2025 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: total: total: 99.9% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: total: total: 0.1% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: total: total: 100% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: urban: urban: NA
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: rural: rural: NA
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: total: total: 0% of population (2022 est.) NA

## Environment
Environmental issues: air pollution, marine pollution; waste disposal (both household and industrial)
Climate: temperate; cool summers and mild winters; overcast about a third of the time
Land use / agricultural land: 69.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 41.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 0% (2022 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 28% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 6.4% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 24.5% (2023 est.)
Urbanization / urban population: 53.5% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 0.97% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Waste and recycling / municipal solid waste generated annually: 50,600 tons (2024 est.)
Waste and recycling / percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 50% (2011 est.)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: none
Country name / conventional short form: Isle of Man
Country name / local long form: Ellan Vannin
Country name / abbreviation: I.O.M.
Country name / etymology: the name "man" may be derived from the Gaelic word for "mountain;" the local name is from the words ellan , or "island," and Vannin, a form of the name Mannan
Government type: parliamentary democracy (Tynwald)
Dependency status: British crown dependency
Capital / name: Douglas
Capital / geographic coordinates: 54 09 N, 4 29 W
Capital / time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Capital / daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October
Capital / etymology: the name comes from the Gaelic name Dubhghlais , or "black stream," referring to a nearby river; a second river was called Fionnghlais , or "white stream;" both river names were later shortened to Dhoo and Glass, respectively, which coincidentally comprised the elements of the town's name
Administrative divisions: no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US government, but 24 local authorities each hold elections
Legal system: UK laws apply, as well as Manx statutes
Constitution / history: development of the Isle of Man constitution dates to at least the 14th century
Constitution / amendment process: proposed as a bill in the House of Keys, by the "Government," by a "Member of the House," or through petition to the House or Legislative Council; passage normally requires three separate readings and approval of at least 13 House members; following both House and Council agreement, assent is required by the lieutenant governor on behalf of the Crown
Citizenship: see United Kingdom
Suffrage: 16 years of age; universal
Executive branch / chief of state: Lord of Mann King CHARLES III (since 8 September 2022); represented by Lieutenant Governor Sir John LORIMER (since 29 September 2021)
Executive branch / head of government: Chief Minister Alfred CANNAN (since 12 October 2021)
Executive branch / cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the lieutenant governor
Executive branch / election/appointment process: the monarchy is hereditary; lieutenant governor appointed by the monarch; chief minister indirectly elected by the Tynwald for a 5-year term (eligible for second term)
Executive branch / most recent election date: 23 September 2021
Executive branch / election results: 2021: Alfred CANNAN (independent) elected chief minister; Tynwald House of Keys vote - 21 of 24 2016: Howard QUAYLE elected chief minister; Tynwald House of Keys vote - 21 of 33
Executive branch / expected date of next election: 2026
Legislative branch / legislature name: Tynwald (High Court of Tynwald)
Legislative branch / legislative structure: bicameral
Legislative branch - lower chamber / chamber name: House of Keys
Legislative branch - lower chamber / number of seats: 24 (directly elected)
Legislative branch - lower chamber / electoral system: plurality/majority
Legislative branch - lower chamber / scope of elections: full renewal
Legislative branch - lower chamber / term in office: 5 years
Legislative branch - lower chamber / most recent election date: 9/23/2021
Legislative branch - lower chamber / parties elected and seats per party: independent (21); Manx Labour Party (2); Liberal Vannin (1)
Legislative branch - lower chamber / percentage of women in chamber: 40%
Legislative branch - lower chamber / expected date of next election: September 2026
Legislative branch - upper chamber / chamber name: Legislative Council
Legislative branch - upper chamber / number of seats: 11 (3 appointed, 8 indirectly elected)
Legislative branch - upper chamber / scope of elections: partial renewal
Legislative branch - upper chamber / term in office: 4 years
Legislative branch - upper chamber / most recent election date: 3/14/2023
Legislative branch - upper chamber / percentage of women in chamber: 36.4%
Legislative branch - upper chamber / expected date of next election: March 2028
Judicial branch / highest court(s): Isle of Man High Court of Justice (consists of 3 permanent judges or "deemsters" and 1 judge of appeal; organized into the Staff of Government Division or Court of Appeal and the Civil Division); the Court of General Gaol Delivery (not formally part of the High Court but is administered as such) deals with serious criminal cases
Judicial branch / judge selection and term of office: deemsters appointed by the Lord Chancellor of England on the nomination of the lieutenant governor; deemsters can serve until age 70
Judicial branch / subordinate courts: High Court; Court of Summary Gaol Delivery; Summary Courts; Magistrate's Court; specialized courts
Political parties: Green Party Liberal Vannin Party or LVP Manx Labor Party
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (British crown dependency)
Diplomatic representation from the US / embassy: none (British crown dependency)
International organization participation: UPU
Independence: none (British Crown dependency)
National holiday: Tynwald Day, 5 July (1417); date Tynwald Day was first recorded
Flag: description: red with the Three Legs of Man emblem (triskelion) in the center; the three legs are joined at the thigh and bent at the knee; a two-sided emblem is used to allow the toes to point clockwise on both sides of the flag history: the flag is based on the coat of arms of the last recognized Norse King of Mann, MAGNUS III (r. 1252-65); the triskelion has its roots in an early Celtic sun symbol
National symbol(s): triskelion (a motif of three legs)
National color(s): red, white
National coat of arms: Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom granted the Isle of Man&rsquo;s coat of arms on July 12, 1996; the triskelion (three conjoined legs) on the shield represents resilience, resourcefulness, and hope; the Latin motto means &ldquo;Wherever you throw it, it will stand,&rdquo; a reference to the islanders&rsquo; ability to stand strong; the peregrine falcon represents the two falcons that the Isle of Man has paid to the UK monarch on Coronation Day since 1406, and the raven symbolizes the island&rsquo;s former status as a Viking colony; the crown represents the UK monarch&rsquo;s status as the Lord of Mann, although the island is self-governing
National anthem(s) / title: "God Save the King"
National anthem(s) / lyrics/music: unknown
National anthem(s) / history: official anthem, as a British Crown dependency; played when the sovereign, members of the royal family, or the lieutenant governor are present

## Economy
Economic overview: high-income British island economy; known financial services and tourism industries; taxation incentives for technology and financial firms to operate; historic fishing and agriculture industries are declining; major online gambling and film industry locale
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2022: -4.2% (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2021: 3.8% (2021 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2020: -8.8% (2020 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $7.431 billion (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / agriculture: 0.4% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / industry: 6.9% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / services: 95.1% (2022 est.)
Agricultural products: cereals, vegetables; cattle, sheep, pigs, poultry
Industries: financial services, light manufacturing, tourism
Industrial production growth rate: -29.5% (2022 est.)
Exports - partners: almost entirely United Kingdom (2022)
Exports - commodities: crude petroleum, artwork, vegetables, fruits, whiskies (2022)
Imports - partners: almost entirely United Kingdom (2022)
Imports - commodities: ships, delivery trucks (2022)
Exchange rates / Currency: Manx pounds (IMP) per US dollar -
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2024: 0.782 (2024 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2023: 0.805 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2022: 0.811 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2021: 0.727 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2020: 0.78 (2020 est.)

## Energy
Electricity access / electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)

## Communications
Broadcast media: national public radio has 3 FM stations and 1 AM station; 2 commercial radio broadcasters; receives radio and TV services via relays from British TV and radio broadcasters
Internet country code: .im

## Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: M
Airports: 4 (2025)
Heliports: 1 (2025)
Railways / total: 63 km (2008)
Railways / narrow gauge: 6 km (2008) 1.076-m gauge (6 km electrified)
Merchant marine / total: 269 (2023)
Merchant marine / by type: bulk carrier 102, container ship 6, general cargo 27, oil tanker 56, other 78
Ports / total ports: 2 (2024)
Ports / large: 0
Ports / medium: 0
Ports / small: 2
Ports / very small: 0
Ports / ports with oil terminals: 1
Ports / key ports: Douglas, Ramsey

## Military and Security
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of the UK

## Transnational Issues

=== Italy ===

## Introduction
Background: Italy became a nation-state in 1861 when the regional states of the peninsula, along with Sardinia and Sicily, were united under King Victor EMMANUEL II. An era of parliamentary government came to a close in the early 1920s when Benito MUSSOLINI established a Fascist dictatorship. His alliance with Nazi Germany led to Italy's defeat in World War II. A democratic republic replaced the monarchy in 1946, and economic revival followed. Italy is a charter member of NATO, as well as the European Economic Community (EEC) and its successors, the EC and the EU. It has been at the forefront of European economic and political unification, joining the Economic and Monetary Union in 1999. Persistent problems include sluggish economic growth, high youth and female unemployment, organized crime, corruption, and economic disparities between southern Italy and the more prosperous north.

## Geography
Location: Southern Europe, a peninsula extending into the central Mediterranean Sea, northeast of Tunisia
Geographic coordinates: 42 50 N, 12 50 E
Map references: Europe
Area / total: 301,340 sq km
Area / land: 294,140 sq km
Area / water: 7,200 sq km
Area - comparative: almost twice the size of Georgia; slightly larger than Arizona
Land boundaries / total: 1,836.4 km
Land boundaries / border countries: Austria 404 km; France 476 km; Holy See (Vatican City) 3.4 km; San Marino 37 km; Slovenia 218 km; Switzerland 698 km
Coastline: 7,600 km
Maritime claims / territorial sea: 12 nm
Maritime claims / continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Climate: predominantly Mediterranean; alpine in far north; hot, dry in south
Terrain: mostly rugged and mountainous; some plains, coastal lowlands
Elevation / highest point: Mont Blanc (Monte Bianco) de Courmayeur (a secondary peak of Mont Blanc) 4,748 m
Elevation / lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m
Elevation / mean elevation: 538 m
Natural resources: coal, antimony, mercury, zinc, potash, marble, barite, asbestos, pumice, fluorspar, feldspar, pyrite (sulfur), natural gas and crude oil reserves, fish, arable land
Land use / agricultural land: 44.3% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 24% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 8.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 12.2% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 31.8% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 24% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land: 24,460 sq km (2021)
Major watersheds (area sq km) / Atlantic Ocean drainage: Rhine-Maas (198,735 sq km), (Black Sea) Danube (795,656 sq km), (Adriatic Sea) Po (76,997 sq km), (Mediterranean Sea) Rhone (100,543 sq km)
Population distribution: a fairly even population distribution exists throughout most of the country, with coastal areas, the Po River Valley, and urban centers (particularly Milan, Rome, and Naples) attracting larger and denser populations
Natural hazards: regional risks include landslides, mudflows, avalanches, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, flooding; land subsidence in Venice volcanism: significant volcanic activity; Etna (3,330 m) is Europe's most active volcano, and its flank eruptions pose a threat to nearby Sicilian villages; Etna, along with the famous Vesuvius, have both been deemed Decade Volcanoes by the International Association of Volcanology and Chemistry of the Earth's Interior, worthy of study due to their explosive history and close proximity to human populations; Stromboli, on its namesake island, has also been continuously active with moderate volcanic activity; other historically active volcanoes include Campi Flegrei, Ischia, Larderello, Pantelleria, Vulcano, and Vulsini
Geography - note: strategic location dominating central Mediterranean, as well as southern sea and air approaches to Western Europe

## People and Society
Population / total: 60,924,851 (2025 est.)
Population / male: 29,383,949
Population / female: 31,540,902
Nationality / noun: Italian(s)
Nationality / adjective: Italian
Ethnic groups: Italian (includes small clusters of German-, French-, and Slovene-Italians in the north, Albanian-Italians, Croat-Italians, and Greek-Italians in the south)
Languages / Languages: Italian (official), German (parts of Trentino-Alto Adige region are predominantly German-speaking), French (small French-speaking minority in Valle d'Aosta region), Slovene (Slovene-speaking minority in the Trieste-Gorizia area), Croatian (in Molise)
Languages / major-language sample(s): L'Almanacco dei fatti del mondo, l'indispensabile fonte per le informazioni di base. (Italian) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
Religions: Christian 80.8% (overwhelmingly Roman Catholic with very small groups of Jehovah's Witnesses and Protestants), Muslim 4.9%, unaffiliated 13.4%, other 0.9% (2020 est.)
Age structure / 0-14 years: 11.9% (male 3,699,167/female 3,531,734)
Age structure / 15-64 years: 64.5% (male 19,378,160/female 19,958,137)
Age structure / 65 years and over: 23.6% (2024 est.) (male 6,336,738/female 8,060,995)
Dependency ratios / total dependency ratio: 55.3 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / youth dependency ratio: 18.1 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / elderly dependency ratio: 37.2 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / potential support ratio: 2.7 (2025 est.)
Median age / total: 48.8 years (2025 est.)
Median age / male: 47.4 years
Median age / female: 49.4 years
Population growth rate: -0.05% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 7.13 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 11.2 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: 3.55 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution: a fairly even population distribution exists throughout most of the country, with coastal areas, the Po River Valley, and urban centers (particularly Milan, Rome, and Naples) attracting larger and denser populations
Urbanization / urban population: 72% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 0.27% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 4.316 million ROME (capital), 3.155 million Milan, 2.179 million Naples, 1.802 million Turin, 913,000 Bergamo, 850,000 Palermo (2023)
Sex ratio / at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 65 years and over: 0.79 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / total population: 0.93 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth: 31.4 years (2020 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio: 6 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Infant mortality rate / total: 3 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Infant mortality rate / male: 3.2 deaths/1,000 live births
Infant mortality rate / female: 2.9 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth / total population: 83 years (2024 est.)
Life expectancy at birth / male: 80.7 years
Life expectancy at birth / female: 85.5 years
Total fertility rate: 1.27 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 0.62 (2025 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: total: total: 99.9% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: total: total: 0.1% of population (2022 est.)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 9% of GDP (2022)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 11.8% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density: 4.19 physicians/1,000 population (2022)
Hospital bed density: 3.2 beds/1,000 population (2020 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: urban: urban: 100% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: rural: rural: 100% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: total: total: 100% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: urban: urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: rural: rural: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: total: total: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 19.9% (2016)
Alcohol consumption per capita / total: 7.65 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / beer: 1.99 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / wine: 4.83 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / spirits: 0.83 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / other alcohols: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Tobacco use / total: 19.8% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / male: 23.2% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / female: 16.6% (2025 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49): 51.8% (2023 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% GDP): 4.1% of GDP (2022 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% national budget): 7.4% national budget (2022 est.)
Literacy / total population: 99.3% (2019 est.)
Literacy / male: 99.5% (2019 est.)
Literacy / female: 99.2% (2019 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / total: 17 years (2023 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / male: 16 years (2023 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / female: 17 years (2023 est.)

## Environment
Environmental issues: air pollution from industrial emissions; water pollution from industrial and agricultural effluents, as well as acid rain; inadequate industrial waste treatment and disposal facilities
International environmental agreements / party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protection, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling
International environmental agreements / signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Multi-effect Protocol
Climate: predominantly Mediterranean; alpine in far north; hot, dry in south
Land use / agricultural land: 44.3% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 24% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 8.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 12.2% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 31.8% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 24% (2023 est.)
Urbanization / urban population: 72% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 0.27% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / total emissions: 307.442 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from coal and metallurgical coke: 26.15 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from petroleum and other liquids: 162.688 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from consumed natural gas: 118.604 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Particulate matter emissions: 12.3 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Methane emissions / energy: 276.4 kt (2022-2024 est.)
Methane emissions / agriculture: 764.9 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Methane emissions / waste: 523.4 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Methane emissions / other: 35.3 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Waste and recycling / municipal solid waste generated annually: 30.088 million tons (2024 est.)
Waste and recycling / percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 39.9% (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / municipal: 9.148 billion cubic meters (2022)
Total water withdrawal / industrial: 7.7 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / agricultural: 17 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total renewable water resources: 191.3 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Geoparks / total global geoparks and regional networks: 12 (2025)
Geoparks / global geoparks and regional networks: Adamello-Brenta; Alpi Apuane; Aspromonte; Beigua; Cilento, Vallo di Diano e Alburni; Madonie; Maiella; MurGEopark; Pollino; Rocca di Cerere; Sesia Val Grande; Tuscan Mining Park (2025)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: Italian Republic
Country name / conventional short form: Italy
Country name / local long form: Repubblica Italiana
Country name / local short form: Italia
Country name / former: Kingdom of Italy
Country name / etymology: derivation is unclear; traditionally said to come from the Vitali, a tribe that settled in what is now Calabria, and whose name is believed to be linked to the Latin word vitulus , or "calf;" alternatively, the name may derive from a local ruler known to the Romans as Italus
Government type: parliamentary republic
Capital / name: Rome
Capital / geographic coordinates: 41 54 N, 12 29 E
Capital / time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Capital / daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October
Capital / etymology: by tradition, named after Romulus, one of the legendary founders of the city, but the name Romulus may instead derive from the city's name; the name Rome may come from an Etruscan name for the Tiber River, which was Roma or Ruma
Administrative divisions: 15 regions ( regioni , singular - regione ) and 5 autonomous regions ( regioni autonome , singular - regione autonoma ) regions: Abruzzo, Basilicata, Calabria, Campania, Emilia-Romagna, Lazio (Latium), Liguria, Lombardia, Marche, Molise, Piemonte (Piedmont), Puglia (Apulia), Toscana (Tuscany), Umbria, Veneto autonomous regions: Friuli Venezia Giulia, Sardegna (Sardinia), Sicilia (Sicily), Trentino-Alto Adige (Trentino-South Tyrol) or Trentino-Suedtirol (German), Valle d'Aosta (Aosta Valley) or Vallée d'Aoste (French)
Legal system: civil law system; Constitutional Court reviews legislation under certain conditions
Constitution / history: previous 1848 (originally for the Kingdom of Sardinia and adopted by the Kingdom of Italy in 1861); latest enacted 22 December 1947, adopted 27 December 1947, entered into force 1 January 1948
Constitution / amendment process: proposed by both houses of Parliament; passage requires two successive debates and approval by absolute majority of each house on the second vote; a referendum is only required when requested by one fifth of the members of either house, by voter petition, or by 5 Regional Councils (elected legislative assemblies of the 15 first-level administrative regions and 5 autonomous regions of Italy); referendum not required if an amendment has been approved by a two-thirds majority in each house in the second vote
International law organization participation: accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Citizenship / citizenship by birth: no
Citizenship / citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Italy
Citizenship / dual citizenship recognized: yes
Citizenship / residency requirement for naturalization: 4 years for EU nationals, 5 years for refugees and specified exceptions, 10 years for all others
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal except in senatorial elections, where minimum age is 25
Executive branch / chief of state: President Sergio MATTARELLA (since 3 February 2015)
Executive branch / head of government: Prime Minister Giorgia MELONI (since 22 October 2022); the prime minister's official title is President of the Council of Ministers
Executive branch / cabinet: Council of Ministers proposed by the prime minister, who is known officially as the President of the Council of Ministers and locally as the premier; nominated by the president
Executive branch / election/appointment process: president indirectly elected by an electoral college consisting of both houses of Parliament and 58 regional representatives for a 7-year term (no term limits); prime minister appointed by the president, confirmed by parliament
Executive branch / most recent election date: 24-29 January 2022 (eight rounds)
Executive branch / election results: 2022: Sergio MATTARELLA (independent) reelected president; electoral college vote count in eighth round - 759 out of 1,009 (505 vote threshold) 2015: Sergio MATTARELLA (independent) elected president; electoral college vote count in fourth round - 665 out of 995 (505 vote threshold)
Executive branch / expected date of next election: 2029
Legislative branch / legislature name: Parliament (Il Parlamento)
Legislative branch / legislative structure: bicameral
Legislative branch - lower chamber / chamber name: Chamber of Deputies (Camera dei Deputati)
Legislative branch - lower chamber / number of seats: 400 (all directly elected)
Legislative branch - lower chamber / electoral system: mixed system
Legislative branch - lower chamber / scope of elections: full renewal
Legislative branch - lower chamber / term in office: 5 years
Legislative branch - lower chamber / most recent election date: 9/25/2022
Legislative branch - lower chamber / parties elected and seats per party: Coalition Brothers of Italy (FdI) - Lega - Forza Italia - Us Moderates (Noi moderati, NM) (237); Democratic Party - Democratic and Progressive Italy (PD-IDP) - Greens and Left Alliance (AVS) - +EUROPA" - Civic Commitment (IC) (84); Five Star Movement (M5s) (52); Action - Italia Viva (21); Other (6)
Legislative branch - lower chamber / percentage of women in chamber: 32.8%
Legislative branch - lower chamber / expected date of next election: September 2027
Legislative branch - upper chamber / chamber name: Senate (Senato della Repubblica)
Legislative branch - upper chamber / number of seats: 205 (200 directly elected; 5 appointed)
Legislative branch - upper chamber / electoral system: mixed system
Legislative branch - upper chamber / scope of elections: full renewal
Legislative branch - upper chamber / term in office: 5 years
Legislative branch - upper chamber / most recent election date: 9/25/2022
Legislative branch - upper chamber / parties elected and seats per party: Coalition Brothers of Italy (FdI) - Lega - Forza Italia - Us Moderates (Noi moderati, NM) (115); Democratic Party - Democratic and Progressive Italy (PD-IDP) - Greens and Left Alliance (AVS) - +EUROPA" - Civic Commitment (IC) (44); Five Star Movement (M5s) (28); Other (13)
Legislative branch - upper chamber / percentage of women in chamber: 36.3%
Legislative branch - upper chamber / expected date of next election: September 2027
Judicial branch / highest court(s): Supreme Court of Cassation or Corte Suprema di Cassazione (consists of the first president, deputy president, 54 justices presiding over 6 civil and 7 criminal divisions, and 288 judges; an additional 30 judges of lower courts serve as supporting judges; cases normally heard by 5-judge panels; more complex cases heard by 9-judge panels); Constitutional Court or Corte Costituzionale (consists of the court president and 14 judges)
Judicial branch / judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court judges appointed by the High Council of the Judiciary, headed by the president of the republic; judges may serve for life; Constitutional Court judges - 5 appointed by the president, 5 elected by Parliament, 5 elected by select higher courts; judges serve up to 9 years
Judicial branch / subordinate courts: various lower civil and criminal courts (primary and secondary tribunals and courts of appeal)
Political parties: Action-Italia Viva Associative Movement of Italians Abroad or MAIE Brothers of Italy or FdI Democratic Party or PD Five Star Movement or M5S Forza Italia or FI Free and Equal (Liberi e Uguali) or LeU Greens and Left Alliance or AVS League or Lega More Europe or +EU South calls North or ScN South Tyrolean Peoples Party or SVP Us Moderates or NM other minor parties
Diplomatic representation in the US / chief of mission: Ambassador Marco PERONACI (since 5 September 2025)
Diplomatic representation in the US / chancery: 3000 Whitehaven Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation in the US / telephone: [1] (202) 612-4400
Diplomatic representation in the US / FAX: [1] (202) 518-2154
Diplomatic representation in the US / email address and website: washington.ambasciata@esteri.it https://ambwashingtondc.esteri.it/ambasciata_washington/en/
Diplomatic representation in the US / consulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, Houston, Miami, New York, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, San Francisco
Diplomatic representation in the US / consulate(s): Detroit
Diplomatic representation from the US / chief of mission: Ambassador Tilman J. FERTITTA (since 6 May 2025); note - also accredited to San Marino
Diplomatic representation from the US / embassy: via Vittorio Veneto 121, 00187 Roma
Diplomatic representation from the US / mailing address: 9500 Rome Place, Washington DC 20521-9500
Diplomatic representation from the US / telephone: [39] 06-46741
Diplomatic representation from the US / FAX: [39] 06-4674-2244
Diplomatic representation from the US / email address and website: uscitizenrome@state.gov https://it.usembassy.gov/
Diplomatic representation from the US / consulate(s) general: Florence, Milan, Naples
International organization participation: ADB (nonregional member), AfDB (nonregional member), Arctic Council (observer), Australia Group, BIS, BSEC (observer), CBSS (observer), CD, CDB, CE, CEI, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECB, EIB, EITI (implementing country), EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, FATF, G-7, G-8, G-10, G-20, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD (partners), IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAIA (observer), MIGA, MINURSO, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, Pacific Alliance (observer), Paris Club, PCA, PIF (partner), Schengen Convention, SELEC (observer), SICA (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, Union Latina, UNMOGIP, UNOOSA, UNRWA, UNTSO, UNWTO, UPU, Wassenaar Arrangement, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
Independence: 17 March 1861
National holiday: Republic Day, 2 June (1946)
Flag: description: three equal vertical bands of green (left side), white, and red meaning: colors are those of Milan (red and white) combined with the green uniform color of the Milanese civic guard history: design inspired by the French flag that Napoleon brought to Italy in 1797
National symbol(s): five-pointed white star (Stella d'Italia)
National color(s): red, white, green
National coat of arms: this coat of arms has been a symbol of the Italian Republic since May 5, 1948, when Paolo Paschetto&rsquo;s design won a two-year public competition; the olive branch symbolizes national and global peace; the oak branch stands for the strength and the dignity of the Italian people, and the steel cog-wheel for their hard work; the single star represents Italy&rsquo;s solidarity
National anthem(s) / title: "Il Canto degli Italiani" (The Song of the Italians)
National anthem(s) / lyrics/music: Goffredo MAMELI/Michele NOVARO
National anthem(s) / history: adopted 2005; the anthem, originally written in 1847, is also known as "L'Inno di Mameli" (Mameli's Hymn), and "Fratelli d'Italia" (Brothers of Italy)
National heritage / total World Heritage Sites: 61 (55 cultural, 6 natural)
National heritage / selected World Heritage Site locales: Historic Center of Rome (c); Archaeological Areas of Pompeii, Herculaneum, and Torre Annunziata (c); Venice and its Lagoon (c); Historic Center of Florence (c); Piazza del Duomo, Pisa (c); Historic Centre of Naples (c); Portovenere, Cinque Terre, and the Islands (Palmaria, Tino and Tinetto)(c); Mount Etna (n); Cultural landscape of the Benedictine settlements in medieval Italy (c); Church and Dominican Convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie with “The Last Supper” by Leonardo da Vinci (c); City of Vicenza and the Palladian Villas of the Veneto (c); Crespi d'Adda (c); Early Christian Monuments of Ravenna (c); Historic Centre of the City of Pienza (c); Cathedral, Torre Civica and Piazza Grande, Modena (c); Costiera Amalfitana (c); Villa Romana del Casale (c); Archaeological Area and the Patriarchal Basilica of Aquileia (c); Cilento and Vallo di Diano National Park with the Archeological Sites of Paestum and Velia, and the Certosa di Padula (c); Historic Centre of Urbino (c); Villa Adriana (Tivoli) (c); Assisi, the Basilica of San Francesco and Other Franciscan Sites (c); City of Verona (c); Isole Eolie (Aeolian Islands) (n); Etruscan Necropolises of Cerveteri and Tarquinia (c); Val d'Orcia (c); Mantua and Sabbioneta (c); The Dolomites (n); Prehistoric Pile Dwellings around the Alps (c); Medici Villas and Gardens in Tuscany (c); Venetian Works of Defence between the 16th and 17th Centuries: Stato da Terra – Western Stato da Mar (c); Padua’s fourteenth-century fresco cycles (c); The Porticoes of Bologna (c); Evaporitic Karst and Caves of Northern Apennines (n); Via Appia: Regina Viarum (c); Funerary Tradition in the Prehistory of Sardinia – The domus de janas (c)

## Economy
Economic overview: high-income, core EU economy; strong services, manufacturing, and tourism sectors; modest growth supported by net exports, low inflation, and public investments via EU funds; tight labor market with aging workforce and shortages in specialized skills; high public debt levels
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $3.133 trillion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $3.11 trillion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $3.088 trillion (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2024: 0.7% (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2023: 0.7% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2022: 4.8% (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2024: $53,100 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2023: $52,700 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2022: $52,300 (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $2.373 trillion (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024: 1% (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023: 5.6% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 8.2% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / agriculture: 2% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / industry: 21.7% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / services: 65.6% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / household consumption: 58.3% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / government consumption: 17.8% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in fixed capital: 22.5% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in inventories: 0.4% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / exports of goods and services: 33.5% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / imports of goods and services: -32.1% (2023 est.)
Agricultural products: milk, wheat, grapes, tomatoes, maize, olives, apples, oranges, sugar beets, rice (2023)
Industries: tourism, machinery, iron and steel, chemicals, food processing, textiles, motor vehicles, clothing, footwear, ceramics
Industrial production growth rate: 0.2% (2024 est.)
Labor force: 25.828 million (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2024: 6.8% (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2023: 7.7% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2022: 8.1% (2022 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / total: 21.8% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / male: 19.9% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / female: 24.8% (2024 est.)
Population below poverty line: 20.1% (2021 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income / Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2022: 33.7 (2022 est.)
Average household expenditures / on food: 14.7% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Average household expenditures / on alcohol and tobacco: 3.8% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / lowest 10%: 2.5% (2022 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / highest 10%: 25.3% (2022 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2024: 0.5% of GDP (2024 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2023: 0.5% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2022: 0.5% of GDP (2022 est.)
Budget / revenues: $935.038 billion (2023 est.)
Budget / expenditures: $1.104 trillion (2023 est.)
Public debt / Public debt 2017: 131.8% of GDP (2017 est.)
Taxes and other revenues: 24.8% (of GDP) (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2024: $26.76 billion (2024 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2023: $3.261 billion (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2022: -$36.325 billion (2022 est.)
Exports / Exports 2024: $778.898 billion (2024 est.)
Exports / Exports 2023: $774.311 billion (2023 est.)
Exports / Exports 2022: $737.083 billion (2022 est.)
Exports - partners: Germany 11%, USA 11%, France 10%, Spain 5%, UK 5% (2023)
Exports - commodities: packaged medicine, garments, cars, refined petroleum, vehicle parts/accessories (2023)
Imports / Imports 2024: $717.278 billion (2024 est.)
Imports / Imports 2023: $739.646 billion (2023 est.)
Imports / Imports 2022: $775.518 billion (2022 est.)
Imports - partners: Germany 15%, France 9%, China 8%, Netherlands 6%, Spain 5% (2023)
Imports - commodities: natural gas, crude petroleum, cars, packaged medicine, garments (2023)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024: $290.547 billion (2024 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023: $247.396 billion (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $224.581 billion (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Currency: euros (EUR) per US dollar -
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2024: 0.924 (2024 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2023: 0.925 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2022: 0.95 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2021: 0.845 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2020: 0.876 (2020 est.)

## Energy
Electricity access / electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)
Electricity / installed generating capacity: 128.692 million kW (2023 est.)
Electricity / consumption: 290.664 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / exports: 3.32 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / imports: 54.572 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / transmission/distribution losses: 17.62 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / fossil fuels: 56% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / solar: 12% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / wind: 9.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / hydroelectricity: 14.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / geothermal: 2.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / biomass and waste: 6.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Nuclear energy / Number of nuclear reactors permanently shut down: 4 (2025)
Coal / production: 1.572 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / consumption: 12.424 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / exports: 304,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / imports: 12.069 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / proven reserves: 609.999 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum / total petroleum production: 111,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Petroleum / refined petroleum consumption: 1.245 million bbl/day (2024 est.)
Petroleum / crude oil estimated reserves: 497.934 million barrels (2021 est.)
Natural gas / production: 2.778 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / consumption: 61.906 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / exports: 2.609 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / imports: 61.851 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / proven reserves: 45.76 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)
Energy consumption per capita / Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 96.797 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

## Communications
Telephones - fixed lines / total subscriptions: 20.107 million (2023 est.)
Telephones - fixed lines / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 34 (2023 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / total subscriptions: 78.7 million (2024 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 133 (2024 est.)
Broadcast media: two Italian media giants dominate, with 3 national terrestrial stations; privately owned companies have 3 national terrestrial stations; a large number of private stations, a satellite TV network; 3 AM/FM nationwide radio stations; about 1,300 commercial radio stations
Internet country code: .it
Internet users / percent of population: 87% (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / total: 20.1 million (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 34 (2023 est.)

## Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: I
Airports: 655 (2025)
Heliports: 163 (2025)
Railways / total: 18,475 km (2020) 12,936 km electrified
Merchant marine / total: 1,276 (2023)
Merchant marine / by type: bulk carrier 17, container ship 6, general cargo 109, oil tanker 95, other 1,049
Ports / total ports: 123 (2024)
Ports / large: 12
Ports / medium: 11
Ports / small: 71
Ports / very small: 28
Ports / size unknown: 1
Ports / ports with oil terminals: 33
Ports / key ports: Brindisi, Civitavecchia, Genova, Gioia Tauro, La Spezia, Livorno, Messina, Napoli, Porto di Lido-Venezia, Siracusa, Taranto, Trieste

## Military and Security
Military and security forces: Italian Armed Forces (Forze Armate Italiane): Army (Esercito Italiano, EI), Navy (Marina Militare Italiana, MMI; includes aviation, marines), Italian Air Force (Aeronautica Militare Italiana, AMI); Carabinieri Corps (Arma dei Carabinieri, CC) (2025)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2025: 2% of GDP (2025 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2024: 1.5% of GDP (2024 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2023: 1.5% of GDP (2023 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2022: 1.5% of GDP (2022 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2021: 1.5% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military and security service personnel strengths: approximately 170,000 active-duty military personnel; approximately 105,000 Carabinieri (2025)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the military's inventory includes a mix of domestically manufactured, imported, and jointly produced weapons systems; imports come mostly from Europe and the US; the Italian defense industry is capable of producing equipment across all the military domains with particular strengths in aircraft, armored vehicles, and naval vessels; it also participates in joint development and production of advanced weapons systems with other European countries and the US (2025)
Military service age and obligation: 17 or 18 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women ; voluntary service is a minimum of 12 months with the option to extend in the Armed Forces or compete for positions in other government security organizations; conscription abolished 2004 (2025)
Military deployments: Italy has on average about 8,000 military personnel deployed in support of NATO, UN, and other foreign missions; significant ground troop deployments include Bulgaria (750), Hungary (250), Kosovo (870), Latvia (300), and Lebanon (875); in addition, air and naval units are deployed in support of NATO missions (2025)
Military - note: the Italian military is responsible for Italy’s national defense and security and fulfilling the country’s commitments to the EU, NATO, the UN, and other multinational military, security, and humanitarian operations; it also has some domestic security duties; key areas of emphasis for Italy’s security policy and multinational cooperation are Europe’s eastern and southern flanks, including the Mediterranean Sea, East and North Africa, and the Middle East and its adjacent waters Italy has been an active member of NATO since its founding in 1948, and the Alliance is a cornerstone of Rome’s national security strategy; it is one of NATO’s leading contributors of military forces and participates in such Alliance missions as Air Policing in the Baltics, the Enhanced Forward Presence in Eastern Europe, and maritime patrols in the Mediterranean and beyond; it hosts NATO’s Joint Force Command in Naples and a NATO Rapid Deployable Corps headquarters in Milan Italy is also active in European/EU defense cooperation and integration, including hosting the headquarters for the EU’s Mediterranean naval operations force in Rome; in addition, Italy has close defense ties with the US and hosts several US military air, army, and naval bases and facilities (2025)

## Space
Space agency/agencies: Italian Space Agency (L&rsquo;Agenzia Spaziale Italiana or ASI; established 1988) (2025)
Space launch site(s): the Broglio (aka San Marco, Malindi) Space Center, located near Malindi, Kenya, served from 1967 to 1988 as an Italian and international satellite launch facility; in 2020, Italy concluded a deal with Kenya to conduct rocket launches from the site again in the future; the Italian Space Agency has utilized the site as a satellite ground station since 2004 the Italian Government has designated the Taranto-Grottaglie Airport as a future spaceport and signed framework agreements with commercial space companies that could lead to suborbital and orbital launches from what would be called the Grottaglie Spaceport (2025)
Space program overview: one of the top contributors to the ESA; designs, builds, launches, and operates communications, remote sensing (RS), and scientific satellites; designs and manufactures probes, rockets, and orbital satellite launch vehicles (SLVs); researches, develops, and builds a range of other space-related technologies and participates in a wide array of international programs; hosts the ESA Center for Earth Observation; has astronaut cadre in the ESA astronaut corps; has cooperated with a variety of foreign space agencies and industries, including those of Argentina, Brazil, Canada, China, Israel, Japan, Kenya, Mexico, Russia, South Korea, Thailand, the UAE, and the US; participates in international projects such as the International Space Station; has considerable commercial space industries encompassing a wide range of capabilities (2025)
Key space-program milestones: 1964 - first domestically manufactured science satellite (San Marco-1) launched by the US 1977 - first domestically built telecommunications/research satellite (Sirio) launched by the US 1990s-2011 - participated in US Space Shuttle program, resulting in first Italian astronaut in space (1992) 1998-present - participated in International Space Station, including the first European astronaut on the station (2001), first Italian to command it (2019-2020), and first woman to command the station (2022) 2012 - first launch of Italian-designed VEGA 3-stage satellite launch vehicle (SLV) for ESA 2020 - signed US-led Artemis Accords for space and lunar exploration 2023 - first Italian all-electric satellite (MicroHETSat) built for the ESA and launched by the US; began developing a habitat for the US-led Artemis Lunar Gateway project 2025 - passed a national space law to govern Italian space operations

## Terrorism
Terrorist group(s): Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS)

## Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons / refugees: 520,127 (2024 est.)
Refugees and internally displaced persons / stateless persons: 3,000 (2024 est.)

=== Jersey ===

## Introduction
Background: Jersey and the other Channel Islands represent the last remnants of the medieval Duchy of Normandy that held sway in both France and England. These islands were the only British soil that Germany occupied in World War II. The Bailiwick of Jersey is a British Crown dependency, which means that it is not part of the UK but is rather a self-governing possession of the British Crown. However, the UK Government is constitutionally responsible for its defense and international representation.

## Geography
Location: Western Europe, island in the English Channel, northwest of France
Geographic coordinates: 49 15 N, 2 10 W
Map references: Europe
Area / total: 116 sq km
Area / land: 116 sq km
Area / water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative: about two-thirds the size of Washington, D.C.
Land boundaries / total: 0 km
Coastline: 70 km
Maritime claims / territorial sea: 12 nm
Maritime claims / exclusive fishing zone: 12 nm
Climate: temperate; mild winters and cool summers
Terrain: gently rolling plain with low, rugged hills along north coast
Elevation / highest point: Les Platons 136 m
Elevation / lowest point: English Channel 0 m
Natural resources: arable land
Land use / agricultural land: 43.3% (2022 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 18.3% (2022 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 0% (2022 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 24.9% (2022 est.)
Land use / forest: 5.2% (2022 est.)
Land use / other: 51.6% (2022 est.)
Irrigated land: NA
Population distribution: fairly even distribution
Natural hazards: very large tidal variation can be hazardous to navigation
Geography - note: largest and southernmost of Channel Islands; about 30% of population concentrated in Saint Helier

## People and Society
Population / total: 103,944 (2025 est.)
Population / male: 51,317
Population / female: 52,627
Nationality / noun: Channel Islander(s)
Nationality / adjective: Channel Islander
Ethnic groups: Jersey 44.4%, British 30.5%, Portuguese/Madeiran 9.4%, Polish 3%, Irish 2.1%, other 10.6% (2021 est.)
Languages: English (official) 94.5%, Portuguese 4.6%, other 0.9% (includes French (official) and Jerriais) (2001 est.)
Religions: Christian 85.2%, Baha'i 0.3%, Hindu 0.1%, Jewish 0.1%, Muslim 0.1%, atheist 1.1%, agnostic 13.1% (2020 est.)
Age structure / 0-14 years: 17% (male 9,082/female 8,530)
Age structure / 15-64 years: 64.6% (male 33,840/female 32,989)
Age structure / 65 years and over: 18.3% (2024 est.) (male 8,106/female 10,840)
Dependency ratios / total dependency ratio: 56 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / youth dependency ratio: 26.8 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / elderly dependency ratio: 29.2 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / potential support ratio: 3.4 (2025 est.)
Median age / total: 38.5 years (2025 est.)
Median age / male: 37 years
Median age / female: 39.7 years
Population growth rate: 0.51% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 11.97 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 7.8 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: 0.96 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution: fairly even distribution
Urbanization / urban population: 31.2% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 0.68% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 34,000 SAINT HELIER (capital) (2018)
Sex ratio / at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 65 years and over: 0.75 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Infant mortality rate / total: 3.7 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Infant mortality rate / male: 4.2 deaths/1,000 live births
Infant mortality rate / female: 3.3 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth / total population: 83 years (2024 est.)
Life expectancy at birth / male: 80.6 years
Life expectancy at birth / female: 85.7 years
Total fertility rate: 1.66 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 0.81 (2025 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: total: total: 98.5% of population

## Environment
Environmental issues: habitat and species loss; water pollution; improper solid-waste disposal
Climate: temperate; mild winters and cool summers
Land use / agricultural land: 43.3% (2022 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 18.3% (2022 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 0% (2022 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 24.9% (2022 est.)
Land use / forest: 5.2% (2022 est.)
Land use / other: 51.6% (2022 est.)
Urbanization / urban population: 31.2% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 0.68% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Waste and recycling / municipal solid waste generated annually: 178,900 tons (2024 est.)
Waste and recycling / percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 28.4% (2016 est.)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: Bailiwick of Jersey
Country name / conventional short form: Jersey
Country name / former: Norman Isles
Country name / etymology: the name is of Old Norse origin, with - ey meaning "island;" "Jer(s)" may derive from a person with the Scandinavian name Geirr, meaning "spear"
Government type: parliamentary democracy (Assembly of the States of Jersey)
Dependency status: British crown dependency
Capital / name: Saint Helier
Capital / geographic coordinates: 49 11 N, 2 06 W
Capital / time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Capital / daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October
Capital / etymology: named after Saint HELIER, the patron saint of Jersey, who was reputedly martyred on the island in A.D. 555
Administrative divisions: no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US government, but 12 parishes; Grouville, Saint Brelade, Saint Clement, Saint Helier, Saint John, Saint Lawrence, Saint Martin, Saint Mary, Saint Ouen, Saint Peter, Saint Saviour, Trinity
Legal system: the laws of the UK apply, as well as local statutes
Constitution / history: unwritten; partly statutes, partly common law and practice
Constitution / amendment process: proposed by a government minister to the Assembly of the States of Jersey, by an Assembly member, or by an elected parish head; passage requires several Assembly readings, a majority vote by the Assembly, review by the UK Ministry of Justice, and approval of the British monarch (Royal Assent)
Citizenship: see United Kingdom
Suffrage: 16 years of age; universal
Executive branch / chief of state: King CHARLES III (since 8 September 2022); represented by Lieutenant Governor Jerry KYD (since 8 October 2022)
Executive branch / head of government: Chief Minister Lyndon FARNHAM (since 25 January 2024); Bailiff Timothy Le COCQ (since 17 October 2019)
Executive branch / cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed individually by the states
Executive branch / election/appointment process: the monarchy is hereditary; Council of Ministers, including the chief minister, indirectly elected by the Assembly of States; lieutenant governor and bailiff appointed by the monarch
Legislative branch / legislature name: Assembly of the States of Jersey
Legislative branch / legislative structure: unicameral
Legislative branch / number of seats: 54 (49 directly elected, 5 appointed)
Legislative branch / term in office: 4 years
Legislative branch / most recent election date: 6/22/2022
Legislative branch / parties elected and seats per party: BW (35); RJ (10); JLC (2); JA (1); PP (1)
Legislative branch / percentage of women in chamber: 42.9%
Legislative branch / expected date of next election: 2026
Judicial branch / highest court(s): Jersey Court of Appeal (consists of the bailiff, deputy bailiff, and 12 judges); Royal Court (consists of the bailiff, deputy bailiff, 6 commissioners and lay people referred to as jurats, and is organized into Heritage, Family, Probate, and Samedi Divisions); appeals beyond the Court of Appeal are heard by the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (in London)
Judicial branch / judge selection and term of office: Jersey Court of Appeal bailiffs and judges appointed by the Crown upon the advice of the Secretary of State for Justice; bailiffs and judges appointed for "extent of good behavior;" Royal Court bailiffs appointed by the Crown upon the advice of the Secretary of State for Justice; commissioners appointed by the bailiff; jurats appointed by the Electoral College; bailiffs and commissioners appointed for "extent of good behavior;" jurats appointed until retirement at age 72
Judicial branch / subordinate courts: Magistrate's Court; Youth Court; Petty Debts Court; Parish Hall Enquiries (a process of preliminary investigation into youth and minor adult offenses to determine need for presentation before a court)
Political parties: Better Way or BW (group of independent candidates) Jersey Alliance or JA Jersey Liberal Conservatives or JLC Progress Party or PP Reform Jersey or RJ
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (British Crown dependency)
Diplomatic representation from the US / embassy: none (British Crown dependency)
International organization participation: UPU
Independence: none (British Crown dependency)
National holiday: Liberation Day, 9 May (1945)
Flag: description: white with a diagonal red cross extending to the corners of the flag; a red shield with three lions in yellow is in the upper triangle, with a yellow crown above history: according to tradition, Jersey ships differentiated themselves from English ships that flew the horizontal cross of St. George by rotating their own cross to the "X" (saltire) configuration; this arrangement resembled the Irish cross of St. Patrick, so the Plantagenet crown and Jersey coat of arms were added
National symbol(s): Jersey cow
National color(s): red, white
National anthem(s) / title: "God Save the King"
National anthem(s) / lyrics/music: unknown
National anthem(s) / history: official anthem, as a British Crown dependency

## Economy
Economic overview: British territorial island economy; strong offshore banking and finance sectors; low asset taxation; strong tourism sector prior to COVID-19 and Brexit; one of the most expensive places to live; minimal welfare system; historical cider industry
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2016: $5.569 billion (2016 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2015: $5.514 billion (2015 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2014: $4.98 billion (2014 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2023: 3.7% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2022: 5.3% (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2021: 9.9% (2021 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $12.508 billion (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / agriculture: 0.6% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / industry: 8.2% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / services: 91.2% (2023 est.)
Agricultural products: potatoes, cauliflower, tomatoes; beef, dairy products
Industries: tourism, banking and finance, dairy, electronics
Industrial production growth rate: 1.3% (2023 est.)
Labor force: 82,400 (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2024: 6.3% (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2023: 6.2% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2022: 6.2% (2022 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / total: 14.1% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / male: 14.2% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / female: 13.9% (2024 est.)
Exports - partners: almost entirely United Kingdom (2022)
Exports - commodities: refined petroleum, beverages, ships, jewelry, artwork (2022)
Imports - partners: almost entirely United Kingdom (2022)
Imports - commodities: artwork, ships, vegetables, fruits, jewelry (2022)
Exchange rates / Currency: Jersey pounds (JEP) per US dollar
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2024: 0.782 (2024 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2023: 0.805 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2022: 0.811 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2021: 0.727 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2020: 0.78 (2020 est.)

## Energy
Electricity access / electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)

## Communications
Telephones - fixed lines / total subscriptions: 48,223 (2023 est.)
Telephones - fixed lines / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 47 (2023 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / total subscriptions: 129,368 (2023 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 125 (2023 est.)
Broadcast media: multiple UK terrestrial TV broadcasts are received via a transmitter in Jersey; satellite packages available; BBC Radio Jersey and 1 other radio station operating
Internet country code: .je
Internet users / percent of population: 41% (2012 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / total: 39,699 (2020 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 37 (2020 est.)

## Transportation
Airports: 1 (2025)
Ports / total ports: 1 (2024)
Ports / large: 0
Ports / medium: 0
Ports / small: 1
Ports / very small: 0
Ports / ports with oil terminals: 1
Ports / key ports: Saint Helier Harbour

## Military and Security
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of the UK

## Transnational Issues

=== Jan Mayen ===

## Introduction
Background: This desolate, mountainous island in the Arctic Ocean was named after a Dutch whaling captain who indisputably discovered it in 1614 (earlier claims are inconclusive). Visited only occasionally by seal hunters and trappers over the centuries, the island came under Norwegian sovereignty in 1929. The long dormant Beerenberg volcano, the northernmost active volcano on earth, resumed activity in 1970, and the most recent eruption occurred in 1985.

## Geography
Location: Northern Europe, island between the Greenland Sea and the Norwegian Sea, northeast of Iceland
Geographic coordinates: 71 00 N, 8 00 W
Map references: Arctic Region
Area / total: 377 sq km
Area / land: 377 sq km
Area / water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly more than twice the size of Washington, D.C.
Land boundaries / total: 0 km
Coastline: 124.1 km
Maritime claims / territorial sea: 12 nm
Maritime claims / contiguous zone: 24 nm
Maritime claims / exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Maritime claims / continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Climate: arctic maritime with frequent storms and persistent fog
Terrain: volcanic island, partly covered by glaciers
Elevation / highest point: Haakon VII Toppen on Beerenberg 2,277
Elevation / lowest point: Norwegian/Greenland Seas 0 m
Natural resources: none
Land use / agricultural land: 0% (2011 est.)
Land use / other: 100% (2018 est.)
Irrigated land: 0 sq km (2022)
Natural hazards: dominated by the volcano Beerenberg volcanism: Beerenberg (2,227 m) is Norway's only active volcano; volcanic activity resumed in 1970; the most recent eruption occurred in 1985
Geography - note: barren volcanic spoon-shaped island with some moss and grass flora; island consists of two parts: a larger northeast Nord-Jan (the spoon "bowl") and the smaller Sor-Jan (the "handle"), linked by a 2.5 km-wide isthmus (the "stem") with two large lakes, Sorlaguna (South Lagoon) and Nordlaguna (North Lagoon)

## People and Society
Population / total: no permanent inhabitants

## Environment
Environmental issues: pollutants transported from southerly latitudes by winds and ocean currents
Climate: arctic maritime with frequent storms and persistent fog
Land use / agricultural land: 0% (2011 est.)
Land use / other: 100% (2018 est.)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: none
Country name / conventional short form: Jan Mayen
Country name / etymology: named after Dutch Captain Jan Jacobszoon MAY, one of the first explorers to reach the island in 1614
Dependency status: territory of Norway; since 1994, administered from Oslo through the county governor ( fylkesmann ) of Nordland; however, authority has been delegated to a station commander of the Norwegian Defense Communication Service; in 2010, Norway designated the majority of Jan Mayen as a nature reserve
Legal system: the laws of Norway apply
Flag: the flag of Norway is used

## Economy

## Communications
Broadcast media: a coastal radio station has been remotely operated since 1994

## Transportation

## Military and Security
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of Norway

## Transnational Issues

=== Kosovo ===

## Introduction
Background: The Ottoman Empire took control of Kosovo in 1389 after defeating Serbian forces. Large numbers of Turks and Albanians moved to the region, and by the end of the 19th century, Albanians had replaced Serbs as the majority ethnic group in Kosovo. Serbia reacquired control of Kosovo during the First Balkan War of 1912, and after World War II, Kosovo became an autonomous province of Serbia in the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (SFRY). Increasing Albanian nationalism in the 1980s led to riots and calls for Kosovo's independence, but in 1989, Belgrade -- which has in turn served as the capital of Serbia and Yugoslavia -- revoked Kosovo's autonomous status. When the SFRY broke up in 1991, Kosovo Albanian leaders organized an independence referendum, and Belgrade's repressive response led to an insurgency. Kosovo remained part of Serbia, which joined with Montenegro to declare a new Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (FRY) in 1992. In 1998, Belgrade launched a brutal counterinsurgency campaign, with some 800,000 ethnic Albanians expelled from their homes in Kosovo. After international mediation failed, a NATO military operation began in March 1999 and forced Belgrade to withdraw its forces from Kosovo. UN Security Council Resolution 1244 (1999) placed Kosovo under the temporary control of the UN Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK). Negotiations in 2006-07 ended without agreement between Serbia and Kosovo, though the UN issued a comprehensive report that endorsed independence. On 17 February 2008, the Kosovo Assembly declared Kosovo independent. Serbia continues to reject Kosovo's independence, but the two countries began EU-facilitated discussions in 2013 to normalize relations, which resulted in several agreements. Additional agreements were reached in 2015 and 2023, but implementation remains incomplete. In 2022, Kosovo formally applied for membership in the EU, which is contingent on fulfillment of accession criteria, and the Council of Europe. Kosovo is also seeking UN and NATO memberships.

## Geography
Location: Southeastern Europe, between Serbia and Macedonia
Geographic coordinates: 42 35 N, 21 00 E
Map references: Europe
Area / total: 10,887 sq km
Area / land: 10,887 sq km
Area / water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly larger than Delaware
Land boundaries / total: 714 km
Land boundaries / border countries: Albania 112 km; North Macedonia 160 km; Montenegro 76 km; Serbia 366 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
Climate: influenced by continental air masses resulting in relatively cold winters with heavy snowfall and hot, dry summers and autumns; Mediterranean and alpine influences create regional variation; maximum rainfall between October and December
Terrain: flat fluvial basin at an elevation of 400-700 m above sea level surrounded by several high mountain ranges with elevations of 2,000 to 2,500 m
Elevation / highest point: Gjeravica/Deravica 2,656 m
Elevation / lowest point: Drini i Bardhe/Beli Drim (located on the border with Albania) 297 m
Elevation / mean elevation: 450 m
Natural resources: nickel, lead, zinc, magnesium, lignite, kaolin, chrome, bauxite
Land use / agricultural land: 52.8% (2018 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 27.4% (2018 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 1.9% (2018 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 23.5% (2018 est.)
Land use / forest: 41.7% (2018 est.)
Land use / other: 5.5% (2018 est.)
Irrigated land: NA
Major watersheds (area sq km) / Atlantic Ocean drainage: (Black Sea) Danube (795,656 sq km)
Population distribution: population clusters exist throughout the country, with the largest in the east in and around the capital of Pristina
Geography - note: the 41-km (25-mi) Nerodimka River divides into two branches, each of which flows into a different sea: the northern branch flows into the Sitnica River, which via the Ibar, Morava, and Danube Rivers ultimately flows into the Black Sea; the southern branch flows via the Lepenac and Vardar Rivers into the Aegean Sea

## People and Society
Population / total: 1,977,093 (2024 est.)
Population / male: 1,017,992
Population / female: 959,101
Nationality / noun: Kosovan
Nationality / adjective: Kosovan
Ethnic groups: Albanians 92.9%, Bosniaks 1.6%, Serbs 1.5%, Turk 1.1%, Ashkali 0.9%, Egyptian 0.7%, Gorani 0.6%, Romani 0.5%, other/unspecified 0.2% (2011 est.)
Languages / Languages: Albanian (official) 94.5%, Bosnian 1.7%, Serbian (official) 1.6%, Turkish 1.1%, other 0.9% (includes Romani), unspecified 0.1% (2011 est.)
Languages / major-language sample(s): Libri i fakteve boterore, burimi i pazevendesueshem per informacione elementare (Albanian) Knjiga svetskih činjenica, neophodan izvor osnovnih informacija. (Serbian) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
Religions: Muslim 95.6%, Roman Catholic 2.2%, Orthodox 1.5%, other 0.1%, none 0.1%, unspecified 0.6% (2011 est.)
Age structure / 0-14 years: 22.7% (male 233,010/female 216,304)
Age structure / 15-64 years: 68.9% (male 712,403/female 649,932)
Age structure / 65 years and over: 8.4% (2024 est.) (male 72,579/female 92,865)
Dependency ratios / total dependency ratio: 45.1 (2024 est.)
Dependency ratios / youth dependency ratio: 33 (2024 est.)
Dependency ratios / elderly dependency ratio: 12.1 (2024 est.)
Dependency ratios / potential support ratio: 8.2 (2024 est.)
Median age / total: 32.3 years (2025 est.)
Median age / male: 31.7 years
Median age / female: 32.4 years
Population growth rate: 0.73% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 14.16 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 6.88 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution: population clusters exist throughout the country, with the largest in the east in and around the capital of Pristina
Major urban areas - population: 218,782 PRISTINA (capital) (2020)
Sex ratio / at birth: 1.08 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 0-14 years: 1.08 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 15-64 years: 1.1 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 65 years and over: 0.78 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / total population: 1.06 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Infant mortality rate / total: 21 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Infant mortality rate / male: 24.2 deaths/1,000 live births
Infant mortality rate / female: 21.5 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth / total population: 73.1 years (2024 est.)
Life expectancy at birth / male: 71 years
Life expectancy at birth / female: 75.5 years
Total fertility rate: 1.85 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 0.89 (2025 est.)
Physician density: 0.2 physicians/1,000 population (2015)
Currently married women (ages 15-49): 61.6% (2020 est.)

## Environment
Environmental issues: air pollution from power plants and lignite mines; water scarcity and pollution; land degradation
Climate: influenced by continental air masses resulting in relatively cold winters with heavy snowfall and hot, dry summers and autumns; Mediterranean and alpine influences create regional variation; maximum rainfall between October and December
Land use / agricultural land: 52.8% (2018 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 27.4% (2018 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 1.9% (2018 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 23.5% (2018 est.)
Land use / forest: 41.7% (2018 est.)
Land use / other: 5.5% (2018 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / total emissions: 7.444 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from coal and metallurgical coke: 5.005 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from petroleum and other liquids: 2.439 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Waste and recycling / municipal solid waste generated annually: 319,000 tons (2024 est.)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: Republic of Kosovo
Country name / conventional short form: Kosovo
Country name / local long form: Republika e Kosoves (Albanian)/ Republika Kosovo (Serbian)
Country name / local short form: Kosove (Albanian)/ Kosovo (Serbian)
Country name / etymology: name may derive from the Serbian word kos , meaning "blackbird," or from a personal name
Government type: parliamentary republic
Capital / name: Pristina (Prishtine, Prishtina)
Capital / geographic coordinates: 42 40 N, 21 10 E
Capital / time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Capital / daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October
Capital / etymology: the town takes its name from the river; the origin of the river's name is unclear but could come from a pre-Slavic language
Administrative divisions: 38 municipalities ( komunat , singular - komuna (Albanian); opstine , singular - opstina (Serbian)); Decan (Decani), Dragash (Dragas), Ferizaj (Urosevac), Fushe Kosove (Kosovo Polje), Gjakove (Dakovica), Gjilan (Gnjilane), Gllogovc (Glogovac), Gracanice (Gracanica), Hani i Elezit (Deneral Jankovic), Istog (Istok), Junik, Kacanik, Kamenice (Kamenica), Kline (Klina), Kllokot (Klokot), Leposaviq (Leposavic), Lipjan (Lipljan), Malisheve (Malisevo), Mamushe (Mamusa), Mitrovice e Jugut (Juzna Mitrovica) [South Mitrovica], Mitrovice e Veriut (Severna Mitrovica) [North Mitrovica], Novoberde (Novo Brdo), Obiliq (Obilic), Partesh (Partes), Peje (Pec), Podujeve (Podujevo), Prishtine (Pristina), Prizren, Rahovec (Orahovac), Ranillug (Ranilug), Shterpce (Strpce), Shtime (Stimlje), Skenderaj (Srbica), Suhareke (Suva Reka), Viti (Vitina), Vushtrri (Vucitrn), Zubin Potok, Zvecan
Legal system: civil law system
Constitution / history: previous 1974, 1990; latest (post-independence) draft finalized 2 April 2008, signed 7 April 2008, ratified 9 April 2008, entered into force 15 June 2008
Constitution / amendment process: proposed by the government, by the president of the republic, or by one fourth of Assembly deputies; passage requires two-thirds majority vote of the Assembly, including two-thirds majority vote of deputies representing non-majority communities, followed by a favorable Constitutional Court assessment
International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt
Citizenship / citizenship by birth: no
Citizenship / citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Kosovo
Citizenship / dual citizenship recognized: yes
Citizenship / residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch / chief of state: President Vjosa OSMANI-Sadriu (since 4 April 2021)
Executive branch / head of government: Acting Prime Minister Albin KURTI (since 15 April 2025)
Executive branch / cabinet: Cabinet elected by the Assembly
Executive branch / election/appointment process: president indirectly elected for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term) by at least two-thirds majority vote of the Assembly; if a candidate does not reach this threshold in the first two ballots, the candidate winning a simple majority vote in the third ballot is elected; prime minister indirectly elected by the Assembly
Executive branch / most recent election date: 3-4 April 2021
Executive branch / election results: 2021: Vjosa OSMANI-Sadriu elected president in third ballot; Assembly vote - Vjosa OSMANI-Sadriu (Guxo!) 71 votes; Albin KURTI (LVV) elected prime minister; Assembly vote - 67 for, 30 against 2017: Ramush HARADINAJ (AAK) elected prime minister; Assembly vote - 61 for, 1 abstention, 0 against (opposition boycott) 2016: Hashim THACI elected president in third ballot; Assembly vote - Hashim THACI (PDK) 71 votes
Executive branch / expected date of next election: 2026
Legislative branch / legislature name: Assembly (Kuvendi i Kosoves/Skupstina Kosova)
Legislative branch / legislative structure: unicameral
Legislative branch / number of seats: 120 (all directly elected)
Legislative branch / electoral system: proportional representation
Legislative branch / scope of elections: full renewal
Legislative branch / term in office: 4 years
Legislative branch / most recent election date: 2/14/2021
Legislative branch / parties elected and seats per party: Self-Determination Movement (LVV) (58), Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) (19), Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) (15), Serb List (10), Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK) (8), other (10)
Legislative branch / percentage of women in chamber: 34%
Legislative branch / expected date of next election: 2025
Judicial branch / highest court(s): Supreme Court (consists of the court president and 18 judges and organized into Appeals Panel of the Kosovo Property Agency and Special Chamber); Constitutional Court (consists of the court president, vice president, and 7 judges)
Judicial branch / judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court judges nominated by the Kosovo Judicial Council, a 13-member independent body staffed by judges and lay members, and also responsible for overall administration of Kosovo's judicial system; judges appointed by the president of the Republic of Kosovo; judges appointed until mandatory retirement age; Constitutional Court judges nominated by the Kosovo Assembly and appointed by the president of the republic to serve single, 9-year terms
Judicial branch / subordinate courts: Court of Appeals (organized into 4 departments: General, Serious Crime, Commercial Matters, and Administrative Matters); Basic Court (located in 7 municipalities, each with several branches)
Political parties: Alliance for the Future of Kosovo or AAK Ashkali Party for Integration or PAI Civic Initiative for Freedom, Justice, and Survival Democratic League of Kosovo or LDK Democratic Party of Kosovo or PDK New Democratic Initiative of Kosovo or IRDK New Democratic Party or NDS Progressive Movement of Kosovar Roma or LPRK Romani Initiative Self-Determination Movement (Lëvizja Vetevendosje or Vetevendosie) or LVV or VV Serb List or SL Social Democratic Union or SDU Turkish Democratic Party of Kosovo or KDTP Unique Gorani Party or JGP Vakat Coalition or VAKAT
Diplomatic representation in the US / chief of mission: Ambassador Ilir DUGOLLI (since 13 January 2022)
Diplomatic representation in the US / chancery: 3612 Massachusetts Ave NW, Washington, D.C. 20007
Diplomatic representation in the US / telephone: [1] (202) 450-2130
Diplomatic representation in the US / FAX: [1] (202) 735-0609
Diplomatic representation in the US / email address and website: embassy.usa@rks-gov.net U.S. Embassies of the Republic of Kosovo (ambasadat.net)
Diplomatic representation in the US / consulate(s) general: New York
Diplomatic representation in the US / consulate(s): Des Moines (IA)
Diplomatic representation from the US / chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charg&eacute; d'Affaires Anu PRATTIPATI (since January 2025)
Diplomatic representation from the US / embassy: Arberia/Dragodan, Rr. 4 KORRIKU Nr. 25, Pristina
Diplomatic representation from the US / mailing address: 9520 Pristina Place, Washington DC 20521-9520
Diplomatic representation from the US / telephone: [383] 38-59-59-3000
Diplomatic representation from the US / FAX: [383] 38-604-890
Diplomatic representation from the US / email address and website: PristinaACS@state.gov https://xk.usembassy.gov/
International organization participation: FIFA, IBRD, IDA, IFC, IMF, IOC, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, OIF (observer)
Independence: 17 February 2008 (from Serbia)
National holiday: Independence Day, 17 February (2008)
Flag: description: a dark blue field with a gold-colored silhouette of Kosovo in the center, with six five-pointed white stars in a slight arc over it meaning: each star represents one of the major ethnic groups of Kosovo: Albanians, Serbs, Turks, Gorani, Roma, and Bosniaks
National symbol(s): six five-pointed white stars
National color(s): blue, gold, white
National coat of arms: uses the national colors of blue, gold, and white, and is featured on the country&rsquo;s flag; the golden map symbolizes a rich and peaceful Kosovo, with a blue background that represents the country&rsquo;s aspirations for Euro-Atlantic integration; the six white stars stand for the major ethnic groups in Kosovo: Albanians, Serbs, Bosniaks, Turks, Roma (including Ashkali and Egyptians), and Gorani
National anthem(s) / title: "Europe"
National anthem(s) / lyrics/music: no lyrics/Mendi MENGJIQI
National anthem(s) / history: adopted 2008; Kosovo chose not to include lyrics in its anthem to avoid offending the country's minority ethnic groups
National heritage / total World Heritage Sites: 1 (cultural)
National heritage / selected World Heritage Site locales: Medieval Monuments in Kosovo

## Economy
Economic overview: small-but-growing European economy; non-EU member but unilateral euro user; very high unemployment, especially youth; vulnerable reliance on diaspora tourism services, curtailed by COVID-19 disruptions; unclear public loan portfolio health
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $25.019 billion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $23.962 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $23.025 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2024: 4.4% (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2023: 4.1% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2022: 4.3% (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2024: $16,400 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2023: $14,200 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2022: $13,000 (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $11.149 billion (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024: 1.6% (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023: 4.9% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 11.6% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / agriculture: 6.9% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / industry: 26.2% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / services: 45.7% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / household consumption: 84.3% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / government consumption: 12.3% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in fixed capital: 33.8% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in inventories: 0% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / exports of goods and services: 41.9% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / imports of goods and services: -72.3% (2024 est.)
Agricultural products: wheat, corn, berries, potatoes, peppers, fruit; dairy, livestock; fish
Industries: mineral mining, construction materials, base metals, leather, machinery, appliances, foodstuffs and beverages, textiles
Industrial production growth rate: 4% (2024 est.)
Labor force: 500,300 (2017 est.)
Population below poverty line: 17.6% (2015 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income / Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2021: 49.4 (2021 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / lowest 10%: 0.4% (2021 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / highest 10%: 32.9% (2021 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2023: 17.5% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2022: 17.2% of GDP (2022 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2021: 18% of GDP (2021 est.)
Budget / revenues: $1.951 billion (2020 est.)
Budget / expenditures: $2.547 billion (2020 est.)
Public debt / Public debt 2016: 19.4% of GDP (2016 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2023: -$785.09 million (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2022: -$983.283 million (2022 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2021: -$818.351 million (2021 est.)
Exports / Exports 2023: $4.156 billion (2023 est.)
Exports / Exports 2022: $3.579 billion (2022 est.)
Exports / Exports 2021: $3.138 billion (2021 est.)
Exports - partners: United States 16%, Albania 15%, North Macedonia 12%, Germany 8%, Italy 8% (2021)
Exports - commodities: mattress materials, iron alloys, metal piping, scrap iron, building plastics (2021)
Imports / Imports 2023: $7.362 billion (2023 est.)
Imports / Imports 2022: $6.661 billion (2022 est.)
Imports / Imports 2021: $6.128 billion (2021 est.)
Imports - partners: Germany 13%, Turkey 13%, China 10%, Serbia 7%, Italy 6% (2021)
Imports - commodities: refined petroleum, cars, iron rods, electricity, cigars, packaged medicines (2021)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024: $1.31 billion (2024 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023: $1.245 billion (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $1.248 billion (2022 est.)
Debt - external / Debt - external 2023: $785.739 million (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Currency: euros (EUR) per US dollar -
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2024: 0.924 (2024 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2023: 0.925 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2022: 0.951 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2021: 0.845 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2020: 0.877 (2020 est.)

## Energy
Electricity / installed generating capacity: 1.555 million kW (2023 est.)
Electricity / consumption: 6.571 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / exports: 2.442 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / imports: 3.449 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / transmission/distribution losses: 789.167 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / fossil fuels: 87.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / solar: 0.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / wind: 6.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / hydroelectricity: 6.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Coal / production: 6.924 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / consumption: 6.931 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / exports: 13,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / imports: 20,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / proven reserves: 1.564 billion metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum / refined petroleum consumption: 16,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Energy consumption per capita / Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 52.085 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

## Communications
Telephones - fixed lines / total subscriptions: 383,763 (2022 est.)
Telephones - fixed lines / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 7 (2022 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / total subscriptions: 593,000 (2022 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 35 (2022 est.)
Internet country code: .xk
Internet users / percent of population: 89% (2018 est.)

## Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: Z6
Airports: 2 (2025)
Heliports: 11 (2025)
Railways / total: 437 km (2020)

## Military and Security
Military and security forces: Kosovo Security Force (KSF; Forca e Sigurisë së Kosovës or FSK): Land Force, National Guard (2025)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2024: 1.5% of GDP (2024 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2023: 1.3% of GDP (2023 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2022: 1.1% of GDP (2022 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2021: 1.1% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2020: 1% of GDP (2020 est.)
Military and security service personnel strengths: approximately 3,300 Kosovo Security Forces, including about 800 reserves (2024)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the KSF is equipped with small arms and light vehicles and has relied on limited amounts of donated equipment from several countries, particularly T&uuml;rkiye and the US (2025)
Military service age and obligation: any citizen of Kosovo over the age of 18 is eligible to serve in the Kosovo Security Force; upper age for enlisting is 30 for officers, 25 for other ranks, although these may be waived for recruits with key skills considered essential for the KSF (2025)
Military - note: the Kosovo Security Force (KSF) was established in 2009 as a small (1,500 personnel), lightly armed disaster response force; the NATO-led Kosovo Force (KFOR) was charged with assisting in the development of the KSF and bringing it up to standards designated by NATO; the KSF was certified as fully operational by the North Atlantic Council in 2013, indicating the then 2,200-strong KSF was entirely capable of performing the tasks assigned under its mandate, which included non-military security functions that were not appropriate for the police, plus missions such as search and rescue, explosive ordnance disposal, control and clearance of hazardous materials, firefighting, and other humanitarian assistance tasks in 2019, Kosovo approved legislation that began a process to transition the KSF by 2028 into a professional military (the Kosovo Armed Forces) led by a General Staff and comprised of a Land Force, a National Guard, a Logistics Command, and a Doctrine and Training Command; it would have a strength of up to 5,000 with about 3,000 reserves; at the same time, the KSF’s mission was expanded to include traditional military functions, such as territorial defense and international peacekeeping; the KSF’s first international mission was the deployment of a small force to Kuwait in 2021 the NATO-led KFOR has operated in the country as a peace support force since 1999; in addition to assisting in the development of the KSF, KFOR is responsible for providing a safe and secure environment and ensuring freedom of movement for all citizens; as of 2025, it had approximately 4,700 troops from more than 30 countries (2025)

## Terrorism
Terrorist group(s): Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS)

## Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons / IDPs: 15,582 (2024 est.)

=== Latvia ===

## Introduction
Background: Several eastern Baltic tribes merged in medieval times to form the ethnic core of the Latvian people (ca. 8th-12th centuries A.D.). The region subsequently came under the control of Germans, Poles, Swedes, and finally Russians. A Latvian republic emerged following World War I, but the USSR annexed it in 1940 -- an action never recognized by the US and many other countries. Latvia reestablished its independence in 1991 after the breakup of the Soviet Union. Although the last Russian troops left in 1994, the status of the Russian minority (some 25% of the population) remains of concern to Moscow. Latvia joined both NATO and the EU in 2004; it joined the euro zone in 2014 and the OECD in 2016.

## Geography
Location: Eastern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, between Estonia and Lithuania
Geographic coordinates: 57 00 N, 25 00 E
Map references: Europe
Area / total: 64,589 sq km
Area / land: 62,249 sq km
Area / water: 2,340 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly larger than West Virginia
Land boundaries / total: 1,370 km
Land boundaries / border countries: Belarus 161 km; Estonia 333 km; Lithuania 544 km; Russia 332 km
Coastline: 498 km
Maritime claims / territorial sea: 12 nm
Maritime claims / exclusive economic zone: limits as agreed to by Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Sweden, and Russia
Maritime claims / continental shelf: 200 m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Climate: maritime; wet, moderate winters
Terrain: low plain
Elevation / highest point: Gaizina Kalns 312 m
Elevation / lowest point: Baltic Sea 0 m
Elevation / mean elevation: 87 m
Natural resources: peat, limestone, dolomite, amber, hydropower, timber, arable land
Land use / agricultural land: 31.7% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 21.9% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 0.2% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 9.7% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 55.5% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 12.8% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land: 6 sq km (2016)
Population distribution: largest concentration of people is found in and around the port and capital city of Riga; small agglomerations are scattered throughout the country
Natural hazards: large percentage of agricultural fields can become waterlogged and require drainage
Geography - note: most of the country is composed of fertile low-lying plains with some hills in the east

## People and Society
Population / total: 1,888,439 (2025 est.)
Population / male: 876,654
Population / female: 1,011,785
Nationality / noun: Latvian(s)
Nationality / adjective: Latvian
Ethnic groups: Latvian 62.7%, Russian 24.5%, Belarusian 3.1%, Ukrainian 2.2%, Polish 2%, Lithuanian 1.1%, other 1.8%, unspecified 2.6% (2021 est.)
Languages / Languages: Latvian (official) 56.3%, Russian 33.8%, other 0.6% (includes Polish, Ukrainian, and Belarusian), unspecified 9.4% (2011 est.)
Languages / major-language sample(s): World Factbook, neaizstājams avots pamata informāciju. (Latvian) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
Religions: Lutheran 36.2%, Roman Catholic 19.5%, Orthodox 19.1%, other Christian 1.6%, other 0.1%, unspecified/none 23.5% (2017 est.)
Age structure / 0-14 years: 14.7% (male 136,482/female 128,492)
Age structure / 15-64 years: 63% (male 562,754/female 572,850)
Age structure / 65 years and over: 22.2% (2024 est.) (male 137,746/female 262,922)
Dependency ratios / total dependency ratio: 56.2 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / youth dependency ratio: 23.3 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / elderly dependency ratio: 33 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / potential support ratio: 3 (2025 est.)
Median age / total: 43.8 years (2025 est.)
Median age / male: 41.6 years
Median age / female: 49.2 years
Population growth rate: -1.27% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 7.24 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 14.68 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: -5.3 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution: largest concentration of people is found in and around the port and capital city of Riga; small agglomerations are scattered throughout the country
Urbanization / urban population: 68.7% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: -0.68% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 621,000 RIGA (capital) (2023)
Sex ratio / at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 65 years and over: 0.52 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / total population: 0.87 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth: 27.3 years (2020 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio: 19 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Infant mortality rate / total: 2.4 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Infant mortality rate / male: 5.1 deaths/1,000 live births
Infant mortality rate / female: 4.3 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth / total population: 76.4 years (2024 est.)
Life expectancy at birth / male: 72 years
Life expectancy at birth / female: 81 years
Total fertility rate: 1.25 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 0.61 (2025 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: urban: urban: 98.9% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: rural: rural: 98.9% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: total: total: 98.9% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: urban: urban: 1.1% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: rural: rural: 1.1% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: total: total: 1.1% of population (2022 est.)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 9% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 12.1% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density: 3.4 physicians/1,000 population (2022)
Hospital bed density: 5.3 beds/1,000 population (2020 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 23.6% (2016)
Alcohol consumption per capita / total: 12.9 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / beer: 4.9 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / wine: 1.7 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / spirits: 5.3 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / other alcohols: 1 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Tobacco use / total: 28.8% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / male: 43.5% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / female: 16.4% (2025 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 0.3% (2021 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49): 49.6% (2021 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% GDP): 4.3% of GDP (2022 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% national budget): 9.9% national budget (2022 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / total: 16 years (2023 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / male: 15 years (2023 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / female: 17 years (2023 est.)

## Environment
Environmental issues: some soil, water, and air pollution
International environmental agreements / party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Multi-effect Protocol, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands
International environmental agreements / signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Climate: maritime; wet, moderate winters
Land use / agricultural land: 31.7% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 21.9% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 0.2% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 9.7% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 55.5% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 12.8% (2023 est.)
Urbanization / urban population: 68.7% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: -0.68% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / total emissions: 6.427 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from coal and metallurgical coke: 41,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from petroleum and other liquids: 4.861 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from consumed natural gas: 1.526 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Particulate matter emissions: 15.6 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Waste and recycling / municipal solid waste generated annually: 839,700 tons (2024 est.)
Waste and recycling / percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 31.3% (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / municipal: 91.945 million cubic meters (2022)
Total water withdrawal / industrial: 30.291 million cubic meters (2022)
Total water withdrawal / agricultural: 50.098 million cubic meters (2022)
Total renewable water resources: 34.94 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: Republic of Latvia
Country name / conventional short form: Latvia
Country name / local long form: Latvijas Republika
Country name / local short form: Latvija
Country name / former: Latvian Soviet Socialist Republic (while occupied by the USSR)
Country name / etymology: the name originates from the Latgalians, one of four eastern Baltic tribes that formed the ethnic core of the Latvian people (ca. 8th-12th centuries A.D.)
Government type: parliamentary republic
Capital / name: Riga
Capital / geographic coordinates: 56 57 N, 24 06 E
Capital / time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Capital / daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October
Capital / etymology: the name's origin is unclear; it may derive from the Old Lithuanian word ringa , meaning "bend" or "curve" and referring to the city's location on the Western Dvina River; alternatively, it may come from the Latvian word ridzina , meaning "stream"
Administrative divisions: 36 municipalities ( novadi , singular - novads ) and 7 state cities ( valstpilsetu pasvaldibas , singular - valstspilsetas pasvaldiba ) municipalities: Adazi, Aizkraukle, Aluksne, Augsdaugava, Balvi, Bauska, Cesis, Dienvidkurzeme, Dobele, Gulbene, Jekabpils, Jelgava, Kekava, Kraslava, Kuldiga, Limbazi, Livani, Ludza, Madona, Marupe, Ogre, Olaine, Preili, Rezekne, Ropazi, Salaspils, Saldus, Saulkrasti, Sigulda, Smiltene, Talsi, Tukums, Valka, Valmiera, Varaklani, Ventspils cities: Daugavpils, Jelgava, Jurmala, Liepaja, Rezekne, Riga, Ventspils
Legal system: civil law system with traces of socialist legal traditions and practices
Constitution / history: several previous (pre-1991 independence); after independence was restored in 1991, parts of the 1922 constitution were reintroduced on 4 May 1990 and fully reintroduced on 6 July 1993
Constitution / amendment process: proposed by two thirds of Parliament members or by petition of one tenth of qualified voters submitted through the president; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote of Parliament in each of three readings; amendment of constitutional articles, including national sovereignty, language, the parliamentary electoral system, and constitutional amendment procedures, requires passage in a referendum by majority vote of at least one half of the electorate
International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Citizenship / citizenship by birth: no
Citizenship / citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Latvia
Citizenship / dual citizenship recognized: no
Citizenship / residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch / chief of state: President Edgars RINKEVICS (since 8 July 2023)
Executive branch / head of government: Prime Minister Evika SILINA (since 15 September 2023)
Executive branch / cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers nominated by the prime minister, appointed by Parliament
Executive branch / election/appointment process: president indirectly elected by Parliament for a 4-year term (eligible for a second term); prime minister appointed by the president, confirmed by Parliament
Executive branch / most recent election date: 31 May 2023
Executive branch / election results: 2023: Edgars RINKEVICS elected president in the third round; Parliament vote - Edgars RINKEVICS (Unity Party) 52, Uldis Pīlēns (independent) 25; Evika SILINA confirmed as prime minister 53-39 2019: Egils LEVITS elected president; Parliament vote - Egils LEVITS (independent) 61, Didzis SMITS (KPV LV) 24, Juris JANSONS (independent) 8; Krisjanis KARINS confirmed as prime minister 61-39
Executive branch / expected date of next election: 2027
Legislative branch / legislature name: Parliament (Saeima)
Legislative branch / legislative structure: unicameral
Legislative branch / number of seats: 100 (all directly elected)
Legislative branch / electoral system: proportional representation
Legislative branch / scope of elections: full renewal
Legislative branch / term in office: 4 years
Legislative branch / most recent election date: 10/1/2022
Legislative branch / parties elected and seats per party: New Unity (VIENOTIBA) (26); Union of Farmers and Greens (ZZS) (16); United List - Latvian Green Party, Latvian Regional Alliance, Liepāja Party (15); National Alliance of All for Latvia!" - "For Fatherland and Freedom / LNNK" (NA) (13); For Stability! (11); Progressives (10); Latvia First (9)
Legislative branch / percentage of women in chamber: 31%
Legislative branch / expected date of next election: October 2026
Judicial branch / highest court(s): Supreme Court (consists of the Senate with 36 judges); Constitutional Court (consists of 7 judges)
Judicial branch / judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court judges nominated by chief justice and confirmed by the Saeima; judges serve until age 70, but term can be extended 2 years; Constitutional Court judges - 3 nominated by Saeima members, 2 by Cabinet ministers, and 2 by plenum of Supreme Court; all judges confirmed by Saeima majority vote; Constitutional Court president and vice president serve in their positions for 3 years; all judges serve 10-year terms; mandatory retirement at age 70
Judicial branch / subordinate courts: district (city) and regional courts
Political parties: For Stability or S! For Latvia's Development or LA Harmony or S Honor to Serve Riga! or GKR Latvia First or LPV National Alliance or NA New Unity or JV People. Land. Statehood. or TZV The Progressives or PRO Union of Greens and Farmers or ZZS United List or AS We for Talsi and Municipality or MTuN
Diplomatic representation in the US / chief of mission: Ambassador Elita KUZMA (since 18 September 2024)
Diplomatic representation in the US / chancery: 2306 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation in the US / telephone: [1] (202) 328-2840
Diplomatic representation in the US / FAX: [1] (202) 328-2860
Diplomatic representation in the US / email address and website: embassy.usa@mfa.gov.lv https://www2.mfa.gov.lv/en/usa
Diplomatic representation from the US / chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charg&eacute; d&rsquo;Affaires Julia JACOBY (since December 2025)
Diplomatic representation from the US / embassy: 1 Samnera Velsa Street (former Remtes), Riga LV-1510
Diplomatic representation from the US / mailing address: 4520 Riga Place, Washington DC 20521-4520
Diplomatic representation from the US / telephone: [371] 6710-7000
Diplomatic representation from the US / FAX: [371] 6710-7050
Diplomatic representation from the US / email address and website: askconsular-riga@state.gov https://lv.usembassy.gov/
International organization participation: Australia Group, BA, BIS, CBSS, CD, CE, EAPC, EBRD, ECB, EIB, EMU, ESA (cooperating state), EU, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NATO, NIB, NSG, OAS (observer), OIF (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, Schengen Convention, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNWTO, UPU, Wassenaar Arrangement, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Independence: 18 November 1918 (from Soviet Russia); 4 May 1990 (declared from the Soviet Union); 6 September 1991 (recognized by the Soviet Union)
National holiday: Independence Day (Republic of Latvia Proclamation Day), 18 November (1918)
Flag: description: three horizontal bands of maroon (top), white (half-width), and maroon history: the flag is one of the older banners in the world -- a medieval chronicle mentions Latvian tribes using a red standard with a white stripe around 1280
National symbol(s): white wagtail (bird)
National color(s): maroon, white
National anthem(s) / title: "Dievs, sveti Latviju!" (God Bless Latvia)
National anthem(s) / lyrics/music: Karlis BAUMANIS
National anthem(s) / history: adopted 1920, restored 1990; first performed in 1873 when Latvia was part of Russia; banned during the Soviet occupation from 1940 to 1990
National heritage / total World Heritage Sites: 3 (all cultural)
National heritage / selected World Heritage Site locales: Historic Center of Riga; Struve Geodetic Arc; Old town of Kuldīga

## Economy
Economic overview: high-income EU and eurozone member; weak recovery following economic contraction, with slight increase in private consumption and uncertain trade environment; challenges from skilled-labor shortages, capital market access, large informal sector, and green and digital transitions
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $72.516 billion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $72.838 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $70.817 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2024: -0.4% (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2023: 2.9% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2022: 1.8% (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2024: $38,900 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2023: $38,800 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2022: $37,700 (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $43.521 billion (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024: 1.3% (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023: 8.9% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 17.3% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / agriculture: 4.1% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / industry: 19.9% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / services: 63.1% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / household consumption: 62.7% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / government consumption: 20.2% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in fixed capital: 24.7% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in inventories: -0.1% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / exports of goods and services: 66.5% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / imports of goods and services: -70.2% (2023 est.)
Agricultural products: wheat, milk, rapeseed, barley, oats, potatoes, rye, beans, peas, chicken (2023)
Industries: processed foods, processed wood products, textiles, processed metals, pharmaceuticals, railroad cars, synthetic fibers, electronics
Industrial production growth rate: -4% (2024 est.)
Labor force: 954,900 (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2024: 6.8% (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2023: 6.5% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2022: 6.9% (2022 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / total: 12.5% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / male: 13% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / female: 11.9% (2024 est.)
Population below poverty line: 22.5% (2022 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income / Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2022: 33.7 (2022 est.)
Average household expenditures / on food: 19.6% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Average household expenditures / on alcohol and tobacco: 7.1% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / lowest 10%: 2.6% (2022 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / highest 10%: 25.8% (2022 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2024: 3.1% of GDP (2024 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2023: 2.9% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2022: 3.4% of GDP (2022 est.)
Budget / revenues: $14.58 billion (2023 est.)
Budget / expenditures: $15.432 billion (2023 est.)
Public debt / Public debt 2017: 36.3% of GDP (2017 est.)
Taxes and other revenues: 16.7% (of GDP) (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2024: -$923.266 million (2024 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2023: -$1.663 billion (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2022: -$2.082 billion (2022 est.)
Exports / Exports 2024: $28.117 billion (2024 est.)
Exports / Exports 2023: $28.294 billion (2023 est.)
Exports / Exports 2022: $29.364 billion (2022 est.)
Exports - partners: Lithuania 19%, Estonia 6%, Russia 6%, Germany 6%, Sweden 5% (2023)
Exports - commodities: wood, wheat, broadcasting equipment, packaged medicine, natural gas (2023)
Imports / Imports 2024: $29.234 billion (2024 est.)
Imports / Imports 2023: $29.875 billion (2023 est.)
Imports / Imports 2022: $31.206 billion (2022 est.)
Imports - partners: Lithuania 18%, Germany 11%, Poland 10%, Estonia 8%, Finland 5% (2023)
Imports - commodities: refined petroleum, cars, packaged medicine, broadcasting equipment, natural gas (2023)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024: $5.141 billion (2024 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023: $4.957 billion (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $4.46 billion (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Currency: euros (EUR) per US dollar -
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2024: 0.924 (2024 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2023: 0.925 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2022: 0.95 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2021: 0.845 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2020: 0.876 (2020 est.)

## Energy
Electricity access / electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)
Electricity / installed generating capacity: 3.428 million kW (2023 est.)
Electricity / consumption: 6.822 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / exports: 3.271 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / imports: 4.075 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / transmission/distribution losses: 342.238 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / fossil fuels: 22.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / solar: 3.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / wind: 4.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / hydroelectricity: 59.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / biomass and waste: 10.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Coal / consumption: 20,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / exports: 12,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / imports: 39,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum / total petroleum production: 2,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Petroleum / refined petroleum consumption: 33,000 bbl/day (2024 est.)
Natural gas / consumption: 786.523 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / imports: 786.523 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
Energy consumption per capita / Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 65.908 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

## Communications
Telephones - fixed lines / total subscriptions: 142,000 (2023 est.)
Telephones - fixed lines / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 8 (2023 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / total subscriptions: 2.27 million (2024 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 121 (2024 est.)
Broadcast media: several national and regional commercial TV stations are foreign-owned, 2 national TV stations are publicly owned; system supplemented by privately owned regional and local TV stations; cable and satellite multi-channel TV services with domestic and foreign broadcasts available; publicly owned broadcaster operates 4 radio networks with dozens of stations; dozens of private broadcasters also operate radio stations
Internet country code: .lv
Internet users / percent of population: 92% (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / total: 489,000 (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 26 (2023 est.)

## Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: YL
Airports: 55 (2025)
Heliports: 5 (2025)
Railways / total: 2,216 km (2020) 257 km electrified
Merchant marine / total: 83 (2023)
Merchant marine / by type: container ship 2, general cargo 30, oil tanker 10, other 41
Ports / total ports: 5 (2024)
Ports / large: 1
Ports / medium: 2
Ports / small: 0
Ports / very small: 2
Ports / ports with oil terminals: 3
Ports / key ports: Lielupe, Liepaja, Riga, Salacgriva, Ventspils

## Military and Security
Military and security forces: National Armed Forces (Nacionalie Brunotie Speki or NBS): Land Forces (Latvijas Sauszemes Speki), Naval Force (Latvijas Juras Speki, includes Coast Guard (Latvijas Kara Flote)), Air Force (Latvijas Gaisa Speki), National Guard (aka Land Guard or Zemessardze) Ministry of Interior: State Police, State Border Guards, State Security Service (2025)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2025: 3.7% of GDP (2025 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2024: 3.4% of GDP (2024 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2023: 3% of GDP (2023 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2022: 2.3% of GDP (2022 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2021: 2.2% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military and security service personnel strengths: approximately 9,000 active-duty military personnel (2025)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the Latvian military's inventory consists of European and US armaments (2025)
Military service age and obligation: mandatory military service for all men 18-24; men and women 18-27 may volunteer for military service; service length 11 months in the Armed Forces or National Guard, or 5 years in the National Guard as a whole, with a minimum of 21 days of individual training and a maximum of 7 days of collective training each year (2026)
Military deployments: 140 Kosovo (KFOR/NATO) (2025)
Military - note: the National Armed Forces are responsible for the defense of the country’s sovereignty and territory; they also have some domestic security responsibilities, including coast guard functions, search and rescue, humanitarian assistance, and providing support to other internal security services; the Military Police provides protection to the president and other government officials, foreign dignitaries, and key facilities; Latvia’s primary external security focus is Russia in 2004, Latvia joined NATO and the EU, both of which it depends on to play a decisive role in Latvia’s security policy; the Latvian military has participated in EU and NATO missions abroad and regularly conducts training and exercises with EU and NATO partner forces; Latvia also hosts NATO partner forces; since 2017, it has hosted a Canadian-led multinational NATO ground force battlegroup as part of the Alliance’s Enhanced Forward Presence initiative; in addition, NATO has provided air protection for Latvia since 2004 through its Baltics Air Policing mission Latvia is a member of the UK-led Joint Expeditionary Force, a pool of high-readiness military forces from 10 Baltic and Scandinavian countries designed to respond to a wide range of contingencies in the North Atlantic, Baltic Sea, and High North regions (2025)

## Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons / refugees: 49,483 (2024 est.)
Refugees and internally displaced persons / stateless persons: 173,891 (2024 est.)

=== Lithuania ===

## Introduction
Background: Lithuanian lands were united under MINDAUGAS in 1236; over the next century, Lithuania extended its territory through alliances and conquest to include most of present-day Belarus and Ukraine. By the end of the 14th century, Lithuania was the largest state in Europe. An alliance with Poland in 1386 led the two countries into a union through a common ruler. In 1569, Lithuania and Poland formally united into a single dual state, the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. This entity survived until 1795 when surrounding countries partitioned its remnants. Lithuania regained its independence after World War I, but the USSR annexed it in 1940 -- an action never recognized by the US and many other countries. In 1990, Lithuania became the first of the Soviet republics to declare its independence, but Moscow did not recognize this proclamation until 1991. The last Russian troops withdrew in 1993. Lithuania subsequently restructured its economy for integration into West European institutions; it joined both NATO and the EU in 2004. In 2015, Lithuania joined the euro zone, and it joined the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development in 2018.

## Geography
Location: Eastern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, between Latvia and Russia, west of Belarus
Geographic coordinates: 56 00 N, 24 00 E
Map references: Europe
Area / total: 65,300 sq km
Area / land: 62,680 sq km
Area / water: 2,620 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly larger than West Virginia
Land boundaries / total: 1,545 km
Land boundaries / border countries: Belarus 640 km; Latvia 544 km; Poland 100 km; Russia (Kaliningrad) 261 km
Coastline: 90 km
Maritime claims / territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: transitional, between maritime and continental; wet, moderate winters and summers
Terrain: lowland, many scattered small lakes, fertile soil
Elevation / highest point: Aukstojas 294 m
Elevation / lowest point: Baltic Sea 0 m
Elevation / mean elevation: 110 m
Natural resources: peat, arable land, amber
Land use / agricultural land: 45.9% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 36.8% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 0.5% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 8.6% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 35.3% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 18.8% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land: 61 sq km (2020)
Major lakes (area sq km) / salt water lake(s): Curonian Lagoon (shared with Russia) - 1,620 sq km
Population distribution: fairly even population distribution throughout the country, but somewhat greater concentrations in the southern cities of Vilnius and Kaunas, as well as the western port of Klaipeda
Natural hazards: occasional floods, droughts
Geography - note: fertile central plains are separated by hilly uplands that are ancient glacial deposits

## People and Society
Population / total: 2,815,687 (2025 est.)
Population / male: 1,334,600
Population / female: 1,481,087
Nationality / noun: Lithuanian(s)
Nationality / adjective: Lithuanian
Ethnic groups: Lithuanian 84.6%, Polish 6.5%, Russian 5%, Belarusian 1%, other 1.1%, unspecified 1.8% (2021 est.)
Languages / Languages: Lithuanian (official) 85.3%, Russian 6.8%, Polish 5.1%, other 1.1%, two mother tongues 1.7% (2021 est.)
Languages / major-language sample(s): Pasaulio enciklopedija – naudingas bendrosios informacijos šaltinis. (Lithuanian) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
Religions: Roman Catholic 74.2%, Russian Orthodox 3.7%, Old Believer 0.6%, Evangelical Lutheran 0.6%, Evangelical Reformist 0.2%, other (including Sunni Muslim, Jewish, Greek Catholic, and Karaite) 0.9%, none 6.1%, unspecified 13.7% (2021 est.)
Age structure / 0-14 years: 15.2% (male 205,154/female 194,386)
Age structure / 15-64 years: 62.6% (male 808,435/female 837,908)
Age structure / 65 years and over: 22.2% (2024 est.) (male 201,405/female 380,898)
Dependency ratios / total dependency ratio: 56.5 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / youth dependency ratio: 23.3 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / elderly dependency ratio: 33.3 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / potential support ratio: 3 (2025 est.)
Median age / total: 44 years (2025 est.)
Median age / male: 40.9 years
Median age / female: 49.2 years
Population growth rate: -0.71% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 7.01 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 14.1 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution: fairly even population distribution throughout the country, but somewhat greater concentrations in the southern cities of Vilnius and Kaunas, as well as the western port of Klaipeda
Urbanization / urban population: 68.7% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: -0.12% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 541,000 VILNIUS (capital) (2023)
Sex ratio / at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 65 years and over: 0.53 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / total population: 0.86 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth: 28.2 years (2020 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio: 8 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Infant mortality rate / total: 2.5 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Infant mortality rate / male: 4 deaths/1,000 live births
Infant mortality rate / female: 3.1 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth / total population: 76.1 years (2024 est.)
Life expectancy at birth / male: 70.8 years
Life expectancy at birth / female: 81.7 years
Total fertility rate: 1.22 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 0.6 (2025 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: urban: urban: 100% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: rural: rural: 93.8% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: total: total: 98% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: urban: urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: rural: rural: 6.2% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: total: total: 2% of population (2022 est.)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 7.5% of GDP (2022)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 13% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density: 6.1 physicians/1,000 population (2023)
Hospital bed density: 6 beds/1,000 population (2020 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: urban: urban: 99% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: rural: rural: 91.9% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: total: total: 96.7% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: urban: urban: 1% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: rural: rural: 8.1% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: total: total: 3.3% of population (2022 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 26.3% (2016)
Alcohol consumption per capita / total: 11.93 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / beer: 4.61 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / wine: 0.88 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / spirits: 4.96 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / other alcohols: 1.48 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Tobacco use / total: 26.6% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / male: 38% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / female: 16.7% (2025 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 1.1% (2021 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49): 51.8% (2024 est.)
Child marriage / women married by age 15: 0% (2022)
Child marriage / women married by age 18: 0.2% (2022)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% GDP): 4.3% of GDP (2022 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% national budget): 11.8% national budget (2022 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / total: 17 years (2022 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / male: 16 years (2022 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / female: 17 years (2022 est.)

## Environment
Environmental issues: water pollution; air pollution; deforestation; groundwater pollution from chemicals and waste; soil degradation and erosion
International environmental agreements / party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Multi-effect Protocol, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling
International environmental agreements / signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Climate: transitional, between maritime and continental; wet, moderate winters and summers
Land use / agricultural land: 45.9% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 36.8% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 0.5% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 8.6% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 35.3% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 18.8% (2023 est.)
Urbanization / urban population: 68.7% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: -0.12% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / total emissions: 12.877 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from coal and metallurgical coke: 380,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from petroleum and other liquids: 9.61 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from consumed natural gas: 2.887 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Particulate matter emissions: 11.5 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Waste and recycling / municipal solid waste generated annually: 1.315 million tons (2024 est.)
Waste and recycling / percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 34.9% (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / municipal: 136.78 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / industrial: 87.96 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / agricultural: 58.74 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total renewable water resources: 24.5 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: Republic of Lithuania
Country name / conventional short form: Lithuania
Country name / local long form: Lietuvos Respublika
Country name / local short form: Lietuva
Country name / former: Lithuanian Soviet Socialist Republic (while occupied by the USSR)
Country name / etymology: meaning of the name is obscure; may be derived from the local words lietava , meaning "small river," or lietus , meaning "rain" or "land of rain," or the Latin word litus , meaning "shore"
Government type: semi-presidential republic
Capital / name: Vilnius
Capital / geographic coordinates: 54 41 N, 25 19 E
Capital / time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Capital / daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October
Capital / etymology: named after the Vilnia River; the river name is said to derive from the Lithuanian word vilnis , meaning "wave"
Administrative divisions: 60 municipalities ( savivaldybe , singular - savivaldybe ); Akmene, Alytaus Miestas, Alytus, Anksciai, Birstonas, Birzai, Druskininkai, Elektrenai, Ignalina, Jonava, Joniskis, Jurbarkas, Kaisiadorys, Kalvarija, Kauno Miestas, Kaunas, Kazlu Rudos, Kedainiai, Kelme, Klaipedos Miestas, Klaipeda, Kretinga, Kupiskis, Lazdijai, Marijampole, Mazeikiai, Moletai, Neringa, Pagegiai, Pakruojis, Palangos Miestas, Panevezio Miestas, Panevezys, Pasvalys, Plunge, Prienai, Radviliskis, Raseiniai, Rietavas, Rokiskis, Sakiai, Salcininkai, Siauliu Miestas, Siauliai, Silale, Silute, Sirvintos, Skuodas, Svencionys, Taurage, Telsiai, Trakai, Ukmerge, Utena, Varena, Vilkaviskis, Vilniaus Miestas, Vilnius, Visaginas, Zarasai
Legal system: civil law system; legislative acts can be appealed to the Constitutional Court
Constitution / history: several previous; latest adopted by referendum 25 October 1992, entered into force 2 November 1992
Constitution / amendment process: proposed by at least one fourth of all Parliament members or by petition of at least 300,000 voters; passage requires two-thirds majority vote of Parliament in each of two readings three months apart and a presidential signature; amendments to constitutional articles on national sovereignty and constitutional amendment procedure also require three-fourths voter approval in a referendum
International law organization participation: accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Citizenship / citizenship by birth: no
Citizenship / citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Lithuania
Citizenship / dual citizenship recognized: no
Citizenship / residency requirement for naturalization: 10 years
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch / chief of state: President Gitanas NAUSEDA (since 12 July 2019)
Executive branch / head of government: Prime Minister Inga RUGINIENE (since 25 September 2025)
Executive branch / cabinet: Council of Ministers nominated by the prime minister, appointed by the president, approved by Parliament
Executive branch / election/appointment process: president directly elected by absolute-majority popular vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); prime minister appointed by the president, approved by Parliament
Executive branch / most recent election date: 26 May 2024
Executive branch / election results: 2024: Gitanas NAUSEDA elected president in second round; percent of vote -Gitanas NAUSEDA (independent) 75.6%, Ingrida SIMONYTE (TS-LKD) 24.4% 2019: Gitanas NAUSEDA elected president in second round; percent of vote - Gitanas NAUSEDA (independent) 66.7%, Ingrida SIMONYTE (independent) 33.3%
Executive branch / expected date of next election: 2029
Legislative branch / legislature name: Parliament (Seimas)
Legislative branch / legislative structure: unicameral
Legislative branch / number of seats: 141 (all directly elected)
Legislative branch / electoral system: mixed system
Legislative branch / scope of elections: full renewal
Legislative branch / term in office: 4 years
Legislative branch / most recent election date: 10/13/2024 to 10/27/2024
Legislative branch / parties elected and seats per party: Lithuanian Social Democratic Party (LSDP) (52); Homeland Union - Lithuanian Christian Democrats (TS-LKD) (28); Political Party "The Dawn of Nemunas" (PPNA) (20); Union of Democrats “For Lithuania” (DSVL) (14); Liberals Movement of the Republic of Lithuania (LS) (12); Lithuanian Farmers and Greens Union (LVŽS) (8); Other (7)
Legislative branch / percentage of women in chamber: 28.4%
Legislative branch / expected date of next election: October 2028
Judicial branch / highest court(s): Supreme Court (consists of 37 judges); Constitutional Court (consists of 9 judges)
Judicial branch / judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court judges nominated by the president and appointed by the Seimas; judges serve 5-year renewable terms; Constitutional Court judges appointed by the Seimas from nominations - 3 each by the president of the republic, the Seimas speaker, and the Supreme Court president; judges serve 9-year, nonrenewable terms; one third of membership reconstituted every 3 years
Judicial branch / subordinate courts: Court of Appeals; district and local courts
Political parties: Center-Right Union or CDS Dawn of Nemunas or PPNA Electoral Action of Poles in Lithuania - Christian Families Alliance or LLRA–KŠS Homeland Union or TS-LKD Lithuanian Farmers and Greens Union or LVŽS Liberals' Movement or LRLS National Alliance or NS Social Democratic Party of Lithuania or LSDP Union of Democrats for Lithuania or DSVL
Diplomatic representation in the US / chief of mission: Ambassador Gediminas VARVUOLIS (since 5 September 2025)
Diplomatic representation in the US / chancery: 2622 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
Diplomatic representation in the US / telephone: [1] (202) 234-5860
Diplomatic representation in the US / FAX: [1] (202) 328-0466
Diplomatic representation in the US / email address and website: info@usa.mfa.lt https://usa.mfa.lt/usa/en/
Diplomatic representation in the US / consulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles, New York
Diplomatic representation from the US / chief of mission: Ambassador Kara C. McDONALD (since 26 January 2024)
Diplomatic representation from the US / embassy: Akmenu gatve 6, Vilnius, LT-03106
Diplomatic representation from the US / mailing address: 4510 Vilnius Place, Washington DC 20521-4510
Diplomatic representation from the US / telephone: [370] (5) 266-5500
Diplomatic representation from the US / FAX: [370] (5) 266-5510
Diplomatic representation from the US / email address and website: consec@state.gov https://lt.usembassy.gov/
International organization participation: Australia Group, BA, BIS, CBSS, CD, CE, EAPC, EBRD, ECB, EIB, EU, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NATO, NIB, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OIF (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, Schengen Convention, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHRC, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, Wassenaar Arrangement, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Independence: 16 February 1918 (from Soviet Russia and Germany); 11 March 1990 (declared from the Soviet Union); 6 September 1991 (recognized by the Soviet Union); notable earlier dates: 6 July 1253 (coronation of MINDAUGAS, traditional founding date); 1 July 1569 (Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth created)
National holiday: Independence Day (or National Day), 16 February (1918)
Flag: description: three equal horizontal bands of yellow (top), green, and red meaning: yellow stands for golden fields, the sun, light, and goodness; green for the forests, nature, freedom, and hope; red for courage and the blood spilled in defense of the homeland
National symbol(s): mounted knight known as Vytis (the Chaser), white stork
National color(s): yellow, green, red
National anthem(s) / title: "Tautiska giesme" (The National Song)
National anthem(s) / lyrics/music: Vincas KUDIRKA
National anthem(s) / history: adopted 1918, restored 1990; written in 1898 when Lithuania was part of Russia; banned during the Soviet occupation from 1940 to 1990
National heritage / total World Heritage Sites: 5 (all cultural)
National heritage / selected World Heritage Site locales: Vilnius Historic Center; Curonian Spit; Kernavė Archaeological Site; Struve Geodetic Arc; Modernist Kaunas: Architecture of Optimism, 1919-1939

## Economy
Economic overview: high-income EU and eurozone member, largest Baltic economy; recovery supported by private consumption and EU fund-driven investments; structural challenges include pension reform, aging workforce, and high energy-import costs
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $136.227 billion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $132.552 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $132.099 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2024: 2.8% (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2023: 0.3% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2022: 2.5% (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2024: $47,200 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2023: $46,200 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2022: $46,700 (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $84.869 billion (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024: 0.7% (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023: 9.1% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 19.7% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / agriculture: 2.6% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / industry: 23.4% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / services: 63.6% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / household consumption: 57.3% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / government consumption: 17.3% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in fixed capital: 23.7% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in inventories: -1.8% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / exports of goods and services: 76.5% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / imports of goods and services: -72.6% (2023 est.)
Agricultural products: wheat, milk, sugar beets, rapeseed, barley, potatoes, triticale, oats, beans, peas (2023)
Industries: metal-cutting machine tools, electric motors, televisions, refrigerators and freezers, petroleum refining, shipbuilding (small ships), furniture, textiles, food processing, fertilizer, agricultural machinery, optical equipment, lasers, electronic components, computers, amber jewelry, information technology, video game development, app/software development, biotechnology
Industrial production growth rate: 3.2% (2024 est.)
Labor force: 1.548 million (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2024: 7.6% (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2023: 6.9% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2022: 6% (2022 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / total: 14.1% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / male: 16.3% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / female: 11.7% (2024 est.)
Population below poverty line: 20.9% (2021 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income / Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2022: 36.6 (2022 est.)
Average household expenditures / on food: 19.4% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Average household expenditures / on alcohol and tobacco: 5.5% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / lowest 10%: 2.5% (2022 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / highest 10%: 28.7% (2022 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2024: 1.2% of GDP (2024 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2023: 1.2% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2022: 1% of GDP (2022 est.)
Budget / revenues: $28.011 billion (2023 est.)
Budget / expenditures: $28.68 billion (2023 est.)
Public debt / Public debt 2023: 36.9% of GDP (2023 est.)
Taxes and other revenues: 21.4% (of GDP) (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2024: $2.101 billion (2024 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2023: $878.388 million (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2022: -$4.322 billion (2022 est.)
Exports / Exports 2024: $62.896 billion (2024 est.)
Exports / Exports 2023: $61.02 billion (2023 est.)
Exports / Exports 2022: $61.448 billion (2022 est.)
Exports - partners: Latvia 11%, Poland 8%, Germany 7%, Netherlands 6%, Russia 6% (2023)
Exports - commodities: refined petroleum, furniture, plastic products, wheat, cars (2023)
Imports / Imports 2024: $58.491 billion (2024 est.)
Imports / Imports 2023: $57.899 billion (2023 est.)
Imports / Imports 2022: $62.916 billion (2022 est.)
Imports - partners: Germany 13%, Poland 13%, Latvia 8%, USA 7%, Norway 5% (2023)
Imports - commodities: crude petroleum, cars, natural gas, packaged medicine, plastic products (2023)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024: $7.406 billion (2024 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023: $6.168 billion (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $5.365 billion (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Currency: euros (EUR) per US dollar -
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2024: 0.924 (2024 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2023: 0.925 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2022: 0.95 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2021: 0.845 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2020: 0.876 (2020 est.)

## Energy
Electricity access / electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)
Electricity / installed generating capacity: 5.426 million kW (2023 est.)
Electricity / consumption: 10.992 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / exports: 3.98 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / imports: 10.91 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / transmission/distribution losses: 829.9 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / fossil fuels: 16.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / solar: 14.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / wind: 51% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / hydroelectricity: 4.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / biomass and waste: 13.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Nuclear energy / Number of nuclear reactors permanently shut down: 2 (2025)
Coal / consumption: 166,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / exports: 78,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / imports: 149,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum / total petroleum production: 4,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Petroleum / refined petroleum consumption: 67,000 bbl/day (2024 est.)
Petroleum / crude oil estimated reserves: 12 million barrels (2021 est.)
Natural gas / consumption: 1.49 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / exports: 1.867 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / imports: 3.282 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Energy consumption per capita / Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 83.7 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

## Communications
Telephones - fixed lines / total subscriptions: 224,000 (2023 est.)
Telephones - fixed lines / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 8 (2023 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / total subscriptions: 3.97 million (2024 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 139 (2024 est.)
Broadcast media: public broadcaster operates 3 channels, with the third channel (satellite) introduced in 2007; various privately owned commercial TV broadcasters operate national and multiple regional channels; many privately owned local TV stations; multi-channel cable and satellite TV services available; publicly owned broadcaster operates 3 radio networks; many privately owned commercial broadcasters, with repeater stations in various regions
Internet country code: .lt
Internet users / percent of population: 89% (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / total: 806,000 (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 28 (2023 est.)

## Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: LY
Airports: 64 (2025)
Heliports: 2 (2025)
Railways / total: 1,911 km (2020) 152 km electrified
Merchant marine / total: 59 (2023)
Merchant marine / by type: container ship 3, general cargo 19, oil tanker 2, other 35
Ports / total ports: 2 (2024)
Ports / large: 0
Ports / medium: 1
Ports / small: 0
Ports / very small: 1
Ports / ports with oil terminals: 2
Ports / key ports: Butinge Oil Terminal, Klaipeda

## Military and Security
Military and security forces: Lithuanian Armed Forces (Lietuvos Ginkluotosios Pajegos): Lithuanian Land Forces (LLF), Lithuanian Navy, Lithuanian Air Force (LTAF), Lithuanian Special Operations Forces (LITHSOF); National Defense Volunteer Forces (2025)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2025: 4% of GDP (2025 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2024: 3.1% of GDP (2024 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2023: 2.7% of GDP (2023 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2022: 2.4% of GDP (2022 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2021: 2% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military and security service personnel strengths: approximately 20,000 active-duty military personnel (2025)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the military's inventory is a mix of mostly European and US armaments (2025)
Military service age and obligation: 19-26 years of age for conscripted military service for men; 9-month service obligation; 18-38 for voluntary service for men and women; 18-60 for the National Defense Volunteer Services (2025)
Military deployments: note: contributes about 350-550 troops to the Lithuania, Poland, and Ukraine joint military brigade (LITPOLUKRBRIG), which was established in 2014; the brigade is headquartered in Poland and is comprised of an international staff, three battalions, and specialized units; units affiliated with the multinational brigade remain within the structures of the armed forces of their respective countries until the brigade is activated for participation in an international operation
Military - note: the Lithuanian Armed Forces are responsible for the defense of the country’s interests, sovereignty, and territory, fulfilling Lithuania’s commitments to NATO and European security, and contributing to UN international peacekeeping efforts; Russia is Lithuania’s primary security focus, which has only increased since the Russian seizure of Crimea in 2014 and subsequent full-scale attack on Ukraine in 2022; Lithuania has been a member of NATO since 2004 and is reliant on the Alliance as the country’s security guarantor; it is actively engaged in both NATO and EU security, as well as bilaterally with allies such as the other Baltic States, Germany, Poland, the UK, Ukraine, and the US; the Lithuanian military has participated in NATO and EU missions abroad and regularly conducts training and exercises with NATO and EU partner forces; it hosts NATO forces, is a member of the UK-led Joint Expeditionary Force, and contributes troops to a multinational brigade with Poland and Ukraine; Lithuania participated in its first UN peacekeeping mission in 1994 since 2017, Lithuania has hosted a German-led multinational NATO ground force battlegroup as part of the Alliance’s Enhanced Forward Presence initiative; NATO has also provided air protection for Lithuania since 2004 through its Baltic Air Policing mission; NATO fighter aircraft are hosted at Lithuania’s Šiauliai Air Base (2025)

## Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons / refugees: 53,859 (2024 est.)
Refugees and internally displaced persons / stateless persons: 2,236 (2024 est.)

=== Slovakia ===

## Introduction
Background: Slovakia traces its roots to the 9th century state of Great Moravia. The Slovaks then became part of the Hungarian Kingdom, where they remained for the next 1,000 years. After the formation of the dual Austro-Hungarian monarchy in 1867, language and education policies favoring the use of Hungarian (known as "Magyarization") led to a public backlash that boosted Slovak nationalism and strengthened Slovak cultural ties with the closely related Czechs, who fell administratively under the Austrian half of the empire. When the Austro-Hungarian Empire dissolved at the end of World War I, the Slovaks joined the Czechs to form Czechoslovakia. During the interwar period, Slovak nationalist leaders pushed for autonomy within Czechoslovakia, and in 1939, in the wake of Germany's annexation of the Sudetenland, the newly established Slovak Republic became a German client state for the remainder of World War II. After World War II, Czechoslovakia was reconstituted and came under communist rule within Soviet-dominated Eastern Europe. In 1968, Warsaw Pact troops invaded and ended the efforts of Czechoslovakia's leaders to liberalize communist rule and create "socialism with a human face," ushering in a period of repression known as "normalization." The peaceful Velvet Revolution swept the Communist Party from power at the end of 1989 and inaugurated a return to democratic rule and a market economy. On 1 January 1993, Czechoslovakia underwent a nonviolent "velvet divorce" into its two national components, Slovakia and the Czech Republic. Slovakia joined both NATO and the EU in 2004 and the euro zone in 2009.

## Geography
Location: Central Europe, south of Poland
Geographic coordinates: 48 40 N, 19 30 E
Map references: Europe
Area / total: 49,035 sq km
Area / land: 48,105 sq km
Area / water: 930 sq km
Area - comparative: about 1.5 times the size of Maryland; about twice the size of New Hampshire
Land boundaries / total: 1,587 km
Land boundaries / border countries: Austria 105 km; Czechia 241 km; Hungary 627 km; Poland 517 km; Ukraine 97 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
Climate: temperate; cool summers; cold, cloudy, humid winters
Terrain: rugged mountains in the central and northern part and lowlands in the south
Elevation / highest point: Gerlachovsky Stit 2,655 m
Elevation / lowest point: Bodrok River 94 m
Elevation / mean elevation: 458 m
Natural resources: lignite, small amounts of iron ore, copper and manganese ore; salt; arable land
Land use / agricultural land: 38% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 27.2% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 0.4% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 10.4% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 40.3% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 21.4% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land: 259 sq km (2022)
Major rivers (by length in km): Dunaj (Danube) (shared with Germany [s], Austria, Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Bulgaria, Ukraine, Moldova, and Romania [m]) - 2,888 km note – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Major watersheds (area sq km) / Atlantic Ocean drainage: (Black Sea) Danube (795,656 sq km)
Population distribution: a fairly even distribution throughout most of the country; slightly larger concentration in the west in proximity to the Czech border
Natural hazards: flooding
Geography - note: landlocked; most of the country is rugged and mountainous; the Tatra Mountains in the north are interspersed with many scenic lakes and valleys

## People and Society
Population / total: 5,563,649 (2024 est.)
Population / male: 2,684,747
Population / female: 2,878,902
Nationality / noun: Slovak(s)
Nationality / adjective: Slovak
Ethnic groups: Slovak 83.8%, Hungarian 7.8%, Romani 1.2%, other 1.8% (includes Czech, Ruthenian, Ukrainian, Russian, German, Polish), unspecified 5.4% (2021 est.)
Languages / Languages: Slovak (official) 81.8%, Hungarian 8.5%, Roma 1.8%, other 2.2%, unspecified 5.7% (2021 est.)
Languages / major-language sample(s): Svetova Kniha Faktov, nenahraditelny zdroj zakladnej informacie. (Slovak) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
Religions: Roman Catholic 55.8%, Evangelical Church of the Augsburg Confession 5.3%, Greek Catholic 4%, Reformed Christian 1.6%, other 3%, none 23.8%, unspecified 6.5% (2021 est.)
Age structure / 0-14 years: 15.3% (male 444,033/female 408,902)
Age structure / 15-64 years: 66.5% (male 1,834,359/female 1,867,158)
Age structure / 65 years and over: 18.1% (2024 est.) (male 406,355/female 602,842)
Dependency ratios / total dependency ratio: 50.3 (2024 est.)
Dependency ratios / youth dependency ratio: 23 (2024 est.)
Dependency ratios / elderly dependency ratio: 27.3 (2024 est.)
Dependency ratios / potential support ratio: 3.7 (2024 est.)
Median age / total: 43.1 years (2025 est.)
Median age / male: 41.3 years
Median age / female: 44.4 years
Population growth rate: -0.07% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 9.77 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 11.18 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: 0.7 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution: a fairly even distribution throughout most of the country; slightly larger concentration in the west in proximity to the Czech border
Urbanization / urban population: 54% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 0.17% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 441,000 BRATISLAVA (capital) (2023)
Sex ratio / at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 0-14 years: 1.09 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 65 years and over: 0.67 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / total population: 0.93 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth: 27.2 years (2020 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio: 4 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Infant mortality rate / total: 5 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Infant mortality rate / male: 5.7 deaths/1,000 live births
Infant mortality rate / female: 4.5 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth / total population: 77.2 years (2024 est.)
Life expectancy at birth / male: 73.7 years
Life expectancy at birth / female: 81 years
Total fertility rate: 1.6 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 0.77 (2025 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: urban: urban: 99.6% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: rural: rural: 100% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: total: total: 99.8% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: urban: urban: 0.4% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: rural: rural: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: total: total: 0.2% of population (2022 est.)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 7.8% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 14.6% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density: 3.7 physicians/1,000 population (2022)
Hospital bed density: 5.7 beds/1,000 population (2020 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: urban: urban: 99.9% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: rural: rural: 100% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: total: total: 100% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: urban: urban: 0.1% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: rural: rural: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: total: total: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 20.5% (2016)
Alcohol consumption per capita / total: 10.3 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / beer: 4.14 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / wine: 2.01 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / spirits: 4.14 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / other alcohols: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Tobacco use / total: 30.3% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / male: 34.5% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / female: 26.3% (2025 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49): 49.2% (2023 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% GDP): 4.7% of GDP (2022 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% national budget): 11% national budget (2022 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / total: 15 years (2023 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / male: 15 years (2023 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / female: 16 years (2023 est.)

## Environment
Environmental issues: air pollution and acid rain; land erosion from agricultural and mining practices; water pollution
International environmental agreements / party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Multi-effect Protocol, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling
International environmental agreements / signed, but not ratified: Antarctic-Environmental Protection
Climate: temperate; cool summers; cold, cloudy, humid winters
Land use / agricultural land: 38% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 27.2% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 0.4% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 10.4% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 40.3% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 21.4% (2023 est.)
Urbanization / urban population: 54% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 0.17% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / total emissions: 30.087 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from coal and metallurgical coke: 9.607 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from petroleum and other liquids: 12.112 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from consumed natural gas: 8.368 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Particulate matter emissions: 16.6 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Waste and recycling / municipal solid waste generated annually: 2.296 million tons (2024 est.)
Waste and recycling / percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 13.2% (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / municipal: 306.21 million cubic meters (2022)
Total water withdrawal / industrial: 224.562 million cubic meters (2022)
Total water withdrawal / agricultural: 32.851 million cubic meters (2022)
Total renewable water resources: 50.1 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Geoparks / total global geoparks and regional networks: 1
Geoparks / global geoparks and regional networks: Novohrad-N&oacute;gr&aacute;d (includes Hungary) (2023)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: Slovak Republic
Country name / conventional short form: Slovakia
Country name / local long form: Slovenska republika
Country name / local short form: Slovensko
Country name / etymology: the country takes its name from the local Slav ethnic group; the origin of the group's name is unclear, although early forms were used in Medieval Latin (Sclavus) and Byzantine Greek (Sklabos)
Government type: parliamentary republic
Capital / name: Bratislava
Capital / geographic coordinates: 48 09 N, 17 07 E
Capital / time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Capital / daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October
Capital / etymology: the meaning is unclear but has medieval Slavic origins; the name was adopted in 1919 after Czechoslovakia gained its independence, replacing the name Pre&scaron;porok
Administrative divisions: 8 regions ( kraje , singular - kraj ); Banska Bystrica, Bratislava, Kosice, Nitra, Presov, Trencin, Trnava, Zilina
Legal system: civil law system based on Austro-Hungarian codes
Constitution / history: several previous (pre-independence); latest passed by the National Council 1 September 1992, signed 3 September 1992, effective 1 October 1992
Constitution / amendment process: proposed by the National Council; passage requires at least three-fifths majority vote of Council members
International law organization participation: accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Citizenship / citizenship by birth: no
Citizenship / citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Slovakia
Citizenship / dual citizenship recognized: no
Citizenship / residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch / chief of state: President Peter PELLEGRINI (since 15 June 2024)
Executive branch / head of government: Prime Minister Robert FICO (since 25 October 2023)
Executive branch / cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister
Executive branch / election/appointment process: president directly elected by absolute-majority popular vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); following National Council elections, the president designates a prime minister candidate, usually the leader of the party or coalition that wins the most votes, who must win a vote of confidence in the National Council
Executive branch / most recent election date: 23 March 2024, with a runoff on 6 April 2024
Executive branch / election results: 2024: Peter PELLEGRINI elected president in the second round; percent of vote in second round Peter PELLEGRINI 53.1%; Ivan KORCOK 46.9%; percent of vote in first round - Ivan KORCOK (independent) 42.5%; Peter PELLEGRINI (Hlas-SD) 37%; Stefan HARABIN (independent) 11.7%, other 8.8%; 2019: Zuzana CAPUTOVA elected president in second round; percent of vote - Zuzana CAPUTOVA (PS) 58.4%, Maros SEFCOVIC (independent) 41.6%
Executive branch / expected date of next election: 2029
Legislative branch / legislature name: National Council (Narodna rada Slovenskej republiky)
Legislative branch / legislative structure: unicameral
Legislative branch / chamber name: National Council (Národná rada)
Legislative branch / number of seats: 150 (all directly elected)
Legislative branch / electoral system: proportional representation
Legislative branch / scope of elections: full renewal
Legislative branch / term in office: 4 years
Legislative branch / most recent election date: 9/30/2023
Legislative branch / parties elected and seats per party: Smer - Social Democracy (Smer-SD) (42); Progressive Slovakia (PS) (32); Hlas (“Voice”) - SD (27); Coalition OĽaNO and Friends, 'For the People' and 'Christian Union' (16); Christian Democratic Movement (KDH) (12); Freedom and Solidarity (SaS) (11); Slovak National Party (SNS) (10)
Legislative branch / percentage of women in chamber: 23.3%
Legislative branch / expected date of next election: September 2027
Judicial branch / highest court(s): Supreme Court of the Slovak Republic (consists of the court president, vice president, and approximately 80 judges organized into criminal, civil, commercial, and administrative divisions with 3- and 5-judge panels); Constitutional Court of the Slovak Republic (consists of 13 judges organized into 3-judge panels)
Judicial branch / judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court judge candidates nominated by the Judicial Council of the Slovak Republic, an 18-member self-governing body that includes the Supreme Court chief justice and presidential, governmental, parliamentary, and judiciary appointees; judges appointed by the president serve for life, subject to removal by the president at age 65; Constitutional Court judges nominated by the National Council of the Republic and appointed by the president; judges serve 12-year terms
Judicial branch / subordinate courts: regional and district civil courts; Special Criminal Court; Higher Military Court; military district courts; Court of Audit
Political parties: Direction - Social Democracy or SMER-SD Freedom and Solidarity or SaS Progressive Slovakia or PS Republic Slovakia The Slovak National Party or SNS The Christian Democratic Movement or KDH Voice - Social Democracy or HLAS-SD
Diplomatic representation in the US / chief of mission: Ambassador Andrej DROBA (since 16 December 2025)
Diplomatic representation in the US / chancery: 3523 International Court NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation in the US / telephone: [1] (202) 237-1054
Diplomatic representation in the US / FAX: [1] (202) 237-6438
Diplomatic representation in the US / email address and website: emb.washington@mzv.sk https://www.mzv.sk/web/washington-en
Diplomatic representation in the US / consulate(s) general: New York
Diplomatic representation from the US / chief of mission: Ambassador Gautam A. RANA (since 28 September 2022)
Diplomatic representation from the US / embassy: P.O. Box 309, 814 99 Bratislava
Diplomatic representation from the US / mailing address: 5840 Bratislava Place, Washington DC 20521-5840
Diplomatic representation from the US / telephone: [421] (2) 5443-3338
Diplomatic representation from the US / FAX: [421] (2) 5441-8861
Diplomatic representation from the US / email address and website: consulbratislava@state.gov https://sk.usembassy.gov/
International organization participation: Australia Group, BIS, BSEC (observer), CBSS (observer), CD, CE, CEI, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECB, EIB, EMU, EU, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OIF (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, Schengen Convention, SELEC (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNIDO, UNOOSA, UNTSO, UNWTO, UPU, Wassenaar Arrangement, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
Independence: 1 January 1993 (Czechoslovakia split into the Czech Republic and Slovakia)
National holiday: Constitution Day, 1 September (1992)
Flag: description: three equal horizontal bands of white (top), blue, and red; the national coat of arms (a red shield bordered in white, with a white double-barred cross of St. Cyril and St. Methodius on top of three blue hills) is centered over the bands but offset to the left meaning: white, blue, and red are the pan-Slav colors
National symbol(s): double-barred cross (Cross of St. Cyril and St. Methodius) over three peaks
National color(s): white, blue, red
National anthem(s) / title: "Nad Tatrou sa blyska" (Storm Over the Tatras)
National anthem(s) / lyrics/music: Janko MATUSKA/traditional
National anthem(s) / history: adopted 1993; music based on an 1843 Slovak folk song "Kopala studienku" (She Was Digging a Well)
National heritage / total World Heritage Sites: 8 (6 cultural, 2 natural)
National heritage / selected World Heritage Site locales: Historic Town of Banská Štiavnica (c); Levoča, Spišský Hrad, and the Associated Cultural Monuments (c); Vlkolínec (c); Caves of Aggtelek Karst and Slovak Karst (n); Bardejov Town (c); Ancient and Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians (n); Wooden Churches of the Slovak Carpathians (c); Frontiers of the Roman Empire - The Danube Limes (Western Segment) (c)

## Economy
Economic overview: high-income EU and eurozone economy; manufacturing and exports led by automotive sector; growth supported by private consumption and public investment from EU funds, tempered by trade risks; increased taxes and withdrawal of energy subsidies contributing to rising but manageable inflation; strong labor demand and influx of foreign labor offsets aging workforce
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $218.762 billion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $214.343 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $209.794 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2024: 2.1% (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2023: 2.2% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2022: 0.4% (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2024: $40,300 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2023: $39,500 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2022: $38,600 (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $141.776 billion (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024: 2.8% (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023: 10.5% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 12.8% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / agriculture: 2% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / industry: 28.5% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / services: 60% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / household consumption: 58.4% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / government consumption: 20% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in fixed capital: 21.1% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in inventories: -1.3% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / exports of goods and services: 91.3% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / imports of goods and services: -89.8% (2023 est.)
Agricultural products: wheat, sugar beets, maize, milk, barley, rapeseed, sunflower seeds, potatoes, soybeans, pork (2023)
Industries: automobiles; metal and metal products; electricity, gas, coke, oil, nuclear fuel; chemicals, synthetic fibers, wood and paper products; machinery; earthenware and ceramics; textiles; electrical and optical apparatus; rubber products; food and beverages; pharmaceutical
Industrial production growth rate: 0.3% (2024 est.)
Labor force: 2.779 million (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2024: 5.3% (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2023: 5.9% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2022: 6.2% (2022 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / total: 18.2% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / male: 20.1% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / female: 15% (2024 est.)
Population below poverty line: 13.7% (2021 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income / Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2022: 24.1 (2022 est.)
Average household expenditures / on food: 19.4% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Average household expenditures / on alcohol and tobacco: 4.9% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / lowest 10%: 2.8% (2022 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / highest 10%: 18.2% (2022 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2024: 1.9% of GDP (2024 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2023: 2% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2022: 2% of GDP (2022 est.)
Budget / revenues: $43.882 billion (2022 est.)
Budget / expenditures: $46.056 billion (2022 est.)
Public debt / Public debt 2022: 64.3% of GDP (2022 est.)
Taxes and other revenues: 19.4% (of GDP) (2022 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2024: -$3.895 billion (2024 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2023: -$1.169 billion (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2022: -$11.126 billion (2022 est.)
Exports / Exports 2024: $120.355 billion (2024 est.)
Exports / Exports 2023: $122.04 billion (2023 est.)
Exports / Exports 2022: $114.519 billion (2022 est.)
Exports - partners: Germany 20%, Czechia 10%, Hungary 7%, USA 6%, Poland 6% (2023)
Exports - commodities: cars, vehicle parts/accessories, video displays, broadcasting equipment, refined petroleum (2023)
Imports / Imports 2024: $120.29 billion (2024 est.)
Imports / Imports 2023: $119.739 billion (2023 est.)
Imports / Imports 2022: $121.473 billion (2022 est.)
Imports - partners: Germany 16%, Czechia 14%, Poland 8%, China 7%, Hungary 6% (2023)
Imports - commodities: vehicle parts/accessories, broadcasting equipment, cars, plastic products, insulated wire (2023)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024: $14.452 billion (2024 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023: $11.288 billion (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $10.28 billion (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Currency: euros (EUR) per US dollar -
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2024: 0.924 (2024 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2023: 0.925 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2022: 0.95 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2021: 0.845 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2020: 0.876 (2020 est.)

## Energy
Electricity access / electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)
Electricity / installed generating capacity: 8.138 million kW (2023 est.)
Electricity / consumption: 24.18 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / exports: 14.078 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / imports: 10.671 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / transmission/distribution losses: 1.233 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / fossil fuels: 14.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / nuclear: 63.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / solar: 2.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / hydroelectricity: 13.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / biomass and waste: 5.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Nuclear energy / Number of operational nuclear reactors: 5 (2025)
Nuclear energy / Number of nuclear reactors under construction: 1 (2025)
Nuclear energy / Net capacity of operational nuclear reactors: 2.3GW (2025 est.)
Nuclear energy / Percent of total electricity production: 61.3% (2023 est.)
Nuclear energy / Number of nuclear reactors permanently shut down: 3 (2025)
Coal / production: 2.315 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / consumption: 6.066 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / exports: 13,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / imports: 3.658 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / proven reserves: 19 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum / total petroleum production: 7,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Petroleum / refined petroleum consumption: 90,000 bbl/day (2024 est.)
Petroleum / crude oil estimated reserves: 9 million barrels (2021 est.)
Natural gas / production: 46.585 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / consumption: 4.277 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / imports: 4.56 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / proven reserves: 14.158 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)
Energy consumption per capita / Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 127.582 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

## Communications
Telephones - fixed lines / total subscriptions: 505,000 (2023 est.)
Telephones - fixed lines / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 9 (2023 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / total subscriptions: 7.63 million (2023 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 132 (2022 est.)
Broadcast media: state-owned public broadcaster, Radio and Television of Slovakia (RTVS), has 2 national TV stations; roughly 50 privately owned national, regional, and local TV stations; about 40% of households connected to multi-channel cable or satellite TV; multiple RTVS national and regional radio networks; 32 privately owned radio stations
Internet country code: .sk
Internet users / percent of population: 90% (2024 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / total: 1.83 million (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 33 (2023 est.)

## Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: OM
Airports: 116 (2025)
Heliports: 2 (2025)
Railways / total: 3,627 km (2020) 1,585 km electrified

## Military and Security
Military and security forces: Armed Forces of the Slovak Republic (Ozbrojene Sily Slovenskej Republiky): Ground Forces (Slovenské Pozemné Sily), Air Forces (Slovenské Vzdušné Sily), Special Operations Forces (Sily Pre Speciálne Operácie) Ministry of Interior: Slovak Police Force (SPF or Policajný Zbor) (2025)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2025: 2% of GDP (2025 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2024: 2% of GDP (2024 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2023: 1.8% of GDP (2023 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2022: 1.8% of GDP (2022 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2021: 1.7% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military and security service personnel strengths: approximately 17,000 active-duty military personnel (2025)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the military's inventory is a mix of domestically produced, Soviet-era, and more modern/NATO-compatible armaments from suppliers such as Germany and the US (2025)
Military service age and obligation: minimum age is 18 for voluntary service for men and women; citizens 18-65 can volunteer for the military reserves (2026)
Military deployments: 200 Cyprus (UNFICYP); up to 150 Latvia (NATO) (2025)
Military - note: the Slovak military is responsible for external defense and fulfilling Slovakia’s commitments to European and international security; Slovakia has been a member of both the EU and NATO since 2004; a key focus of the Slovak military is fulfilling the country’s security responsibilities to NATO, including modernizing and acquiring NATO-compatible equipment, participating in training exercises, and providing forces for security missions such as NATO’s Enhanced Forward Presence in the Baltic States; since 2022, Slovakia has hosted a multinational NATO ground force battlegroup as part of the NATO effort to boost the defenses of Eastern Europe since the Russian invasion of Ukraine; Slovakia also contributes to EU and UN peacekeeping missions the Slovak Air Force has only a handful of fighter aircraft and is assisted by NATO’s air policing mission over Slovakia, which includes fighter aircraft from Czechia and Poland; in 2022, Slovakia signed a defense agreement with the US that allows the US to use two Slovak military air bases (2025)

## Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons / refugees: 144,349 (2024 est.)
Refugees and internally displaced persons / stateless persons: 65 (2024 est.)

=== Liechtenstein ===

## Introduction
Background: The Principality of Liechtenstein was established within the Holy Roman Empire in 1719. Occupied by both French and Russian troops during the Napoleonic Wars, it became a sovereign state in 1806 and joined the German Confederation in 1815. Liechtenstein became fully independent in 1866 when the Confederation dissolved. Until the end of World War I, it was closely tied to Austria, but the economic devastation caused by that conflict forced Liechtenstein to enter into a customs and monetary union with Switzerland. Since World War II (in which Liechtenstein remained neutral), the country's low taxes have spurred outstanding economic growth. In 2000, shortcomings in banking regulatory oversight resulted in concerns about the use of financial institutions for money laundering. However, Liechtenstein implemented anti-money laundering legislation and a Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty with the US that went into effect in 2003.

## Geography
Location: Central Europe, between Austria and Switzerland
Geographic coordinates: 47 16 N, 9 32 E
Map references: Europe
Area / total: 160 sq km
Area / land: 160 sq km
Area / water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative: about 0.9 times the size of Washington, D.C.
Land boundaries / total: 75 km
Land boundaries / border countries: Austria 34 km; Switzerland 41 km
Coastline: 0 km (doubly landlocked)
Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
Climate: continental; cold, cloudy winters with frequent snow or rain; cool to moderately warm, cloudy, humid summers
Terrain: mostly mountainous (Alps) with Rhine Valley in western third
Elevation / highest point: Vorder-Grauspitz 2,599 m
Elevation / lowest point: Ruggeller Riet 430 m
Natural resources: hydroelectric potential, arable land
Land use / agricultural land: 32.3% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 10.8% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 0% (2022 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 21.5% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 36.3% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 31.4% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land: 0 sq km (2012)
Major watersheds (area sq km) / Atlantic Ocean drainage: Rhine-Maas (198,735 sq km)
Population distribution: most of the population is found in the western half of the country along the Rhine River
Natural hazards: avalanches, landslides
Geography - note: along with Uzbekistan, one of only two doubly landlocked countries in the world; variety of microclimatic variations based on elevation

## People and Society
Population / total: 40,547 (2025 est.)
Population / male: 20,215
Population / female: 20,332
Nationality / noun: Liechtensteiner(s)
Nationality / adjective: Liechtenstein
Ethnic groups: Liechtensteiner 65.6%, Swiss 9.6%, Austrian 5.8%, German 4.5%, Italian 3.1%, other 11.4% (2021 est.)
Languages / Languages: German 91.5% (official, Alemannic is the main dialect), Italian 1.5%, Turkish 1.3%, Portuguese 1.1%, other 4.6% (2015 est.)
Languages / major-language sample(s): Das World Factbook, die unverzichtbare Quelle für grundlegende Informationen. (German) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
Religions: Roman Catholic (official) 73.4%, Protestant Reformed 6.3%, Muslim 5.9%, Christian Orthodox 1.3%, Lutheran 1.2%, other Protestant 0.7%, other Christian 0.3%, other 0.8%, none 7%, unspecified 3.3% (2015 est.)
Age structure / 0-14 years: 15.3% (male 3,412/female 2,732)
Age structure / 15-64 years: 63.9% (male 12,814/female 12,921)
Age structure / 65 years and over: 20.8% (2024 est.) (male 3,846/female 4,547)
Dependency ratios / total dependency ratio: 57.6 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / youth dependency ratio: 23.9 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / elderly dependency ratio: 33.6 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / potential support ratio: 3 (2025 est.)
Median age / total: 44.4 years (2025 est.)
Median age / male: 42.4 years
Median age / female: 46.1 years
Population growth rate: 0.68% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 10.31 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 8.24 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: 4.71 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution: most of the population is found in the western half of the country along the Rhine River
Urbanization / urban population: 14.6% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 1.15% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 5,000 VADUZ (capital) (2018)
Sex ratio / at birth: 1.26 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 0-14 years: 1.25 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 65 years and over: 0.85 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth: 31.3 years (2017)
Infant mortality rate / total: 3.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Infant mortality rate / male: 4.3 deaths/1,000 live births
Infant mortality rate / female: 3.5 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth / total population: 83 years (2024 est.)
Life expectancy at birth / male: 80.7 years
Life expectancy at birth / female: 85.8 years
Total fertility rate: 1.69 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 0.75 (2025 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: total: total: 100% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: total: total: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Physician density: 1.3 physicians/1,000 population (2022)
Sanitation facility access / improved: total: total: 100% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: urban: urban: NA
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: total: total: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49): 64.7% (2020 est.)
Education expenditure: 2.6% of GDP (2011 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / total: 15 years (2021 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / male: 16 years (2021 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / female: 14 years (2021 est.)

## Environment
Environmental issues: some air pollution generated locally, some carried over from surrounding countries
International environmental agreements / party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
International environmental agreements / signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Multi-effect Protocol, Law of the Sea
Climate: continental; cold, cloudy winters with frequent snow or rain; cool to moderately warm, cloudy, humid summers
Land use / agricultural land: 32.3% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 10.8% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 0% (2022 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 21.5% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 36.3% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 31.4% (2023 est.)
Urbanization / urban population: 14.6% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 1.15% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Waste and recycling / municipal solid waste generated annually: 32,400 tons (2024 est.)
Waste and recycling / percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 64.6% (2015 est.)
Total water withdrawal / municipal: 10 million cubic meters (2020 est.)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: Principality of Liechtenstein
Country name / conventional short form: Liechtenstein
Country name / local long form: Fuerstentum Liechtenstein
Country name / local short form: Liechtenstein
Country name / etymology: named after the Liechtenstein family that purchased and united the counties of Schellenburg and Vaduz in 1719; the family name was taken from its Austrian castle of the same name, which in German means "light stone"
Government type: constitutional monarchy
Capital / name: Vaduz
Capital / geographic coordinates: 47 08 N, 9 31 E
Capital / time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Capital / daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October
Capital / etymology: may be a conflation from the Latin vallis (valley) and the Old German dutsch (German) to produce Valdutsch ("German valley"), which was simplified over time to Vaduz
Administrative divisions: 11 communes ( Gemeinden , singular - Gemeinde ); Balzers, Eschen, Gamprin, Mauren, Planken, Ruggell, Schaan, Schellenberg, Triesen, Triesenberg, Vaduz
Legal system: civil law system influenced by Swiss, Austrian, and German law
Constitution / history: previous 1862; latest adopted 5 October 1921
Constitution / amendment process: proposed by Parliament, by the reigning prince (in the form of "Government" proposals), by petition of at least 1,500 qualified voters, or by at least four communes; passage requires unanimous approval of Parliament members in one sitting or three-quarters majority vote in two successive sittings; referendum required only if petitioned by at least 1,500 voters or by at least four communes; passage by referendum requires absolute majority of votes cast
International law organization participation: accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Citizenship / citizenship by birth: no
Citizenship / citizenship by descent only: the father must be a citizen of Liechtenstein; in the case of a child born out of wedlock, the mother must be a citizen
Citizenship / dual citizenship recognized: no
Citizenship / residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch / chief of state: Prince HANS-ADAM II (since 13 November 1989, assumed executive powers on 26 August 1984)
Executive branch / head of government: Prime Minister Brigitte HAAS (since 10 April 2025)
Executive branch / cabinet: Cabinet elected by the Parliament, confirmed by the monarch
Executive branch / election/appointment process: the monarchy is hereditary; following legislative elections, the monarch usually appoints the leader of the majority party in Parliament as the head of government, and also appoints the leader of the largest minority party in Parliament as the deputy head of government if there is a coalition government
Legislative branch / legislature name: Diet (Landtag)
Legislative branch / legislative structure: unicameral
Legislative branch / number of seats: 25 (all directly elected)
Legislative branch / electoral system: proportional representation
Legislative branch / scope of elections: full renewal
Legislative branch / term in office: 4 years
Legislative branch / most recent election date: 2/9/2025
Legislative branch / parties elected and seats per party: Patriotic Union (VU) (10); Progressive Citizens' Party (FBP) (7); Democrats for Liechtenstein (DpL) (6); Free List (FL) (2)
Legislative branch / percentage of women in chamber: 32%
Legislative branch / expected date of next election: February 2029
Judicial branch / highest court(s): Supreme Court or Supreme Court or F&uuml;rstlicher Oberster Gerichtshof (consists of 5 judges and 5 substitutes); Constitutional Court or Staatsgerichtshof (consists of 5 judges, and 5 alternates)
Judicial branch / judge selection and term of office: judges of both courts elected by the Landtag and appointed by the monarch; Supreme Court judges serve 4-year renewable terms; Constitutional Court judges appointed for renewable 5-year terms
Judicial branch / subordinate courts: Court of Appeal (second instance), Regional Court (first instance), Administrative Court, Tribunal Court, district courts
Political parties: Democrats for Liechtenstein (Demokraten pro Liechtenstein) or DpL Fatherland Union (Vaterlaendische Union) or VU Progressive Citizens' Party (Fortschrittliche Buergerpartei) or FBP The Free List (Die Freie Liste) or FL The Independents (Die Unabhaengigen) or DU
Diplomatic representation in the US / chief of mission: Ambassador Georg SPARBER (since 1 December 2021)
Diplomatic representation in the US / chancery: 2900 K Street NW, Suite 602B, Washington, DC 20007
Diplomatic representation in the US / telephone: [1] (202) 331-0590
Diplomatic representation in the US / FAX: [1] (202) 331-3221
Diplomatic representation in the US / email address and website: washington@llv.li https://www.liechtensteinusa.org/
Diplomatic representation from the US / embassy: the US does not have an embassy in Liechtenstein; the US Ambassador to Switzerland is accredited to Liechtenstein
International organization participation: CD, CE, EBRD, EFTA, IAEA, ICCt, ICRM, IFRCS, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), OAS (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, Schengen Convention, UN, UNCTAD, UPU, WIPO, WTO
Independence: 23 January 1719 (Principality of Liechtenstein established); 12 July 1806 (independence from the Holy Roman Empire); 24 August 1866 (independence from the German Confederation)
National holiday: National Day, 15 August (1940)
Flag: description: two equal horizontal bands of blue (top) and red, with a gold crown on the left side of the blue band history: the colors may derive from the blue-and-red livery used in the principality's household in the 18th century; the prince's crown was added in 1937 to distinguish it from Haiti's flag
National symbol(s): princely hat (crown)
National color(s): blue, red
National coat of arms: the six motifs on the coat of arms provide a history of the royal House of Liechtenstein since 1719, when the country was founded; the small shield at the center is the royal family&rsquo;s gold-and-red coat of arms, the gold-crowned eagle signifies the Silesia family, the diamond wreath represents the Kuenringer family, the red-and-silver shield is the Duchy of Troppau, the black eagle comes from the coat of arms of a family that married into the royal line, and the golden hunting horn represents the Duchy of J&auml;gerndorf
National anthem(s) / title: "Oben am jungen Rhein" (High Above the Young Rhine)
National anthem(s) / lyrics/music: Jakob Joseph JAUCH/Josef FROMMELT
National anthem(s) / history: adopted 1850, revised 1963; uses the tune of the United Kingdom's anthem, "God Save the King"

## Economy
Economic overview: high-income European economy; Schengen Area participant; key European financial leader; integrated with Swiss economy and franc currency user; one of the highest GDP per capita countries; relies on US and Eurozone markets for exports
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $7.172 billion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $7.031 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $6.885 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2024: $210,600 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2023: $201,200 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2022: $187,700 (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $8.395 billion (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 2.8% (2022 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021: 0.6% (2021 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2020: -0.7% (2020 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / agriculture: 0.2% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / industry: 40.6% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / services: 55.6% (2022 est.)
Agricultural products: wheat, barley, corn, potatoes; livestock, dairy products
Industries: electronics, metal manufacturing, dental products, ceramics, pharmaceuticals, food products, precision instruments, tourism, optical instruments
Exports / Exports 2015: $3.217 billion (2015 est.)
Exports / Exports 2014: $3.774 billion (2014 est.)
Exports - commodities: small specialty machinery, connectors for audio and video, parts for motor vehicles, dental products, hardware
Imports - commodities: agricultural products, raw materials, energy products, machinery, metal goods, textiles, foodstuffs, motor vehicles
Exchange rates / Currency: Swiss francs (CHF) per US dollar -
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2024: 0.88 (2024 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2023: 0.898 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2022: 0.955 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2021: 0.914 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2020: 0.939 (2020 est.)

## Energy
Electricity access / electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)

## Communications
Telephones - fixed lines / total subscriptions: 10,000 (2023 est.)
Telephones - fixed lines / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 26 (2023 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / total subscriptions: 51,400 (2024 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 129 (2024 est.)
Broadcast media: relies on foreign terrestrial and satellite broadcasters for most broadcast media services; first Liechtenstein-based TV station established in 2008; Radio Liechtenstein operates multiple radio stations; a Swiss-based broadcaster operates one radio station
Internet country code: .li
Internet users / percent of population: 97% (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / total: 20,000 (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 50 (2023 est.)

## Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: HB
Heliports: 2 (2025)
Railways / total: 9 km (2018)
Railways / standard gauge: 9 km (2018) 1.435-m gauge (electrified)
Merchant marine / total: 17 (2023)
Merchant marine / by type: bulk carrier 14, general cargo 1, other 2 (includes Switzerland)

## Military and Security
Military and security forces: no regular military forces; National Police of the Principality of Liechtenstein (Landespolizei des F&uuml;rstentums Liechtenstein)

## Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons / refugees: 875 (2024 est.)

=== Luxembourg ===

## Introduction
Background: Founded in 963, Luxembourg became a grand duchy in 1815 and a constituent part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands after the Congress of Vienna. When Belgium declared independence from the Netherlands in 1839, Luxembourg lost more than half of its territory to Belgium but gained a larger measure of autonomy within the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Luxembourg gained full independence in 1867 by promising to remain permanently neutral. Overrun by Germany in both world wars, its neutrality ended in 1948 when it entered into the Benelux Customs Union and joined NATO the following year. In 1957, Luxembourg became one of the six founding countries of the EEC (later the EU), and in 1999 it joined the euro currency zone.

## Geography
Location: Western Europe, between France and Germany
Geographic coordinates: 49 45 N, 6 10 E
Map references: Europe
Area / total: 2,586 sq km
Area / land: 2,586 sq km
Area / water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly smaller than Rhode Island; about half the size of Delaware
Land boundaries / total: 327 km
Land boundaries / border countries: Belgium 130 km; France 69 km; Germany 128 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
Climate: modified continental with mild winters, cool summers
Terrain: mostly gently rolling uplands with broad, shallow valleys; uplands to slightly mountainous in the north; steep slope down to Moselle flood plain in the southeast
Elevation / highest point: Buurgplaatz 559 m
Elevation / lowest point: Moselle River 133 m
Elevation / mean elevation: 325 m
Natural resources: iron ore (no longer exploited), arable land
Land use / agricultural land: 51.7% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 23.8% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 0.6% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 27.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 34.5% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 13.9% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land: 0 sq km (2012)
Major watersheds (area sq km) / Atlantic Ocean drainage: Rhine-Maas (198,735 sq km)
Population distribution: most people live in the south, on or near the border with France
Natural hazards: occasional flooding
Geography - note: landlocked

## People and Society
Population / total: 671,254 (2024 est.)
Population / male: 338,702
Population / female: 332,552
Nationality / noun: Luxembourger(s)
Nationality / adjective: Luxembourg
Ethnic groups: Luxembourger 52.9%, Portuguese 14.5%, French 7.6%, Italian 3.7%, Belgian 3%, German 2%, Spanish 1.3%, Romania 1%, other 14% (2022 est.)
Languages: Luxembourgish (official administrative, judicial, and national language) 48.9%, Portuguese 15.4%, French (official administrative, judicial, and legislative language) 14.9%, Italian 3.6%, English 3.6%, German (official administrative and judicial language) 2.9%, other 10.8% (2021 est.)
Religions: Christian (predominantly Roman Catholic) 70.6%, Muslim 2.3%, other (includes Buddhist, folk religions, Hindu, Jewish) 0.4%, unaffiliated 26.7% (2020 est.)
Age structure / 0-14 years: 16.7% (male 57,921/female 54,484)
Age structure / 15-64 years: 67.1% (male 231,214/female 219,497)
Age structure / 65 years and over: 16.1% (2024 est.) (male 49,567/female 58,571)
Dependency ratios / total dependency ratio: 46.6 (2024 est.)
Dependency ratios / youth dependency ratio: 23.2 (2024 est.)
Dependency ratios / elderly dependency ratio: 23.4 (2024 est.)
Dependency ratios / potential support ratio: 4.3 (2024 est.)
Median age / total: 40.1 years (2025 est.)
Median age / male: 39.4 years
Median age / female: 40.4 years
Population growth rate: 1.26% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 9.24 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 6.66 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: 10.06 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution: most people live in the south, on or near the border with France
Urbanization / urban population: 92.1% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 1.43% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 120,000 LUXEMBOURG (capital) (2018)
Sex ratio / at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 15-64 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 65 years and over: 0.85 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth: 31 years (2020 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio: 12 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Infant mortality rate / total: 3.1 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Infant mortality rate / male: 3.6 deaths/1,000 live births
Infant mortality rate / female: 2.8 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth / total population: 83.4 years (2024 est.)
Life expectancy at birth / male: 80.9 years
Life expectancy at birth / female: 85.9 years
Total fertility rate: 1.25 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 0.62 (2025 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: urban: urban: 100% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: rural: rural: 98.6% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: total: total: 99.9% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: urban: urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: rural: rural: 1.4% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: total: total: 0.1% of population (2022 est.)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 5.5% of GDP (2022)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 11% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density: 2.98 physicians/1,000 population (2017)
Hospital bed density: 4.2 beds/1,000 population (2021 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: urban: urban: 100% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: rural: rural: 99.9% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: total: total: 100% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: urban: urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: rural: rural: 0.1% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: total: total: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 22.6% (2016)
Alcohol consumption per capita / total: 11 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / beer: 4.04 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / wine: 4.73 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / spirits: 2.14 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / other alcohols: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Tobacco use / total: 21% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / male: 22.1% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / female: 19.9% (2025 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49): 51.1% (2022 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% GDP): 3.7% of GDP (2022 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% national budget): 8.5% national budget (2022 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / total: 14 years (2022 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / male: 14 years (2022 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / female: 15 years (2022 est.)

## Environment
Environmental issues: air and water pollution in urban areas; soil pollution of farmland
International environmental agreements / party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Multi-effect Protocol, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling
International environmental agreements / signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification
Climate: modified continental with mild winters, cool summers
Land use / agricultural land: 51.7% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 23.8% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 0.6% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 27.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 34.5% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 13.9% (2023 est.)
Urbanization / urban population: 92.1% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 1.43% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / total emissions: 8.715 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from coal and metallurgical coke: 75,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from petroleum and other liquids: 7.496 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from consumed natural gas: 1.144 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Particulate matter emissions: 9.2 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Waste and recycling / municipal solid waste generated annually: 490,300 tons (2024 est.)
Waste and recycling / percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 42% (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / municipal: 43.53 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / industrial: 1.83 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / agricultural: 490,000 cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total renewable water resources: 3.5 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Geoparks / total global geoparks and regional networks: 1
Geoparks / global geoparks and regional networks: M&euml;llerdall (2023)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: Grand Duchy of Luxembourg
Country name / conventional short form: Luxembourg
Country name / local long form: Grand Duch&eacute; de Luxembourg
Country name / local short form: Luxembourg
Country name / etymology: probably derived from an early Celtic or Germanic form of the name, Lucilinburhuc, that was thought to mean "little fortress;" the name first referred to the city and was later used for the country
Government type: constitutional monarchy
Capital / name: Luxembourg
Capital / geographic coordinates: 49 36 N, 6 07 E
Capital / time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Capital / daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October
Capital / etymology: probably derived from an early Celtic or Germanic form of the name, Lucilinburhuc, that was thought to mean "little fortress;" the name first referred to the city and was later used for the country
Administrative divisions: 12 cantons; Capellen, Clervaux, Diekirch, Echternach, Esch-sur-Alzette, Grevenmacher, Luxembourg, Mersch, Redange, Remich, Vianden, Wiltz
Legal system: civil law system
Constitution / history: previous 1842 (heavily amended 1848, 1856); latest effective 17 October 1868
Constitution / amendment process: proposed by the Chamber of Deputies or by the monarch to the Chamber; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote by the Chamber in two successive readings three months apart; a referendum can be substituted for the second reading if approved by more than a quarter of the Chamber members or by 25,000 valid voters; adoption by referendum requires a majority of all valid voters
International law organization participation: accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Citizenship / citizenship by birth: limited to situations where the parents are either unknown, stateless, or when the nationality law of the parents' state of origin does not permit acquisition of citizenship by descent when the birth occurs outside of national territory
Citizenship / citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Luxembourg
Citizenship / dual citizenship recognized: yes
Citizenship / residency requirement for naturalization: 7 years
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Executive branch / chief of state: Grand Duke GUILLAUME (since 3 October 2025)
Executive branch / head of government: Prime Minister Luc FRIEDEN (since 17 November 2023)
Executive branch / cabinet: Council of Ministers recommended by the prime minister, appointed by the monarch
Executive branch / election/appointment process: the monarchy is hereditary; following elections to the Chamber of Deputies, monarch usually appoints the leader of the majority party or majority coalition as prime minister; deputy prime minister also appointed by the monarch; prime minister and deputy prime minister are responsible to the Chamber of Deputies
Legislative branch / legislature name: Chamber of Deputies (Chambre des députés)
Legislative branch / legislative structure: unicameral
Legislative branch / number of seats: 60 (all directly elected)
Legislative branch / electoral system: proportional representation
Legislative branch / scope of elections: full renewal
Legislative branch / term in office: 5 years
Legislative branch / most recent election date: 10/8/2023
Legislative branch / parties elected and seats per party: Christian Social People's Party (CSV) (21); Democratic Party (PD/DP) (14); Socialist Workers' Party (POSL/LSAP) (11); Alternative Democratic Reform Party (ADR) (5); Greens (DEI GRÉNG) (4); Pirate Party (PIRATEN) (3); Other (2)
Legislative branch / percentage of women in chamber: 35%
Legislative branch / expected date of next election: October 2028
Judicial branch / highest court(s): Supreme Court of Justice includes Court of Appeal and Court of Cassation (consists of 27 judges on 9 benches); Constitutional Court (consists of 9 members)
Judicial branch / judge selection and term of office: judges of both courts appointed by the monarch for life
Judicial branch / subordinate courts: Court of Accounts; district and local tribunals and courts
Political parties: Alternative Democratic Reform Party or ADR Christian Social People's Party or CSV Democratic Party or DP Green Party Luxembourg Socialist Workers' Party or LSAP Pirate Party The Left (dei Lenk/la Gauche)
Diplomatic representation in the US / chief of mission: Ambassador Nicole BINTNER-BAKSHIAN (since 15 August 2021)
Diplomatic representation in the US / chancery: 2200 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation in the US / telephone: [1] (202) 265-4171
Diplomatic representation in the US / FAX: [1] (202) 328-8270
Diplomatic representation in the US / email address and website: washington.amb@mae.etat.lu https://washington.mae.lu/en.html
Diplomatic representation in the US / consulate(s) general: New York, San Francisco
Diplomatic representation from the US / chief of mission: Ambassador Stacey FEINBERG (since 13 November 2025)
Diplomatic representation from the US / embassy: 22 Boulevard Emmanuel Servais, L-2535 Luxembourg City
Diplomatic representation from the US / mailing address: 5380 Luxembourg Place, Washington DC 20521-5380
Diplomatic representation from the US / telephone: [352] 46-01-23-00
Diplomatic representation from the US / FAX: [352] 46-14-01
Diplomatic representation from the US / email address and website: Luxembourgconsular@state.gov https://lu.usembassy.gov/
International organization participation: ADB (nonregional member), Australia Group, Benelux, BIS, CD, CE, EAPC, EBRD, ECB, EIB, EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, FATF, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OIF, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, Schengen Convention, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNHRC, UNIDO, UNOOSA, UNRWA, UPU, Wassenaar Arrangement, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
Independence: 1839 (from the Netherlands)
National holiday: National Day (birthday of Grand Duke HENRI), 23 June
Flag: description: three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and light blue history: the colors are derived from the Grand Duke's coat of arms
National symbol(s): red rampant lion
National color(s): red, white, light blue
National anthem(s) / title: &ldquo;De Wilhelmus&rdquo; (The William)
National anthem(s) / lyrics/music: Nikolaus WELTER
National anthem(s) / history: adopted 1919; royal anthem, for use when members of the grand ducal family enter or exit a ceremony in Luxembourg
National heritage / total World Heritage Sites: 1 (cultural)
National heritage / selected World Heritage Site locales: Luxembourg City Old Quarters and Fortifications

## Economy
Economic overview: high-income EU and eurozone economy; global, highly capitalized banking sector; one of highest GDP-per-capita countries; strengthened domestic demand and lower interest rates contributing to economic growth; challenges include pension-system sustainability, labor-market dynamics, and energy price volatility
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $86.871 billion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $85.984 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $86.584 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2024: 1% (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2023: -0.7% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2022: -1.1% (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2024: $128,200 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2023: $129,000 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2022: $132,600 (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $93.197 billion (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024: 2.1% (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023: 3.7% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 6.3% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / agriculture: 0.2% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / industry: 9% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / services: 81.9% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / household consumption: 31.6% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / government consumption: 18.6% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in fixed capital: 16.1% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in inventories: 1.3% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / exports of goods and services: 217.8% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / imports of goods and services: -186.7% (2023 est.)
Agricultural products: milk, wheat, barley, triticale, potatoes, pork, grapes, beef, rye, rapeseed (2023)
Industries: banking and financial services, construction, real estate services, iron, metals, and steel, information technology, telecommunications, cargo transportation and logistics, chemicals, engineering, tires, glass, aluminum, tourism, biotechnology
Industrial production growth rate: -1.1% (2024 est.)
Labor force: 350,000 (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2024: 6% (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2023: 5.2% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2022: 4.6% (2022 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / total: 20.2% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / male: 16.9% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / female: 24.2% (2024 est.)
Population below poverty line: 17.3% (2021 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income / Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2022: 34.1 (2022 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / lowest 10%: 2.9% (2022 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / highest 10%: 25.6% (2022 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2024: 2.6% of GDP (2024 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2023: 2.8% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2022: 2.8% of GDP (2022 est.)
Budget / revenues: $37.951 billion (2023 est.)
Budget / expenditures: $38.263 billion (2023 est.)
Public debt / Public debt 2017: 23% of GDP (2017 est.)
Taxes and other revenues: 27.2% (of GDP) (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2024: $12.877 billion (2024 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2023: $9.861 billion (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2022: $7.509 billion (2022 est.)
Exports / Exports 2024: $202.203 billion (2024 est.)
Exports / Exports 2023: $195.294 billion (2023 est.)
Exports / Exports 2022: $184.53 billion (2022 est.)
Exports - partners: Germany 18%, France 15%, Belgium 8%, Netherlands 7%, Italy 6% (2023)
Exports - commodities: iron blocks, gas turbines, plastic products, rubber tires, plastics (2023)
Imports / Imports 2024: $160.032 billion (2024 est.)
Imports / Imports 2023: $156.818 billion (2023 est.)
Imports / Imports 2022: $149.751 billion (2022 est.)
Imports - partners: Belgium 26%, Germany 23%, France 10%, Netherlands 5%, USA 4% (2023)
Imports - commodities: cars, refined petroleum, electricity, plastic products, gas turbines (2023)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024: $2.789 billion (2024 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023: $2.977 billion (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $2.874 billion (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Currency: euros (EUR) per US dollar -
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2024: 0.924 (2024 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2023: 0.925 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2022: 0.95 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2021: 0.845 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2020: 0.876 (2020 est.)

## Energy
Electricity access / electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)
Electricity / installed generating capacity: 2.212 million kW (2023 est.)
Electricity / consumption: 5.87 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / exports: 1.188 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / imports: 6.39 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / transmission/distribution losses: 141.867 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / fossil fuels: 10.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / solar: 37.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / wind: 55.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / hydroelectricity: -35.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) note: Luxembourg has negative net hydroelectric power generation based on losses from use of pumped storage hydropower
Electricity generation sources / biomass and waste: 32.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Coal / consumption: 34,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / exports: 30.2 metric tons (2022 est.)
Coal / imports: 34,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum / refined petroleum consumption: 51,000 bbl/day (2024 est.)
Natural gas / consumption: 556.63 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / imports: 552.714 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
Energy consumption per capita / Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 224.651 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

## Communications
Telephones - fixed lines / total subscriptions: 260,000 (2022 est.)
Telephones - fixed lines / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 40 (2022 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / total subscriptions: 961,000 (2023 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 137 (2021 est.)
Broadcast media: long national tradition of operating radio and TV services for pan-European audiences; home to Europe's largest privately owned broadcast media group, the RTL Group, which operates 46 TV stations and 29 radio stations in Europe; also home to Europe's largest satellite operator, Soci&eacute;t&eacute; Europ&eacute;enne des Satellites (SES); domestically, the RTL Group operates TV and radio networks; other domestic private radio and TV operators and French and German stations available; satellite and cable TV services available
Internet country code: .lu
Internet users / percent of population: 99% (2024 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / total: 250,000 (2022 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 38 (2022 est.)

## Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: LX
Airports: 3 (2025)
Heliports: 11 (2025)
Railways / total: 271 km (2020) 262 km electrified
Merchant marine / total: 147 (2023)
Merchant marine / by type: bulk carrier 3, container ship 1, general cargo 24, oil tanker 4, other 115

## Military and Security
Military and security forces: Luxembourg Army (l'Armée Luxembourgeoise) (2025)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2025: 2% of GDP (2025 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2024: 1.2% of GDP (2024 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2023: 1.1% of GDP (2023 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2022: 0.6% of GDP (2022 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2021: 0.5% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military and security service personnel strengths: approximately 900 active military personnel (2025)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the Luxembourg Army has a small mix of Western origin equipment (2025)
Military service age and obligation: 18-26 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women; no conscription (abolished 1969) (2025)
Military - note: founded in 1881, the Luxembourg Army is responsible for the defense of the country and fulfilling the Grand Duchy’s commitments to NATO, European security, and international peacekeeping, as well as providing support to civil authorities in the event of emergencies, such as floods or disease outbreaks; the Army is an active participant in EU, NATO, and UN missions and has contributed small numbers of troops to a number of multinational operations in parts of Africa, Europe, and Asia; it trains and exercises regularly with EU and NATO partners and has contributed to the NATO battlegroup forward deployed in Lithuania since 2017; Luxembourg was one of the original 12 countries to sign the North Atlantic Treaty (also known as the Washington Treaty) establishing NATO in 1949 in 2015, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg signed an agreement to conduct joint air policing of their territories; under the agreement, which went into effect in January 2017, the Belgian and Dutch Air Forces trade responsibility for patrolling the skies over the three countries (2025)

## Space
Space agency/agencies: the Luxembourg Space Agency (LSA; established 2018) (2025)
Space program overview: Luxembourg Space Agency was established in 2018 to develop space policy, encourage and coordinate commercial space ventures, support space education, and promote the country&rsquo;s space-related capabilities internationally; has a national space strategy; has set up policy and funding initiatives (such as LuxIMPULSE) to encourage research, development, innovation, and entrepreneurship and attract space-based industries; focuses on developing commercial satellites and infrastructure, as well as other capabilities and technologies; hosts some of the largest commercial satellite companies in the world; member of the ESA since 2005 and participates in a variety of ESA programs; cooperates bilaterally with individual ESA and EU member states; also works with other foreign space agencies and industries, including those of Canada, China, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, the UAE, and the US (2025)
Key space-program milestones: 1980s - began creating a satellite telecommunications infrastructure for Europe 2014 - first privately built probe to successfully fly by the Moon (launched by China) 2018 - developed communications satellite (GOVSAT-1) to support the EU’s secure communications and space situational awareness program (GOVSATCOM) 2020 - signed US-led Artemis Accords for space exploration and agreed to join the Moon exploration mission 2021 - launched Luxembourg’s Quantum Communications Infrastructure project (LuxQCI) in support of the EU’s Quantum Communications Infrastructure (EuroQCI) 2025 - launched the Luxembourg Earth Observation System (LUXEOSys) satellite, part of a national space-based remote sensing program

## Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons / refugees: 14,344 (2024 est.)
Refugees and internally displaced persons / stateless persons: 85 (2024 est.)

=== Moldova ===

## Introduction
Background: A large portion of present-day Moldovan territory became a province of the Russian Empire in 1812 and then unified with Romania in 1918 in the aftermath of World War I. This territory was then incorporated into the Soviet Union at the close of World War II. Although Moldova has been independent from the Soviet Union since 1991, Russian forces have remained on Moldovan territory east of the Nistru River in the breakaway region of Transnistria. Years of Communist Party rule in Moldova from 2001 to 2009 ultimately ended with election-related violent protests and a rerun of parliamentary elections in 2009. A series of pro-Europe ruling coalitions governed Moldova from 2010 to 2019, but pro-Russia candidate Igor DODON won the presidency in 2016, and his Socialist Party of the Republic of Moldova won a plurality in the legislative election in 2019. Pro-EU reformist candidate Maia SANDU defeated DODON in his reelection bid in 2020, and SANDU's Party of Action and Solidarity won a parliamentary majority in an early legislative election in 2021. Prime Minister Natalia GAVRILITA and her cabinet took office in 2021. In early 2023, Moldova's parliament confirmed a new cabinet led by Prime Minister Dorin RECEAN, which retained the majority of the former ministers.

## Geography
Location: Eastern Europe, northeast of Romania
Geographic coordinates: 47 00 N, 29 00 E
Map references: Europe
Area / total: 33,851 sq km
Area / land: 32,891 sq km
Area / water: 960 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly larger than Maryland
Land boundaries / total: 1,885 km
Land boundaries / border countries: Romania 683 km; Ukraine 1202 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
Climate: moderate winters, warm summers
Terrain: rolling steppe, gradual slope south to Black Sea
Elevation / highest point: Dealul Balanesti 430 m
Elevation / lowest point: Dniester (Nistru) 2 m
Elevation / mean elevation: 139 m
Natural resources: lignite, phosphorites, gypsum, limestone, arable land
Land use / agricultural land: 74.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 56.8% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 8.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 9.4% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 11.3% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 13.8% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land: 2,150 sq km (2022)
Major rivers (by length in km): Dunărea (Danube) (shared with Germany [s], Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Bulgaria, Ukraine, and Romania [m]) - 2,888 km; Nistru (Dniester) (shared with Ukraine [s/m]) - 1,411 km note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Major watersheds (area sq km) / Atlantic Ocean drainage: (Black Sea) Danube (795,656 sq km)
Population distribution: pockets of agglomeration exist throughout the country, with the largest in the center of the country around the capital of Chisinau, followed by Tiraspol and Balti
Natural hazards: landslides
Geography - note: landlocked; has many types of sedimentary rocks and minerals, including sand, gravel, gypsum, and limestone

## People and Society
Population / total: 3,578,930 (2025 est.)
Population / male: 1,687,496
Population / female: 1,891,434
Nationality / noun: Moldovan(s)
Nationality / adjective: Moldovan
Ethnic groups: Moldovan 75.1%, Romanian 7%, Ukrainian 6.6%, Gagauz 4.6%, Russian 4.1%, Bulgarian 1.9%, other 0.8% (2014 est.)
Languages / Languages: Moldovan/Romanian 80.2% (official) (56.7% Moldovan; 23.5% Romanian), Russian 9.7%, Gagauz 4.2% (a Turkish language), Ukrainian 3.9%, Bulgarian 1.5%, Romani 0.3%, other 0.2% (2014)
Languages / major-language sample(s): Cartea informativa a lumii, sursa indispensabila pentru informatii de baza. (Moldovan/Romanian) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
Religions: Orthodox 90.1%, other Christian 2.6%, other 0.1%, agnostic <0.1%, atheist 0.2%, unspecified 6.9% (2014 est.)
Age structure / 0-14 years: 14.8% (male 266,493/female 266,166)
Age structure / 15-64 years: 70.2% (male 1,225,535/female 1,300,640)
Age structure / 65 years and over: 15% (2024 est.) (male 206,221/female 334,473)
Dependency ratios / total dependency ratio: 43 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / youth dependency ratio: 20.8 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / elderly dependency ratio: 22.2 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / potential support ratio: 4.5 (2025 est.)
Median age / total: 40.4 years (2025 est.)
Median age / male: 38.6 years
Median age / female: 41.3 years
Population growth rate: -0.57% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 8.35 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 14.06 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution: pockets of agglomeration exist throughout the country, with the largest in the center of the country around the capital of Chisinau, followed by Tiraspol and Balti
Urbanization / urban population: 43.4% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 0.09% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 488,000 CHISINAU (capital) (2023)
Sex ratio / at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 0-14 years: 1 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 15-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 65 years and over: 0.62 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / total population: 0.89 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth: 25.2 years (2019 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio: 19 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Infant mortality rate / total: 13.5 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Infant mortality rate / male: 16 deaths/1,000 live births
Infant mortality rate / female: 11.5 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth / total population: 70.1 years (2024 est.)
Life expectancy at birth / male: 66.1 years
Life expectancy at birth / female: 74.4 years
Total fertility rate: 1.27 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 0.61 (2025 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: urban: urban: 97.7% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: rural: rural: 87.7% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: total: total: 92% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: urban: urban: 2.3% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: rural: rural: 12.3% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: total: total: 8% of population (2022 est.)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 7.8% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 12.3% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density: 4.02 physicians/1,000 population (2023)
Hospital bed density: 5.7 beds/1,000 population (2021 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: urban: urban: 98.7% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: rural: rural: 82.9% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: total: total: 89.7% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: urban: urban: 1.3% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: rural: rural: 17.1% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: total: total: 10.3% of population (2022 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 18.9% (2016)
Alcohol consumption per capita / total: 7.45 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / beer: 1.53 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / wine: 3.57 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / spirits: 2.25 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / other alcohols: 0.1 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Tobacco use / total: 28.7% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / male: 54.2% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / female: 6.4% (2025 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49): 68.7% (2020 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% GDP): 6.6% of GDP (2023 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% national budget): 16% national budget (2024 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / total: 15 years (2023 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / male: 15 years (2023 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / female: 15 years (2023 est.)

## Environment
Environmental issues: soil and water pollution from heavy use of agricultural chemicals; extensive soil erosion and declining soil fertility from farming methods
International environmental agreements / party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
International environmental agreements / signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Multi-effect Protocol
Climate: moderate winters, warm summers
Land use / agricultural land: 74.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 56.8% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 8.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 9.4% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 11.3% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 13.8% (2023 est.)
Urbanization / urban population: 43.4% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 0.09% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / total emissions: 7.093 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from coal and metallurgical coke: 219,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from petroleum and other liquids: 3.087 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from consumed natural gas: 3.786 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Particulate matter emissions: 12.3 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Waste and recycling / municipal solid waste generated annually: 3.981 million tons (2024 est.)
Waste and recycling / percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 36.9% (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / municipal: 160 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / industrial: 583 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / agricultural: 55 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total renewable water resources: 12.27 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: Republic of Moldova
Country name / conventional short form: Moldova
Country name / local long form: Republica Moldova
Country name / local short form: Moldova
Country name / former: Moldavian Soviet Socialist Republic, Moldovan Soviet Socialist Republic
Country name / etymology: named for the Moldova River in neighboring eastern Romania; the river's name probably comes from the Indoeuropean root word mel , meaning "dark" or "black"
Government type: parliamentary republic
Capital / name: Chisinau in Romanian (Kishinev in Russian)
Capital / geographic coordinates: 47 00 N, 28 51 E
Capital / time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Capital / daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October
Capital / etymology: origin unclear but may derive from the Old Moldovan word kishineu ("spring" or "artesian well")
Administrative divisions: 32 districts ( raioane , singular - raion ), 3 municipalities ( municipii , singular - municipiul ), 1 autonomous territorial unit ( unitatea teritoriala autonoma ), and 1 territorial unit ( unitatea teritoriala ) districts: Anenii Noi, Basarabeasca, Briceni, Cahul, Cantemir, Calarasi, Causeni, Cimislia, Criuleni, Donduseni, Drochia, Dubasari, Edinet, Falesti, Floresti, Glodeni, Hincesti, Ialoveni, Leova, Nisporeni, Ocnita, Orhei, Rezina, Riscani, Singerei, Soldanesti, Soroca, Stefan Voda, Straseni, Taraclia, Telenesti, Ungheni municipalities: Balti, Bender, Chisinau autonomous territorial unit: Gagauzia territorial unit: Stinga Nistrului (Transnistria)
Legal system: civil law system with Germanic law influences; Constitutional Court reviews legislative acts
Constitution / history: previous 1978; latest adopted 29 July 1994, effective 27 August 1994
Constitution / amendment process: proposed by voter petition (at least 200,000 eligible voters), by at least one third of Parliament members, or by the government; passage requires two-thirds majority vote of Parliament within one year of initial proposal; revisions to constitutional articles on sovereignty, independence, and neutrality require majority vote by referendum; articles on fundamental rights and freedoms cannot be amended
International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Citizenship / citizenship by birth: no
Citizenship / citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Moldova
Citizenship / dual citizenship recognized: no
Citizenship / residency requirement for naturalization: 10 years
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch / chief of state: President Maia SANDU (since 24 December 2020)
Executive branch / head of government: Prime Minister Alexandru MUNTEANU (since 1 November 2025)
Executive branch / cabinet: Cabinet proposed by the prime minister-designate, nominated by the president, approved through a vote of confidence in Parliament
Executive branch / election/appointment process: president directly elected for a 4-year term (eligible for a second term); prime minister designated by the president in consultation with Parliament; within 15 days from designation, the prime minister-designate must request a vote of confidence for his/her proposed work program from the Parliament
Executive branch / most recent election date: 3 November 2024
Executive branch / election results: 2024: In the second round of presidential elections, incumbent Maia SANDU (PAS) wins 55.4% of the vote, Alexandr STOIANOGLO (PSRM) 44.6; turnout is 54.3% 2020: Maia SANDU elected president in second round; percent of vote in second round - Maia SANDU (PAS) 57.7%, Igor DODON (PSRM) 42.3%
Executive branch / expected date of next election: 2028
Legislative branch / legislature name: Parliament (Parlament)
Legislative branch / legislative structure: unicameral
Legislative branch / number of seats: 101 (all directly elected)
Legislative branch / electoral system: proportional representation
Legislative branch / scope of elections: full renewal
Legislative branch / term in office: 4 years
Legislative branch / most recent election date: 9/28/2025
Legislative branch / parties elected and seats per party: Action and Solidarity Party (PAS) (55); Electoral Bloc “Patriotic of Socialists, Communists, Heart and Future of Moldova” (26); Alternative Bloc (8); Our Party (6); Democracy at Home Party (6)
Legislative branch / percentage of women in chamber: 37.6%
Legislative branch / expected date of next election: September 2029
Judicial branch / highest court(s): Supreme Court of Justice (consists of the chief judge, 3 deputy-chief judges, 45 judges, and 7 assistant judges); Constitutional Court (consists of the court president and 6 judges)
Judicial branch / judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court of Justice judges appointed by the president on the recommendation of the Superior Council of Magistracy, an 11-member body of judicial officials; all judges serve 4-year renewable terms; Constitutional Court judges appointed 2 each by Parliament, the president, and the Higher Council of Magistracy for 6-year terms; court president elected by other court judges for a 3-year term
Judicial branch / subordinate courts: Courts of Appeal; Court of Business Audit; municipal courts
Political parties: Common Action Party - Civil Congress or PAC-CC Democracy at Home Party or PPDA Future of Moldova Party or PVM National Alternative Movement or MAN Our Party or PN Party of Action and Solidarity or PAS Party of Communists of the Republic of Moldova or PCRM Party of Development and Consolidation of Moldova or PDCM Party of Socialists of the Republic of Moldova or PSRM
Diplomatic representation in the US / chief of mission: Ambassador Vladislav KULMINSKI (since 5 September 2025)
Diplomatic representation in the US / chancery: 2101 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation in the US / telephone: [1] (202) 667-1130
Diplomatic representation in the US / FAX: [1] (202) 667-2624
Diplomatic representation in the US / email address and website: washington@mfa.gov.md https://sua.mfa.gov.md/en
Diplomatic representation from the US / chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charg&eacute; d&rsquo;Affaires Nick PIETROWICZ (since 2025)
Diplomatic representation from the US / embassy: 103 Mateevici Street, Chisinau MD-2009
Diplomatic representation from the US / mailing address: 7080 Chisinau Place, Washington DC 20521-7080
Diplomatic representation from the US / telephone: [373] (22) 408-300
Diplomatic representation from the US / FAX: [373] (22) 233-044
Diplomatic representation from the US / email address and website: ChisinauACS@state.gov https://md.usembassy.gov/
International organization participation: BSEC, CD, CE, CEI, CIS, EAEU (observer), EAPC, EBRD, FAO, GCTU, GUAM, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, OIF, OPCW, OSCE, PFP, SELEC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNMIL, UNMISS, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Independence: 27 August 1991 (from the Soviet Union)
National holiday: Independence Day, 27 August (1991)
Flag: description: three equal vertical bands of Prussian blue (left side), chrome yellow, and vermilion red; the Moldavan coat of arms in the center is a dark gold Roman eagle outlined in black, with a red beak and talons; the eagle carries a yellow cross in its beak, a green olive branch in its right talons, and a yellow scepter in its left talons; on the eagle's breast is a red-and-blue shield divided horizontally, with a stylized aurochs head, star, rose, and crescent in black and outlined yellow; the reverse of the flag displays a mirror image of the coat of arms history: replaced the communist flag in 1990; the coat of arms is based on traditional designs
National symbol(s): aurochs (type of wild cattle)
National color(s): blue, yellow, red
National anthem(s) / title: "Limba noastra" (Our Tongue)
National anthem(s) / lyrics/music: Alexei MATEEVICI/Alexandru CRISTEA
National anthem(s) / history: adopted 1994; originally a 12-verse poem, but only stanzas 1, 2, 5, 9, and 12 are included in the anthem
National heritage / total World Heritage Sites: 1 (cultural)
National heritage / selected World Heritage Site locales: Struve Geodetic Arc

## Economy
Economic overview: upper middle-income Eastern European economy; sustained growth reversed by COVID-19; significant remittances; Russian energy and regional dependence; agricultural exporter; declining workforce due to emigration and low fertility
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $39.342 billion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $39.301 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $38.835 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2024: 0.1% (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2023: 1.2% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2022: -4.6% (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2024: $16,500 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2023: $16,000 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2022: $15,400 (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $18.2 billion (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024: 4.7% (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023: 13.4% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 28.7% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / agriculture: 7.1% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / industry: 16.8% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / services: 62.3% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / household consumption: 86.8% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / government consumption: 17.9% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in fixed capital: 20% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in inventories: 1.1% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / exports of goods and services: 31.4% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / imports of goods and services: -57.3% (2024 est.)
Agricultural products: wheat, maize, sunflower seeds, grapes, apples, sugar beets, barley, milk, rapeseed, potatoes (2023)
Industries: sugar processing, vegetable oil, food processing, agricultural machinery; foundry equipment, refrigerators and freezers, washing machines; hosiery, shoes, textiles
Industrial production growth rate: 3.3% (2024 est.)
Labor force: 1.358 million (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2024: 1.5% (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2023: 1.6% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2022: 0.9% (2022 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / total: 3.3% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / male: 3.4% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / female: 3.3% (2024 est.)
Population below poverty line: 31.1% (2022 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income / Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2022: 25.9 (2022 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / lowest 10%: 4.5% (2022 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / highest 10%: 22.5% (2022 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2024: 10.5% of GDP (2024 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2023: 12% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2022: 14% of GDP (2022 est.)
Budget / revenues: $5.197 billion (2023 est.)
Budget / expenditures: $6.037 billion (2023 est.)
Public debt / Public debt 2023: 34.3% of GDP (2023 est.)
Taxes and other revenues: 18.6% (of GDP) (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2024: -$2.917 billion (2024 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2023: -$1.893 billion (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2022: -$2.482 billion (2022 est.)
Exports / Exports 2024: $5.717 billion (2024 est.)
Exports / Exports 2023: $5.866 billion (2023 est.)
Exports / Exports 2022: $5.981 billion (2022 est.)
Exports - partners: Romania 31%, Ukraine 13%, Italy 6%, Germany 6%, Czechia 4% (2023)
Exports - commodities: insulated wire, garments, refined petroleum, seed oils, wheat (2023)
Imports / Imports 2024: $10.418 billion (2024 est.)
Imports / Imports 2023: $9.84 billion (2023 est.)
Imports / Imports 2022: $10.265 billion (2022 est.)
Imports - partners: Romania 16%, Ukraine 13%, China 11%, Turkey 8%, Germany 7% (2023)
Imports - commodities: refined petroleum, natural gas, cars, packaged medicine, plastic products (2023)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024: $5.484 billion (2024 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023: $5.453 billion (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $4.474 billion (2022 est.)
Debt - external / Debt - external 2023: $2.637 billion (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Currency: Moldovan lei (MDL) per US dollar -
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2024: 17.792 (2024 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2023: 18.164 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2022: 18.897 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2021: 17.68 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2020: 17.322 (2020 est.)

## Energy
Electricity access / electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)
Electricity / installed generating capacity: 779,000 kW (2023 est.)
Electricity / consumption: 5.674 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / exports: 94 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / imports: 1.264 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / transmission/distribution losses: 550.069 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / fossil fuels: 88% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / solar: 1.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / wind: 3.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / hydroelectricity: 6.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / biomass and waste: 0.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Coal / consumption: 90,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / imports: 86,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum / refined petroleum consumption: 22,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Natural gas / production: 10,000 cubic meters (2021 est.)
Natural gas / consumption: 2.223 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / imports: 2.223 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Energy consumption per capita / Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 35.686 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

## Communications
Telephones - fixed lines / total subscriptions: 847,000 (2023 est.)
Telephones - fixed lines / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 28 (2023 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / total subscriptions: 3.64 million (2024 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 120 (2024 est.)
Broadcast media: state-owned national radio-TV broadcaster operates 1 TV and 1 radio station; total of nearly 70 terrestrial TV channels and about 50 radio stations; Russian and Romanian channels are available (2019)
Internet country code: .md
Internet users / percent of population: 80% (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / total: 841,000 (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 27 (2023 est.)

## Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: ER
Airports: 10 (2025)
Heliports: 1 (2025)
Railways / total: 1,171 km (2014)
Railways / standard gauge: 14 km (2014) 1.435-m gauge
Railways / broad gauge: 1,157 km (2014) 1.520-m gauge
Merchant marine / total: 75 (2023)
Merchant marine / by type: bulk carrier 1, container ship 1, general cargo 44, oil tanker 7, other 22

## Military and Security
Military and security forces: Armed Forces of the Republic of Moldova (Forțele Armate ale Republicii Moldova): National Army (comprised of Land Forces, Air Force) Ministry of Internal Affairs: General Inspectorate of Police (GPI), Border Police Department, Carabinieri Troops Department (2025)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2024: 0.6% of GDP (2024 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2023: 0.6% of GDP (2023 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2022: 0.4% of GDP (2022 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2021: 0.4% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2020: 0.4% of GDP (2020 est.)
Military and security service personnel strengths: approximately 6,500 Moldovan Armed Forces (2025)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the military's inventory is limited and almost entirely comprised of Soviet-era equipment; in recent years, it has received small amounts of donated equipment from some Western European nations and the US (2025)
Military service age and obligation: 18-27 years of age for compulsory or voluntary military service; male registration required at age 16; 12-month service obligation; conscientious objectors can perform non-military service in public institutions for a longer period (up to 24 months) (2025)
Military - note: the National Army is responsible for defense against external aggression, suppressing illegal military violence along the state border or inside the country, and supporting other internal security forces in maintaining public order if necessary; its primary focuses are Transnistrian separatist forces and their Russian backers; the 1992 war between Moldovan forces and the Transnistrian separatists backed by Russian troops ended with a cease-fire; the separatists maintain several armed paramilitary combat units, plus other security forces and reserves; Russia maintains approximately 1,500 troops in the breakaway region, including some Transnistrian locals who serve as Russian troops; some of those troops are under the authority of a peacekeeping force known as a Joint Control Commission that also includes Moldovan and separatist personnel, while the remainder of the Russian contingent guard a depot of Soviet-era ammunition and train separatist forces Moldova is constitutionally neutral but has maintained a relationship with NATO since 1992 and since 2022 has enhanced bilateral security cooperation with some NATO members; it has contributed small numbers of troops to NATO’s Kosovo Force (KFOR) since 2014, and a civilian NATO liaison office was established in Moldova in 2017 at the request of the Moldovan Government to promote practical cooperation and facilitate support; in 2024, Moldova signed a security and defense partnership agreement with the EU; it maintains close security relations with Romania, a member of the EU and NATO (2025)

## Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons / refugees: 136,845 (2024 est.)
Refugees and internally displaced persons / IDPs: 6 (2024 est.)
Refugees and internally displaced persons / stateless persons: 3,164 (2024 est.)

=== Montenegro ===

## Introduction
Background: The use of the name Crna Gora or Black Mountain (Montenegro) began in the 13th century in reference to a highland region in the Serbian province of Zeta. Under Ottoman control beginning in 1496, Montenegro was a semi-autonomous theocracy ruled by a series of bishop princes until 1852, when it became a secular principality. Montenegro fought a series of wars with the Ottomans and eventually won recognition as an independent sovereign principality at the Congress of Berlin in 1878. In 1918, the country was absorbed by the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes, which became the Kingdom of Yugoslavia in 1929. At the end of World War II, Montenegro joined the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (SFRY). When the SFRY dissolved in 1992, Montenegro and Serbia created the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (FRY), which shifted in 2003 to a looser State Union of Serbia and Montenegro. Montenegro voted to restore its independence on 3 June 2006. Montenegro became an official EU candidate in 2010 and joined NATO in 2017.

## Geography
Location: Southeastern Europe, between the Adriatic Sea and Serbia
Geographic coordinates: 42 30 N, 19 18 E
Map references: Europe
Area / total: 13,812 sq km
Area / land: 13,452 sq km
Area / water: 360 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly smaller than Connecticut; slightly larger than twice the size of Delaware
Land boundaries / total: 680 km
Land boundaries / border countries: Albania 186 km; Bosnia and Herzegovina 242 km; Croatia 19 km; Kosovo 76 km; Serbia 157 km
Coastline: 293.5 km
Maritime claims / territorial sea: 12 nm
Maritime claims / continental shelf: defined by treaty
Climate: Mediterranean climate, hot dry summers and autumns and relatively cold winters with heavy snowfalls inland
Terrain: highly indented coastline with narrow coastal plain backed by rugged high limestone mountains and plateaus
Elevation / highest point: Zia Kolata 2,534 m
Elevation / lowest point: Adriatic Sea 0 m
Elevation / mean elevation: 1,086 m
Natural resources: bauxite, hydroelectricity
Land use / agricultural land: 19.6% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 0.7% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 0.4% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 18.5% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 61.5% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 18.9% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land: 24 sq km (2012)
Major lakes (area sq km) / fresh water lake(s): Lake Scutari (shared with Albania) - 400 sq km note - largest lake in the Balkans
Major watersheds (area sq km) / Atlantic Ocean drainage: (Black Sea) Danube (795,656 sq km)
Population distribution: highest population density is concentrated in the south and southwest; the extreme eastern border is the least populated area
Natural hazards: destructive earthquakes
Geography - note: strategic location along the Adriatic coast

## People and Society
Population / total: 599,849 (2024 est.)
Population / male: 294,482
Population / female: 305,367
Nationality / noun: Montenegrin(s)
Nationality / adjective: Montenegrin
Ethnic groups: Montenegrin 45%, Serbian 28.7%, Bosniak 8.7%, Albanian 4.9%, Muslim 3.3%, Romani 1%, Croat 1%, other 2.6%, unspecified 4.9% (2011 est.)
Languages / Languages: Serbian 42.9%, Montenegrin (official) 37%, Bosnian 5.3%, Albanian 5.3%, Serbo-Croat 2%, other 3.5%, unspecified 4% (2011 est.)
Languages / major-language sample(s): Knjiga svetskih činjenica, neophodan izvor osnovnih informacija. (Serbian) Knjiga svjetskih činjenica, neophodan izvor osnovnih informacija. (Montenegrin/Bosnian) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
Religions: Orthodox 72.1%, Muslim 19.1%, Catholic 3.4%, atheist 1.2%, other 1.5%, unspecified 2.6% (2011 est.)
Age structure / 0-14 years: 17.7% (male 54,608/female 51,594)
Age structure / 15-64 years: 64.4% (male 192,631/female 193,515)
Age structure / 65 years and over: 17.9% (2024 est.) (male 47,243/female 60,258)
Dependency ratios / total dependency ratio: 55.3 (2024 est.)
Dependency ratios / youth dependency ratio: 27.5 (2024 est.)
Dependency ratios / elderly dependency ratio: 27.8 (2024 est.)
Dependency ratios / potential support ratio: 3.6 (2024 est.)
Median age / total: 41.5 years (2025 est.)
Median age / male: 39.5 years
Median age / female: 42.5 years
Population growth rate: -0.46% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 10.77 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 10.29 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: -5.03 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution: highest population density is concentrated in the south and southwest; the extreme eastern border is the least populated area
Urbanization / urban population: 68.5% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 0.45% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 177,000 PODGORICA (capital) (2018)
Sex ratio / at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 65 years and over: 0.78 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth: 26.3 years (2010 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio: 6 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Infant mortality rate / total: 3.1 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Infant mortality rate / male: 2.7 deaths/1,000 live births
Infant mortality rate / female: 3.7 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth / total population: 78.2 years (2024 est.)
Life expectancy at birth / male: 75.8 years
Life expectancy at birth / female: 80.7 years
Total fertility rate: 1.8 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 0.88 (2025 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: urban: urban: 99.2% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: rural: rural: 98.2% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: total: total: 98.9% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: urban: urban: 0.8% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: rural: rural: 1.8% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: total: total: 1.1% of population (2022 est.)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 10.6% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 16.3% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density: 2.78 physicians/1,000 population (2023)
Hospital bed density: 3.8 beds/1,000 population (2020 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: urban: urban: 100% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: rural: rural: 93.9% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: total: total: 98.1% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: urban: urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: rural: rural: 6.1% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: total: total: 1.9% of population (2022 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 23.3% (2016)
Alcohol consumption per capita / total: 9.91 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / beer: 3.83 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / wine: 2.68 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / spirits: 3.22 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / other alcohols: 0.16 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Tobacco use / total: 31.6% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / male: 29.9% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / female: 33.1% (2025 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 3.7% (2018 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49): 57.6% (2018 est.)
Child marriage / women married by age 15: 1.9% (2018)
Child marriage / women married by age 18: 5.8% (2018)
Child marriage / men married by age 18: 3.2% (2018)
Literacy / total population: 98.5% (2018 est.)
Literacy / male: 99.2% (2018 est.)
Literacy / female: 97.9% (2018 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / total: 16 years (2023 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / male: 15 years (2023 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / female: 16 years (2023 est.)

## Environment
Environmental issues: pollution of coastal waters from sewage outlets; serious air pollution in some cities from lignite power plants and household use of coal and wood for heating
International environmental agreements / party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
International environmental agreements / signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Climate: Mediterranean climate, hot dry summers and autumns and relatively cold winters with heavy snowfalls inland
Land use / agricultural land: 19.6% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 0.7% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 0.4% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 18.5% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 61.5% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 18.9% (2023 est.)
Urbanization / urban population: 68.5% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 0.45% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / total emissions: 2.808 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from coal and metallurgical coke: 1.543 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from petroleum and other liquids: 1.265 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Particulate matter emissions: 17.9 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Waste and recycling / municipal solid waste generated annually: 329,800 tons (2024 est.)
Waste and recycling / percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 6.4% (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / municipal: 121.32 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / industrial: 2.079 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / agricultural: 6.76 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: none
Country name / conventional short form: Montenegro
Country name / local long form: none
Country name / local short form: Crna Gora
Country name / former: People's Republic of Montenegro, Socialist Republic of Montenegro, Republic of Montenegro
Country name / etymology: the name in Italian means "dark mountain" and is a translation of the Serbo-Croatian name Crna Gora; both refer to the dark coniferous forests in the mountainous region
Government type: parliamentary republic
Capital / name: Podgorica
Capital / geographic coordinates: 42 26 N, 19 16 E
Capital / time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Capital / daylight saving time: +1 hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October
Capital / etymology: the Slavic name translates as "under the mountain," from pod (under) and gora (mountain)
Administrative divisions: 25 municipalities ( opstine , singular - opstina ); Andrijevica, Bar, Berane, Bijelo Polje, Budva, Cetinje, Danilovgrad, Gusinje, Herceg Novi, Kolasin, Kotor, Mojkovac, Niksic, Petnjica, Plav, Pljevlja, Pluzine, Podgorica, Rozaje, Savnik, Tivat, Tuzi, Ulcinj, Zabljak, Zeta
Legal system: civil law
Constitution / history: several previous; latest adopted 22 October 2007
Constitution / amendment process: proposed by the president of Montenegro, by the government, or by at least 25 members of the Assembly; passage of draft proposals requires two-thirds majority vote of the Assembly, followed by a public hearing; passage of draft amendments requires two-thirds majority vote of the Assembly; changes to certain constitutional articles, such as sovereignty, state symbols, citizenship, and constitutional change procedures, require three-fifths majority vote in a referendum
International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Citizenship / citizenship by birth: no
Citizenship / citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Montenegro
Citizenship / dual citizenship recognized: no
Citizenship / residency requirement for naturalization: 10 years
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch / chief of state: President Jakov MILATOVIC (since 20 May 2023)
Executive branch / head of government: Prime Minister Milojko SPAJIC (since 31 October 2023)
Executive branch / cabinet: ministers serve as the cabinet
Executive branch / election/appointment process: president directly elected by absolute-majority popular vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); prime minister nominated by the president, approved by the Assembly
Executive branch / most recent election date: 19 March 2023, with a runoff on 2 April 2023
Executive branch / election results: 2023: Jakov MILATOVIC elected president in second round; percent of vote in first round - Milo DUKANOVIC (DPS) 35.4%, Jakov MILATOVIC (Europe Now!) 28.9%, Andrija MANDIC (DF) 19.3%, Aleksa BECIC (DCG) 11.1%, other 5.3%; percent of vote in second round - Jakov MILATOVIC 58.9%, Milo DUKANOVIC 41.1% 2018: Milo DJUKANOVIC elected president in first round; percent of vote - Milo DJUKANOVIC (DPS) 53.9%, Mladen BOJANIC (independent) 33.4%, Draginja VUKSANOVIC (SDP) 8.2%, Marko MILACIC (PRAVA) 2.8%, other 1.7%
Executive branch / expected date of next election: 2028
Legislative branch / legislature name: Parliament (Skupstina)
Legislative branch / legislative structure: unicameral
Legislative branch / number of seats: 81 (all directly elected)
Legislative branch / electoral system: proportional representation
Legislative branch / scope of elections: full renewal
Legislative branch / term in office: 4 years
Legislative branch / most recent election date: 6/11/2023
Legislative branch / parties elected and seats per party: Europe now! (Evropa sad) (24); Together! For the future that belongs to you (DPS – SD – DUA – LP - UDSh) (21); For the future of Montenegro (New Serb Democracy; Democratic People’s Party of Montenegro, Labour Party) (13); Bravery counts! (HRABRO se broji!) (11); It’s clear! (Jasno je!) – Bosniak Party (6); Other (6)
Legislative branch / percentage of women in chamber: 27.2%
Legislative branch / expected date of next election: June 2027
Judicial branch / highest court(s): Supreme Court or Vrhovni Sud (consists of the court president, deputy president, and 15 judges); Constitutional Court or Ustavni Sud (consists of the court president and 7 judges)
Judicial branch / judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court president proposed by general session of the Supreme Court and elected by the Judicial Council, a 9-member body consisting of judges, lawyers designated by the Assembly, and the minister of judicial affairs; Supreme Court president elected for a single renewable, 5-year term; other judges elected by the Judicial Council for life; Constitutional Court judges - 2 proposed by the president of Montenegro and 5 by the Assembly, and elected by the Assembly; court president elected from among the court members; court president elected for a 3-year term, other judges serve 9-year terms
Judicial branch / subordinate courts: Administrative Courts; Appellate Court; Commercial Courts; High Courts; basic courts
Political parties: Albanian Alliance (electoral coalition includes FORCA, PD, DSCG) Albanian Alternative or AA Albanian Democratic League or LDSH Albanian Forum (electoral coalition includes AA, LDSH, UDSH) Aleksa and Dritan - Count Bravely! (electoral coalition includes Democrats, URA) Bosniak Party or BS Civic Movement United Reform Action or United Reform Action or URA Croatian Civic Initiative or HGI Democratic Alliance or DEMOS Democratic League in Montenegro or DSCG Democratic Montenegro or Democrats Democratic Party of Socialists or DPS Democratic People's Party or DNP Democratic Union of Albanians or UDSH Europe Now! For the Future of Montenegro or ZBCG (coalition includes NSD, DNP, RP) Liberal Party or LP New Democratic Power or FORCA New Serb Democracy or NSD or NOVA Social Democrats or SD Socialist People's Party or SNP Together! (electoral coalition includes DPS, SD, LP, UDSH) United Montenegro or UCG (split from DEMOS) Workers' Party or RP
Diplomatic representation in the US / chief of mission: Ambassador Jovan MIRKOVIĆ (since 18 September 2024)
Diplomatic representation in the US / chancery: 1610 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC, 20009
Diplomatic representation in the US / telephone: [1] (202) 234-6108
Diplomatic representation in the US / FAX: [1] (202) 234-6109
Diplomatic representation in the US / email address and website: usa@mfa.gov.me United States of America - Embassies and consulates of Montenegro and visa regimes for foreign citizens (www.gov.me)
Diplomatic representation in the US / consulate(s) general: New York
Diplomatic representation from the US / chief of mission: Ambassador Judy Rising REINKE (since 20 December 2018)
Diplomatic representation from the US / embassy: Dzona Dzeksona 2, 81000 Podgorica
Diplomatic representation from the US / mailing address: 5570 Podgorica Place, Washington DC 20521-5570
Diplomatic representation from the US / telephone: [382] (0) 20-410-500
Diplomatic representation from the US / FAX: [382] (0) 20-241-358
Diplomatic representation from the US / email address and website: PodgoricaACS@state.gov https://me.usembassy.gov/
International organization participation: CE, CEI, EAPC, EBRD, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NATO, OAS (observer), OIF (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, SELEC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNHRC, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Independence: 3 June 2006 (from the State Union of Serbia and Montenegro); notable earlier dates: 13 March 1852 (Principality of Montenegro established); 13 July 1878 (Congress of Berlin recognizes Montenegrin independence); 28 August 1910 (Kingdom of Montenegro established)
National holiday: Statehood Day, 13 July (1878, 1941)
Flag: description: a red field bordered with a narrow golden-yellow stripe; the Montenegrin coat of arms in the center is a double-headed golden eagle, with a crown above; the eagle holds a golden scepter in its right claw and a blue orb in its left; the eagle's breast shield shows a golden lion on a green field in front of a blue sky meaning: the eagle symbolizes the unity of church and state; the lion is a symbol of episcopal authority, a reference to the three-and-a-half centuries when Montenegro was ruled as a theocracy
National symbol(s): double-headed eagle
National color(s): red, gold
National anthem(s) / title: "Oj, svijetla majska zoro" (Oh, Bright Dawn of May)
National anthem(s) / lyrics/music: Sekula DRLJEVIC/unknown, arranged by Zarko MIKOVIC
National anthem(s) / history: adopted 2004; music based on a Montenegrin folk song
National heritage / total World Heritage Sites: 4 (3 cultural, 1 natural)
National heritage / selected World Heritage Site locales: Natural and Culturo-Historical Region of Kotor (c); Durmitor National Park (n); Stećci Medieval Tombstones Graveyards (c); Fortified City of Kotor Venetian Defense Works (c)

## Economy
Economic overview: upper-middle-income, small Balkan economy; uses euro as de facto currency; reduced growth due to slowdown in tourism and industrial production; new impetus for EU accession under Europe Now government; energy price cap and declining food and services prices easing inflation rate
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $17.375 billion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $16.862 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $15.857 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2024: 3% (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2023: 6.3% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2022: 6.4% (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2024: $27,900 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2023: $27,000 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2022: $25,400 (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $8.07 billion (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024: 3.3% (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023: 8.6% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 13% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / agriculture: 5.2% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / industry: 11.6% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / services: 62.1% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / household consumption: 76.3% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / government consumption: 17.9% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in fixed capital: 20.2% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in inventories: 8.3% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / exports of goods and services: 44.9% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / imports of goods and services: -67.5% (2024 est.)
Agricultural products: milk, potatoes, watermelons, grapes, sheep milk, cabbages, oranges, eggs, goat milk, figs (2023)
Industries: steelmaking, aluminum, agricultural processing, consumer goods, tourism
Industrial production growth rate: -1.7% (2024 est.)
Labor force: 245,300 (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2024: 14.1% (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2023: 14.7% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2022: 14.9% (2022 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / total: 25.9% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / male: 27.5% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / female: 23.6% (2024 est.)
Population below poverty line: 20.3% (2021 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income / Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2021: 34.3 (2021 est.)
Average household expenditures / on food: 24.8% of household expenditures (2022 est.)
Average household expenditures / on alcohol and tobacco: 5.6% of household expenditures (2022 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / lowest 10%: 2.1% (2021 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / highest 10%: 24.7% (2021 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2024: 10.6% of GDP (2024 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2023: 10.7% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2022: 13.3% of GDP (2022 est.)
Budget / revenues: $1.463 billion (2015 est.)
Budget / expenditures: $1.491 billion (2015 est.)
Public debt / Public debt 2017: 67.2% of GDP (2017 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2024: -$1.406 billion (2024 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2023: -$851.525 million (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2022: -$817.858 million (2022 est.)
Exports / Exports 2024: $3.629 billion (2024 est.)
Exports / Exports 2023: $3.769 billion (2023 est.)
Exports / Exports 2022: $3.177 billion (2022 est.)
Exports - partners: Italy 38%, Serbia 13%, Spain 6%, Slovenia 5%, Bosnia & Herzegovina 4% (2023)
Exports - commodities: electricity, aluminum, copper ore, aluminum ore, packaged medicine (2023)
Imports / Imports 2024: $5.478 billion (2024 est.)
Imports / Imports 2023: $5.167 billion (2023 est.)
Imports / Imports 2022: $4.614 billion (2022 est.)
Imports - partners: Serbia 21%, China 10%, Germany 8%, Croatia 6%, Italy 6% (2023)
Imports - commodities: refined petroleum, cars, electricity, packaged medicine, aluminum (2023)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024: $1.741 billion (2024 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023: $1.574 billion (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $2.041 billion (2022 est.)
Debt - external / Debt - external 2023: $3.643 billion (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Currency: euros (EUR) per US dollar -
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2024: 0.924 (2024 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2023: 0.925 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2022: 0.951 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2021: 0.845 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2020: 0.877 (2020 est.)

## Energy
Electricity access / electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)
Electricity / installed generating capacity: 1.082 million kW (2023 est.)
Electricity / consumption: 2.719 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / exports: 6.288 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / imports: 5.421 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / transmission/distribution losses: 601.023 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / fossil fuels: 39.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / solar: 0.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / wind: 7.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / hydroelectricity: 53% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Coal / production: 1.862 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / consumption: 1.658 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / exports: 205,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / imports: 2.8 metric tons (2022 est.)
Coal / proven reserves: 337 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum / refined petroleum consumption: 9,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Energy consumption per capita / Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 63.407 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

## Communications
Telephones - fixed lines / total subscriptions: 190,000 (2023 est.)
Telephones - fixed lines / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 30 (2023 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / total subscriptions: 1.31 million (2023 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 203 (2022 est.)
Broadcast media: state-funded national radio and TV broadcaster operates 2 terrestrial TV networks, 1 satellite TV channel, and 2 radio networks; 4 local public TV stations and 14 private TV stations; 14 local public radio stations, 35 private radio stations, and several online media (2019)
Internet country code: .me
Internet users / percent of population: 90% (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / total: 203,000 (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 32 (2023 est.)

## Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: 4O
Airports: 5 (2025)
Heliports: 1 (2025)
Railways / total: 250 km (2017)
Railways / standard gauge: 250 km (2017) 1.435-m gauge (224 km electrified)
Merchant marine / total: 18 (2023)
Merchant marine / by type: bulk carrier 4, other 14
Ports / total ports: 4 (2024)
Ports / large: 0
Ports / medium: 0
Ports / small: 1
Ports / very small: 3
Ports / ports with oil terminals: 1
Ports / key ports: Bar, Kotor, Risan, Tivat

## Military and Security
Military and security forces: Army of Montenegro (Vojska Crne Gore or VCG): Ground Forces, Air Force, Navy Ministry of Interior: Police Directorate of Montenegro (2025)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2025: 2% of GDP (2025 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2024: 1.7% of GDP (2024 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2023: 1.5% of GDP (2023 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2022: 1.4% of GDP (2022 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2021: 1.6% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military and security service personnel strengths: approximately 2,000 active-duty military personnel (2025)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the military's inventory is small and consists largely of Soviet-era equipment inherited from the former Yugoslavia military, along with a limited but growing mix of imported Western systems (2025)
Military service age and obligation: 18-30 for voluntary military service; conscription abolished in 2006 (2025)
Military - note: the Army of Montenegro is responsible for the defense of Montenegro&rsquo;s sovereignty and territorial integrity, cooperating in international and multinational security, and assisting civil authorities during emergencies such as natural disasters; since Montenegro joined NATO in 2017, another focus has been integrating into the Alliance, including adapting NATO standards for planning and professionalization, structural reforms, and modernization by replacing its Soviet-era equipment; the Army trains and exercises with NATO partners and actively supports NATO missions and operations, committing small numbers of troops in Afghanistan, Kosovo, and NATO&rsquo;s Enhanced Forward Presence mission in Eastern Europe; a few personnel have also been deployed on EU- and UN-led operations (2025)

## Terrorism

## Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons / refugees: 18,820 (2024 est.)
Refugees and internally displaced persons / stateless persons: 423 (2024 est.)

=== North Macedonia ===

## Introduction
Background: North Macedonia gained its independence peacefully from Yugoslavia in 1991 under the name of "Macedonia." Greece objected to the new country’s name, insisting it implied territorial pretensions to the northern Greek province of Macedonia, and democratic backsliding for several years stalled North Macedonia's movement toward Euro-Atlantic integration. Immediately after Macedonia declared independence, Greece sought to block its efforts to gain UN membership if the name "Macedonia" was used. The country was eventually admitted to the UN in 1993 as "The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia," and at the same time it agreed to UN-sponsored negotiations on the name dispute. In 1995, Greece lifted a 20-month trade embargo and the two countries agreed to normalize relations, but the issue of the name remained unresolved amid ongoing negotiations. As an interim measure, the US and over 130 other nations recognized Macedonia by its constitutional name, Republic of Macedonia. Ethnic Albanian grievances over perceived political and economic inequities escalated into an armed conflict in 2001 that eventually led to the internationally brokered Ohrid Framework Agreement, which ended the fighting and established guidelines for constitutional amendments and new laws that enhanced the rights of minorities. In 2018, the government adopted a new law on languages, which elevated the Albanian language to an official language at the national level and kept the Macedonian language as the sole official language in international relations, but ties between ethnic Macedonians and ethnic Albanians remain complicated. In 2018, Macedonia and Greece signed the Prespa Agreement whereby Macedonia agreed to change its name to North Macedonia, and the agreement went in to force on 12 February 2019. North Macedonia joined NATO in 2020 after amending its constitution as agreed and opened EU accession talks in 2022 after a two-year veto by Bulgaria over identity, language, and historical disputes. The 2014 legislative and presidential election triggered a political crisis that lasted almost three years and escalated in 2015 when the opposition party began releasing wiretapped material revealing alleged widespread government corruption and abuse. The country still faces challenges, including fully implementing reforms to overcome years of democratic backsliding, stimulating economic growth and development, and fighting organized crime and corruption.

## Geography
Location: Southeastern Europe, north of Greece
Geographic coordinates: 41 50 N, 22 00 E
Map references: Europe
Area / total: 25,713 sq km
Area / land: 25,433 sq km
Area / water: 280 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly larger than Vermont; almost four times the size of Delaware
Land boundaries / total: 838 km
Land boundaries / border countries: Albania 181 km; Bulgaria 162 km; Greece 234 km; Kosovo 160 km; Serbia 101 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
Climate: warm, dry summers and autumns; relatively cold winters with heavy snowfall
Terrain: mountainous with deep basins and valleys; three large lakes, each divided by a frontier line; country bisected by the Vardar River
Elevation / highest point: Golem Korab (Maja e Korabit) 2,764 m
Elevation / lowest point: Vardar River 50 m
Elevation / mean elevation: 741 m
Natural resources: low-grade iron ore, copper, lead, zinc, chromite, manganese, nickel, tungsten, gold, silver, asbestos, gypsum, timber, arable land
Land use / agricultural land: 49.6% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 16.5% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 1.6% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 31.5% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 40.9% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 9.5% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land: 844 sq km (2016)
Major watersheds (area sq km) / Atlantic Ocean drainage: (Black Sea) Danube (795,656 sq km)
Population distribution: a fairly even distribution throughout most of the country, with urban areas attracting larger and denser populations
Natural hazards: high seismic risks
Geography - note: landlocked; major transportation corridor from Western and Central Europe to Aegean Sea and Southern Europe to Western Europe