## People and Society
Population / total: 2,137,556 (2025 est.)
Population / male: 1,065,634
Population / female: 1,071,922
Nationality / noun: Macedonian(s)
Nationality / adjective: Macedonian
Ethnic groups: Macedonian 58.4%, Albanian 24.3%, Turkish 3.9%, Romani 2.5%, Serb 1.3%, other 2.3%, no ethnic affiliation data available 7.2% (2021 est.)
Languages / Languages: Macedonian (official) 61.4%, Albanian (official) 24.3%, Turkish 3.4%, Romani 1.7%, other (includes Aromanian (Vlach) and Bosnian) 2%, unspecified 7.2% (2021 est.)
Languages / major-language sample(s): Книга на Светски Факти, неопходен извор на основни информации. (Macedonian) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
Religions: Orthodox 46.1%, Islam 32.2%, Christian 13.2%, Other 7.2%; less than 1%: atheist, Catholic, other religions, not specified, Protestant (2021 est.)
Age structure / 0-14 years: 16% (male 176,423/female 164,945)
Age structure / 15-64 years: 68.4% (male 740,649/female 719,627)
Age structure / 65 years and over: 15.6% (2024 est.) (male 147,655/female 186,323)
Dependency ratios / total dependency ratio: 46.9 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / youth dependency ratio: 23.3 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / elderly dependency ratio: 23.6 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / potential support ratio: 4.2 (2025 est.)
Median age / total: 40.9 years (2025 est.)
Median age / male: 39.4 years
Median age / female: 41.6 years
Population growth rate: 0.08% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 10.07 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 9.62 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: 0.38 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: 59.5% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 0.61% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 611,000 SKOPJE (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: 1.03 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.)
Mother's mean age at first birth: 26.9 years (2020 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio: 3 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Infant mortality rate / total: 6.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Infant mortality rate / male: 7.9 deaths/1,000 live births
Infant mortality rate / female: 6 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth / total population: 77.3 years (2024 est.)
Life expectancy at birth / male: 75.3 years
Life expectancy at birth / female: 79.6 years
Total fertility rate: 1.53 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 0.74 (2025 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: urban: urban: 98.1% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: rural: rural: 97.4% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: total: total: 97.8% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: urban: urban: 1.9% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: rural: rural: 2.6% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: total: total: 2.2% of population (2022 est.)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 8.5% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 12.4% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density: 2.94 physicians/1,000 population (2022)
Hospital bed density: 4.2 beds/1,000 population (2020 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: urban: urban: 100% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: rural: rural: 98.6% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: total: total: 99.4% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: urban: urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: rural: rural: 1.4% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: total: total: 0.6% of population (2022 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 22.4% (2016)
Alcohol consumption per capita / total: 3.9 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / beer: 1.93 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / wine: 1.03 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / spirits: 0.9 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / other alcohols: 0.03 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 0.9% (2019 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49): 66.1% (2021 est.)
Child marriage / women married by age 15: 0.3% (2019)
Child marriage / women married by age 18: 7.5% (2019)
Literacy / female: 97.8% (2018 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / total: 15 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 pollution from metallurgical plants, smoke from wood-burning stoves, and vehicle emissions
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, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
International environmental agreements / signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Climate: warm, dry summers and autumns; relatively cold winters with heavy snowfall
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.)
Urbanization / urban population: 59.5% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 0.61% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / total emissions: 7.369 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from coal and metallurgical coke: 3.014 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from petroleum and other liquids: 3.682 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from consumed natural gas: 673,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Particulate matter emissions: 28.7 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Waste and recycling / municipal solid waste generated annually: 627,000 tons (2024 est.)
Waste and recycling / percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 4.9% (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / municipal: 305.4 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / industrial: 31.54 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / agricultural: 139 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total renewable water resources: 6.4 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: Republic of North Macedonia
Country name / conventional short form: North Macedonia
Country name / local long form: Republika Severna Makedonija
Country name / local short form: Severna Makedonija
Country name / former: Democratic Federal Macedonia, People's Republic of Macedonia, Socialist Republic of Macedonia, Republic of Macedonia
Country name / etymology: the name derives from the ancient kingdom of Macedon (7th to 2nd centuries B.C.), whose name origin is unclear; it may derive from the mythological Macedon, the son of the Greek god Zeus; alternatively, it may come from the Greek word makednos , meaning "tail," or the Illyrian word maketia , meaning "cattle"
Government type: parliamentary republic
Capital / name: Skopje
Capital / geographic coordinates: 42 00 N, 21 26 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 Illyrian or Macedonian origin, and the meaning is unclear; derives from Scupi, its name during the Roman era
Administrative divisions: 80 municipalities ( opstini , singular - opstina ) and 1 city* ( grad ); Aracinovo, Berovo, Bitola, Bogdanci, Bogovinje, Bosilovo, Brvenica, Caska, Centar Zupa, Cesinovo-Oblesevo, Cucer Sandevo, Debar, Debarca, Delcevo, Demir Hisar, Demir Kapija, Dojran, Dolneni, Gevgelija, Gostivar, Gradsko, Ilinden, Jegunovce, Karbinci, Kavadarci, Kicevo, Kocani, Konce, Kratovo, Kriva Palanka, Krivogastani, Krusevo, Kumanovo, Lipkovo, Lozovo, Makedonska Kamenica, Makedonski Brod, Mavrovo i Rostuse, Mogila, Negotino, Novaci, Novo Selo, Ohrid, Pehcevo, Petrovec, Plasnica, Prilep, Probistip, Radovis, Rankovce, Resen, Rosoman, Skopje*, Sopiste, Staro Nagoricane, Stip, Struga, Strumica, Studenicani, Sveti Nikole, Tearce, Tetovo, Valandovo, Vasilevo, Veles, Vevcani, Vinica, Vrapciste, Zelenikovo, Zelino, Zrnovci *the Greater Skopje area is composed of 10 municipalities: Aerodrom, Butel, Centar, Chair, Gazi Baba, Gjorce Petrov, Karposh, Kisela Voda, Saraj, and Shuto Orizari
Legal system: civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts
Constitution / history: several previous (since 1944); latest adopted 17 November 1991, effective 20 November 1991
Constitution / amendment process: proposed by the president of the republic, by the government, by at least 30 members of the Assembly, or by petition of at least 150,000 citizens; final approval requires a 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: at least one parent must be a citizen of North Macedonia
Citizenship / dual citizenship recognized: no
Citizenship / residency requirement for naturalization: 8 years
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch / chief of state: President Gordana SILJANOVSKA-DAVKOVA (since 12 May 2024)
Executive branch / head of government: Prime Minister Hristijan MICKOSKI (since 23 June 2024)
Executive branch / cabinet: Council of Ministers elected by the Assembly by simple majority vote
Executive branch / election/appointment process: president directly elected using a modified 2-round system; a candidate can only be elected in the first round with an absolute majority from all registered voters; in the second round, voter turnout must be at least 40% for the result to be valid; president elected for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); following legislative elections, the Assembly usually elects the leader of the majority party or majority coalition as prime minister
Executive branch / most recent election date: 24 April and 8 May 2024
Executive branch / election results: 2024: Hristijan MICKOSKI elected prime minister; Assembly vote - 77 for, 22 against 2024: Gordana SILJANOVSKA-DAVKOVA elected president in the second round; percent of vote - Gordana SILJANOVSKA-DAVKOVA (VMRO-DPMNE) 69%, Stevo PENDAROVSKI (SDSM) 31% 2024: Talat XHAFERI elected caretaker prime minister; Assembly vote - 65 for (opposition boycott) 2022: Dimitar KOVACEVSKI elected prime minister; Assembly vote - NA
Executive branch / expected date of next election: 2029
Legislative branch / legislature name: Assembly of the Republic (Sobranie)
Legislative branch / legislative structure: unicameral
Legislative branch / number of seats: 123 (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: 5/8/2024
Legislative branch / parties elected and seats per party: Coalition "Your Macedonia" (led by VMRO-DPMNE) (58); Coalition "European Front" (led by the Democratic Union for Integration – DUI) (18); Coalition "For a European Future" (led by the Social Democratic Union of Macedonia – SDSM) (18); Coalition VLEN (14); ZNAM (Movement "I know": For our Macedonia) (6); The Left (Levica) (6)
Legislative branch / percentage of women in chamber: 39.2%
Legislative branch / expected date of next election: May 2028
Judicial branch / highest court(s): Supreme Court (consists of 22 judges); Constitutional Court (consists of 9 judges)
Judicial branch / judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court judges nominated by the Judicial Council, a 7-member body of legal professionals, and appointed by the Assembly; judge tenure NA; Constitutional Court judges appointed by the Assembly for nonrenewable, 9-year terms
Judicial branch / subordinate courts: Courts of Appeal; Basic Courts
Political parties: Alliance for Albanians or AfA or ASH Alternative (Alternativa) or AAA Besa Movement or BESA Citizen Option for Macedonia or GROM Democratic Alliance or DS Democratic Movement or LD Democratic Party of Albanians or PDSH Democratic Party of Serbs or DPSM Democratic Renewal of Macedonia or DOM Democratic Union for Integration or BDI European Democratic Party or PDE Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization - Democratic Party for Macedonian National Unity or VMRO-DPMNE Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization - People's Party or VMRO-NP Liberal Democratic Party or LDP New Social-Democratic Party or NSDP Social Democratic Union of Macedonia or SDSM Socialist Party of Macedonia or SPM Srpska Stranka in Macedonia or SSM The Left (Levica) The People Movement or LP Turkish Democratic Party or TDP Turkish Movement Party or THP We Can! (coalition includes SDSM/BESA/VMRO-NP, DPT, LDP)
Diplomatic representation in the US / chief of mission: Ambassador Zoran POPOV (since 16 September 2022)
Diplomatic representation in the US / chancery: 2129 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation in the US / telephone: [1] (202) 667-0501
Diplomatic representation in the US / FAX: [1] (202) 667-2104
Diplomatic representation in the US / email address and website: washington@mfa.gov.mk United States (mfa.gov.mk)
Diplomatic representation in the US / consulate(s) general: Chicago, Detroit, New York
Diplomatic representation from the US / chief of mission: Ambassador Angela AGGELER (since 8 November 2022)
Diplomatic representation from the US / embassy: Str. Samoilova, Nr. 21, 1000 Skopje
Diplomatic representation from the US / mailing address: 7120 Skopje Place, Washington, DC 20521-7120
Diplomatic representation from the US / telephone: [389] (2) 310-2000
Diplomatic representation from the US / FAX: [389] (2) 310-2499
Diplomatic representation from the US / email address and website: SkopjeACS@state.gov https://mk.usembassy.gov/
International organization participation: BIS, CD, CE, CEI, EAPC, EBRD, EU (candidate country), FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NATO, OAS (observer), OIF, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, SELEC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Independence: 8 September 1991 (referendum endorsed independence from Yugoslavia)
National holiday: Independence Day, 8 September (1991), also known as National Day
Flag: description: a red field with a yellow sun (the Sun of Liberty) in the center, with eight broadening rays extending to the edges meaning: the red and yellow colors have long been associated with Macedonia
National symbol(s): eight-rayed sun
National color(s): red, yellow
National anthem(s) / title: "Denes nad Makedonija" (Today Over Macedonia)
National anthem(s) / lyrics/music: Vlado MALESKI/Todor SKALOVSKI
National anthem(s) / history: written in 1943 and adopted in 1991, the song previously served as the anthem of the Socialist Republic of Macedonia, when it was part of Yugoslavia
National heritage / total World Heritage Sites: 2 (both natural)
National heritage / selected World Heritage Site locales: Natural and Cultural Heritage of the Ohrid Region; Ancient and Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians

## Economy
Economic overview: upper-middle-income European economy; GDP growth driven by private consumption, public infrastructure investments, and wage growth; stalled progress on EU accession; public debt rising due to high pensions, wages, and interest payments; structural challenges of emigration, low productivity growth, and governance
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $43.844 billion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $42.668 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $41.801 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: 2.1% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2022: 2.8% (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2024: $24,500 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2023: $23,300 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2022: $22,800 (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $16.685 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: 9.4% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 14.2% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / agriculture: 6% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / industry: 22.7% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / services: 59.2% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / household consumption: 67.9% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / government consumption: 16.8% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in fixed capital: 28.4% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in inventories: 0% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / exports of goods and services: 62.7% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / imports of goods and services: -75.8% (2024 est.)
Agricultural products: chillies/peppers, milk, wheat, potatoes, grapes, barley, cabbages, maize, watermelons, tomatoes (2023)
Industries: food processing, beverages, textiles, chemicals, iron, steel, cement, energy, pharmaceuticals, automotive parts
Industrial production growth rate: 1.8% (2024 est.)
Labor force: 779,200 (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2024: 13.5% (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2023: 13.2% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2022: 14.5% (2022 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / total: 30.3% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / male: 29.2% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / female: 32.3% (2024 est.)
Population below poverty line: 21.8% (2019 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income / Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2019: 33.5 (2019 est.)
Average household expenditures / on food: 30.6% 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%: 1.9% (2019 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / highest 10%: 22.9% (2019 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2024: 2.7% of GDP (2024 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2023: 2.9% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2022: 3.3% of GDP (2022 est.)
Budget / revenues: $4.787 billion (2023 est.)
Budget / expenditures: $5.514 billion (2023 est.)
Public debt / Public debt 2017: 39.3% of GDP (2017 est.)
Taxes and other revenues: 17.9% (of GDP) (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2024: -$374.385 million (2024 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2023: $56.573 million (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2022: -$868.965 million (2022 est.)
Exports / Exports 2024: $10.445 billion (2024 est.)
Exports / Exports 2023: $10.691 billion (2023 est.)
Exports / Exports 2022: $10.123 billion (2022 est.)
Exports - partners: Germany 39%, Serbia 8%, Bulgaria 6%, Greece 5%, Czechia 3% (2023)
Exports - commodities: reaction and catalytic products, insulated wire, electricity, garments, seats (2023)
Imports / Imports 2024: $12.644 billion (2024 est.)
Imports / Imports 2023: $12.748 billion (2023 est.)
Imports / Imports 2022: $13.009 billion (2022 est.)
Imports - partners: UK 12%, Germany 10%, Greece 9%, China 9%, Serbia 8% (2023)
Imports - commodities: platinum, refined petroleum, laboratory ceramic ware, cars, natural gas (2023)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024: $5.252 billion (2024 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023: $5.015 billion (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $4.12 billion (2022 est.)
Debt - external / Debt - external 2023: $5.637 billion (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Currency: Macedonian denars (MKD) per US dollar -
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2024: 56.873 (2024 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2023: 56.947 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2022: 58.574 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2021: 52.102 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2020: 54.144 (2020 est.)

## Energy
Electricity access / electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)
Electricity / installed generating capacity: 2.467 million kW (2023 est.)
Electricity / consumption: 5.896 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / exports: 7.081 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / imports: 7.232 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / transmission/distribution losses: 993.662 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / fossil fuels: 68.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / solar: 4.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / wind: 2.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / hydroelectricity: 24% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / biomass and waste: 0.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Coal / production: 4 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / consumption: 5.344 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / exports: 58,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / imports: 41,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / proven reserves: 332 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum / refined petroleum consumption: 24,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Natural gas / consumption: 348.078 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / imports: 347.981 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
Energy consumption per capita / Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 56.104 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

## Communications
Telephones - fixed lines / total subscriptions: 439,000 (2022 est.)
Telephones - fixed lines / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 24 (2022 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / total subscriptions: 1.98 million (2024 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 108 (2024 est.)
Broadcast media: public TV broadcaster Macedonian Radio and Television operates 5 national terrestrial TV channels and 2 satellite TV channels; 11 regional TV stations broadcast nationally; 29 regional and local broadcasters; a large number of cable operators offer domestic and international programming; the public radio broadcaster operates 3 stations; 4 privately owned national radio stations and 60 regional and local operators (2023)
Internet country code: .mk
Internet users / percent of population: 87% (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / total: 515,000 (2022 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 28 (2022 est.)

## Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: Z3
Airports: 13 (2025)
Heliports: 13 (2025)
Railways / total: 699 km (2020) 313 km electrified

## Military and Security
Military and security forces: Army of the Republic of North Macedonia (ARSM or ARNM): joint force with air, ground, reserve, special operations, and support forces (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: 1.6% of GDP (2022 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2021: 1.5% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military and security service personnel strengths: approximately 6,000 active military personnel (2025)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the military's inventory is a mix of Russian/Soviet-era armaments and growing quantities of more modern equipment from countries such as T&uuml;rkiye, the UK, and the US (2025)
Military service age and obligation: 18 years of age for voluntary military service; conscription abolished in 2007 (2025)
Military - note: the Army of the Republic of North Macedonia (ARSM) is responsible for the defense of the country&rsquo;s territory and independence, fulfilling North Macedonia&rsquo;s commitments to NATO and European security, and contributing to EU, NATO, and UN peace and security missions; the ARSM has participated in multinational missions and operations in Afghanistan (NATO), Bosnia and Herzegovina (EU), Eastern Europe (NATO), Iraq (NATO), Kosovo (NATO), and Lebanon (UN); a key area of focus over the past decade has been improving capabilities and bringing the largely Soviet-era-equipped ARSM up to NATO standards; it has increased its participation in NATO training exercises since becoming the 30th member of the Alliance in 2020 and currently has small numbers of combat troops deployed to Bulgaria and Romania as part of NATO&rsquo;s Enhance Forward Presence mission implemented because of Russian military aggression against Ukraine (2025)

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

## Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons / refugees: 20,937 (2024 est.)
Refugees and internally displaced persons / stateless persons: 159 (2024 est.)

=== Monaco ===

## Introduction
Background: The Genoese built a fortress on the site of present-day Monaco in 1215. The current ruling GRIMALDI family first seized control in 1297 but was not able to permanently secure its holding until 1419. Economic development was spurred in the late 19th century with a railroad linkup to France and the opening of a casino. Since then, the principality's mild climate, coastal Mediterranean scenery, and gambling facilities have made Monaco world-famous as a tourist and recreation center.

## Geography
Location: Western Europe, bordering the Mediterranean Sea on the southern coast of France, near the border with Italy
Geographic coordinates: 43 44 N, 7 24 E
Map references: Europe
Area / total: 2 sq km
Area / land: 2 sq km
Area / water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative: about three times the size of the National Mall in Washington, D.C.
Land boundaries / total: 6 km
Land boundaries / border countries: France 6 km
Coastline: 4.1 km
Maritime claims / territorial sea: 12 nm
Maritime claims / exclusive economic zone: 12 nm
Climate: Mediterranean with mild, wet winters and hot, dry summers
Terrain: hilly, rugged, rocky
Elevation / highest point: Chemin des Revoires on Mont Agel 162 m
Elevation / lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m
Natural resources: none
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: 1% (2018 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 0% (2018 est.)
Land use / forest: 0% (2022 est.)
Land use / other: 100% (2022 est.)
Irrigated land: 0 sq km (2022)
Population distribution: the second most densely populated country in the world (after Macau); its entire population lives on 2 sq km (0.8 sq mi)
Natural hazards: none
Geography - note: second-smallest independent state in the world (after the Holy See); smallest country with a coastline; almost entirely urban

## People and Society
Population / total: 32,047 (2025 est.)
Population / male: 15,467
Population / female: 16,580
Nationality / noun: Monegasque(s) or Monacan(s)
Nationality / adjective: Monegasque or Monacan
Ethnic groups: Monegasque 32.1%, French 19.9%, Italian 15.3%, British 5%, Belgian 2.3%, Swiss 2%, German 1.9%, Russian 1.8%, American 1.1%, Dutch 1.1%, Moroccan 1%, other 16.6% (2016 est.)
Languages / Languages: French (official), English, Italian, Monegasque
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 90% (official), other 10%
Age structure / 0-14 years: 9.1% (male 1,485/female 1,408)
Age structure / 15-64 years: 53.8% (male 8,620/female 8,490)
Age structure / 65 years and over: 37.1% (2024 est.) (male 5,261/female 6,549)
Dependency ratios / total dependency ratio: 88.7 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / youth dependency ratio: 16.6 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / elderly dependency ratio: 72.1 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / potential support ratio: 1.4 (2025 est.)
Median age / total: 57.5 years (2025 est.)
Median age / male: 55 years
Median age / female: 58.4 years
Population growth rate: 0.76% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 6.46 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 11.36 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: 12.48 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution: the second most densely populated country in the world (after Macau); its entire population lives on 2 sq km (0.8 sq mi)
Urbanization / urban population: 100% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 0.5% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 39,000 MONACO (capital) (2018)
Sex ratio / at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female
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: 0.93 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio: 5 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Infant mortality rate / total: 1.7 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Infant mortality rate / male: 2 deaths/1,000 live births
Infant mortality rate / female: 1.4 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth / total population: 89.8 years (2024 est.)
Life expectancy at birth / male: 86 years
Life expectancy at birth / female: 93.7 years
Total fertility rate: 1.55 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 0.76 (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): 3.7% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 12% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density: 8.61 physicians/1,000 population (2020)
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): 1.7% of GDP (2023 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% national budget): 7.7% national budget (2023 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / total: 21 years (2024 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / male: 20 years (2024 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / female: 22 years (2024 est.)

## Environment
International environmental agreements / party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protection, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
International environmental agreements / signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Climate: Mediterranean with mild, wet winters and hot, dry summers
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: 1% (2018 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 0% (2018 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: 0.5% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Particulate matter emissions: 9.2 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Waste and recycling / municipal solid waste generated annually: 46,000 tons (2024 est.)
Waste and recycling / percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 5.4% (2012 est.)
Total water withdrawal / municipal: 10 million cubic meters (2020 est.)
Total water withdrawal / industrial: 0 cubic meters (2017 est.)
Total water withdrawal / agricultural: 0 cubic meters (2017 est.)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: Principality of Monaco
Country name / conventional short form: Monaco
Country name / local long form: Principaut&eacute; de Monaco
Country name / local short form: Monaco
Country name / etymology: founded as a Greek colony in the 6th century B.C., the name's origin is unclear; it could derive from the Greek term monoikos (solitary), the Ligurian word monegu (rock), or the Basque word muno (mountain)
Government type: constitutional monarchy
Capital / name: Monaco
Capital / geographic coordinates: 43 44 N, 7 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: founded as a Greek colony in the 6th century B.C., the name's origin is unclear; it could derive from the Greek term monoikos (solitary), the Ligurian word monegu (rock), or the Basque word muno (mountain)
Administrative divisions: no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US government, but 4 quarters ( quartiers , singular - quartier ); Fontvieille, La Condamine, Monaco-Ville, Monte-Carlo
Legal system: civil law system influenced by French legal tradition
Constitution / history: previous 1911 (suspended 1959); latest adopted 17 December 1962
Constitution / amendment process: proposed by joint agreement of the chief of state (the prince) and the National Council; passage requires two-thirds majority vote of National Council members
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 Monaco; in the case of a child born out of wedlock, the mother must be a citizen and father unknown
Citizenship / dual citizenship recognized: no
Citizenship / residency requirement for naturalization: 10 years
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch / chief of state: Prince ALBERT II (since 6 April 2005)
Executive branch / head of government: Minister of State Christophe MIRMAND (since 21 July 2025)
Executive branch / cabinet: Council of Government under the authority of the monarch
Executive branch / election/appointment process: the monarchy is hereditary; minister of state appointed by the monarch from a list of three French national candidates presented by the French Government
Legislative branch / legislature name: National Council (Conseil national)
Legislative branch / legislative structure: unicameral
Legislative branch / number of seats: 24 (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: 2/5/2023
Legislative branch / parties elected and seats per party: Monegasque National Union - l’Union (24)
Legislative branch / percentage of women in chamber: 45.8%
Legislative branch / expected date of next election: February 2028
Judicial branch / highest court(s): Supreme Court (consists of 5 permanent members and 2 substitutes)
Judicial branch / judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court members appointed by the monarch upon the proposals of the National Council, State Council, Crown Council, Court of Appeal, and Trial Court
Judicial branch / subordinate courts: Court of Appeal; Civil Court of First Instance
Political parties: Monegasque National Union (includes Horizon Monaco, Primo!, Union Monegasque) Horizon Monaco Priorite Monaco or Primo! Union Monegasque
Diplomatic representation in the US / chief of mission: Ambassador Maguy MACCARIO DOYLE (since 3 December 2013)
Diplomatic representation in the US / chancery: 888 17th Street NW, Suite 500, Washington, DC 20006
Diplomatic representation in the US / telephone: [1] (202) 234-1530
Diplomatic representation in the US / FAX: [1] (202) 244-7656
Diplomatic representation in the US / email address and website: info@monacodc.org https://monacodc.org/index.html
Diplomatic representation in the US / consulate(s) general: New York
Diplomatic representation from the US / embassy: US does not have an embassy in Monaco; the US Ambassador to France is accredited to Monaco; the US Consul General in Marseille (France), under the authority of the US Ambassador to France, handles diplomatic and consular matters concerning Monaco; +(33)(1) 43-12-22-22, enter zero "0" after the automated greeting; US Embassy Paris, 2 Avenue Gabriel, 75008 Paris, France
International organization participation: CD, CE, FAO, IAEA, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IFRCS, IHO, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ITSO, ITU, OAS (observer), OIF, OPCW, OSCE, Schengen Convention (de facto member), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNWTO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO
Independence: 1419 (beginning of permanent rule by the House of GRIMALDI)
National holiday: National Day (Saint Rainier's Day), 19 November (1857)
Flag: description: two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and white history: uses the colors of the ruling House of Grimaldi; colors have been in use since 1339, making it one of the world's oldest national flags
National symbol(s): red and white lozenges (diamond shapes)
National color(s): red, white
National anthem(s) / title: "A Marcia de Muneghu" (The March of Monaco)
National anthem(s) / lyrics/music: Louis NOTARI/Charles ALBRECHT
National anthem(s) / history: music adopted 1867, lyrics adopted 1931; only the Monegasque lyrics are official; the French version is known as "Hymne Monegasque" (Monegasque Anthem); the words are usually only sung on official occasions

## Economy
Economic overview: high-income European economy; non-EU euro user; considered a tax haven; tourism and banking are largest sectors; negatively impacted by COVID-19; major oceanographic museum; among most expensive real estate; major state-owned enterprises
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $8.924 billion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $8.749 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $8.329 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2023: 5% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2022: 11% (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2021: 22.2% (2021 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2024: $270,100 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2023: $256,600 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2022: $226,100 (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $10.434 billion (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 5.9% (2022 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021: 2.1% (2021 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2020: 0.5% (2020 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / industry: 11.5% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / services: 88.5% (2023 est.)
Agricultural products: none
Industries: banking, insurance, tourism, construction, small-scale industrial and consumer products
Exports - partners: Italy, Switzerland, Germany, Belgium, Spain (2021)
Exports - commodities: jewelry, perfumes, watches, packaged medicines, cars (2021)
Imports - partners: Italy, Switzerland, United Kingdom, Germany, China (2021)
Imports - commodities: jewelry, cars and vehicle parts, recreational boats, plastic products, artwork (2021)
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 - fixed lines / total subscriptions: 43,000 (2023 est.)
Telephones - fixed lines / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 111 (2023 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / total subscriptions: 41,500 (2024 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 107 (2024 est.)
Broadcast media: TV Monte-Carlo operates a TV network; cable TV available; Radio Monte-Carlo has extensive radio networks in France and Italy, with French-language broadcasts to France beginning in the 1960s and Italian-language broadcasts to Italy beginning in the 1970s; other radio stations include Riviera Radio and Radio Monaco
Internet country code: .mc
Internet users / percent of population: 99% (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / total: 22,000 (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 56 (2023 est.)

## Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: 3A
Heliports: 3 (2025)
Railways: note: Monaco has a single railway station but does not operate its own train service; the French operator SNCF operates rail services in Monaco
Merchant marine / total: 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: Monaco

## Military and Security
Military and security forces: no regular military forces; Prince’s Company of Carabiniers (Compagnie des Carabiniers du Prince, Police Department (Direction de la Sûreté Publique), Fire and Emergency Service (Corps des Sapeurs-pompiers de Monaco) (2025)
Military - note: by treaty, France is responsible for defending the independence and sovereignty of Monaco

## Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons / refugees: 17 (2024 est.)

=== Malta ===

## Introduction
Background: With a civilization that dates back thousands of years, Malta boasts some of the oldest megalithic sites in the world. Situated in the center of the Mediterranean, Malta&rsquo;s islands have long served as a strategic military asset, with the islands at various times falling under the control of the Phoenicians, Carthaginians, Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, Moors, Normans, Sicilians, Spanish, Knights of St. John, and French. Most recently a British colony (since 1814), Malta gained its independence in 1964 and declared itself a republic 10 years later. While under British rule, the island staunchly supported the UK through both world wars. Since the mid-1980s, the island has transformed itself into a freight transshipment point, a financial center, and a tourist destination, as its key industries moved toward more service-oriented activities. Malta became an EU member in 2004 and joined the eurozone in 2008.

## Geography
Location: Southern Europe, islands in the Mediterranean Sea, south of Sicily (Italy)
Geographic coordinates: 35 50 N, 14 35 E
Map references: Europe
Area / total: 316 sq km
Area / land: 316 sq km
Area / water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly less than twice the size of Washington, D.C.
Land boundaries / total: 0 km
Coastline: 196.8 km (excludes 56 km for the island of Gozo)
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: 25 nm
Climate: Mediterranean; mild, rainy winters; hot, dry summers
Terrain: mostly low, rocky, flat to dissected plains; many coastal cliffs
Elevation / highest point: Ta'Dmejrek on Dingli Cliffs 253 m
Elevation / lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m
Natural resources: limestone, salt, arable land
Land use / agricultural land: 25.9% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 22.8% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 3.2% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 0% (2022 est.)
Land use / forest: 1.5% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 66.4% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land: 39 sq km (2022)
Population distribution: most of the population lives on the eastern half of Malta, the largest of the three inhabited islands
Natural hazards: occasional droughts
Geography - note: the country is an archipelago, with only the three largest islands (Malta, Ghawdex or Gozo, and Kemmuna or Comino) inhabited; numerous bays provide good harbors

## People and Society
Population / total: 521,828 (2025 est.)
Population / male: 271,180
Population / female: 250,648
Nationality / noun: Maltese (singular and plural)
Nationality / adjective: Maltese
Ethnic groups: Maltese (descendants of ancient Carthaginians and Phoenicians with strong elements of Italian and other Mediterranean stock)
Languages: Maltese (official) 90.1%, English (official) 6%, multilingual 3%, other 0.9% (2005 est.)
Religions: Roman Catholic (official) more than 90% (2006 est.)
Age structure / 0-14 years: 14.5% (male 35,034/female 33,181)
Age structure / 15-64 years: 62.4% (male 151,836/female 141,248)
Age structure / 65 years and over: 23.1% (2024 est.) (male 50,153/female 58,278)
Dependency ratios / total dependency ratio: 54.1 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / youth dependency ratio: 21.2 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / elderly dependency ratio: 32.9 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / potential support ratio: 3 (2025 est.)
Median age / total: 42.1 years (2025 est.)
Median age / male: 42.4 years
Median age / female: 44.7 years
Population growth rate: 0.65% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 7.67 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 8.65 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: 7.5 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution: most of the population lives on the eastern half of Malta, the largest of the three inhabited islands
Urbanization / urban population: 94.9% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 0.28% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 213,000 VALLETTA (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: 1.07 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 65 years and over: 0.86 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth: 29.3 years (2020 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio: 8 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Infant mortality rate / total: 4.6 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Infant mortality rate / male: 4.3 deaths/1,000 live births
Infant mortality rate / female: 4.5 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth / total population: 83.6 years (2024 est.)
Life expectancy at birth / male: 81.5 years
Life expectancy at birth / female: 85.8 years
Total fertility rate: 1.18 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 0.57 (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): 10.6% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 16.2% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density: 7.86 physicians/1,000 population (2022)
Hospital bed density: 4.4 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: 28.9% (2016)
Alcohol consumption per capita / total: 8.07 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / beer: 2.8 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / wine: 2.34 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / spirits: 2.51 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / other alcohols: 0.42 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Tobacco use / total: 22.1% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / male: 23.9% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / female: 20.2% (2025 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 0.7% (2022 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49): 52% (2021 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 (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: limited natural freshwater resources; deforestation; wildlife preservation
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, 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: Mediterranean; mild, rainy winters; hot, dry summers
Land use / agricultural land: 25.9% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 22.8% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 3.2% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 0% (2022 est.)
Land use / forest: 1.5% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 66.4% (2023 est.)
Urbanization / urban population: 94.9% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 0.28% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / total emissions: 8.965 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from petroleum and other liquids: 8.113 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from consumed natural gas: 852,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Particulate matter emissions: 13.1 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Waste and recycling / municipal solid waste generated annually: 348,800 tons (2024 est.)
Waste and recycling / percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 10.5% (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / municipal: 39.497 million cubic meters (2022)
Total water withdrawal / industrial: 1 million cubic meters (2022)
Total water withdrawal / agricultural: 21.358 million cubic meters (2022)
Total renewable water resources: 50.5 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: Republic of Malta
Country name / conventional short form: Malta
Country name / local long form: Repubblika ta' Malta
Country name / local short form: Malta
Country name / etymology: the origin is unclear; the name may come from the ancient term mel , meaning "high" and probably referring to the island's rocks; the ancient Greeks called the island "Melite," possibly from the Greek word meli, meaning "honey" and referring to the island's honey production
Government type: parliamentary republic
Capital / name: Valletta
Capital / geographic coordinates: 35 53 N, 14 30 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: named in honor of Jean Parizot de la VALETTE, the Grand Master of the Order of Saint John (crusader knights), who founded the city in 1566
Administrative divisions: 68 localities ( Il-lokalita ); Attard, Balzan, Birgu, Birkirkara, Birzebbuga, Bormla, Dingli, Fgura, Floriana, Fontana, Ghajnsielem, Gharb, Gharghur, Ghasri, Ghaxaq, Gudja, Gzira, Hamrun, Iklin, Imdina, Imgarr, Imqabba, Imsida, Imtarfa, Isla, Kalkara, Kercem, Kirkop, Lija, Luqa, Marsa, Marsaskala, Marsaxlokk, Mellieha, Mosta, Munxar, Nadur, Naxxar, Paola, Pembroke, Pieta, Qala, Qormi, Qrendi, Rabat, Rabat (Ghawdex), Safi, San Giljan/Saint Julian, San Gwann/Saint John, San Lawrenz/Saint Lawrence, Sannat, San Pawl il-Bahar/Saint Paul's Bay, Santa Lucija/Saint Lucia, Santa Venera/Saint Venera, Siggiewi, Sliema, Swieqi, Tarxien, Ta' Xbiex, Valletta, Xaghra, Xewkija, Xghajra, Zabbar, Zebbug, Zebbug (Ghawdex), Zejtun, Zurrieq
Legal system: mixed system of English common law and civil law based on the Roman and Napoleonic civil codes; subject to European Union law
Constitution / history: many previous; latest adopted 21 September 1964
Constitution / amendment process: proposals (Acts of Parliament) require at least two-thirds majority vote by the House of Representatives; passage of Acts requires majority vote by referendum, followed by final majority vote by the House and assent of 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 Malta
Citizenship / dual citizenship recognized: no
Citizenship / residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years
Suffrage: 18 years of age (16 in local council elections); universal
Executive branch / chief of state: President Myriam Spiteri DEBONO (since 4 April 2024)
Executive branch / head of government: Prime Minister Robert ABELA (since 13 January 2020)
Executive branch / cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president on the advice of the prime minister
Executive branch / election/appointment process: president indirectly elected by the House of Representatives for a single 5-year term; following legislative elections, the president usually appoints the leader of the majority party or majority coalition as prime minister for a 5-year term; deputy prime minister appointed by the president on the advice of the prime minister
Executive branch / most recent election date: 27 March 2024
Executive branch / election results: 2024: Myriam Spiteri DEBONO (PL) elected president; House of Representatives vote - unanimous 2019: George VELLA (PL) elected president; House of Representatives vote - unanimous
Executive branch / expected date of next election: by March 2029
Legislative branch / legislature name: House of Representatives (Il-Kamra Tad-Deputati)
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: 3/26/2022
Legislative branch / parties elected and seats per party: Labour Party (LP) (44); Nationalist Party (PN) (35)
Legislative branch / percentage of women in chamber: 29.1%
Legislative branch / expected date of next election: March 2027
Judicial branch / highest court(s): Court of Appeal (consists of either 1 or 3 judges); Constitutional Court (consists of 3 judges); Court of Criminal Appeal (consists of either 1 or 3 judges)
Judicial branch / judge selection and term of office: Court of Appeal and Constitutional Court judges appointed by the president, usually on the advice of the prime minister; judges of both courts serve until age 65
Judicial branch / subordinate courts: Civil Court (divided into the General Jurisdiction Section, Family Section, and Voluntary Section); Criminal Court; Court of Magistrates; Gozo Courts (for the islands of Gozo and Comino)
Political parties: AD+PD or ADPD (formed from the merger of Democratic Alternative or AD and Democratic Party (Partit Demokratiku) or PD) Labor Party (Partit Laburista) or PL Nationalist Party (Partit Nazzjonalista) or PN
Diplomatic representation in the US / chief of mission: Ambassador Godfrey C. XUEREB (since 19 April 2023)
Diplomatic representation in the US / chancery: 2017 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation in the US / telephone: [1] (771) 213-4050
Diplomatic representation in the US / FAX: [1] (202) 530-9753​
Diplomatic representation in the US / email address and website: maltaembassy.washington@gov.mt The Embassy (gov.mt)
Diplomatic representation from the US / chief of mission: Ambassador Somers FARKAS (since 26 November 2025)
Diplomatic representation from the US / embassy: Ta' Qali National Park, Attard, ATD 4000
Diplomatic representation from the US / mailing address: 5800 Valletta Place, Washington DC 20521-5800
Diplomatic representation from the US / telephone: [356] 2561-4000
Diplomatic representation from the US / email address and website: ACSMalta@state.gov https://mt.usembassy.gov/
International organization participation: Australia Group, C, CD, CE, EAPC, EBRD, ECB, EIB, EMU, EU, FAO, 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, NATO (partner), NSG, OAS (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, Schengen Convention, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, Union Latina (observer), UNWTO, UPU, Wassenaar Arrangement, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Independence: 21 September 1964 (from the UK)
National holiday: Independence Day, 21 September (1964); Republic Day, 13 December (1974)
Flag: description: two equal vertical bands of white (left side) and red; in the upper-left corner is the George Cross, edged in red history: according to legend, the colors come from the red-and-white checkered banner of Count Roger of Sicily, who removed a bicolored corner and granted it to Malta in 1091, but the colors more likely come from the Knights of Saint John, who ruled Malta from 1530 to 1798; in 1942, Britain's King George VI awarded the George Cross to the islanders for their exceptional bravery and gallantry in World War II, and the George Cross bordered in red was added to the flag after independence in 1964
National symbol(s): Maltese eight-pointed cross
National color(s): red, white
National coat of arms: Adopted in 1988, Malta’s coat of arms has a shield displaying the national flag, with olive and palm branches on each side symbolizing peace. On top of the shield is a golden crown in the shape of a fortification with five turrets, representing Malta's forts. The white ribbon below the shield displays the name Repubblika ta' Malta ( Republic of Malta ).
National anthem(s) / title: "L-Innu Malti" (The Hymn of Malta)
National anthem(s) / lyrics/music: Dun Karm PSAILA/Robert SAMMUT
National anthem(s) / history: adopted 1945; written in the form of a prayer to bind together the political parties and the country
National heritage / total World Heritage Sites: 3 (all cultural)
National heritage / selected World Heritage Site locales: City of Valletta; Ħal Saflieni Hypogeum; Megalithic Temples of Malta

## Economy
Economic overview: high-income, EU-member European economy; diversified portfolio; euro user; dependent on food and energy imports; strong tourism, trade, and manufacturing sectors; high North African immigration; large welfare system; educated workforce
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $34.731 billion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $32.774 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $30.689 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2024: 6% (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2023: 6.8% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2022: 4.3% (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2024: $60,500 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2023: $59,300 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2022: $57,800 (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $24.322 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: 5.1% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 6.2% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / agriculture: 0.2% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / industry: 11.4% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / services: 80.8% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / household consumption: 46.6% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / government consumption: 17.2% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in fixed capital: 17.9% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in inventories: 0.9% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / exports of goods and services: 123.5% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / imports of goods and services: -106.1% (2024 est.)
Agricultural products: milk, tomatoes, onions, potatoes, chicken, cauliflower/broccoli, cabbages, pork, pumpkins/squash, watermelons (2023)
Industries: tourism, electronics, ship building and repair, construction, food and beverages, pharmaceuticals, footwear, clothing, tobacco, aviation services, financial services, information technology services
Industrial production growth rate: 5.6% (2024 est.)
Labor force: 318,200 (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2024: 2.8% (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2023: 3.2% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2022: 3% (2022 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / total: 7.8% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / male: 9.6% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / female: 5.7% (2024 est.)
Population below poverty line: 16.7% (2021 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income / Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2022: 34.6 (2022 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / lowest 10%: 2.7% (2022 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / highest 10%: 27.7% (2022 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: $6.95 billion (2023 est.)
Budget / expenditures: $7.966 billion (2023 est.)
Public debt / Public debt 2017: 50.7% of GDP (2017 est.)
Taxes and other revenues: 21.9% (of GDP) (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2024: $1.383 billion (2024 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2023: $1.425 billion (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2022: -$167.611 million (2022 est.)
Exports / Exports 2024: $29.245 billion (2024 est.)
Exports / Exports 2023: $26.647 billion (2023 est.)
Exports / Exports 2022: $23.566 billion (2022 est.)
Exports - partners: Nigeria 28%, Germany 10%, China 6%, Singapore 5%, Hong Kong 4% (2023)
Exports - commodities: refined petroleum, integrated circuits, packaged medicine, ships, postage stamps/documents (2023)
Imports / Imports 2024: $24.505 billion (2024 est.)
Imports / Imports 2023: $22.637 billion (2023 est.)
Imports / Imports 2022: $21.406 billion (2022 est.)
Imports - partners: Italy 18%, China 10%, Germany 8%, France 7%, Turkey 7% (2023)
Imports - commodities: ships, refined petroleum, integrated circuits, aircraft, packaged medicine (2023)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024: $1.418 billion (2024 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023: $1.223 billion (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $1.199 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: 829,000 kW (2023 est.)
Electricity / consumption: 2.766 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / exports: 28 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / imports: 648 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / transmission/distribution losses: 199.086 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / fossil fuels: 86.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / solar: 13.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / biomass and waste: 0.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Coal / consumption: 8.4 metric tons (2021 est.)
Coal / imports: 3.9 metric tons (2022 est.)
Petroleum / refined petroleum consumption: 50,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Natural gas / consumption: 444.715 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / imports: 444.715 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
Energy consumption per capita / Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 234.698 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

## Communications
Telephones - fixed lines / total subscriptions: 259,000 (2023 est.)
Telephones - fixed lines / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 49 (2023 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / total subscriptions: 767,000 (2024 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 142 (2024 est.)
Broadcast media: 2 publicly owned TV stations, Television Malta and an educational channel; several privately owned national television stations, 2 of which are owned by political parties; Italian and British broadcast programs are available; multi-channel cable and satellite TV services are available; publicly owned radio broadcaster operates 3 stations; roughly 20 commercial radio stations (2019)
Internet country code: .mt
Internet users / percent of population: 92% (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / total: 236,000 (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 44 (2023 est.)

## Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: 9H
Airports: 1 (2025)
Heliports: 2 (2025)
Merchant marine / total: 1,957 (2023)
Merchant marine / by type: bulk carrier 490, container ship 348, general cargo 152, oil tanker 354, other 613
Ports / total ports: 2 (2024)
Ports / large: 0
Ports / medium: 1
Ports / small: 1
Ports / very small: 0
Ports / ports with oil terminals: 0
Ports / key ports: Marsaxlokk, Valletta Harbors

## Military and Security
Military and security forces: the Armed Forces of Malta (AFM): Land Component (combat, combat support, and combat service support divided into three regiments), Maritime Squadron, Air Wing; Volunteer Reserve Force (2025)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2024: 0.5% 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: 0.5% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2020: 0.6% of GDP (2020 est.)
Military and security service personnel strengths: approximately 2,000 active Armed Forces of Malta (2025)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the military has a small inventory of armaments from a mix of European countries, particularly Italy, and the US (2025)
Military service age and obligation: 18-30 years of age for men and women for voluntary military service; no conscription (2026)
Military - note: the Armed Forces of Malta (AFM) are responsible for external security but also have some domestic security responsibilities; the AFM’s primary roles include maintaining the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, monitoring and policing its territorial waters, participating in overseas peacekeeping and stability operations, and providing search and rescue and explosive ordnance disposal capabilities; secondary missions include assisting civil authorities during emergencies, supporting the police and other security services, and providing ceremonial and other public support duties Malta maintains a security policy of neutrality but contributes to EU, Organization for the Security and Cooperation (OSCE), and UN military missions and joined NATO’s Partnership for Peace program in 1995 (suspended in 1996, but reactivated in 2008); it also participates in various bilateral and multinational military exercises; Malta cooperates closely with Italy on defense matters; in 1973, Italy established a military mission in Malta to provide advice, training, and search and rescue assistance (2025)

## Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons / refugees: 9,284 (2024 est.)
Refugees and internally displaced persons / stateless persons: 171 (2024 est.)

=== Netherlands ===

## Introduction
Background: The Dutch United Provinces declared their independence from Spain in 1581; during the 17th century, they became a leading seafaring and commercial power, with settlements and colonies around the world. After 18 years of French domination, the Netherlands regained its independence in 1813. In 1830, Belgium seceded and formed a separate kingdom. The Netherlands remained neutral in World War I but suffered German invasion and occupation in World War II. A modern, industrialized nation, the Netherlands is also a large exporter of agricultural products. The country was a founding member of NATO and the EEC (now the EU) and participated in the introduction of the euro in 1999. In 2010, the former Netherlands Antilles was dissolved and the three smallest islands -- Bonaire, Sint Eustatius, and Saba -- became special municipalities in the Netherlands administrative structure. The larger islands of Sint Maarten and Curacao joined the Netherlands and Aruba as constituent countries forming the Kingdom of the Netherlands. In 2018, the Sint Eustatius island council (governing body) was dissolved and replaced by a government commissioner to restore the integrity of public administration. According to the Dutch Government, the intervention will be as "short as possible and as long as needed."

## Geography
Location: Western Europe, bordering the North Sea, between Belgium and Germany
Geographic coordinates: 52 31 N, 5 46 E
Map references: Europe
Area / total: 41,543 sq km
Area / land: 33,893 sq km
Area / water: 7,650 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly less than twice the size of New Jersey
Land boundaries / total: 1,053 km
Land boundaries / border countries: Belgium 478 km; Germany 575 km
Coastline: 451 km
Maritime claims / territorial sea: 12 nm
Maritime claims / contiguous zone: 24 nm
Maritime claims / exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
Climate: temperate; marine; cool summers and mild winters
Terrain: mostly coastal lowland and reclaimed land (polders); some hills in southeast
Elevation / highest point: Mount Scenery (on the island of Saba in the Caribbean, now considered an integral part of the Netherlands following the dissolution of the Netherlands Antilles) 862 m
Elevation / lowest point: Zuidplaspolder -7 m
Elevation / mean elevation: 30 m
Natural resources: natural gas, petroleum, peat, limestone, salt, sand and gravel, arable land
Land use / agricultural land: 53.5% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 30% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 1.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 22.5% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 10.9% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 35.5% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land: 2,969 sq km (2019)
Major rivers (by length in km): Rijn (Rhine) river mouth (shared with Switzerland [s], Germany, and France) - 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)
Population distribution: an area known as the Randstad, anchored by the cities of Amsterdam, Rotterdam, the Hague, and Utrecht, is the most densely populated region; the north tends to be less dense, but sizeable communities can be found throughout the entire country
Natural hazards: flooding volcanism: Mount Scenery (887 m), located on the island of Saba in the Caribbean, last erupted in 1640; Round Hill (601 m), a dormant volcano also known as "The Quill," is located on the island of St. Eustatius in the Caribbean; these islands are at the northern end of the volcanic island arc of the Lesser Antilles that extends south to Grenada
Geography - note: located at mouths of three major European rivers (Rhine (Rijn), Meuse (Maas), and Scheldt (Schelde)); about a quarter of the country lies below sea level and only about half of the land exceeds one meter above sea level

## People and Society
Population / total: 17,833,885 (2025 est.)
Population / male: 8,874,366
Population / female: 8,959,519
Nationality / noun: Dutchman(men), Dutchwoman(women)
Nationality / adjective: Dutch
Ethnic groups: Dutch 75.4%, EU (excluding Dutch) 6.4%, Turkish 2.4%, Moroccan 2.4%, Surinamese 2.1%, Indonesian 2%, other 9.3% (2021 est.)
Languages / Languages: Dutch (official), Frisian (official in Fryslan province)
Languages / major-language sample(s): Het Wereld Feitenboek, een onmisbare bron van informatie. (Dutch) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
Religions: Roman Catholic 20.1%, Protestant 14.8% (includes Dutch Reformed, Protestant Church of The Netherlands, Calvinist), Muslim 5%, other 5.9% (includes Hindu, Buddhist, Jewish), none 54.1% (2019 est.)
Age structure / 0-14 years: 15.2% (male 1,384,142/female 1,312,455)
Age structure / 15-64 years: 64.1% (male 5,750,034/female 5,640,691)
Age structure / 65 years and over: 20.7% (2024 est.) (male 1,709,924/female 1,975,132)
Dependency ratios / total dependency ratio: 56.8 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / youth dependency ratio: 23.7 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / elderly dependency ratio: 33 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / potential support ratio: 3 (2025 est.)
Median age / total: 42.2 years (2025 est.)
Median age / male: 40.9 years
Median age / female: 43.5 years
Population growth rate: 0.3% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 10.68 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 9.7 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: 2.01 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution: an area known as the Randstad, anchored by the cities of Amsterdam, Rotterdam, the Hague, and Utrecht, is the most densely populated region; the north tends to be less dense, but sizeable communities can be found throughout the entire country
Urbanization / urban population: 93.2% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 0.59% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 1.174 million AMSTERDAM (capital), 1.018 million Rotterdam (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: 0.87 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth: 30.2 years (2020 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio: 4 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Infant mortality rate / total: 3.6 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Infant mortality rate / male: 3.9 deaths/1,000 live births
Infant mortality rate / female: 3.3 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth / total population: 81.9 years (2024 est.)
Life expectancy at birth / male: 80.3 years
Life expectancy at birth / female: 83.5 years
Total fertility rate: 1.62 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: 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): 11.3% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 15.9% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density: 3.88 physicians/1,000 population (2022)
Hospital bed density: 2.9 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: 20.4% (2016)
Alcohol consumption per capita / total: 8.23 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / beer: 3.95 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / wine: 2.92 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / spirits: 1.36 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / other alcohols: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Tobacco use / total: 18.7% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / male: 21% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / female: 16.4% (2025 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49): 53.5% (2023 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% GDP): 5.2% 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 (2021 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / male: 18 years (2021 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / female: 19 years (2021 est.)

## Environment
Environmental issues: water pollution, including industrial and agricultural chemicals in rivers; air pollution from vehicles and refining activities
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: temperate; marine; cool summers and mild winters
Land use / agricultural land: 53.5% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 30% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 1.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 22.5% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 10.9% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 35.5% (2023 est.)
Urbanization / urban population: 93.2% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 0.59% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / total emissions: 188.191 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from coal and metallurgical coke: 23.701 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from petroleum and other liquids: 112.037 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from consumed natural gas: 52.454 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Particulate matter emissions: 10 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Methane emissions / energy: 63.1 kt (2022-2024 est.)
Methane emissions / agriculture: 449 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Methane emissions / waste: 123.3 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Methane emissions / other: 17.4 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Waste and recycling / municipal solid waste generated annually: 8.805 million tons (2024 est.)
Waste and recycling / percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 28.3% (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / municipal: 2.185 billion cubic meters (2022)
Total water withdrawal / industrial: 5.784 billion cubic meters (2022)
Total water withdrawal / agricultural: 265.086 million cubic meters (2022)
Total renewable water resources: 91 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Geoparks / total global geoparks and regional networks: 2 (2024)
Geoparks / global geoparks and regional networks: De Hondsrug; Schelde Delta (includes Belgium) (2024)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: Kingdom of the Netherlands
Country name / conventional short form: Netherlands
Country name / local long form: Koninkrijk der Nederlanden
Country name / local short form: Nederland
Country name / abbreviation: NL
Country name / etymology: the English name is derived from the country's Dutch name, which means "the lowlands" and describes the geographic area; only about half the Netherlands is more than 1 meter (3.3 ft) above sea level
Government type: parliamentary constitutional monarchy; part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands
Capital / name: Amsterdam
Capital / geographic coordinates: 52 21 N, 4 55 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: time descriptions apply to the continental Netherlands only, for the constituent countries in the Caribbean, the time difference is UTC-4
Capital / etymology: the name is derived from the Dutch name of the local river, the Amstel, and the Dutch word dam , which has the same meaning in English; the river name is said to derive from the Germanic words ama (current) and stelle (place)
Administrative divisions: 12 provinces ( provincies , singular - provincie ), 3 public entities* ( openbare lichamen , singular - openbaar lichaam (Dutch); entidatnan publiko , singular - entidat publiko (Papiamento)); Bonaire*, Drenthe, Flevoland, Fryslan (Friesland), Gelderland, Groningen, Limburg, Noord-Brabant (North Brabant), Noord-Holland (North Holland), Overijssel, Saba*, Sint Eustatius*, Utrecht, Zeeland (Zealand), Zuid-Holland (South Holland)
Legal system: civil law system based on the French system; constitution does not permit judicial review of acts of the States General
Constitution / history: many previous to adoption of the "Basic Law of the Kingdom of the Netherlands" on 24 August 1815; revised 8 times, the latest in 1983
Constitution / amendment process: proposed as an Act of Parliament by or on behalf of the king or by the Second Chamber of the States General; the Second Chamber is dissolved after its first reading of the Act; passage requires a second reading by both the First Chamber and the newly elected Second Chamber, followed by at least two-thirds majority vote of both chambers, and ratification by the king
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 Netherlands
Citizenship / dual citizenship recognized: no
Citizenship / residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch / chief of state: King WILLEM-ALEXANDER (since 30 April 2013)
Executive branch / head of government: Caretaker Prime Minister Dick SCHOOF (since 3 June 2025)
Executive branch / cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the monarch
Executive branch / election/appointment process: the monarchy is hereditary; following Second Chamber elections, the monarch usually appoints the leader of the majority party or majority coalition as prime minister; deputy prime ministers are also appointed by the monarch
Legislative branch / legislature name: States General (Staten-Generaal)
Legislative branch / legislative structure: bicameral
Legislative branch - lower chamber / chamber name: House of Representatives (Tweede Kamer der Staten-Generaal)
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: 4 years
Legislative branch - lower chamber / most recent election date: 10/29/2025
Legislative branch - lower chamber / parties elected and seats per party: Democrats 66 (D66) (26); Party for Freedom (PVV) (26); People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD) (22); Green Left - Labour Party (PvdA) (20); Christian Democratic Appeal (CDA) (18); JA21 (9); Other (29)
Legislative branch - lower chamber / percentage of women in chamber: 42.7%
Legislative branch - lower chamber / expected date of next election: October 2029
Legislative branch - upper chamber / chamber name: Senate (Eerste Kamer der Staten-Generaal)
Legislative branch - upper chamber / number of seats: 75 (all indirectly elected)
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: 5/30/2023
Legislative branch - upper chamber / percentage of women in chamber: 40%
Legislative branch - upper chamber / expected date of next election: May 2027
Judicial branch / highest court(s): Supreme Court or Hoge Raad (consists of 41 judges: the president, 6 vice presidents, 31 justices, and 3 justices in exceptional service); the court is divided into criminal, civil, tax, and ombuds chambers
Judicial branch / judge selection and term of office: justices appointed by the monarch from a list provided by the House of Representatives of the States General; justices appointed for life or until mandatory retirement at age 70
Judicial branch / subordinate courts: courts of appeal; district courts, each with up to 5 subdistrict courts; Netherlands Commercial Court
Political parties: Christian Democratic Appeal or CDA Christian Union or CU Correct Answer 2021 or JA21 Democrats 66 or D66 Denk Farmer-Citizen Movement or BBB 50Plus Forum for Democracy or FvD Green Left (GroenLinks) or GL Labor Party or PvdA New Social Contract or NSC Party for Freedom or PVV Party for the Animals or PvdD People's Party for Freedom and Democracy or VVD Reformed Political Party or SGP Socialist Party or SP Together or BIJ1 Volt Netherlands or Volt
Diplomatic representation in the US / chief of mission: Ambassador Birgitta TAZELAAR (since 15 September 2023)
Diplomatic representation in the US / chancery: 4200 Linnean Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation in the US / telephone: [1] (202) 244-5300
Diplomatic representation in the US / FAX: [1] (202) 362-3430
Diplomatic representation in the US / email address and website: was@minbuza.nl https://www.netherlandsworldwide.nl/countries/united-states/about-us/embassy-in-washington-dc
Diplomatic representation in the US / consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Chicago, Miami, New York, San Francisco
Diplomatic representation from the US / chief of mission: Ambassador Joseph POPOLO (since 29 October 2025)
Diplomatic representation from the US / embassy: John Adams Park 1, 2244 BZ Wassenaar
Diplomatic representation from the US / mailing address: 5780 Amsterdam Place, Washington DC 20521-5780
Diplomatic representation from the US / telephone: [31] (70) 310-2209
Diplomatic representation from the US / FAX: [31] (70) 310-2207
Diplomatic representation from the US / email address and website: AmsterdamUSC@state.gov https://nl.usembassy.gov/
Diplomatic representation from the US / consulate(s) general: Amsterdam
International organization participation: ADB (nonregional member), AfDB (nonregional member), Arctic Council (observer), Australia Group, Benelux, BIS, CBSS (observer), CD, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECB, EIB, EITI (implementing country), EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, FATF, 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, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, Pacific Alliance (observer), Paris Club, PCA, Schengen Convention, SELEC (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNHRC, UNIDO, UNMISS, UNOOSA, UNRWA, UN Security Council (temporary), UNTSO, UNWTO, UPU, Wassenaar Arrangement, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
Independence: 26 July 1581
National holiday: King's Day (birthday of King WILLEM-ALEXANDER), 27 April (1967)
Flag: description: three equal horizontal bands of bright red (top), white, and cobalt blue history: the colors come from WILLIAM I, Prince of Orange; originally the upper band was orange, but the dye would turn red over time, so red was eventually made the permanent color
National symbol(s): lion, daisy
National color(s): orange
National anthem(s) / title: "Het Wilhelmus" (The William)
National anthem(s) / lyrics/music: Philips VAN MARNIX van Sint Aldegonde (presumed)/unknown
National anthem(s) / history: adopted 1932, in use since the 17th century
National heritage / total World Heritage Sites: 13 (12 cultural, 1 natural)
National heritage / selected World Heritage Site locales: Schokland and Surroundings (c); Dutch Water Defense Lines (c); Van Nellefabriek (c); Mill Network at Kinderdijk-Elshout (c); Droogmakerij de Beemster (Beemster Polder) (c); Rietveld Schröderhuis (Rietveld Schröder House) (c); Wadden Sea (n); Seventeenth Century Canal Ring Area of Amsterdam inside the Singelgracht (c); Colonies of Benevolence (c); Frontiers of the Roman Empire - The Lower German Limes (c)

## Economy
Economic overview: high-income, core EU- and eurozone-member economy; strong services, logistics, and tech sectors; strongly trade-oriented with heightened risks from global tensions; declining inflation aided by easing energy prices and wage growth; rising but manageable deficits and public debt; strong ratings for innovation, competitiveness, and business climate
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $1.276 trillion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $1.263 trillion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $1.263 trillion (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2024: 1% (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2023: 0.1% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2022: 5% (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2024: $70,900 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2023: $70,700 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2022: $71,300 (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $1.228 trillion (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024: 3.3% (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023: 3.8% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 10% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / agriculture: 1.7% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / industry: 17.9% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / services: 70.3% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / household consumption: 42.1% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / government consumption: 24.5% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in fixed capital: 20.1% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in inventories: -0.1% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / exports of goods and services: 88.5% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / imports of goods and services: -77.4% (2023 est.)
Agricultural products: milk, sugar beets, potatoes, onions, pork, wheat, chicken, tomatoes, carrots/turnips, beef (2023)
Industries: agroindustries, metal and engineering products, electrical machinery and equipment, chemicals, petroleum, construction, microelectronics, fishing
Industrial production growth rate: -1.5% (2024 est.)
Labor force: 10.315 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: 8.2% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / male: 8.4% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / female: 7.9% (2024 est.)
Population below poverty line: 14.5% (2021 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income / Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2021: 25.7 (2021 est.)
Average household expenditures / on food: 11.7% 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%: 3.6% (2021 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / highest 10%: 21.4% (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: $451.11 billion (2023 est.)
Budget / expenditures: $455.334 billion (2023 est.)
Public debt / Public debt 2017: 56.5% of GDP (2017 est.)
Taxes and other revenues: 24.8% (of GDP) (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2024: $121.825 billion (2024 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2023: $113.676 billion (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2022: $69.676 billion (2022 est.)
Exports / Exports 2024: $1.032 trillion (2024 est.)
Exports / Exports 2023: $1.022 trillion (2023 est.)
Exports / Exports 2022: $1.007 trillion (2022 est.)
Exports - partners: Germany 16%, Belgium 15%, France 11%, Italy 6%, USA 6% (2023)
Exports - commodities: refined petroleum, vaccines, machinery, crude petroleum, broadcasting equipment (2023)
Imports / Imports 2024: $884.154 billion (2024 est.)
Imports / Imports 2023: $893.132 billion (2023 est.)
Imports / Imports 2022: $915.294 billion (2022 est.)
Imports - partners: Germany 16%, Belgium 10%, China 10%, USA 10%, UK 5% (2023)
Imports - commodities: crude petroleum, refined petroleum, broadcasting equipment, cars, natural gas (2023)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024: $79.129 billion (2024 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023: $69.83 billion (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $63.353 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: 59.982 million kW (2023 est.)
Electricity / consumption: 108.141 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / exports: 25.206 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / imports: 19.547 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / transmission/distribution losses: 4.936 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / fossil fuels: 46.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / nuclear: 3.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / solar: 17.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / wind: 24.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / hydroelectricity: 0.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / biomass and waste: 8.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Nuclear energy / Number of operational nuclear reactors: 1 (2025)
Nuclear energy / Net capacity of operational nuclear reactors: 0.48GW (2025 est.)
Nuclear energy / Percent of total electricity production: 3.2% (2023 est.)
Nuclear energy / Number of nuclear reactors permanently shut down: 1 (2025)
Coal / production: 1.761 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / consumption: 12.796 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / exports: 13.586 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / imports: 24.663 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / proven reserves: 3.247 billion metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum / total petroleum production: 70,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Petroleum / refined petroleum consumption: 840,000 bbl/day (2024 est.)
Petroleum / crude oil estimated reserves: 137.747 million barrels (2021 est.)
Natural gas / production: 11.788 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / consumption: 31.288 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / exports: 45.129 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / imports: 66.783 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / proven reserves: 132.608 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)
Energy consumption per capita / Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 185.536 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

## Communications
Telephones - fixed lines / total subscriptions: 4.262 million (2023 est.)
Telephones - fixed lines / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 24 (2023 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / total subscriptions: 23.4 million (2024 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 129 (2024 est.)
Broadcast media: more than 90% of households are connected to cable or satellite TV systems with a wide range of domestic and foreign channels; public service broadcast system includes multiple broadcasters, 3 with a national reach and the remainder in regional and local markets; 2 nationwide commercial TV companies, each with 3 or more stations, and many commercial TV stations in regional and local markets; nearly 600 radio stations with a mix of public and private stations
Internet country code: .nl
Internet users / percent of population: 97% (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / total: 7.83 million (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 43 (2023 est.)

## Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: PH
Airports: 44 (2025)
Heliports: 194 (2025)
Railways / total: 3,055 km (2020) 2,310 km electrified
Merchant marine / total: 1,187 (2023)
Merchant marine / by type: bulk carrier 11, container ship 36, general cargo 521, oil tanker 27, other 592
Ports / total ports: 18 (2024)
Ports / large: 2
Ports / medium: 4
Ports / small: 5
Ports / very small: 7
Ports / ports with oil terminals: 12
Ports / key ports: Amsterdam, Dordrecht, Europoort, Rotterdam, Terneuzen, Vlissingen

## Military and Security
Military and security forces: Netherlands (Dutch) Armed Forces (Nederlandse Krijgsmacht): Royal Netherlands Army, Royal Netherlands Navy (includes Marine Corps), Royal Netherlands Air Force, Royal Netherlands Marechaussee (Military Constabulary) (2025)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2025: 2.5% 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: 1.4% of GDP (2022 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2021: 1.3% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military and security service personnel strengths: approximately 43,000 active-duty professional military personnel (2025)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the military's inventory consists of a mix of domestically produced and modern European- and US-sourced equipment; the Netherlands has an advanced domestic defense industry that focuses on armored vehicles, naval ships, and air defense systems; it also participates with the US and other European countries on joint development and production of advanced weapons systems (2025)
Military service age and obligation: 17 years of age for voluntary service for men and women; the military is an all-volunteer force; conscription remains in place, but the requirement to show up for compulsory military service was suspended in 1997 (2025)
Military deployments: 350 Lithuania (NATO); 150 Romania (NATO); approximately 800 deployed to Dutch territories in the Caribbean (2025)
Military - note: the Dutch military is charged with the three core tasks of defending the country’s national territory and that of its allies, enforcing the national and international rule of law, and providing assistance during disasters and other crises; it also has some domestic security duties, including in the Dutch Caribbean territories; the military operates globally but rarely carries out its operations independently, focusing instead on working through NATO and bilaterally with regional partners; it has particularly close ties with Belgium, Denmark, Germany, and the UK, including some combined military units and staffs the Netherlands has been a member of NATO since its founding in 1949, and the Dutch military is involved in NATO missions and operations with air, ground, and naval forces, including air policing missions over the Benelux countries and Eastern Europe, NATO’s Enhanced Forward Presence initiative in the Baltic States and Eastern Europe, and several NATO naval flotillas, as well as standby units for NATO’s rapid response force; the military has previously deployed forces to NATO-led operations in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Kosovo and also contributes to EU- and UN-led missions; Royal Netherlands Marechaussee detachments have been included in international police units deployed by NATO (2025)

## Space
Space agency/agencies: Netherlands Space Office (NSO; established 2009) (2025)
Space program overview: has a national space program focused on developing advanced space technologies and services based on satellite data; builds and operates a range of satellites, including communications and remote sensing (RS); researches and develops technologies related to astrophysics, atmospheric measuring instruments, planetary/exoplanetary research, propulsion systems, RS, robotics, and telecommunications; founding member of the ESA and active in the EU space community; hosts the ESA's main research and technology center; participates in building European satellite launch vehicles and a range of other European space programs, such as Copernicus Earth observation and the Galileo global navigation satellite system; participates in international programs, including the International Space Station and the Square Kilometer Array project; works with other foreign space agencies and industries, including those of Japan and the US; has a robust commercial space sector (2025)
Key space-program milestones: 1960s - established space program 1974-1983 - developed advanced astronomical observatory satellites jointly with US, including the Astronomical Netherlands Satellite and the Infrared Astronomical Satellite 1985 - first Dutch citizen in space on the US Space Shuttle 2023 - signed US-led Artemis Accords for space and lunar exploration 2025 - launched the first of four planned synthetic aperture radar (SAR) remote sensing satellites

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

## Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons / refugees: 310,239 (2024 est.)
Refugees and internally displaced persons / stateless persons: 4,428 (2024 est.)
Illicit drugs / USG identification: major precursor-chemical producer (2025)

=== Norway ===

## Introduction
Background: Two centuries of Viking raids into Europe tapered off after King Olav TRYGGVASON adopted Christianity in 994; conversion of the Norwegian kingdom occurred over the next several decades. In 1397, Norway was absorbed into a union with Denmark that lasted more than four centuries. In 1814, Norwegians resisted the cession of their country to Sweden and adopted a new constitution. Sweden then invaded Norway but agreed to let Norway keep its constitution in return for accepting the union under a Swedish king. Rising nationalism throughout the 19th century led to a 1905 referendum granting Norway independence. Norway remained neutral in World War I and proclaimed its neutrality at the outset of World War II, but Nazi Germany nonetheless occupied the country for five years (1940-45). In 1949, Norway abandoned neutrality and became a member of NATO. Discovery of oil and gas in adjacent waters in the late 1960s boosted Norway's economic fortunes. In referenda held in 1972 and 1994, Norway rejected joining the EU. Key domestic issues include immigration and integration of ethnic minorities, maintaining the country's extensive social safety net with an aging population, and preserving economic competitiveness.

## Geography
Location: Northern Europe, bordering the North Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, west of Sweden
Geographic coordinates: 62 00 N, 10 00 E
Map references: Europe
Area / total: 323,802 sq km
Area / land: 304,282 sq km
Area / water: 19,520 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly larger than twice the size of Georgia; slightly larger than New Mexico
Land boundaries / total: 2,566 km
Land boundaries / border countries: Finland 709 km; Sweden 1,666 km; Russia 191 km
Coastline: 25,148 km
Maritime claims / territorial sea: 12 nm
Maritime claims / contiguous zone: 10 nm
Maritime claims / exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Maritime claims / continental shelf: 200 nm
Climate: temperate along coast, modified by North Atlantic Current; colder interior with increased precipitation and colder summers; rainy year-round on west coast
Terrain: glaciated; mostly high plateaus and rugged mountains broken by fertile valleys; small, scattered plains; coastline deeply indented by fjords; arctic tundra in north
Elevation / highest point: Galdhopiggen 2,469 m
Elevation / lowest point: Norwegian Sea 0 m
Elevation / mean elevation: 460 m
Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, copper, lead, zinc, titanium, pyrites, nickel, fish, timber, hydropower
Land use / agricultural land: 2.7% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 2.2% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 0% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 0.5% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 33.3% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 64% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land: 337 sq km (2016)
Population distribution: most people live in the south; population clusters are found along the North Sea coast in the southwest and Skaggerak in the southeast; the interior areas of the north remain sparsely populated
Natural hazards: rockslides, avalanches volcanism: Beerenberg (2,227 m) on Jan Mayen Island in the Norwegian Sea is the country's only active volcano
Geography - note: about two-thirds mountains; some 50,000 islands off its much-indented coastline; strategic location adjacent to sea lanes and air routes in North Atlantic; one of the most rugged and longest coastlines in the world

## People and Society
Population / total: 5,509,733 (2024 est.)
Population / male: 2,780,972
Population / female: 2,728,761
Nationality / noun: Norwegian(s)
Nationality / adjective: Norwegian
Ethnic groups: Norwegian 81.5% (includes about 60,000 Sami), other European 8.9%, other 9.6% (2021 est.)
Languages / Languages: Bokmal Norwegian (official), Nynorsk Norwegian (official), small Sami- and Finnish-speaking minorities
Languages / major-language sample(s): Verdens Faktabok, den essensielle kilden for grunnleggende informasjon. (Norwegian) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
Religions: Church of Norway (Evangelical Lutheran - official) 67.5%, Muslim 3.1%, Roman Catholic 3.1%, other Christian 3.8%, other 2.6%, unspecified 19.9% (2021 est.)
Age structure / 0-14 years: 16.3% (male 461,979/female 438,243)
Age structure / 15-64 years: 64.5% (male 1,820,692/female 1,734,818)
Age structure / 65 years and over: 19.1% (2024 est.) (male 498,301/female 555,700)
Dependency ratios / total dependency ratio: 55 (2024 est.)
Dependency ratios / youth dependency ratio: 25.3 (2024 est.)
Dependency ratios / elderly dependency ratio: 29.6 (2024 est.)
Dependency ratios / potential support ratio: 3.4 (2024 est.)
Median age / total: 41 years (2025 est.)
Median age / male: 40.1 years
Median age / female: 41.5 years
Population growth rate: 0.57% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 10.35 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 8.6 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: 3.98 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution: most people live in the south; population clusters are found along the North Sea coast in the southwest and Skaggerak in the southeast; the interior areas of the north remain sparsely populated
Urbanization / urban population: 84% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 1.32% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 1.086 million OSLO (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: 0.9 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth: 29.8 years (2020 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio: 1 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Infant mortality rate / total: 1.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Infant mortality rate / male: 2.1 deaths/1,000 live births
Infant mortality rate / female: 1.5 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth / total population: 82.9 years (2024 est.)
Life expectancy at birth / male: 81.3 years
Life expectancy at birth / female: 84.6 years
Total fertility rate: 1.58 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): 8.1% of GDP (2022)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 17.8% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density: 4.98 physicians/1,000 population (2023)
Hospital bed density: 3.4 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: 23.1% (2016)
Alcohol consumption per capita / total: 6.05 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / beer: 2.63 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / wine: 2.23 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / spirits: 1 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / other alcohols: 0.19 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Tobacco use / total: 12% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / male: 12.6% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / female: 11.3% (2025 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49): 57.4% (2021 est.)
Child marriage / women married by age 15: 0% (2022)
Child marriage / women married by age 18: 0% (2022)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% GDP): 5.5% of GDP (2022 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% national budget): 14.5% national budget (2022 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / total: 19 years (2023 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / male: 18 years (2023 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / female: 20 years (2023 est.)

## Environment
Environmental issues: water pollution; acid rain damaging forests and affecting lakes and fish stocks; air pollution from vehicle emissions
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 along coast, modified by North Atlantic Current; colder interior with increased precipitation and colder summers; rainy year-round on west coast
Land use / agricultural land: 2.7% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 2.2% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 0% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 0.5% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 33.3% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 64% (2023 est.)
Urbanization / urban population: 84% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 1.32% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / total emissions: 38.535 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from coal and metallurgical coke: 2.929 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from petroleum and other liquids: 25.576 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from consumed natural gas: 10.029 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Particulate matter emissions: 7 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Methane emissions / energy: 31 kt (2022-2024 est.)
Methane emissions / agriculture: 99.8 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Methane emissions / waste: 33 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Methane emissions / other: 6.2 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Waste and recycling / municipal solid waste generated annually: 4.15 million tons (2024 est.)
Waste and recycling / percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 35.3% (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / municipal: 773.41 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / industrial: 1.071 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / agricultural: 844.9 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total renewable water resources: 393 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Geoparks / total global geoparks and regional networks: 5 (2025)
Geoparks / global geoparks and regional networks: Gea Norvegica; Fjord Coast; Magma; Sunnhordland; Trollfjell (2025)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: Kingdom of Norway
Country name / conventional short form: Norway
Country name / local long form: Kongeriket Norge
Country name / local short form: Norge
Country name / etymology: derives from the Old Norse words norre and vegr , meaning "northern way," and refers to the long coastline of western Norway
Government type: parliamentary constitutional monarchy
Capital / name: Oslo
Capital / geographic coordinates: 59 55 N, 10 45 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 Norwegian word os , meaning "estuary" and referring to the city's location on a fjord; alternatively, the name may come from As, a Scandinavian god, and Lo, a nearby river
Administrative divisions: 12 counties ( fylker , singular - fylke ); Agder, Innlandet, More og Romsdal, Nordland, Oslo, Rogaland, Romsdal, Troms og Finnmark, Trondelag, Vestfold og Telemark, Vestland, Viken (2024)
Dependent areas: Bouvet Island, Jan Mayen, Svalbard (3)
Legal system: mixed system of civil, common, and customary law; Supreme Court can advise on legislative acts
Constitution / history: drafted spring 1814, adopted 16 May 1814, signed by Constituent Assembly 17 May 1814
Constitution / amendment process: proposals submitted by members of Parliament or by the government within the first three years of Parliament's four-year term; passage requires two-thirds majority vote of a two-thirds quorum in 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 Norway
Citizenship / dual citizenship recognized: yes
Citizenship / residency requirement for naturalization: 7 years
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch / chief of state: King HARALD V (since 17 January 1991)
Executive branch / head of government: Prime Minister Jonas Gahr STORE (since 14 October 2021)
Executive branch / cabinet: Council of State appointed by the monarch, approved by Parliament
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, with the approval of Parliament
Legislative branch / legislature name: Parliament (Stortinget)
Legislative branch / legislative structure: unicameral
Legislative branch / number of seats: 169 (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: 9/8/2025
Legislative branch / parties elected and seats per party: Labour Party (53); Progress Party (47); Conservative Party (24); Socialist Left Party (9); Center Party (9); Red Party (9); Other (18)
Legislative branch / percentage of women in chamber: 40.2%
Legislative branch / expected date of next election: September 2029
Judicial branch / highest court(s): Supreme Court or Hoyesterett (consists of the chief justice and 18 associate justices)
Judicial branch / judge selection and term of office: justices appointed by the monarch (King in Council) on the recommendation of the Judicial Appointments Board; justices can serve until mandatory retirement at age 70
Judicial branch / subordinate courts: Courts of Appeal or Lagmennsrett; regional and district courts; Conciliation Boards; ordinary and special courts
Political parties: Center Party or Sp Christian Democratic Party or KrF Conservative Party or H Green Party or MDG Labor Party or Ap Liberal Party or V Patient Focus or PF Progress Party or FrP Red Party or R Socialist Left Party or SV
Diplomatic representation in the US / chief of mission: Ambassador Anniken Scharning HUITFELDT (since 18 September 2024)
Diplomatic representation in the US / chancery: 2720 34th Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation in the US / telephone: [1] (202) 333-6000
Diplomatic representation in the US / FAX: [1] (202) 469-3990
Diplomatic representation in the US / email address and website: emb.washington@mfa.no https://www.norway.no/en/usa/
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'Affaires Eric MEYER (since August 2024)
Diplomatic representation from the US / embassy: Morgedalsvegen 36, 0378 Oslo
Diplomatic representation from the US / mailing address: 5460 Oslo Place, Washington DC 20521-5460
Diplomatic representation from the US / telephone: [47] 21-30-85-40
Diplomatic representation from the US / FAX: [47] 22-56-27-51
Diplomatic representation from the US / email address and website: OsloACS@state.gov https://no.usembassy.gov/
International organization participation: ADB (nonregional member), AfDB (nonregional member), Arctic Council, Australia Group, BIS, CBSS, CD, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, EFTA, EITI (implementing country), ESA, FAO, FATF, 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, UNITAR, UNMISS, UNOOSA, UNRWA, UNTSO, UNWTO, UPU, Wassenaar Arrangement, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
Independence: 7 June 1905 (union with Sweden declared dissolved); 26 October 1905 (Sweden agreed to the repeal of the union); notable earlier dates: ca. 872 (traditional unification of Norwegian kingdoms by HARALD Fairhair); 1397 (Kalmar Union of Denmark, Norway, and Sweden); 1524 (Denmark-Norway); 17 May 1814 (Norwegian constitution adopted); 4 November 1814 (Sweden-Norway union confirmed)
National holiday: Constitution Day, 17 May (1814)
Flag: description: red with a blue cross outlined in white that extends to the edges of the flag; the the cross is shifted to the left side in the style of the Dannebrog (Danish flag) meaning: the colors represent Norway's past political unions with Denmark (red and white) and Sweden (blue)
National symbol(s): lion
National color(s): red, white, blue
National anthem(s) / title: "Kongesangen" (Song of the King)
National anthem(s) / lyrics/music: Gustav JENSEN
National anthem(s) / history: royal anthem; uses the tune of "God Save the King," the United Kingdom's anthem
National heritage / total World Heritage Sites: 8 (7 cultural, 1 natural)
National heritage / selected World Heritage Site locales: Bryggen (c); Urnes Stave Church (c); Røros Mining Town and the Circumference (c); Rock Art of Alta (c); Vegaøyan – The Vega Archipelago (c); Struve Geodetic Arc (c); West Norwegian Fjords – Geirangerfjord and Nærøyfjord (n); Rjukan-Notodden Industrial Heritage Site (c)

## Economy
Economic overview: high-income, non-EU economy with trade links via European Economic Area (EEA); key role in European energy security as leader in oil, gas, and electricity exports; major fishing, forestry, and oil(?) extraction industries; oil sovereign fund supports generous welfare system; low unemployment; inflation moderating but remains above target level
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $507.68 billion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $497.236 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $496.877 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: 0.1% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2022: 3.2% (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2024: $91,100 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2023: $90,100 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2022: $91,100 (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $483.727 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: 5.5% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 5.8% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / agriculture: 2% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / industry: 37% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / services: 51.8% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / household consumption: 37.7% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / government consumption: 22% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in fixed capital: 21.7% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in inventories: 2.6% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / exports of goods and services: 47.9% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / imports of goods and services: -32.5% (2023 est.)
Agricultural products: milk, barley, potatoes, oats, wheat, pork, chicken, beef, eggs, carrots/turnips (2023)
Industries: petroleum and gas, shipping, fishing, aquaculture, food processing, shipbuilding, pulp and paper products, metals, chemicals, timber, mining, textiles
Industrial production growth rate: 2.4% (2024 est.)
Labor force: 3.042 million (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2024: 4% (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2023: 3.6% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2022: 3.3% (2022 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / total: 11.6% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / male: 12.3% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / female: 10.8% (2024 est.)
Population below poverty line: 12.2% (2021 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income / Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2022: 26.9 (2022 est.)
Average household expenditures / on food: 11.7% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Average household expenditures / on alcohol and tobacco: 3.9% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / lowest 10%: 3.5% (2022 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / highest 10%: 22% (2022 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: $261.945 billion (2023 est.)
Budget / expenditures: $178.156 billion (2023 est.)
Public debt / Public debt 2017: 36.5% of GDP (2017 est.)
Taxes and other revenues: 27.1% (of GDP) (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2024: $82.511 billion (2024 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2023: $84.104 billion (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2022: $170.714 billion (2022 est.)
Exports / Exports 2024: $229.205 billion (2024 est.)
Exports / Exports 2023: $230.882 billion (2023 est.)
Exports / Exports 2022: $323.875 billion (2022 est.)
Exports - partners: Germany 18%, UK 17%, Sweden 9%, Denmark 7%, Netherlands 6% (2023)
Exports - commodities: natural gas, crude petroleum, fish, refined petroleum, aluminum (2023)
Imports / Imports 2024: $162.467 billion (2024 est.)
Imports / Imports 2023: $156.11 billion (2023 est.)
Imports / Imports 2022: $160.649 billion (2022 est.)
Imports - partners: Sweden 11%, Germany 11%, China 11%, USA 7%, Netherlands 5% (2023)
Imports - commodities: cars, refined petroleum, ships, nickel, garments (2023)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024: $81.242 billion (2024 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023: $80.459 billion (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $72.077 billion (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Currency: Norwegian kroner (NOK) per US dollar -
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2024: 10.746 (2024 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2023: 10.563 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2022: 9.614 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2021: 8.59 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2020: 9.416 (2020 est.)

## Energy
Electricity access / electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)
Electricity / installed generating capacity: 41.1 million kW (2023 est.)
Electricity / consumption: 127.335 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / exports: 30.978 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / imports: 13.232 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / transmission/distribution losses: 7.025 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / fossil fuels: 1.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / solar: 0.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / wind: 9.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / hydroelectricity: 89.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / biomass and waste: 0.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Coal / production: 120,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / consumption: 1.096 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / exports: 60,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / imports: 1.042 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / proven reserves: 2 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum / total petroleum production: 2.02 million bbl/day (2023 est.)
Petroleum / refined petroleum consumption: 229,000 bbl/day (2024 est.)
Petroleum / crude oil estimated reserves: 8.122 billion barrels (2021 est.)
Natural gas / production: 121.637 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / consumption: 5.082 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / exports: 117.597 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / imports: 104.744 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / proven reserves: 1.544 trillion cubic meters (2021 est.)
Energy consumption per capita / Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 206.961 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

## Communications
Telephones - fixed lines / total subscriptions: 145,000 (2022 est.)
Telephones - fixed lines / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 3 (2022 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / total subscriptions: 6.09 million (2022 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 111 (2022 est.)
Broadcast media: state-owned public radio and TV broadcaster operates 3 nationwide TV stations, 3 nationwide radio stations, and 16 regional radio stations; roughly a dozen privately owned TV stations broadcast nationally, and another 25 locally; nearly 75% of households have access to multi-channel cable or satellite TV; 2 privately owned radio stations broadcast nationwide, with another 240 local stations; Norway was the first country to phase out FM radio in favor of Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB) (2019)
Internet country code: .no
Internet users / percent of population: 99% (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / total: 2.49 million (2022 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 46 (2022 est.)

## Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: LN
Airports: 146 (2025)
Heliports: 113 (2025)
Railways / total: 3,848 km (2020) 2,482 km electrified
Merchant marine / total: 1,720 (2022)
Merchant marine / by type: bulk carrier 109, container ship 1, general cargo 274, oil tanker 95, other 1,241
Ports / total ports: 141 (2024)
Ports / large: 1
Ports / medium: 10
Ports / small: 34
Ports / very small: 90
Ports / size unknown: 6
Ports / ports with oil terminals: 54
Ports / key ports: Bergen, Drammen, Hammerfest, Harstad, Horten, Karsto, Mongstad, Oslo, Stavanger, Tromso, Trondheim

## Military and Security
Military and security forces: Norwegian Armed Forces (Forsvaret or "the Defense"): Norwegian Army (Haeren), Royal Norwegian Navy (Kongelige Norske Sjoeforsvaret; includes Coastal Rangers and Coast Guard (Kystvakt)), Royal Norwegian Air Force (Kongelige Norske Luftforsvaret), Home Guard (Heimevernet, HV) (2025)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2025: 3.4% of GDP (2025 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2024: 2.3% of GDP (2024 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2023: 1.8% of GDP (2023 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2022: 1.5% of GDP (2022 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2021: 1.7% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military and security service personnel strengths: approximately 27,000 active military personnel; approximately 40,000 Home Guard (2025)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the military has an inventory of modern, domestically produced and imported Western European and US armaments; Norway's defense industry participates in joint development and production of weapons systems with other European countries (2025)
Military service age and obligation: 17 (men) or 18 (women) for voluntary military service; all Norwegian citizens 19-44 are subject to selective compulsory military service; 19-month service obligation for those selected (12 months plus 4-5 refresher training periods) (2025)
Military deployments: around 100 Lithuania (NATO); Norway also deploys air and naval assets in support of other NATO operations (2025)
Military - note: the Norwegian Armed Forces (Forsvaret) are responsible for protecting Norway and its allies, including monitoring Norway’s airspace, digital, land, and maritime areas, maintaining the country’s borders and sovereignty, contributing to NATO and UN missions, and providing support to civil society, such as assisting the police, search and rescue, and maritime counterterrorism efforts; the military’s territorial and sovereignty defense missions are complicated by Norway’s vast sea areas, numerous islands, long and winding fjords, and difficult and mountainous terrain; a key area of emphasis is its far northern border with Russia Norway is one of the original members of NATO, and the Alliance is a key component of Norway’s defense policy; the Forsvaret participates in NATO exercises, missions, and operations, including air policing of NATO territory, NATO’s Enhanced Forward Presence mission in the Baltic States and Eastern Europe, and standing naval missions, as well as operations in non-NATO areas, such as the Middle East the Forsvaret also 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; Norway contributes to 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 High North, North Atlantic, and Baltic Sea regions; Norway has close military ties with the US, including rotational US military deployments and an agreement allowing for mutual defense activities and US military forces to access some Norwegian facilities the Forsvaret's origins go back to the leidangen, defense forces which were established along the coastline in the 10th century to protect the Norwegian coast (2025)

## Space
Space agency/agencies: the Norwegian Space Agency (NOSA, aka Norsk Romsenter; established 1987) (2025)
Space launch site(s): And&oslash;ya Space Center (And&oslash;ya Island; note - first operational spaceport in continental Europe) (2025)
Space program overview: jointly designs and builds satellites with foreign partners, including communications, remote sensing (RS), scientific, and navigational/positional satellites; develops and launches sounding rockets; researches and produces a range of other space-related technologies, including satellite/space launch vehicle (SLV) and space station components, telescopes, and robotics; conducts solar and telecommunications research; member of the ESA; participates in international programs such as the International Space Station; hosts training on the island of Svalbard for Mars landing missions; cooperates with a variety of foreign space agencies and industries, including those of Canada, ESA/EU member states, Japan, Russia, and the US; has an active and advanced private-sector space industry that works with domestic and foreign space programs (2025)
Key space-program milestones: 1962 - launched first research rocket 1992 - began operating first communications satellite (THOR-1) 2010 - built first satellite (AISSat-1) to monitor from polar orbit Automatic Identification Signals from ships (launched by India) 2017 - launched two microsatellites (NorSat-1 and -2) to track commercial sea vessels 2025 - signed US-led Artemis Accords for space and lunar exploration

## Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons / refugees: 129,894 (2024 est.)
Refugees and internally displaced persons / stateless persons: 1,621 (2024 est.)

=== Poland ===

## Introduction
Background: Poland's history as a state began near the middle of the 10th century. By the mid-16th century, the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth ruled a vast tract of land in Central and Eastern Europe. During the 18th century, internal disorder weakened the nation, and in a series of agreements between 1772 and 1795, Russia, Prussia, and Austria partitioned Poland among themselves. Poland regained its independence in 1918 only to be overrun by Germany and the Soviet Union in World War II. It became a Soviet satellite state following the war. Labor turmoil in 1980 led to the formation of the independent trade union Solidarity that over time became a political force with over 10 million members. Free elections in 1989 and 1990 won Solidarity control of the parliament and the presidency, bringing the communist era to a close. A "shock therapy" program during the early 1990s enabled the country to transform its economy into one of the most robust in Central Europe. Poland joined NATO in 1999 and the EU in 2004.

## Geography
Location: Central Europe, east of Germany
Geographic coordinates: 52 00 N, 20 00 E
Map references: Europe
Area / total: 312,685 sq km
Area / land: 304,255 sq km
Area / water: 8,430 sq km
Area - comparative: about twice the size of Georgia; slightly smaller than New Mexico
Land boundaries / total: 2,865 km
Land boundaries / border countries: Belarus 375 km; Czechia 699 km; Germany 467 km; Lithuania 100 km, Russia (Kaliningrad Oblast) 209 km; Slovakia 517 km; Ukraine 498 km
Coastline: 440 km
Maritime claims / territorial sea: 12 nm
Maritime claims / exclusive economic zone: defined by international treaties
Climate: temperate with cold, cloudy, moderately severe winters with frequent precipitation; mild summers with frequent showers and thundershowers
Terrain: mostly flat plain; mountains along southern border
Elevation / highest point: Rysy 2,499 m
Elevation / lowest point: near Raczki Elblaskie -2 m
Elevation / mean elevation: 173 m
Natural resources: coal, sulfur, copper, natural gas, silver, lead, salt, amber, arable land
Land use / agricultural land: 47.6% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 36.6% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 1.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 9.8% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 31% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 21% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land: 1,327 sq km (2016)
Major lakes (area sq km) / salt water lake(s): Zalew Szczecinski/Stettiner Haff (shared with Germany) - 900 sq km
Major rivers (by length in km): Wisla (Vistula) river source and mouth (shared with Belarus and Ukraine) - 1,213 km note: longest river in Poland
Major watersheds (area sq km) / Atlantic Ocean drainage: (Black Sea) Danube (795,656 sq km)
Population distribution: population concentrated in the southern area around Krakow and the central area around Warsaw and Lodz, with an extension to the northern coastal city of Gdansk
Natural hazards: flooding
Geography - note: historically an area of conflict because of flat terrain and the lack of natural barriers on the North European Plain

## People and Society
Population / total: 38,746,310 (2024 est.)
Population / male: 18,441,415
Population / female: 20,304,895
Nationality / noun: Pole(s)
Nationality / adjective: Polish
Ethnic groups: Polish 96.9%, Silesian 1.1%, German 0.2%, Ukrainian 0.1%, other and unspecified 1.7% (2011 est.)
Languages / Languages: Polish (official) 98.2%, Silesian 1.4%, other 1.1%, unspecified 1.2% (2011 est.)
Languages / major-language sample(s): Księga Faktów Świata, niezbędne źródło podstawowych informacji. (Polish) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
Religions: Roman Catholic 70.7%, refused to answer 20.9%, no religion 6.9%; less than 1 percent: Orthodox, Jehovah Witness, Evangelic of Augsburg, Greek Catholic, Pentecostal, other Protestant, not stated, old Catholic Mariavite Church, other Christians, Islam, Buddhist, Polish Catholic Church, other, Baptist Union of Poland, Pagan, Seventh Day Adventist, Hindu, other Catholic (2021 est.)
Age structure / 0-14 years: 14.2% (male 2,830,048/female 2,676,300)
Age structure / 15-64 years: 65.9% (male 12,513,402/female 13,036,977)
Age structure / 65 years and over: 19.8% (2024 est.) (male 3,097,965/female 4,591,618)
Dependency ratios / total dependency ratio: 51.6 (2024 est.)
Dependency ratios / youth dependency ratio: 21.6 (2024 est.)
Dependency ratios / elderly dependency ratio: 30.1 (2024 est.)
Dependency ratios / potential support ratio: 3.3 (2024 est.)
Median age / total: 43.4 years (2025 est.)
Median age / male: 41.5 years
Median age / female: 44.3 years
Population growth rate: -0.98% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 8.03 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 11.56 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: -6.26 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution: population concentrated in the southern area around Krakow and the central area around Warsaw and Lodz, with an extension to the northern coastal city of Gdansk
Urbanization / urban population: 60.2% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: -0.16% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 1.798 million WARSAW (capital), 769,000 Krakow (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: 0.67 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / total population: 0.91 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth: 27.9 years (2020 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio: 2 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Infant mortality rate / total: 4.6 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Infant mortality rate / male: 5.3 deaths/1,000 live births
Infant mortality rate / female: 4.4 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth / total population: 76.7 years (2024 est.)
Life expectancy at birth / male: 72.8 years
Life expectancy at birth / female: 80.9 years
Total fertility rate: 1.33 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 0.65 (2025 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: urban: urban: 95.8% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: rural: rural: 82.2% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: total: total: 90.4% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: urban: urban: 4.2% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: rural: rural: 17.8% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: total: total: 9.6% of population (2022 est.)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 6.7% of GDP (2022)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 10.7% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density: 4.03 physicians/1,000 population (2023)
Hospital bed density: 6.1 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: 23.1% (2016)
Alcohol consumption per capita / total: 10.96 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / beer: 5.72 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / wine: 0.88 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / spirits: 4.36 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / other alcohols: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Tobacco use / total: 21.6% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / male: 25.6% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / female: 17.8% (2025 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 0.7% (2019 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49): 58.6% (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 (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: air pollution (despite environmental policy improvements) because of coal-burning in homes and power plants; acid rain leading to forest damage; water pollution from industrial and municipal sources; disposal of hazardous wastes
International environmental agreements / party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Antarctic-Environmental Protection, Antarctic- Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling
International environmental agreements / signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Multi-effect Protocol, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants
Climate: temperate with cold, cloudy, moderately severe winters with frequent precipitation; mild summers with frequent showers and thundershowers
Land use / agricultural land: 47.6% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 36.6% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 1.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 9.8% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 31% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 21% (2023 est.)
Urbanization / urban population: 60.2% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: -0.16% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / total emissions: 264.031 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from coal and metallurgical coke: 132.101 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from petroleum and other liquids: 95.095 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from consumed natural gas: 36.835 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Particulate matter emissions: 18.8 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Methane emissions / energy: 954.2 kt (2022-2024 est.)
Methane emissions / agriculture: 595.9 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Methane emissions / waste: 292 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Methane emissions / other: 36.3 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Waste and recycling / municipal solid waste generated annually: 12.758 million tons (2024 est.)
Waste and recycling / percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 38.3% (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / municipal: 2.113 billion cubic meters (2022)
Total water withdrawal / industrial: 6.44 billion cubic meters (2022)
Total water withdrawal / agricultural: 1.28 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total renewable water resources: 60.5 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Geoparks / total global geoparks and regional networks: 3 (2024)
Geoparks / global geoparks and regional networks: Land of Extinct Volcanoes; Muskauer Faltenbogen / Łuk Mużakowa (includes Germany); Holy Cross Mountains (2024)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: Republic of Poland
Country name / conventional short form: Poland
Country name / local long form: Rzeczpospolita Polska
Country name / local short form: Polska
Country name / former: Polish People's Republic
Country name / etymology: the name probably comes from the Slavic word pole ( field or plain), indicating the flat nature of the country
Government type: parliamentary republic
Capital / name: Warsaw
Capital / geographic coordinates: 52 15 N, 21 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 origin of the name is unknown; Warszawa was the name of a fishing village, and several legends link the city's founding to a man named Wars or Warsz
Administrative divisions: 16 provinces or voivodships ( wojewodztwa , singular - wojewodztwo ); Dolnoslaskie (Lower Silesia), Kujawsko-Pomorskie (Kuyavia-Pomerania), Lodzkie (Lodz), Lubelskie (Lublin), Lubuskie (Lubusz), Malopolskie (Lesser Poland), Mazowieckie (Masovia), Opolskie (Opole), Podkarpackie (Subcarpathia), Podlaskie, Pomorskie (Pomerania), Slaskie (Silesia), Swietokrzyskie (Holy Cross), Warminsko-Mazurskie (Warmia-Masuria), Wielkopolskie (Greater Poland), Zachodniopomorskie (West Pomerania)
Legal system: civil law system; judicial review of legislative, administrative, and other governmental acts; constitutional law rulings of the Constitutional Tribunal are final
Constitution / history: several previous; latest adopted 2 April 1997, approved by referendum 25 May 1997, effective 17 October 1997
Constitution / amendment process: proposed by at least one fifth of Sejm deputies, by the Senate, or by the president of the republic; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote in the Sejm and absolute majority vote in the Senate; amendments to articles relating to sovereignty, personal freedoms, and constitutional amendment procedures also require passage by 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: both parents must be citizens of Poland
Citizenship / dual citizenship recognized: no
Citizenship / residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch / chief of state: President Karol NAWROCKI (since 6 August 2025)
Executive branch / head of government: Prime Minister Donald TUSK (since 11 December 2023)
Executive branch / cabinet: Council of Ministers proposed by the prime minister, appointed by the president, and approved by the Sejm
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, deputy prime ministers, and Council of Ministers appointed by the president and confirmed by the Sejm; all presidential candidates resign their party affiliation
Executive branch / most recent election date: 18 May 2025, with the second round on 1 June 2025
Executive branch / election results: 2025: Karol NAWROCKI elected president in second round; percent of vote - Karol NAWROCKI (PiS) 50.9%, Rafal TRZASKOWSKI (KO) 49.1%; NAWROCKI takes office 6 August 2025 2025: First round Rafal TRZASKOWSKI (KO) 31.4%, Karol NAWROCKI 29.5% (PiS), Slawomir MENTZEN 14.8%, Grzegorz BRAUN 6.3%, and Szymon HOLOWNIA 5.0%; second round to be held on 1 June 2025; 2020: Andrzej DUDA reelected president in second round; percent of vote - Andrzej DUDA (independent) 51%, Rafal TRZASKOWSKI (KO) 49% 2015: Andrzej DUDA elected president in second round; percent of vote - Andrzej DUDA (independent) 51.5%, Bronislaw KOMOROWSKI (independent) 48.5%
Executive branch / expected date of next election: July 2030
Legislative branch / legislative structure: bicameral
Legislative branch - lower chamber / chamber name: Sejm
Legislative branch - lower chamber / number of seats: 460 (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: 10/15/2023
Legislative branch - lower chamber / parties elected and seats per party: Law and Justice (PiS) (194); Civic Coalition (KO) (157); The Third Way (65); The New Left (Nowa Lewica) (26); Other (18)
Legislative branch - lower chamber / percentage of women in chamber: 31.3%
Legislative branch - lower chamber / expected date of next election: October 2027
Legislative branch - upper chamber / chamber name: Senate (Senat)
Legislative branch - upper chamber / number of seats: 100 (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: 10/15/2023
Legislative branch - upper chamber / parties elected and seats per party: Civic Coalition (KO) (41); Law and Justice (PiS) (34); The Third Way (11); The New Left (Nowa Lewica) (9); Independents (5)
Legislative branch - upper chamber / percentage of women in chamber: 19%
Legislative branch - upper chamber / expected date of next election: October 2027
Judicial branch / highest court(s): Supreme Court or Sad Najwyzszy (consists of the first president of the Supreme Court and 120 justices organized in criminal, civil, labor and social insurance, and extraordinary appeals and public affairs and disciplinary chambers); Constitutional Tribunal (consists of 15 judges, including the court president and vice president)
Judicial branch / judge selection and term of office: president of the Supreme Court nominated by the General Assembly of the Supreme Court and selected by the president of Poland; other judges nominated by the 25-member National Judicial Council and appointed by the president of Poland; judges serve until retirement, usually at age 65, but tenure can be extended; Constitutional Tribunal judges chosen by the Sejm for single 9-year terms
Judicial branch / subordinate courts: administrative courts; military courts; local, regional and appellate courts subdivided into military, civil, criminal, labor, and family courts
Political parties: Civic Coalition Confederation Free Republicans Polish Coalition or PSL The Left United Right or PiS
Diplomatic representation in the US / chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charg&eacute; d'Affaires Bogdan Adam KLICH (since 21 November 2024)
Diplomatic representation in the US / chancery: 2640 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
Diplomatic representation in the US / telephone: [1] (202) 499-1700
Diplomatic representation in the US / FAX: [1] (202) 328-2152
Diplomatic representation in the US / email address and website: washington.amb.sekretariat@msz.gov.pl https://www.gov.pl/web/usa-en/embassy-washington
Diplomatic representation in the US / consulate(s) general: Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, New York
Diplomatic representation from the US / chief of mission: Ambassador Thomas ROSE (since 6 November 2025)
Diplomatic representation from the US / embassy: Aleje Ujazdowskie 29/31, 00-540 Warsaw
Diplomatic representation from the US / mailing address: 5010 Warsaw Place, Washington, DC 20521-5010
Diplomatic representation from the US / telephone: [48] (22) 504-2000
Diplomatic representation from the US / FAX: [48] (22) 504-2088
Diplomatic representation from the US / email address and website: acswarsaw@state.gov https://pl.usembassy.gov/
Diplomatic representation from the US / consulate(s) general: Krakow
International organization participation: Arctic Council (observer), Australia Group, BIS, BSEC (observer), CBSS, CD, CE, CEI, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECB, EIB, ESA, EU, FAO, 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, MONUSCO, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OIF (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, Schengen Convention, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNHRC, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNMISS, UNOCI, UNOOSA, UN Security Council (temporary), UNWTO, UPU, Wassenaar Arrangement, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
Independence: 11 November 1918 (republic proclaimed); notable earlier dates: 14 April 966 (adoption of Christianity, traditional founding date), 1 July 1569 (Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth created)
National holiday: Constitution Day, 3 May (1791)
Flag: description: two equal horizontal bands of white (top) and red meaning: colors derive from the Polish emblem, a white eagle on a red field
National symbol(s): white crowned eagle
National color(s): white, red
National coat of arms: Poland’s coat of arms was designed in 1927 by noted Polish graphic artist and educator Zygmunt Kaminski. The white crowned eagle is the national symbol, and white and red are the national colors, with white representing purity and truth and red symbolizing courage and the blood shed for freedom.
National anthem(s) / title: "Mazurek Dabrowskiego" (Dabrowski's Mazurka)
National anthem(s) / lyrics/music: Jozef WYBICKI/traditional
National anthem(s) / history: adopted 1927;
National heritage / total World Heritage Sites: 17 (15 cultural, 2 natural)
National heritage / selected World Heritage Site locales: Historic Krakow (c); Historic Warsaw (c); Medieval Torun (c); Wooden Tserkvas of the Carpathian Region (c); Castle of the Teutonic Order in Malbork (c); Wieliczka and Bochnia Royal Salt Mines (c); Auschwitz Birkenau Concentration Camp (c); Ancient and Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians (n); Białowieza Forest (n); Old City of Zamość (c)

## Economy
Economic overview: high-income, diversified, EU-member economy; significant growth in GDP, trade, and investment since joining EU in 2004; private consumption and EU-funded public investments driving GDP growth; increased social spending, flooding recovery costs, and defense spending have added to public debt
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $1.649 trillion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $1.602 trillion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $1.598 trillion (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2024: 2.9% (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2023: 0.2% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2022: 5.3% (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2024: $45,100 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2023: $43,700 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2022: $43,400 (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $914.696 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: 11.5% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 14.4% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / agriculture: 2.6% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / industry: 26.4% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / services: 59.9% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / household consumption: 57.6% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / government consumption: 20.8% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in fixed capital: 16.9% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in inventories: 0.8% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / exports of goods and services: 52.3% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / imports of goods and services: -48.3% (2024 est.)
Agricultural products: sugar beets, milk, wheat, maize, potatoes, triticale, apples, rapeseed, barley, rye (2023)
Industries: machine building, iron and steel, coal mining, chemicals, shipbuilding, food processing, glass, beverages, textiles
Industrial production growth rate: -0.6% (2023 est.)
Labor force: 18.245 million (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2024: 2.5% (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: 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: 12.2% (2023 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income / Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2022: 28.9 (2022 est.)
Average household expenditures / on food: 18.6% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Average household expenditures / on alcohol and tobacco: 6.2% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / lowest 10%: 3.3% (2022 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / highest 10%: 23.1% (2022 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2024: 0.9% of GDP (2024 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2023: 1.1% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2022: 1.1% of GDP (2022 est.)
Budget / revenues: $291.603 billion (2023 est.)
Budget / expenditures: $328.497 billion (2023 est.)
Public debt / Public debt 2017: 50.6% of GDP (2017 est.)
Taxes and other revenues: 18% (of GDP) (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2024: $1.789 billion (2024 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2023: $14.535 billion (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2022: -$15.822 billion (2022 est.)
Exports / Exports 2024: $478.579 billion (2024 est.)
Exports / Exports 2023: $471.571 billion (2023 est.)
Exports / Exports 2022: $436.388 billion (2022 est.)
Exports - partners: Germany 25%, UK 6%, Czechia 6%, France 6%, Italy 5% (2023)
Exports - commodities: vehicle parts/accessories, electric batteries, plastic products, cars, seats (2023)
Imports / Imports 2024: $441.945 billion (2024 est.)
Imports / Imports 2023: $423.797 billion (2023 est.)
Imports / Imports 2022: $421.765 billion (2022 est.)
Imports - partners: Germany 22%, China 12%, Italy 5%, Netherlands 4%, USA 4% (2023)
Imports - commodities: crude petroleum, cars, garments, vehicle parts/accessories, plastic products (2023)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024: $223.115 billion (2024 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023: $193.783 billion (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $166.664 billion (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Currency: zlotych (PLN) per US dollar -
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2024: 3.981 (2024 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2023: 4.204 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2022: 4.458 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2021: 3.862 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2020: 3.9 (2020 est.)

## Energy
Electricity access / electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)
Electricity / installed generating capacity: 64.806 million kW (2023 est.)
Electricity / consumption: 159.639 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / exports: 11.403 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / imports: 15.14 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / transmission/distribution losses: 8.549 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / fossil fuels: 72.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / solar: 6.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / wind: 14.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / hydroelectricity: 1.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / biomass and waste: 4.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Coal / production: 96.72 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / consumption: 99.932 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / exports: 10.805 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / imports: 10.041 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / proven reserves: 27.758 billion metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum / total petroleum production: 24,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Petroleum / refined petroleum consumption: 743,000 bbl/day (2024 est.)
Petroleum / crude oil estimated reserves: 113 million barrels (2021 est.)
Natural gas / production: 5.345 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / consumption: 20.602 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / exports: 747.124 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / imports: 15.111 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / proven reserves: 91.492 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)
Energy consumption per capita / Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 103.651 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

## Communications
Telephones - fixed lines / total subscriptions: 4.987 million (2023 est.)
Telephones - fixed lines / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 13 (2023 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / total subscriptions: 52.4 million (2023 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 132 (2022 est.)
Broadcast media: state-run public TV operates 2 national channels supplemented by 16 regional and several niche channels; privately owned entities operate several national TV networks and some special interest channels; many privately owned local channels; roughly half of all households are linked to satellite or cable TV systems with access to foreign TV; state-run public radio operates 5 national networks and 17 regional stations; 2 privately owned national radio networks, several commercial stations, and many privately owned local radio stations (2019)
Internet country code: .pl
Internet users / percent of population: 86% (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / total: 10.1 million (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 26 (2023 est.)

## Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: SP
Airports: 318 (2025)
Heliports: 16 (2025)
Railways / total: 19,461 km (2020) 11,946 km electrified
Merchant marine / total: 152 (2023)
Merchant marine / by type: general cargo 6, oil tanker 6, other 140
Ports / total ports: 10 (2024)
Ports / large: 2
Ports / medium: 2
Ports / small: 4
Ports / very small: 2
Ports / ports with oil terminals: 5
Ports / key ports: Gdansk, Gdynia, Port Polnochny, Szczecin

## Military and Security
Military and security forces: Polish Armed Forces (Polskie Siły Zbrojne): Land Forces (Wojska Ladowe), Navy (Marynarka Wojenna), Air Force (Sily Powietrzne), Special Forces (Wojska Specjalne), Territorial Defense Forces (Wojska Obrony Terytorialnej), Cyberspace Defense Forces (Wojska Obrony Cyberprzestrzeni) Ministry of Interior and Administration: Polish National Police (Policja); Border Guard (Straż Graniczna or SG) (2025)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2025: 4.5% of GDP (2025 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2024: 3.8% of GDP (2024 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2023: 3.3% of GDP (2023 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2022: 2.2% of GDP (2022 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2021: 2.2% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military and security service personnel strengths: approximately 235,000 active military personnel (2025)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the military's inventory consists of a mix of some Soviet-era and a growing amount of more modern, NATO-compatible weapons systems; in recent years, significant suppliers of armaments have included Finland, South Korea, and the US; Poland has a domestic defense sector that produces or provides upgrades to various weapons systems, particularly ground systems such as tanks and other armored vehicles; it also cooperates with the European and US defense sectors (2025)
Military service age and obligation: 18 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women; no conscription; professional soldiers serve on a permanent basis (for an unspecified period of time) or on a contract basis (for a specified period of time); initial contract period is 24 months (2025)
Military deployments: 250 Kosovo (NATO/KFOR); up to 300 Latvia (NATO); 190 Lebanon (UNIFIL) (2025)
Military - note: the Polish Armed Forces are responsible for defense of the country's sovereignty and territory, deterring potential threats, and fulfilling Poland's commitments to NATO, EU, and European security; Poland’s geographic location on NATO’s eastern flank and its history of foreign invasion underpin the Polish military’s focus on territorial and border defense; in peacetime, the Armed Forces provide support to the Border Guard; other security concerns include hybrid threats from Russia and Belarus, such as cyberattacks, sabotage, and weaponized migration; since the 2010s, Poland has taken steps to enhance the security of its borders with Russia and Belarus since 2014, Poland has hosted several NATO military formations designed to enhance the defense of Poland and NATO’s eastern flank, including a US-led multinational NATO ground force battlegroup as part of the Alliance’s Enhanced Forward Presence initiative, NATO fighter detachments at Malbork Air Base, a NATO-led divisional headquarters (Multinational Division Northeast), which coordinates training and preparation activities of its respective subordinate battlegroups in Poland and Lithuania, and a corps-level NATO field headquarters (Multinational Corps Northeast); Poland also has increased the the US military presence in the country; Poland participates in a variety of EU and NATO military deployments in Africa, the Baltic States, Southern Europe, and the Middle East; Poland also provided support to the NATO mission in Afghanistan (2025)

## Space
Space agency/agencies: Polish Space Agency (POLSA; established 2014; operational in 2015) (2025)
Space program overview: builds satellites, including nano/cube remote sensing (RS) and scientific/technology satellites; researches and develops communications, RS, navigational, and other scientific applications for satellite payloads; creating infrastructure for data from meteorological and environmental satellites; researches and develops other space-related technologies, including sensors and robotic probes for interplanetary landers, and launcher systems; space program is integrated with the ESA and the EU; participates in a variety of ESA/EU and international programs; cooperates with a variety of other foreign space agencies and industries, including those of Brazil, Canada, China, ESA/EU member states (particularly France, Germany, Italy), India, Japan, Mexico, Russia, Ukraine, UK, and the US; has a commercial space sector with more than 300 active enterprises (2025)
Key space-program milestones: 1978 - first Polish astronaut in space on Soviet spacecraft 1991 - began cooperating with the ESA 1994 - began participating in Russia's Koronas solar research missions 2012 - joined ESA; first domestically built scientific nanosatellite (PW-Sat) launched on European rocket 2021 - joined US-led Artemis Accords for lunar and space exploration 2024 - successfully launched domestically developed experimental suborbital rocket (ILR-33 Amber 2K) to altitude of 101 kms 2025 - first Polish astronaut and scientific mission on International Space Station

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

## Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons / refugees: 1,019,863 (2024 est.)
Refugees and internally displaced persons / stateless persons: 1,486 (2024 est.)
Illicit drugs / USG identification: major precursor-chemical producer (2025)

=== Portugal ===

## Introduction
Background: A global maritime power during the 15th and 16th centuries, Portugal lost much of its wealth and status with the destruction of Lisbon in a 1755 earthquake, occupation during the Napoleonic Wars, and the independence of Brazil, its wealthiest colony, in 1822. A revolution deposed the monarchy in 1910, and for most of the next six decades, repressive governments ran the country. In 1974, a left-wing military coup ushered in broad democratic reforms. The following year, Portugal granted independence to all its African colonies. Portugal is a founding member of NATO and entered the EC (now the EU) in 1986.

## Geography
Location: Southwestern Europe, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, west of Spain
Geographic coordinates: 39 30 N, 8 00 W
Map references: Europe
Area / total: 92,090 sq km
Area / land: 91,470 sq km
Area / water: 620 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly smaller than Virginia
Land boundaries / total: 1,224 km
Land boundaries / border countries: Spain 1,224 km
Coastline: 1,793 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: maritime temperate; cool and rainy in north, warmer and drier in south
Terrain: the west-flowing Tagus River divides the country: the north is mountainous toward the interior, while the south is characterized by rolling plains
Elevation / highest point: Ponta do Pico (Pico or Pico Alto) on Ilha do Pico in the Azores 2,351 m
Elevation / lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
Elevation / mean elevation: 372 m
Natural resources: fish, forests (cork), iron ore, copper, zinc, tin, tungsten, silver, gold, uranium, marble, clay, gypsum, salt, arable land, hydropower
Land use / agricultural land: 43.3% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 10.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 9.6% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 23.6% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 36.6% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 5.7% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land: 5,662 sq km (2019)
Population distribution: concentrations are primarily along or near the Atlantic coast; both Lisbon and the second largest city, Porto, are coastal cities
Natural hazards: Azores subject to severe earthquakes volcanism: limited volcanic activity in the Azores Islands; Fayal or Faial (1,043 m) last erupted in 1958; most volcanoes have not erupted in centuries; historically active volcanoes include Agua de Pau, Furnas, Pico, Picos Volcanic System, San Jorge, Sete Cidades, and Terceira
Geography - note: Azores and Madeira Islands occupy strategic locations along western sea approaches to Strait of Gibraltar; they are two of the four North Atlantic archipelagos that make up Macaronesia; the others are the Canary Islands (Spain) and Cabo Verde

## People and Society
Population / total: 10,194,277 (2025 est.)
Population / male: 4,831,166
Population / female: 5,363,111
Nationality / noun: Portuguese (singular and plural)
Nationality / adjective: Portuguese
Ethnic groups: Portuguese 95%; citizens from Portugal&rsquo;s former colonies in Africa, Asia (Han Chinese), and South America (Brazilian) and other foreign born 5%
Languages: Portuguese (official), Mirandese (official, but locally used)
Religions: Catholic 68.1%, not applicable 12.9%, no religion 12.0%, no response 2.2%, Protestant 1.8%, other 1.0%; less than 1%: other Christians, Orthodox, Muslim (2021 est.)
Age structure / 0-14 years: 12.7% (male 662,419/female 631,284)
Age structure / 15-64 years: 65% (male 3,264,766/female 3,371,087)
Age structure / 65 years and over: 22.3% (2024 est.) (male 908,578/female 1,369,043)
Dependency ratios / total dependency ratio: 54.3 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / youth dependency ratio: 19.3 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / elderly dependency ratio: 35 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / potential support ratio: 2.9 (2025 est.)
Median age / total: 46.8 years (2025 est.)
Median age / male: 44.3 years
Median age / female: 48.3 years
Population growth rate: -0.11% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 8.03 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 10.92 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: 1.78 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution: concentrations are primarily along or near the Atlantic coast; both Lisbon and the second largest city, Porto, are coastal cities
Urbanization / urban population: 67.9% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 0.44% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 3.001 million LISBON (capital), 1.325 million Porto (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: 0.97 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 65 years and over: 0.66 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / total population: 0.9 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth: 29.9 years (2020 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio: 15 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 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: 2.1 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth / total population: 81.9 years (2024 est.)
Life expectancy at birth / male: 78.8 years
Life expectancy at birth / female: 85.2 years
Total fertility rate: 1.46 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 0.71 (2025 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: urban: urban: 99.9% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: rural: rural: 97.9% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: total: total: 99.3% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: urban: urban: 0.1% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: rural: rural: 2.1% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: total: total: 0.7% of population (2022 est.)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 10.6% of GDP (2022)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 14.8% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density: 5.85 physicians/1,000 population (2022)
Hospital bed density: 3.5 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: 20.8% (2016)
Alcohol consumption per capita / total: 10.37 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / beer: 2.62 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / wine: 6.04 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / spirits: 1.34 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / other alcohols: 0.37 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Tobacco use / total: 20.7% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / male: 26.1% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / female: 15.9% (2025 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 0.9% (2016 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49): 50.6% (2021 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% GDP): 4.6% of GDP (2022 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% national budget): 10.4% national budget (2022 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / total: 18 years (2022 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / male: 17 years (2022 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / female: 18 years (2022 est.)

## Environment
Environmental issues: soil erosion; air pollution from industrial and vehicle emissions; water pollution, especially in urban centers and coastal areas
International environmental agreements / party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Multi-effect Protocol, Antarctic-Environmental Protection, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling
International environmental agreements / signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Environmental Modification, Nuclear Test Ban
Climate: maritime temperate; cool and rainy in north, warmer and drier in south
Land use / agricultural land: 43.3% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 10.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 9.6% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 23.6% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 36.6% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 5.7% (2023 est.)
Urbanization / urban population: 67.9% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 0.44% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / total emissions: 38.272 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from coal and metallurgical coke: 20,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from petroleum and other liquids: 29.525 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from consumed natural gas: 8.727 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Particulate matter emissions: 7.6 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Waste and recycling / municipal solid waste generated annually: 5.268 million tons (2024 est.)
Waste and recycling / percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 23.5% (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / municipal: 920.03 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / industrial: 1.83 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / agricultural: 3.419 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total renewable water resources: 77.4 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Geoparks / total global geoparks and regional networks: 6 (2024)
Geoparks / global geoparks and regional networks: A&ccedil;ores; Arouca; Estrela; Naturtejo da Meseta Meridional; Oeste; Terras de Cavaleiros (2024)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: Portuguese Republic
Country name / conventional short form: Portugal
Country name / local long form: Republica Portuguesa
Country name / local short form: Portugal
Country name / etymology: name derives from the Roman designation "Portus Cale," meaning "Port of Cale;" Cale was located in present-day northern Portugal, and its name is said to come from the Latin word calere (to be warm) because the harbor never iced over
Government type: semi-presidential republic
Capital / name: Lisbon
Capital / geographic coordinates: 38 43 N, 9 08 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 / time zone note: Portugal has two time zones, including the Azores (UTC-1)
Capital / etymology: the origin of the name is unclear; some trace it back to the legendary Greek hero Ulysses; others claim a derivation from the Phoenician alis-ubbo , or "joyful bay"
Administrative divisions: 18 districts ( distritos , singular - distrito ) and 2 autonomous regions* ( regioes autonomas , singular - regiao autonoma ); Aveiro, Acores (Azores)*, Beja, Braga, Braganca, Castelo Branco, Coimbra, Evora, Faro, Guarda, Leiria, Lisboa (Lisbon), Madeira*, Portalegre, Porto, Santarem, Setubal, Viana do Castelo, Vila Real, Viseu
Legal system: civil law system; Constitutional Court reviews legislative acts
Constitution / history: several previous; latest adopted 2 April 1976, effective 25 April 1976
Constitution / amendment process: proposed by the Assembly of the Republic; adoption requires two-thirds majority vote of Assembly 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 Portugal
Citizenship / dual citizenship recognized: yes
Citizenship / residency requirement for naturalization: 10 years; 6 years if from a Portuguese-speaking country
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch / chief of state: President Marcelo REBELO DE SOUSA (since 9 March 2016)
Executive branch / head of government: Prime Minister Antonio Luis MONTENEGRO (since 2 April 2024)
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); following legislative elections, the president usually appoints the leader of the majority party or majority coalition as prime minister
Executive branch / most recent election date: 24 January 2021
Executive branch / election results: 2021: Marcelo REBELO DE SOUSA reelected president in the first round; percent of vote - Marcelo REBELO DE SOUSA (PSD) 60.7%, Ana GOMES (ran as an independent but is a member of PS) 13%, Andre VENTURA (CH) 11.9%, João FERREIRA (PCP-PEV) 4.3%, other 10.1% 2016: Marcelo REBELO DE SOUSA elected president in the first round; percent of vote - Marcelo REBELO DE SOUSA (PSD) 52%, António SAMPAIO DA NOVOA (independent) 22.9%, Marisa MATIAS (BE) 10.1%, Maria DE BELEM ROSEIRA (PS) 4.2%, other 10.8%
Executive branch / expected date of next election: January 2026
Legislative branch / legislature name: Assembly of the Republic (Assembleia da Republica)
Legislative branch / legislative structure: unicameral
Legislative branch / number of seats: 230 (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: 5/18/2025
Legislative branch / parties elected and seats per party: Social Democratic Party (PPD/PSD) - Democratic and Social Centre - People's Party (CDS-PP) (88); Chega (CH) (60); Socialist Party (PS) (58); Other (24)
Legislative branch / percentage of women in chamber: 35.7%
Legislative branch / expected date of next election: September 2029
Judicial branch / highest court(s): Supreme Court or Supremo Tribunal de Justica (consists of 12 justices); Constitutional Court or Tribunal Constitucional (consists of 13 judges)
Judicial branch / judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court justices nominated by the president and appointed by the Assembly of the Republic; judges can serve for life; Constitutional Court judges - 10 elected by the Assembly and 3 elected by the other Constitutional Court judges; judges elected for 6-year nonrenewable terms
Judicial branch / subordinate courts: Supreme Administrative Court (Supremo Tribunal Administrativo); Audit Court (Tribunal de Contas); appellate, district, and municipal courts
Political parties: Democratic Alliance or AD (2024 electoral alliance in the Azores, includes PSD, CDS-PP, PPM) Democratic and Social Center/People's Party (Partido do Centro Democratico Social-Partido Popular) or CDS-PP Ecologist Party "The Greens" or "Os Verdes" (Partido Ecologista-Os Verdes) or PEV Enough (Chega) Liberal Initiative (Iniciativa Liberal) or IL LIVRE or L People-Animals-Nature Party (Pessoas-Animais-Natureza) or PAN People's Monarchist Party or PPM Portuguese Communist Party (Partido Comunista Portugues) or PCP Social Democratic Party (Partido Social Democrata) or PSD (formerly the Partido Popular Democratico or PPD) Socialist Party (Partido Socialista) or PS The Left Bloc (Bloco de Esquerda) or BE or O Bloco Unitary Democratic Coalition (Coligacao Democratica Unitaria) or CDU (includes PCP and PEV) (2024)
Diplomatic representation in the US / chief of mission: Ambassador Francisco Antonio DUARTE LOPES (since 7 June 2022)
Diplomatic representation in the US / chancery: 2012 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036
Diplomatic representation in the US / telephone: [1] (202) 350-5400
Diplomatic representation in the US / FAX: [1] (202) 462-3726
Diplomatic representation in the US / email address and website: info.washington@mne.pt https://washingtondc.embaixadaportugal.mne.gov.pt/en/
Diplomatic representation in the US / consulate(s) general: Boston, Newark (NJ), New York, San Francisco
Diplomatic representation in the US / consulate(s): New Bedford (MA), Providence (RI)
Diplomatic representation from the US / chief of mission: Ambassador John Joseph ARRIGO (since 30 September 2025)
Diplomatic representation from the US / embassy: Avenida das Forcas Armadas, 1600-081 Lisboa
Diplomatic representation from the US / mailing address: 5320 Lisbon Place, Washington DC 20521-5320
Diplomatic representation from the US / telephone: [351] (21) 727-3300
Diplomatic representation from the US / FAX: [351] (21) 726-9109
Diplomatic representation from the US / email address and website: conslisbon@state.gov https://pt.usembassy.gov/
Diplomatic representation from the US / consulate(s): Ponta Delgada (Azores)
International organization participation: ADB (nonregional member), AfDB (nonregional member), Australia Group, BIS, CD, CE, CERN, CPLP, EAPC, EBRD, ECB, EIB, EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, FATF, 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, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, Pacific Alliance (observer), Paris Club (associate), PCA, Schengen Convention, SELEC (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNOOSA, UNWTO, UPU, Wassenaar Arrangement, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
Independence: 1143 (Kingdom of Portugal recognized); 1 December 1640 (independence reestablished after 60 years of Spanish rule); 5 October 1910 (republic proclaimed)
National holiday: Portugal Day (Dia de Portugal), 10 June (1580)
Flag: description: two vertical bands of green (left side, two-fifths) and red (three-fifths), with the national coat of arms (armillary sphere and national shield) centered on the dividing line meaning: explanations for the color meanings are ambiguous, but a popular interpretation says that green symbolizes hope and red the blood of those defending the nation
National symbol(s): armillary sphere (a spherical astrolabe for modeling objects in the sky)
National color(s): red, green
National anthem(s) / title: "A Portugesa" (The Song of the Portuguese)
National anthem(s) / lyrics/music: Henrique LOPES DE MENDOCA/Alfredo KEIL
National anthem(s) / history: adopted 1911; originally written to protest the Portuguese monarchy's acquiescence to the 1890 British ultimatum forcing Portugal to give up areas of Africa
National heritage / total World Heritage Sites: 17 (16 cultural, 1 natural)
National heritage / selected World Heritage Site locales: Historic Évora (c); Central Zone of the Town of Angra do Heroismo in the Azores (c); Cultural Landscape of Sintra (c); Laurisilva of Madeira (n); Historic Guimarães (c); Monastery of the Hieronymites and Tower of Belém in Lisbon (c); Convent of Christ in Tomar (c); Prehistoric Rock Art Sites in the Côa Valley and Siega Verde (c); University of Coimbra – Alta and Sofia (c); Sanctuary of Bom Jesus do Monte in Braga (c)

## Economy
Economic overview: high-income EU and eurozone economy; strong services sector led by tourism and banking; tight labor market; growth driven by private consumption, trade surplus, and public investment from EU funds; declining public debt
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $448.226 billion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $439.745 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $428.547 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: 2.6% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2022: 7% (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2024: $41,900 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2023: $41,600 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2022: $41,100 (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $308.683 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: 4.3% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 7.8% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / agriculture: 2% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / industry: 18.4% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / services: 66.4% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / household consumption: 62% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / government consumption: 16.8% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in fixed capital: 20.1% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in inventories: 0.4% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / exports of goods and services: 47.5% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / imports of goods and services: -46.4% (2023 est.)
Agricultural products: milk, tomatoes, olives, grapes, maize, pork, potatoes, chicken, apples, oranges (2023)
Industries: textiles, clothing, footwear, wood and cork, paper and pulp, chemicals, fuels and lubricants, automobiles and auto parts, base metals, minerals, porcelain and ceramics, glassware, technology, telecommunications; dairy products, wine, other foodstuffs; ship construction and refurbishment; tourism, plastics, financial services, optics
Industrial production growth rate: 1.2% (2024 est.)
Labor force: 5.464 million (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2024: 6.4% (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2023: 6.6% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2022: 6.1% (2022 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / total: 21.2% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / male: 21.6% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / female: 20.7% (2024 est.)
Population below poverty line: 16.4% (2021 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income / Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2022: 36.3 (2022 est.)
Average household expenditures / on food: 17.3% 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%: 2.5% (2022 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / highest 10%: 28.8% (2022 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2024: 0.6% of GDP (2024 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2023: 0.6% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2022: 0.6% of GDP (2022 est.)
Budget / revenues: $112.802 billion (2023 est.)
Budget / expenditures: $109.044 billion (2023 est.)
Public debt / Public debt 2017: 125.7% of GDP (2017 est.)
Taxes and other revenues: 22.8% (of GDP) (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2024: $6.708 billion (2024 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2023: $1.624 billion (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2022: -$5.356 billion (2022 est.)
Exports / Exports 2024: $144.237 billion (2024 est.)
Exports / Exports 2023: $137.934 billion (2023 est.)
Exports / Exports 2022: $126.953 billion (2022 est.)
Exports - partners: Spain 21%, France 11%, Germany 10%, USA 8%, UK 5% (2023)
Exports - commodities: cars, garments, vehicle parts/accessories, unpackaged medicine, refined petroleum (2023)
Imports / Imports 2024: $136.976 billion (2024 est.)
Imports / Imports 2023: $133.617 billion (2023 est.)
Imports / Imports 2022: $132.193 billion (2022 est.)
Imports - partners: Spain 33%, Germany 11%, France 7%, Netherlands 5%, China 5% (2023)
Imports - commodities: cars, crude petroleum, vehicle parts/accessories, refined petroleum, garments (2023)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024: $42.434 billion (2024 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023: $35.243 billion (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $32.232 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: 25.409 million kW (2023 est.)
Electricity / consumption: 50.317 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / exports: 3.422 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / imports: 13.656 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / transmission/distribution losses: 5.129 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / fossil fuels: 25.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / solar: 12.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / wind: 29% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / hydroelectricity: 24.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / geothermal: 0.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / biomass and waste: 7.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Coal / consumption: 7,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / exports: 1 metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / imports: 6,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / proven reserves: 3 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum / total petroleum production: 8,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Petroleum / refined petroleum consumption: 204,000 bbl/day (2024 est.)
Natural gas / consumption: 4.325 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / imports: 4.251 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Energy consumption per capita / Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 73.285 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

## Communications
Telephones - fixed lines / total subscriptions: 5.505 million (2023 est.)
Telephones - fixed lines / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 53 (2023 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / total subscriptions: 12.9 million (2024 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 124 (2024 est.)
Broadcast media: Radio e Televisao de Portugal, the publicly owned TV broadcaster, operates 4 domestic channels and external service channels to Africa; roughly 40 domestic TV stations; widespread access to international broadcasters, with more than half of households connected to multi-channel cable or satellite TV systems; publicly owned radio operates 3 national networks and provides regional and external services; several privately owned national radio stations and about 300 regional and local commercial radio stations
Internet country code: .pt
Internet users / percent of population: 86% (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / total: 4.6 million (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 44 (2023 est.)

## Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: CR, CS
Airports: 128 (2025)
Heliports: 65 (2025)
Railways / total: 2,526 km (2020) 1,696 km electrified
Merchant marine / total: 888 (2023)
Merchant marine / by type: bulk carrier 110, container ship 299, general cargo 191, oil tanker 29, other 259
Ports / total ports: 18 (2024)
Ports / large: 3
Ports / medium: 2
Ports / small: 4
Ports / very small: 9
Ports / ports with oil terminals: 5
Ports / key ports: Aveiro, Funchal, Lagos, Lisboa, Sines

## Military and Security
Military and security forces: Portuguese Armed Forces (Forças Armadas Portuguesa): Portuguese Army (Exercito Portuguesa), Portuguese Navy (Marinha Portuguesa; includes Marine Corps, aka Corpo de Fuzileiros or Corps of Fusiliers), Portuguese Air Force (Forca Aerea Portuguesa, FAP) Ministry of Internal Administration: Public Security Police (Polícia de Segurança Pública, PSP) , National Republican Guard (Guarda Nacional Republicana, GNR) (2025)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2025: 2% of GDP (2025 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2024: 1.6% 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: 1.5% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military and security service personnel strengths: approximately 25,000 active-duty military personnel (2025)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the military's inventory includes mostly European- and US-origin weapons systems along with smaller amounts of domestically produced equipment; Portugal's defense industry is noted for its shipbuilding (2025)
Military service age and obligation: 18-30 years of age for voluntary or contract military service for men and women (upper age limit varies by military branch, position, role); no compulsory military service (abolished 2004) but conscription possible if insufficient volunteers available; contract service lasts for an initial period of 2-6 years, and can be extended to a maximum of 20 years of service; initial voluntary military service lasts 12 months; reserve obligation to age 35 (2025)
Military deployments: the Portuguese Armed Forces have more than 1,100 military personnel deployed around the world engaged in missions supporting the EU, NATO, the UN, and partner nations; key deployments include 225 troops in the Central African Republic under the UN and about 350 troops supporting NATO's forward presence in Lithuania and Romania; it also participates in NATO air policing and maritime patrolling operations (2025)
Military - note: the Portuguese military is responsible for external defense, humanitarian operations, and fulfilling Portugal’s commitments to European and international security; maritime security has long been a key component of the military's portfolio, and Portugal has one of the world's oldest navies Portugal was one of the original signers of the North Atlantic Treaty (also known as the Washington Treaty) in 1949 establishing NATO, and the Alliance forms a key pillar of Portugal’s defense policy; Portugal is also a signatory of the EU’s Common Security and Defense Policy, and it regularly participates in a variety of EU and NATO, as well as UN deployments around the world; the military’s largest commitments include air, ground, and naval forces under NATO-led missions and standing task forces in the Baltics, Eastern Europe, and the Mediterranean Sea; the military also participates in exercises with NATO partners (2025)

## Space
Space agency/agencies: Portuguese Space Agency (Ag&ecirc;ncia Espacial Portuguesa; aka Portugal Space; established 2019) (2025)
Space launch site(s): in August 2025, Portugal granted a license to a commercial consortium to build and operate a space launch center on the island of Santa Maria in the Azores; the first orbital launches are expected in 2027 (2025)
Space program overview: largely focuses on the acquisition and operation of satellites; researches and develops a range of space-related technologies with an emphasis on small satellites for remote sensing (RS), navigational, science/technology, and telecommunications, as well as satellite launch services; space program is integrated with the ESA and involved in a variety of ESA and EU space programs; works with the space agencies and industries of a range of countries, including Algeria, Angola, Brazil, China, India, Japan, Morocco, South Korea, and the US; also cooperates with international organizations and projects such as the Europe South Observatory and the Square Kilometer Array; one of the objectives of the country's national space strategy is to expand its commercial space sector (2025)
Key space-program milestones: 1993 - first technology demonstrator microsatellite (PoSat-1) launched on a European rocket 2000 - joined the ESA 2020 - launched strategic plan for space development (Portugal Space 2030), which included building a spaceport, developing a reusable rocket/satellite launch vehicle, growing the country's domestic commercial space sector, and establishing an Earth observation/remote sensing satellite constellation 2024 - first Portuguese communications satellite (PoSat-2) launched by US as part of a planned constellation of 12 ocean-monitoring/maritime communication satellites 2026 - signed US-led Artemis Accords outlining best practices for responsible space exploration

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

## Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons / refugees: 71,166 (2024 est.)
Refugees and internally displaced persons / IDPs: 21 (2024 est.)
Refugees and internally displaced persons / stateless persons: 31 (2024 est.)

=== Serbia ===

## Introduction
Background: In 1918, the Croats, Serbs, and Slovenes formed a kingdom known after 1929 as Yugoslavia. The monarchy remained in power until 1945, when the communist Partisans headed by Josip Broz (aka TITO) took control of the newly created Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (SFRY). After TITO died in 1980, communism in Yugoslavia gradually gave way to resurgent nationalism. In 1989, Slobodan MILOSEVIC became president of the Republic of Serbia, and his calls for Serbian domination led to the violent breakup of Yugoslavia along ethnic lines. In 1991, Croatia, Slovenia, and Macedonia declared independence, followed by Bosnia in 1992. The remaining republics of Serbia and Montenegro declared a new Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (FRY) in 1992, and MILOSEVIC led military campaigns to unite ethnic Serbs in neighboring republics into a "Greater Serbia." These actions ultimately failed, and international intervention led to the signing of the Dayton Accords in 1995. In 1998, an ethnic Albanian insurgency in the formerly autonomous Serbian province of Kosovo resulted in a brutal Serbian counterinsurgency campaign. Serbia rejected a proposed international settlement, and NATO responded with a bombing campaign that forced Serbian forces to withdraw from Kosovo in June 1999. In 2003, the FRY became the State Union of Serbia and Montenegro, a loose federation of the two republics. In 2006, Montenegro seceded and declared itself an independent nation. In 2008, Kosovo also declared independence -- an action Serbia still refuses to recognize. In 2013, Serbia and Kosovo signed the first agreement of principles governing the normalization of relations between the two countries. Additional agreements were reached in 2015 and 2023, but implementation remains incomplete. Serbia has been an official candidate for EU membership since 2012, and President Aleksandar VUCIC has promoted the ambitious goal of Serbia joining the EU by 2025.

## Geography
Location: Southeastern Europe, between Macedonia and Hungary
Geographic coordinates: 44 00 N, 21 00 E
Map references: Europe
Area / total: 77,474 sq km
Area / land: 77,474 sq km
Area / water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly smaller than South Carolina
Land boundaries / total: 2,322 km
Land boundaries / border countries: Bosnia and Herzegovina 345 km; Bulgaria 344 km; Croatia 314 km; Hungary 164 km; Kosovo 366 km; North Macedonia 101 km; Montenegro 157 km; Romania 531 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
Climate: in the north, continental climate (cold winters and hot, humid summers with well-distributed rainfall); in other parts, continental and Mediterranean climate (relatively cold winters with heavy snowfall and hot, dry summers and autumns)
Terrain: extremely varied; to the north, rich fertile plains; to the east, limestone ranges and basins; to the southeast, ancient mountains and hills
Elevation / highest point: Midzor 2,169 m
Elevation / lowest point: Danube and Timok Rivers 35 m
Elevation / mean elevation: 442 m
Natural resources: oil, gas, coal, iron ore, copper, zinc, antimony, chromite, gold, silver, magnesium, pyrite, limestone, marble, salt, arable land
Land use / agricultural land: 40.4% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 31% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 2.5% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 6.6% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 40.4% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 27.2% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land: 550 sq km (2022)
Major rivers (by length in km): Dunav (Danube) (shared with Germany [s], Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, Croatia, 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
Natural hazards: destructive earthquakes
Geography - note: landlocked; controls one of the major land routes from Western Europe to Turkey and the Near East

## People and Society
Population / total: 6,652,212 (2024 est.)
Population / male: 3,242,751
Population / female: 3,409,461
Nationality / noun: Serb(s)
Nationality / adjective: Serbian
Ethnic groups: Serb 83.3%, Hungarian 3.5%, Romani 2.1%, Bosniak 2%, other 5.7%, undeclared or unknown 3.4% (2011 est.)
Languages / Languages: Serbian (official) 88.1%, Hungarian 3.4%, Bosnian 1.9%, Romani 1.4%, other 3.4%, undeclared or unknown 1.8% (2011 est.)
Languages / major-language sample(s): Knjiga svetskih činjenica, neophodan izvor osnovnih informacija. (Serbian) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
Religions: Serbian Orthodox 81.1%, unknown 5.3%, Islam 4.2%, Catholic 3.9%, no response 2.5%, atheist 1.1%; less than 1%: other Christians, Protestant, agnostic (2022)
Age structure / 0-14 years: 14.4% (male 492,963/female 463,995)
Age structure / 15-64 years: 65.6% (male 2,198,591/female 2,168,113)
Age structure / 65 years and over: 20% (2024 est.) (male 551,197/female 777,353)
Dependency ratios / total dependency ratio: 52.3 (2024 est.)
Dependency ratios / youth dependency ratio: 21.9 (2024 est.)
Dependency ratios / elderly dependency ratio: 30.4 (2024 est.)
Dependency ratios / potential support ratio: 3.3 (2024 est.)
Median age / total: 44.1 years (2025 est.)
Median age / male: 42.4 years
Median age / female: 45.4 years
Population growth rate: -0.6% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 8.72 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 14.66 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: 57.1% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 0.04% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 1.408 million BELGRADE (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: 0.71 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth: 28.2 years (2020 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio: 11 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Infant mortality rate / total: 4.4 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Infant mortality rate / male: 5.1 deaths/1,000 live births
Infant mortality rate / female: 3.9 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth / total population: 75.3 years (2024 est.)
Life expectancy at birth / male: 72.7 years
Life expectancy at birth / female: 78.1 years
Total fertility rate: 1.47 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 0.71 (2025 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: urban: urban: 95.4% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: rural: rural: 96.1% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: total: total: 95.7% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: urban: urban: 4.6% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: rural: rural: 3.9% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: total: total: 4.3% of population (2022 est.)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 10% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 13.7% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density: 3.1 physicians/1,000 population (2022)
Hospital bed density: 5.4 beds/1,000 population (2020 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: urban: urban: 99.7% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: rural: rural: 95.6% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: total: total: 97.9% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: urban: urban: 0.3% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: rural: rural: 4.4% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: total: total: 2.1% of population (2022 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 21.5% (2016)
Alcohol consumption per capita / total: 7.45 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / beer: 3.24 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / wine: 1.62 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / spirits: 2.37 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / other alcohols: 0.22 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Tobacco use / total: 36% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / male: 37.8% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / female: 34.5% (2025 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 1% (2019 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49): 54.3% (2022 est.)
Child marriage / women married by age 15: 1.2% (2019)
Child marriage / women married by age 18: 5.5% (2019)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% GDP): 3.4% of GDP (2023 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% national budget): 8.4% national budget (2023 est.)
Literacy / total population: 99.3% (2022 est.)
Literacy / male: 99.6% (2022 est.)
Literacy / female: 99.1% (2022 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / total: 15 years (2022 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / male: 14 years (2022 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / female: 16 years (2022 est.)

## Environment
Environmental issues: air pollution around Belgrade and other industrial cities; water pollution from industrial wastes in rivers; inadequate management of domestic, industrial, and hazardous waste
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: in the north, continental climate (cold winters and hot, humid summers with well-distributed rainfall); in other parts, continental and Mediterranean climate (relatively cold winters with heavy snowfall and hot, dry summers and autumns)
Land use / agricultural land: 40.4% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 31% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 2.5% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 6.6% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 40.4% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 27.2% (2023 est.)
Urbanization / urban population: 57.1% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 0.04% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / total emissions: 44.782 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from coal and metallurgical coke: 27.743 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from petroleum and other liquids: 11.665 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from consumed natural gas: 5.374 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Particulate matter emissions: 21.7 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Waste and recycling / municipal solid waste generated annually: 2.347 million tons (2024 est.)
Waste and recycling / percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 1% (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / municipal: 702 million cubic meters (2022)
Total water withdrawal / industrial: 3.967 billion cubic meters (2022)
Total water withdrawal / agricultural: 422 million cubic meters (2022)
Total renewable water resources: 162.2 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Geoparks / total global geoparks and regional networks: 1
Geoparks / global geoparks and regional networks: Djerdap (2023)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: Republic of Serbia
Country name / conventional short form: Serbia
Country name / local long form: Republika Srbija
Country name / local short form: Srbija
Country name / former: People's Republic of Serbia, Socialist Republic of Serbia
Country name / etymology: the country takes its name from the Serb people; the origin of their name is unclear but may derive from the Caucasian root word ser , meaning "man"
Government type: parliamentary republic
Capital / name: Belgrade (Beograd)
Capital / geographic coordinates: 44 50 N, 20 30 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 comes from the Serbian words beo (white) and grad (city); it probably referred to the white stone of the city fortress
Administrative divisions: 117 municipalities ( opstine , singular - opstina ) and 28 cities ( gradovi , singular - grad ) municipalities: Ada*, Aleksandrovac, Aleksinac, Alibunar*, Apatin*, Arandelovac, Arilje, Babusnica, Bac*, Backa Palanka*, Backa Topola*, Backi Petrovac*, Bajina Basta, Batocina, Becej*, Bela Crkva*, Bela Palanka, Beocin*, Blace, Bogatic, Bojnik, Boljevac, Bosilegrad, Brus, Bujanovac, Cajetina, Cicevac, Coka*, Crna Trava, Cuprija, Despotovac, Dimitrov, Doljevac, Gadzin Han, Golubac, Gornji Milanovac, Indija*, Irig*, Ivanjica, Kanjiza*, Kladovo, Knic, Knjazevac, Koceljeva, Kosjeric, Kovacica*, Kovin*, Krupanj, Kucevo, Kula*, Kursumlija, Lajkovac, Lapovo, Lebane, Ljig, Ljubovija, Lucani, Majdanpek, Mali Idos*, Mali Zvornik, Malo Crnice, Medveda, Merosina, Mionica, Negotin, Nova Crnja*, Nova Varos, Novi Becej*, Novi Knezevac*, Odzaci*, Opovo*, Osecina, Paracin, Pecinci*, Petrovac na Mlavi, Plandiste*, Pozega, Presevo, Priboj, Prijepolje, Raca, Raska, Razanj, Rekovac, Ruma*, Secanj*, Senta*, Sid*, Sjenica, Smederevska Palanka, Sokobanja, Srbobran*, Sremski Karlovci*, Stara Pazova*, Surdulica, Svilajnac, Svrljig, Temerin*, Titel*, Topola, Trgoviste, Trstenik, Tutin, Ub, Varvarin, Velika Plana, Veliko Gradiste, Vladicin Han, Vladimirci, Vlasotince, Vrbas*, Vrnjacka Banja, Zabalj*, Zabari, Zagubica, Zitiste*, Zitorada cities: Beograd (Belgrade), Bor, Cacak, Jagodina, Kikinda*, Kragujevac, Kraljevo, Krusevac, Leskovac, Loznica, Nis, Novi Pazar, Novi Sad*, Pancevo*, Pirot, Pozarevac, Prokuplje, Sabac, Smederevo, Sombor*, Sremska Mitrovica*, Subotica*, Uzice, Valjevo, Vranje, Vrsac*, Zajecar, Zrenjanin*
Legal system: civil law system
Constitution / history: many previous; latest adopted 30 September 2006, approved by referendum 28-29 October 2006, effective 8 November 2006
Constitution / amendment process: proposed by at least one third of deputies in the National Assembly, by the president of the republic, by the government, or by petition of at least 150,000 voters; passage of proposals and draft amendments each requires at least two-thirds majority vote in the Assembly; amendments to constitutional articles including the preamble, constitutional principles, and human and minority rights and freedoms also require passage by simple 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 Serbia
Citizenship / dual citizenship recognized: yes
Citizenship / residency requirement for naturalization: 3 years
Suffrage: 18 years of age, 16 if employed; universal
Executive branch / chief of state: President Aleksandar VUCIC (since 31 May 2017)
Executive branch / head of government: Prime Minister Djuro MACUT (since 16 April 2025)
Executive branch / cabinet: Cabinet elected by 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); prime minister elected by the National Assembly
Executive branch / most recent election date: 17 December 2023
Executive branch / election results: 2022: Aleksandar VUCIC reelected in first round; percent of vote - Aleksandar VUCIC (SNS) 60%, Zdravko PONOS (US) 18.9%, Milos JOVANOVIC (NADA) 6.1%, Bosko OBRADOVIC (Dveri-POKS) 4.5%, Milica DJURDJEVIC STAMENKOVSKI (SSZ) 4.3%, other 6.2% 2017: Aleksandar VUCIC elected president in first round; percent of vote - Aleksandar VUCIC (SNS) 55.1%, Sasa JANKOVIC (independent) 16.4%, Luka MAKSIMOVIC (independent) 9.4%, Vuk JEREMIC (independent) 5.7%, Vojislav SESELJ (SRS) 4.5%, other 7.3%, invalid/blank 1.6%; Prime Minister Ana BRNABIC reelected by the National Assembly on 5 October 2020; National Assembly vote - NA
Executive branch / expected date of next election: 2028
Legislative branch / legislature name: National Assembly (Narodna skupstina)
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: 4 years
Legislative branch / most recent election date: 12/17/2023
Legislative branch / parties elected and seats per party: Aleksandar Vucic – Serbia Must Not Stop (129); Serbia Against Violence (65); Ivica Dacic - Prime Minister of Serbia (18); Dr Miloš Jovanović - Hope for Serbia (13); We – Voice of the People, Prof. Dr. Branimir Nestorovic (13); Other (12)
Legislative branch / percentage of women in chamber: 37.2%
Legislative branch / expected date of next election: December 2027
Judicial branch / highest court(s): Supreme Court of Cassation (consists of 36 judges, including the court president); Constitutional Court (consists of 15 judges, including the court president and vice president)
Judicial branch / judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court justices proposed by the High Judicial Council (HJC), an 11-member independent body consisting of 8 judges elected by the National Assembly and 3 ex-officio members; justices appointed by the National Assembly; Constitutional Court judges elected - 5 each by the National Assembly, the president, and the Supreme Court of Cassation; initial appointment of Supreme Court judges by the HJC is 3 years and beyond that period tenure is permanent; Constitutional Court judges elected for 9-year terms
Judicial branch / subordinate courts: basic courts, higher courts, appellate courts; courts of special jurisdiction include the Administrative Court, commercial courts, and misdemeanor courts
Political parties: Alliance of Vojvodina Hungarians or SVM or VMSZ Democratic Alliance of Croats in Vojvodina or DSHV Democratic Party or DS Ecological Uprising or EU Green - Left Front or ZLF Greens of Serbia or ZS Justice and Reconciliation Party or SPP (formerly Bosniak Democratic Union of Sandzak or BDZS) Movement for Reversal or PZP Movement for the Restoration of the Kingdom of Serbia or POKS Movement of Free Citizens or PSG Movement of Socialists or PS National Democratic Alternative or NADA (electoral coalition includes NDSS and POKS) New Communist Party of Yugoslavia or NKPJ New Democratic Party of Serbia or NDSS or New DSS (formerly Democratic Party of Serbia or DSS) New Face of Serbia or NLS Party of Democratic Action of the Sandzak or SDAS Party of Freedom and Justice or SSP Party of United Pensioners, Farmers, and Proletarians of Serbia – Solidarity and Justice or PUPS - Solidarity and Justice (formerly Party of United Pensioners of Serbia or PUPS) People's Movement of Serbia or NPS People's Movement of Serbs from Kosovo and Metohija or Fatherland People's Peasant Party or NSS Political Battle of the Albanians Continues Russian Party or RS Serbia Against Violence or SPN (electoral coalition includes DS, SSP, ZLF, Zajedno, NPS, PSG, EU, PZP, USS Sloga, NLS, Fatherland) Serbia Must Not Stop (electoral coalitions includes SNS, SDPS, PUPS, PSS, SNP, SPO, PS, NSS, USS) Serbian People's Party or SNP Serbian Progressive Party or SNS Serbian Renewal Movement or SPO Social Democratic Party of Serbia or SDPS Socialist Party of Serbia or SPS Strength of Serbia or PSS Together or ZAJEDNO United Peasant Party or USS United Serbia or JS United Trade Unions of Serbia "Sloga" or USS Sloga We - The Voice from the People or MI-GIN
Diplomatic representation in the US / chief of mission: Ambassador Dragan &Scaron;UTANOVAC (since 24 July 2025)
Diplomatic representation in the US / chancery: 1333 16th Street, NW Washington, D.C. 20036
Diplomatic representation in the US / telephone: [1] (202) 507-8654
Diplomatic representation in the US / FAX: [1] (202) 332-3933
Diplomatic representation in the US / email address and website: info@serbiaembusa.org http://www.washington.mfa.gov.rs/
Diplomatic representation in the US / consulate(s) general: Chicago, New York
Diplomatic representation from the US / chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charg&eacute; d&rsquo;Affaires Alexander TITOLO (since January 2025)
Diplomatic representation from the US / embassy: 92 Bulevar kneza Aleksandra Karadjordjevica, 11040 Belgrade
Diplomatic representation from the US / mailing address: 5070 Belgrade Place, Washington, DC 20521-5070
Diplomatic representation from the US / telephone: [381] (11) 706-4000
Diplomatic representation from the US / FAX: [381] (11) 706-4481
Diplomatic representation from the US / email address and website: belgradeacs@state.gov https://rs.usembassy.gov/
International organization participation: BIS, BSEC, CD, CE, CEI, EAPC, EBRD, EU (candidate country), FAO, G-9, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MONUSCO, NAM (observer), NSG, OAS (observer), OIF (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, SELEC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNMIL, UNOCI, UNTSO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)
Independence: 5 June 2006 (from the State Union of Serbia and Montenegro); notable earlier dates: 1217 (Serbian Kingdom established); 16 April 1346 (Serbian Empire established); 13 July 1878 (Congress of Berlin recognizes Serbian independence); 1 December 1918 (Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes established, later known as Yugoslavia)
National holiday: Statehood Day, 15 February (1835), the day the first constitution of the country was adopted
Flag: description: three equal horizontal stripes of red (top), blue, and white; the national coat of arms is shifted to the left side; the principal field of the coat of arms displays a two-headed white eagle on a red shield; a smaller red shield on the eagle is divided into four quarters by a white cross; a royal crown is on top of the coat of arms meaning: red, blue, and white are the pan-Slav colors that represent freedom and revolutionary ideals; the eagle on a red shield represents the government; the smaller shield represents the country; the meaning and origin of the curved white symbols in each quarter are not clear
National symbol(s): white double-headed eagle
National color(s): red, blue, white
National anthem(s) / title: "Boze pravde" (God of Justice)
National anthem(s) / lyrics/music: Jovan DORDEVIC/Davorin JENKO
National anthem(s) / history: adopted 1904; song originally written as part of a play in 1872, and the Serbian people have used it as an anthem in the 20th and 21st centuries
National heritage / total World Heritage Sites: 4 (all cultural)
National heritage / selected World Heritage Site locales: Stari Ras and Sopoćani; Studenica Monastery; Gamzigrad-Romuliana, Palace of Galerius; Stećci Medieval Tombstone Graveyards

## Economy
Economic overview: upper middle-income Balkan economy; current EU accession candidate; hit by COVID-19; pursuing green growth development; manageable public debt; new anticorruption efforts; falling unemployment; historic Russian relations; energy import-dependent
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $177.093 billion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $170.482 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $164.166 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: 3.8% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2022: 2.6% (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2024: $26,900 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2023: $25,700 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2022: $24,600 (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $89.084 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: 12.4% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 12% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / agriculture: 3.1% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / industry: 23.3% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / services: 58.5% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / household consumption: 62.7% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / government consumption: 17.8% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in fixed capital: 23.6% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in inventories: 2% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / exports of goods and services: 52.7% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / imports of goods and services: -58.8% (2024 est.)
Agricultural products: maize, wheat, sugar beets, milk, sunflower seeds, soybeans, potatoes, barley, apples, plums (2023)
Industries: automobiles, base metals, furniture, food processing, machinery, chemicals, sugar, tires, clothes, pharmaceuticals
Industrial production growth rate: 2.9% (2024 est.)
Labor force: 3.23 million (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2024: 7.4% (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2023: 8.3% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2022: 8.5% (2022 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / total: 22.7% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / male: 21.8% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / female: 24.1% (2024 est.)
Population below poverty line: 20% (2021 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income / Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2022: 32.8 (2022 est.)
Average household expenditures / on food: 24.1% 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%: 2.4% (2022 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / highest 10%: 24.7% (2022 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2023: 7.1% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2022: 8.5% of GDP (2022 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2021: 6.9% of GDP (2021 est.)
Budget / revenues: $26.077 billion (2022 est.)
Budget / expenditures: $28.12 billion (2022 est.)
Public debt / Public debt 2016: 73.1% of GDP (2016 est.)
Taxes and other revenues: 23.9% (of GDP) (2022 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2023: -$1.947 billion (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2022: -$4.457 billion (2022 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2021: -$2.654 billion (2021 est.)
Exports / Exports 2023: $44.352 billion (2023 est.)
Exports / Exports 2022: $39.905 billion (2022 est.)
Exports / Exports 2021: $34.035 billion (2021 est.)
Exports - partners: Germany 15%, Hungary 7%, Bosnia & Herzegovina 5%, Italy 5%, Romania 5% (2023)
Exports - commodities: insulated wire, electricity, copper ore, plastic products, electric motors (2023)
Imports / Imports 2023: $48.158 billion (2023 est.)
Imports / Imports 2022: $47.395 billion (2022 est.)
Imports / Imports 2021: $39.476 billion (2021 est.)
Imports - partners: Germany 12%, China 10%, Italy 7%, Turkey 5%, Hungary 5% (2023)
Imports - commodities: crude petroleum, natural gas, packaged medicine, plastic products, cars (2023)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024: $30.484 billion (2024 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023: $27.569 billion (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $20.68 billion (2022 est.)
Debt - external / Debt - external 2023: $21.726 billion (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Currency: Serbian dinars (RSD) per US dollar -
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2024: 108.208 (2024 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2023: 108.403 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2022: 111.662 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2021: 99.396 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2020: 103.163 (2020 est.)

## Energy
Electricity access / electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)
Electricity / installed generating capacity: 8.202 million kW (2023 est.)
Electricity / consumption: 34.413 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / exports: 7.351 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / imports: 5.395 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / transmission/distribution losses: 4.881 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / fossil fuels: 65.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / solar: 1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / wind: 2.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / hydroelectricity: 30.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / biomass and waste: 0.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Coal / production: 33.219 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / consumption: 37.828 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / exports: 16,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / imports: 4.542 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / proven reserves: 7.112 billion metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum / total petroleum production: 13,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Petroleum / refined petroleum consumption: 88,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Petroleum / crude oil estimated reserves: 77.5 million barrels (2021 est.)
Natural gas / production: 336.605 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / consumption: 2.886 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / imports: 2.471 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / proven reserves: 48.139 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)
Energy consumption per capita / Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 91.884 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

## Communications
Telephones - fixed lines / total subscriptions: 2.485 million (2023 est.)
Telephones - fixed lines / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 37 (2023 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / total subscriptions: 8.53 million (2023 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 124 (2021 est.)
Internet country code: .rs
Internet users / percent of population: 85% (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / total: 2.08 million (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 31 (2023 est.)

## Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: YU
Airports: 46 (2025)
Heliports: 11 (2025)
Railways / total: 3,333 km (2020) 1,274 km electrified

## Military and Security
Military and security forces: Serbian Armed Forces (Vojska Srbije, VS): Army (aka Land Forces; includes Riverine Component, consisting of a naval flotilla on the Danube), Air and Air Defense Forces, Serbian Guard Serbian Ministry of Internal Affairs: Police Directorate (2025)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2024: 2.5% of GDP (2024 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2023: 2.4% of GDP (2023 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2022: 2.2% of GDP (2022 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2021: 2.2% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2020: 2% of GDP (2020 est.)
Military and security service personnel strengths: approximately 25,000 active-duty Armed Forces (15,000 Land Forces; 5,000 Air/Air Defense; 5,000 other, including Serbian Guard) (2025)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the military's inventory consists of a mix of Soviet/Cold War-era and some more modern weapons systems from suppliers such as China, France, and Russia; Serbia has a defense industry focused on armored vehicles, artillery systems, and munitions (2025)
Military service age and obligation: 18 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women; conscription abolished in 2011 (2025)
Military deployments: 180 Lebanon (UNIFIL) (2025)
Military - note: the Serbian military is responsible for defense and deterrence against external threats, supporting international peacekeeping operations, and providing support to civil authorities for internal security; specific areas of concerns for the military include ethnic and religious extremism, separatism, and deepening international recognition of Kosovo; Serbia has cooperated with NATO since 2006, when it joined the Partnership for Peace program, and the military trains with NATO countries, particularly other Balkan states; Serbia has participated in EU peacekeeping missions, as well as missions under the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe and the UN; it traditionally has maintained close security ties with Russia and has a growing security relationship with China the modern Serbian military was established in 2006 but traces its origins back through World War II, World War I, the Balkan Wars of 1912-1913, and the Bulgarian-Serb War of 1885 to the First (1804-1813) and Second (1815-1817) Uprisings against the Ottoman Empire (2025)

## Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons / refugees: 36,270 (2024 est.)
Refugees and internally displaced persons / IDPs: 194,171 (2024 est.)
Refugees and internally displaced persons / stateless persons: 1,715 (2024 est.)

=== Romania ===

## Introduction
Background: The principalities of Wallachia and Moldavia -- for centuries under the control of the Turkish Ottoman Empire -- secured their autonomy through the Treaty of Paris in 1856. They were de facto linked in 1859 and formally united in 1862 under the new name of Romania. The country joined the Allied Powers in World War I and subsequently acquired new territories -- most notably Transylvania -- that more than doubled its size. In 1940, Romania allied with the Axis powers and participated in the 1941 German invasion of the USSR. Three years later, overrun by the Soviets, Romania signed an armistice. The post-war Soviet occupation led to the formation of a communist "people's republic" in 1947 and the abdication of the king. The decades-long rule of dictator Nicolae CEAUSESCU, who took power in 1965, and his Securitate police state became increasingly oppressive and draconian through the 1980s. CEAUSESCU was overthrown and executed in late 1989. Former communists dominated the government until 1996 when they were swept from power. Romania joined NATO in 2004, the EU in 2007, and the Schengen Area for air and sea travel in 2024.

## Geography
Location: Southeastern Europe, bordering the Black Sea, between Bulgaria and Ukraine
Geographic coordinates: 46 00 N, 25 00 E
Map references: Europe
Area / total: 238,391 sq km
Area / land: 229,891 sq km
Area / water: 8,500 sq km
Area - comparative: twice the size of Pennsylvania; slightly smaller than Oregon
Land boundaries / total: 2,844 km
Land boundaries / border countries: Bulgaria 605 km; Hungary 424 km; Moldova 683 km; Serbia 531 km; Ukraine 601 km
Coastline: 225 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; cold, cloudy winters with frequent snow and fog; sunny summers with frequent showers and thunderstorms
Terrain: central Transylvanian Basin is separated from the Moldavian Plateau on the east by the Eastern Carpathian Mountains and separated from the Walachian Plain on the south by the Transylvanian Alps
Elevation / highest point: Moldoveanu 2,544 m
Elevation / lowest point: Black Sea 0 m
Elevation / mean elevation: 414 m
Natural resources: petroleum (reserves declining), timber, natural gas, coal, iron ore, salt, arable land, hydropower
Land use / agricultural land: 55.3% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 36.5% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 1.8% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 17% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 30.2% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 14.5% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land: 5,280 sq km (2022)
Major rivers (by length in km): Dunărea (Danube) river mouth (shared with Germany [s], Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Bulgaria, Moldova, and Ukraine) - 2,888 km note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Major watersheds (area sq km) / Atlantic Ocean drainage: (Black Sea) Danube (795,656 sq km)
Population distribution: urbanization is not particularly high, and the population distribution is fairly even throughout most of the country, with urban areas attracting larger and denser populations
Natural hazards: earthquakes, most severe in south and southwest; geologic structure and climate promote landslides
Geography - note: controls the most easily traversable land route between the Balkans, Moldova, and Ukraine; the Carpathian Mountains dominate the center of the country, and the Danube River forms much of the southern boundary with Serbia and Bulgaria

## People and Society
Population / total: 18,148,155 (2024 est.)
Population / male: 8,747,795
Population / female: 9,400,360
Nationality / noun: Romanian(s)
Nationality / adjective: Romanian
Ethnic groups: Romanian 89.3%, Hungarian 6%, Romani 3.4%, Ukrainian 0.3%, German 0.1%, other 0.9% (2021 est.)
Languages / Languages: Romanian (official) 91.6%, Hungarian 6.3%, Romani 1.2%, other 0.7% (2021 est.)
Languages / major-language sample(s): Cartea informativa a lumii, sursa indispensabila pentru informatii de baza. (Romanian) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
Religions: Romanian Orthodox 85.3%, Roman Catholic 4.5%, Reformed 3%, Pentecostal 2.5%, other 4.7% (2021 est.)
Age structure / 0-14 years: 15.4% (male 1,441,359/female 1,362,304)
Age structure / 15-64 years: 62% (male 5,618,366/female 5,632,718)
Age structure / 65 years and over: 22.6% (2024 est.) (male 1,688,070/female 2,405,338)
Dependency ratios / total dependency ratio: 61.3 (2024 est.)
Dependency ratios / youth dependency ratio: 24.9 (2024 est.)
Dependency ratios / elderly dependency ratio: 36.4 (2024 est.)
Dependency ratios / potential support ratio: 2.7 (2024 est.)
Median age / total: 45.8 years (2025 est.)
Median age / male: 44 years
Median age / female: 46.9 years
Population growth rate: -0.86% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 8.45 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 14.28 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: -2.81 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution: urbanization is not particularly high, and the population distribution is fairly even throughout most of the country, with urban areas attracting larger and denser populations
Urbanization / urban population: 54.7% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: -0.15% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 1.776 million BUCHAREST (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 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / total population: 0.93 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth: 27.1 years (2020 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio: 12 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Infant mortality rate / total: 5.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Infant mortality rate / male: 5.8 deaths/1,000 live births
Infant mortality rate / female: 5.2 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth / total population: 76.9 years (2024 est.)
Life expectancy at birth / male: 73.4 years
Life expectancy at birth / female: 80.5 years
Total fertility rate: 1.63 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: 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): 6.5% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 11.2% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density: 3.63 physicians/1,000 population (2022)
Hospital bed density: 7.1 beds/1,000 population (2020 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: urban: urban: 97.5% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: rural: rural: 77.9% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: total: total: 88.5% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: urban: urban: 2.5% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: rural: rural: 22.1% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: total: total: 11.5% of population (2022 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 22.5% (2016)
Alcohol consumption per capita / total: 10.96 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / beer: 5.33 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / wine: 3.38 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 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Tobacco use / total: 26.7% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / male: 36.2% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / female: 17.9% (2025 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49): 56% (2021 est.)
Child marriage / women married by age 15: 0.5% (2021)
Child marriage / women married by age 18: 6.9% (2021)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% GDP): 3.3% of GDP (2022 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% national budget): 8.8% national budget (2022 est.)
Literacy / total population: 99.2% (2021 est.)
Literacy / male: 99% (2021 est.)
Literacy / female: 99.3% (2021 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: soil erosion, degradation, and desertification; water pollution; air pollution in south from industrial effluents; contamination of Danube delta wetlands
International environmental agreements / party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Multi-effect Protocol, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Antarctic-Environmental Protection, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling
International environmental agreements / signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Climate: temperate; cold, cloudy winters with frequent snow and fog; sunny summers with frequent showers and thunderstorms
Land use / agricultural land: 55.3% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 36.5% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 1.8% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 17% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 30.2% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 14.5% (2023 est.)
Urbanization / urban population: 54.7% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: -0.15% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / total emissions: 61.416 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from coal and metallurgical coke: 13.07 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from petroleum and other liquids: 30.902 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from consumed natural gas: 17.444 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Particulate matter emissions: 14.6 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Methane emissions / energy: 325.6 kt (2022-2024 est.)
Methane emissions / agriculture: 355.4 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Methane emissions / waste: 247.7 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Methane emissions / other: 11.8 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Waste and recycling / municipal solid waste generated annually: 5.42 million tons (2024 est.)
Waste and recycling / percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 13% (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / municipal: 1.256 billion cubic meters (2022)
Total water withdrawal / industrial: 3.94 billion cubic meters (2022)
Total water withdrawal / agricultural: 2.955 billion cubic meters (2022)
Total renewable water resources: 212.01 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Geoparks / total global geoparks and regional networks: 2
Geoparks / global geoparks and regional networks: Buzău; Haţeg (2023)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: none
Country name / conventional short form: Romania
Country name / local long form: none
Country name / local short form: Romania
Country name / former: Kingdom of Romania, Romanian People's Republic, Socialist Republic of Romania
Country name / etymology: the name derives from the Latin Romani , meaning "people from Rome;" the area was an outpost of the Roman Empire in the 2nd century A.D., and the current name was adopted when Moldavia and Wallachia merged in 1861
Government type: semi-presidential republic
Capital / name: Bucharest
Capital / geographic coordinates: 44 26 N, 26 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 is said to come from a shepherd named Bucur who is reputed to have founded the town in 1457, but a settlement probably already existed on the site; the name may come from the personal name of an early landowner
Administrative divisions: 41 counties ( judete , singular - judet ) and 1 municipality* ( municipiu ); Alba, Arad, Arges, Bacau, Bihor, Bistrita-Nasaud, Botosani, Braila, Brasov, Bucuresti (Bucharest)*, Buzau, Calarasi, Caras-Severin, Cluj, Constanta, Covasna, Dambovita, Dolj, Galati, Gorj, Giurgiu, Harghita, Hunedoara, Ialomita, Iasi, Ilfov, Maramures, Mehedinti, Mures, Neamt, Olt, Prahova, Salaj, Satu Mare, Sibiu, Suceava, Teleorman, Timis, Tulcea, Vaslui, Valcea, Vrancea
Legal system: civil law system
Constitution / history: several previous; latest adopted 21 November 1991, approved by referendum and effective 8 December 1991
Constitution / amendment process: initiated by the president of Romania through a proposal by the government, by at least one fourth of deputies or senators in Parliament, or by petition of eligible voters representing at least half of Romania&rsquo;s counties; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote by both chambers or &ndash; if mediation is required - by three-fourths majority vote in a joint session, followed by approval in a referendum; articles, including those on national sovereignty, form of government, political pluralism, and fundamental rights and freedoms cannot be amended
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 Romania
Citizenship / dual citizenship recognized: yes
Citizenship / residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch / chief of state: President Nicușor DAN (since 26 May 2025)
Executive branch / head of government: Prime Minister Ilie BOLOJAN (since 23 June 2005)
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 with consent of Parliament
Executive branch / most recent election date: 18 May 2025
Executive branch / election results: 2025: Nicușor DAN elected president in runoff; percent of vote - Nicușor DAN (unaffiliated) 53.6%, George SIMION (AUR) 46.4% 2019: Klaus IOHANNIS reelected president in second round; percent of vote - Klaus IOHANNIS (PNL) 66.1%, Viorica DANCILA (PSD) 33.9%
Executive branch / expected date of next election: 2030
Legislative branch / legislature name: Parliament of Romania (Parlamentul României)
Legislative branch / legislative structure: bicameral
Legislative branch - lower chamber / chamber name: Chamber of Deputies (Camera Deputatilor)
Legislative branch - lower chamber / number of seats: 331 (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: 12/1/2024
Legislative branch - lower chamber / parties elected and seats per party: Social Democratic Party (PSD) (86); Alliance for the Union of Romanians (AUR) (63); National Liberal Party (PNL) (49); Save Romania Union (USR) (40); S.O.S. Romania (28); Party of Young People (POT) (24); Democratic Union of Hungarians in Romania (UDMR) (22)
Legislative branch - lower chamber / percentage of women in chamber: 22.4%
Legislative branch - lower chamber / expected date of next election: November 2028
Legislative branch - upper chamber / chamber name: Senate (Senatul)
Legislative branch - upper chamber / number of seats: 136 (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: 12/1/2024
Legislative branch - upper chamber / parties elected and seats per party: Social Democratic Party (PSD) (36); Alliance for the Union of Romanians (AUR) (28); National Liberal Party (PNL) (22); Save Romania Union (USR) (19); S.O.S. Romania (12); Democratic Union of Hungarians in Romania (UDMR) (10); Party of Young People (POT) (7)
Legislative branch - upper chamber / percentage of women in chamber: 20.9%
Legislative branch - upper chamber / expected date of next election: November 2028
Judicial branch / highest court(s): High Court of Cassation and Justice (consists of 111 judges organized into civil, penal, commercial, contentious administrative and fiscal business, and joint sections); Supreme Constitutional Court (consists of 9 members)
Judicial branch / judge selection and term of office: High Court of Cassation and Justice judges appointed by the president upon nomination by the Superior Council of Magistracy, a 19-member body of judges, prosecutors, and law specialists; judges appointed for 6-year renewable terms; Constitutional Court members - 6 elected by Parliament and 3 appointed by the president; members serve 9-year, nonrenewable terms
Judicial branch / subordinate courts: Courts of Appeal; regional tribunals; first instance courts; military and arbitration courts
Political parties: Alliance for the Fatherland or APP Alliance for the Unity of Romanians or AUR Christian-Democratic National Peasants' Party or PNT-CD Civic Hungarian Party Democratic Union of Hungarians in Romania or UDMR Ecologist Party of Romania or PER Force of the Right or FD Greater Romania Party or PRM Green Party National Liberal Party or PNL Popular Movement Party or PMP PRO Romania or PRO Romanian Nationhood Party or PNR Save Romania Union Party or USR Social Democratic Party or PSD Social Liberal Humanist Party or PUSL (formerly Humanist Power Party (Social-Liberal) or PPU-SL) S.O.S. Romania The Right Alternative or AD United Romania Party or PRU We are Renewing the European Project in Romania or REPER
Diplomatic representation in the US / chief of mission: Ambassador Dan-Andrei MURARU (since 15 September 2021)
Diplomatic representation in the US / chancery: 1607 23rd Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation in the US / telephone: [1] (202) 332-4829
Diplomatic representation in the US / FAX: [1] (202) 232-4748
Diplomatic representation in the US / email address and website: washington@mae.ro https://washington.mae.ro/en
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 Michael L. DICKERSON (since 20 May 2025)
Diplomatic representation from the US / embassy: 4-6, Dr. Liviu Librescu Blvd., District 1, Bucharest, 015118
Diplomatic representation from the US / mailing address: 5260 Bucharest Place, Washington, DC 20521-5260
Diplomatic representation from the US / telephone: [40] (21) 200-3300
Diplomatic representation from the US / FAX: [40] (21) 200-3442
Diplomatic representation from the US / email address and website: ACSBucharest@state.gov https://ro.usembassy.gov/
International organization participation: Australia Group, BIS, BSEC, CBSS (observer), CD, CE, CEI, EAPC, EBRD, ECB, EIB, ESA, EU, FAO, G-9, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAIA (observer), MIGA, MONUSCO, NATO, NSG, OAS (observer), OIF, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, SELEC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNMIL, UNMISS, UNOCI, UNOOSA,UNWTO, UPU, Wassenaar Arrangement, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
Independence: 9 May 1877 (independence proclaimed from the Ottoman Empire; 13 July 1878 (independence recognized by the Treaty of Berlin); 26 March 1881 (kingdom proclaimed); 30 December 1947 (republic proclaimed)
National holiday: Unification Day (unification of Romania and Transylvania), 1 December (1918)
Flag: description: three equal vertical bands of blue (left side), yellow, and red meaning: the colors come from the principalities of Walachia (red and yellow) and Moldavia (red and blue), which united in 1862 to form Romania history: modeled on the French flag; the national coat of arms that used to be centered on the yellow band has been removed
National symbol(s): golden eagle
National color(s): blue, yellow, red
National anthem(s) / title: "Desteapta-te romane!" (Wake up, Romanian!)
National anthem(s) / lyrics/music: Andrei MURESIANU/Anton PANN
National anthem(s) / history: adopted 1990; the anthem was written during the 1848 Revolution
National heritage / total World Heritage Sites: 11 (9 cultural, 2 natural)
National heritage / selected World Heritage Site locales: Danube Delta (n); Churches of Moldavia (c); Monastery of Horezu (c); Villages with Fortified Churches in Transylvania (c); Dacian Fortresses of the Orastie Mountains (c); Historic Center of Sighişoara (c); Wooden Churches of Maramureş (c); Ancient and Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians and Other Regions of Europe (n); Roșia Montană Mining Landscape (c); Br&acirc;ncuși Monumental Ensemble of T&acirc;rgu Jiu (c); Frontiers of the Roman Empire &ndash; Dacia (c)

## Economy
Economic overview: high-income, EU-member economy; euro membership delayed over macroeconomic indicators; persistent inflation, but consumption and EU-funded investments driving recovery; skilled labor shortage; high public debt and budget deficit; challenges include fiscal sustainability and political instability
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $774.376 billion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $768.126 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $750.091 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2024: 0.8% (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2023: 2.4% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2022: 4% (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2024: $40,600 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2023: $40,300 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2022: $39,400 (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $382.768 billion (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024: 5.7% (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023: 10.4% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 13.8% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / agriculture: 3.3% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / industry: 25% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / services: 62.5% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / household consumption: 63.5% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / government consumption: 18.3% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in fixed capital: 25.7% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in inventories: -1.4% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / exports of goods and services: 35.6% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / imports of goods and services: -41.7% (2024 est.)
Agricultural products: wheat, maize, milk, sunflower seeds, barley, rapeseed, potatoes, grapes, plums, apples (2023)
Industries: electric machinery and equipment, auto assembly, textiles and footwear, light machinery, metallurgy, chemicals, food processing, petroleum refining, mining, timber, construction materials
Industrial production growth rate: -0.9% (2024 est.)
Labor force: 8.263 million (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2024: 5.4% (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: 21.3% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / male: 21.1% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / female: 21.8% (2024 est.)
Population below poverty line: 21.1% (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: 25.1% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Average household expenditures / on alcohol and tobacco: 6.1% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / lowest 10%: 1.9% (2022 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / highest 10%: 22.6% (2022 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2024: 2.5% of GDP (2024 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2023: 2.8% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2022: 3% of GDP (2022 est.)
Budget / revenues: $93.691 billion (2022 est.)
Budget / expenditures: $112.799 billion (2022 est.)
Public debt / Public debt 2022: 50.9% of GDP (2022 est.)
Taxes and other revenues: 16.2% (of GDP) (2022 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2024: -$31.988 billion (2024 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2023: -$24.461 billion (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2022: -$27.326 billion (2022 est.)
Exports / Exports 2024: $136.253 billion (2024 est.)
Exports / Exports 2023: $136.488 billion (2023 est.)
Exports / Exports 2022: $129.286 billion (2022 est.)
Exports - partners: Germany 19%, Italy 10%, France 6%, UK 5%, Hungary 4% (2023)
Exports - commodities: cars, vehicle parts/accessories, insulated wire, garments, wheat (2023)
Imports / Imports 2024: $159.575 billion (2024 est.)
Imports / Imports 2023: $153.427 billion (2023 est.)
Imports / Imports 2022: $149.209 billion (2022 est.)
Imports - partners: Germany 19%, Italy 8%, Hungary 6%, Poland 6%, China 6% (2023)
Imports - commodities: vehicle parts/accessories, packaged medicine, cars, crude petroleum, plastic products (2023)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024: $73.391 billion (2024 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023: $73 billion (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $55.81 billion (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Currency: lei (RON) per US dollar -
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2024: 4.598 (2024 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2023: 4.574 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2022: 4.688 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2021: 4.16 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2020: 4.244 (2020 est.)

## Energy
Electricity access / electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)
Electricity / installed generating capacity: 19.748 million kW (2023 est.)
Electricity / consumption: 48.73 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / exports: 13.106 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / imports: 10.088 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / transmission/distribution losses: 5.817 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / fossil fuels: 32.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / nuclear: 18% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / solar: 3.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / wind: 13% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / hydroelectricity: 32.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / biomass and waste: 0.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Nuclear energy / Number of operational nuclear reactors: 2 (2025)
Nuclear energy / Net capacity of operational nuclear reactors: 1.3GW (2025 est.)
Nuclear energy / Percent of total electricity production: 18.9% (2023 est.)
Coal / production: 14.752 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / consumption: 15.533 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / exports: 290,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / imports: 736,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / proven reserves: 291 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum / total petroleum production: 67,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Petroleum / refined petroleum consumption: 220,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Petroleum / crude oil estimated reserves: 600 million barrels (2021 est.)
Natural gas / production: 9.632 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / consumption: 9.395 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / exports: 2.231 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / imports: 2.793 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / proven reserves: 105.48 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)
Energy consumption per capita / Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 59.377 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

## Communications
Telephones - fixed lines / total subscriptions: 1.96 million (2023 est.)
Telephones - fixed lines / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 10 (2023 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / total subscriptions: 23.2 million (2022 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 118 (2022 est.)
Broadcast media: a mixture of public and private TV stations; 7 public (2 national, 5 regional) and 187 private TV stations using terrestrial broadcasting, plus 11 public and 86 private TV stations using satellite broadcasting; state-owned public radio broadcaster operates 4 national networks, as well as regional and local stations; 502 private radio stations using terrestrial broadcasting, and 26 using satellite broadcasting
Internet country code: .ro
Internet users / percent of population: 89% (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / total: 6.63 million (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 35 (2023 est.)

## Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: YR
Airports: 103 (2025)
Heliports: 24 (2025)
Railways / total: 10,628 km (2020) 4,030 km electrified
Merchant marine / total: 127 (2023)
Merchant marine / by type: general cargo 9, oil tanker 7, other 111
Ports / total ports: 11 (2024)
Ports / large: 0
Ports / medium: 2
Ports / small: 1
Ports / very small: 8
Ports / ports with oil terminals: 4
Ports / key ports: Basarabi, Braila, Cernavoda, Constanta, Danube-Black Sea Canal, Galati, Mangalia, Medgidia, Midia, Sulina, Tulcea

## Military and Security
Military and security forces: Romanian Armed Forces (Forțele Armate Române or Armata Română): Romanian Land Forces, Romanian Naval Forces, Romanian Air Force Ministry of Internal Affairs: Romanian Police, Romanian Gendarmerie, Romanian Border Police (2025)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2025: 2.3% of GDP (2025 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2024: 2.2% of GDP (2024 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2023: 1.6% of GDP (2023 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2022: 1.8% of GDP (2022 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2021: 1.9% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military and security service personnel strengths: approximately 70,000 active Armed Forces (2025)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the military's inventory includes a considerable amount of Soviet-era and older domestically produced weapons systems, although in recent years Romania has launched an effort to acquire more modern and NATO-standard equipment from European countries and the US, including aircraft and armored vehicles (2025)
Military service age and obligation: typically 18-35 years of age for voluntary service for men and women; compulsory service ended in 2007 (2025)
Military deployments: 470 Bosnia Herzegovina (EUFOR); 200 Kosovo (KFOR/NATO); up to 120 Poland (NATO); Romania also has small numbers of military personnel deployed on other international missions under the EU, NATO, and UN (2025)
Military - note: the Romanian Armed Forces are responsible for territorial defense, fulfilling the country's commitments to European security, and contributing to multinational peacekeeping operations; the military has a variety of concerns, including Russian aggression against Ukraine, Russia's activities in the Black Sea and in Moldova, cyber attacks, hybrid threats, and terrorism; a key focus for the military is equipment modernization Romania joined NATO in 2004, and its membership forms a key pillar of the country’s defense policy; it hosts a NATO multinational divisional headquarters (Multinational Division Southeast) and a French-led ground force battlegroup as part of NATO's Enhanced Forward Presence initiative in the southeastern part of the Alliance, which came about in response to Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine; NATO allies have also sent detachments of fighters to augment the Romanian Air Force since 2014 because of aggressive Russian activity in the Black Sea region; the Romanian military trains with NATO and its member states and has participated in NATO- and EU-led multinational missions in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, and Poland; it also participates in UN peacekeeping missions (2025)

## Space
Space agency/agencies: Romanian Space Agency (Agentia Spatiala Romania, ROSA; established 1991) (2025)
Space program overview: develops and produces a range of capabilities and technologies, including satellites, satellite launch vehicles, remote sensing, human space flight, navigation, and telecommunications; program is integrated into the ESA; participates in EU and international space programs; works with a variety of foreign space agencies and commercial space entities, including those of Azerbaijan, China, Japan, Russia, and the US; also works bilaterally with ESA member states, particularly Bulgaria, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy; has an active space-industry sector with over 50 entities (2025)
Key space-program milestones: 1967-1968 - began participating in Soviet Intercosmos program and established the Romanian Commission for Space Activities to coordinate national space activities 1981 - first Romanian in space on Soviet spacecraft 2010 - domestically developed commercial rocket launched to an altitude of 40,000 m (24.9 mi) 2012 - first domestically produced scientific/experimental microsatellite (Goliat) launched (failed to operate) 2022 - joined US-led Artemis Accords for space exploration 2023 - digital amateur-radio-repeater microsatellite (ROM-2) launched on US commercial rocket

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

## Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons / refugees: 184,991 (2024 est.)
Refugees and internally displaced persons / stateless persons: 297 (2024 est.)

=== Slovenia ===

## Introduction
Background: The Slovene lands were part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire until the latter's dissolution at the end of World War I. In 1918, Slovenia became part of the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes, which was renamed Yugoslavia in 1929. After World War II, Slovenia joined Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Macedonia, Montenegro, and Serbia as one of the constituent republics in the new Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (SFRY). In 1990, Slovenia held its first multiparty elections, as well as a referendum on independence. Serbia responded with an economic blockade and military action, but after a short 10-day war, Slovenia declared independence in 1991. Slovenia acceded to both NATO and the EU in the spring of 2004; it joined the euro zone and the Schengen Area in 2007.

## Geography
Location: south Central Europe, Julian Alps between Austria and Croatia
Geographic coordinates: 46 07 N, 14 49 E
Map references: Europe
Area / total: 20,273 sq km
Area / land: 20,151 sq km
Area / water: 122 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly smaller than New Jersey
Land boundaries / total: 1,211 km
Land boundaries / border countries: Austria 299 km; Croatia 600 km; Hungary 94 km; Italy 218 km
Coastline: 46.6 km
Maritime claims / territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: Mediterranean climate on the coast, continental climate with mild to hot summers and cold winters in the plateaus and valleys to the east
Terrain: a short southwestern coastal strip of Karst topography on the Adriatic; an alpine mountain region lies adjacent to Italy and Austria in the north; mixed mountains and valleys with numerous rivers to the east
Elevation / highest point: Triglav 2,864 m
Elevation / lowest point: Adriatic Sea 0 m
Elevation / mean elevation: 492 m
Natural resources: lignite, lead, zinc, building stone, hydropower, forests
Land use / agricultural land: 30.4% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 8.9% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 2.7% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 18.8% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 61.8% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 10.8% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land: 50 sq km (2022)
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; pockets in the mountainous northwest are less dense
Natural hazards: flooding; earthquakes
Geography - note: despite its small size, this eastern Alpine country controls some of Europe's major transit routes

## People and Society
Population / total: 2,097,893 (2024 est.)
Population / male: 1,051,044
Population / female: 1,046,849
Nationality / noun: Slovene(s)
Nationality / adjective: Slovenian
Ethnic groups: Slovene 83.1%, Serb 2%, Croat 1.8%, Bosniak 1.1%, other or unspecified 12% (2002 est.)
Languages / Languages: Slovene (official) 87.7%, Croatian 2.8%, Serbo-Croatian 1.8%, Bosnian 1.6%, Serbian 1.6%, Hungarian 0.4% (official, only in municipalities where Hungarian nationals reside), Italian 0.2% (official, only in municipalities where Italian nationals reside), other or unspecified 3.9% (2002 est.)
Languages / major-language sample(s): Svetovni informativni zvezek - neobhoden vir osnovnih informacij. (Slovene) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
Religions: Catholic 69%, Orthodox 4%, Muslim 3%, Christian 1%, other 3%, atheist 14%, non-believer/agnostic 4%, refused to answer 2% (2019 est.)
Age structure / 0-14 years: 14.3% (male 153,852/female 146,628)
Age structure / 15-64 years: 62.5% (male 683,573/female 627,788)
Age structure / 65 years and over: 23.2% (2024 est.) (male 213,619/female 272,433)
Dependency ratios / total dependency ratio: 58.5 (2024 est.)
Dependency ratios / youth dependency ratio: 22.8 (2024 est.)
Dependency ratios / elderly dependency ratio: 35.7 (2024 est.)
Dependency ratios / potential support ratio: 2.8 (2024 est.)
Median age / total: 46 years (2025 est.)
Median age / male: 45 years
Median age / female: 47.9 years
Population growth rate: -0.16% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 7.52 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 11.2 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: 2.09 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; pockets in the mountainous northwest are less dense
Urbanization / urban population: 56.1% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 0.54% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 286,000 LJUBLJANA (capital) (2018)
Sex ratio / at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 15-64 years: 1.09 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: 29 years (2020 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: 1.6 deaths/1,000 live births
Infant mortality rate / female: 1.4 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth / total population: 82.2 years (2024 est.)
Life expectancy at birth / male: 79.4 years
Life expectancy at birth / female: 85.2 years
Total fertility rate: 1.49 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 0.73 (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.)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 8.8% of GDP (2022)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 15% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density: 3.37 physicians/1,000 population (2022)
Hospital bed density: 4.2 beds/1,000 population (2020 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.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 20.2% (2016)
Alcohol consumption per capita / total: 11.05 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / beer: 4.54 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / wine: 5.26 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / spirits: 1.26 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / other alcohols: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Tobacco use / total: 17.3% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / male: 19.3% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / female: 15.3% (2025 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49): 47.2% (2021 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% GDP): 5.3% of GDP (2022 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% national budget): 11.1% 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: 18 years (2023 est.)

## Environment
Environmental issues: air pollution from road traffic, domestic heating (wood burning), power generation, and industry; water pollution; biodiversity protection
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 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: Mediterranean climate on the coast, continental climate with mild to hot summers and cold winters in the plateaus and valleys to the east
Land use / agricultural land: 30.4% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 8.9% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 2.7% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 18.8% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 61.8% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 10.8% (2023 est.)
Urbanization / urban population: 56.1% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 0.54% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / total emissions: 10.772 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from coal and metallurgical coke: 2.706 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from petroleum and other liquids: 6.521 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from consumed natural gas: 1.545 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Particulate matter emissions: 14.1 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Methane emissions / energy: 8.5 kt (2022-2024 est.)
Methane emissions / agriculture: 46.5 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Methane emissions / waste: 15.6 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Methane emissions / other: 1.9 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Waste and recycling / municipal solid waste generated annually: 1.052 million tons (2024 est.)
Waste and recycling / percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 24.8% (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / municipal: 179 million cubic meters (2022)
Total water withdrawal / industrial: 645 million cubic meters (2022)
Total water withdrawal / agricultural: 3.4 million cubic meters (2022)
Total renewable water resources: 31.87 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Geoparks / total global geoparks and regional networks: 2
Geoparks / global geoparks and regional networks: Idrija; Karawanken / Karavanke (includes Austria) (2023)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: Republic of Slovenia
Country name / conventional short form: Slovenia
Country name / local long form: Republika Slovenija
Country name / local short form: Slovenija
Country name / former: People's Republic of Slovenia, Socialist Republic of Slovenia
Country name / etymology: the country's name means "Land of the Slavs" in Slovene; the origin of the Slav name is unclear, although early forms were used in Medieval Latin (Sclavus) and Byzantine Greek (Sklabos)
Government type: parliamentary republic
Capital / name: Ljubljana
Capital / geographic coordinates: 46 03 N, 14 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: by tradition, the name is related to the Slovene word ljubljena , meaning "beloved," but the origin is probably pre-Slavic and remains obscure
Administrative divisions: 200 municipalities ( obcine , singular - obcina ) and 12 urban municipalities ( mestne obcine , singular - mestna obcina ) municipalities: Ajdovscina, Ankaran, Apace, Beltinci, Benedikt, Bistrica ob Sotli, Bled, Bloke, Bohinj, Borovnica, Bovec, Braslovce, Brda, Brezice, Brezovica, Cankova, Cerklje na Gorenjskem, Cerknica, Cerkno, Cerkvenjak, Cirkulane, Crensovci, Crna na Koroskem, Crnomelj, Destrnik, Divaca, Dobje, Dobrepolje, Dobrna, Dobrova-Polhov Gradec, Dobrovnik/Dobronak, Dolenjske Toplice, Dol pri Ljubljani, Domzale, Dornava, Dravograd, Duplek, Gorenja Vas-Poljane, Gorisnica, Gorje, Gornja Radgona, Gornji Grad, Gornji Petrovci, Grad, Grosuplje, Hajdina, Hoce-Slivnica, Hodos, Horjul, Hrastnik, Hrpelje-Kozina, Idrija, Ig, Ilirska Bistrica, Ivancna Gorica, Izola/Isola, Jesenice, Jezersko, Jursinci, Kamnik, Kanal ob Soci, Kidricevo, Kobarid, Kobilje, Kocevje, Komen, Komenda, Kosanjevica na Krki, Kostel, Kozje, Kranjska Gora, Krizevci, Kungota, Kuzma, Lasko, Lenart, Lendava/Lendva, Litija, Ljubno, Ljutomer, Log-Dragomer, Logatec, Loska Dolina, Loski Potok, Lovrenc na Pohorju, Luce, Lukovica, Majsperk, Makole, Markovci, Medvode, Menges, Metlika, Mezica, Miklavz na Dravskem Polju, Miren-Kostanjevica, Mirna, Mirna Pec, Mislinja, Mokronog-Trebelno, Moravce, Moravske Toplice, Mozirje, Muta, Naklo, Nazarje, Odranci, Oplotnica, Ormoz, Osilnica, Pesnica, Piran/Pirano, Pivka, Podcetrtek, Podlehnik, Podvelka, Poljcane, Polzela, Postojna, Prebold, Preddvor, Prevalje, Puconci, Race-Fram, Radece, Radenci, Radlje ob Dravi, Radovljica, Ravne na Koroskem, Razkrizje, Recica ob Savinji, Rence-Vogrsko, Ribnica, Ribnica na Pohorju, Rogaska Slatina, Rogasovci, Rogatec, Ruse, Salovci, Selnica ob Dravi, Semic, Sempeter-Vrtojba, Sencur, Sentilj, Sentjernej, Sentjur, Sentrupert, Sevnica, Sezana, Skocjan, Skofja Loka, Skofljica, Slovenska Bistrica, Slovenske Konjice, Smarje pri Jelsah, Smarjeske Toplice, Smartno ob Paki, Smartno pri Litiji, Sodrazica, Solcava, Sostanj, Sredisce ob Dravi, Starse, Store, Straza, Sveta Ana, Sveta Trojica v Slovenskih Goricah, Sveti Andraz v Slovenskih Goricah, Sveti Jurij ob Scavnici, Sveti Jurij v Slovenskih Goricah, Sveti Tomaz, Tabor, Tisina, Tolmin, Trbovlje, Trebnje, Trnovska Vas, Trzic, Trzin, Turnisce, Velika Polana, Velike Lasce, Verzej, Videm, Vipava, Vitanje, Vodice, Vojnik, Vransko, Vrhnika, Vuzenica, Zagorje ob Savi, Zalec, Zavrc, Zelezniki, Zetale, Ziri, Zirovnica, Zrece, Zuzemberk urban municipalities: Celje, Koper, Kranj, Krsko, Ljubljana, Maribor, Murska Sobota, Nova Gorica, Novo Mesto, Ptuj, Slovenj Gradec, Velenje
Legal system: civil law system
Constitution / history: previous 1974 (pre-independence); latest passed by Parliament 23 December 1991
Constitution / amendment process: proposed by at least 20 National Assembly members, by the government, or by petition of at least 30,000 voters; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote by the Assembly; referendum required if agreed upon by at least 30 Assembly members; passage in a referendum requires participation of a majority of eligible voters and a simple majority 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 must be a citizen of Slovenia; both parents if the child is born outside of Slovenia
Citizenship / dual citizenship recognized: yes, for select cases
Citizenship / residency requirement for naturalization: 10 years, the last 5 of which have been continuous
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch / chief of state: President Natasa PIRC MUSAR (since 23 December 2022)
Executive branch / head of government: Prime Minister Robert GOLOB (since 1 June 2022)
Executive branch / cabinet: Council of Ministers nominated by the prime minister, elected by 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 consecutive term); following National Assembly elections, the president usually nominates the leader of the majority party or majority coalition as prime minister, and the National Assembly elects the nominee
Executive branch / most recent election date: 23 October 2022, with a runoff on 13 November 2022
Executive branch / election results: 2022: Natasa PIRC MUSAR elected president in second round: percent of vote in first round - Anze LOGAR (SDS) 34%, Natasa PIRC MUSAR (independent) 26.9%, Milan BRGLEZ (SD) 15.5%, Vladimir PREBILIC (independent) 10.6%, Sabina SENCAR (Resni.ca) 5.9%, Janez CIGLER KRALJ (NSi) 4.4%, other 2.7%; percent of vote in second round - Natasa PIRC MUSAR 53.9%, Anze LOGAR 46.1%; Robert GOLOB (GS) elected prime minister on 25 May 2022, National Assembly vote - 54-30 2017: Borut PAHOR reelected president in second round; percent of vote in first round - Borut PAHOR (independent) 47.1%, Marjan SAREC (Marjan Sarec List) 25%, Romana TOMC (SDS) 13.7%, Ljudmila NOVAK (NSi) 7.2%, other 7%; percent of vote in second round - Borut PAHOR 52.9%, Marjan SAREC 47.1%
Executive branch / expected date of next election: 2027
Legislative branch / legislative structure: bicameral
Legislative branch - lower chamber / chamber name: National Assembly (Drzavni Zbor)
Legislative branch - lower chamber / number of seats: 90 (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: 4/24/2022
Legislative branch - lower chamber / parties elected and seats per party: Freedom Movement (SVOBODA) (41); Slovenian Democratic Party (SDS) (27); New Slovenia - Christian Democrats (NSi) (8); Social Democrats (SD) (7); Left (LEVICA) (5); Other (2)
Legislative branch - lower chamber / percentage of women in chamber: 35.6%
Legislative branch - lower chamber / expected date of next election: April 2026
Legislative branch - upper chamber / chamber name: National Council (Drzavni Svet)
Legislative branch - upper chamber / number of seats: 40 (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: 11/23/2022 to 11/24/2022
Legislative branch - upper chamber / percentage of women in chamber: 17.5%
Legislative branch - upper chamber / expected date of next election: November 2027
Judicial branch / highest court(s): Supreme Court (consists of the court president and 37 judges organized into civil, criminal, commercial, labor and social security, administrative, and registry departments); Constitutional Court (consists of the court president, vice president, and 7 judges)
Judicial branch / judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court president and vice president appointed by the National Assembly on the proposal of the Minister of Justice, based on the opinions of the Judicial Council, an 11-member independent body elected by the National Assembly from proposals submitted by the president, attorneys, law universities, and sitting judges; other Supreme Court judges elected by the National Assembly from candidates proposed by the Judicial Council; Supreme Court judges serve for life; Constitutional Court judges appointed by the National Assembly from nominations by the president of the republic; Constitutional Court president selected from among its own membership for a 3-year term; other judges elected for single 9-year terms
Judicial branch / subordinate courts: county, district, regional, and high courts; specialized labor-related and social courts; Court of Audit; Administrative Court
Political parties: Democratic Party of Pensioners of Slovenia or DeSUS Freedom Movement or GS (formerly Greens Actions Party or Z.DEJ) List of Marjan Sarec or LMS New Slovenia - Christian Democrats or NSi Party of Alenka Bratusek or SAB (formerly Alliance of Social Liberal Democrats or ZSD and before that Alliance of Alenka Bratusek or ZaAB) Resni.ca Slovenian Democratic Party or SDS (formerly the Social Democratic Party of Slovenia or SDSS) Slovenian National Party or SNS Social Democrats or SD The Left or Levica (successor to United Left or ZL)
Diplomatic representation in the US / chief of mission: Ambassador Iztok MIRO&Scaron;IČ (since 15 September 2023)
Diplomatic representation in the US / chancery: 2410 California Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation in the US / telephone: [1] (202) 386-6611
Diplomatic representation in the US / FAX: [1] (202) 386-6633
Diplomatic representation in the US / email address and website: sloembassy.washington@gov.si http://www.washington.embassy.si/
Diplomatic representation in the US / consulate(s) general: Cleveland (OH)
Diplomatic representation from the US / chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charg&eacute; d&rsquo;Affaires Brian GREANEY (since August 2025)
Diplomatic representation from the US / embassy: Presernova 31, 1000 Ljubljana
Diplomatic representation from the US / mailing address: 7140 Ljubljana Place, Washington, DC 20521-7140
Diplomatic representation from the US / telephone: [386] (1) 200-5500
Diplomatic representation from the US / FAX: [386] (1) 200-5555
Diplomatic representation from the US / email address and website: LjubljanaACS@state.gov https://si.usembassy.gov/
International organization participation: Australia Group, BIS, CD, CE, CEI, EAPC, EBRD, ECB, EIB, EMU, ESA (cooperating state), EU, FAO, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITU, MIGA, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OIF (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, Schengen Convention, SELEC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNOOSA, UNTSO, UNWTO, UPU, Wassenaar Arrangement, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
Independence: 25 June 1991 (from Yugoslavia)
National holiday: Independence Day/Statehood Day, 25 June (1991)
Flag: description: three equal horizontal bands of white (top), blue, and red; the Slovenian seal (a shield with Triglav, the country's highest peak, in white on a blue background) is at the center, with two wavy blue lines under it; three six-pointed stars in an inverted triangle appear on the upper-left meaning: the wavy lines represent seas and rivers; the colors come from the medieval coat of arms of the Duchy of Carniola; the stars come from the coat of arms of the Counts of Celje (a Slovene dynastic house)
National symbol(s): Mount Triglav
National color(s): white, blue, red
National anthem(s) / title: "Zdravljica" (A Toast)
National anthem(s) / lyrics/music: France PRESEREN/Stanko PREMRL
National anthem(s) / history: adopted in 1989; originally written in 1848; only the seventh verse of the poem is used as the anthem
National heritage / total World Heritage Sites: 5 (3 cultural, 2 natural)
National heritage / selected World Heritage Site locales: &Scaron;kocjan Caves (n); Ancient and Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians and Other Regions of Europe (n); Prehistoric Pile Dwellings around the Alps (c); Heritage of Mercury: Almad&eacute;n and Idrija (c); The works of Jože Plečnik in Ljubljana (c)

## Economy
Economic overview: high-income EU and eurozone economy; high per-capita income and low inequality; key exports in automotive and pharmaceuticals; tight labor market with low unemployment; growth supported by private consumption and public investment, with risks from tight labor market and trade conditions; narrowing fiscal deficit and declining public debt
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $103.118 billion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $101.503 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $99.403 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2024: 1.6% (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2023: 2.1% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2022: 2.7% (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2024: $48,500 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2023: $47,900 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2022: $47,100 (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $72.485 billion (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024: 2% (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023: 7.4% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 8.8% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / agriculture: 1.5% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / industry: 28.8% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / services: 58.2% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / household consumption: 52.3% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / government consumption: 19.2% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in fixed capital: 21.3% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in inventories: 0.9% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / exports of goods and services: 83.3% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / imports of goods and services: -76.8% (2023 est.)
Agricultural products: milk, maize, wheat, barley, grapes, chicken, potatoes, beef, apples, pork (2023)
Industries: ferrous metallurgy and aluminum products, lead and zinc smelting; electronics (including military electronics), trucks, automobiles, electric power equipment, wood products, textiles, chemicals, machine tools
Industrial production growth rate: 1.8% (2024 est.)
Labor force: 1.058 million (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2024: 3.4% (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2023: 3.7% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2022: 4.1% (2022 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / total: 9.4% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / male: 10.6% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / female: 7.9% (2024 est.)
Population below poverty line: 12.7% (2022 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income / Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2022: 24.3 (2022 est.)
Average household expenditures / on food: 13.9% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Average household expenditures / on alcohol and tobacco: 4.5% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / lowest 10%: 4.2% (2022 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / highest 10%: 20.7% (2022 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2024: 1.2% of GDP (2024 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2023: 1.3% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2022: 1.3% of GDP (2022 est.)
Budget / revenues: $28.874 billion (2023 est.)
Budget / expenditures: $30.714 billion (2023 est.)
Public debt / Public debt 2017: 73.6% of GDP (2017 est.)
Taxes and other revenues: 20.3% (of GDP) (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2024: $3.231 billion (2024 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2023: $3.093 billion (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2022: -$617.374 million (2022 est.)
Exports / Exports 2024: $59.159 billion (2024 est.)
Exports / Exports 2023: $57.66 billion (2023 est.)
Exports / Exports 2022: $56.51 billion (2022 est.)
Exports - partners: Switzerland 22%, Germany 12%, Italy 10%, Croatia 8%, Austria 6% (2023)
Exports - commodities: packaged medicine, cars, refined petroleum, vehicle parts/accessories, plastic products (2023)
Imports / Imports 2024: $54.583 billion (2024 est.)
Imports / Imports 2023: $53.309 billion (2023 est.)
Imports / Imports 2022: $55.158 billion (2022 est.)
Imports - partners: Switzerland 17%, China 15%, Germany 11%, Italy 9%, Austria 6% (2023)
Imports - commodities: nitrogen compounds, packaged medicine, refined petroleum, cars, vaccines (2023)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024: $2.832 billion (2024 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023: $2.37 billion (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $2.268 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: 4.739 million kW (2023 est.)
Electricity / consumption: 12.953 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / exports: 10.62 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / imports: 9.114 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / transmission/distribution losses: 774.138 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / fossil fuels: 24.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / nuclear: 35.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / solar: 6.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / hydroelectricity: 31.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / biomass and waste: 2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Nuclear energy / Number of operational nuclear reactors: 1 (2025)
Nuclear energy / Net capacity of operational nuclear reactors: 0.7GW (2025 est.)
Nuclear energy / Percent of total electricity production: 36.8% (2023 est.)
Coal / production: 2.44 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / consumption: 2.309 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / exports: 2,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / imports: 866,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / proven reserves: 95 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum / total petroleum production: 4 bbl/day (2021 est.)
Petroleum / refined petroleum consumption: 44,000 bbl/day (2024 est.)
Natural gas / production: 4.014 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / consumption: 811.395 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / exports: 11.387 million cubic meters (2018 est.)
Natural gas / imports: 810.948 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
Energy consumption per capita / Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 104.502 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

## Communications
Telephones - fixed lines / total subscriptions: 647,000 (2023 est.)
Telephones - fixed lines / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 30 (2023 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / total subscriptions: 2.73 million (2023 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 126 (2022 est.)
Broadcast media: public TV broadcaster, Radiotelevizija Slovenija (RTV), operates a system of national and regional TV stations; 35 commercial TV stations; about 60% of households connected to multi-channel cable TV; public radio broadcaster with 3 national and 4 regional stations; more than 75 regional and local commercial and non-commercial radio stations
Internet country code: .si
Internet users / percent of population: 90% (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / total: 683,000 (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 32 (2023 est.)

## Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: S5
Airports: 42 (2025)
Heliports: 4 (2025)
Railways / total: 1,207 km (2020) 609 km electrified
Merchant marine / total: 8 (2023)
Merchant marine / by type: other 8
Ports / total ports: 2 (2024)
Ports / large: 0
Ports / medium: 0
Ports / small: 1
Ports / very small: 1
Ports / ports with oil terminals: 0
Ports / key ports: Koper, Piran

## Military and Security
Military and security forces: Slovenian Armed Forces (Slovenska Vojska, SV): structured as a combined force with air, land, maritime, and special operations components Ministry of Interior: National Police (2025)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2025: 2% of GDP (2025 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2024: 1.4% 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: 1.2% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military and security service personnel strengths: approximately 6,000 active military personnel (2025)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the military's inventory is a mix of Soviet/Cold War-era and smaller quantities of more modern, mostly Western equipment; Slovenia is in the midst of a modernization program to replace its Soviet-era equipment with NATO-standard European and US systems (2025)
Military service age and obligation: 18-30 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women; recruits sign up for 3-, 5-, or 10-year service contracts; no conscription (2026)
Military deployments: 110 Kosovo (NATO); up to 200 Slovakia (NATO) (2025)
Military - note: the Slovenian Armed Forces (Slovenska Vojska or SV) are responsible for the defense of the country’s sovereignty and territory, deterring external threats, and contributing to European security and other international peacekeeping missions; the SV is also active in civil-military cooperation, such as the maintenance of local infrastructure; Slovenia has been a member of the EU and NATO since 2004, and one of the SV’s key missions is fulfilling the country’s commitments to NATO, including equipment modernization, participating in training exercises, and contributing to NATO operations; the SV provides troops to NATO’s efforts to enhance its presence in the Baltics (Latvia) and Eastern Europe (Slovakia); it has also participated in other international security missions with small numbers of personnel in such places as Africa, southern Europe, the Mediterranean Sea, and the Middle East; NATO allies Hungary and Italy provide air policing for Slovenia the SV was formally established in 1993 as a reorganization of the Slovenia Defense Force; the Defense Force, along with the Slovenian police, comprised the majority of the forces that engaged with the Yugoslav People’s Army during the 10-Day War after Slovenia declared its independence in 1991 (2025)

## Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons / refugees: 13,369 (2024 est.)
Refugees and internally displaced persons / IDPs: 10 (2023 est.)
Refugees and internally displaced persons / stateless persons: 10 (2024 est.)

=== San Marino ===

## Introduction
Background: Geographically the third-smallest state in Europe (after the Holy See and Monaco), San Marino also claims to be the world's oldest republic. According to tradition, it was founded by a Christian stonemason named MARINUS in A.D. 301. San Marino's foreign policy is aligned with that of the EU, although it is not a member. San Marino is negotiating an Association Agreement that is expected to allow participation in the EU&rsquo;s internal market and cooperation in other policy areas by late 2024. Social and political trends in the republic track closely with those of its larger neighbor, Italy.

## Geography
Location: Southern Europe, an enclave in central Italy
Geographic coordinates: 43 46 N, 12 25 E
Map references: Europe
Area / total: 61 sq km
Area / land: 61 sq km
Area / water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative: about one-third the size of Washington, D.C.
Land boundaries / total: 37 km
Land boundaries / border countries: Italy 37 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
Climate: Mediterranean; mild to cool winters; warm, sunny summers
Terrain: rugged mountains
Elevation / highest point: Monte Titano 739 m
Elevation / lowest point: Torrente Ausa 55 m
Natural resources: building stone
Land use / agricultural land: 38.3% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 33.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 5.2% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 0% (2022 est.)
Land use / forest: 16.7% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 45% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land: 0 sq km (2022)
Natural hazards: occasional earthquakes
Geography - note: landlocked; an enclave of (completely surrounded by) Italy; smallest independent state in Europe after the Holy See and Monaco; dominated by the Apennine Mountains

## People and Society
Population / total: 35,291 (2025 est.)
Population / male: 17,035
Population / female: 18,256
Nationality / noun: Sammarinese (singular and plural)
Nationality / adjective: Sammarinese
Ethnic groups: Sammarinese, Italian
Languages / Languages: Italian
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: Roman Catholic
Age structure / 0-14 years: 14.2% (male 2,614/female 2,387)
Age structure / 15-64 years: 64.3% (male 10,916/female 11,648)
Age structure / 65 years and over: 21.5% (2024 est.) (male 3,414/female 4,116)
Dependency ratios / total dependency ratio: 56.5 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / youth dependency ratio: 22.2 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / elderly dependency ratio: 34.3 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / potential support ratio: 2.9 (2025 est.)
Median age / total: 46.3 years (2025 est.)
Median age / male: 44.5 years
Median age / female: 47.4 years
Population growth rate: 0.55% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 9.04 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 8.9 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: 5.36 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Urbanization / urban population: 97.8% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 0.41% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 4,000 SAN MARINO (2018)
Sex ratio / at birth: 1.09 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 0-14 years: 1.1 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: 0.93 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth: 31.9 years (2019)
Maternal mortality ratio: 8 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Infant mortality rate / total: 6.1 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Infant mortality rate / male: 7.4 deaths/1,000 live births
Infant mortality rate / female: 5 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth / total population: 84.2 years (2024 est.)
Life expectancy at birth / male: 81.7 years
Life expectancy at birth / female: 87 years
Total fertility rate: 1.54 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 0.74 (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): 8% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 29.5% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density: 4.63 physicians/1,000 population (2023)
Sanitation facility access / improved: total: total: 100% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: total: total: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% GDP): 2.9% of GDP (2022 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% national budget): 13% national budget (2023 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: 16 years (2015 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / male: 15 years (2015 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / female: 16 years (2015 est.)

## Environment
Environmental issues: air pollution; urbanization decreasing rural farmlands; water shortage
International environmental agreements / party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Whaling
International environmental agreements / signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution
Climate: Mediterranean; mild to cool winters; warm, sunny summers
Land use / agricultural land: 38.3% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 33.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 5.2% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 0% (2022 est.)
Land use / forest: 16.7% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 45% (2023 est.)
Urbanization / urban population: 97.8% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 0.41% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Particulate matter emissions: 9.8 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: 45.1% (2016 est.)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: Republic of San Marino
Country name / conventional short form: San Marino
Country name / local long form: Repubblica di San Marino
Country name / local short form: San Marino
Country name / etymology: named after Saint MARINUS, who founded a monastic settlement on Monte Titano in the early 4th century
Government type: parliamentary republic
Capital / name: San Marino (city)
Capital / geographic coordinates: 43 56 N, 12 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: named after Saint MARINUS, who founded a monastic settlement on Monte Titano in the early 4th century
Administrative divisions: 9 municipalities ( castelli , singular - castello ); Acquaviva, Borgo Maggiore, Chiesanuova, Domagnano, Faetano, Fiorentino, Montegiardino, San Marino Citta, Serravalle
Legal system: civil law system with Italian civil law influences
Constitution / history: San Marino’s principal legislative instruments consist of old customs ( antiche consuetudini ), the Statutory Laws of San Marino (Leges Statutae Sancti Marini), old statutes ( antichi statute ) from the1600s, Brief Notes on the Constitutional Order and Institutional Organs of the Republic of San Marino (Brevi Cenni sull’Ordinamento Costituzionale e gli Organi Istituzionali della Repubblica di San Marino) and successive legislation, chief among them is the Declaration of the Rights of Citizens and Fundamental Principles of the San Marino Legal Order (Dichiarazione dei Diritti dei Cittadini e dei Principi Fondamentali dell’Ordinamento Sammarinese), approved 8 July 1974
Constitution / amendment process: proposed by the Great and General Council; passage requires two-thirds majority Council vote; Council passage by absolute majority vote also requires passage 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 San Marino
Citizenship / dual citizenship recognized: no
Citizenship / residency requirement for naturalization: 30 years
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch / chief of state: co-chiefs of state Captains Regent Matteo ROSSI and Lorenzo BUGLI (for the period 1 October 2025 - 31 March 2026)
Executive branch / head of government: Secretary of State for Foreign and Political Affairs Luca BECCARI (since 8 January 2020)
Executive branch / cabinet: Congress of State elected by the Grand and General Council
Executive branch / election/appointment process: co-chiefs of state (captains regent) indirectly elected by the Grand and General Council for a single 6-month term; Secretary of State for Foreign and Political Affairs indirectly elected by the Grand and General Council for a single 5-year term
Executive branch / most recent election date: co-chiefs of state: 1 April 2025 secretary of state: 28 December 2019
Executive branch / election results: 2025 : Denise BRONZETTI (Reformist Alliance) and Italo RIGHI (Christian Democrat) elected captains regent: percent of Grand and General Council vote - NA 2024 : Francesca CIVERCHIA (PDCS) and Dalibor RICCARDI (Free San Marino) elected captains regent; percent of Grand and General Council vote - NA 2019: Luca BECCARI (PDCS) elected Secretary of State for Foreign and Political Affairs; percent of Grand and General Council vote - NA
Executive branch / expected date of next election: co-chiefs of state: September 2025
Legislative branch / legislature name: Great and General Council (Consiglio grande e generale)
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: 6/9/2024
Legislative branch / parties elected and seats per party: Christian Democratic Party of San Marino (PDCS) (22); Free (Libera) – Socialist Party (PS) (10); Future Republic (RF) (8); Party of Socialists and Democrats (PSD) (8); Tomorrow - Motus Liberi (5); Reformist Alliance (AR) (4); R.E.T.E. Citizens' Movement (3)
Legislative branch / percentage of women in chamber: 35%
Legislative branch / expected date of next election: June 2029
Judicial branch / highest court(s): Council of Twelve or Consiglio dei XII (consists of 12 members)
Judicial branch / judge selection and term of office: judges elected by the Grand and General Council from among its own to serve 5-year terms
Judicial branch / subordinate courts: first instance and first appeal criminal, administrative, and civil courts; Court for the Trust and Trustee Relations; justices of the peace or conciliatory judges
Political parties: Domani - Modus Liberi or DML Free San Marino (Libera San Marino) or Libera Future Republic or RF Party of Socialists and Democrats or PSD Reformist Alliance or AR RETE Movement Sammarinese Christian Democratic Party or PDCS Socialist Party or PS Tomorrow in Movement coalition (includes RETE Movement, DML)
Diplomatic representation in the US / chief of mission: Ambassador Damiano BELEFFI (since 21 July 2017); note - also Permanent Representative to the UN
Diplomatic representation in the US / chancery: 327 E 50th Street, New York, NY 10022
Diplomatic representation in the US / telephone: [1] (212) 751-1234
Diplomatic representation in the US / FAX: [1] (212) 751-1436
Diplomatic representation in the US / email address and website: sanmarinoun@gmail.com Republic of San Marino Permanent Mission to the United Nations
Diplomatic representation from the US / embassy: the United States does not have an Embassy in San Marino; the US Ambassador to Italy is accredited to San Marino, and the US Consulate General in Florence maintains day-to-day ties
International organization participation: CE, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), IPU, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAIA (observer), OPCW, OSCE, Schengen Convention (de facto member), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, Union Latina, UNWTO, UPU, WHO, WIPO
Independence: 3 September 301 (traditional founding date)
National holiday: Founding of the Republic (or Feast of Saint Marinus), 3 September (A.D. 301)
Flag: description: two equal horizontal bands of white (top) and light blue, with the national coat of arms in the center; the main colors come from the shield on the coat of arms, which features three white towers on mountain peaks on a blue field; a wreath and a crown are around the shield, above a scroll with the word LIBERTAS (Liberty) meaning: the towers represent the Guaita, Cesta, and Montale castles on Mount Titano; white and blue are said to stand for peace and liberty
National symbol(s): three peaks, each displaying a tower
National color(s): white, blue
National anthem(s) / title: "Inno Nazionale della Repubblica" (National Anthem of the Republic)
National anthem(s) / lyrics/music: no lyrics/Federico CONSOLO
National anthem(s) / history: adopted 1894; the music for the anthem, which has no lyrics, is based on a 10th-century chorale piece
National heritage / total World Heritage Sites: 1 (cultural)
National heritage / selected World Heritage Site locales: San Marino Historic Center and Mount Titano

## Economy
Economic overview: high-income, non-EU European economy; surrounded by Italy, which is the dominant importer and exporter; open border to EU and a euro user; strong financial sector; high foreign investments; low taxation; increasingly high and risky debt
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $2.393 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2021: $2.218 billion (2021 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2020: $1.947 billion (2020 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2022: 7.9% (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2021: 13.9% (2021 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2020: -6.6% (2020 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2022: $70,900 (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2021: $64,700 (2021 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2020: $56,000 (2020 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $1.832 billion (2022 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024: 1.2% (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023: 5.9% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 5.3% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / agriculture: 0% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / industry: 37.6% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / services: 55.1% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / household consumption: 35.5% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / government consumption: 17.1% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in fixed capital: 17.8% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in inventories: 5.2% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / exports of goods and services: 197.4% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / imports of goods and services: -173% (2022 est.)
Agricultural products: wheat, grapes, corn, olives; cattle, pigs, horses, beef, cheese, hides
Industries: tourism, banking, textiles, electronics, ceramics, cement, wine
Industrial production growth rate: 10.7% (2022 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2022: 1.2% of GDP (2022 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2021: 1.1% of GDP (2021 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2020: 1.1% of GDP (2020 est.)
Budget / revenues: $841.03 million (2023 est.)
Budget / expenditures: $816.886 million (2023 est.)
Public debt / Public debt 2022: 103.2% of GDP (2022 est.)
Taxes and other revenues: 17.8% (of GDP) (2022 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2022: $284.256 million (2022 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2021: $100.118 million (2021 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2020: $42.98 million (2020 est.)
Exports / Exports 2022: $3.616 billion (2022 est.)
Exports / Exports 2021: $3.23 billion (2021 est.)
Exports / Exports 2020: $2.439 billion (2020 est.)
Exports - partners: Germany 12%, Austria 10%, USA 9%, Romania 8%, Brazil 7% (2023)
Exports - commodities: washing and bottling machines, other foods, packaged medicine, woodworking machines, aircraft (2023)
Imports / Imports 2022: $3.169 billion (2022 est.)
Imports / Imports 2021: $2.94 billion (2021 est.)
Imports / Imports 2020: $2.232 billion (2020 est.)
Imports - partners: Germany 24%, Italy 13%, Netherlands 9%, Spain 9%, Poland 8% (2023)
Imports - commodities: garments, cars, electricity, animal food, footwear (2023)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023: $836.088 million (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $716.066 million (2022 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2021: $954.383 million (2021 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.)

## Communications
Telephones - fixed lines / total subscriptions: 16,000 (2022 est.)
Telephones - fixed lines / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 47 (2022 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / total subscriptions: 41,000 (2022 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 120 (2022 est.)
Broadcast media: state-owned public broadcaster operates 1 TV station and 3 radio stations; receives radio and TV broadcasts from Italy (2019)
Internet country code: .sm
Internet users / percent of population: 87% (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / total: 12,000 (2022 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 36 (2022 est.)

## Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: T7
Airports: 1 (2025)

## Military and Security
Military and security forces: San Marino Military Corps (Corpi Militari Sammarinesi; aka Sammarinese Armed Forces or Forze Armate Sammarinesi): Fortress Guard Command (or Guard of the Rock), Uniformed Company of the Militias, Guard of the Great and General Council, Corps of the Gendarmerie Ministry of Internal Affairs: Civil Police Corps (2025)
Military service age and obligation: 18 is the legal minimum age for voluntary military service; no conscription; government has the authority to call up all San Marino citizens from 16-60 years of age to serve in the military (2025)
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of Italy

## Transnational Issues

=== Spain ===

## Introduction
Background: Spain's powerful world empire of the 16th and 17th centuries ultimately yielded command of the seas to England. Spain remained neutral during both World Wars but suffered through a devastating civil war (1936-39) resulting in a dictatorship. A peaceful transition to democracy after the death of dictator Francisco FRANCO in 1975 and rapid economic modernization after Spain joined the EU in 1986 gave Spain a dynamic and rapidly growing economy. After a severe recession in the wake of the global financial crisis in 2008, Spain has posted solid years of GDP growth above the EU average. Unemployment has fallen but remains high, especially among youth. Spain is the euro-zone's fourth-largest economy. The country has faced increased domestic turmoil in recent years due to the independence movement in its restive Catalonia region.

## Geography
Location: Southwestern Europe, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, North Atlantic Ocean, Bay of Biscay, and Pyrenees Mountains; southwest of France
Geographic coordinates: 40 00 N, 4 00 W
Map references: Europe
Area / total: 505,370 sq km
Area / land: 498,980 sq km
Area / water: 6,390 sq km
Area - comparative: almost five times the size of Kentucky; slightly more than twice the size of Oregon
Land boundaries / total: 1,952.7 km
Land boundaries / border countries: Andorra 63 km; France 646 km; Gibraltar 1.2 km; Portugal 1,224 km; Morocco (Ceuta) 8 km and Morocco (Melilla) 10.5 km
Coastline: 4,964 km
Maritime claims / territorial sea: 12 nm
Maritime claims / contiguous zone: 24 nm
Maritime claims / exclusive economic zone: 200 nm (applies only to the Atlantic Ocean)
Climate: temperate; clear, hot summers in interior, more moderate and cloudy along coast; cloudy, cold winters in interior, partly cloudy and cool along coast
Terrain: large, flat to dissected plateau surrounded by rugged hills; Pyrenees Mountains in north
Elevation / highest point: Pico de Teide (Tenerife) on Canary Islands 3,718 m
Elevation / lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
Elevation / mean elevation: 660 m
Natural resources: coal, lignite, iron ore, copper, lead, zinc, uranium, tungsten, mercury, pyrites, magnesite, fluorspar, gypsum, sepiolite, kaolin, potash, hydropower, arable land
Land use / agricultural land: 49.6% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 23% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 10.2% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 19.8% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 38.2% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 12.3% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land: 38,012 sq km (2022)
Major rivers (by length in km): Tagus river source (shared with Portugal [m]) - 1,006 km note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Population distribution: with the notable exception of Madrid, Sevilla, and Zaragoza, the largest urban agglomerations are found along the Mediterranean and Atlantic coasts; numerous smaller cities are spread throughout the interior; very dense settlement around the capital of Madrid, as well as the port city of Barcelona
Natural hazards: periodic droughts, occasional flooding volcanism: volcanic activity in the Canary Islands, located off Africa's northwest coast; Teide (3,715 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; La Palma (2,426 m) is the most active of the Canary Islands volcanoes; Lanzarote is the only other historically active volcano
Geography - note: strategic location along approaches to Strait of Gibraltar; Spain controls a number of territories in northern Morocco, including the enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla and the islands of Penon de Velez de la Gomera, Penon de Alhucemas, and Islas Chafarinas; Spain's Canary Islands are one of four North Atlantic archipelagos that make up Macaronesia; the others are the Azores (Portugal), Madeira (Portugal), and Cabo Verde

## People and Society
Population / total: 47,280,433 (2024 est.)
Population / male: 23,069,327
Population / female: 24,211,106
Nationality / noun: Spaniard(s)
Nationality / adjective: Spanish
Ethnic groups: Spanish 84.8%, Moroccan 1.7%, Romanian 1.2%, other 12.3% (2021 est.)
Languages / Languages: Castilian Spanish (official) 74%, Catalan (official in Catalonia, the Balearic Islands, and the Valencian Community) 17%, Galician (official in Galicia) 7%, Basque (official in the Basque Country and Navarre) 2%, Aranese (official in part of Catalonia) <5,000 speakers
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 58.2%, atheist 16.2%, agnostic 10.8%, other 2.7%, non-believer 10.5%, unspecified 1.7% (2021 est.)
Age structure / 0-14 years: 13% (male 3,147,019/female 3,012,821)
Age structure / 15-64 years: 66.1% (male 15,662,492/female 15,585,138)
Age structure / 65 years and over: 20.9% (2024 est.) (male 4,259,816/female 5,613,147)
Dependency ratios / total dependency ratio: 51.3 (2024 est.)
Dependency ratios / youth dependency ratio: 19.7 (2024 est.)
Dependency ratios / elderly dependency ratio: 31.6 (2024 est.)
Dependency ratios / potential support ratio: 3.2 (2024 est.)
Median age / total: 47.2 years (2025 est.)
Median age / male: 45.7 years
Median age / female: 47.8 years
Population growth rate: 0.12% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 7.16 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 9.98 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: 3.98 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution: with the notable exception of Madrid, Sevilla, and Zaragoza, the largest urban agglomerations are found along the Mediterranean and Atlantic coasts; numerous smaller cities are spread throughout the interior; very dense settlement around the capital of Madrid, as well as the port city of Barcelona
Urbanization / urban population: 81.6% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 0.24% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 6.751 million MADRID (capital), 5.687 million Barcelona, 838,000 Valencia (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: 0.76 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth: 31.2 years (2020 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio: 3 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Infant mortality rate / total: 2.4 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Infant mortality rate / male: 2.7 deaths/1,000 live births
Infant mortality rate / female: 2.1 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth / total population: 83 years (2024 est.)
Life expectancy at birth / male: 80.3 years
Life expectancy at birth / female: 85.8 years
Total fertility rate: 1.32 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 0.65 (2025 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: urban: urban: 99.9% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: rural: rural: 100% 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% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: total: total: 0.1% of population (2022 est.)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 10.7% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 15.2% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density: 4.29 physicians/1,000 population (2022)
Hospital bed density: 2.9 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: 23.8% (2016)
Alcohol consumption per capita / total: 10.72 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / beer: 4.67 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / wine: 3.52 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / spirits: 2.34 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / other alcohols: 0.19 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Tobacco use / total: 23.9% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / male: 25.8% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / female: 22% (2025 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49): 50.2% (2021 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% GDP): 4.6% of GDP (2022 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% national budget): 9.9% national budget (2022 est.)
Literacy / total population: 99.7% (2021 est.)
Literacy / male: 99.8% (2021 est.)
Literacy / female: 99.6% (2021 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / total: 18 years (2023 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / male: 17 years (2023 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / female: 18 years (2023 est.)

## Environment
Environmental issues: pollution of the Mediterranean Sea from raw sewage and effluents from oil and gas production; drought; air pollution; deforestation; desertification
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, 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: temperate; clear, hot summers in interior, more moderate and cloudy along coast; cloudy, cold winters in interior, partly cloudy and cool along coast
Land use / agricultural land: 49.6% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 23% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 10.2% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 19.8% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 38.2% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 12.3% (2023 est.)
Urbanization / urban population: 81.6% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 0.24% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / total emissions: 254.823 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from coal and metallurgical coke: 13.39 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from petroleum and other liquids: 182.327 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from consumed natural gas: 59.105 million 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: 22.409 million tons (2024 est.)
Waste and recycling / percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 27.7% (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / municipal: 4.56 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / industrial: 5.5 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / agricultural: 18.96 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total renewable water resources: 111.5 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Geoparks / total global geoparks and regional networks: 18 (2025)
Geoparks / global geoparks and regional networks: Basque Coast UNESCO; Cabo de Gata-N&iacute;jar; Cabo Ortegal; Calatrava Volcanoes. Ciudad Real; Central Catalonia; Costa Quebrada; Courel Mountains; El Hierro; Granada; Lanzarote and Chinijo Islands; Las Loras; Maestrazgo; Molina-Alto; Origens; Sierra Norte de Sevilla; Sierras Subb&eacute;ticas; Sobrarbe-Pirineos: Villuercas Ibores Jara (2025)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: Kingdom of Spain
Country name / conventional short form: Spain
Country name / local long form: Reino de Espa&ntilde;a
Country name / local short form: Espa&ntilde;a
Country name / etymology: derivation of the name España is uncertain; the Basque words ezpain or espan ("edge," as in a river bank) are possible sources, or the Punic word span , meaning "rabbit;" some academics tie it to the god Hesperus from Greco-Roman mythology
Government type: parliamentary constitutional monarchy
Capital / name: Madrid
Capital / geographic coordinates: 40 24 N, 3 41 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 / time zone note: Spain has two time zones, including the Canary Islands (UTC 0)
Capital / etymology: the meaning and origin of the name is unclear; the city grew from a small Moorish fort that was called Majerit in the first recorded mention in A.D. 932; some trace the modern-day name back to the Roman era, with the Latin word materia (materials) as a possible source
Administrative divisions: 17 autonomous communities ( comunidades autonomas , singular - comunidad autonoma ) and 2 autonomous cities* ( ciudades autonomas , singular - ciudad autonoma ); Andalucia; Aragon; Asturias; Canarias (Canary Islands); Cantabria; Castilla-La Mancha; Castilla-Leon; Cataluña (Castilian), Catalunya (Catalan), Catalonha (Aranese) [Catalonia]; Ceuta*; Comunidad Valenciana (Castilian), Comunitat Valenciana (Valencian) [Valencian Community]; Extremadura; Galicia; Illes Baleares (Balearic Islands); La Rioja; Madrid; Melilla*; Murcia; Navarra (Castilian), Nafarroa (Basque) [Navarre]; Pais Vasco (Castilian), Euskadi (Basque) [Basque Country]
Legal system: civil law system with regional variations
Constitution / history: several previous; latest approved by the General Courts 31 October 1978, passed by referendum 6 December 1978, signed by the king 27 December 1978, effective 29 December 1978
Constitution / amendment process: proposed by the government, by the General Courts (the Congress or the Senate), or by the self-governing communities submitted through the government; passage requires three-fifths majority vote by both houses and passage by referendum if requested by one tenth of the members of either house; proposals disapproved by both houses are submitted to a joint committee, which submits an agreed upon text for another vote; passage requires two-thirds majority vote in Congress and simple majority vote in the Senate
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 Spain
Citizenship / dual citizenship recognized: only with select Latin American countries
Citizenship / residency requirement for naturalization: 10 years for persons with no ties to Spain
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch / chief of state: King FELIPE VI (since 19 June 2014)
Executive branch / head of government: President of the Government of Spain (prime minister-equivalent) Pedro SANCHEZ PEREZ-CASTEJON (since 2 June 2018)
Executive branch / cabinet: Council of Ministers designated by the president
Executive branch / election/appointment process: the monarchy is hereditary; following legislative elections, the monarch usually proposes as president the leader of the majority party or coalition, who is then indirectly elected by the Congress of Deputies; vice president and Council of Ministers appointed by the president
Executive branch / most recent election date: 23 July 2023
Executive branch / election results: Congress of Deputies vote - 179 to 171 (16 November 2023)
Executive branch / expected date of next election: 31 July 2027
Legislative branch / legislature name: The Cortes (Las Cortes Generales)
Legislative branch / legislative structure: bicameral
Legislative branch - lower chamber / chamber name: Congress of Deputies (Congreso de los Diputados)
Legislative branch - lower chamber / number of seats: 350 (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: 7/23/2023
Legislative branch - lower chamber / parties elected and seats per party: People's Party (PP) (136); Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) (122); Vox (33); SUMAR (31); Other (28)
Legislative branch - lower chamber / percentage of women in chamber: 44.3%
Legislative branch - lower chamber / expected date of next election: July 2027
Legislative branch - upper chamber / chamber name: Senate (Senado)
Legislative branch - upper chamber / number of seats: 265 (208 directly elected; 57 indirectly elected)
Legislative branch - upper chamber / electoral system: mixed system
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: 7/23/2023
Legislative branch - upper chamber / parties elected and seats per party: People's Party (PP) (120); Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) (72); Other (16)
Legislative branch - upper chamber / percentage of women in chamber: 42.5%
Legislative branch - upper chamber / expected date of next election: July 2027
Judicial branch / highest court(s): Supreme Court or Tribunal Supremo (consists of the court president and organized into the Civil Room, with a president and 9 judges; the Penal Room, with a president and 14 judges; the Administrative Room, with a president and 32 judges; the Social Room, with a president and 12 judges; and the Military Room, with a president and 7 judges); Constitutional Court or Tribunal Constitucional de Espana (consists of 12 judges)
Judicial branch / judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court judges appointed by the monarch from candidates proposed by the General Council of the Judiciary Power, a 20-member governing board chaired by the monarch; judges can serve until age 70; Constitutional Court judges nominated by the National Assembly, executive branch, and the General Council of the Judiciary, and appointed by the monarch for 9-year terms
Judicial branch / subordinate courts: National High Court; High Courts of Justice (in each of the autonomous communities); provincial courts; courts of first instance
Political parties: Asturias Forum or FAC Basque Country Unite (Euskal Herria Bildu) or EH Bildu (coalition of 4 Basque pro-independence parties) Basque Nationalist Party or PNV or EAJ Canarian Coalition or CC (coalition of 5 parties) Ciudadanos Party (Citizens Party) or Cs Compromis - Compromise Coalition Navarrese People's Union or UPN Together for Catalonia or Junts People's Party or PP Republican Left of Catalonia or ERC Spanish Socialist Workers Party or PSOE Teruel Existe or TE Unidas (Unite) or Sumar (electoral coalition formed in March 2022) (formerly Unidas Podemos or UP) Vox or VOX
Diplomatic representation in the US / chief of mission: Ambassador &Aacute;ngeles MORENO Bau (since 27 February 2024)
Diplomatic representation in the US / chancery: 2375 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20037
Diplomatic representation in the US / telephone: [1] (202) 452-0100
Diplomatic representation in the US / FAX: [1] (202) 833-5670
Diplomatic representation in the US / email address and website: emb.washington@maec.es https://www.exteriores.gob.es/Embajadas/washington/en/Paginas/index.aspx
Diplomatic representation in the US / consulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, San Francisco, San Juan (Puerto Rico)
Diplomatic representation from the US / chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charg&eacute; d&rsquo;Affaires Rian Harker HARRIS (since 15 July 2024); note - also accredited to Andorra
Diplomatic representation from the US / embassy: Calle de Serrano, 75, 28006 Madrid
Diplomatic representation from the US / mailing address: 8500 Madrid Place, Washington DC 20521-8500
Diplomatic representation from the US / telephone: [34] (91) 587-2200
Diplomatic representation from the US / FAX: [34] (91) 587-2303
Diplomatic representation from the US / email address and website: askACS@state.gov https://es.usembassy.gov/
Diplomatic representation from the US / consulate(s) general: Barcelona
International organization participation: ADB (nonregional member), AfDB (nonregional member), Arctic Council (observer), Australia Group, BCIE, BIS, CABEI, CAN (observer), CBSS (observer), CD, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECB, EIB, EITI (implementing country), EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, FATF, 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, 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, UNOCI, UNOOSA, UNRWA, UNWTO, UPU, Wassenaar Arrangement, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
Independence: 1492
National holiday: National Day (Hispanic Day), 12 October (1492)
Flag: description: three horizontal bands of red (top), yellow (double-width), and red, with the national coat of arms on the left side of the yellow band; the coat of arms shows the emblems of the area's former kingdoms (clockwise from upper left: Castile, Leon, Navarre, and Aragon), which also used red and yellow as their colors; the stylized pomegranate at the bottom of the shield represents Granada; the two columns represent the Pillars of Hercules, which are promontories (Gibraltar and Ceuta) on the Strait of Gibraltar; a red scroll bears the imperial motto of "Plus Ultra" (further beyond), referring to Spanish lands outside Europe
National symbol(s): Pillars of Hercules
National color(s): red, yellow
National anthem(s) / title: "Himno Nacional Espanol" (National Anthem of Spain)
National anthem(s) / lyrics/music: no lyrics/unknown
National anthem(s) / history: adopted 1942;officially in use between 1770 and 1931, restored in 1939; the Spanish anthem was the first to be officially adopted; it first appeared in a 1761 military bugle-call book and was replaced by "Himno de Riego" in the years between 1931 and 1939; the long version of the anthem is used for the king, and the short version is used for the prince, prime minister, and occasions such as sporting events
National heritage / total World Heritage Sites: 50 (44 cultural, 4 natural, 2 mixed)
National heritage / selected World Heritage Site locales: Cave of Altamira and Paleolithic Cave Art of Northern Spain (c); Works of Antoni Gaudí (c); Santiago de Compostela (Old Town) (c); Historic City of Toledo (c); Archaeological Ensemble of Mérida (c); Tower of Hercules (c); Doñana National Park (n); Pyrénées - Mont Perdu (m); Alhambra, Generalife, and Albayzín in Granada (c); Old City of Salamanca (c); Teide National Park (n); Historic Walled Town of Cuenca (c); Old Town of Segovia and its Aqueduct (c); Historic Cordoba (c); Royal Site of Saint Lorenzo de El Escorial (c); Cathedral, Alcázar, and Archivo de Indias in Seville

## Economy
Economic overview: high-income, core-EU and eurozone economy; strong growth driven by public consumption, tourism, and other service exports; tight labor market despite high structural unemployment; efforts to narrow persistent fiscal deficits through tax and spending measures; high but declining unemployment supported by job growth and immigration
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $2.361 trillion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $2.289 trillion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $2.229 trillion (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2024: 3.2% (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2023: 2.7% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2022: 6.2% (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2024: $48,400 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2023: $47,300 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2022: $46,600 (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $1.723 trillion (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024: 2.8% (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: 2.5% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / industry: 19.5% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / services: 69.1% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / household consumption: 54.3% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / government consumption: 19.5% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in fixed capital: 19.7% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in inventories: 1.3% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / exports of goods and services: 38.1% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / imports of goods and services: -34.1% (2023 est.)
Agricultural products: milk, olives, pork, grapes, wheat, tomatoes, barley, sugar beets, maize, oranges (2023)
Industries: textiles and apparel (including footwear), food and beverages, metals and metal manufactures, chemicals, shipbuilding, automobiles, machine tools, tourism, clay and refractory products, footwear, pharmaceuticals, medical equipment
Industrial production growth rate: 2.6% (2024 est.)
Labor force: 24.386 million (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2024: 11.4% (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2023: 12.2% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2022: 13% (2022 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / total: 27% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / male: 26.4% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / female: 27.7% (2024 est.)
Population below poverty line: 20.2% (2022 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income / Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2022: 33.6 (2022 est.)
Average household expenditures / on food: 12.9% 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%: 2.3% (2022 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / highest 10%: 24.8% (2022 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2024: 0.4% of GDP (2024 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2023: 0.3% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2022: 0.3% of GDP (2022 est.)
Budget / revenues: $512.57 billion (2023 est.)
Budget / expenditures: $549.772 billion (2023 est.)
Public debt / Public debt 2023: 107.3% of GDP (2023 est.)
Taxes and other revenues: 15% (of GDP) (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2024: $52.182 billion (2024 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2023: $43.012 billion (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2022: $4.482 billion (2022 est.)
Exports / Exports 2024: $642.358 billion (2024 est.)
Exports / Exports 2023: $616.648 billion (2023 est.)
Exports / Exports 2022: $573.598 billion (2022 est.)
Exports - partners: France 15%, Germany 10%, Portugal 9%, Italy 9%, UK 6% (2023)
Exports - commodities: cars, packaged medicine, refined petroleum, vehicle parts/accessories, garments (2023)
Imports / Imports 2024: $568.502 billion (2024 est.)
Imports / Imports 2023: $552.948 billion (2023 est.)
Imports / Imports 2022: $561.448 billion (2022 est.)
Imports - partners: Germany 11%, China 10%, France 10%, Italy 7%, USA 7% (2023)
Imports - commodities: crude petroleum, cars, garments, vehicle parts/accessories, natural gas (2023)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024: $107.774 billion (2024 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023: $103.089 billion (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $92.905 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: 130.366 million kW (2023 est.)
Electricity / consumption: 227.187 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / exports: 25.279 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / imports: 11.315 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / transmission/distribution losses: 24.532 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / fossil fuels: 28% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / nuclear: 20.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / solar: 17.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / wind: 23.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / hydroelectricity: 8.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / biomass and waste: 2.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Nuclear energy / Number of operational nuclear reactors: 7 (2025)
Nuclear energy / Net capacity of operational nuclear reactors: 7.12GW (2025 est.)
Nuclear energy / Percent of total electricity production: 20.3% (2023 est.)
Nuclear energy / Number of nuclear reactors permanently shut down: 3 (2025)
Coal / production: 1.28 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / consumption: 7.388 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / exports: 1.629 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / imports: 9.798 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / proven reserves: 1.187 billion metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum / total petroleum production: 47,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Petroleum / refined petroleum consumption: 1.325 million bbl/day (2024 est.)
Petroleum / crude oil estimated reserves: 150 million barrels (2021 est.)
Natural gas / production: 34.124 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / consumption: 29.041 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / exports: 6.576 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / imports: 35.252 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / proven reserves: 2.549 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)
Energy consumption per capita / Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 101.12 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

## Communications
Telephones - fixed lines / total subscriptions: 18.431 million (2023 est.)
Telephones - fixed lines / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 38 (2023 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / total subscriptions: 61.2 million (2023 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 124 (2022 est.)
Broadcast media: mix of publicly operated and privately owned TV and radio stations; hundreds of TV channels available, including national, regional, local, public, and international channels; satellite and cable TV available; multiple national radio networks, large number of regional radio networks, and larger number of local radio stations (2019)
Internet country code: .es
Internet users / percent of population: 95% (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / total: 18.2 million (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 38 (2023 est.)

## Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: EC
Airports: 365 (2025)
Heliports: 162 (2025)
Railways / total: 15,489 km (2020) 9,953 km electrified
Merchant marine / total: 503 (2023)
Merchant marine / by type: bulk carrier 1, general cargo 33, oil tanker 24, other 445
Ports / total ports: 52 (2024)
Ports / large: 3
Ports / medium: 14
Ports / small: 9
Ports / very small: 24
Ports / size unknown: 2
Ports / ports with oil terminals: 13
Ports / key ports: Alicante, Barcelona, Cadiz, Ceuta, Ferrol, Huelva, Las Palmas, Malaga, Palma de Mallorca, Puerto de Bilbao, Puerto de Pasajes, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Santander, Sevilla, Tarragona, Valencia, Vigo

## Military and Security
Military and security forces: Spanish Armed Forces (Fuerzas Armadas de España): Army (Ejército de Tierra), Spanish Navy (Armada Espanola; includes Marine Corps), Air and Space Force (Ejército del Aire y del Espacio), Emergency Response Unit (Unidad Militar de Emergencias); Civil Guard (Guardia Civil) Ministry of the Interior: Spanish National Police (Cuerpo Nacional de Policía, CNP) (2025)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2025: 2% of GDP (2025 est.)
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 and security service personnel strengths: approximately 120,000 active-duty military personnel; approximately 80,000 Guardia Civil (2025)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the military's inventory is comprised of weapons and equipment that were produced domestically, co-produced with or imported from other European countries, or acquired from the US; key suppliers of major armaments include Germany and the US; Spain's defense industry manufactures land, air, and sea weapons systems and is integrated within the European defense-industrial sector (2025)
Military service age and obligation: 18 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women (upper age limits depend on branch of service, roles, specialties, etc); 24-36 month initial obligation; no conscription, but the Spanish Government retains the right to mobilize citizens 19-25 years of age in a national emergency; 18-58 for the voluntary reserves (2026)
Military deployments: Spain has up to 3,000 military personnel deployed on 17 missions supporting the EU, NATO, and the UN on four continents, as well as naval missions in the Mediterranean and the seas off the Horn of Africa; its largest deployments are up to 700 troops in Lebanon (UNIFIL) and about 1,700 personnel in Eastern Europe supporting NATO missions in Latvia, Romania, and Slovakia (2025)
Military - note: the Spanish military has a wide range of responsibilities, including protecting the country’s national interests, sovereignty, and territory, providing support during natural disasters, and fulfilling Spain’s responsibilities to European and international security; it maintains garrisons in the Balearic Islands, the Canary Islands, Ceuta, and Melilla, conducts operations worldwide, and participates in a variety of EU-, NATO-, and UN-led missions; Spain joined NATO in 1982 and is fully integrated into the NATO structure; it routinely conducts exercises with NATO (and EU) partners, and hosts one of NATO’s two combined air operations centers the Spanish military's history goes back to the 13th century; the Army has an infantry regiment, formed in the 13th century, that is considered the oldest still active military unit in the Western world; the Marine Corps, which traces its roots back to 1537, is the oldest naval infantry force in the world; Spain created a Spanish Legion for foreigners in 1920, but early on the Legion was primarily filled by native Spaniards due to difficulties in recruiting foreigners, and most of its foreign members were from the Republic of Cuba; it was modeled after the French Foreign Legion and its purpose was to provide a corps of professional troops to fight in Spain's colonial campaigns in North Africa; in more recent years, it has been used in NATO peacekeeping deployments; today’s Legion includes a mix of native Spaniards and foreigners with Spanish residency (2025)

## Space
Space agency/agencies: Spanish Space Agency (AEE; became operational in 2023); Center for the Development of Industrial Technology (CDTI) (2025)
Space launch site(s): El Arenosillo Test Center/Range (Andalusia) (2025)
Space program overview: space program dates back to the 1940s; manufactures and operates communications, remote sensing (RS), and scientific/technology satellites; has developed sounding rockets; conducts research and development in a broad range of space-related capabilities, including astrobiology, astronomy, imaging/RS, meteorology, optics, propulsion, robotics, satellites (particularly micro- and nano-satellites), and satellite launch vehicles; program is integrated into the ESA; also participates in EU space programs; hosts the European Space Astronomy Center (ESOC) and the ESA&rsquo;s Space Surveillance and Tracking Data Centre (ESAC); cooperates with foreign space agencies and industries, including the US; has an active commercial space industry (2025)
Key space-program milestones: 1960s - began working with the US/NASA and the European Space Research Organization (ESRO), the forerunner of the ESA; sounding rocket program (ended in the 1990s) 1974 - first satellite (IntaSat) launched by US 1990s - satellite launch vehicle (SLV) development program (canceled in 2000) 1992 - first communications satellite (Hispasat 1A) launched on European rocket 1998 - first astronaut in space on US Space Shuttle 2018 - first synthetic-aperture-radar, remote-sensing/reconnaissance satellite (Paz) launched by US 2023 - Spanish built Miuri-1 becomes first European private rocket to reach space; joined US-led Artemis Accords for space and lunar exploration 2025 - communications satellite (SpainSat NG 1) with advanced security technology launched by US

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

## Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons / refugees: 693,298 (2024 est.)
Refugees and internally displaced persons / IDPs: 3,960 (2024 est.)
Refugees and internally displaced persons / stateless persons: 10,164 (2024 est.)

=== Svalbard (sometimes referred to as Spitsbergen, the largest island in the archipelago) ===

## Introduction
Background: Norse explorers may have first discovered the Svalbard archipelago in the 12th century. The islands served as an international whaling base during the 17th and 18th centuries. Norway's sovereignty was internationally recognized by treaty in 1920, and five years later Norway officially took over the territory. Coal mining started in the 20th century, and a Norwegian company and a Russian company are still in operation today. Travel between the settlements is accomplished with snowmobiles, aircraft, and boats.

## Geography
Location: Northern Europe, islands between the Arctic Ocean, Barents Sea, Greenland Sea, and Norwegian Sea, north of Norway
Geographic coordinates: 78 00 N, 20 00 E
Map references: Arctic Region
Area / total: 62,045 sq km
Area / land: 62,045 sq km
Area / water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly smaller than West Virginia
Land boundaries / total: 0 km
Coastline: 3,587 km
Maritime claims / territorial sea: 12 nm
Maritime claims / contiguous zone: 24 nm
Maritime claims / continental shelf: extends to depth of exploitation
Maritime claims / exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
Climate: arctic, tempered by warm North Atlantic Current; cool summers, cold winters; North Atlantic Current flows along west and north coasts of Spitsbergen, keeping water open and navigable most of the year
Terrain: rugged mountains; much of the upland areas are ice covered; west coast clear of ice about half the year; fjords along west and north coasts
Elevation / highest point: Newtontoppen 1,717 m
Elevation / lowest point: Arctic Ocean 0 m
Natural resources: coal, iron ore, copper, zinc, phosphate, wildlife, fish
Land use / agricultural land: 0% (2018 est.)
Land use / other: 100% (2018 est.)
Population distribution: the small population is primarily concentrated on the island of Spitsbergen in a handful of settlements on the south side of the Isfjorden, with Longyearbyen being the largest
Natural hazards: ice floes often block the entrance to Bellsund (a transit point for coal export) on the west coast and occasionally make parts of the northeastern coast inaccessible to maritime traffic
Geography - note: northernmost part of the Kingdom of Norway; consists of nine main islands; glaciers and snowfields cover 60% of the total area

## People and Society
Population / total: 2,556 (2025 est.)
Population / male: 1,353
Population / female: 1,203
Ethnic groups: Norwegian 61.1%, foreign population 38.9% (consists primarily of Russians, Thais, Swedes, Filipinos, and Ukrainians) (2021 est.)
Languages / Languages: Norwegian, Russian
Languages / major-language sample(s): Verdens Faktabok, den essensielle kilden for grunnleggende informasjon. (Norwegian) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
Population growth rate: -0.03% (2019 est.)
Net migration rate: -5.57 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2021 est.)
Population distribution: the small population is primarily concentrated on the island of Spitsbergen in a handful of settlements on the south side of the Isfjorden, with Longyearbyen being the largest

## Environment
Climate: arctic, tempered by warm North Atlantic Current; cool summers, cold winters; North Atlantic Current flows along west and north coasts of Spitsbergen, keeping water open and navigable most of the year
Land use / agricultural land: 0% (2018 est.)
Land use / other: 100% (2018 est.)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: none
Country name / conventional short form: Svalbard (sometimes referred to as Spitsbergen, the largest island in the archipelago)
Country name / etymology: the archipelago was traditionally known as Spitsbergen, a Dutch name meaning "jagged peaks," but Norway renamed it Svalbard in the 1920s when it assumed sovereignty of the islands, from the Norwegian sval (cold) and bard (shore); the Norwegian name may have been used during the Norse era for other locations
Government type: non-self-governing territory of Norway
Dependency status: territory of Norway; administered by the Polar Department of the Ministry of Justice, through a governor ( sysselmann ) residing in Longyearbyen, Spitsbergen; by treaty (9 February 1920), sovereignty was awarded to Norway
Capital / name: Longyearbyen
Capital / geographic coordinates: 78 13 N, 15 38 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 in Norwegian means Longyear Town; the site was established by and named after John Munro LONGYEAR, whose Arctic Coal Company began mining operations there in 1906
Legal system: laws of Norway that explicitly apply to Svalbard, including the Svalbard Act, the Svalbard Environmental Protection Act, and certain regulations; the Spitsbergen Treaty and the Svalbard Treaty grant certain rights to citizens and corporations of signatory nations
Citizenship: see Norway
Executive branch / chief of state: King HARALD V of Norway (since 17 January 1991)
Executive branch / head of government: Governor Lars FAUSE (since 24 June 2021)
Executive branch / election/appointment process: none; the monarchy is hereditary; governor and assistant governor responsible to the Polar Department of the Ministry of Justice
Judicial branch / highest court(s): Svalbard is subordinate to Norway's Nord-Troms District Court and Halogaland Court of Appeal, both located in Tromso
Political parties: Conservative Labor Liberal Progress Socialist Left
International organization participation: none
Independence: none (territory of Norway)
Flag: the flag of Norway is used
National anthem(s) / title: "Ja, vi elsker dette landet" (Yes, We Love This Country)
National anthem(s) / lyrics/music: Bjornstjerne BJORNSON/Rikard NORDRAAK
National anthem(s) / history: official anthem, as a Norwegian territory

## Economy
Economic overview: high-income Norwegian island economy; major coal mining, tourism, and research sectors; recently established northernmost brewery; key whaling and fishing base; home to the Global Seed Vault
Exchange rates / Currency: Norwegian kroner (NOK) per US dollar -
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2024: 10.746 (2024 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2023: 10.563 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2022: 9.614 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2021: 8.59 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2020: 9.416 (2020 est.)

## Energy

## Communications
Broadcast media: Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation (NRK) provides TV transmission to Svalbard via satellite; access to 3 NRK radio stations and 2 TV stations
Internet country code: .sj

## Transportation
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: Barentsburg, Longyearbyen, Ny Alesund

## Military and Security
Military and security forces: no regular military forces
Military - note: Svalbard is a territory of Norway, demilitarized by treaty on 9 February 1920; Norwegian military activity is limited to fisheries surveillance by the Norwegian Coast Guard (2025)

## Transnational Issues

=== Sweden ===

## Introduction
Background: A military power during the 17th century, Sweden maintained a policy of military non-alignment until it applied to join NATO in 2022. Sweden has not participated in any war for two centuries. Stockholm preserved an armed neutrality in both World Wars. Since then, Sweden has pursued a successful economic formula consisting of a capitalist system intermixed with substantial welfare elements. Sweden joined the EU in 1995, but the public rejected the introduction of the euro in a 2003 referendum. The share of Sweden’s population born abroad increased from 11.3% in 2000 to 20% in 2022.

## Geography
Location: Northern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, Gulf of Bothnia, Kattegat, and Skagerrak, between Finland and Norway
Geographic coordinates: 62 00 N, 15 00 E
Map references: Europe
Area / total: 450,295 sq km
Area / land: 410,335 sq km
Area / water: 39,960 sq km
Area - comparative: almost three times the size of Georgia; slightly larger than California
Land boundaries / total: 2,211 km
Land boundaries / border countries: Finland 545 km; Norway 1,666 km
Coastline: 3,218 km
Maritime claims / territorial sea: 12 nm (adjustments made to return a portion of straits to high seas)
Maritime claims / exclusive economic zone: agreed boundaries or midlines
Maritime claims / continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Climate: temperate in south with cold, cloudy winters and cool, partly cloudy summers; subarctic in north
Terrain: mostly flat or gently rolling lowlands; mountains in west
Elevation / highest point: Kebnekaise South 2,100 m
Elevation / lowest point: reclaimed bay of Lake Hammarsjon, near Kristianstad -2.4 m
Elevation / mean elevation: 320 m
Natural resources: iron ore, copper, lead, zinc, gold, silver, tungsten, uranium, arsenic, feldspar, timber, hydropower
Land use / agricultural land: 7.3% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 6.2% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 0% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 1.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 68.6% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 23.8% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land: 510 sq km (2016)
Major lakes (area sq km) / fresh water lake(s): Vanern - 5,580 sq km; Vattern - 1,910 sq km; Malaren - 1,140 sq km
Population distribution: most of the population lives in the south where the climate is milder and there is better connectivity to mainland Europe; population clusters are found along the Baltic coast in the east; the interior areas of the north remain sparsely populated
Natural hazards: ice floes in the surrounding waters, especially in the Gulf of Bothnia, can interfere with maritime traffic
Geography - note: strategic location along Danish Straits linking Baltic and North Seas; Sweden has almost 100,000 lakes, the largest of which, Vanern, is the third-largest in Europe

## People and Society
Population / total: 10,643,745 (2025 est.)
Population / male: 5,360,755
Population / female: 5,282,990
Nationality / noun: Swede(s)
Nationality / adjective: Swedish
Ethnic groups: Swedish 79.6%, Syrian 1.9%, Iraqi 1.4%, Finnish 1.3%, other 15.8% (2022 est.)
Languages / Languages: Swedish (official)
Languages / major-language sample(s): The World Factbook, den obestridliga källan för grundläggande information. (Swedish) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
Religions: Church of Sweden (Lutheran) 53.9%, other (includes Roman Catholic, Orthodox, Baptist, Muslim, Jewish, and Buddhist) 8.9%, none or unspecified 37.2% (2021 est.)
Age structure / 0-14 years: 17.1% (male 934,668/female 880,310)
Age structure / 15-64 years: 62.1% (male 3,365,754/female 3,208,248)
Age structure / 65 years and over: 20.8% (2024 est.) (male 1,032,279/female 1,168,576)
Dependency ratios / total dependency ratio: 60.9 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / youth dependency ratio: 27.3 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / elderly dependency ratio: 33.6 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / potential support ratio: 3 (2025 est.)
Median age / total: 41.2 years (2025 est.)
Median age / male: 40.1 years
Median age / female: 42.1 years
Population growth rate: 0.51% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 10.56 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 9.63 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: 4.14 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution: most of the population lives in the south where the climate is milder and there is better connectivity to mainland Europe; population clusters are found along the Baltic coast in the east; the interior areas of the north remain sparsely populated
Urbanization / urban population: 88.7% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 0.89% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 1.700 million STOCKHOLM (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: 1.05 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 65 years and over: 0.88 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth: 29.7 years (2020 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: 2.5 deaths/1,000 live births
Infant mortality rate / female: 2 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: 84.7 years
Total fertility rate: 1.66 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 0.8 (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: 99.7% 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: 0.3% of population (2022 est.)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 10.7% of GDP (2022)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 19% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density: 4.41 physicians/1,000 population (2021)
Hospital bed density: 2 beds/1,000 population (2020 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: urban: urban: 99.6% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: rural: rural: 99.5% 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: 0.5% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: total: total: 0.4% of population (2022 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 20.6% (2016)
Alcohol consumption per capita / total: 7.1 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / beer: 2.6 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / wine: 3.4 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / spirits: 1 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / other alcohols: 0.1 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Tobacco use / total: 19.9% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / male: 25.8% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / female: 13.9% (2025 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49): 53.6% (2023 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% GDP): 7.3% of GDP (2022 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% national budget): 15.3% national budget (2022 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / total: 19 years (2023 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / male: 17 years (2023 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / female: 20 years (2023 est.)

## Environment
Environmental issues: marine pollution (Baltic Sea and North Sea); acid rain damage to soil and lakes; air pollution; poor timber-harvesting practices
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 in south with cold, cloudy winters and cool, partly cloudy summers; subarctic in north
Land use / agricultural land: 7.3% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 6.2% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 0% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 1.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 68.6% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 23.8% (2023 est.)
Urbanization / urban population: 88.7% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 0.89% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / total emissions: 43.96 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from coal and metallurgical coke: 5.324 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from petroleum and other liquids: 36.768 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from consumed natural gas: 1.868 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Particulate matter emissions: 6 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Methane emissions / energy: 39.6 kt (2022-2024 est.)
Methane emissions / agriculture: 127.8 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Methane emissions / waste: 112.7 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Methane emissions / other: 9.8 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Waste and recycling / municipal solid waste generated annually: 4.618 million tons (2024 est.)
Waste and recycling / percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 39.7% (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / municipal: 699 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / industrial: 1.267 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / agricultural: 102 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total renewable water resources: 174 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Geoparks / total global geoparks and regional networks: 1
Geoparks / global geoparks and regional networks: Plat&aring;bergens (2023)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: Kingdom of Sweden
Country name / conventional short form: Sweden
Country name / local long form: Konungariket Sverige
Country name / local short form: Sverige
Country name / etymology: name derives from the North Germanic Svea tribe that inhabited central Sweden; the tribe's name probably comes from the Old German word sweba , meaning "independent;" the local form of the country's name, Sverige, means "kingdom of the Svea"
Government type: parliamentary constitutional monarchy
Capital / name: Stockholm
Capital / geographic coordinates: 59 20 N, 18 03 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 of the city probably comes from the Swedish words stak (bay) or stock (stake or pole) and holm (island); it was built in the mid-13th century on the site of a fishing village, so the name may refer to building over earlier foundations
Administrative divisions: 21 counties ( lan , singular and plural); Blekinge, Dalarna, Gavleborg, Gotland, Halland, Jamtland, Jonkoping, Kalmar, Kronoberg, Norrbotten, Orebro, Ostergotland, Skane, Sodermanland, Stockholm, Uppsala, Varmland, Vasterbotten, Vasternorrland, Vastmanland, Vastra Gotaland
Legal system: civil law system influenced by Roman-Germanic law and customary law
Constitution / history: Sweden has four fundamental laws which together make up the Constitution: The Instrument of Government (several previous; latest 1974); The Act of Succession (enacted 1810; changed in 1937 and 1980); The Freedom of the Press Act (many previous; latest in 1949); The Fundamental Law on Freedom of Expression (adopted 1991)
Constitution / amendment process: proposed by Parliament; passage requires simple majority vote in two consecutive parliamentary terms with an intervening general election; passage also requires approval by simple majority vote in a referendum if Parliament approves a motion for a referendum by one third of its members; the results of such a referendum are only binding if a majority vote against the proposal
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 Sweden; in the case of a child born out of wedlock, the mother must be a citizen of Sweden and the father unknown
Citizenship / dual citizenship recognized: no, unless the other citizenship was acquired involuntarily
Citizenship / residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch / chief of state: King CARL XVI GUSTAF (since 15 September 1973)
Executive branch / head of government: Prime Minister Ulf KRISTERSSON (since 18 October 2022)
Executive branch / cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the prime minister
Executive branch / election/appointment process: the monarchy is hereditary; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or majority coalition usually becomes the prime minister
Legislative branch / legislature name: Parliament (Riksdagen)
Legislative branch / legislative structure: unicameral
Legislative branch / number of seats: 349 (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: 9/11/2022
Legislative branch / parties elected and seats per party: Social Democratic Party (SAP) (107); Sweden Democrats (SD) (73); Moderate Party (M) (68); Left Party (VP) (24); Centre Party (CP) (24); Christian Democrats (KD) (19); Green Party (Mpg) (18); Other (16)
Legislative branch / percentage of women in chamber: 45%
Legislative branch / expected date of next election: September 2026
Judicial branch / highest court(s): Supreme Court of Sweden (consists of 16 justices, including the court chairman); Supreme Administrative Court (consists of 18 justices, including the court president)
Judicial branch / judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court and Supreme Administrative Court justices nominated by the Judges Proposal Board, a 9-member nominating body consisting of high-level judges, prosecutors, and members of Parliament; justices appointed by the government; after a probationary period, justices' appointments are permanent
Judicial branch / subordinate courts: first instance, appellate, general, and administrative courts; specialized courts that handle cases such as land and environment, immigration, labor, markets, and patents
Political parties: Center Party (Centerpartiet) or C Christian Democrats (Kristdemokraterna) or KD Green Party (Miljopartiet de Grona) or MP Left Party (Vansterpartiet) or V Moderate Party (Moderaterna) or M Sweden Democrats (Sverigedemokraterna) or SD Swedish Social Democratic Party (Socialdemokraterna) or S/SAP The Liberals (Liberalerna) or L
Diplomatic representation in the US / chief of mission: Ambassador Urban AHLIN (since 15 September 2023)
Diplomatic representation in the US / chancery: 2900 K Street NW, Washington, DC 20007
Diplomatic representation in the US / telephone: [1] (202) 467-2600
Diplomatic representation in the US / FAX: [1] (202) 467-2699
Diplomatic representation in the US / email address and website: ambassaden.washington@gov.se https://www.swedenabroad.se/en/embassies/usa-washington/
Diplomatic representation in the US / consulate(s) general: New York, San Francisco
Diplomatic representation from the US / chief of mission: Ambassador Christine TORETTI (since 21 October 2025)
Diplomatic representation from the US / embassy: Dag Hammarskjolds Vag 31, SE-115 89 Stockholm
Diplomatic representation from the US / mailing address: 5750 Stockholm Place, Washington, DC 20521-5750
Diplomatic representation from the US / telephone: [46] (08) 783-53-00
Diplomatic representation from the US / FAX: [46] (08) 661-19-64
Diplomatic representation from the US / email address and website: STKACSinfo@state.gov https://se.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, 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, NC, NEA, NIB, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, PFP, Schengen Convention, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMISS, UNMOGIP, UNOOSA, UNRWA, UN Security Council (temporary), UNSOM, UNTSO, UPU, Wassenaar Arrangement, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
Independence: 6 June 1523 (Gustav VASA elected king of Sweden, marking the abolishment of the Kalmar Union of Denmark, Norway, and Sweden)
National holiday: National Day, 6 June (1983)
Flag: description: blue with a golden yellow cross extending to the edges of the flag; the cross is shifted to the left side in the style of the Dannebrog (Danish flag) meaning: the colors come from the Swedish coat of arms
National symbol(s): three crowns, lion
National color(s): blue, yellow
National anthem(s) / title: "Kungssangen" (Royal Song)
National anthem(s) / lyrics/music: Carl Wilhelm August Strandberg/Otto Lindblad
National anthem(s) / history: adopted 1844 as the royal anthem, but also used as the national anthem until 1893; only the first verse is sung if the monarch is present
National heritage / total World Heritage Sites: 15 (13 cultural, 1 natural, 1 mixed)
National heritage / selected World Heritage Site locales: Royal Domain of Drottningholm (c); Laponian Area (m); High Coast/Kvarken Archipelago (n); Birka and Hovg&aring;rden (c); Hanseatic Town of Visby (c); Church Town of Gammelstad, Lule&aring; (c); Naval Port of Karlskrona (c); Rock Carvings in Tanum (c); Engelsberg Ironworks (c); Mining Area of the Great Copper Mountain in Falun (c)

## Economy
Economic overview: high-income, largest Nordic economy; EU member but does not use the euro; export-oriented, led by automotive, electronics, machinery, and pharmaceuticals; highly ranked for competitiveness, R&D investments and governance; recovery, with falling inflation and real wage growth balanced by risks from trade uncertainty
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $668.628 billion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $662.18 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $662.937 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2024: 1% (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2023: -0.1% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2022: 1.5% (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2024: $63,300 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2023: $62,800 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2022: $63,200 (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $610.118 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: 8.5% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 8.4% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / agriculture: 1.1% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / industry: 22.6% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / services: 65.9% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / household consumption: 43.7% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / government consumption: 26% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in fixed capital: 25% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in inventories: -0.1% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / exports of goods and services: 55.4% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / imports of goods and services: -51.4% (2023 est.)
Agricultural products: milk, wheat, sugar beets, barley, potatoes, oats, rapeseed, pork, chicken, beef (2023)
Industries: iron and steel, precision equipment (bearings, radio and telephone parts, armaments), wood pulp and paper products, processed foods, motor vehicles
Industrial production growth rate: 0.3% (2024 est.)
Labor force: 5.699 million (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2024: 8.6% (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2023: 7.7% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2022: 7.4% (2022 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / total: 23.8% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / male: 24.3% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / female: 23.2% (2024 est.)
Population below poverty line: 16.1% (2022 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income / Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2022: 31.6 (2022 est.)
Average household expenditures / on food: 13% 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%: 2.5% (2022 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / highest 10%: 24.7% (2022 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2024: 0.8% of GDP (2024 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2023: 0.7% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2022: 0.6% of GDP (2022 est.)
Budget / revenues: $195.468 billion (2022 est.)
Budget / expenditures: $191.095 billion (2022 est.)
Public debt / Public debt 2022: 36.9% of GDP (2022 est.)
Taxes and other revenues: 27.6% (of GDP) (2022 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2024: $45.274 billion (2024 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2023: $40.819 billion (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2022: $27.404 billion (2022 est.)
Exports / Exports 2024: $338.852 billion (2024 est.)
Exports / Exports 2023: $329.332 billion (2023 est.)
Exports / Exports 2022: $318.203 billion (2022 est.)
Exports - partners: Germany 10%, USA 10%, Denmark 8%, Norway 6%, Netherlands 5% (2023)
Exports - commodities: cars, refined petroleum, packaged medicine, paper, vehicle parts/accessories (2023)
Imports / Imports 2024: $309.526 billion (2024 est.)
Imports / Imports 2023: $304.194 billion (2023 est.)
Imports / Imports 2022: $304.101 billion (2022 est.)
Imports - partners: Germany 17%, Netherlands 10%, Norway 9%, Denmark 6%, China 6% (2023)
Imports - commodities: cars, crude petroleum, refined petroleum, vehicle parts/accessories, garments (2023)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024: $62.569 billion (2024 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023: $60.863 billion (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $64.289 billion (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Currency: Swedish kronor (SEK) per US dollar -
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2024: 10.568 (2024 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2023: 10.61 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2022: 10.114 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2021: 8.577 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2020: 9.21 (2020 est.)

## Energy
Electricity access / electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)
Electricity / installed generating capacity: 55.307 million kW (2023 est.)
Electricity / consumption: 125.273 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / exports: 36.151 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / imports: 7.335 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / transmission/distribution losses: 9.109 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / fossil fuels: 0.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / nuclear: 28.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / solar: 1.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / wind: 21% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / hydroelectricity: 40.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / biomass and waste: 7.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Nuclear energy / Number of operational nuclear reactors: 6 (2025)
Nuclear energy / Net capacity of operational nuclear reactors: 7.01GW (2025 est.)
Nuclear energy / Percent of total electricity production: 28.6% (2023 est.)
Nuclear energy / Number of nuclear reactors permanently shut down: 7 (2025)
Coal / production: 1.042 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / consumption: 3.17 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / exports: 23,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / imports: 2.078 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / proven reserves: 5 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum / total petroleum production: 11,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Petroleum / refined petroleum consumption: 270,000 bbl/day (2024 est.)
Natural gas / consumption: 896.109 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / exports: 10.625 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / imports: 897.487 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
Energy consumption per capita / Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 142.102 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

## Communications
Telephones - fixed lines / total subscriptions: 898,000 (2023 est.)
Telephones - fixed lines / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 9 (2023 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / total subscriptions: 14.9 million (2024 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 141 (2024 est.)
Broadcast media: publicly owned TV broadcaster has 2 terrestrial networks plus regional stations; multiple privately owned TV broadcasters operating nationally, regionally, and locally; about 50 local TV stations; widespread access to pan-Nordic and international broadcasters through multi-channel cable and satellite TV; publicly owned radio broadcaster has 3 national stations and a network of 25 regional channels; roughly 100 privately owned local radio stations, with some consolidating into near-national networks; an estimated 900 community and neighborhood radio stations broadcast intermittently
Internet country code: .se
Internet users / percent of population: 96% (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / total: 4.3 million (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 41 (2023 est.)

## Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: SE
Airports: 206 (2025)
Heliports: 11 (2025)
Railways / total: 10,910 km (2020) 8,184 km electrified
Railways / narrow gauge: 65 km
Merchant marine / total: 361 (2023)
Merchant marine / by type: general cargo 44, oil tanker 18, other 299
Ports / total ports: 92 (2024)
Ports / large: 3
Ports / medium: 10
Ports / small: 30
Ports / very small: 49
Ports / ports with oil terminals: 49
Ports / key ports: Falkenberg, Goteborg, Helsingborg, Karlsborg, Karlshamn, Lulea, Malmo, Norrkoping, Stockholm, Sundsvall, Uddevalla, Varberg, Vasteras

## Military and Security
Military and security forces: Swedish Armed Forces (F&ouml;rsvarsmakten): Army, Navy, Air Force, Home Guard (202)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2025: 2.5% of GDP (2025 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2024: 2.3% of GDP (2024 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2023: 1.7% 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 25,000 active military personnel; approximately 21,000 Home Guard (2025)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the SAF's inventory is comprised of mostly domestically produced armaments alongside smaller amounts of imported Western systems; Sweden's defense industry produces a range of air, land, and naval systems, including armored vehicles, combat aircraft, and submarines; it also produces weapons systems jointly with other countries (2025)
Military service age and obligation: 18 years of age for voluntary and selective conscripted service for men and women; conscript service obligation typically 9-15 months depending on the branch of service and position, with a reserve commitment up to age 45 (2026)
Military deployments: approximately 600 Latvia (NATO) (2025)
Military - note: the Swedish military is responsible for deterrence and the defense of the country and its territories against armed attack, supporting Sweden’s national security interests, providing societal support, such as humanitarian aid, and contributing to international peacekeeping and peacemaking operations; the military has a relatively small active duty force that is designed to be rapidly mobilized in a crisis with a trained reserve and a Home Guard Sweden maintained a policy of military non-alignment for over 200 years before applying for NATO membership in May 2022 following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine; it became a NATO member in March 2024; prior to membership, Stockholm joined NATO’s Partnership for Peace program in 1994 and contributed to NATO-led missions, including those in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Kosovo; the military cooperates closely with the forces of other Nordic countries through the Nordic Defense Cooperation (NORDEFCO; established 2009), which consists of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden; Sweden is a signatory of the EU’s Common Security and Defense Policy (CSDP) and contributes to CSDP missions and operations, including EU battlegroups; it also participates in UN-led missions; Sweden has close bilateral security relations with some individual NATO member states, particularly Finland, Germany, Norway, the UK, and the US (2025)

## Space
Space agency/agencies: Swedish National Space Agency (SNSA; established 1972; known until 2018 as the Swedish National Space Board) (2025)
Space launch site(s): Esrange Space Center (Kiruna) (2025)
Space program overview: aims to have one of Europe's leading space programs; produces and operates satellites; builds and launches sounding rockets; involved in the research, development, production, and operations of a variety of other space-related areas, including astronomy, atmospheric monitoring, geographic information systems, infrared imaging, meteorology, propulsion systems, remote sensing, satellite subsystems, spacecraft systems and structures, research, and telecommunications; member of the ESA and program is integrated into its framework; works extensively with foreign space agencies, in particular through the ESA and EU and their member states, as well as with the US; participates in programs such as Europe's Copernicus Earth observation and the Galileo global navigation satellite system, France's Pleiades project, and the Square Kilometer Array Project; has a large commercial space industry, including state-owned enterprises (2025)
Key space-program milestones: 1950s - space program initiated with the establishment of a space observatory and the Swedish Space Research Committee 1961 - launched first sounding rocket 1986 - first scientific satellite (Viking) launched on European rocket 1989 - first communications satellite (Tele-X) launched on European rocket 2006 - first astronaut into space on US Space Shuttle 2019 - established a space data lab for artificial intelligence-based analysis of imagery data 2024 - signed US-led Artemis Accords for space and lunar exploration; launched first military communications satellite (GNA-3); adopted its first defense and security space strategy

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

## Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons / refugees: 168,519 (2024 est.)
Refugees and internally displaced persons / stateless persons: 6,835 (2024 est.)

=== Switzerland ===

## Introduction
Background: The Swiss Confederation was founded in 1291 as a defensive alliance among three cantons. In succeeding years, other localities joined the original three. The Swiss Confederation secured its independence from the Holy Roman Empire in 1499. A constitution of 1848, which was modified in 1874 to allow voters to introduce referenda on proposed laws, replaced the confederation with a centralized federal government. The major European powers have long honored Switzerland's sovereignty and neutrality, and the country was not involved in either World War. The political and economic integration of Europe over the past half-century, as well as Switzerland's role in many UN and international organizations, has strengthened Switzerland's ties with its neighbors. However, the country did not officially become a UN member until 2002. Switzerland remains active in many UN and international organizations but retains a strong commitment to neutrality.

## Geography
Location: Central Europe, east of France, north of Italy
Geographic coordinates: 47 00 N, 8 00 E
Map references: Europe
Area / total: 41,277 sq km
Area / land: 39,997 sq km
Area / water: 1,280 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly less than twice the size of New Jersey
Land boundaries / total: 1,770 km
Land boundaries / border countries: Austria 158 km; France 525 km; Italy 698 km; Liechtenstein 41 km; Germany 348 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
Climate: temperate, but varies with altitude; cold, cloudy, rainy/snowy winters; cool to warm, cloudy, humid summers with occasional showers
Terrain: mostly mountains (Alps in south, Jura in northwest) with a central plateau of rolling hills, plains, and large lakes
Elevation / highest point: Dufourspitze on Monte Rosa 4,634 m
Elevation / lowest point: Lake Maggiore 195 m
Elevation / mean elevation: 1,350 m
Natural resources: hydropower potential, timber, salt
Land use / agricultural land: 37.8% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 10% (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: 32% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 32.6% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land: 494 sq km (2020)
Major lakes (area sq km) / fresh water lake(s): Lake Constance (shared with Germany and Austria) - 540 sq km; Lake Geneva (shared with France) - 580 sq km
Major rivers (by length in km): Rhein (Rhine) river source (shared with Germany, 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), (Adriatic Sea) Po (76,997 sq km), (Mediterranean Sea) Rhone (100,543 sq km)
Population distribution: population distribution corresponds to elevation, with the northern and western areas far more heavily populated; the higher Alps of the south limit settlement
Natural hazards: avalanches, landslides; flash floods
Geography - note: landlocked; crossroads of northern and southern Europe; along with southeastern France, northern Italy, and southwestern Austria, has the highest elevations in the Alps

## People and Society
Population / total: 8,925,741 (2025 est.)
Population / male: 4,436,858
Population / female: 4,488,883
Nationality / noun: Swiss (singular and plural)
Nationality / adjective: Swiss
Ethnic groups: Swiss 69.2%, German 4.2%, Italian 3.2%, Portuguese 2.5%, French 2.1%, Kosovan 1.1%, Turkish 1%, other 16.7% (2020 est.)
Languages / Languages: German (or Swiss German) (official) 62.1%, French (official) 22.8%, Italian (official) 8%, English 5.7%, Portuguese 3.5%, Albanian 3.3%, Serbo-Croatian 2.3%, Spanish 2.3%, Romansh (official) 0.5%, other 7.9% (2019 est.)
Languages / major-language sample(s): Das World Factbook, die unverzichtbare Quelle für grundlegende Informationen. (German) The World Factbook, une source indispensable d'informations de base. (French) 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: Roman Catholic 34.4%, Protestant 22.5%, other Christian 5.7%, Muslim 5.4%, other 1.5%, none 29.4%, unspecified 1.1% (2020 est.)
Age structure / 0-14 years: 15.1% (male 685,221/female 650,802)
Age structure / 15-64 years: 64.6% (male 2,887,767/female 2,834,842)
Age structure / 65 years and over: 20.3% (2024 est.) (male 830,117/female 971,825)
Dependency ratios / total dependency ratio: 55.8 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / youth dependency ratio: 23.5 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / elderly dependency ratio: 32.3 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / potential support ratio: 3.1 (2025 est.)
Median age / total: 44.4 years (2025 est.)
Median age / male: 43.5 years
Median age / female: 44.9 years
Population growth rate: 0.72% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 10.01 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 8.61 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: 5.79 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution: population distribution corresponds to elevation, with the northern and western areas far more heavily populated; the higher Alps of the south limit settlement
Urbanization / urban population: 74.2% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 0.79% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 1.432 million Zurich, 441,000 BERN (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: 0.85 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth: 31.1 years (2020 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio: 5 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Infant mortality rate / total: 3 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: 83.9 years (2024 est.)
Life expectancy at birth / male: 82 years
Life expectancy at birth / female: 85.8 years
Total fertility rate: 1.59 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): 11.8% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 12.4% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density: 4.48 physicians/1,000 population (2022)
Hospital bed density: 4.4 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: 19.5% (2016)
Alcohol consumption per capita / total: 9.41 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / beer: 3.17 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / wine: 4.35 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / spirits: 1.76 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / other alcohols: 0.12 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Tobacco use / total: 22.8% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / male: 25.5% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / female: 20.1% (2025 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49): 57.5% (2022 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% GDP): 4.9% of GDP (2022 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% national budget): 15.4% 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 from vehicle emissions; water pollution from agricultural fertilizers; soil pollution from chemical contaminants; soil erosion; loss of biodiversity
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, 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, but varies with altitude; cold, cloudy, rainy/snowy winters; cool to warm, cloudy, humid summers with occasional showers
Land use / agricultural land: 37.8% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 10% (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: 32% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 32.6% (2023 est.)
Urbanization / urban population: 74.2% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 0.79% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / total emissions: 33.306 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from coal and metallurgical coke: 195,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from petroleum and other liquids: 27.528 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from consumed natural gas: 5.583 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Particulate matter emissions: 9 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Waste and recycling / municipal solid waste generated annually: 6.08 million tons (2024 est.)
Waste and recycling / percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 30.1% (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / municipal: 930 million cubic meters (2022)
Total water withdrawal / industrial: 642.7 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / agricultural: 160.1 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total renewable water resources: 53.5 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: Swiss Confederation
Country name / conventional short form: Switzerland
Country name / local long form: Schweizerische Eidgenossenschaft (German)/ Confederation Suisse (French)/ Confederazione Svizzera (Italian)/ Confederaziun Svizra (Romansh)
Country name / local short form: Schweiz (German)/ Suisse (French)/ Svizzera (Italian)/ Svizra (Romansh)
Country name / abbreviation: CH
Country name / etymology: name derives from the canton of Schwyz, one of the founding cantons of the Swiss Confederacy formed in the late 13th century
Government type: federal republic (formally a confederation)
Capital / name: Bern
Capital / geographic coordinates: 46 55 N, 7 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 origin of the name is uncertain; it is sometimes associated with the German word Baer (bear), but a more likely origin is an Indo-European root word ber , meaning "marshy place"
Administrative divisions: 26 cantons ( cantons , singular - canton in French; cantoni , singular - cantone in Italian; Kantone , singular - Kanton in German); Aargau, Appenzell Ausserrhoden, Appenzell Innerrhoden, Basel-Landschaft, Basel-Stadt, Berne/Bern, Fribourg/Freiburg, Genève (Geneva), Glarus, Graubuenden/Grigioni/Grischun, Jura, Luzern (Lucerne), Neuchatel, Nidwalden, Obwalden, Sankt Gallen, Schaffhausen, Schwyz, Solothurn, Thurgau, Ticino, Uri, Valais/Wallis, Vaud, Zug, Zuerich
Legal system: civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts, except federal decrees of a general obligatory character
Constitution / history: previous 1848, 1874; latest adopted by referendum 18 April 1999, effective 1 January 2000
Constitution / amendment process: proposed by the two houses of the Federal Assembly or by petition of at least one hundred thousand voters (called the "federal popular initiative"); passage of proposals requires majority vote in a referendum; following drafting of an amendment by the Assembly, its passage requires approval by majority vote in a referendum and approval by the majority of cantons
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 Switzerland
Citizenship / dual citizenship recognized: yes
Citizenship / residency requirement for naturalization: 12 years including at least 3 of the last 5 years prior to application
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch / chief of state: President of the Swiss Confederation Guy PARMELIN (since 1 January 2026)
Executive branch / head of government: President of the Swiss Confederation Guy PARMELIN (since 1 January 2026)
Executive branch / cabinet: Federal Council or Bundesrat (in German), Conseil Federal (in French), Consiglio Federale (in Italian) indirectly elected by the Federal Assembly for a 4-year term
Executive branch / election/appointment process: president and vice president elected by the Federal Assembly from among members of the Federal Council for a 1-year, non-consecutive term
Executive branch / most recent election date: 11 December 2024
Executive branch / election results: 2024: Karin KELLER-SUTTER elected president for 2025; Federal Assembly vote - Karin KELLER-SUTTER (FDP.The Liberals) 168 of 203; Guy PARLEMIN (SVP) elected vice president for 2025; Federal Assembly vote - 196 of 219 2023: Viola AMHERD elected president for 2024; Federal Assembly vote - Viola AMHERD (The Center) 158 of 204; Karin KELLER-SUTTER (FDP.The Liberals) elected vice president for 2024; Federal Assembly vote - 138 of 196 2022: Alain BERSET elected president for 2023; Federal Assembly vote - Alain BERSET (SP) 140 OF 181; Viola AMHERD elected vice president; Federal assembly vote - 207 of 223
Executive branch / expected date of next election: December 2025
Legislative branch / legislature name: Federal Assembly (Bundesversammlung - Assemblée fédérale - Assemblea federale)
Legislative branch / legislative structure: bicameral
Legislative branch - lower chamber / chamber name: National Council (Nationalrat - Conseil national - Consiglio nazionale)
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: 10/22/2023
Legislative branch - lower chamber / parties elected and seats per party: Swiss People's Party (SVP/UDC) (62); Socialist Party (SP/PS) (41); Centre Party (29); FDP/The Liberals (FDP/PLR) (28); Green Party (GPS/PES) (23); Liberal Green Party (GLP/PVL) (10); Other (7)
Legislative branch - lower chamber / percentage of women in chamber: 39.5%
Legislative branch - lower chamber / expected date of next election: October 2027
Legislative branch - upper chamber / chamber name: Council of States (Ständerat - Conseil des Etats - Consiglio degli Stati)
Legislative branch - upper chamber / number of seats: 46 (all directly elected)
Legislative branch - upper chamber / electoral system: other systems
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: 10/22/2023
Legislative branch - upper chamber / parties elected and seats per party: Centre Party (15); FDP/The Liberals (FDP/PLR) (11); Socialist Party (SP/PS) (9); Swiss People's Party (SVP/UDC) (6); Green Party (GPS/PES) (3); Other (2)
Legislative branch - upper chamber / percentage of women in chamber: 33.3%
Legislative branch - upper chamber / expected date of next election: October 2027
Judicial branch / highest court(s): Federal Supreme Court (consists of 38 justices and 19 deputy justices organized into 7 divisions)
Judicial branch / judge selection and term of office: judges elected by the Federal Assembly for 6-year terms; judges are affiliated with political parties and are elected according to linguistic and regional criteria in approximate proportion to party representation in the Federal Assembly
Judicial branch / subordinate courts: Federal Criminal Court (established in 2004); Federal Administrative Court (established in 2007)
Political parties: The Center (Die Mitte, Alleanza del Centro, Le Centre, Allianza dal Center) (merger of the Christian Democratic People's Party and the Conservative Democratic Party) Evangelical Peoples' Party or EVP/PEV Federal Democrats or EDU Geneva Citizens Movement or MCR/MCG Green Liberal Party (Gruenliberale Partei or GLP, Parti vert liberale or PVL, Partito Verde-Liberale or PVL, Partida Verde Liberale or PVL) Green Party (Gruene Partei der Schweiz or Gruene, Parti Ecologiste Suisse or Les Verts, Partito Ecologista Svizzero or I Verdi, Partida Ecologica Svizra or La Verda) The Liberals or FDP.The Liberals (FDP.Die Liberalen, PLR.Les Liberaux-Radicaux, PLR.I Liberali, Ils Liberals) Social Democratic Party (Sozialdemokratische Partei der Schweiz or SP, Parti Socialiste Suisse or PSS, Partito Socialista Svizzero or PSS, Partida Socialdemocratica de la Svizra or PSS) Swiss People's Party (Schweizerische Volkspartei or SVP, Union Democratique du Centre or UDC, Unione Democratica di Centro or UDC, Uniun Democratica dal Center or UDC)
Diplomatic representation in the US / chief of mission: Ambassador Ralph HECKNER (since 18 September 2024)
Diplomatic representation in the US / chancery: 2900 Cathedral Ave NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation in the US / telephone: [1] (202) 745-7900
Diplomatic representation in the US / FAX: [1] (202) 387-2564
Diplomatic representation in the US / email address and website: washington@eda.admin.ch https://www.eda.admin.ch/washington
Diplomatic representation in the US / consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Chicago, New York, San Francisco
Diplomatic representation in the US / consulate(s): Boston
Diplomatic representation from the US / chief of mission: Ambassador Callista GINGRICH (since 23 October 2025) note - also accredited to Liechtenstein
Diplomatic representation from the US / embassy: Sulgeneckstrasse 19, CH-3007 Bern
Diplomatic representation from the US / mailing address: 5110 Bern Place, Washington DC 20521-5110
Diplomatic representation from the US / telephone: [41] (031) 357-70-11
Diplomatic representation from the US / FAX: [41] (031) 357-73-20
Diplomatic representation from the US / email address and website: https://ch.usembassy.gov/
International organization participation: ADB (nonregional member), AfDB (nonregional member), Australia Group, BIS, CD, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, EFTA, EITI (implementing country), ESA, FAO, FATF, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD (partners), ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAIA (observer), MIGA, MONUSCO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OIF, OPCW, OSCE, Pacific Alliance (observer), Paris Club, PCA, PFP, Schengen Convention, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNMISS, UNMOGIP, UNOOSA, UNRWA, UNTSO, UNWTO, UPU, Wassenaar Arrangement, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
Independence: 1 August 1291 (founding of the Swiss Confederation)
National holiday: Founding of the Swiss Confederation in 1291
Flag: description: red square with an equal-armed white cross in the center that does not extend to the edges of the flag history: the origin of the flag is unclear, but a white cross was used to identify Swiss Confederation troops at the Battle of Laupen (1339)
National symbol(s): Swiss cross (white cross on red field)
National color(s): red, white
National anthem(s) / title: the Swiss anthem has four names: "Schweizerpsalm" [German] "Cantique Suisse" [French] "Salmo svizzero," [Italian] "Psalm svizzer" [Romansch] (Swiss Psalm)
National anthem(s) / lyrics/music: Leonhard WIDMER [German], Charles CHATELANAT [French], Camillo VALSANGIACOMO [Italian], and Flurin CAMATHIAS [Romansch]/Alberik ZWYSSIG
National anthem(s) / history: adopted 1981; all four of the versions (German, French, Italian, Romansch) are considered official
National heritage / total World Heritage Sites: 13 (9 cultural, 4 natural)
National heritage / selected World Heritage Site locales: Old City of Berne (c); Swiss Alps Jungfrau-Aletsch (n); Monte San Giorgio (n); Abbey of St Gall (c); Three Castles, Defensive Wall, and Ramparts of the Market-Town of Bellinzona (c); Rhaetian Railway in the Albula/Bernina Landscapes (c); La Chaux-de-Fonds/Le Locle, Watchmaking Town Planning (c); Prehistoric Pile Dwellings around the Alps (c); Benedictine Convent of St John at Müstair (c); Lavaux, Vineyard Terraces (c)

## Economy
Economic overview: high-income, non-EU European economy; top ten in GDP per capita; renowned banking and financial hub; low unemployment and inflation; slowed GDP growth post-pandemic; highly skilled but aging workforce; key pharmaceutical and precision manufacturing exporter; leader in innovation and competitiveness indices
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $741.035 billion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $731.508 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $726.544 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2024: 1.3% (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2023: 0.7% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2022: 3% (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2024: $82,000 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2023: $82,300 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2022: $82,800 (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $936.564 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: 2.1% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 2.8% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / agriculture: 0.6% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / industry: 24.7% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / services: 72% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / household consumption: 51.1% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / government consumption: 11.3% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in fixed capital: 25.8% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in inventories: 0.2% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / exports of goods and services: 73.3% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / imports of goods and services: -62% (2023 est.)
Agricultural products: milk, sugar beets, wheat, potatoes, pork, apples, barley, beef, maize, grapes (2023)
Industries: machinery, chemicals, watches, textiles, precision instruments, tourism, banking, insurance, pharmaceuticals
Industrial production growth rate: 1.7% (2024 est.)
Labor force: 5.153 million (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2024: 4.2% (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: 7.9% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / male: 8.3% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / female: 7.5% (2024 est.)
Population below poverty line: 15.8% (2021 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income / Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2021: 33.8 (2021 est.)
Average household expenditures / on food: 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% (2021 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / highest 10%: 26.6% (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: $153.795 billion (2023 est.)
Budget / expenditures: $152.488 billion (2023 est.)
Public debt / Public debt 2023: 19.9% of GDP (2023 est.)
Taxes and other revenues: 9% (of GDP) (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2024: $47.162 billion (2024 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2023: $47.455 billion (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2022: $72.325 billion (2022 est.)
Exports / Exports 2024: $675.059 billion (2024 est.)
Exports / Exports 2023: $654.175 billion (2023 est.)
Exports / Exports 2022: $628.737 billion (2022 est.)
Exports - partners: Germany 14%, China 12%, USA 11%, Italy 5%, Turkey 5% (2023)
Exports - commodities: gold, packaged medicine, vaccines, nitrogen compounds, base metal watches (2023)
Imports / Imports 2024: $582.554 billion (2024 est.)
Imports / Imports 2023: $556.351 billion (2023 est.)
Imports / Imports 2022: $518.002 billion (2022 est.)
Imports - partners: Germany 17%, USA 9%, Italy 8%, France 6%, China 5% (2023)
Imports - commodities: gold, packaged medicine, vaccines, cars, jewelry (2023)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024: $909.366 billion (2024 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023: $863.892 billion (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $923.628 billion (2022 est.)
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.)
Electricity / installed generating capacity: 26.502 million kW (2023 est.)
Electricity / consumption: 55.643 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / exports: 33.856 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / imports: 27.462 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / transmission/distribution losses: 4.81 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / fossil fuels: 0.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / nuclear: 34.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / solar: 6.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / wind: 0.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / hydroelectricity: 53% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / biomass and waste: 4.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Nuclear energy / Number of operational nuclear reactors: 4 (2025)
Nuclear energy / Net capacity of operational nuclear reactors: 2.97GW (2025 est.)
Nuclear energy / Percent of total electricity production: 32.4% (2023 est.)
Nuclear energy / Number of nuclear reactors permanently shut down: 2 (2025)
Coal / consumption: 126,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / exports: 300 metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / imports: 156,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum / total petroleum production: 300 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Petroleum / refined petroleum consumption: 194,000 bbl/day (2024 est.)
Natural gas / consumption: 2.915 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / imports: 2.869 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Energy consumption per capita / Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 99.578 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

## Communications
Telephones - fixed lines / total subscriptions: 3.003 million (2023 est.)
Telephones - fixed lines / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 34 (2023 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / total subscriptions: 11.6 million (2024 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 129 (2024 est.)
Broadcast media: publicly owned Swiss Broadcasting Corporation (SRG/SSR) has 8 national TV networks, 3 broadcasting in German, 3 in French, and 2 in Italian; private commercial TV stations broadcast regionally and locally; German, Italian, and French TV broadcasts widely available via multi-channel cable and satellite TV; SRG/SSR has 17 radio stations (2019)
Internet country code: .ch
Internet users / percent of population: 97% (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / total: 4.33 million (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 49 (2023 est.)

## Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: HB
Airports: 66 (2025)
Heliports: 52 (2025)
Railways / total: 5,296 km (2020) 5,296 km electrified; Switzerland remains the only country with a fully electrified network
Merchant marine / total: 17 (2023)
Merchant marine / by type: bulk carrier 14, general cargo 1, other 2 (includes Liechtenstein)

## Military and Security
Military and security forces: Swiss Armed Forces (aka Swiss Army or Schweizer Armee); Army (aka Land Forces), Swiss Air Force (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: approximately 145,000 Swiss Armed Forces (2024)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the military's inventory includes a mix of domestically produced and imported European and US weapons systems; the Swiss defense industry produces a range of military land vehicles (2025)
Military service age and obligation: every Swiss man 18-30 is obligated to serve in the military or the alternative civilian service; women can serve on a voluntary basis; required military service is 245 days, including 18-21 weeks of basic training generally between the ages of 19-25, followed by six three-week recalls for refresher training over the following nine years; the system offers opportunities for conscripts to train as non-commissioned and commissioned officers in the militia with longer service commitments (2026)
Military deployments: 200 Kosovo (NATO/KFOR) (2025)
Military - note: the Swiss military is responsible for territorial defense, limited support to international disaster response and peacekeeping, and providing support to civil authorities when their resources are not sufficient to ward off threats to internal security or provide sufficient relief during disasters; Switzerland has long maintained a policy of military neutrality but does periodically participate in EU, NATO, Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), and UN military and peacekeeping operations; however, Swiss units will only participate in operations under the mandate of the UN or OSCE; Switzerland joined NATO&rsquo;s Partnership for Peace program in 1996; it has contributed to the NATO-led force in Kosovo (KFOR) since 1999 (2025)

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

## Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons / refugees: 213,177 (2024 est.)
Refugees and internally displaced persons / IDPs: 97 (2024 est.)
Refugees and internally displaced persons / stateless persons: 1,267 (2024 est.)

=== United Kingdom ===

## Introduction
Background: The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland was created when the Kingdoms of England and Scotland -- which previously had been distinct states under a single monarchy -- were joined under the 1707 Acts of Union. The island of Ireland was incorporated under the 1800 Acts of Union, while Wales had been part of the Kingdom of England since the 16th century. The United Kingdom has historically played a leading role in developing parliamentary democracy and in advancing literature and science. The 18th and 19th centuries saw the rapid expansion of the British Empire despite the loss of the Thirteen Colonies, and at its zenith in the early 20th century, the British Empire stretched over one fourth of the earth's surface. The first half of the 20th century saw two World Wars seriously deplete the UK's strength and the Irish Republic withdraw from the union. The second half witnessed the dismantling of the Empire and the UK rebuilding itself into a modern and prosperous European nation. As one of five permanent members of the UN Security Council and a founding member of NATO and the Commonwealth of Nations, the UK pursues a global approach to foreign policy. The devolved Scottish Parliament, the National Assembly for Wales, and the Northern Ireland Assembly were established in 1998. The UK was an active member of the EU after its accession in 1973, although it chose to remain outside the Economic and Monetary Union. However, motivated in part by frustration at a remote bureaucracy in Brussels and massive migration into the country, UK citizens in 2016 voted by 52 to 48 percent to leave the EU. On 31 January 2020, the UK became the only country to depart the EU -- a move known as "Brexit" -- after prolonged negotiations on EU-UK economic and security relationships.

## Geography
Location: Western Europe, islands - including the northern one-sixth of the island of Ireland - between the North Atlantic Ocean and the North Sea; northwest of France
Geographic coordinates: 54 00 N, 2 00 W
Map references: Europe
Area / total: 243,610 sq km
Area / land: 241,930 sq km
Area / water: 1,680 sq km
Area - comparative: twice the size of Pennsylvania; slightly smaller than Oregon
Land boundaries / total: 499 km
Land boundaries / border countries: Ireland 499 km
Coastline: 12,429 km
Maritime claims / territorial sea: 12 nm
Maritime claims / continental shelf: as defined in continental shelf orders or in accordance with agreed upon boundaries
Maritime claims / exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
Climate: temperate; moderated by prevailing southwest winds over the North Atlantic Current; more than one-half of the days are overcast
Terrain: mostly rugged hills and low mountains; level to rolling plains in east and southeast
Elevation / highest point: Ben Nevis 1,345 m
Elevation / lowest point: The Fens -4 m
Elevation / mean elevation: 162 m
Natural resources: coal, petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, lead, zinc, gold, tin, limestone, salt, clay, chalk, gypsum, potash, silica sand, slate, arable land
Land use / agricultural land: 70.3% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 25% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 0.2% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 45.2% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 13.4% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 14.7% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land: 718 sq km (2018)
Population distribution: the core of the population lies in and around London, with significant clusters found in central Britain around Manchester and Liverpool, in the Scottish lowlands between Edinburgh and Glasgow, in southern Wales in and around Cardiff, and in far-eastern Northern Ireland, centered on Belfast
Natural hazards: winter windstorms; floods
Geography - note: lies near vital North Atlantic sea lanes; only 35 km (22 mi) from France and linked by tunnel under the English Channel (the Channel Tunnel or Chunnel); because of heavily indented coastline, no location is more than 125 km (78 mi) from tidal waters

## People and Society
Population / total: 68,751,311 (2025 est.)
Population / male: 34,145,455
Population / female: 34,605,856
Nationality / noun: Briton(s), British (collective plural)
Nationality / adjective: British
Ethnic groups: White 87.2%, Black/African/Caribbean/black British 3%, Asian/Asian British: Indian 2.3%, Asian/Asian British: Pakistani 1.9%, mixed 2%, other 3.7% (2011 est.)
Languages: English
Religions: Christian (includes Anglican, Roman Catholic, Presbyterian, Methodist) 59.5%, Muslim 4.4%, Hindu 1.3%, other 2%, unspecified 7.2%, none 25.7% (2011 est.)
Age structure / 0-14 years: 16.7% (male 5,872,937/female 5,592,665)
Age structure / 15-64 years: 63.9% (male 22,062,643/female 21,702,401)
Age structure / 65 years and over: 19.3% (2024 est.) (male 6,069,865/female 7,158,544)
Dependency ratios / total dependency ratio: 56.7 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / youth dependency ratio: 26 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / elderly dependency ratio: 30.7 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / potential support ratio: 3.3 (2025 est.)
Median age / total: 40.9 years (2025 est.)
Median age / male: 40.1 years
Median age / female: 41.5 years
Population growth rate: 0.4% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 10.76 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 9.25 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: 2.52 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution: the core of the population lies in and around London, with significant clusters found in central Britain around Manchester and Liverpool, in the Scottish lowlands between Edinburgh and Glasgow, in southern Wales in and around Cardiff, and in far-eastern Northern Ireland, centered on Belfast
Urbanization / urban population: 84.6% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 0.8% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 9.648 million LONDON (capital), 2.791 million Manchester, 2.665 million Birmingham, 1.929 million West Yorkshire, 1.698 million Glasgow, 952,000 Southampton/Portsmouth (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: 0.85 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth: 29 years (2018 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio: 8 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 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: 82.2 years (2024 est.)
Life expectancy at birth / male: 80.1 years
Life expectancy at birth / female: 84.4 years
Total fertility rate: 1.64 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): 11.3% of GDP (2022)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 20.7% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density: 3.3 physicians/1,000 population (2023)
Hospital bed density: 2.4 beds/1,000 population (2021 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: urban: urban: 99.8% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: rural: rural: 99.8% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: total: total: 99.8% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: urban: urban: 0.2% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: rural: rural: 0.2% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: total: total: 0.2% of population (2022 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 27.8% (2016)
Alcohol consumption per capita / total: 9.8 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / beer: 3.53 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / wine: 3.3 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / spirits: 2.35 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / other alcohols: 0.61 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Tobacco use / total: 11.5% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / male: 13.3% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / female: 9.8% (2025 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 0.6% (2019 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49): 49.7% (2021 est.)
Child marriage / women married by age 18: 0% (2021)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% GDP): 5.9% of GDP (2021 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% national budget): 11.8% national budget (2021 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / total: 18 years (2022 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / male: 17 years (2022 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / female: 18 years (2022 est.)

## Environment
Environmental issues: air pollution in the London region; soil pollution from pesticides and heavy metals; decline in marine and coastal habitats from housing, tourism, and industry
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, 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; moderated by prevailing southwest winds over the North Atlantic Current; more than one-half of the days are overcast
Land use / agricultural land: 70.3% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 25% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 0.2% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 45.2% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 13.4% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 14.7% (2023 est.)
Urbanization / urban population: 84.6% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 0.8% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / total emissions: 340.94 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from coal and metallurgical coke: 17.093 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from petroleum and other liquids: 197.133 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from consumed natural gas: 126.713 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Particulate matter emissions: 7.8 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Methane emissions / energy: 353.4 kt (2022-2024 est.)
Methane emissions / agriculture: 1,030.2 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Methane emissions / waste: 1,070.1 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Methane emissions / other: 62 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Waste and recycling / municipal solid waste generated annually: 30.771 million tons (2024 est.)
Waste and recycling / percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 34.2% (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / municipal: 6.227 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / industrial: 1.01 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / agricultural: 1.183 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total renewable water resources: 147 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Geoparks / total global geoparks and regional networks: 10 (2025)
Geoparks / global geoparks and regional networks: Arran; Black Country; Cuilcagh Lakelands (includes Ireland); English Riviera; Fforest Fawr; GeoM&ocirc;n; Mourne Gullion Strangford; North Pennines AONB; North-West Highlands; Shetland (2025)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland; note - the island of Great Britain includes England, Scotland, and Wales
Country name / conventional short form: United Kingdom
Country name / abbreviation: UK
Country name / etymology: the name United Kingdom is self-descriptive; the name Britain probably derives from the Celtic word pretani , meaning "painted people;" the designation of Great Britain for England, Scotland, and Wales dates back to medieval times and was used to distinguish the island from Little Britain, or Brittany, in modern France; the name Ireland evolved from the Gaelic name Eriu, which is possibly derived from the Old Celtic iveriu , meaning "good land"
Government type: parliamentary constitutional monarchy; a Commonwealth realm
Capital / name: London
Capital / geographic coordinates: 51 30 N, 0 05 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 / time zone note: the time statements apply to the United Kingdom proper, not to its crown dependencies or overseas territories
Capital / etymology: the name derives from the Roman settlement of Londinium, established on the current site of London around A.D. 43; the original meaning of the name is uncertain
Administrative divisions: England: 24 two-tier counties, 32 London boroughs and 1 City of London or Greater London, 36 metropolitan districts, 59 unitary authorities (including 4 single-tier counties*) two-tier counties: Cambridgeshire, Cumbria, Derbyshire, Devon, East Sussex, Essex, Gloucestershire, Hampshire, Hertfordshire, Kent, Lancashire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Norfolk, North Yorkshire, Nottinghamshire, Oxfordshire, Somerset, Staffordshire, Suffolk, Surrey, Warwickshire, West Sussex, Worcestershire London boroughs and City of London or Greater London: Barking and Dagenham, Barnet, Bexley, Brent, Bromley, Camden, Croydon, Ealing, Enfield, Greenwich, Hackney, Hammersmith and Fulham, Haringey, Harrow, Havering, Hillingdon, Hounslow, Islington, Kensington and Chelsea, Kingston upon Thames, Lambeth, Lewisham, City of London, Merton, Newham, Redbridge, Richmond upon Thames, Southwark, Sutton, Tower Hamlets, Waltham Forest, Wandsworth, Westminster metropolitan districts: Barnsley, Birmingham, Bolton, Bradford, Bury, Calderdale, Coventry, Doncaster, Dudley, Gateshead, Kirklees, Knowlsey, Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester, Newcastle upon Tyne, North Tyneside, Oldham, Rochdale, Rotherham, Salford, Sandwell, Sefton, Sheffield, Solihull, South Tyneside, St. Helens, Stockport, Sunderland, Tameside, Trafford, Wakefield, Walsall, Wigan, Wirral, Wolverhampton unitary authorities: Bath and North East Somerset; Bedford; Blackburn with Darwen; Blackpool; Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole; Bracknell Forest; Brighton and Hove; City of Bristol; Buckinghamshire; Central Bedfordshire; Cheshire East; Cheshire West and Chester; Cornwall; Darlington; Derby; Dorset; Durham County*; East Riding of Yorkshire; Halton; Hartlepool; Herefordshire*; Isle of Wight*; Isles of Scilly; City of Kingston upon Hull; Leicester; Luton; Medway; Middlesbrough; Milton Keynes; North East Lincolnshire; North Lincolnshire; North Northamptonshire; North Somerset; Northumberland*; Nottingham; Peterborough; Plymouth; Portsmouth; Reading; Redcar and Cleveland; Rutland; Shropshire; Slough; South Gloucestershire; Southampton; Southend-on-Sea; Stockton-on-Tees; Stoke-on-Trent; Swindon; Telford and Wrekin; Thurrock; Torbay; Warrington; West Berkshire; West Northamptonshire; Wiltshire; Windsor and Maidenhead; Wokingham; York Northern Ireland: 5 borough councils, 4 district councils, 2 city councils borough councils: Antrim and Newtownabbey; Ards and North Down; Armagh City, Banbridge, and Craigavon; Causeway Coast and Glens; Mid and East Antrim district councils: Derry City and Strabane; Fermanagh and Omagh; Mid Ulster; Newry, Murne, and Down city councils: Belfast; Lisburn and Castlereagh Scotland: 32 council areas council areas: Aberdeen City, Aberdeenshire, Angus, Argyll and Bute, Clackmannanshire, Dumfries and Galloway, Dundee City, East Ayrshire, East Dunbartonshire, East Lothian, East Renfrewshire, City of Edinburgh, Eilean Siar (Western Isles), Falkirk, Fife, Glasgow City, Highland, Inverclyde, Midlothian, Moray, North Ayrshire, North Lanarkshire, Orkney Islands, Perth and Kinross, Renfrewshire, Shetland Islands, South Ayrshire, South Lanarkshire, Stirling, The Scottish Borders, West Dunbartonshire, West Lothian Wales: 22 unitary authorities unitary authorities: Blaenau Gwent, Bridgend, Caerphilly, Cardiff, Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion, Conwy, Denbighshire, Flintshire, Gwynedd, Isle of Anglesey, Merthyr Tydfil, Monmouthshire, Neath Port Talbot, Newport, Pembrokeshire, Powys, Rhondda Cynon Taff, Swansea, The Vale of Glamorgan, Torfaen, Wrexham
Dependent areas: Anguilla; Bermuda; British Indian Ocean Territory; British Virgin Islands; Cayman Islands; Falkland Islands; Gibraltar; Montserrat; Pitcairn Islands; Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunha; South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands; Turks and Caicos Islands (12)
Legal system: common law system; has nonbinding judicial review of Acts of Parliament under the Human Rights Act of 1998
Constitution / history: uncoded; partly statutes, partly common law and practice
Constitution / amendment process: proposed as a bill for an Act of Parliament by the government, by the House of Commons, or by the House of Lords; passage requires agreement by both houses and by the monarch (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 of the United Kingdom
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)
Executive branch / head of government: Prime Minister Keir STARMER (since 5 July 2024)
Executive branch / cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the prime minister
Executive branch / election/appointment process: the monarchy is hereditary; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or majority coalition usually becomes the prime minister
Legislative branch / legislature name: UK Parliament
Legislative branch / legislative structure: bicameral
Legislative branch - lower chamber / chamber name: House of Commons
Legislative branch - lower chamber / number of seats: 650 (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: 7/4/2024
Legislative branch - lower chamber / parties elected and seats per party: Labour Party (411); Conservative Party (121); Liberal Democrats (72); Other (46)
Legislative branch - lower chamber / percentage of women in chamber: 40.5%
Legislative branch - lower chamber / expected date of next election: July 2029
Legislative branch - upper chamber / chamber name: House of Lords
Legislative branch - upper chamber / number of seats: 800 (all appointed)
Legislative branch - upper chamber / parties elected and seats per party: Conservative Party (286); Labour Party (212); Liberal Democrats (76); Crossover (Independents) 180; other (6)
Legislative branch - upper chamber / percentage of women in chamber: 31%
Judicial branch / highest court(s): Supreme Court (consists of 12 justices, including the court president and deputy president)
Judicial branch / judge selection and term of office: judge candidates selected by an independent committee of several judicial commissions, then recommended to the prime minister, and appointed by the monarch; justices serve for life
Judicial branch / subordinate courts: England and Wales: Court of Appeal (civil and criminal divisions); High Court; Crown Court; County Courts; Magistrates' Courts; Scotland: Court of Sessions; Sheriff Courts; High Court of Justiciary; tribunals; Northern Ireland: Court of Appeal in Northern Ireland; High Court; county courts; magistrates' courts; specialized tribunals
Political parties: Alliance Party or APNI (Northern Ireland) Conservative and Unionist Party Democratic Unionist Party or DUP (Northern Ireland) Green Party of England and Wales or Greens Labor (Labour) Party Liberal Democrats (Lib Dems) Party of Wales (Plaid Cymru) Reform UK Scottish National Party or SNP Sinn Fein (Northern Ireland) Social Democratic and Labor Party or SDLP (Northern Ireland) Traditional Unionist Voice or TUV UK Independence Party or UKIP Ulster Unionist Party or UUP (Northern Ireland) Workers Party of Great Britian
Diplomatic representation in the US / chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charg&eacute; d'Affaires James ROSCOE (since 11 September 2025)
Diplomatic representation in the US / chancery: 3100 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation in the US / telephone: [1] (202) 588-6500
Diplomatic representation in the US / FAX: [1] (202) 588-7870
Diplomatic representation in the US / email address and website: ukin.washington@fcdo.gov.uk https://www.gov.uk/world/organisations/british-embassy-washington
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 Warren A. STEPHENS (since 21 May 2025)
Diplomatic representation from the US / embassy: 33 Nine Elms Lane, London, SW11 7US
Diplomatic representation from the US / mailing address: 8400 London Place, Washington DC 20521-8400
Diplomatic representation from the US / telephone: [44] (0) 20-7499-9000
Diplomatic representation from the US / FAX: [44] (0) 20-7891-3845
Diplomatic representation from the US / email address and website: SCSLondon@state.gov https://uk.usembassy.gov/
Diplomatic representation from the US / consulate(s) general: Belfast, Edinburgh
International organization participation: ADB (nonregional member), AfDB (nonregional member), Arctic Council (observer), Australia Group, BIS, C, CBSS (observer), CD, CDB, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECB, EIB, EITI (implementing country), 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, MONUSCO, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, Pacific Alliance (observer), Paris Club, PCA, PIF (partner), SELEC (observer), SICA (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNMISS, UNOOSA, UNRWA, UN Security Council (permanent), UNSOM, UPU, Wassenaar Arrangement, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
Independence: no official date of independence: 927 (minor English kingdoms unite); 3 March 1284 (enactment of the Statute of Rhuddlan uniting England and Wales); 1536 (Act of Union incorporates England and Wales); 1 May 1707 (Acts of Union unite England, Scotland, and Wales as Great Britain); 1 January 1801 (Acts of Union unite Great Britain and Ireland as the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland); 6 December 1921 (Anglo-Irish Treaty formalizes partition of Ireland; six counties become Northern Ireland and remain part of the UK); 12 April 1927 (Royal and Parliamentary Titles Act establishes current name of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland)
National holiday: the UK does not celebrate one particular national holiday
Flag: description: blue field with the red cross of Saint George (patron saint of England) edged in white on top of the diagonal red cross of Saint Patrick (patron saint of Ireland), which is on top of the diagonal white cross of Saint Andrew (patron saint of Scotland) history: the official name is the Union Flag, but commonly called the Union Jack; the design and colors have been the basis for a number of other flags
National symbol(s): lion (all of Britain); lion, Tudor rose, oak (England); lion, unicorn, thistle (Scotland); dragon, daffodil, leek (Wales); shamrock, flax (Northern Ireland)
National color(s): red, white, blue (all of Britain); red, white (England); blue, white (Scotland); red, white, green (Wales)
National anthem(s) / title: "God Save the King"
National anthem(s) / lyrics/music: unknown
National anthem(s) / history: in use since 1745; by tradition, the song serves as both the national and royal anthem; it is known as either "God Save the Queen" or "God Save the King," depending on the gender of the reigning monarch; it also serves as the royal anthem for many Commonwealth nations
National heritage / total World Heritage Sites: 33 (28 cultural, 4 natural, 1 mixed); note - includes one site in Bermuda
National heritage / selected World Heritage Site locales: Giant's Causeway and Causeway Coast (n); Ironbridge Gorge (c); Stonehenge, Avebury, and Associated Sites (c); Castles and Town Walls of King Edward in Gwynedd (c); Blenheim Palace (c); City of Bath (c); Tower of London (c); St Kilda (m); Maritime Greenwich (c); Old and New Towns of Edinburgh (c); Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (c); The English Lake District (c)

## Economy
Economic overview: high-income, non-EU European economy; global financial center and dominant service sector; sluggish growth from stringent monetary policy, reduced business investment, low productivity and participation rates; fiscal austerity in face of high public debt
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $3.636 trillion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $3.596 trillion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $3.582 trillion (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2024: 1.1% (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2023: 0.4% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2022: 4.8% (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2024: $52,500 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2023: $52,500 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2022: $53,000 (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $3.644 trillion (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024: 3.3% (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023: 6.8% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 7.9% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / agriculture: 0.6% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / industry: 16.7% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / services: 72.8% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / household consumption: 61.3% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / government consumption: 20.5% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in fixed capital: 17.6% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in inventories: -0.4% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / exports of goods and services: 32% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / imports of goods and services: -33.1% (2023 est.)
Agricultural products: milk, wheat, sugar beets, barley, potatoes, chicken, rapeseed, pork, beef, oats (2023)
Industries: machine tools, electric power equipment, automation equipment, railroad equipment, shipbuilding, aircraft, motor vehicles and parts, electronics and communications equipment, metals, chemicals, coal, petroleum, paper and paper products, food processing, textiles, clothing, other consumer goods
Industrial production growth rate: -0.5% (2024 est.)
Labor force: 35.359 million (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2024: 4.2% (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2023: 4% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2022: 3.8% (2022 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / total: 12.4% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / male: 14.9% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / female: 9.7% (2024 est.)
Population below poverty line: 18.6% (2017 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income / Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2021: 32.4 (2021 est.)
Average household expenditures / on food: 8.7% 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% (2021 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / highest 10%: 24.6% (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: $1.211 trillion (2023 est.)
Budget / expenditures: $1.442 trillion (2023 est.)
Public debt / Public debt 2023: 138.6% of GDP (2023 est.)
Taxes and other revenues: 27.4% (of GDP) (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2024: -$96.634 billion (2024 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2023: -$118.354 billion (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2022: -$70.962 billion (2022 est.)
Exports / Exports 2024: $1.117 trillion (2024 est.)
Exports / Exports 2023: $1.078 trillion (2023 est.)
Exports / Exports 2022: $1.041 trillion (2022 est.)
Exports - partners: USA 14%, China 8%, Germany 8%, Netherlands 7%, Ireland 7% (2023)
Exports - commodities: cars, gold, gas turbines, packaged medicine, crude petroleum (2023)
Imports / Imports 2024: $1.158 trillion (2024 est.)
Imports / Imports 2023: $1.114 trillion (2023 est.)
Imports / Imports 2022: $1.1 trillion (2022 est.)
Imports - partners: China 13%, USA 11%, Germany 10%, France 5%, Norway 4% (2023)
Imports - commodities: cars, gold, crude petroleum, refined petroleum, natural gas (2023)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024: $174.598 billion (2024 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023: $177.915 billion (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $176.41 billion (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Currency: British pounds (GBP) 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 access / electrification - urban areas: 99.9%
Electricity access / electrification - rural areas: 100%
Electricity / installed generating capacity: 114.749 million kW (2023 est.)
Electricity / consumption: 262.166 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / exports: 9.449 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / imports: 33.212 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / transmission/distribution losses: 28.961 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / fossil fuels: 36.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / nuclear: 13.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / solar: 4.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / wind: 30.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / hydroelectricity: 1.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / biomass and waste: 12.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Nuclear energy / Number of operational nuclear reactors: 9 (2025)
Nuclear energy / Number of nuclear reactors under construction: 2 (2025)
Nuclear energy / Net capacity of operational nuclear reactors: 5.88GW (2025 est.)
Nuclear energy / Percent of total electricity production: 12.5% (2023 est.)
Nuclear energy / Number of nuclear reactors permanently shut down: 36 (2025)
Coal / production: 1.568 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / consumption: 7.372 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / exports: 981,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / imports: 6.633 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / proven reserves: 26 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum / total petroleum production: 753,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Petroleum / refined petroleum consumption: 1.406 million bbl/day (2024 est.)
Petroleum / crude oil estimated reserves: 2.5 billion barrels (2021 est.)
Natural gas / production: 34.029 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / consumption: 63.553 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / exports: 15.842 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / imports: 45.226 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / proven reserves: 180.661 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)
Energy consumption per capita / Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 94.28 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

## Communications
Telephones - fixed lines / total subscriptions: 26.627 million (2023 est.)
Telephones - fixed lines / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 39 (2023 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / total subscriptions: 84.1 million (2024 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 122 (2024 est.)
Broadcast media: public-service British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) is the largest broadcasting company in the world; BBC operates multiple TV networks with regional and local TV; mixed system of public and commercial TV broadcasters along with satellite and cable systems provide access to hundreds of international TV stations; BBC operates multiple national, regional, and local radio networks with multiple transmission sites; large number of commercial and satellite radio stations available (2018)
Internet country code: .uk
Internet users / percent of population: 96% (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / total: 28.2 million (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 41 (2023 est.)

## Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: G
Airports: 1,057 (2025)
Heliports: 139 (2025)
Railways / total: 16,390 km (2020) 6,167 km electrified
Merchant marine / total: 868 (2023)
Merchant marine / by type: bulk carrier 34, container ship 46, general cargo 62, oil tanker 13, other 713
Ports / total ports: 185 (2024)
Ports / large: 7
Ports / medium: 24
Ports / small: 67
Ports / very small: 86
Ports / size unknown: 1
Ports / ports with oil terminals: 67
Ports / key ports: Aberdeen, Barrow-in-Furness, Barry, Belfast, Blyth, Bristol, Cardiff, Dundee, Falmouth Harbour, Glasgow, Greenock, Grimsby, Immingham, Kingston-upon-Hull, Leith, Lerwick, Liverpool, London, Londonderry, Lyness, Manchester, Milford Haven, Newport, Peterhead, Plymouth, Portland Harbour, Portsmouth Harbour, Southampton, Sunderland, Teesport, Tynemouth
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: United Kingdom Armed Forces (aka British Armed Forces, aka His Majesty's Armed Forces): British Army, Royal Navy (includes Royal Marines), Royal Air Force (2025)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2025: 2.4% of GDP (2025 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2024: 2.3% of GDP (2024 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2023: 2.3% 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 and security service personnel strengths: approximately 138,000 Regular Forces (75,000 Army including the Gurkhas; 32,000 Navy including the Royal Marines; 31,000 Air Force) (2025)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the British military's inventory is comprised of domestically produced armaments and imported Western weapons systems, particularly from the US; the UK defense industry is capable of producing air, land, and sea weapons systems and is one of the world's top weapons suppliers; it also cooperates with other European countries, as well as Australia and the US, in the research and development of weapons systems (2025)
Military service age and obligation: 16 years of age for enlisted ranks (with parental consent for under 18) and 18 years of age for officers; maximum age varies by military service; conscription abolished in 1963 (2026)
Military deployments: the British military has more than 8,000 personnel on permanent or long-term rotational deployments around the globe in support of NATO, UN, or other commitments and agreements; key deployments include approximately 1,000 in Brunei, approximately 2,500 in Cyprus (includes 250 for UNFICYP), approximately 900-1,000 in Estonia (NATO), over 1,000 in the Falkland Islands, 500-600 in Gibraltar, and more than 1,000 in the Middle East; its air and naval forces conduct missions on a global basis; the British military also participates in large scale NATO exercises, including providing some 16,000 personnel for the 6-month 2024 Steadfast Defender exercise (2024)
Military - note: the British military has a long history, a global presence, and a wide range of missions and responsibilities, including protecting the UK, its dependencies and territories, national interests, and values, preventing conflict, providing humanitarian assistance, participating in international peacekeeping, building relationships, and fulfilling the UK’s alliance and treaty commitments; in addition to its role in the UN, the UK is a leading member of NATO the UK is a member of the Five Power Defense Arrangements (FPDA), a series of mutual assistance agreements reached in 1971 embracing Australia, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore, and the UK; in 2014, the UK led the formation of the Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF), a pool of high-readiness military forces from the Baltic and Scandinavian countries intended to respond to a wide range of contingencies both in peacetime and in times of crisis or conflict; the UK military also has strong bilateral ties with a variety of foreign militaries, particularly the US, with which it has a mutual defense treaty; British and US military forces have routinely operated side-by-side across a wide range of operations; other close military relationships include Australia, France, Germany, and the Netherlands; in 2010, for example, 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 range of crisis scenarios (2025)

## Space
Space agency/agencies: UK Space Agency (UKSA; established in 2010) (2025)
Space launch site(s): Spaceport 1 (Outer Hebrides, Scotland); Spaceport Machrihanish (Argyll, Scotland); Glasgow Prestwick (South Ayrshire, Scotland); Spaceport Snowdonia (Gwynedd, Wales); SaxaVord UK Spaceport (Unst, Shetland Islands); Sutherland Spaceport (Sutherland, Scotland); Sutherland, Scotland (Cornwall Airport Newquay, Cornwall) (2024)
Space program overview: has a long-standing, comprehensive national space program; is active across all areas of the space sector except human space flight, including satellite launch vehicles (SLVs)/rockets, probes, satellites, and spaceports; is a founding member of the ESA and is deeply involved in ESA programs; has bilateral relations with many ESA members and is a close partner of the US NASA; since 2016 has forged over 350 relationships with international organizations across nearly 50 countries; participates in international programs such as the International Space Station and the James Webb Space Telescope; has a large commercial space sector; the UK has a space industrial plan, and the UK Space Agency has provided funding for commercial space projects (2025)
Key space-program milestones: 1957 - first suborbital sounding rocket (Skylark) launched 1960s - first satellite (Ariel) launched by US; development of Black Arrow satellite launch vehicle (SLV); launched first of Skynet family of communications satellites 1971 - first successful placement of satellite (Prospero) in orbit on a 3-stage Black Arrow SLV (Black Arrow SLV program ended in early 1970s) 1973 - began participating in development of Ariane SLV along with other European states, particularly France and Germany 1991 - first British astronaut into space to Russian Mir space station 2015 - first British astronaut on International Space Station 2019-2020 - began participating in US Gateway lunar orbital station program and signed US-led Artemis Accords for space and lunar exploration 2024 - first military remote sensing satellite (Tyche) launched by US

## Terrorism
Terrorist group(s): Continuity Irish Republican Army (CIRA); Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS); al-Qa'ida; Real Irish Republican Army (RIRA)

## Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons / refugees: 640,460 (2024 est.)
Refugees and internally displaced persons / stateless persons: 4,672 (2024 est.)
Illicit drugs / USG identification: major precursor-chemical producer (2025)

=== Ukraine ===

## Introduction
Background: Ukraine was the center of the first eastern Slavic state, Kyivan Rus, which was the largest and most powerful state in Europe during the 10th and 11th centuries. Weakened by internecine quarrels and Mongol invasions, Kyivan Rus was incorporated into the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and eventually into the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. The cultural and religious legacy of Kyivan Rus laid the foundation for Ukrainian nationalism. A new Ukrainian state, the Cossack Hetmanate, was established during the mid-17th century after an uprising against the Poles. Despite continuous Muscovite pressure, the Hetmanate managed to remain autonomous for well over 100 years. During the latter part of the 18th century, the Russian Empire absorbed most Ukrainian territory. After czarist Russia collapsed in 1917, Ukraine -- which has long been known as the region's "bread basket" for its agricultural production -- achieved a short-lived period of independence (1917-20), but the country was reconquered and endured a Soviet rule that engineered two famines (1921-22 and 1932-33) in which over eight million died. In World War II, German and Soviet armies were responsible for seven to eight million more deaths. In 1986, a sudden power surge during a reactor-systems test at Ukraine's Chernobyl power station triggered the worst nuclear disaster in history, releasing massive amounts of radioactive material. Although Ukraine overwhelmingly voted for independence in 1991 as the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) dissolved, democracy and prosperity remained elusive, with the legacy of state control, patronage politics, and endemic corruption stalling efforts at economic reform, privatization, and civil liberties. In 2004 and 2005, a mass protest dubbed the "Orange Revolution" forced the authorities to overturn a presidential election and allow a new internationally monitored vote that swept into power a reformist slate under Viktor YUSHCHENKO. Rival Viktor YANUKOVYCH became prime minister in 2006 and was elected president in 2010. In 2012, Ukraine held legislative elections that Western observers widely criticized as corrupt. In 2013, YANUKOVYCH backtracked on a trade and cooperation agreement with the EU -- in favor of closer economic ties with Russia -- and then used force against protestors who supported the agreement, leading to a three-month protestor occupation of Kyiv's central square. The government's use of violence to break up the protest camp in 2014 led to multiple deaths, international condemnation, a failed political deal, and the president's abrupt departure for Russia. Pro-West President Petro POROSHENKO took office later that year; Volodymyr ZELENSKYY succeeded him in 2019. Shortly after YANUKOVYCH's departure in 2014, Russian President Vladimir PUTIN ordered the invasion of Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula. In response, the UN passed a resolution confirming Ukraine's sovereignty and independence. In mid-2014, Russia began an armed conflict in two of Ukraine's eastern provinces. International efforts to end the conflict failed, and by 2022, more than 14,000 civilians were killed or wounded. On 24 February 2022, Russia escalated the conflict 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. Russia made substantial gains in the early weeks of the invasion but underestimated Ukrainian resolve and combat capabilities. Despite Ukrainian resistance, Russia has laid claim to four Ukrainian oblasts -- Donetsk, Kherson, Luhansk, and Zaporizhzhia -- although none is fully under Russian control. The international community has not recognized the annexations. The invasion has also created Europe's largest refugee crisis since World War II, with over six million Ukrainian refugees recorded globally. It remains one of the two largest displacement crises worldwide (the other is the conflict in Syria). President ZELENSKYY has focused on boosting Ukrainian identity to unite the country behind the goals of ending the war through reclaiming territory and advancing Ukraine’s candidacy for EU membership.

## Geography
Location: Eastern Europe, bordering the Black Sea, between Poland, Belarus, Romania, and Moldova in the west and Russia in the east
Geographic coordinates: 49 00 N, 32 00 E
Map references: AsiaEurope
Area / total: 603,550 sq km
Area / land: 579,330 sq km
Area / water: 24,220 sq km
Area - comparative: almost four times the size of Georgia; slightly smaller than Texas
Land boundaries / total: 5,581 km
Land boundaries / border countries: Belarus 1,111 km; Hungary 128 km; Moldova 1,202 km; Poland 498 km; Romania 601 km; Russia 1,944 km, Slovakia 97 km
Coastline: 2,782 km
Maritime claims / territorial sea: 12 nm
Maritime claims / exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Maritime claims / continental shelf: 200 m or to the depth of exploitation
Climate: temperate continental; Mediterranean only on the southern Crimean coast; precipitation disproportionately distributed, highest in west and north, lesser in east and southeast; winters vary from cool along the Black Sea to cold farther inland; warm summers across the greater part of the country, hot in the south
Terrain: mostly fertile plains (steppes) and plateaus, with mountains found only in the west (the Carpathians) or in the extreme south of the Crimean Peninsula
Elevation / highest point: Hora Hoverla 2,061 m
Elevation / lowest point: Black Sea 0 m
Elevation / mean elevation: 175 m
Natural resources: iron ore, coal, manganese, natural gas, oil, salt, sulfur, graphite, titanium, magnesium, kaolin, nickel, mercury, timber, arable land
Land use / agricultural land: 71.3% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 56.8% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 1.5% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 13% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 17.3% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 10.4% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land: 1,000 sq km (2022)
Major rivers (by length in km): Dunay (Danube) (shared with Germany [s], Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Bulgaria, Moldova, and Romania [m]) - 2,888 km; Dnipro (Dnieper) river mouth (shared with Russia [s] and Belarus) - 2,287 km; Dnister (Dniester) river source and mouth (shared with Moldova) - 1,411 km; Vistula (shared with Poland [s/m] and Belarus) - 1,213 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), Don (458,694 sq km), Dnieper (533,966 sq km)
Population distribution: densest settlement in the eastern (Donbas) and western regions; notable concentrations in and around major urban areas of Kyiv, Kharkiv, Donets'k, Dnipropetrovs'k, and Odesa
Natural hazards: occasional floods; occasional droughts
Geography - note: strategic position at the crossroads between Europe and Asia; second-largest country in Europe after Russia

## People and Society
Population / total: 35,661,826 (2024 est.)
Population / male: 17,510,149
Population / female: 18,151,677
Nationality / noun: Ukrainian(s)
Nationality / adjective: Ukrainian
Ethnic groups: Ukrainian 77.8%, Russian 17.3%, Belarusian 0.6%, Moldovan 0.5%, Crimean Tatar 0.5%, Bulgarian 0.4%, Hungarian 0.3%, Romanian 0.3%, Polish 0.3%, Jewish 0.2%, other 1.8% (2001 est.)
Languages / Languages: Ukrainian (official) 67.5%, Russian (regional language) 29.6%, other (includes Crimean Tatar, Moldovan/Romanian, and Hungarian) 2.9% (2001 est.)
Languages / major-language sample(s): Свiтова Книга Фактiв – найкраще джерело базової інформації. (Ukrainian) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
Religions: Orthodox (includes the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU), Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church (UAOC), and the Ukrainian Orthodox - Moscow Patriarchate (UOC-MP)), Ukrainian Greek Catholic, Roman Catholic, Protestant, Muslim, Jewish (2013 est.)
Age structure / 0-14 years: 12.3% (male 2,278,116/female 2,122,500)
Age structure / 15-64 years: 67.8% (male 12,784,928/female 11,376,460)
Age structure / 65 years and over: 19.9% (2024 est.) (male 2,447,105/female 4,652,717)
Dependency ratios / total dependency ratio: 47.6 (2024 est.)
Dependency ratios / youth dependency ratio: 18.2 (2024 est.)
Dependency ratios / elderly dependency ratio: 29.4 (2024 est.)
Dependency ratios / potential support ratio: 3.4 (2024 est.)
Median age / total: 44.6 years (2025 est.)
Median age / male: 41.4 years
Median age / female: 49.2 years
Population growth rate: 2.42% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 6.24 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 17.61 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: 35.59 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution: densest settlement in the eastern (Donbas) and western regions; notable concentrations in and around major urban areas of Kyiv, Kharkiv, Donets'k, Dnipropetrovs'k, and Odesa
Urbanization / urban population: 70.1% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: -0.27% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 3.017 million KYIV (capital), 1.421 million Kharkiv, 1.008 million Odesa, 942,000 Dnipropetrovsk, 888,000 Donetsk (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: 1.12 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 65 years and over: 0.53 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth: 26.2 years (2019 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio: 15 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Infant mortality rate / total: 8.4 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Infant mortality rate / male: 9.7 deaths/1,000 live births
Infant mortality rate / female: 7.6 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth / total population: 70.5 years (2024 est.)
Life expectancy at birth / male: 65.4 years
Life expectancy at birth / female: 75.8 years
Total fertility rate: 1.22 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 0.59 (2025 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: urban: urban: 90.8% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: rural: rural: 100% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: total: total: 93.6% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: urban: urban: 9.2% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: rural: rural: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: total: total: 6.4% of population (2022 est.)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 8% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 10.6% of national budget (2021 est.)
Physician density: 3.53 physicians/1,000 population (2023)
Hospital bed density: 6.3 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: 24.1% (2016)
Alcohol consumption per capita / total: 5.69 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / beer: 2.44 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / wine: 0.32 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / spirits: 2.88 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / other alcohols: 0.05 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Tobacco use / total: 20.4% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / male: 35.5% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / female: 8% (2025 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% GDP): 5.1% of GDP (2021 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% national budget): 12.7% national budget (2021 est.)
Literacy / total population: 100%
Literacy / male: 100%
Literacy / female: 100% (2021)
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: 14 years (2021 est.)

## Environment
Environmental issues: air and water pollution; land degradation; solid waste management; biodiversity loss; deforestation; radiation contamination in the northeast from 1986 nuclear accident in Chornobyl'
International environmental agreements / party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Antarctic-Environmental Protection, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
International environmental agreements / signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds
Climate: temperate continental; Mediterranean only on the southern Crimean coast; precipitation disproportionately distributed, highest in west and north, lesser in east and southeast; winters vary from cool along the Black Sea to cold farther inland; warm summers across the greater part of the country, hot in the south
Land use / agricultural land: 71.3% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 56.8% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 1.5% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 13% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 17.3% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 10.4% (2023 est.)
Urbanization / urban population: 70.1% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: -0.27% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / total emissions: 106.847 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from coal and metallurgical coke: 45.512 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from petroleum and other liquids: 24.488 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from consumed natural gas: 36.847 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Particulate matter emissions: 15.2 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Methane emissions / energy: 1,003.4 kt (2022-2024 est.)
Methane emissions / agriculture: 341.6 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Methane emissions / waste: 409.2 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Methane emissions / other: 70.9 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Waste and recycling / municipal solid waste generated annually: 15.242 million tons (2024 est.)
Waste and recycling / percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 4.5% (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / municipal: 1.66 billion cubic meters (2022)
Total water withdrawal / industrial: 2.188 billion cubic meters (2022)
Total water withdrawal / agricultural: 1.031 billion cubic meters (2022)
Total renewable water resources: 175.28 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: none
Country name / conventional short form: Ukraine
Country name / local long form: none
Country name / local short form: Ukraina
Country name / former: Ukrainian National Republic, Ukrainian State, Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic
Country name / etymology: the name derives from the Old East Slavic or Old Russian word ukraina , meaning "borderland," which was used to describe the area on medieval Russia's border at the time of the Tatar invasion in the 13th century
Government type: semi-presidential republic
Capital / name: Kyiv (Kiev is the transliteration from Russian)
Capital / geographic coordinates: 50 26 N, 30 31 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 unclear; traditionally, the name comes from a Prince Kiy, who is said to have founded the city in the 9th century
Administrative divisions: 24 provinces ( oblasti , singular - oblast' ), 1 autonomous republic* ( avtonomna respublika ), and 2 municipalities** ( mista , singular - misto ) with oblast status; Cherkasy, Chernihiv, Chernivtsi, Crimea or Avtonomna Respublika Krym* (Simferopol), Dnipropetrovsk (Dnipro), Donetsk, Ivano-Frankivsk, Kharkiv, Kherson, Khmelnytskyi, Kirovohrad (Kropyvnytskyi), Kyiv**, Kyiv, Luhansk, Lviv, Mykolaiv, Odesa, Poltava, Rivne, Sevastopol**, Sumy, Ternopil, Vinnytsia, Volyn (Lutsk), Zakarpattia (Uzhhorod), Zaporizhzhia, Zhytomyr
Legal system: civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts
Constitution / history: several previous; latest adopted and ratified 28 June 1996
Constitution / amendment process: proposed by the president of Ukraine or by at least one third of the Supreme Council members; adoption requires simple majority vote by the Council and at least two-thirds majority vote in its next regular session; adoption of proposals relating to general constitutional principles, elections, and amendment procedures requires two-thirds majority vote by the Council and approval in a referendum; constitutional articles on personal rights and freedoms, national independence, and territorial integrity 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 Ukraine
Citizenship / dual citizenship recognized: no
Citizenship / residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch / chief of state: President Volodymyr ZELENSKYY (since 20 May 2019)
Executive branch / head of government: Prime Minister Yulia SVYRYDENKO (since 17 July 2025)
Executive branch / cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers nominated by the prime minister, approved by the Verkhovna Rada
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 selected by the Verkhovna Rada
Executive branch / most recent election date: 31 March and 21 April 2019
Executive branch / election results: 2019: Volodymyr ZELENSKYY elected president in second round; percent of vote in first round - Volodymyr ZELENSKYY (Servant of the People) 30.2%, Petro POROSHENKO (BPP-Solidarity) 15.6%, Yuliya TYMOSHENKO (Fatherland) 13.4%, Yuriy BOYKO (Opposition Platform-For Life) 11.7%, 35 other candidates 29.1%; percent of vote in the second round - Volodymyr ZELENSKYY 73.2%, Petro POROSHENKO 24.5%, other 2.3%; Denys SHMYHAL (independent) elected prime minister; Verkhovna Rada vote - 291-59 2014: Petro POROSHENKO elected president in first round; percent of vote - Petro POROSHENKO (independent) 54.5%, Yuliya TYMOSHENKO (Fatherland) 12.9%, Oleh LYASHKO (Radical Party) 8.4%, other 24.2%; Volodymyr HROYSMAN (BPP) elected prime minister; Verkhovna Rada vote - 257-50
Executive branch / expected date of next election: scheduled for March/April 2024, but not held because Ukraine has been under martial law since February 2022
Legislative branch / legislature name: Parliament (Verkhovna Rada)
Legislative branch / legislative structure: unicameral
Legislative branch / number of seats: 450 (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: 7/21/2019
Legislative branch / parties elected and seats per party: Servant of the People (254); Opposition Platform - For Life (43); Fatherland (26); European Solidarity (25); Independents (46); Other (30)
Legislative branch / percentage of women in chamber: 21.2%
Legislative branch / expected date of next election: May 2025
Judicial branch / highest court(s): Supreme Court of Ukraine or SCU (consists of 100 judges, organized into civil, criminal, commercial and administrative chambers, and a grand chamber); Constitutional Court (consists of 18 justices); High Anti-Corruption Court (consists of 39 judges, including 12 in the Appeals Chamber)
Judicial branch / judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court judges recommended by the High Qualification Commission of Judges (a 16-member state body responsible for judicial candidate testing and assessment and judicial administration), submitted to the High Council of Justice, a 21-member independent body of judicial officials; judges serve until mandatory retirement at age 65; High Anti-Corruption Court judges are selected by the same process, with one addition &ndash; a majority of a combined High Qualification Commission of Judges and a 6-member Public Council of International Experts must vote in favor of potential judges in order to recommend their nomination to the High Council of Justice; Constitutional Court justices appointed - 6 each by the president, the Congress of Judges, and the Verkhovna Rada; judges serve 9-year nonrenewable terms
Judicial branch / subordinate courts: Courts of Appeal; district courts
Political parties: European Solidarity or YeS Fatherland or VOB Holos Servant of the People or SN
Diplomatic representation in the US / chief of mission: Ambassador Olha STEFANISHYNA (since 19 September 2025)
Diplomatic representation in the US / chancery: 3350 M Street NW, Washington, DC 20007
Diplomatic representation in the US / telephone: [1] (202) 349-2963
Diplomatic representation in the US / FAX: [1] (202) 333-0817
Diplomatic representation in the US / email address and website: emb_us@mfa.gov.ua https://usa.mfa.gov.ua/en
Diplomatic representation in the US / consulate(s) general: Chicago, New York, San Francisco
Diplomatic representation from the US / chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charg&eacute; d&rsquo;Affaires Ambassador Julie S. DAVIS (since 5 May 2025)
Diplomatic representation from the US / embassy: 4 A. I. Igor Sikorsky Street, 04112 Kyiv
Diplomatic representation from the US / mailing address: 5850 Kyiv Place, Washington, DC 20521-5850
Diplomatic representation from the US / telephone: [380] (44) 521-5000
Diplomatic representation from the US / FAX: [380] (44) 521-5544
Diplomatic representation from the US / email address and website: kyivacs@state.gov https://ua.usembassy.gov/
International organization participation: Australia Group, BSEC, CBSS (observer), CD, CE, CEI, CICA (observer), CIS (participating member, has not signed the 1993 CIS charter), EAEC (observer), EAPC, EBRD, FAO, GCTU, GUAM, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAIA (observer), MIGA, MONUSCO, NAM (observer), NSG, OAS (observer), OIF (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, SELEC (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNIDO, UNISFA, UNMIL, UNMISS, UNOCI, UNOOSA, UNWTO, UPU, Wassenaar Arrangement, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
Independence: 24 August 1991 (from the Soviet Union); notable earlier dates: ca. 982 (VOLODYMYR I consolidates Kyivan Rus); 1199 (Principality (later Kingdom) of Ruthenia formed); 1648 (establishment of the Cossack Hetmanate); 22 January 1918 (from Soviet Russia)
National holiday: Independence Day, 24 August (1991)
Flag: description: two equal horizontal bands of blue (top) and yellow meaning: the colors date back to medieval heraldry, but they are sometimes said to represent grain fields under a blue sky
National symbol(s): tryzub (trident), sunflower
National color(s): blue, yellow
National anthem(s) / title: "Shche ne vmerla Ukraina" (Ukraine Has Not Yet Perished)
National anthem(s) / lyrics/music: Paul CHUBYNSKYI/Mikhail VERBYTSKYI
National anthem(s) / history: music adopted 1991, lyrics adopted 2003; current version of the anthem is the first verse of CHUBYNSKYI's poem, plus the chorus
National heritage / total World Heritage Sites: 8 (7 cultural, 1 natural)
National heritage / selected World Heritage Site locales: Kyiv: Saint Sophia Cathedral and Related Monastic Buildings, Kyiv Pechersk Lavra (c); Lviv Historic Center (c); Residence of Bukovinian and Dalmatian Metropolitans, Chernivtsi (c); Ancient City of Tauric Chersonese, Sevastopol (c); Wooden Tserkvas of the Carpathian Region (c); Ancient and Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians (n); Struve Geodetic Arc (c); The Historic Centre of Odesa (c)

## Economy
Economic overview: lower-middle-income, non-EU, Eastern European economy; key wheat and corn exporter; gradual recovery after 30% GDP contraction at start of war; damage to infrastructure and agriculture balanced by consumer and business resilience in western Ukraine; international aid has stabilized foreign exchange reserves, allowing managed currency float; continued progress on anti-corruption reforms
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $577.583 billion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $561.23 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $531.796 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: 5.5% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2022: -28.8% (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2024: $16,300 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2023: $15,900 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2022: $13,800 (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $190.741 billion (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024: 6.5% (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023: 12.8% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 20.2% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / agriculture: 7.1% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / industry: 19% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / services: 60.6% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / household consumption: 62.4% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / government consumption: 37.9% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in fixed capital: 18.9% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in inventories: -0.3% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / exports of goods and services: 29.4% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / imports of goods and services: -48.3% (2024 est.)
Agricultural products: maize, wheat, potatoes, sugar beets, sunflower seeds, milk, barley, soybeans, rapeseed, tomatoes (2023)
Industries: industrial machinery, ferrous and nonferrous metals, automotive and aircraft components, electronics, chemicals, textiles, mining, construction
Industrial production growth rate: 4.1% (2024 est.)
Labor force: 20.539 million (2021 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2021: 9.9% (2021 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2020: 9.5% (2020 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2019: 8.2% (2019 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / total: 19.1% (2021 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / male: 18.1% (2021 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / female: 20.4% (2021 est.)
Population below poverty line: 1.6% (2020 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income / Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2020: 25.6 (2020 est.)
Average household expenditures / on food: 41.7% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Average household expenditures / on alcohol and tobacco: 6.9% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / lowest 10%: 4.3% (2020 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / highest 10%: 21.7% (2020 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2024: 6.3% of GDP (2024 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2023: 8.3% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2022: 10.4% of GDP (2022 est.)
Budget / revenues: $86.185 billion (2023 est.)
Budget / expenditures: $121.657 billion (2023 est.)
Public debt / Public debt 2020: 58.7% of GDP (2020 est.)
Taxes and other revenues: 17.5% (of GDP) (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2024: -$13.749 billion (2024 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2023: -$9.564 billion (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2022: $7.976 billion (2022 est.)
Exports / Exports 2024: $56.114 billion (2024 est.)
Exports / Exports 2023: $51.28 billion (2023 est.)
Exports / Exports 2022: $57.517 billion (2022 est.)
Exports - partners: Poland 12%, Romania 9%, Turkey 7%, China 6%, Spain 6% (2023)
Exports - commodities: corn, seed oils, wheat, iron ore, soybeans (2023)
Imports / Imports 2024: $92.025 billion (2024 est.)
Imports / Imports 2023: $89.159 billion (2023 est.)
Imports / Imports 2022: $83.254 billion (2022 est.)
Imports - partners: China 16%, Poland 14%, Germany 8%, Turkey 6%, USA 4% (2023)
Imports - commodities: refined petroleum, cars, natural gas, packaged medicine, plastic products (2023)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024: $43.781 billion (2024 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023: $40.51 billion (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $28.506 billion (2022 est.)
Debt - external / Debt - external 2023: $90.003 billion (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Currency: hryvnia (UAH) per US dollar -
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2024: 40.152 (2024 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2023: 36.574 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2022: 32.342 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2021: 27.286 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2020: 26.958 (2020 est.)

## Energy
Electricity access / electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)
Electricity / installed generating capacity: 60.297 million kW (2023 est.)
Electricity / consumption: 89.402 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / exports: 6.1 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / imports: 3.28 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / transmission/distribution losses: 10.347 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / fossil fuels: 32.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / nuclear: 50.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / solar: 4.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / wind: 1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / hydroelectricity: 9.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / biomass and waste: 1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Nuclear energy / Number of operational nuclear reactors: 15 (2025)
Nuclear energy / Number of nuclear reactors under construction: 2 (2025)
Nuclear energy / Net capacity of operational nuclear reactors: 13.11GW (2025 est.)
Nuclear energy / Percent of total electricity production: 55% (2023 est.)
Nuclear energy / Number of nuclear reactors permanently shut down: 4 (2025)
Coal / production: 19.603 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / consumption: 25.012 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / exports: 32,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / imports: 5.442 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / proven reserves: 34.375 billion metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum / total petroleum production: 3,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Petroleum / refined petroleum consumption: 192,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Petroleum / crude oil estimated reserves: 395 million barrels (2021 est.)
Natural gas / production: 17.681 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / consumption: 19.705 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / exports: 95.994 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Natural gas / imports: 2.028 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / proven reserves: 1.104 trillion cubic meters (2021 est.)
Energy consumption per capita / Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 57.856 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

## Communications
Telephones - fixed lines / total subscriptions: 1.434 million (2023 est.)
Telephones - fixed lines / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 4 (2023 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / total subscriptions: 50.3 million (2023 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 135 (2021 est.)
Broadcast media: media landscape dominated by oligarch-owned news outlets; United News created for 24-hour news about the war with Russia, a joint effort from the Ukrainian public broadcaster and top commercial TV channels; Ukraine Radio's Suspilne and privately owned Radio NV are the national talk radio networks (2021)
Internet country code: .ua
Internet users / percent of population: 82% (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / total: 8.07 million (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 20 (2023 est.)

## Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: UR
Airports: 152 (2025)
Heliports: 44 (2025)
Railways / total: 21,733 km (2014)
Railways / standard gauge: 49 km (2014) 1.435-m gauge (49 km electrified)
Railways / broad gauge: 21,684 km (2014) 1.524-m gauge (9,250 km electrified)
Merchant marine / total: 410 (2023)
Merchant marine / by type: container ship 1, general cargo 83, oil tanker 14, other 312
Ports / total ports: 26 (2024)
Ports / large: 3
Ports / medium: 0
Ports / small: 8
Ports / very small: 15
Ports / ports with oil terminals: 8
Ports / key ports: Berdyansk, Dnipro-Buzkyy, Feodosiya, Illichivsk, Kerch, Kherson, Mariupol, Mykolayiv, Odesa, Sevastopol, Yuzhnyy

## Military and Security
Military and security forces: Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU; Zbroyni Syly Ukrayiny or ZSU): Ground Forces, Naval Forces, Air Forces, Air Assault Forces, Marine Corps, Special Operations Forces, Unmanned Systems Forces, Territorial Defense Forces (Reserves) Ministry of Internal Affairs: National Guard of Ukraine, State Border Guard Service of Ukraine (includes Maritime Border Guard or Sea Guard), National Police of Ukraine (2025)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2021: 4% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2020: 4.4% of GDP (2020 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2019: 3.4% of GDP (2019 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2018: 3.1% of GDP (2018 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2017: 3.1% of GDP (2017 est.)
Military and security service personnel strengths: estimated 850,000-1 million active Defense Forces (2025)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: prior to the full-scale Russian invasion in February 2022, the Ukrainian military was equipped largely with Russian-origin and Soviet-era weapons systems; since the invasion, it has received considerable quantities of weapons, including Soviet-era and more modern Western systems, from European countries and the US; Ukraine also has a growing inventory of domestically produced armaments (2025)
Military service age and obligation: 18 years of age for voluntary service for men and women; 25 years of age for conscription for men; 18-24 months service obligation (2025)
Military deployments: note: prior to the Russian invasion in 2022, Ukraine had committed about 500 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 primary focus of the Ukrainian Armed Forces (UAF) is defense against Russian aggression; in February 2022, Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in what is the largest conflict in Europe since the end of World War II in 1945; as of 2025, the front line of the fighting stretched about 1,000 kilometers (some 600 miles) north and south in eastern and southern Ukraine; Russia’s forces have also launched missile and armed drone strikes throughout Ukraine, hitting critical infrastructure, including power, water, and heating facilities, as well as other civilian targets; Russia first invaded Ukraine in 2014, occupying Ukraine’s province of Crimea and backing separatist forces in the Donbas region with arms, equipment, and training, as well as military personnel, although Moscow denied their presence prior to 2022; the UAF has received outside military assistance since the Russian invasion, including equipment and training, chiefly from Europe and the US Ukraine has a relationship with NATO dating back to the early 1990s, when Ukraine joined the North Atlantic Cooperation Council (1991) and the Partnership for Peace program (1994); the relationship intensified in the wake of the 2014 Russia-Ukraine conflict and Russian seizure of Crimea to include NATO support for Ukrainian military capabilities development and capacity-building; NATO and individual NATO countries further increased support to the Ukrainian military following Russia’s 2022 invasion (2025)

## Space
Space agency/agencies: State Space Agency of Ukraine (SSAU; established 1992 as the National Space Agency of Ukraine or NSAU and renamed in 2010) (2025)
Space program overview: the country inherited a large, well-developed space program when it gained independence in 1991, taking over all the former Soviet defense/space industry that was located on its territory; the modern program includes the production of satellite/space launch vehicles (SLVs)/rocket carriers, satellites, and related components; prior to the Russian invasion in 2022, the country was producing more than 100 SLVs, SLV stages, or SLV engines annually; has worked with numerous foreign space agencies and industries, including those of Brazil, Canada, China, Japan, Kazakhstan, Russia (curtailed after 2014), Turkey, and the US, as well as the ESA, the EU, and their member states (particularly Italy and Poland); has about 20 state-run space industries; in 2019, the Ukrainian Parliament began allowing private companies to engage in space activities (2025)
Key space-program milestones: 1995 - first domestically produced remote sensing (RS) satellite (Sich-1) launched on Ukrainian Tsyklon-3 rocket 1997 - first Ukrainian astronaut in space on US Space Shuttle 1999 - first launch of Dnipro-1, a domestically produced satellite launch vehicle (SLV) 2008 - first launch of Zenit-3SLB, a domestically produced SLV 2014 - launched first domestically produced microsatellite (PolyITAN-1) 2020 - signed US-led Artemis Accords for space and lunar exploration 2021 - first successful launch of joint Ukrainian-US commercial light SLV (Alpha) 2022 - domestically produced RS microsatellite (Sich 2-30) launched by US 2024 - first Ukrainian woman to suborbital space on US commercial spacecraft

## Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons / refugees: 2,876 (2024 est.)
Refugees and internally displaced persons / IDPs: 3,665,165 (2024 est.)
Refugees and internally displaced persons / stateless persons: 10,910 (2024 est.)

=== Holy See (Vatican City) ===

## Introduction
Background: Popes in their secular role ruled portions of the Italian peninsula for more than a thousand years until the mid-19th century, when the newly established Kingdom of Italy seized many of the Papal States. In 1870, the pope's holdings were further circumscribed when Rome itself was annexed. Disputes between Italy and a series of "prisoner" popes were resolved in 1929 by three Lateran Treaties, which established the independent state of Vatican City and granted Roman Catholicism special status in Italy. In 1984, a concordat between the Holy See and Italy modified some of the earlier treaty provisions, including the primacy of Roman Catholicism as the Italian state religion. Present concerns of the Holy See include religious freedom, threats against minority Christian communities in Africa and the Middle East, the plight of refugees and migrants, climate change and the environment, conflict and war, nuclear weapons, artificial intelligence, sexual misconduct by clergy, humanitarian issues, interreligious dialogue and reconciliation, and the application of church doctrine in an era of rapid change and globalization. About 1.3 billion people worldwide profess Catholicism, the world's largest Christian faith.

## Geography
Location: Southern Europe, an enclave of Rome (Italy)
Geographic coordinates: 41 54 N, 12 27 E
Map references: Europe
Area / total: 0 sq km
Area / land: 0.44 sq km
Area / water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative: about 0.7 times the size of the National Mall in Washington, D.C.
Land boundaries / total: 3.4 km
Land boundaries / border countries: Italy 3.4 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
Climate: temperate; mild, rainy winters (September to May) with hot, dry summers (May to September)
Terrain: urban; low hill
Elevation / highest point: Vatican Gardens (Vatican Hill) 78 m
Elevation / lowest point: Saint Peter's Square 19 m
Natural resources: none
Land use / agricultural land: 0% (2022 est.)
Land use / forest: 0% (2022 est.)
Land use / other: 100% (2022 est.)
Natural hazards: occasional earthquakes
Geography - note: landlocked; an enclave in Rome, Italy; world's smallest state

## People and Society
Population / total: 1,000 (2024)
Nationality / noun: none
Nationality / adjective: none
Ethnic groups: Italian, Swiss, Argentinian, and other nationalities from around the world (2017)
Languages / Languages: Italian, Latin, French, various other languages
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: Roman Catholic
Population growth rate: 0% (2014 est.)
Urbanization / urban population: 100% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 0% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 1,000 VATICAN CITY (capital) (2018)

## Environment
Environmental issues: some air pollution from the surrounding city of Rome
International environmental agreements / party to: Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection
International environmental agreements / signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution, Environmental Modification
Climate: temperate; mild, rainy winters (September to May) with hot, dry summers (May to September)
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% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: The Holy See (Vatican City State)
Country name / conventional short form: Holy See (Vatican City)
Country name / local long form: La Santa Sede (Stato della Citta del Vaticano)
Country name / local short form: Santa Sede (Citta del Vaticano)
Country name / etymology: "holy" comes from the Greek word hera , meaning "sacred"; "see" comes from the Latin word sedes , meaning "seat," and refers to the episcopal chair; the name Vatican derives from the hill Mons Vaticanus on which the Vatican is located and which comes from the Latin vates (prophet), referring to the fortune tellers and soothsayers who frequented the area in Roman times
Government type: ecclesiastical elective monarchy; self-described as an "absolute monarchy"
Capital / name: Vatican City
Capital / geographic coordinates: 41 54 N, 12 27 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 hill called Mons Vaticanus, on which the Vatican is located and which comes from the Latin vates (prophet), referring to the fortune tellers and soothsayers who frequented the area in Roman times
Legal system: religious system based on canon (religious) law
Constitution / history: previous 1929, 2000; latest issued by Pope FRANCIS 13 May 2023, effective 7 June 2023 (Fundamental Law of Vatican City State, the main governing document of the Vatican's civil entities); the Roman Curia is the administrative apparatus &ndash; the departments and ministries &ndash; used by the pontiff in governing the church
Constitution / amendment process: although the Fundamental Law of Vatican City State makes no mention of amendments, Article Four (drafting laws), states that this legislative responsibility resides with the Pontifical Commission for Vatican City State; draft legislation is submitted through the Secretariat of State and considered by the pope
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: no
Citizenship / dual citizenship recognized: no
Citizenship / residency requirement for naturalization: not applicable
Suffrage: election of the pope is limited to cardinals under 80 years old
Executive branch / chief of state: Pope LEO XIV (since 8 May 2025)
Executive branch / head of government: President of the Pontifical Commission for the State of Vatican City and President of the Governorate of the Vatican City State Fernando VERGEZ ALZAGA (since 1 October 2021)
Executive branch / cabinet: Pontifical Commission for the State of Vatican City appointed by the pope
Executive branch / election/appointment process: pope elected by the College of Cardinals, usually for life or until voluntary resignation; Secretary of State appointed by the pope
Executive branch / election results: 2025: Robert PREVOST elected Pope LEO XIV
Legislative branch / legislature name: Pontifical Commission for the State of Vatican City (Pontificia Commissione per lo Stato della Citta del Vaticano)
Legislative branch / legislative structure: unicameral
Legislative branch / number of seats: 7
Legislative branch / term in office: 5 years
Legislative branch / most recent election date: 22 September 2018
Legislative branch / percentage of women in chamber: 0%
Judicial branch / highest court(s): Supreme Court or Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura (consists of the cardinal prefect, who serves as ex-officio president of the court, and 2 other cardinals of the Prefect Signatura)
Judicial branch / judge selection and term of office: cardinal prefect appointed by the pope; the other 2 cardinals of the court appointed by the cardinal prefect on a yearly basis
Judicial branch / subordinate courts: Appellate Court of Vatican City; Tribunal of Vatican City
Political parties: none
Diplomatic representation in the US / chief of mission: Apostolic Nuncio Cardinal Christophe PIERRE (since 27 June 2016)
Diplomatic representation in the US / chancery: 3339 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation in the US / telephone: [1] (202) 333-7121
Diplomatic representation in the US / FAX: [1] (202) 337-4036
Diplomatic representation in the US / email address and website: nuntiususa@nuntiususa.org http://www.nuntiususa.org/
Diplomatic representation from the US / chief of mission: Ambassador Brian Francis BURCH II (since 13 September 2025)
Diplomatic representation from the US / embassy: Via Sallustiana, 49, 00187 Rome
Diplomatic representation from the US / mailing address: 5660 Holy See Place, Washington DC 20521-5660
Diplomatic representation from the US / telephone: [39] (06) 4674-1
Diplomatic representation from the US / FAX: [39] (06) 4674-3411
Diplomatic representation from the US / email address and website: https://va.usembassy.gov/
International organization participation: CE (observer), IAEA, Interpol, IOM, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), OAS (observer), OPCW, OSCE, Schengen Convention (de facto member), UN (observer), UNCTAD, UNHCR, UNWTO (observer), UPU, WIPO, WTO (observer)
Independence: 11 February 1929
Flag: description: two vertical bands of yellow (left side) and white, with the arms of the Holy See centered in the white band; the arms show the crossed keys of Saint Peter under the three-tiered papal tiara meaning: yellow stands for the pope's spiritual power, and white for his worldly power
National symbol(s): crossed keys under a papal tiara
National color(s): yellow, white
National anthem(s) / title: &ldquo;Hymnus Pontificius" (Pontifical Anthem)
National anthem(s) / lyrics/music: Raffaello LAVAGNA/Charles-Francois GOUNOD
National anthem(s) / history: adopted 1949
National heritage / total World Heritage Sites: 2 (both cultural)
National heritage / selected World Heritage Site locales: Historic Center of Rome, the Properties of the Holy See in that City Enjoying Extraterritorial Rights and San Paolo Fuori le Mura; Vatican City

## Economy
Economic overview: limited, tourism-based economy; euro user with own minted coins; produces commemorative stamps, coins, and publications to support museums and religious needs; residents pay no direct taxes; &ldquo;zero deficit&rdquo; plan to address budget shortfall
Industries: printing; production of coins, medals, postage stamps; mosaics, staff uniforms; worldwide banking and financial activities
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: the Vatican Television Center (CTV) transmits live broadcasts of the Pope's weekly audiences, as well as his public celebrations; CTV also produces documentaries; Vatican Radio is the official broadcasting service via shortwave, AM, and FM frequencies, as well as satellite and web; Vatican News website partners with Vatican Radio and provides Catholic news from the Vatican (2021)
Internet country code: .va
Internet users / percent of population: 87% (2023 est.)

## Transportation
Heliports: 1 (2025)

## Military and Security
Military and security forces: the Pontifical Swiss Guard Corps (Corpo della Guardia Svizzera Pontificia) serves as the de facto military force of Vatican City; the Gendarmerie Corps of Vatican City (Corpo della Gendarmeriais) is a police force that helps augment the Pontifical Swiss Guard Corps during the Pope’s appearances, as well as providing general security, traffic direction, and investigative duties for the Vatican City State (2025)
Military service age and obligation: Pontifical Swiss Guard Corps: 19-30 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription; must be a single Roman Catholic male with Swiss citizenship who has completed basic training with the Swiss military and can obtain a certificate of good conduct; qualified candidates must apply to serve; the service contract is between 2 and 25 years (2025)
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of Italy

## Transnational Issues

=== none ===

## Introduction
Background: The Trucial States of the Persian Gulf coast granted the UK control of their defense and foreign affairs in 19th-century treaties. In 1971, six of these states -- Abu Dhabi, 'Ajman, Al Fujayrah, Ash Shariqah, Dubayy, and Umm al Qaywayn -- merged to form the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Ra's al Khaymah joined in 1972. The UAE's per-capita GDP is on par with those of leading West European nations. For more than three decades, oil and global finance drove the UAE's economy. In 2008-09, the confluence of falling oil prices, collapsing real estate prices, and the international banking crisis hit the UAE especially hard. The UAE did not experience the "Arab Spring" unrest seen elsewhere in the Middle East in 2010-11, partly because of the government's multi-year, $1.6-billion infrastructure investment plan for the poorer northern emirates, and its aggressive pursuit of advocates for political reform. The UAE in recent years has played a growing role in regional affairs. In addition to donating billions of dollars in economic aid to help stabilize Egypt, the UAE was one of the first countries to join the Defeat ISIS coalition, and to participate as a key partner in a Saudi-led military campaign in Yemen. In 2020, the UAE and Bahrain signed a peace agreement (the Abraham Accords) with Israel -- brokered by the US -- in Washington, D.C. The UAE and Bahrain thus became the third and fourth Middle Eastern countries, along with Egypt and Jordan, to recognize Israel.

## Geography
Location: Middle East, bordering the Gulf of Oman and the Persian Gulf, between Oman and Saudi Arabia
Geographic coordinates: 24 00 N, 54 00 E
Map references: Middle East
Area / total: 83,600 sq km
Area / land: 83,600 sq km
Area / water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly larger than South Carolina; slightly smaller than Maine
Land boundaries / total: 1,066 km
Land boundaries / border countries: Oman 609 km; Saudi Arabia 457 km
Coastline: 1,318 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; cooler in eastern mountains
Terrain: flat, barren coastal plain merging into rolling sand dunes of vast desert; mountains in east
Elevation / highest point: Jabal Bil 'Ays 1,905 m
Elevation / lowest point: Persian Gulf 0 m
Elevation / mean elevation: 149 m
Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas
Land use / agricultural land: 5.5% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 0.7% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 0.6% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 4.2% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 4.6% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 89.7% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land: 940 sq km (2022)
Population distribution: population is heavily concentrated to the northeast on the Musandam Peninsula; the three largest emirates -- Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Sharjah -- are home to nearly 85% of the population
Natural hazards: frequent sand and dust storms
Geography - note: strategic location along southern approaches to Strait of Hormuz, a transit point for crude oil; Abu Zaby (Abu Dhabi) and Dubayy (Dubai) together account for over 90% of UAE's area and two-thirds of the population

## People and Society
Population / total: 10,093,593 (2025 est.)
Population / male: 6,831,802
Population / female: 3,261,791
Nationality / noun: Emirati(s)
Nationality / adjective: Emirati
Ethnic groups: Emirati 11.6%, South Asian 59.4% (includes Indian 38.2%, Bangladeshi 9.5%, Pakistani 9.4%, other 2.3%), Egyptian 10.2%, Filipino 6.1%, other 12.8% (2015 est.)
Languages / Languages: Arabic (official), English, Hindi, Malayalam, Urdu, Pashto, Tagalog, Persian
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 74.5% (official) (Sunni 63.3%, Shia 6.7%, other 4.4%), Christian 12.9%, Hindu 6.2%, Buddhist 3.2%, agnostic 1.3%, other 1.9% (2020 est.)
Age structure / 0-14 years: 16.4% (male 842,577/female 802,302)
Age structure / 15-64 years: 81.4% (male 5,812,470/female 2,353,750)
Age structure / 65 years and over: 2.2% (2024 est.) (male 169,084/female 52,030)
Dependency ratios / total dependency ratio: 23.4 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / youth dependency ratio: 20.4 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / elderly dependency ratio: 3 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / potential support ratio: 33.4 (2025 est.)
Median age / total: 35.8 years (2025 est.)
Median age / male: 38.1 years
Median age / female: 29.8 years
Population growth rate: 0.62% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 10.65 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 1.73 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: -2.67 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution: population is heavily concentrated to the northeast on the Musandam Peninsula; the three largest emirates -- Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Sharjah -- are home to nearly 85% of the population
Urbanization / urban population: 87.8% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 1.5% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 3.008 million Dubai, 1.831 million Sharjah, 1.567 million ABU DHABI (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: 2.47 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 65 years and over: 3.25 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / total population: 2.13 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio: 3 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Infant mortality rate / total: 4.9 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Infant mortality rate / male: 5.5 deaths/1,000 live births
Infant mortality rate / female: 4.4 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth / total population: 79.9 years (2024 est.)
Life expectancy at birth / male: 78.6 years
Life expectancy at birth / female: 81.4 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): 5.3% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 12.1% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density: 2.99 physicians/1,000 population (2023)
Hospital bed density: 2 beds/1,000 population (2021 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: urban: urban: 99.8% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: rural: rural: 99.9% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: total: total: 99.8% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: urban: urban: 0.2% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: rural: rural: 0.1% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: total: total: 0.2% of population (2022 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 31.7% (2016)
Alcohol consumption per capita / total: 2.03 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / beer: 0.21 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / wine: 0.14 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / spirits: 1.65 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / other alcohols: 0.02 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Tobacco use / total: 10.7% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / male: 13.9% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / female: 2.4% (2025 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49): 67.4% (2018 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% GDP): 3.9% of GDP (2021 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% national budget): 14.8% national budget (2021 est.)
Literacy / total population: 98.8% (2024 est.)
Literacy / male: 99% (2024 est.)
Literacy / female: 98.4% (2024 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; water scarcity; lack of natural freshwater resources; land degradation and desertification; waste generation, beach 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, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
International environmental agreements / signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea
Climate: desert; cooler in eastern mountains
Land use / agricultural land: 5.5% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 0.7% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 0.6% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 4.2% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 4.6% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 89.7% (2023 est.)
Urbanization / urban population: 87.8% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 1.5% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / total emissions: 271.703 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from coal and metallurgical coke: 12.788 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from petroleum and other liquids: 126.038 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from consumed natural gas: 132.876 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Particulate matter emissions: 38.9 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Methane emissions / energy: 1,573.7 kt (2022-2024 est.)
Methane emissions / agriculture: 47.4 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Methane emissions / waste: 448.4 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Methane emissions / other: 2.5 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Waste and recycling / municipal solid waste generated annually: 5.618 million tons (2024 est.)
Waste and recycling / percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 24.5% (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / municipal: 2.297 billion cubic meters (2022)
Total water withdrawal / industrial: 55 million cubic meters (2022)
Total water withdrawal / agricultural: 2.466 billion cubic meters (2022)
Total renewable water resources: 150 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: United Arab Emirates
Country name / conventional short form: none
Country name / local long form: Al Imarat al Arabiyah al Muttahidah
Country name / local short form: none
Country name / former: Trucial Oman, Trucial States
Country name / abbreviation: UAE
Country name / etymology: self-descriptive country name; the name Arabia can be traced back at least as far as the ancient Egyptians, who referred to the region as "Ar Rabi;" "emirates" derives from amir , the Arabic word for "commander," "lord," or "prince;" the former name, Trucial States, refers to a maritime truce from 1820 between the British and the Arab sheikhdoms
Government type: federation of monarchies
Capital / name: Abu Dhabi
Capital / geographic coordinates: 24 28 N, 54 22 E
Capital / time difference: UTC+4 (9 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Capital / etymology: in Arabic, abu means "father," and dhabi refers to a personal name, Dhabi or Zabi, that comes from the word zab , or "gazelle"
Administrative divisions: 7 emirates ( imarat , singular - imarah ); Abu Zaby (Abu Dhabi), 'Ajman, Al Fujayrah, Ash Shariqah (Sharjah), Dubayy (Dubai), Ra's al Khaymah, Umm al Qaywayn
Legal system: mixed system of Islamic (sharia) law and civil law
Constitution / history: previous 1971 (provisional); latest drafted in 1979, became permanent May 1996
Constitution / amendment process: proposed by the Supreme Council and submitted to the Federal National Council; passage requires at least a two-thirds majority vote of Federal National Council members present and approval of the Supreme Council 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: the father must be a citizen of the United Arab Emirates; if the father is unknown, the mother must be a citizen
Citizenship / dual citizenship recognized: no
Citizenship / residency requirement for naturalization: 30 years
Suffrage: limited
Executive branch / chief of state: President MUHAMMAD BIN ZAYID Al Nuhayyan (since 14 May 2022)
Executive branch / head of government: Prime Minister and Co-Vice President MUHAMMAD BIN RASHID Al Maktum (since 5 January 2006)
Executive branch / cabinet: Council of Ministers announced by the prime minister and approved by the president
Executive branch / election/appointment process: president and vice president indirectly elected by the Federal Supreme Council -- composed of the rulers of the 7 emirates -- for a 5-year term (no term limits); prime minister appointed by the president
Executive branch / most recent election date: unscheduled election held on 14 May 2022, after the death of President KHALIFA bin Zayid Al-Nuhayyan
Executive branch / election results: 2022: MUHAMMAD BIN ZAYID Al-Nuhayyan elected president; Federal Supreme Council vote - NA
Executive branch / expected date of next election: 2027
Legislative branch / legislature name: Federal National Council (Majlis Watani Itihadi)
Legislative branch / legislative structure: unicameral
Legislative branch / number of seats: 40 (20 indirectly elected; 20 appointed)
Legislative branch / electoral system: other systems
Legislative branch / scope of elections: full renewal
Legislative branch / term in office: 4 years
Legislative branch / most recent election date: 10/7/2023
Legislative branch / percentage of women in chamber: 50%
Legislative branch / expected date of next election: October 2027
Judicial branch / highest court(s): Federal Supreme Court (consists of the court president and 4 judges; jurisdiction limited to federal cases)
Judicial branch / judge selection and term of office: judges appointed by the federal president after approval from the Federal Supreme Council, the highest executive and legislative authority consisting of the 7 emirate rulers; judges serve until retirement age or the expiration of their appointment terms
Judicial branch / subordinate courts: Federal Court of Cassation (determines the constitutionality of laws); the emirates of Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Ra's al Khaymah have parallel court systems; the other 4 emirates have incorporated their courts into the federal system
Political parties: note: political parties are banned; all candidates run as independents
Diplomatic representation in the US / chief of mission: Ambassador Yousif AL OTAIBA (since 28 July 2008)
Diplomatic representation in the US / chancery: 3522 International Court NW, Suite 400, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation in the US / telephone: [1] (202) 243-2400
Diplomatic representation in the US / FAX: [1] (202) 243-2408
Diplomatic representation in the US / email address and website: info@uaeembassy-usa.org https://www.uae-embassy.org/
Diplomatic representation in the US / consulate(s) general: Houston, Los Angeles, New York
Diplomatic representation from the US / chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charg&eacute; d&rsquo;Affaires Eric GAUDIOSI (since August 2025)
Diplomatic representation from the US / embassy: Embassies District, Plot 38, Sector W59-02, Street No. 4, Abu Dhabi
Diplomatic representation from the US / mailing address: 6010 Abu Dhabi Place, Washington DC 20521-6010
Diplomatic representation from the US / telephone: [971] (2) 414-2200
Diplomatic representation from the US / FAX: [971] (2) 414-2241
Diplomatic representation from the US / email address and website: abudhabiacs@state.gov https://ae.usembassy.gov/
Diplomatic representation from the US / consulate(s) general: Dubai
International organization participation: ABEDA, AfDB (nonregional member), AFESD, AMF, BIS, BRICS, CAEU, CICA, FAO, G-77, GCC, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, LAS, MIGA, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, OIF (observer), OPCW, OPEC, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHRC, UNIDO, UNOOSA, UNRWA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Independence: 2 December 1971 (from the UK)
National holiday: Independence Day (National Day), 2 December (1971)
Flag: description: three equal horizontal bands of green (top), white, and black, with a wider vertical red band on the left side meaning: the flag incorporates all four pan-Arab colors, which in this case represent fertility (green), neutrality (white), oil (black), and unity (red); red is a traditional color that was part of all the emirates' flags before their unification
National symbol(s): golden falcon
National color(s): green, white, black, red
National anthem(s) / title: "Nashid al-watani al-imarati" (National Anthem of the UAE)
National anthem(s) / lyrics/music: AREF Al Sheikh Abdullah Al Hassan/Mohamad Abdel WAHAB
National anthem(s) / history: music adopted 1971, lyrics adopted 1986; Mohamad Abdel WAHAB also composed the music for Tunisia's and Libya's anthem
National heritage / total World Heritage Sites: 2 ( both cultural)
National heritage / selected World Heritage Site locales: Cultural Sites of Al Ain (Hafit, Hili, Bidaa Bint Saud, and Oases Areas); Faya Palaeolandscape (c)

## Economy
Economic overview: high-income, oil-driven Middle Eastern economy; fastest GDP growth of Gulf states; diversification through tourism, construction, and services; strong foreign direct investment orientation; continued government investment and business-friendly reforms
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $745.994 billion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $718.95 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $693.842 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: 3.6% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2022: 7.5% (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2024: $68,600 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2023: $68,600 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2022: $68,900 (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $537.079 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: 1.6% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 5.3% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / agriculture: 0.7% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / industry: 47.7% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / services: 51.6% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / household consumption: 45.6% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / government consumption: 12.4% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in fixed capital: 27.1% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in inventories: 0% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / exports of goods and services: 108.6% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / imports of goods and services: -93.7% (2023 est.)
Agricultural products: dates, cucumbers/gherkins, camel milk, goat milk, tomatoes, chicken, goat meat, eggs, milk, camel meat (2023)
Industries: petroleum and petrochemicals; fishing, aluminum, cement, fertilizer, commercial ship repair, construction materials, handicrafts, textiles
Industrial production growth rate: 0.8% (2023 est.)
Labor force: 7.09 million (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2024: 2.2% (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2023: 2.2% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2022: 2.9% (2022 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / total: 6.4% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / male: 4.1% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / female: 12.1% (2024 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income / Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2018: 26.4 (2018 est.)
Average household expenditures / on food: 12.2% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Average household expenditures / on alcohol and tobacco: 0.3% 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%: 20.5% (2018 est.)
Budget / revenues: $23.248 billion (2023 est.)
Budget / expenditures: $19.349 billion (2023 est.)
Public debt / Public debt 2017: 19.7% of GDP (2017 est.)
Taxes and other revenues: 0.6% (of GDP) (2023 est.)
Exports / Exports 2023: $558.402 billion (2023 est.)
Exports / Exports 2022: $521.897 billion (2022 est.)
Exports / Exports 2021: $425.156 billion (2021 est.)
Exports - partners: China 11%, India 11%, Japan 10%, Iraq 6%, Thailand 4% (2023)
Exports - commodities: crude petroleum, refined petroleum, gold, broadcasting equipment, natural gas (2023)
Imports / Imports 2023: $481.852 billion (2023 est.)
Imports / Imports 2022: $427.992 billion (2022 est.)
Imports / Imports 2021: $347.529 billion (2021 est.)
Imports - partners: China 19%, India 7%, USA 6%, Turkey 4%, Japan 4% (2023)
Imports - commodities: gold, broadcasting equipment, cars, refined petroleum, diamonds (2023)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024: $237.931 billion (2024 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023: $189.491 billion (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $138.433 billion (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Currency: Emirati dirhams (AED) per US dollar -
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2024: 3.672 (2024 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2023: 3.672 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2022: 3.672 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2021: 3.672 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2020: 3.672 (2020 est.)

## Energy
Electricity access / electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)
Electricity / installed generating capacity: 44.462 million kW (2023 est.)
Electricity / consumption: 157.974 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / exports: 613 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / imports: 501.067 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / transmission/distribution losses: 7.914 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / fossil fuels: 75.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / nuclear: 19.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / solar: 4.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Nuclear energy / Number of operational nuclear reactors: 4 (2025)
Nuclear energy / Net capacity of operational nuclear reactors: 5.35GW (2025 est.)
Nuclear energy / Percent of total electricity production: 19.7% (2023 est.)
Coal / consumption: 5.411 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / exports: 82,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / imports: 5.512 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum / total petroleum production: 4.146 million bbl/day (2023 est.)
Petroleum / refined petroleum consumption: 846,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Petroleum / crude oil estimated reserves: 97.8 billion barrels (2021 est.)
Natural gas / production: 55.8 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / consumption: 67.734 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / exports: 6.863 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / imports: 18.938 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / proven reserves: 6.091 trillion cubic meters (2021 est.)
Energy consumption per capita / Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 450.432 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

## Communications
Telephones - fixed lines / total subscriptions: 2.259 million (2023 est.)
Telephones - fixed lines / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 21 (2023 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / total subscriptions: 22.4 million (2024 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 203 (2024 est.)
Broadcast media: most TV and radio stations state-owned, but many private organizations now operating in media free zones in Abu Dhabi and Dubai; widespread use of satellite dishes to access pan-Arab and other international broadcasts (2022)
Internet country code: .ae
Internet users / percent of population: 100% (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / total: 3.95 million (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 37 (2023 est.)

## Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: A6
Airports: 42 (2025)
Heliports: 204 (2025)
Merchant marine / total: 655 (2023)
Merchant marine / by type: bulk carrier 2, container ship 3, general cargo 122, oil tanker 16, other 512
Ports / total ports: 20 (2024)
Ports / large: 1
Ports / medium: 4
Ports / small: 9
Ports / very small: 6
Ports / ports with oil terminals: 17
Ports / key ports: Abu Zaby, Jabal Az Zannah/Ruways, Khawr Fakkan, Mina Jabal Ali, Zirkuh

## Military and Security
Military and security forces: United Arab Emirates Armed Forces: Land Forces (Army), Navy, Air Force, Presidential Guard (includes special operations forces), National Guard (includes Coast Guard) (2025)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2024: 4% of GDP (2024 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2023: 4.3% of GDP (2023 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2022: 4% of GDP (2022 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2021: 4.5% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2020: 6.1% of GDP (2020 est.)
Military and security service personnel strengths: approximately 65,000 active Armed Forces (45,000 Land Forces; 3,000 Navy; 5,000 Air Force; 12,000 Presidential Guard) (2025)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the military is equipped with mostly modern imported armaments, and a smaller amount of domestically produced weapons; foreign suppliers have included China, France, Germany, Israel, Italy, Russia, South Africa, South Korea, T&uuml;rkiye, and the US; the UAE's domestic defense industry produces or co-produces such items as armored vehicles, naval vessels, precision munitions, and unmanned aerial vehicles/drones for both internal use and export (2025)
Military service age and obligation: 18-40 for voluntary service; 18-30 years of age for compulsory national service for men with a 36-month service obligation for those without a secondary education and 11 months for secondary school graduates; women may volunteer for national service (11-month service obligation regardless of education) (2025)
Military deployments: maintains a few hundred troops in Somalia and Yemen (2025)
Military - note: the UAE Armed Forces (UAEAF) are responsible for defending the state, its resources, and territory, preserving internal security, and supporting the UAE's foreign policy objectives; key security concerns include regional stability and cross-border threats, such as piracy and terrorism; in recent years, the UAE has undertaken a military modernization program to go along with an assertive security policy which has included military involvements in Afghanistan, Libya, Somalia, Syria, and Yemen the UAE has close security ties to France and the US; it hosts a multi-service French military base, which includes the French naval command for the Indian Ocean (ALINDIEN); the UAE has a defense cooperation agreement with the US and hosts thousands of US military troops, mostly air and naval personnel; it also has defense ties with a number of other countries, including Australia, China, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Malaysia, South Korea, and the UK, as well as NATO and fellow members of the Gulf Cooperation Council, particularly Saudi Arabia the UAEAF traces its origins to the establishment of the Trucial Oman Scouts in 1951, a joint UK-Abu Dhabi organization modeled after Jordan’s Arab Legion, which became the Abu Dhabi Defense Force in 1965; the modern UAEAF were formed in 1976 (2025)

## Space
Space agency/agencies: UAE Space Agency (created in 2014); Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC; established 2006) (2025)
Space program overview: has an ambitious and growing national space program; focused on satellite development, including communications, remote sensing, and navigation, as well as deep space exploration; is building expertise, infrastructure, technology, and research and development capabilities; has elected to use foreign partners to launch payloads from spaceports abroad; has looked to invest in foreign commercial space companies and develop global partnerships; has a foreign-assisted astronaut training program; seeking to establish UAE as an international hub for space education; founding member of the Arab Space Cooperation Group; works with major global and regional players, including China, Egypt, the ESA, France, Germany, India, Japan, Russia, South Korea, Turkey, the UK, and the US; sees its commercial space industry as a key to diversifying and developing the country&rsquo;s non-oil economy; dozens of space companies operate in the UAE, including international and start-ups, plus several space-science research centers (2025)
Key space-program milestones: 1997 - initiated a national space sector 2009 - first remote sensing (RS) satellite (DubaiSat-1) developed jointly with South Korea and launched by Russia 2017 - announced Mars 2117 project, which included building a “Mars Science City” as the first step to establishing a human settlement on Mars within 100 years 2018 - first domestically produced RS satellite (KhalifaSat or DubaiSat-3) launched by Japan 2019 - first UAE astronaut (trained by Russia and US) in space on the International Space Station 2020 - signed US-led Artemis Accords for space and lunar exploration 2021 - became first Arab country to successfully place a probe (al Amal or Hope) in Mars orbit; announced plans to launch a probe in 2028 to land on an asteroid between Mars and Jupiter 2025 - domestically produced advanced RS/Earth imaging satellite (MBZ-SAT) launched by US

## Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons / refugees: 7,634 (2024 est.)
Illicit drugs / USG identification: major precursor-chemical producer (2025)

=== Bahrain ===

## Introduction
Background: In 1783, the Sunni AL-KHALIFA family took power in Bahrain. In order to secure these holdings, it entered into a series of treaties with the UK during the 19th century that made Bahrain a British protectorate. The archipelago attained its independence in 1971. A steady decline in oil production and reserves since 1970 prompted Bahrain to take steps to diversify its economy, in the process developing petroleum processing and refining, aluminum production, and hospitality and retail sectors. It has also endeavored to become a leading regional banking center, especially with respect to Islamic finance. Bahrain's small size, central location among Gulf countries, economic dependence on Saudi Arabia, and proximity to Iran require it to play a delicate balancing act in foreign affairs among its larger neighbors. Its foreign policy activities usually fall in line with Saudi Arabia and the UAE. In 2022, the United States designated Bahrain as a major non-NATO ally. The Sunni royal family has long struggled to manage relations with its Shia-majority population. In 2011, amid Arab uprisings elsewhere in the region, the Bahraini Government responded to similar pro-democracy and reform protests at home with police and military action, including deploying Gulf Cooperation Council security forces. Ongoing dissatisfaction with the political status quo continues to factor into sporadic clashes between demonstrators and security forces. In 2020, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates signed the US-brokered Abraham Accords with Israel. In 2023, Bahrain and the United States signed the Comprehensive Security Integration and Prosperity Agreement to enhance cooperation across a wide range of areas, from defense and security to emerging technology, trade, and investment.

## Geography
Location: Middle East, archipelago in the Persian Gulf, east of Saudi Arabia
Geographic coordinates: 26 00 N, 50 33 E
Map references: Middle East
Area / total: 760 sq km
Area / land: 760 sq km
Area / water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative: 3.5 times the size of Washington, D.C.
Land boundaries / total: 0 km
Coastline: 161 km
Maritime claims / territorial sea: 12 nm
Maritime claims / contiguous zone: 24 nm
Maritime claims / continental shelf: extending to boundaries to be determined
Climate: arid; mild, pleasant winters; very hot, humid summers
Terrain: mostly low desert plain rising gently to low central escarpment
Elevation / highest point: Jabal ad Dukhan 135 m
Elevation / lowest point: Persian Gulf 0 m
Natural resources: oil, associated and nonassociated natural gas, fish, pearls
Land use / agricultural land: 10.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 2.6% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 2.5% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 5% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 4.3% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 84.2% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land: 40 sq km (2012)
Major aquifers: Arabian Aquifer System
Population distribution: smallest population of the Gulf States, but urbanization rate exceeds 90%; largest settlement concentration is found on the far northern end of the island in and around Manamah and Al Muharraq
Natural hazards: periodic droughts; dust storms
Geography - note: close to primary Middle Eastern petroleum sources; strategic location in Persian Gulf, through which much of the Western world's petroleum must transit to reach open ocean

## People and Society
Population / total: 1,566,888 (2024 est.)
Population / male: 940,022
Population / female: 626,866
Nationality / noun: Bahraini(s)
Nationality / adjective: Bahraini
Ethnic groups: Bahraini 47.4%, Asian 43.4%, other Arab 4.9%, African 1.4%, North American 1.1%, Gulf Co-operative countries 0.9%, European 0.8%, other 0.1% (2020 est.)
Languages / Languages: Arabic (official), English, Farsi, Urdu
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 74.2%, other 25.9% (2020 est)
Age structure / 0-14 years: 18.1% (male 143,399/female 139,667)
Age structure / 15-64 years: 77.7% (male 762,190/female 454,616)
Age structure / 65 years and over: 4.3% (2024 est.) (male 34,433/female 32,583)
Dependency ratios / total dependency ratio: 28.8 (2024 est.)
Dependency ratios / youth dependency ratio: 23.3 (2024 est.)
Dependency ratios / elderly dependency ratio: 5.5 (2024 est.)
Dependency ratios / potential support ratio: 18.2 (2024 est.)
Median age / total: 33.5 years (2025 est.)
Median age / male: 34.6 years
Median age / female: 31.2 years
Population growth rate: 0.79% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 12.08 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 2.86 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: -1.33 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution: smallest population of the Gulf States, but urbanization rate exceeds 90%; largest settlement concentration is found on the far northern end of the island in and around Manamah and Al Muharraq
Urbanization / urban population: 89.9% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 1.99% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 709,000 MANAMA (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: 1.68 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 65 years and over: 1.06 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / total population: 1.5 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio: 17 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Infant mortality rate / total: 9.6 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Infant mortality rate / male: 11.3 deaths/1,000 live births
Infant mortality rate / female: 8 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth / total population: 80.4 years (2024 est.)
Life expectancy at birth / male: 78.1 years
Life expectancy at birth / female: 82.7 years
Total fertility rate: 1.64 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 0.81 (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): 4.3% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 8.6% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density: 0.74 physicians/1,000 population (2020)
Hospital bed density: 1.7 beds/1,000 population (2019 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: 29.8% (2016)
Alcohol consumption per capita / total: 1.18 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / beer: 0.4 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / wine: 0.11 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / spirits: 0.66 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / other alcohols: 0.01 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Tobacco use / total: 17.3% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / male: 24.3% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / female: 4.8% (2025 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49): 56.4% (2020 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% GDP): 1.9% of GDP (2023 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% national budget): 8.3% national budget (2025 est.)
Literacy / total population: 97.8% (2024 est.)
Literacy / male: 98.7% (2024 est.)
Literacy / female: 96.3% (2024 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: desertification; drought; coastal degradation from oil spills and other discharges from large tankers, oil refineries, and distribution stations; lack of freshwater resources; saline contamination from lowered water table
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: arid; mild, pleasant winters; very hot, humid summers
Land use / agricultural land: 10.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 2.6% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 2.5% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 5% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 4.3% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 84.2% (2023 est.)
Urbanization / urban population: 89.9% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 1.99% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / total emissions: 47.818 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from coal and metallurgical coke: -1,401 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from petroleum and other liquids: 8.825 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from consumed natural gas: 38.995 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Particulate matter emissions: 51.8 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Methane emissions / energy: 165.3 kt (2022-2024 est.)
Methane emissions / agriculture: 0.6 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Methane emissions / waste: 163.6 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Methane emissions / other: 1.2 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Waste and recycling / municipal solid waste generated annually: 951,900 tons (2024 est.)
Waste and recycling / percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 14.1% (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / municipal: 275.6 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / industrial: 14.1 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / agricultural: 144.7 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total renewable water resources: 116 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: Kingdom of Bahrain
Country name / conventional short form: Bahrain
Country name / local long form: Mamlakat al Bahrayn
Country name / local short form: Al Bahrayn
Country name / former: Dilmun, Tylos, Awal, Mishmahig, Bahrayn, State of Bahrain
Country name / etymology: the name means "the two seas" in Arabic and refers to the water bodies on each side of the archipelago
Government type: constitutional monarchy
Capital / name: Manama
Capital / geographic coordinates: 26 14 N, 50 34 E
Capital / time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Capital / etymology: name derives from the Arabic word al-manama , meaning "place of rest" or "place of dreams"
Administrative divisions: 4 governorates ( muhafazat , singular - muhafazah ); Asimah (Capital), Janubiyah (Southern), Muharraq, Shamaliyah (Northern)
Legal system: mixed legal system of Islamic (sharia) law, English common law, Egyptian civil, criminal, and commercial codes; customary law
Constitution / history: previous 1973; latest adopted 14 February 2002, entry into force 14 February 2002
Constitution / amendment process: proposed by the king or by at least 15 members of either chamber of the National Assembly followed by submission to an Assembly committee for review and, if approved, submitted to the government for restatement as drafts; passage requires a two-thirds majority vote by the membership of both chambers and validation by the king; constitutional articles on the state religion (Islam), state language (Arabic), and the monarchy and "inherited rule" cannot be amended
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 Bahrain
Citizenship / dual citizenship recognized: no
Citizenship / residency requirement for naturalization: 25 years; 15 years for Arab nationals
Suffrage: 20 years of age; universal
Executive branch / chief of state: King HAMAD bin Isa Al-Khalifa (since 6 March 1999)
Executive branch / head of government: Prime Minister Crown Prince SALMAN bin Hamad Al-Khalifa (since 11 November 2020)
Executive branch / cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the monarch
Executive branch / election/appointment process: the monarchy is hereditary; prime minister appointed by the monarch
Legislative branch / legislature name: National Assembly (Al-Majlis Al-Watani)
Legislative branch / legislative structure: bicameral
Legislative branch - lower chamber / chamber name: Council of Representatives (Majlis Al-Nuwab)
Legislative branch - lower chamber / number of seats: 40 (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: 11/12/2022 to 11/19/2022
Legislative branch - lower chamber / percentage of women in chamber: 20%
Legislative branch - lower chamber / expected date of next election: November 2026
Legislative branch - upper chamber / chamber name: Shura Council (Majlis Al-Shura)
Legislative branch - upper chamber / number of seats: 40 (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: 11/27/2022
Legislative branch - upper chamber / percentage of women in chamber: 25%
Legislative branch - upper chamber / expected date of next election: November 2026
Judicial branch / highest court(s): Court of Cassation (consists of the chairman and 3 judges); Supreme Court of Appeal (consists of the chairman and 3 judges); Constitutional Court (consists of the president and 6 members); High Sharia Court of Appeal (court sittings include the president and at least one judge)
Judicial branch / judge selection and term of office: Court of Cassation judges appointed by royal decree and serve for a specified tenure; Constitutional Court president and members appointed by the Higher Judicial Council, a body chaired by the monarch and includes judges from the Court of Cassation, sharia law courts, and Civil High Courts of Appeal; members serve 9-year terms; High Sharia Court of Appeal member appointments by royal decree for a specified tenure
Judicial branch / subordinate courts: Civil High Courts of Appeal; middle and lower civil courts; High Sharia Court of Appeal; Senior Sharia Court; Administrative Courts of Appeal; military courts
Political parties: note: political parties are prohibited, but political societies were legalized under a July 2005 law
Diplomatic representation in the US / chief of mission: Ambassador Abdulla bin Rashed AL KHALIFA (since 21 July 2017)
Diplomatic representation in the US / chancery: 3502 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation in the US / telephone: [1] (202) 342-1111
Diplomatic representation in the US / FAX: [1] (202) 362-2192
Diplomatic representation in the US / email address and website: ambsecretary@bahrainembassy.org https://www.mofa.gov.bh/Default.aspx?language=en-US&tabid=7702
Diplomatic representation in the US / consulate(s) general: New York
Diplomatic representation from the US / chief of mission: Ambassador-designate Stephanie HALLETT (since 19 December 2025); Charg&eacute; d&rsquo;Affaires Elizabeth A. LITCHFIELD
Diplomatic representation from the US / embassy: Building 979, Road 3119, Block 331, Zinj District, P.O. Box 26431, Manama
Diplomatic representation from the US / mailing address: 6210 Manama Place, Washington DC 20521-6210
Diplomatic representation from the US / telephone: [973] 17-242700
Diplomatic representation from the US / FAX: [973] 17-272594
Diplomatic representation from the US / email address and website: ManamaConsular@state.gov https://bh.usembassy.gov/
International organization participation: ABEDA, AFESD, AMF, CAEU, CICA, FAO, G-77, GCC, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAS, MIGA, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNOOSA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Independence: 15 August 1971 (from the UK)
National holiday: National Day, 16 December (1971)
Flag: description: red, with a white serrated band of five white points on the left side meaning: red is the traditional color for flags of Persian Gulf states; the five points represent the five pillars of Islam history: until 2002, the flag had eight white points, but this was reduced to five to avoid confusion with the Qatari flag
National symbol(s): a white serrated band with five white points on top of a red field
National color(s): red, white
National anthem(s) / title: "Bahrainona" (Our Bahrain)
National anthem(s) / lyrics/music: unknown
National anthem(s) / history: adopted 1971; Mohamed Sudqi AYYASH wrote the original lyrics, but they were changed in 2002 after Bahrain became a kingdom
National heritage / total World Heritage Sites: 3 (all cultural)
National heritage / selected World Heritage Site locales: Dilmun Burial Mounds; Qal'at al-Bahrain – Ancient Harbor and Capital of Dilmun; Bahrain Pearling Path

## Economy
Economic overview: high-income, growing Middle Eastern island economy; oil and aluminum exporter with diversification led by services, construction and manufacturing; regional finance and tourism hub; high public debt linked to oil revenue dependence and limited tax base; vulnerable to water reservoir depletion
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $93.937 billion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $91.185 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $87.781 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2024: 3% (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2023: 3.9% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2022: 6.2% (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2024: $59,100 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2023: $57,800 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2022: $57,600 (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $47.737 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: 0.1% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 3.6% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / agriculture: 0.3% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / industry: 43.4% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / services: 51.9% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / household consumption: 38.9% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / government consumption: 14.6% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in fixed capital: 27.5% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in inventories: 1.8% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / exports of goods and services: 87.4% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / imports of goods and services: -70.1% (2023 est.)
Agricultural products: lamb/mutton, dates, milk, tomatoes, chicken, eggs, sheep offal, sheepskins, eggplants, chillies/peppers (2023)
Industries: petroleum processing and refining, aluminum smelting, iron pelletization, fertilizers, Islamic and offshore banking, insurance, ship repairing, tourism
Industrial production growth rate: 0.1% (2023 est.)
Labor force: 913,300 (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2024: 1.2% (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2023: 1.2% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2022: 1.4% (2022 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / total: 5.2% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / male: 2.5% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / female: 12.4% (2024 est.)
Average household expenditures / on food: 13.6% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Average household expenditures / on alcohol and tobacco: 0.4% 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: $5.538 billion (2020 est.)
Budget / expenditures: $9.982 billion (2020 est.)
Public debt / Public debt 2020: 111.6% of GDP (2020 est.)
Taxes and other revenues: 2.8% (of GDP) (2020 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2024: $2.282 billion (2024 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2023: $2.699 billion (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2022: $6.839 billion (2022 est.)
Exports / Exports 2024: $41.303 billion (2024 est.)
Exports / Exports 2023: $40.344 billion (2023 est.)
Exports / Exports 2022: $44.58 billion (2022 est.)
Exports - partners: UAE 16%, Saudi Arabia 15%, South Africa 8%, USA 6%, India 4% (2023)
Exports - commodities: refined petroleum, aluminum, iron ore, aluminum wire, jewelry (2023)
Imports / Imports 2024: $33.044 billion (2024 est.)
Imports / Imports 2023: $32.374 billion (2023 est.)
Imports / Imports 2022: $33.066 billion (2022 est.)
Imports - partners: China 13%, Saudi Arabia 12%, UAE 11%, Brazil 8%, Australia 7% (2023)
Imports - commodities: iron ore, aluminum oxide, ships, cars, gold (2023)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024: $4.949 billion (2024 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023: $5.118 billion (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $4.775 billion (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Currency: Bahraini dinars (BHD) per US dollar -
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2024: 0.376 (2024 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2023: 0.376 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2022: 0.376 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2021: 0.376 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2020: 0.376 (2020 est.)

## Energy
Electricity access / electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)
Electricity / installed generating capacity: 7.031 million kW (2023 est.)
Electricity / consumption: 35.09 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / exports: 467.898 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / imports: 480.883 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / transmission/distribution losses: 1.093 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / fossil fuels: 99.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / solar: 0.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Coal / exports: 600 metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / imports: 300 metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum / total petroleum production: 190,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Petroleum / refined petroleum consumption: 72,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Petroleum / crude oil estimated reserves: 186.5 million barrels (2021 est.)
Natural gas / production: 19.55 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / consumption: 19.878 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / imports: 81.98 million cubic meters (2020 est.)
Natural gas / proven reserves: 81.383 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)
Energy consumption per capita / Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 554.202 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

## Communications
Telephones - fixed lines / total subscriptions: 246,000 (2023 est.)
Telephones - fixed lines / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 16 (2023 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / total subscriptions: 2,415,720 (2023 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 160 (2024 est.)
Broadcast media: state-run Bahrain Radio and Television Corporation (BRTC) operates 6 terrestrial TV networks and several radio stations; satellite TV systems provide access to international broadcasts; 1 private FM station has broadcasts for Indian listeners; radio and TV broadcasts from countries in the region are available (2023)
Internet country code: .bh
Internet users / percent of population: 100% (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / total: 268,000 (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 17 (2023 est.)

## Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: A9C
Airports: 3 (2025)
Heliports: 8 (2025)
Merchant marine / total: 184 (2023)
Merchant marine / by type: general cargo 12, oil tanker 3, other 169
Ports / total ports: 4 (2024)
Ports / large: 0
Ports / medium: 3
Ports / small: 1
Ports / very small: 0
Ports / ports with oil terminals: 1
Ports / key ports: Al Manamah, Khalifa Bin Salman, Mina Salman, Sitrah

## Military and Security
Military and security forces: Bahrain Defense Force (BDF): Royal Bahraini Army (includes the Royal Guard), Royal Bahraini Navy, Royal Bahraini Air Force Ministry of Interior: National Guard, Special Security Forces Command (SSFC), Coast Guard (2025)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2024: 3% of GDP (2024 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2023: 3.2% of GDP (2023 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2022: 3.2% of GDP (2022 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2021: 3.6% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2020: 4.2% of GDP (2020 est.)
Military and security service personnel strengths: information varies; approximately 10,000 active Bahrain Defense Force; approximately 3,000 National Guard (2025)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the military's inventory is comprised of mostly older US armaments alongside smaller quantities from other countries, such as France, Germany, Turkey, and the UK (2025)
Military service age and obligation: 18 years of age for voluntary military service; 18-55 to voluntarily join the reserves (2025)
Military - note: the BDF (established 1968) is responsible for territorial defense and support to internal security; its primary concern is Iran, both the conventional military threat and Tehran's support to regional terrorist groups; the BDF participates in multinational exercises and has conducted small deployments outside of the country; in 2015, for example, Bahrain joined the Saudi Arabia-led military intervention in Yemen, supplying a few hundred troops and combat aircraft Bahrain’s closest security partners are Saudi Arabia and the US; Bahraini leaders have said that the security ties of Bahrain and Saudi Arabia are “indivisible”; Saudi Arabia sent forces to Bahrain to assist with internal security following the 2011 uprising; Bahrain hosts the US Naval Forces Central Command (USNAVCENT; established 1983), which includes the US 5th Fleet and the Combined Maritime Forces (established 2002), a coalition of more than 30 nations providing maritime security for regional shipping lanes; Bahrain also has close security ties with the UK, which maintains a naval support facility there Bahrain hosts the Gulf Cooperation Council's (GCC) Unified Maritime Operations Center and is a member of the Peninsula Shield Forces, a joint military force established by the GCC countries with the aim of maintaining security and stability in the region (2025)

## Space
Space agency/agencies: Bahrain Space Agency (BSA; established 2014) (2025)
Space program overview: focuses on promoting space research and science, applying space-related technologies, and building capacity in the fields of satellite manufacturing, tracking, control, data processing and analysis, and remote sensing; cooperates with a variety of foreign agencies and commercial entities, including those of India, Italy, Japan, Oman, Saudi Arabia, the UK, the UAE, and the US; also a member of the Arab Space Coordination Group (2025)
Key space-program milestones: 2022 - first scientific nanosatellite (Light-1 CubeSat) built with assistance from the UAE and launched by Japan; joined US-led Artemis Accords for space exploration 2023 - first domestically built technology-demonstrator nanosatellite (Kuwait Sat-1) launched by US 2025 - first domestically built remote-sensing nanosatellite (Al Munther) launched by US

## Terrorism
Terrorist group(s): al-Ashtar Brigades; Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps/Qods Force

## Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons / refugees: 371 (2024 est.)

=== Gaza, Gaza Strip ===

## Introduction
Background: The Gaza Strip has been under the de facto governing authority of the Islamic Resistance Movement (HAMAS) since 2007 and has faced years of conflict, poverty, and humanitarian crises. Inhabited since at least the 15th century B.C., the Gaza Strip area has been dominated by many different peoples and empires throughout its history; it was incorporated into the Ottoman Empire in the early 16th century. The Gaza Strip fell to British forces during World War I, becoming a part of the British Mandate of Palestine. Following the 1948 Arab-Israeli War, Egypt administered the newly formed Gaza Strip; Israel captured it in the Six-Day War in 1967. Under a series of agreements known as the Oslo Accords signed between 1993 and 1999, Israel transferred to the newly-created Palestinian Authority (PA) security and civilian responsibility for many Palestinian-populated areas of the Gaza Strip, as well as the West Bank. In 2000, a violent intifada or uprising began in response to perceived Israeli provocations, and in 2001, negotiations to determine the permanent status of the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and Gaza Strip stalled. Subsequent attempts to re-start negotiations have not resulted in progress toward determining final status and resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Israel in 2005 unilaterally withdrew all of its settlers and soldiers and dismantled its military facilities in the Gaza Strip, but it continues to control the Gaza Strip’s land borders, maritime territorial waters, cyberspace, telecommunications, and airspace. In 2006, HAMAS won a majority in the Palestinian Legislative Council election. Fatah, the dominant Palestinian political faction in the West Bank, and HAMAS failed to maintain a unity government, leading to violent clashes between their respective supporters and HAMAS's violent seizure of all PA military and governmental institutions in the Gaza Strip in 2007. Since HAMAS's takeover, Israel and Egypt have enforced tight restrictions on movement and access of goods and individuals into and out of the territory. Fatah and HAMAS have since negotiated a series of agreements aimed at restoring political unity between the Gaza Strip and the West Bank but have struggled to enact them. Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip and the Israel Defense Forces periodically exchange projectiles and air strikes, respectively, threatening broader conflict. In 2021, HAMAS launched rockets into Israel, sparking an 11-day conflict that also involved other Gaza-based militant groups. Egypt, Qatar, and the UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process negotiated ceasefires, averting a broader conflict. Since 2018, HAMAS has coordinated demonstrations along the Gaza-Israel security fence. HAMAS has also stood by while other militant groups, such as Palestinian Islamic Jihad, fought brief conflicts with Israel, most recently in August 2022 and May 2023. On 7 October 2023, HAMAS militants inside the Gaza Strip launched a combined unguided rocket and ground attack into Israel. The attack began with a barrage of more than 3,000 rockets fired toward Israel from Gaza, and included thousands of terrorists infiltrating Israel by land, sea, and air via paragliders. Militants attacked military bases, clashed with security forces mostly in southern Israel, and simultaneously infiltrated civilian communities. During the attack, terrorists carried out massacres and murdered civilians, including torture, acts of abuse and rape, a massacre at the Supernova music festival near Kibbutz Re'im, as well as kidnapping approximately 240 civilians, including men, women, children, and soldiers. These attacks were followed soon after by Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) air strikes inside Gaza. The next day, Israeli Prime Minister NETANYAHU formally declared war on Gaza. The IDF on 28 October launched a large-scale ground assault inside Gaza that is ongoing as of April 2024.

## Geography
Location: Middle East, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Egypt and Israel
Geographic coordinates: 31 25 N, 34 20 E
Map references: Middle East
Area / total: 360 sq km
Area / land: 360 sq km
Area / water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly more than twice the size of Washington, D.C.
Land boundaries / total: 72 km
Land boundaries / border countries: Egypt 13 km; Israel 59 km
Coastline: 40 km
Maritime claims: see entry for Israel
Climate: temperate, mild winters, dry and warm to hot summers
Terrain: flat to rolling, sand- and dune-covered coastal plain
Elevation / highest point: Abu 'Awdah (Joz Abu 'Awdah) 105 m
Elevation / lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m
Natural resources: arable land, natural gas
Land use / agricultural land: 64.9% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 7% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 11.8% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 46.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 1.8% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 32.1% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land: (2013) 151 sq km; note - includes the West Bank
Population distribution: population concentrated in major cities, particularly Gaza City in the north
Natural hazards: droughts
Geography - note: once a strategic strip of land along Mideast-North African trade routes

## People and Society
Population / total: 2,184,652 (2025 est.)
Population / male: 1,108,222
Population / female: 1,076,430
Ethnic groups: Palestinian Arab
Languages / Languages: Arabic, Hebrew (spoken by many Palestinians), English (widely understood)
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 98.0 - 99.0% (predominantly Sunni), Christian <1.0%, other, unaffiliated, unspecified <1.0% (2012 est.)
Age structure / 0-14 years: 38.8% (male 427,450/female 404,288)
Age structure / 15-64 years: 58.3% (male 627,235/female 620,903)
Age structure / 65 years and over: 2.9% (2024 est.) (male 31,655/female 30,112)
Dependency ratios / total dependency ratio: 69.6 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / youth dependency ratio: 64.5 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / elderly dependency ratio: 5.1 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / potential support ratio: 19.7 (2025 est.)
Median age / total: 19.9 years (2025 est.)
Median age / male: 19.3 years
Median age / female: 19.8 years
Population growth rate: 1.96% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 26.05 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 2.77 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: -3.66 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution: population concentrated in major cities, particularly Gaza City in the north
Urbanization / urban population: 77.6% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 2.85% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 778,000 Gaza (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: 1.05 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio: 16 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Infant mortality rate / total: 14.2 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Infant mortality rate / male: 16.3 deaths/1,000 live births
Infant mortality rate / female: 13.8 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth / total population: 75.5 years (2024 est.)
Life expectancy at birth / male: 73.7 years
Life expectancy at birth / female: 77.4 years
Total fertility rate: 3.14 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 1.52 (2025 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: total: total: 98.9% of population
Drinking water source / unimproved: total: total: 1.1% of population (2022 est.)
Health expenditure: 13.5% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density: 2.17 physicians/1,000 population (2020)
Hospital bed density: 1.3 beds/1,000 population (2019 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: urban: urban: 100% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: rural: rural: 99% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: total: total: 99.8% of population
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: urban: urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: rural: rural: 1% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: total: total: 0.2% of population (2022 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 2.1% (2020 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49): 62.4% (2020 est.)
Child marriage / women married by age 15: 0.7% (2020)
Child marriage / women married by age 18: 13.4% (2020)
Education expenditure: 5.4% of GDP (2021 est.)
Literacy / total population: 98% (2022 est.)
Literacy / male: 99% (2022 est.)
Literacy / female: 97% (2022 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: 14 years (2023 est.)

## Environment
Environmental issues: soil degradation; desertification; water pollution from chemicals and pesticides; salination of fresh water; improper sewage treatment; depletion and contamination of underground water resources
Climate: temperate, mild winters, dry and warm to hot summers
Land use / agricultural land: 64.9% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 7% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 11.8% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 46.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 1.8% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 32.1% (2023 est.)
Urbanization / urban population: 77.6% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 2.85% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / total emissions: 3.913 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from petroleum and other liquids: 3.913 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: 1.387 million tons (2024 est.)
Total water withdrawal / municipal: 251 million cubic meters (2022)
Total water withdrawal / industrial: 37 million cubic meters (2022)
Total water withdrawal / agricultural: 158 million cubic meters (2022)
Total renewable water resources: 837 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: none
Country name / conventional short form: Gaza, Gaza Strip
Country name / local long form: none
Country name / local short form: Qita' Ghazzah
Country name / etymology: named for the largest city in the enclave, Gaza, whose settlement can be traced back to at least the 15th century B.C. (as "Ghazzat"); "Strip" refers to its elongated shape along the Mediterranean

## Economy
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $20.339 billion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $27.694 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $29.016 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2024: -26.6% (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2023: -4.6% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2022: 4.1% (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2024: $3,800 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2023: $5,400 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2022: $5,800 (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $13.711 billion (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024: 53.7% (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023: 5.9% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 3.7% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / agriculture: 5.7% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / industry: 17.4% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / services: 58.3% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / household consumption: 95.5% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / government consumption: 20.7% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in fixed capital: 21.8% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in inventories: 1.7% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / exports of goods and services: 21% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / imports of goods and services: -60.3% (2024 est.)
Agricultural products: tomatoes, milk, cucumbers/gherkins, olives, potatoes, sheep milk, eggplants, pumpkins/squash, grapes, goat milk (2023)
Industries: textiles, food processing, furniture
Industrial production growth rate: -32.2% (2024 est.)
Labor force: 1.391 million (2022 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2022: 24.5% (2022 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2021: 26.4% (2021 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2020: 25.9% (2020 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / total: 36.1% (2022 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / male: 31.6% (2022 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / female: 56.6% (2022 est.)
Population below poverty line: 29.2% (2016 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income / Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2023: 36.4 (2023 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / lowest 10%: 2.5% (2023 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / highest 10%: 27.1% (2023 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2024: 5.4% of GDP (2024 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2023: 18.2% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2022: 24% of GDP (2022 est.)
Budget: see entry for the West Bank
Taxes and other revenues: 21.5% (of GDP) (2021 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2024: -$2.899 billion (2024 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2023: -$2.895 billion (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2022: -$2.037 billion (2022 est.)
Exports / Exports 2024: $2.885 billion (2024 est.)
Exports / Exports 2023: $3.413 billion (2023 est.)
Exports / Exports 2022: $3.533 billion (2022 est.)
Exports - partners: Jordan 51%, Turkey 12%, UAE 8%, Saudi Arabia 5%, UK 4% (2023)
Exports - commodities: scrap iron, tropical fruits, olive oil, building stone, prepared meat (2023)
Imports / Imports 2024: $8.264 billion (2024 est.)
Imports / Imports 2023: $11.637 billion (2023 est.)
Imports / Imports 2022: $12.257 billion (2022 est.)
Imports - partners: Egypt 25%, Jordan 17%, China 8%, Germany 7%, UAE 7% (2023)
Imports - commodities: cement, raw sugar, cars, baked goods, perfumes (2023)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024: $1.328 billion (2024 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023: $1.323 billion (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $896.9 million (2022 est.)
Exchange rates: see entry for the West Bank

## Energy
Electricity access / electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)
Electricity / installed generating capacity: 352,000 kW (2023 est.)
Electricity / consumption: 6.956 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / imports: 6.925 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / transmission/distribution losses: 988 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / fossil fuels: 66.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / solar: 33.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Coal / exports: 1 metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum / refined petroleum consumption: 29,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Energy consumption per capita / Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 14.991 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

## Communications
Telephones - fixed lines / total subscriptions: 383,653 (2023 est.)
Telephones - fixed lines / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 7 (2023 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / total subscriptions: 4,148,420 (2023 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 77 (2023 est.)
Broadcast media: 1 TV station and about 10 radio stations; satellite TV accessible
Internet country code: .ps
Internet users / percent of population: 87% (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / total: 431,000 (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 8 (2023 est.)

## Transportation

## Military and Security
Military and security forces: HAMAS maintains security forces inside Gaza in addition to its military wing, the 'Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades; the military wing ostensibly reports to the HAMAS Political Bureau but operates with considerable autonomy; there are several other militant groups operating in the Gaza Strip, most notably the Al-Quds Brigades of Palestinian Islamic Jihad, which are usually but not always beholden to HAMAS's authority (2025)
Military expenditures: not available
Military and security service personnel strengths: prior to the start of the 2023-2025 conflict with Israel, the military wing of HAMAS was estimated to have 20-30,000 fighters (2024)

## Terrorism
Terrorist group(s): Army of Islam; Abdallah Azzam Brigades; al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade; HAMAS; Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps/Qods Force; Palestine Islamic Jihad (PIJ); Palestine Liberation Front; Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP); PFLP-General Command

## Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons / IDPs: 2,032,011 (2024 est.)

=== Iran ===

## Introduction
Background: Known as Persia until 1935, Iran became an Islamic republic in 1979 after the ruling monarchy was overthrown and Shah Mohammad Reza PAHLAVI was forced into exile. Conservative clerical forces led by Ayatollah Ruhollah KHOMEINI established a theocratic system of government with ultimate political authority vested in a religious scholar known as the Supreme Leader, who is accountable only to the Assembly of Experts -- an elected 88-member body of clerics. US-Iran relations became strained when Iranian students seized the US Embassy in Tehran in November 1979 and held embassy personnel hostage until mid-January 1981. The US cut off diplomatic relations with Iran in April 1980. From 1980 to 1988, Iran fought a bloody, indecisive war with Iraq that eventually expanded into the Persian Gulf and led to clashes between US Navy and Iranian military forces. Iran has been designated a state sponsor of terrorism since 1984. After the election of reformer Hojjat ol-Eslam Mohammad KHATAMI as president in 1997 and a reformist Majles (legislature) in 2000, a political reform campaign in response to popular dissatisfaction was initiated, but conservative politicians blocked reform measures while increasing repression. Municipal and legislative elections in 2003 and 2004 saw conservatives reestablish control over Iran's elected government institutions, culminating in the 2005 inauguration of hardliner Mahmud AHMADI-NEJAD as president. His reelection in 2009 sparked nationwide protests over allegations of electoral fraud, and the protests persisted until 2011. In 2013, Iranians elected to the presidency centrist cleric Dr. Hasan Fereidun RUHANI, a longtime senior regime member who promised to reform society and foreign policy. In 2019, Tehran's sudden decision to increase the gasoline price sparked nationwide protests, which the regime violently suppressed. Conservatives won the majority in Majles elections in 2020, and hardline cleric Ebrahim RAISI was elected president in 2021, resulting in a conservative monopoly across the regime's elected and unelected institutions. Iran continues to be subject to a range of international sanctions and export controls because of its involvement in terrorism, weapons proliferation, human rights abuses, and concerns over the nature of its nuclear program. Iran received nuclear-related sanctions relief in exchange for nuclear concessions under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action's (JCPOA) Implementation Day beginning in 2016. However, the US reimposed nuclear-related sanctions on Iran after it unilaterally terminated its JCPOA participation in 2018. In October 2023, the EU and the UK also decided to maintain nuclear-proliferation-related measures on Iran, as well as arms and missile embargoes, in response to Iran's non-compliance with its JCPOA commitments. As president, RAISI has concentrated on deepening Iran's foreign relations with anti-US states -- particularly China and Russia -- to weather US sanctions and diplomatic pressure, while supporting negotiations to restore a nuclear deal that began in 2021. RAISI contended with nationwide protests that began in September 2022 and persisted for over three months after the death of a Kurdish Iranian woman, Mahsa AMINI, in morality police custody. Young people and women led the protests, and demands focused on regime change.

## Geography
Location: Middle East, bordering the Gulf of Oman, the Persian Gulf, and the Caspian Sea, between Iraq and Pakistan
Geographic coordinates: 32 00 N, 53 00 E
Map references: Middle East
Area / total: 1,648,195 sq km
Area / land: 1,531,595 sq km
Area / water: 116,600 sq km
Area - comparative: almost 2.5 times the size of Texas; slightly smaller than Alaska
Land boundaries / total: 5,894 km
Land boundaries / border countries: Afghanistan 921 km; Armenia 44 km; Azerbaijan 689 km; Iraq 1,599 km; Pakistan 959 km; Turkey 534 km; Turkmenistan 1,148 km
Coastline: 2,440 km
Maritime claims / territorial sea: 12 nm
Maritime claims / contiguous zone: 24 nm
Maritime claims / exclusive economic zone: bilateral agreements or median lines in the Persian Gulf
Maritime claims / continental shelf: natural prolongation
Climate: mostly arid or semiarid, subtropical along Caspian coast
Terrain: rugged, mountainous rim; high, central basin with deserts, mountains; small, discontinuous plains along both coasts
Elevation / highest point: Kuh-e Damavand 5,625 m
Elevation / lowest point: Caspian Sea -28 m
Elevation / mean elevation: 1,305 m
Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas, coal, chromium, copper, iron ore, lead, manganese, zinc, sulfur
Land use / agricultural land: 29% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 9.7% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 1.2% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 18.2% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 6.6% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 64.4% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land: 79,721 sq km (2020)
Major lakes (area sq km) / salt water lake(s): Caspian Sea (shared with Russia, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, and Kazakhstan) - 374,000 sq km; Lake Urmia - 5,200 sq km; Lake Namak - 750 sq km
Major rivers (by length in km): Euphrates (shared with Turkey [s], Syria, and Iraq [m]) - 3,596 km; Tigris (shared with Turkey, Syria, and Iraq [m]) - 1,950 km; Helmand (shared with Afghanistan [s]) - 1,130 km note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Major watersheds (area sq km) / Indian Ocean drainage: (Persian Gulf) Tigris and Euphrates (918,044 sq km)
Population distribution: population is concentrated in the north, northwest, and west, reflecting the position of the Zagros and Elburz Mountains; the vast, dry areas in the center and eastern parts of the country, around the deserts of the Dasht-e Kavir and Dasht-e Lut, have a much lower population density
Natural hazards: periodic droughts, floods; dust storms, sandstorms; earthquakes
Geography - note: strategic location on the Persian Gulf and Strait of Hormuz

## People and Society
Population / total: 89,177,357 (2025 est.)
Population / male: 45,098,223
Population / female: 44,079,134
Nationality / noun: Iranian(s)
Nationality / adjective: Iranian
Ethnic groups: Persian, Azeri, Kurd, Lur, Baloch, Arab, Turkmen, and Turkic tribes
Languages / Languages: Persian Farsi (official), Azeri and other Turkic dialects, Kurdish, Gilaki and Mazandarani, Luri, Balochi, Arabic
Languages / major-language sample(s): چکیده نامه جهان، منبعی ضروری برای کسب اطلاعات کلی جهان (Persian) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
Religions: Muslim (official) 98.5%, Christian 0.7%, Baha'i 0.3%, agnostic 0.3%, other (includes Zoroastrian, Jewish, Hindu) 0.2% (2020 est.)
Age structure / 0-14 years: 23.3% (male 10,512,797/female 10,040,282)
Age structure / 15-64 years: 69.8% (male 31,413,125/female 30,267,241)
Age structure / 65 years and over: 7% (2024 est.) (male 2,869,617/female 3,283,875)
Dependency ratios / total dependency ratio: 42.8 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / youth dependency ratio: 30.4 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / elderly dependency ratio: 12.4 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / potential support ratio: 8.1 (2025 est.)
Median age / total: 35.2 years (2025 est.)
Median age / male: 33.6 years
Median age / female: 34.1 years
Population growth rate: -0.87% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 11.24 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 4.42 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: -15.52 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution: population is concentrated in the north, northwest, and west, reflecting the position of the Zagros and Elburz Mountains; the vast, dry areas in the center and eastern parts of the country, around the deserts of the Dasht-e Kavir and Dasht-e Lut, have a much lower population density
Urbanization / urban population: 77.3% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 1.32% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 9.500 million TEHRAN (capital), 3.368 million Mashhad, 2.258 million Esfahan, 1.721 million Shiraz, 1.661 million Tabriz, 1.594 million Karaj (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: 1.04 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 65 years and over: 0.87 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio: 16 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Infant mortality rate / total: 9.7 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Infant mortality rate / male: 15.4 deaths/1,000 live births
Infant mortality rate / female: 13.2 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth / total population: 75.6 years (2024 est.)
Life expectancy at birth / male: 74.3 years
Life expectancy at birth / female: 77.1 years
Total fertility rate: 1.53 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 0.74 (2025 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: urban: urban: 98.7% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: rural: rural: 94.4% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: total: total: 97.7% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: urban: urban: 1.3% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: rural: rural: 5.6% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: total: total: 2.3% of population (2022 est.)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 5.8% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 19% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density: 1.81 physicians/1,000 population (2023)
Hospital bed density: 1.9 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: 25.8% (2016)
Alcohol consumption per capita / total: 0.02 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: 0.02 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / other alcohols: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Tobacco use / total: 13.3% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / male: 23.8% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / female: 2.8% (2025 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 4.3% (2017 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49): 69.6% (2022 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% GDP): 2.8% of GDP (2023 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% national budget): 18.8% national budget (2022 est.)
Literacy / total population: 86% (2016 est.)
Literacy / male: 90% (2016 est.)
Literacy / female: 81% (2016 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: 14 years (2020 est.)

## Environment
Environmental issues: air pollution, especially in urban areas, from vehicle emissions, refinery operations, and industrial effluents; deforestation; overgrazing; desertification; oil pollution in the Persian Gulf; wetland losses from drought; soil degradation (salination); inadequate potable water; water pollution from raw sewage and industrial waste
International environmental agreements / party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
International environmental agreements / signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation
Climate: mostly arid or semiarid, subtropical along Caspian coast
Land use / agricultural land: 29% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 9.7% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 1.2% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 18.2% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 6.6% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 64.4% (2023 est.)
Urbanization / urban population: 77.3% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 1.32% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / total emissions: 823.364 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from coal and metallurgical coke: 7.136 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from petroleum and other liquids: 316.922 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from consumed natural gas: 499.306 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Particulate matter emissions: 36.4 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Methane emissions / energy: 6,208.1 kt (2022-2024 est.)
Methane emissions / agriculture: 819.7 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Methane emissions / waste: 832.7 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Methane emissions / other: 37.6 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Waste and recycling / municipal solid waste generated annually: 17.885 million tons (2024 est.)
Waste and recycling / percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 16.8% (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / municipal: 6.2 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / industrial: 1.1 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / agricultural: 86 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total renewable water resources: 137 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Geoparks / total global geoparks and regional networks: 3
Geoparks / global geoparks and regional networks: Aras; Qeshm Island; Tabas (2023)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: Islamic Republic of Iran
Country name / conventional short form: Iran
Country name / local long form: Jomhuri-ye Eslami-ye Iran
Country name / local short form: Iran
Country name / former: Persia
Country name / etymology: the name derives from the Sanskrit word arya , referring to people living in a mountainous land, from the root word ar -, or "mountain;" the former name, Persia, was originally "Pars" (or the Arabic-influenced variant "Fars") from the Old Persian parsi , meaning "pure"
Government type: theocratic republic
Capital / name: Tehran
Capital / geographic coordinates: 35 42 N, 51 25 E
Capital / time difference: UTC+3.5 (8.5 hours ahead of Washington, DC)
Capital / daylight saving time: does not observe daylight savings time
Capital / etymology: the name probably means "flat" or "lower," referring to its location in the foothills of the Elburz Mountains
Administrative divisions: 31 provinces ( ostanha , singular - ostan ); Alborz, Ardabil, Azarbayjan-e Gharbi (West Azerbaijan), Azarbayjan-e Sharqi (East Azerbaijan), Bushehr, Chahar Mahal va Bakhtiari, Esfahan, Fars, Gilan, Golestan, Hamadan, Hormozgan, Ilam, Kerman, Kermanshah, Khorasan-e Jonubi (South Khorasan), Khorasan-e Razavi (Razavi Khorasan), Khorasan-e Shomali (North Khorasan), Khuzestan, Kohgiluyeh va Bowyer Ahmad, Kordestan, Lorestan, Markazi, Mazandaran, Qazvin, Qom, Semnan, Sistan va Baluchestan, Tehran, Yazd, Zanjan
Legal system: religious system based on secular and Islamic law
Constitution / history: previous 1906; latest adopted 24 October 1979, effective 3 December 1979
Constitution / amendment process: proposed by the supreme leader &ndash; after consultation with the Exigency Council &ndash; and submitted as an edict to the "Council for Revision of the Constitution," a body consisting of various executive, legislative, judicial, and academic leaders and members; passage requires absolute majority vote in a referendum and approval of the supreme leader; articles including Iran&rsquo;s political system, its religious basis, and its form of government 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 father must be a citizen of Iran
Citizenship / dual citizenship recognized: no
Citizenship / residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch / chief of state: Supreme Leader Ali Hoseini-KHAMENEI (since 4 June 1989)
Executive branch / head of government: President Masoud PEZESHKIAN (since 30 July 2024)
Executive branch / cabinet: Council of Ministers selected by the president with legislative approval; the supreme leader has some control over appointments to several ministries
Executive branch / election/appointment process: supreme leader appointed for life by Assembly of Experts; president directly elected by absolute-majority popular vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a 4-year term (eligible for a second term and an additional nonconsecutive term)
Executive branch / most recent election date: 28 June 2024, with runoff held on 5 July 2024
Executive branch / election results: 2024: first round results - Masoud PEZESHKIAN (independent) 44.4%, Saeed JALILI (Front of Islamic Revolution Stability) 40.4%, Mohammad Baqer QAKIBAF (Progress and Justice Population of Islamic Iran) 14.3%, other 0.9%; second round results - Masoud PEZESHKIAN elected; Masoud PEZESHKIAN 54.8%, Saeed JALILI 45.2% 2021: Ebrahim RAISI elected president; percent of vote - Ebrahim RAISI (independent) 72.4%, Mohsen REZAI (RFII) 13.8%, Abbdolnaser HEMATI (ECP) 9.8%, Amir-Hosein Qazizadeh-HASHEMI (Islamic Law Party) 4%
Legislative branch / legislature name: Islamic Parliament of Iran (Majles Shoraye Eslami)
Legislative branch / legislative structure: unicameral
Legislative branch / number of seats: 290 (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: 3/1/2024 to 5/10/2024
Legislative branch / percentage of women in chamber: 4.9%
Legislative branch / expected date of next election: February 2028
Judicial branch / highest court(s): Supreme Court (consists of the chief justice and organized into 42 two-bench branches, each with a justice and a judge)
Judicial branch / judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court president appointed by the head of the High Judicial Council (HJC), a 5-member body to include the Supreme Court chief justice, the prosecutor general, and 3 clergy, in consultation with judges of the Supreme Court; president appointed for a single, renewable 5-year term; other judges appointed by the HJC; judge tenure NA
Judicial branch / subordinate courts: Penal Courts I and II; Islamic Revolutionary Courts; Courts of Peace; Special Clerical Court (functions outside the judicial system and handles cases involving clerics); military courts
Political parties: Combatant Clergy Association (an active political group) Executives of Construction Party Front of Islamic Revolutionary Stability Islamic Coalition Party Progress and Justice Population of Islamic Iran Militant Clerics Society (Majma-e Ruhaniyoun-e Mobarez) or MRM Moderation and Development Party National Trust Party (Hezb-e E'temad-eMelli) or HEM Progress and Justice Society Union of Islamic Iran People's Party (Hezb-e Ettehad-e Iran-e Eslami)
Diplomatic representation in the US: none note : Iran has an Interests Section in the Pakistani Embassy; address: Iranian Interests Section, Embassy of Pakistan, 1250 23rd Street NW, Washington, DC 20037; telephone: [1] (202) 965-4990; FAX [1] (202) 965-1073; email: requests@daftar.org; info@daftarwashington.com; website: https://daftar.org/
Diplomatic representation from the US / embassy: none; the US Interests Section is located in the Embassy of Switzerland; US Foreign Interests Section, Embassy of Switzerland, Pasdaran, Shahid Mousavi Street (Golestan 5th), Corner of Paydarfard Street, No. 55, Tehran
International organization participation: BRICS, CICA, CP, D-8, ECO, 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, MIGA, NAM, OIC, OPCW, OPEC, PCA, SAARC (observer), SCO (observer), UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNOOSA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)
Independence: 1 April 1979 (Islamic Republic of Iran proclaimed); notable earlier dates: ca. 550 B.C. (Achaemenid or Persian Empire established); A.D. 1501 (Iran reunified under the Safavid dynasty); 1794 (beginning of Qajar dynasty); 12 December 1925 (modern Iran established under the PAHLAVI dynasty)
National holiday: Republic Day, 1 April (1979)
Flag: description: three equal horizontal bands of green (top), white, and red; centered in the white band is the red national emblem, a stylization of the word Allah in the shape of a tulip (a symbol of martyrdom); ALLAH AKBAR (God is Great) in white Arabic script is repeated 11 times along the bottom edge of the green band and 11 times along the top edge of the red band meaning: green is the color of Islam and also represents growth, white stands for honesty and peace, and red for bravery and martyrdom
National symbol(s): lion
National color(s): green, white, red
National anthem(s) / title: "Soroud-e Melli-ye Jomhouri-ye Eslami-ye Iran" (National Anthem of the Islamic Republic of Iran)
National anthem(s) / lyrics/music: multiple authors/Hassan RIAHI
National anthem(s) / history: adopted 1990
National heritage / total World Heritage Sites: 29 (27 cultural, 2 natural)
National heritage / selected World Heritage Site locales: Persepolis (c); Tchogha Zanbil (c); Bam and its Cultural Landscape (c); Golestan Palace (c); Shushtar Historical Hydraulic System (c); Pasargadae (c); Hyrcanian Forests (n); Tabriz Historic Bazaar Complex (c); Meidan Emam, Esfahan (c); Bisotun (c); Takht-e Soleyman (c); Soltaniyeh(c); Bisotun (c); Armenian Monastic Ensembles of Iran(c); Sheikh Safi al-din Khānegāh and Shrine Ensemble in Ardabil (c); The Persian Garden (c); Gonbad-e Qābus (c); Masjed-e Jām&eacute; of Isfahan (c); Shahr-i Sokhta (c); Cultural Landscape of Maymand (c); Susa (c); Lut Desert (n);The Persian Qanat (c); Historic City of Yazd (c); Sassanid Archaeological Landscape of Fars Region (c); Cultural Landscape of Hawraman/Uramanat (c); Trans-Iranian Railway (c); The Persian Caravanserai (c); Hegmataneh (c); Prehistoric Sites of the Khorramabad Valley (c)

## Economy
Economic overview: traditionally state-controlled economy but reforming state-owned financial entities; strong oil/gas, agricultural, and service sectors; recent massive inflation due to exchange rate depreciation, international sanctions, and investor uncertainty; increasing poverty
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $1.486 trillion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $1.442 trillion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $1.373 trillion (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2024: 3% (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2023: 5% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2022: 3.8% (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2024: $16,200 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2023: $15,900 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2022: $15,300 (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $436.906 billion (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024: 32.5% (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023: 44.6% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 43.5% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / agriculture: 13% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / industry: 36.4% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / services: 47.9% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / household consumption: 50.5% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / government consumption: 12.9% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in fixed capital: 26.7% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in inventories: 13.3% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / exports of goods and services: 22.9% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / imports of goods and services: -26.8% (2024 est.)
Agricultural products: wheat, sugarcane, milk, sugar beets, rice, tomatoes, barley, potatoes, oranges, apples (2023)
Industries: petroleum, petrochemicals, gas, fertilizer, caustic soda, textiles, cement and other construction materials, food processing (particularly sugar refining and vegetable oil production), ferrous and nonferrous metal fabrication, armaments
Industrial production growth rate: 2.8% (2024 est.)
Labor force: 28.575 million (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: 9.1% (2022 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / total: 22.8% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / male: 20% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / female: 35.5% (2024 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income / Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2023: 35.9 (2023 est.)
Average household expenditures / on food: 27.9% 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%: 2.8% (2023 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / highest 10%: 28.2% (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: $60.714 billion (2019 est.)
Budget / expenditures: $90.238 billion (2019 est.)
Public debt / Public debt 2017: 39.5% of GDP (2017 est.)
Exports / Exports 2024: $100.031 billion (2024 est.)
Exports / Exports 2023: $97.924 billion (2023 est.)
Exports / Exports 2022: $105.752 billion (2022 est.)
Exports - partners: China 35%, Turkey 16%, India 8%, Pakistan 7%, Armenia 5% (2023)
Exports - commodities: plastics, iron ore, alcohols, natural gas, refined copper (2023)
Imports / Imports 2024: $117.176 billion (2024 est.)
Imports / Imports 2023: $113.21 billion (2023 est.)
Imports / Imports 2022: $97.729 billion (2022 est.)
Imports - partners: China 34%, UAE 20%, Turkey 11%, Brazil 8%, Germany 4% (2023)
Imports - commodities: broadcasting equipment, vehicle parts/accessories, corn, soybeans, vehicle bodies (2023)
Debt - external / Debt - external 2023: $6.759 billion (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Currency: Iranian rials (IRR) per US dollar -
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2023: 42,000 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2022: 42,000 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2021: 42,000 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2020: 42,000 (2020 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2019: 42,000 (2019 est.)

## Energy
Electricity access / electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)
Electricity / installed generating capacity: 86.058 million kW (2023 est.)
Electricity / consumption: 335.175 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / exports: 5.723 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / imports: 3.136 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / transmission/distribution losses: 37.948 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / fossil fuels: 94.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / nuclear: 1.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / solar: 0.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / wind: 0.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / hydroelectricity: 3.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Nuclear energy / Number of operational nuclear reactors: 1 (2025)
Nuclear energy / Number of nuclear reactors under construction: 1 (2025)
Nuclear energy / Net capacity of operational nuclear reactors: 0.92GW (2025 est.)
Nuclear energy / Percent of total electricity production: 1.7% (2023 est.)
Coal / production: 2.209 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / consumption: 3.032 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / exports: 212,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / imports: 1.098 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / proven reserves: 1.203 billion metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum / total petroleum production: 4.112 million bbl/day (2023 est.)
Petroleum / refined petroleum consumption: 2.415 million bbl/day (2023 est.)
Petroleum / crude oil estimated reserves: 208.6 billion barrels (2021 est.)
Natural gas / production: 265.088 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / consumption: 252.353 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / exports: 14.698 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / imports: 2.274 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / proven reserves: 33.987 trillion cubic meters (2021 est.)
Energy consumption per capita / Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 160.779 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

## Communications
Telephones - fixed lines / total subscriptions: 29.02 million (2023 est.)
Telephones - fixed lines / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 32 (2023 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / total subscriptions: 159 million (2024 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 174 (2024 est.)
Broadcast media: state-run broadcast media with no private, independent broadcasters; Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB), the state-run TV broadcaster, operates over 60 television channels, over 50 radio stations, and dozens of newspapers and websites; about 20 foreign Persian-language TV stations broadcasting on satellite TV can be seen in Iran; satellite dishes are illegal and sometimes confiscated; most major international broadcasters transmit to Iran (2023)
Internet country code: .ir
Internet users / percent of population: 80% (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / total: 10.9 million (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 12 (2023 est.)

## Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: EP
Airports: 177 (2025)
Heliports: 90 (2025)
Railways / total: 8,483.5 km (2014)
Railways / standard gauge: 8,389.5 km (2014) 1.435-m gauge (189.5 km electrified)
Railways / broad gauge: 94 km (2014) 1.676-m gauge
Merchant marine / total: 965 (2023)
Merchant marine / by type: bulk carrier 32, container ship 28, general cargo 398, oil tanker 86, other 421
Ports / total ports: 18 (2024)
Ports / large: 0
Ports / medium: 4
Ports / small: 6
Ports / very small: 8
Ports / ports with oil terminals: 13
Ports / key ports: Abadan, Bandar Abbas, Bushehr, Khorramshahr

## Military and Security
Military and security forces: the military forces of Iran are divided between the Islamic Republic of Iran Regular Forces (Artesh) and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC or Sepah): Artesh: Ground Forces, Navy (includes marines), Air Force, Air Defense Forces IRGC: Ground Forces, Navy (includes marines), Aerospace Force (controls strategic missile force), Qods Force (aka Quds Force; special operations), Cyber Electronic Command, Basij Paramilitary Forces Ministry of Interior: Law Enforcement Command (FARAJA) Ministry of Intelligence and Security (2025)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2024: 2% of GDP (2024 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2023: 2.3% of GDP (2023 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2022: 2.5% of GDP (2022 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2021: 2.3% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2020: 2.1% of GDP (2020 est.)
Military and security service personnel strengths: information varies; up to 600,000 total active armed forces personnel; estimated 400,000 Islamic Republic of Iran Regular Forces (350,000 Ground Forces; 18,000 Navy; 40,000 Air Force/Air Defense Forces); up to estimated 190,000 Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (100-150,000 Ground Forces; 20,000 Navy; 15,000 Aerospace Force; 5,000 Qods Force); estimated 90,000 active Basij Paramilitary Forces (2025)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the Iranian military's inventory includes a mix of domestically produced and foreign equipment largely of Chinese, Russian/Soviet, and US origin (US equipment acquired prior to the Islamic Revolution in 1979); it also has some military equipment from North Korea such as midget submarines and ballistic missiles; in recent years, Iran has received some newer equipment from Russia; Iran has a defense industry with the capacity to develop, produce, support, and sustain air, land, missile, and naval weapons programs (2025)
Military service age and obligation: 16 for voluntary military service for men; military service is compulsory for all Iranian men at age 18 or 19 years of age; compulsory service obligation 14-21 months, depending on the location of service; women exempted from conscription but may volunteer (2025)
Military deployments: note: Iran maintained a military presence in Syria and recruited, trained, and funded thousands of Syrian and foreign fighters to support the ASAD regime during the Syrian civil war (2011-December 2024)
Military - note: the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) was formed in May 1979 in the immediate aftermath of Shah Mohammad Reza PAHLAVI’s fall, as leftists, nationalists, and Islamists jockeyed for power; while the interim prime minister controlled the government and state institutions, such as the Army, followers of Ayatollah Ruhollah KHOMEINI organized counterweights, including the IRGC, to protect the Islamic revolution; the IRGC’s command structure bypassed the elected president and went directly to KHOMEINI; the IRGC played a critical role in helping KHOMEINI consolidate power in the aftermath of the 1979 revolution, and it ensured that KHOMEINI's Islamic revolutionary vision prevailed against domestic challenges from nationalists and leftist factions in the scramble for control after the Shah's departure the Iran-Iraq War (1980–88) transformed the IRGC into more of a conventional fighting force with its own ground, air, naval, and special forces, plus control over Iran’s strategic missile and rocket forces; today, the IRGC is a highly institutionalized and parallel military force to Iran’s regular armed forces (Artesh); it is involved in internal security and has influence in the political and economic spheres of Iranian society, as well as Iran’s foreign policy; on the economic front, it owns factories and corporations and subsidiaries in banking, infrastructure, housing, airlines, tourism and other sectors; its special operations forces, known as the Qods/Quds Force, specialize in foreign missions and have provided advice, funding, guidance, material support, training, and weapons to militants in countries such as Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, and Yemen, as well as extremist groups, including HAMAS, Hizballah, Kata’ib Hizballah, and Palestine Islamic Jihad; the Qods Force also conducts intelligence and reconnaissance operations; note - both the IRGC and the Qods Force have been designated as foreign terrorist organizations by the US (see Terrorist Organizations under References) the Supreme Council for National Security (SCNS) is the senior-most body for formulating Iran’s foreign and security policy; it is formally chaired by the president, who also appoints the SCNS secretary; its members include the speaker of the Majles, the head of the judiciary, the chief of the Armed Forces General Staff (chief of defense or CHOD), the commanders of the Artesh (regular forces) and IRGC, and the ministers of defense, foreign affairs, interior, and intelligence; the SCNS reports to the supreme leader; the supreme leader is the commander-in-chief of the armed forces the Iranian Armed Forces are divided between the regular forces (Artesh) and the IRGC; the Artesh primarily focuses on defending Iran’s borders and territorial waters from external threats, while the IRGC has a broader mission to defend the Iranian revolution from any foreign or domestic threat; in 1989, Iran established the Armed Forces General Staff to coordinate military action across both the Artesh and the IRGC; Iran also has a joint military headquarters, the Khatam ol-Anbia Central Headquarters, to command the Artesh and IRGC in wartime (2024)

## Space
Space agency/agencies: Iranian Space Agency (ISA; created in 2003); Iran Space Research Center (ISRC; established, 2000); Ministry of Defense and Armed Forces Logistics (MODAFL); Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps - Aerospace Force (IRGC-ARF) (2024)
Space launch site(s): Imam Khomeini Space Center (aka Semnan Space Center; Semnan province); Shahroud Space Center (Semnan Province; IRGC-operated); Chabahar Space Center (Sistan and Baluchistan Province; under development) (2025)
Space program overview: has an ambitious civil and military space program focused on satellites and satellite launch vehicles (SLV); designs, builds, and operates satellites, including communications, remote sensing (RS), and scientific; manufactures and operates SLVs; researching and developing other space-related capabilities and technologies in areas such as telecommunications, RS, navigation, and space situational awareness; international sanctions against Iran&rsquo;s weapons of mass destruction program have severely limited Iran&rsquo;s cooperation with foreign space agencies and commercial space industries; in recent years, however, it has worked with North Korea and Russia, as well as regional and international space organizations such as the Asia-Pacific Space Cooperation Organization and the International Telecommunications Satellite Organization; Iran was a founding member of the UN Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS) in 1958; has an active private space industry (2025)
Key space-program milestones: 1998 - began development of 2-stage satellite/space launch vehicle (SLV) (Safir) 2006 - first successful launch of a small, domestically produced communications and research satellite (Omid) on the Safir SLV 2010 - began developing a more capable 2-stage orbital SLV (Simorgh; aka Safir-2) 2011 - launched first domestically produced remote sensing (RS) satellite (Rasad) on Safir SLV 2020 - placed RS microsatellite (Noor) in orbit on 3-stage SLV (Qased or Messenger) 2021 - first launch of road-mobile 3-stage SLV (Zuljanah) 2022 - completed suborbital test of new small-lift SLV (Quam-100)

## Terrorism
Terrorist group(s): Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC)/Qods Force; Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS); Jaysh al Adl (Jundallah); Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK); al-Qa’ida

## Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons / refugees: 3,489,257 (2024 est.)
Refugees and internally displaced persons / IDPs: 421 (2024 est.)
Trafficking in persons / tier rating: Tier 3 — Iran does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and is not making significant efforts to do so, therefore, Iran remained on Tier 3; for more details, go to: https://www.state.gov/reports/2025-trafficking-in-persons-report/iran/

=== Israel ===

## Introduction
Background: Israel has become a regional economic and military powerhouse, leveraging its prosperous high-tech sector, large defense industry, and concerns about Iran to foster partnerships around the world. The State of Israel was established in 1948. The UN General Assembly proposed in 1947 partitioning the British Mandate for Palestine into an Arab and Jewish state. The Jews accepted the proposal, but the local Arabs and the Arab states rejected the UN plan and launched a war. The Arabs were subsequently defeated in the 1947-1949 war that followed the UN proposal and the British withdrawal. Israel joined the UN in 1949 and saw rapid population growth, primarily due to Jewish refugee migration from Europe and the Middle East. Israel and its Arab neighbors fought wars in 1956, 1967, and 1973, and Israel signed peace treaties with Egypt in 1979 and Jordan in 1994. Israel took control of the West Bank, the eastern part of Jerusalem, the Gaza Strip, the Sinai Peninsula, and the Golan Heights in the course of the 1967 war. It ceded the Sinai back to Egypt in the 1979-1982 period but has continued to administer the other territories through military authorities. Israel and Palestinian officials signed interim agreements in the 1990s that created a period of Palestinian self-rule in parts of the West Bank and Gaza. Israel withdrew from Gaza in 2005. The most recent formal efforts between Israel and the Palestinian Authority to negotiate final status issues occurred in 2013 and 2014, and the US continues its efforts to advance peace. Israel signed the US-brokered normalization agreements (the Abraham Accords) with Bahrain, the UAE, and Morocco in 2020 and reached an agreement with Sudan in 2021. Immigration to Israel continues, with more than 44,000 estimated new immigrants, mostly Jewish, in the first 11 months of 2023. Former Prime Minister Benjamin NETANYAHU returned to office in 2022, continuing his dominance of Israel's political landscape at the head of Israel's most rightwing and religious government. NETANYAHU previously served as premier from 1996 to 1999 and from 2009 to 2021, becoming Israel's longest serving prime minister. On 7 October 2023, HAMAS militants launched a combined unguided rocket and ground terrorist attack from Gaza into southern Israel. The same day Israel’s Air Force launched air strikes inside Gaza and initiated a sustained air campaign against HAMAS targets across the Gaza Strip. The following day, NETANYAHU formally declared war on HAMAS, and on 28 October, the Israel Defense Forces launched a large-scale ground assault inside Gaza. The Israeli economy has undergone a dramatic transformation in the last 30 years, led by cutting-edge high-tech sectors. Offshore gas discoveries in the Mediterranean place Israel at the center of a potential regional natural gas market. In 2022, a US-brokered agreement between Israel and Lebanon established their maritime boundary, allowing Israel to begin production on additional gas fields in the Mediterranean. However, Israel's economic development has been uneven. Structural issues such as low labor-force participation among religious and minority populations, low workforce productivity, high costs for housing and consumer staples, and high income inequality concern both economists and the general population. The current war with Hamas disrupted Israel’s solid economic fundamentals, but it is not likely to have long-term structural implications for the economy.

## Geography
Location: Middle East, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Egypt and Lebanon
Geographic coordinates: 31 30 N, 34 45 E
Map references: Middle East
Area / total: 21,937 sq km
Area / land: 21,497 sq km
Area / water: 440 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly larger than New Jersey
Land boundaries / total: 1,068 km
Land boundaries / border countries: Egypt 208 km; Gaza Strip 59 km; Jordan 327 km (20 km are within the Dead Sea); Lebanon 81 km; Syria 83 km; West Bank 330 km
Coastline: 273 km
Maritime claims / territorial sea: 12 nm
Maritime claims / continental shelf: to depth of exploitation
Climate: temperate; hot and dry in southern and eastern desert areas
Terrain: Negev desert in the south; low coastal plain; central mountains; Jordan Rift Valley
Elevation / highest point: Mitspe Shlagim 2,224 m; note - this is the highest named point, the actual highest point is an unnamed dome slightly to the west of Mitspe Shlagim at 2,236 m; both points are on the northeastern border of Israel, along the southern end of the Anti-Lebanon mountain range
Elevation / lowest point: Dead Sea -431 m
Elevation / mean elevation: 508 m
Natural resources: timber, potash, copper ore, natural gas, phosphate rock, magnesium bromide, clays, sand
Land use / agricultural land: 24.8% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 12.5% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 4.7% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 7.6% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 6.7% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 68.5% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land: 1,927 sq km (2022)
Major lakes (area sq km) / salt water lake(s): Dead Sea (shared with Jordan and West Bank) - 1,020 sq km note - endorheic hypersaline lake; 9.6 times saltier than the ocean; lake shore is 431 meters below sea level
Population distribution: population concentrated in and around Tel-Aviv, as well as around the Sea of Galilee; the south remains sparsely populated, with the exception of the shore of the Gulf of Aqaba
Natural hazards: sandstorms may occur during spring and summer; droughts; periodic earthquakes
Geography - note: note 1: Lake Tiberias (Sea of Galilee) is an important freshwater source; the Dead Sea is the second saltiest body of water in the world (after Lake Assal in Djibouti) note 2: the Malham Cave in Mount Sodom is the world's longest salt cave at 10 km (6 mi); Mount Sodom is a hill about 220 m (722 ft) high that is 80% salt, with multiple salt layers covered by a veneer of rock

## People and Society
Population / total: 9,402,617 (2024 est.)
Population / male: 4,731,275
Population / female: 4,671,342
Nationality / noun: Israeli(s)
Nationality / adjective: Israeli
Ethnic groups: Jewish 73.5% (of which Israel-born 79.7%, Europe/America/Oceania-born 14.3%, Africa-born 3.9%, Asia-born 2.1%), Arab 21.1%, other 5.4% (2022 est.)
Languages / Languages: Hebrew (official), Arabic (special status under Israeli law), English (most commonly used foreign language)
Languages / major-language sample(s): ספר עובדות העולם, המקור החיוני למידע בסיסי (Hebrew) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
Religions: Jewish 73.5%, Muslim 18.1%, Christian 1.9%, Druze 1.6%, other 4.9% (2022 est.)
Age structure / 0-14 years: 27.5% (male 1,320,629/female 1,260,977)
Age structure / 15-64 years: 60.3% (male 2,885,485/female 2,781,777)
Age structure / 65 years and over: 12.3% (2024 est.) (male 525,161/female 628,588)
Dependency ratios / total dependency ratio: 65.9 (2024 est.)
Dependency ratios / youth dependency ratio: 45.6 (2024 est.)
Dependency ratios / elderly dependency ratio: 20.4 (2024 est.)
Dependency ratios / potential support ratio: 4.9 (2024 est.)
Median age / total: 30.2 years (2025 est.)
Median age / male: 29.6 years
Median age / female: 30.7 years
Population growth rate: 1.59% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 18.89 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 4.89 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: 1.88 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution: population concentrated in and around Tel-Aviv, as well as around the Sea of Galilee; the south remains sparsely populated, with the exception of the shore of the Gulf of Aqaba
Urbanization / urban population: 92.9% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 1.51% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 4.421 million Tel Aviv-Yafo, 1.174 million Haifa, 970,000 JERUSALEM (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: 1.04 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 65 years and over: 0.84 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth: 27.7 years (2019 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio: 2 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Infant mortality rate / total: 2.6 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Infant mortality rate / male: 3.3 deaths/1,000 live births
Infant mortality rate / female: 2.3 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth / total population: 83.1 years (2024 est.)
Life expectancy at birth / male: 81.1 years
Life expectancy at birth / female: 85.1 years
Total fertility rate: 2.89 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 1.41 (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): 7.9% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 13% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density: 3.8 physicians/1,000 population (2023)
Hospital bed density: 3.1 beds/1,000 population (2021 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: urban: urban: 100% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: rural: rural: 99% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: total: total: 99.9% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: urban: urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: rural: rural: 1% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: total: total: 0.1% of population (2022 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 26.1% (2016)
Alcohol consumption per capita / total: 3.07 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / beer: 1.78 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / wine: 0.08 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / spirits: 1.16 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / other alcohols: 0.04 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Tobacco use / total: 18.6% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / male: 24.9% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / female: 12.4% (2025 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49): 50.4% (2021 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% GDP): 5.9% of GDP (2022 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% national budget): 16.1% national budget (2022 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / total: 15 years (2022 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / male: 14 years (2022 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / female: 16 years (2022 est.)

## Environment
Environmental issues: limited arable land and restricted natural freshwater resources; desertification; air pollution from industrial and vehicle emissions; groundwater pollution from industrial and domestic waste, chemical fertilizers, and pesticides
International environmental agreements / party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
International environmental agreements / signed, but not ratified: Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Marine Life Conservation
Climate: temperate; hot and dry in southern and eastern desert areas
Land use / agricultural land: 24.8% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 12.5% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 4.7% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 7.6% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 6.7% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 68.5% (2023 est.)
Urbanization / urban population: 92.9% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 1.51% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / total emissions: 64.401 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from coal and metallurgical coke: 11.542 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from petroleum and other liquids: 28.793 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from consumed natural gas: 24.066 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Particulate matter emissions: 20.4 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Methane emissions / energy: 29.2 kt (2022-2024 est.)
Methane emissions / agriculture: 40.6 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Methane emissions / waste: 272.7 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Methane emissions / other: 0.7 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Waste and recycling / municipal solid waste generated annually: 5.4 million tons (2024 est.)
Waste and recycling / percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 30.4% (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / municipal: 1 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / industrial: 104.834 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / agricultural: 1.215 billion cubic meters (2022)
Total renewable water resources: 1.78 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: State of Israel
Country name / conventional short form: Israel
Country name / local long form: Medinat Yisra'el
Country name / local short form: Yisra'el
Country name / former: Mandatory Palestine
Country name / etymology: named after the ancient Kingdom of Israel; according to Biblical tradition, the Jewish patriarch Jacob received the name Israel (meaning "He who struggles with God") after he wrestled with an angel of the Lord
Government type: parliamentary democracy
Capital / name: Jerusalem
Capital / geographic coordinates: 31 46 N, 35 14 E
Capital / time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Capital / daylight saving time: +1hr, Friday before the last Sunday in March; ends the last Sunday in October
Capital / etymology: the meaning of the ancient name is unclear; the city is called Ursalim or Urusalimmi in Egyptian texts from the 14th century B.C., which may come from the Western Semitic verb yaru , meaning "to establish," and the name Shalim, the Canaanite god of dusk; another theory says the root letters s-l-m in the name refer to shalom , meaning "peace"
Administrative divisions: 6 districts ( mehozot , singular - mehoz ); Central, Haifa, Jerusalem, Northern, Southern, Tel Aviv
Legal system: mixed system of English common law, British Mandate regulations, and Jewish, Christian, and Muslim religious laws
Constitution / history: no formal constitution; some functions of a constitution are filled by the Declaration of Establishment (1948), the Basic Laws, and the Law of Return (as amended)
Constitution / amendment process: proposed by Government of Israel ministers or by the Knesset; passage requires a majority vote of Knesset members and subject to Supreme Court judicial review
International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; withdrew acceptance of ICCt jurisdiction in 2002
Citizenship / citizenship by birth: no
Citizenship / citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Israel
Citizenship / dual citizenship recognized: yes, but naturalized citizens are not allowed to maintain dual citizenship
Citizenship / residency requirement for naturalization: 3 out of the 5 years preceding the application for naturalization
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal; 17 years of age for municipal elections
Executive branch / chief of state: President Isaac HERZOG (since 7 July 2021)
Executive branch / head of government: Prime Minister Benyamin NETANYAHU (since 29 December 2022)
Executive branch / cabinet: Cabinet selected by prime minister and approved by the Knesset
Executive branch / election/appointment process: president indirectly elected by the Knesset for a single 7-year term; following legislative elections, the president, in consultation with party leaders, tasks a Knesset member (usually the member of the largest party) with forming a new government
Executive branch / most recent election date: 2 June 2021
Executive branch / election results: 2021: Isaac HERZOG elected president; Knesset vote in first round - Isaac HERZOG (independent) 87, Miriam PERETZ (independent) 26, invalid/blank 7 2014: Reuven RIVLIN elected president in second round; Knesset vote - Reuven RIVLIN (Likud) 63, Meir SHEETRIT (The Movement) 53, other/invalid 4
Executive branch / expected date of next election: June 2028
Legislative branch / legislature name: Parliament (Knesset)
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: 11/1/2022
Legislative branch / parties elected and seats per party: Likud (32); Yesh Atid (24); Religious Zionism (14); National Unity (12); Shas (11); United Torah Judaism (Yahadut Hatorah) (7); Yisrael Beiteinu (6); Other (14)
Legislative branch / percentage of women in chamber: 24.2%
Legislative branch / expected date of next election: October 2026
Judicial branch / highest court(s): Supreme Court (consists of the president, deputy president, 13 justices, and 2 registrars) and normally sits in panels of 3 justices; in special cases, the panel is expanded with an uneven number of justices
Judicial branch / judge selection and term of office: judges selected by the 9-member Judicial Selection Committee, consisting of the Minister of Justice (chair), the president of the Supreme Court, two other Supreme Court justices, 1 other Cabinet minister, 2 Knesset members, and 2 representatives of the Israel Bar Association; judges can serve up to mandatory retirement at age 70
Judicial branch / subordinate courts: district and magistrate courts; national and regional labor courts; family and juvenile courts; special and Rabbinical courts
Political parties: Balad Blue and White Hadash Labor Party or HaAvoda Likud Meretz National Unity (alliance includes Blue and White and New Hope) New Hope Noam Otzma Yehudit Religious Zionist Party Shas Ta'al United Arab List United Torah Judaism or UTJ (alliance includes Agudat Israel and Degel HaTorah) Yesh Atid Yisrael Beiteinu
Diplomatic representation in the US / chief of mission: Ambassador Yechiel (Michael) LEITER (since 4 February 2025)
Diplomatic representation in the US / chancery: 3514 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation in the US / telephone: [1] (202) 364-5500
Diplomatic representation in the US / FAX: [1] (202) 364-5607
Diplomatic representation in the US / email address and website: consular@washington.mfa.gov.il https://embassies.gov.il/washington/Pages/default.aspx
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 Mike HUCKABEE (21 April 2025)
Diplomatic representation from the US / embassy: 14 David Flusser Street, Jerusalem, 9378322
Diplomatic representation from the US / mailing address: 6350 Jerusalem Place, Washington DC 20521-6350
Diplomatic representation from the US / telephone: [972] (2) 630-4000
Diplomatic representation from the US / FAX: [972] (2) 630-4070
Diplomatic representation from the US / email address and website: JerusalemACS@state.gov https://il.usembassy.gov/
Diplomatic representation from the US / branch office(s): Tel Aviv
International organization participation: BIS, BSEC (observer), CE (observer), CERN, CICA, EBRD, FAO, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW (signatory), OSCE (partner), Pacific Alliance (observer), Paris Club, PCA, SELEC (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNOOSA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Independence: 14 May 1948 (following League of Nations mandate under British administration)
National holiday: Independence Day, 14 May (1948)
Flag: description: white with a blue hexagram (six-pointed linear star) known as the Magen David (Star of David or Shield of David) centered between two equal horizontal blue bands near the top and bottom edges of the flag history: the design resembles a traditional Jewish prayer shawl ( tallit ), which is white with blue stripes; the hexagram as a Jewish symbol dates back to medieval times
National symbol(s): Star of David (Magen David), menorah (seven-branched lampstand)
National color(s): blue, white
National anthem(s) / title: "Hatikvah" (The Hope)
National anthem(s) / lyrics/music: Naftali Herz IMBER/traditional, arranged by Samuel COHEN
National anthem(s) / history: adopted 2004, unofficial since 1948; used as the anthem of the Zionist movement since 1897; the 1888 arrangement by Samuel COHEN is thought to be based on the Romanian folk song "Carul cu boi" (The Ox-Driven Cart)
National heritage / total World Heritage Sites: 9 (all cultural)
National heritage / selected World Heritage Site locales: Masada; Old City of Acre; White City of Tel-Aviv - the Modern Movement; Biblical Tels - Megiddo, Hazor, Beer Sheba; Incense Route - Desert Cities in the Negev; Bahá’i Holy Places; Sites of Human Evolution at Mount Carmel; Caves of Maresha and Bet-Guvrin; Necropolis of Bet She’arim

## Economy
Economic overview: high-income, technology- and industrial-based economy; economic contraction and fiscal deficits resulting from war in Gaza; labor force stabilizing following military reservist mobilization; high-tech industry remains resilient while construction and tourism among hardest-hit sectors
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $472.177 billion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $468.095 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $459.698 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: 1.8% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2022: 6.3% (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2024: $47,300 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2023: $47,500 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2022: $48,100 (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $540.38 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: 4.2% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 4.4% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / agriculture: 1.3% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / industry: 17.3% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / services: 72.5% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / household consumption: 48% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / government consumption: 22.3% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in fixed capital: 24.4% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in inventories: 1.7% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / exports of goods and services: 30.4% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / imports of goods and services: -27.6% (2023 est.)
Agricultural products: milk, chicken, potatoes, tomatoes, tangerines/mandarins, bananas, eggs, avocados, beef, carrots/turnips (2023)
Industries: high-technology products (including aviation, communications, computer-aided design and manufactures, medical electronics, fiber optics), wood and paper products, potash and phosphates, food, beverages, and tobacco, caustic soda, cement, pharmaceuticals, construction, metal products, chemical products, plastics, cut diamonds, textiles, footwear
Industrial production growth rate: -4.2% (2024 est.)
Labor force: 4.71 million (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: 3.7% (2022 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / total: 6.1% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / male: 6.2% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / female: 6% (2024 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income / Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2021: 37.9 (2021 est.)
Average household expenditures / on food: 15.8% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Average household expenditures / on alcohol and tobacco: 2.6% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / lowest 10%: 2% (2021 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / highest 10%: 26.6% (2021 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: $162.524 billion (2023 est.)
Budget / expenditures: $188.905 billion (2023 est.)
Public debt / Public debt 2019: 59.6% of GDP (2019 est.)
Taxes and other revenues: 22.1% (of GDP) (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2024: $16.713 billion (2024 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2023: $18.604 billion (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2022: $17.104 billion (2022 est.)
Exports / Exports 2024: $153.248 billion (2024 est.)
Exports / Exports 2023: $154.638 billion (2023 est.)
Exports / Exports 2022: $164.407 billion (2022 est.)
Exports - partners: USA 29%, China 10%, Ireland 6%, Germany 4%, Hong Kong 4% (2023)
Exports - commodities: integrated circuits, diamonds, broadcasting equipment, medical instruments, refined petroleum (2023)
Imports / Imports 2024: $140.438 billion (2024 est.)
Imports / Imports 2023: $140.432 billion (2023 est.)
Imports / Imports 2022: $153.388 billion (2022 est.)
Imports - partners: China 17%, USA 12%, Germany 7%, Turkey 6%, Italy 4% (2023)
Imports - commodities: cars, diamonds, crude petroleum, broadcasting equipment, garments (2023)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024: $214.544 billion (2024 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023: $204.661 billion (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $194.231 billion (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Currency: new Israeli shekels (ILS) per US dollar -
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2024: 3.7 (2024 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2023: 3.667 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2022: 3.36 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2021: 3.23 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2020: 3.442 (2020 est.)

## Energy
Electricity access / electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)
Electricity / installed generating capacity: 22.612 million kW (2023 est.)
Electricity / consumption: 63.964 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / exports: 6.93 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / transmission/distribution losses: 3.51 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / fossil fuels: 89.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / solar: 9.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / wind: 1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / biomass and waste: 0.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Coal / consumption: 5.297 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / exports: 9 metric tons (2022 est.)
Coal / imports: 4.887 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum / total petroleum production: 15,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Petroleum / refined petroleum consumption: 219,000 bbl/day (2024 est.)
Petroleum / crude oil estimated reserves: 12.73 million barrels (2021 est.)
Natural gas / production: 24.186 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / consumption: 12.608 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / exports: 11.505 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / imports: 59.369 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Natural gas / proven reserves: 176.018 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)
Energy consumption per capita / Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 112.437 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

## Communications
Telephones - fixed lines / total subscriptions: 2.905 million (2023 est.)
Telephones - fixed lines / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 31 (2023 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / total subscriptions: 13.8 million (2022 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 152 (2022 est.)
Broadcast media: the Israel Broadcasting Corporation (IBC) has 3 channels, two in Hebrew and one in Arabic; multi-channel satellite and cable TV packages provide access to foreign channels; IBC broadcasts on 8 radio networks with multiple repeaters, and Israel Defense Forces Radio broadcasts over multiple stations; about 15 privately owned radio stations (2019)
Internet country code: .il
Internet users / percent of population: 87% (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / total: 2.76 million (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 30 (2023 est.)

## Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: 4X
Airports: 40 (2025)
Heliports: 13 (2025)
Railways / total: 1,497 km (2021) (2019)
Railways / standard gauge: 1,497 km (2021) 1.435-m gauge
Merchant marine / total: 41 (2023)
Merchant marine / by type: container ship 4, general cargo 1, oil tanker 4, other 32
Ports / total ports: 5 (2024)
Ports / large: 0
Ports / medium: 1
Ports / small: 2
Ports / very small: 2
Ports / ports with oil terminals: 4
Ports / key ports: Ashdod, Ashqelon, Elat, Hadera, Haifa

## Military and Security
Military and security forces: Israel Defense Forces (IDF): Ground Forces, Israel Naval Force (IN, includes commandos), Israel Air Force (IAF, includes air defense) Ministry of National Security: Israeli Police (2025)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2024: 8% 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: 5% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2020: 5% of GDP (2020 est.)
Military and security service personnel strengths: approximately 170,000 active-duty Defense Forces (130,000 Ground Forces; 10,000 Naval; 30,000 Air Force); more than 400,000 reserves (2025)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the majority of the IDF's inventory is comprised of weapons that are domestically produced or imported from Europe and the US; the US has been the leading supplier of arms in recent years; Israel's defense industry can develop, produce, support, and sustain a wide variety of weapons systems for both domestic use and export, particularly armored vehicles, unmanned aerial systems, air defense, and guided missiles (2025)
Military service age and obligation: 18-28 years of age for voluntary military service; 18 months service for men, 12 months for women; 18-21 years of age for compulsory military service for men and women; Jews and Druze can be conscripted; Christians, Circassians, and Muslims may volunteer; conscript service obligation is up to 36 months for enlisted personnel (depending on sex, marital status, and military occupation); officers serve 48 months; Air Force pilots commit to 9 years of service (2024)
Military - note: the IDF is responsible for external defense but also has some domestic security responsibilities; its primary operational focuses include the threat posed by Iran, instability in Syria, and terrorist organizations, including HAMAS, Hizballah, and Palestine Islamic Jihad; since its creation from armed Jewish militias during the First Arab-Israeli War in 1948-49, the IDF, particularly the Ground Force, has been guided by a requirement to rapidly mobilize and defend the country’s territory from numerically superior neighboring countries; the active-duty military is backed up by a large force of trained reserves--approximately 300-400,000 personnel--that can be mobilized rapidly Israel’s primary security partner is the US; consistent with a 10-year (2019-2028) Memorandum of Understanding, the US annually provides over $3 billion in military financing and cooperative military programs, such as missile defense; the US also provides Israel access to US-produced military weapons systems including advanced fighter aircraft; Israel has Major Non-NATO Ally 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 United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) has operated in the Golan between Israel and Syria since 1974 to monitor the ceasefire following the 1973 Arab-Israeli War and supervise the areas of separation between the two countries; UNDOF consists of about 1,300 total personnel (2025)

## Space
Space agency/agencies: Israel Space Agency (ISA; established 1983 under the Ministry of Science and Technology; origins go back to the creation of a National Committee for Space Research, established 1960); Ministry of Defense Space Department (2025)
Space launch site(s): Palmachim Airbase (Central district) (2025)
Space program overview: has an ambitious space program that is one of the most advanced in the region; designs, builds, operates, and launches communications, remote sensing (RS), and scientific satellites; designs, builds, and operates orbital satellite/space launch vehicles (SLVs); researches and develops a range of other space-related capabilities, with a focus on lightweight and miniaturized technologies; has relations with a variety of foreign space agencies and industries, including those of Canada, the ESA, individual ESA member states (such as France, Germany, and Italy), India, Japan, Mexico, and the US; has a substantial commercial space sector, as well as state-owned enterprises (2025)
Key space-program milestones: 1961 - first sounding rocket launched 1988 - first operational launch of small-lift satellite launch vehicle (SLV) (Shavit) placed first domestically produced technology-demonstrator satellite (Ofeq-1) in orbit 1995 - launched first fully operational remote sensing satellite (Ofeq-3) on Shavit SLV 2007 - unveiled Shavit-2 small-lift 3-stage SLV 2014 - joined ESA’s Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer (JUICE) project; domestically built lunar probe (Beresheet) launched by US (crashed on Moon’s surface) 2022 - joined US Artemis Moon exploration project

## Terrorism
Terrorist group(s): Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS); Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP); Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ); HAMAS

## Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons / refugees: 27,413 (2024 est.)
Refugees and internally displaced persons / IDPs: 68,000 (2024 est.)
Refugees and internally displaced persons / stateless persons: 35 (2024 est.)

=== Iraq ===

## Introduction
Background: Formerly part of the Ottoman Empire, Iraq was occupied by the United Kingdom during World War I and was declared a League of Nations mandate under UK administration in 1920. Iraq attained its independence as a kingdom in 1932. It was proclaimed a republic in 1958 after a coup overthrew the monarchy, but in actuality, a series of strongmen ruled the country until 2003. The last was SADDAM Hussein, from 1979 to 2003. Territorial disputes with Iran led to an inconclusive and costly war from 1980 to 1988. In 1990, Iraq seized Kuwait but was expelled by US-led UN coalition forces during the two-month-long Gulf War of 1991. After Iraq's expulsion, the UN Security Council (UNSC) required Iraq to scrap all weapons of mass destruction and long-range missiles and to allow UN verification inspections. Continued Iraqi noncompliance with UNSC resolutions led to the Second Gulf War in 2003, when US-led forces ousted the SADDAM regime. In 2005, Iraqis approved a constitution in a national referendum and elected a 275-member Council of Representatives (COR). The COR approved most of the cabinet ministers, marking the transition to Iraq's first constitutional government in nearly a half-century. Iraq's constitution also established the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), a semi-autonomous region that administers the governorates of Erbil, Dahuk, and As Sulaymaniyah. Iraq has held four national legislative elections since 2006, most recently in 2021. The COR approved Mohammad Shia' al-SUDANI as prime minister in 2022. Iraq has repeatedly postponed elections for provincial councils -- last held in 2013 -- and since 2019, the prime minister has had the authority to appoint governors rather than provincial councils. Between 2014 and 2017, Iraq fought a military campaign against the Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS) to recapture territory the group seized in 2014. In 2017, then-Prime Minister Haydar al-ABADI publicly declared victory against ISIS, although military operations against the group continue in rural areas. Also in 2017, Baghdad forcefully seized disputed territories across central and northern Iraq from the KRG, after a non-binding Kurdish independence referendum.

## Geography
Location: Middle East, bordering the Persian Gulf, between Iran and Kuwait
Geographic coordinates: 33 00 N, 44 00 E
Map references: Middle East
Area / total: 438,317 sq km
Area / land: 437,367 sq km
Area / water: 950 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly more than three times the size of New York State
Land boundaries / total: 3,809 km
Land boundaries / border countries: Iran 1,599 km; Jordan 179 km; Kuwait 254 km; Saudi Arabia 811 km; Syria 599 km; Turkey 367 km
Coastline: 58 km
Maritime claims / territorial sea: 12 nm
Maritime claims / continental shelf: not specified
Climate: mostly desert; mild to cool winters with dry, hot, cloudless summers; northern mountainous regions along Iranian and Turkish borders experience cold winters with occasionally heavy snows that melt in early spring, sometimes causing extensive flooding in central and southern Iraq
Terrain: mostly broad plains; reedy marshes along Iranian border in south with large flooded areas; mountains along borders with Iran and Turkey
Elevation / highest point: Cheekha Dar (Kurdish for "Black Tent") 3,611 m
Elevation / lowest point: Persian Gulf 0 m
Elevation / mean elevation: 312 m
Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas, phosphates, sulfur
Land use / agricultural land: 21.8% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 11.4% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 1.2% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 9.2% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 1.6% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 76.5% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land: 35,250 sq km (2012)
Major lakes (area sq km) / fresh water lake(s): Lake Hammar - 1,940 sq km
Major rivers (by length in km): Euphrates river mouth (shared with Turkey[s], Syria, and Iran) - 3,596 km; Tigris river mouth (shared with Turkey[s], Syria, and Iran) - 1,950 km; the Tigris and Euphrates join to form the Shatt al Arab note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Major watersheds (area sq km) / Indian Ocean drainage: (Persian Gulf) Tigris and Euphrates (918,044 sq km)
Major aquifers: Arabian Aquifer System
Population distribution: population is concentrated in the north, center, and eastern parts of the country, with many of the larger urban agglomerations found along extensive parts of the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers; much of the western and southern areas are either lightly populated or uninhabited
Natural hazards: dust storms; sandstorms; floods
Geography - note: strategic location on Shatt al Arab waterway and at the head of the Persian Gulf

## People and Society
Population / total: 42,917,742 (2025 est.)
Population / male: 21,614,894
Population / female: 21,302,848
Nationality / noun: Iraqi(s)
Nationality / adjective: Iraqi
Ethnic groups: Arab 75-80%, Kurdish 15-20%, other 5% (includes Turkmen, Yezidi, Shabak, Kaka'i, Bedouin, Romani, Assyrian, Circassian, Sabaean-Mandaean, Persian)
Languages / Languages: Arabic (official), Kurdish (official); Turkmen (a Turkish dialect) and Syriac (Neo-Aramaic) are recognized as official languages where native speakers of these languages are present
Languages / major-language sample(s): كتاب حقائق العالم، أحسن مصدر للمعلومات الأساسية (Arabic) ڕاستییەکانی جیهان، باشترین سەرچاوەیە بۆ زانیارییە بنەڕەتییەکان (Kurdish) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
Religions: Muslim (official) 95-98% (Shia 61-64%, Sunni 29-34%), Christian 1% (includes Catholic, Orthodox, Protestant, Assyrian Church of the East), other 1-4% (2015 est.)
Age structure / 0-14 years: 34.6% (male 7,447,266/female 7,130,883)
Age structure / 15-64 years: 61.7% (male 13,064,516/female 12,907,702)
Age structure / 65 years and over: 3.6% (2024 est.) (male 681,574/female 851,495)
Dependency ratios / total dependency ratio: 60.5 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / youth dependency ratio: 54.6 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / elderly dependency ratio: 5.9 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / potential support ratio: 16.9 (2025 est.)
Median age / total: 22.7 years (2025 est.)
Median age / male: 22 years
Median age / female: 22.7 years
Population growth rate: 1.94% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 23.26 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 3.86 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution: population is concentrated in the north, center, and eastern parts of the country, with many of the larger urban agglomerations found along extensive parts of the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers; much of the western and southern areas are either lightly populated or uninhabited
Urbanization / urban population: 71.6% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 2.91% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 7.711 million BAGHDAD (capital), 1.792 million Mosul, 1.448 million Basra, 1.075 million Kirkuk, 958,000 Najaf, 897,000 Erbil (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: 1.01 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 65 years and over: 0.8 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio: 66 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Infant mortality rate / total: 18.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Infant mortality rate / male: 20.4 deaths/1,000 live births
Infant mortality rate / female: 17 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth / total population: 73.7 years (2024 est.)
Life expectancy at birth / male: 71.9 years
Life expectancy at birth / female: 75.7 years
Total fertility rate: 3.03 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 1.48 (2025 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: urban: urban: 99.8% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: rural: rural: 94.8% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: total: total: 98.4% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: urban: urban: 0.2% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: rural: rural: 5.2% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: total: total: 1.6% of population (2022 est.)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 5.2% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 5.8% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density: 1.02 physicians/1,000 population (2022)
Hospital bed density: 1.3 beds/1,000 population (2021 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: urban: urban: 98.8% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: rural: rural: 97.6% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: total: total: 98.5% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: urban: urban: 1.2% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: rural: rural: 2.4% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: total: total: 1.5% of population (2022 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 30.4% (2016)
Alcohol consumption per capita / total: 0.16 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / beer: 0.11 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / wine: 0 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: 18.6% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / male: 36.2% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / female: 1.3% (2025 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 3.9% (2018 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49): 64.3% (2018 est.)
Child marriage / women married by age 15: 7.2% (2018)
Child marriage / women married by age 18: 27.9% (2018)
Education expenditure: 4.7% of GDP (2016)
Literacy / total population: 84.1% (2021 est.)
Literacy / male: 90.3% (2021 est.)
Literacy / female: 77.8% (2021 est.)

## Environment
Environmental issues: habitat loss from wetland draining; inadequate potable water; soil degradation (salination) and erosion; desertification; air, soil, and groundwater pollution from military and industries; water pollution from oil refineries and factory and sewage discharges; soil pollution from fertilizer and chemicals; air pollution in urban areas
International environmental agreements / party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
International environmental agreements / signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Environmental Modification
Climate: mostly desert; mild to cool winters with dry, hot, cloudless summers; northern mountainous regions along Iranian and Turkish borders experience cold winters with occasionally heavy snows that melt in early spring, sometimes causing extensive flooding in central and southern Iraq
Land use / agricultural land: 21.8% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 11.4% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 1.2% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 9.2% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 1.6% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 76.5% (2023 est.)
Urbanization / urban population: 71.6% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 2.91% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / total emissions: 190.815 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from coal and metallurgical coke: 7,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from petroleum and other liquids: 152.931 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from consumed natural gas: 37.878 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Particulate matter emissions: 45.4 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Methane emissions / energy: 2,243 kt (2022-2024 est.)
Methane emissions / agriculture: 157 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Methane emissions / waste: 325 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Methane emissions / other: 2.3 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Waste and recycling / municipal solid waste generated annually: 13.14 million tons (2024 est.)
Waste and recycling / percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 15.4% (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / municipal: 6.735 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / industrial: 4.52 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / agricultural: 31.169 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total renewable water resources: 89.86 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: Republic of Iraq
Country name / conventional short form: Iraq
Country name / local long form: Jumhuriyat al-Iraq/Komar-i Eraq
Country name / local short form: Al Iraq/Eraq
Country name / former: Mesopotamia, Mandatory Iraq, Hashemite Kingdom of Iraq
Country name / etymology: the name probably derives from Uruk ("Erech" in Aramaic), the ancient Sumerian and Babylonian city on the Euphrates River
Government type: federal parliamentary republic
Capital / name: Baghdad
Capital / geographic coordinates: 33 20 N, 44 24 E
Capital / time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Capital / etymology: the origin of the name is unclear; it may mean "gift of God," from the pre-Islamic words bagh (god) and dad (given)
Administrative divisions: 19 governorates ( muhafazat , singular - muhafazah (Arabic); parezgakan, singular - parezga (Kurdish)); 'Al Anbar; Al Basrah; Al Muthanna; Al Qadisiyah (Ad Diwaniyah); An Najaf; Arbil (Erbil) (Arabic), Halabjah; Hewler (Kurdish); As Sulaymaniyah (Arabic), Slemani (Kurdish); Babil; Baghdad; Dahuk (Arabic), Dihok (Kurdish); Dhi Qar; Diyala; Karbala'; Kirkuk; Maysan; Ninawa; Salah ad Din; Wasit
Legal system: mixed system of civil and Islamic law
Constitution / history: several previous; latest adopted by referendum 15 October 2005
Constitution / amendment process: proposed by the president of the republic and the Council of Minsters collectively, or by one fifth of the Council of Representatives members; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote by the Council of Representatives, approval by referendum, and ratification by the president; passage of amendments to articles on citizen rights and liberties requires two-thirds majority vote of Council of Representatives members after two successive electoral terms, approval in a referendum, and ratification by 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 Iraq
Citizenship / dual citizenship recognized: yes
Citizenship / residency requirement for naturalization: 10 years
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch / chief of state: President Latif RASHID (since 13 October 2022)
Executive branch / head of government: Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-SUDANI (since 27 October 2022)
Executive branch / cabinet: Council of Ministers proposed by the prime minister, approved by Council of Representatives (COR)
Executive branch / election/appointment process: president indirectly elected by COR to serve a 4-year term (eligible for a second term)
Executive branch / most recent election date: 13 October 2022
Executive branch / election results: 2022: Latif RASHID elected president in second round; COR vote in first round - Latif RASHID (PUK) 157, Barham SALIH (PUK) 99; COR vote in second round - Latif RASHID 167, Barham SALIH 99; Mohammed Shia' al-SUDANI approved as prime minister 2018: Barham SALIH elected president in second round; COR vote in first round - Barham SALIH (PUK) 165, Fuad HUSAYN (KDP) 90; COR vote in second round - Barham SALIH 219, Fuad HUSAYN 22; Adil ABD AL-MAHDI approved as prime minister
Legislative branch / legislature name: Council of Representatives of Iraq
Legislative branch / legislative structure: unicameral
Legislative branch / number of seats: 329 (all directly elected)
Legislative branch / electoral system: other systems
Legislative branch / scope of elections: full renewal
Legislative branch / term in office: 4 years
Legislative branch / most recent election date: 11/11/2025
Legislative branch / parties elected and seats per party: Reconstruction & Development Coalition, The Progress (Taqaddum) Party, State of Law Coalition, Sadiqoun Movement, Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), Badr Organization, National State Forces Alliance, Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), Azm Alliance, National Sovereignty, Ishraqat Kanun, Asas (Iraqi Foundation) Coalition, Tasmeem Alliance, Huquq Movement, National Resolve (Hasm)
Legislative branch / percentage of women in chamber: 28.9%
Legislative branch / expected date of next election: November 2029
Judicial branch / highest court(s): Federal Supreme Court or FSC (consists of 9 judges); Court of Cassation (consists of a court president, 5 vice presidents, and at least 24 judges)
Judicial branch / judge selection and term of office: Federal Supreme Court (FSC) judges nominated by the High Judicial Council (HJC) president, the FSC chief justice, the public prosecutor's office chief, and the head of the Judicial Oversight Commission; FSC members required to retire at age 72; Court of Cassation judges appointed by the HJC and confirmed by the Council of Representatives to serve until retirement, nominally at age 63, but can be extended to age 66
Judicial branch / subordinate courts: Courts of Appeal (governorate level); civil courts, including first instance, personal status, labor, and customs; criminal courts including felony, misdemeanor, investigative, major crimes, juvenile, and traffic courts
Political parties: Al Fatah Alliance Azm Alliance Babiliyun Movement Imtidad Ishraqat Konun Kurdistan Democratic Party National Contract Party New Generation Movement Patriotic Union of Kurdistan Sadrist Bloc State Forces Alliance State of Law Coalition Taqadum Tasmim Alliance
Diplomatic representation in the US / chief of mission: Ambassador Nazar Issa Abdulhadi AL-KHIRULLAH (since 30 June 2023)
Diplomatic representation in the US / chancery: 1801 P Street NW, Washington, DC 20036
Diplomatic representation in the US / telephone: [1] (202) 483-7500
Diplomatic representation in the US / FAX: [1] (202) 462-8815
Diplomatic representation in the US / email address and website: washington@scrdiraq.gov.iq https://www.iraqiembassy.us/
Diplomatic representation in the US / consulate(s) general: Detroit, Los Angeles
Diplomatic representation from the US / chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charg&eacute; d'Affaires Ambassador Joshua HARRIS (since 2 September 2025)
Diplomatic representation from the US / embassy: Al-Kindi Street, International Zone, Baghdad; note - consulate in Al Basrah closed as of 28 September 2018
Diplomatic representation from the US / mailing address: 6060 Baghdad Place, Washington DC 20521-6060
Diplomatic representation from the US / telephone: 0760-030-3000
Diplomatic representation from the US / email address and website: BaghdadACS@state.gov https://iq.usembassy.gov/
International organization participation: ABEDA, AFESD, AIIB, AMF, CAEU, CICA, EITI (compliant country), FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, LAS, MIGA, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, OPCW, OPEC, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)
Independence: 3 October 1932 (from League of Nations mandate under British administration)
National holiday: Independence Day, 3 October (1932); Republic Day, 14 July (1958)
Flag: description: three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black; the Takbir (Arabic phrase meaning "God is great") in green Arabic script is centered in the white band meaning: the colors come from the Arab Liberation flag and stand for oppression (black) overcome through bloody struggle (red), to be replaced by a bright future (white) history: the Council of Representatives approved this flag in 2008 as a compromise replacement for the Ba'thist SADDAM-era flag
National symbol(s): golden eagle
National color(s): red, white, black
National anthem(s) / title: "Mawtini" (My Homeland)
National anthem(s) / lyrics/music: Ibrahim TOUQAN/Mohammad FLAYFEL
National anthem(s) / history: adopted 2004, after the ouster of SADDAM Husayn; popular Arab folk song that also serves as an unofficial anthem for the Palestinian people
National heritage / total World Heritage Sites: 6 (5 cultural, 1 mixed)
National heritage / selected World Heritage Site locales: Ashur (Qal'at Sherqat) (c); Babylon (c); Erbil Citadel (c); Hatra (c); Samarra Archaeological City (c); The Ahwar (Marshland) of Southern Iraq: Refuge of Biodiversity and the Relict Landscape of the Mesopotamian Cities (m)

## Economy
Economic overview: highly oil-dependent Middle Eastern economy; fiscal sustainability subject to fluctuation in oil prices; rising public confidence in economic conditions; import-dependent for most sectors; persistent challenges of corruption, informal markets, banking access, and political fragility
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $585.887 billion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $595.082 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $592.017 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: 0.5% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2022: 8% (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2024: $12,700 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2023: $13,200 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2022: $13,400 (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $279.641 billion (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% (2022 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021: 6% (2021 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / agriculture: 3.4% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / industry: 51.6% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / services: 45.8% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / household consumption: 41.2% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / government consumption: 20.3% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in fixed capital: 20.6% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in inventories: 8.8% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / exports of goods and services: 37.5% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / imports of goods and services: -37.2% (2024 est.)
Agricultural products: wheat, dates, maize, tomatoes, rye, grapes, milk, chicken, potatoes, fruits (2023)
Industries: petroleum, chemicals, textiles, leather, construction materials, food processing, fertilizer, metal fabrication/processing
Industrial production growth rate: -2.7% (2024 est.)
Labor force: 12.008 million (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2024: 15.6% (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2023: 15.5% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2022: 15.6% (2022 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / total: 32.1% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / male: 27.5% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / female: 62.7% (2024 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income / Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2023: 29.8 (2023 est.)
Average household expenditures / on food: 28.7% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Average household expenditures / on alcohol and tobacco: 4.3% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / lowest 10%: 3.7% (2023 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / highest 10%: 24.2% (2023 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2023: 0.4% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2022: 0.4% of GDP (2022 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2021: 0.4% of GDP (2021 est.)
Budget / revenues: $90.204 billion (2019 est.)
Budget / expenditures: $64.512 billion (2019 est.)
Public debt / Public debt 2018: 27.4% of GDP (2018 est.)
Taxes and other revenues: 1.3% (of GDP) (2019 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2023: $28.375 billion (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2022: $58.01 billion (2022 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2021: $24.565 billion (2021 est.)
Exports / Exports 2023: $107.852 billion (2023 est.)
Exports / Exports 2022: $127.079 billion (2022 est.)
Exports / Exports 2021: $78.26 billion (2021 est.)
Exports - partners: China 33%, India 28%, USA 8%, Greece 5%, UAE 5% (2023)
Exports - commodities: crude petroleum, refined petroleum, petroleum coke, gold, natural gas (2023)
Imports / Imports 2023: $81.179 billion (2023 est.)
Imports / Imports 2022: $69.162 billion (2022 est.)
Imports / Imports 2021: $50.707 billion (2021 est.)
Imports - partners: UAE 32%, China 20%, Turkey 18%, India 5%, USA 2% (2023)
Imports - commodities: refined petroleum, cars, broadcasting equipment, jewelry, gold (2023)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024: $100.691 billion (2024 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023: $112.233 billion (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $97.009 billion (2022 est.)
Debt - external / Debt - external 2023: $15.58 billion (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Currency: Iraqi dinars (IQD) per US dollar -
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2024: 1,300 (2024 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2023: 1,312.5 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2022: 1,450 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2021: 1,450 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2020: 1,192 (2020 est.)

## Energy
Electricity access / electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)
Electricity / installed generating capacity: 31.339 million kW (2023 est.)
Electricity / consumption: 73.521 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / imports: 3.134 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / transmission/distribution losses: 79.904 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / fossil fuels: 98.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / solar: 0.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / hydroelectricity: 0.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Coal / imports: 3,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum / total petroleum production: 4.448 million bbl/day (2023 est.)
Petroleum / refined petroleum consumption: 1.043 million bbl/day (2023 est.)
Petroleum / crude oil estimated reserves: 145.019 billion barrels (2021 est.)
Natural gas / production: 10.537 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / consumption: 19.308 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / imports: 8.771 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / proven reserves: 3.729 trillion cubic meters (2021 est.)
Energy consumption per capita / Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 64.311 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

## Communications
Telephones - fixed lines / total subscriptions: 1.977 million (2023 est.)
Telephones - fixed lines / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 4 (2023 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / total subscriptions: 46.1 million (2024 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 100 (2024 est.)
Broadcast media: the number of private radio and TV stations has increased rapidly since 2003; state-owned TV and radio stations are operated by the publicly funded Iraqi Media Network; private broadcast media are mostly linked to political, ethnic, or religious groups; satellite TV is available to about 70% of viewers; many broadcasters are based abroad; transmissions of multiple international radio broadcasters are accessible (2019)
Internet country code: .iq
Internet users / percent of population: 82% (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / total: 7.77 million (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 17 (2023 est.)

## Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: YI
Airports: 73 (2025)
Heliports: 10 (2025)
Railways / total: 2,272 km (2014)
Railways / standard gauge: 2,272 km (2014) 1.435-m gauge
Merchant marine / total: 74 (2023)
Merchant marine / by type: general cargo 1, oil tanker 6, other 67
Ports / total ports: 6 (2024)
Ports / large: 0
Ports / medium: 1
Ports / small: 1
Ports / very small: 4
Ports / ports with oil terminals: 3
Ports / key ports: Al Basrah, Al-Basra Oil Terminal, Khawr Al Amaya, Khawr Al Zubair, Umm Qasr

## Military and Security
Military and security forces: Ministry of Defense: Iraqi Army, Iraqi Navy, Iraqi Air Force Office of the Prime Minister: Iraqi Counterterrorism Service (CTS); Popular Mobilization Committee (PMC) Ministry of Interior: Federal Police Forces Command, Border Guard Forces Command, Federal Intelligence and Investigations Agency, Emergency Response Division, Facilities Protection Directorate, and Provincial Police; Ministry of Oil: Energy Police Directorate (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: 1.8% of GDP (2022 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2021: 3% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2020: 3.2% of GDP (2020 est.)
Military and security service personnel strengths: estimated 200,000 active armed forces personnel under the Ministry of Defense (Army, Aviation Command, Air/Air Defense, Navy, Special Forces); approximately 20-25,000 National-Level Security Forces Ministry of Peshmerga: estimated 150,000 active personnel Popular Mobilization Forces: estimated 200,000 militia (2025)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the Iraqi military's inventory includes a mix of European, Russian, Soviet-era, and US armaments (2025)
Military service age and obligation: 18 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription (2025)
Military - note: the Iraqi Security Forces (ISF) are primarily focused on internal and border security; they are actively conducting counterinsurgency and counterterrorism operations against the Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS) terrorist group, particularly in northern and western Iraq; the operations include securing the border with Syria; the Kurdish Security Forces, as well as are also active in conducting operations against ISIS two international military task forces operate in Iraq to assist the country's security forces at the request of the Iraqi Government; in 2018, NATO established an advisory, training and capacity-building mission for the Iraqi military known as the NATO Mission Iraq (NMI); in December 2021, the US-led Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve (CJTF-OIR) transitioned from a combat role to an advise, assist, and enable role (2025)

## Terrorism
Terrorist group(s): Ansar al-Islam; Asa'ib Ahl al-Haq; Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC)/Qods Force; Harakat al-Nujaba (HAN); Harakat Ansar Allah al-Awfiya (HAAA); Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS); Jaysh Rijal al-Tariq al-Naqshabandi; Kata'ib Hizballah; Kata’ib al-Imam Ali (KIA); Kata’ib Sayyid al-Shuhada (KSS); Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK)

## Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons / refugees: 335,343 (2024 est.)
Refugees and internally displaced persons / IDPs: 1,201,813 (2024 est.)
Refugees and internally displaced persons / stateless persons: 233 (2024 est.)

=== Jordan ===

## Introduction
Background: After World War I and the dissolution of the Ottoman Empire, the League of Nations awarded Britain the mandate to govern much of the Middle East. In 1921, Britain demarcated from Palestine a semi-autonomous region of Transjordan and recognized ABDALLAH I from the Hashemite family as the country's first leader. The Hashemites also controlled the Hijaz, or the western coastal area of modern-day Saudi Arabia, until 1925, when IBN SAUD and Wahhabi tribes pushed them out. The country gained its independence in 1946 and thereafter became the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. The country has had four kings. Long-time ruler King HUSSEIN (r. 1953-99) successfully navigated competing pressures from the major powers (US, UK, and Soviet Union), various Arab states, Israel, and Palestinian militants, the latter of which led to a brief civil war in 1970 that is known as "Black September" and ended in King HUSSEIN ousting the militants. Jordan's borders have changed since it gained independence. In 1948, Jordan took control of the West Bank and East Jerusalem in the first Arab-Israeli War, eventually annexing those territories in 1950 and granting its new Palestinian residents Jordanian citizenship. In 1967, Jordan lost the West Bank and East Jerusalem to Israel in the Six-Day War but retained administrative claims to the West Bank until 1988, when King HUSSEIN permanently relinquished Jordanian claims to the West Bank in favor of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO). King HUSSEIN signed a peace treaty with Israel in 1994, after Israel and the PLO signed the Oslo Accords in 1993. Jordanian kings continue to claim custodianship of the Muslim holy sites in Jerusalem by virtue of their Hashemite heritage as descendants of the Prophet Mohammad and agreements with Israel and Jerusalem-based religious and Palestinian leaders. After Israel captured East Jerusalem in the 1967 War, it authorized the Jordanian-controlled Islamic Trust, or Waqf, to continue administering the Al Haram ash Sharif/Temple Mount holy compound, and the Jordan-Israel peace treaty reaffirmed Jordan's "special role" in administering the Muslim holy shrines in Jerusalem. Jordanian kings claim custodianship of the Christian sites in Jerusalem on the basis of the 7th-century Pact of Omar, when the Muslim leader, after conquering Jerusalem, agreed to permit Christian worship. King HUSSEIN died in 1999 and was succeeded by his eldest son and current King ABDALLAH II. In 2009, ABDALLAH II designated his son HUSSEIN as the Crown Prince. During his reign, ABDALLAH II has contended with a series of challenges, including the Arab Spring influx of refugees from neighboring states, the COVID-19 pandemic, the effects of the war in Ukraine, a perennially weak economy, and the Israel-HAMAS conflict that began in October 2023.

## Geography
Location: Middle East, northwest of Saudi Arabia, between Israel (to the west) and Iraq
Geographic coordinates: 31 00 N, 36 00 E
Map references: Middle East
Area / total: 89,342 sq km
Area / land: 88,802 sq km
Area / water: 540 sq km
Area - comparative: about three-quarters the size of Pennsylvania; slightly smaller than Indiana
Land boundaries / total: 1,744 km
Land boundaries / border countries: Iraq 179 km; Israel 307 km; Saudi Arabia 731 km; Syria 379 km; West Bank 148 km
Coastline: 26 km
Maritime claims / territorial sea: 3 nm
Climate: mostly arid desert; rainy season in west (November to April)
Terrain: mostly arid desert plateau; a great north-south geological rift along the west of the country is the dominant topographical feature and includes the Jordan River Valley, the Dead Sea, and the Jordanian Highlands
Elevation / highest point: Jabal Umm ad Dami 1,854 m
Elevation / lowest point: Dead Sea -431 m
Elevation / mean elevation: 812 m
Natural resources: phosphates, potash, shale oil
Land use / agricultural land: 11.5% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 2.3% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 0.9% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 8.4% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 0.8% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 87.7% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land: 875 sq km (2022)
Major lakes (area sq km) / salt water lake(s): Dead Sea (shared with Israel and West Bank) - 1,020 sq km note - endorheic hypersaline lake; 9.6 times saltier than the ocean; lake shore is 431 meters below sea level
Major watersheds (area sq km) / Indian Ocean drainage: (Persian Gulf) Tigris and Euphrates (918,044 sq km)
Major aquifers: Arabian Aquifer System
Population distribution: population heavily concentrated in the west, and particularly the northwest, in and around the capital of Amman; a sizeable but smaller population is located in the southwest along the shore of the Gulf of Aqaba
Natural hazards: droughts; periodic earthquakes; flash floods
Geography - note: strategic location at the head of the Gulf of Aqaba; the Arab country that shares the longest border with Israel and the West Bank; the Dead Sea, the lowest point in Asia and the second saltiest body of water in the world (after Lac Assal in Djibouti), lies on Jordan's western border with Israel and the West Bank; Jordan is almost landlocked but does have a 26 km southwestern coastline with a single port, Al 'Aqabah (Aqaba)

## People and Society
Population / total: 11,312,507 (2025 est.)
Population / male: 5,908,853
Population / female: 5,403,654
Nationality / noun: Jordanian(s)
Nationality / adjective: Jordanian
Ethnic groups: Jordanian 69.3%, Syrian 13.3%, Palestinian 6.7%, Egyptian 6.7%, Iraqi 1.4%, other 2.6% (2015 est.)
Languages / Languages: Arabic (official), English (widely understood among upper and middle classes)
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 97.1% (official; predominantly Sunni), Christian 2.1% (majority Greek Orthodox, but some Greek and Roman Catholics, Syrian Orthodox, Coptic Orthodox, Armenian Orthodox, and Protestant denominations), Buddhist 0.4%, Hindu 0.1%, Jewish <0.1%, folk <0.1%, other <0.1%, unaffiliated <0.1% (2020 est.)
Age structure / 0-14 years: 30.9% (male 1,771,840/female 1,678,178)
Age structure / 15-64 years: 64.9% (male 3,844,575/female 3,409,164)
Age structure / 65 years and over: 4.2% (2024 est.) (male 228,564/female 241,703)
Dependency ratios / total dependency ratio: 53.3 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / youth dependency ratio: 46.6 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / elderly dependency ratio: 6.7 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / potential support ratio: 14.9 (2025 est.)
Median age / total: 25.4 years (2025 est.)
Median age / male: 25.5 years
Median age / female: 24.4 years
Population growth rate: 1.68% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 21.9 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 3.5 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: -1.59 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution: population heavily concentrated in the west, and particularly the northwest, in and around the capital of Amman; a sizeable but smaller population is located in the southwest along the shore of the Gulf of Aqaba
Urbanization / urban population: 92% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 0.98% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 2.232 million AMMAN (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: 1.13 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 65 years and over: 0.95 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / total population: 1.1 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth: 24.6 years (2017/18 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio: 31 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Infant mortality rate / total: 12.9 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Infant mortality rate / male: 14.3 deaths/1,000 live births
Infant mortality rate / female: 12.1 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth / total population: 76.5 years (2024 est.)
Life expectancy at birth / male: 75 years
Life expectancy at birth / female: 78.1 years
Total fertility rate: 2.83 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 1.37 (2025 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: urban: urban: 99.1% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: rural: rural: 97% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: total: total: 99% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: urban: urban: 0.9% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: rural: rural: 3% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: total: total: 1% of population (2022 est.)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 7.3% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 7.6% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density: 2.85 physicians/1,000 population (2022)
Hospital bed density: 1.4 beds/1,000 population (2021 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: urban: urban: 98.9% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: rural: rural: 97.9% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: total: total: 98.8% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: urban: urban: 1.1% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: rural: rural: 2.1% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: total: total: 1.2% of population (2022 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 35.5% (2016)
Alcohol consumption per capita / total: 0.25 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 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / spirits: 0.19 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / other alcohols: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Tobacco use / total: 37.1% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / male: 58.6% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / female: 13.9% (2025 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 2.5% (2023 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49): 56% (2018 est.)
Child marriage / women married by age 15: 1.5% (2018)
Child marriage / women married by age 18: 9.7% (2018)
Child marriage / men married by age 18: 0.1% (2018)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% GDP): 3.5% of GDP (2023 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% national budget): 11.7% national budget (2024 est.)
Literacy / total population: 94.8% (2023 est.)
Literacy / male: 97.5% (2023 est.)
Literacy / female: 92.3% (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: 14 years (2023 est.)

## Environment
Environmental issues: limited natural freshwater resources; declining water table; salination; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification; biodiversity and ecosystem damage/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, 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: mostly arid desert; rainy season in west (November to April)
Land use / agricultural land: 11.5% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 2.3% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 0.9% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 8.4% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 0.8% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 87.7% (2023 est.)
Urbanization / urban population: 92% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 0.98% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / total emissions: 22.434 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from coal and metallurgical coke: 627,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from petroleum and other liquids: 13.264 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from consumed natural gas: 8.544 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Particulate matter emissions: 26.3 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Methane emissions / energy: 12.2 kt (2022-2024 est.)
Methane emissions / agriculture: 25.4 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Methane emissions / waste: 188.2 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Methane emissions / other: 0.6 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Waste and recycling / municipal solid waste generated annually: 2.53 million tons (2024 est.)
Waste and recycling / percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 14.6% (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / municipal: 497.37 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / industrial: 36.88 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / agricultural: 570.61 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total renewable water resources: 937 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan
Country name / conventional short form: Jordan
Country name / local long form: Al Mamlakah al Urduniyah al Hashimiyah
Country name / local short form: Al Urdun
Country name / former: Transjordan
Country name / etymology: named for the Jordan River, which makes up part of Jordan's northwest border; the origin of the river's name is unclear, but it may come from a local word meaning "river"
Government type: parliamentary constitutional monarchy
Capital / name: Amman
Capital / geographic coordinates: 31 57 N, 35 56 E
Capital / time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Capital / etymology: in the 13th century B.C., the Ammonites named their primary city Rabbath Ammon; rabbath meant "capital," so the name translated as "The Capital of [the] Ammon[ites];" over time, the name was shortened to Ammon, and then to Amman
Administrative divisions: 12 governorates ( muhafazat , singular - muhafazah ); 'Ajlun, Al 'Aqabah, Al Balqa', Al Karak, Al Mafraq, Al ‘Asimah (Amman), At Tafilah, Az Zarqa', Irbid, Jarash, Ma'an, Madaba
Legal system: mixed system developed from Ottoman Empire codes (based on French law), British common law, and Islamic law
Constitution / history: previous 1928 (pre-independence); latest initially adopted 28 November 1947, revised and ratified 1 January 1952
Constitution / amendment process: constitutional amendments require at least a two-thirds majority vote of both the Senate and the House and ratification by the king
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 father must be a citizen of Jordan
Citizenship / dual citizenship recognized: yes
Citizenship / residency requirement for naturalization: 15 years
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch / chief of state: King ABDALLAH II (since 7 February 1999)
Executive branch / head of government: Prime Minister Jafar HASSAN (since 15 September 2024)
Executive branch / cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the monarch in consultation with the prime minister
Executive branch / election/appointment process: prime minister appointed by the monarch
Legislative branch / legislature name: National Assembly (Majlis Al-Umma)
Legislative branch / legislative structure: bicameral
Legislative branch - lower chamber / chamber name: House of Representatives (Majlis Al-Nuwaab)
Legislative branch - lower chamber / number of seats: 138 (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: 9/10/2024
Legislative branch - lower chamber / percentage of women in chamber: 19.6%
Legislative branch - lower chamber / expected date of next election: September 2028
Legislative branch - upper chamber / chamber name: Senate (Majlis Al-Aayan)
Legislative branch - upper chamber / number of seats: 69 (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: 10/24/2024
Legislative branch - upper chamber / percentage of women in chamber: 14.5%
Legislative branch - upper chamber / expected date of next election: October 2028
Judicial branch / highest court(s): Court of Cassation or Supreme Court (consists of 15 members, including the chief justice); Constitutional Court (consists of 9 members)
Judicial branch / judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court chief justice appointed by the king; other judges nominated by the Judicial Council, an 11-member judicial policymaking body consisting of high-level judicial officials and judges, and approved by the king; judge tenure not limited; Constitutional Court members appointed by the king for 6-year non-renewable terms with one third of the membership renewed every 2 years
Judicial branch / subordinate courts: Courts of Appeal; Great Felonies Court; religious courts; military courts; juvenile courts; Land Settlement Courts; Income Tax Court; Higher Administrative Court; Customs Court; special courts including the State Security Court
Political parties: 'Azem Blessed Land Party Building and Labor Coalition Eradah Party Growth Party Islamic Action Front or IAF Jordanian al-Ansar Party Jordanian al-Ghad Party Jordanian Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party or JASBP Jordanian Civil Democratic Party Jordanian Communist Party or JCP Jordanian Equality Party Jordanian Democratic People's Party or HASD Jordanian Democratic Popular Unity Party or JDPUP/Wihda Jordanian Democratic Unionist Party Jordanian Flame Party Jordanian Future and Life Party Jordanian Model Party Jordanian National Integration Party Jordanian National Loyalty Party Jordanian Reform and Renewal Party or Hassad Jordanian Shura Party Jordanian Social Democratic Party or JSDP Justice and Reform Party or JRP Labor Party National Charter Party National Coalition Party National Constitutional Party National Current Party or NCP National Islamic Party National Union Nationalist Movement Party or Hsq New Path Party Progress Party
Diplomatic representation in the US / chief of mission: Ambassador Dina Khalil Tawfiq KAWAR (since 27 June 2016)
Diplomatic representation in the US / chancery: 3504 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation in the US / telephone: [1] (202) 966-2664
Diplomatic representation in the US / FAX: [1] (202) 966-3110
Diplomatic representation in the US / email address and website: hkjconsular@jordanembassyus.org http://www.jordanembassyus.org/
Diplomatic representation from the US / chief of mission: Ambassador James HOLTSNIDER (since 7 December 2025)
Diplomatic representation from the US / embassy: Abdoun, Al-Umawyeen St., Amman
Diplomatic representation from the US / mailing address: 6050 Amman Place, Washington DC 20521-6050
Diplomatic representation from the US / telephone: [962] (6) 590-6000
Diplomatic representation from the US / FAX: [962] (6) 592-0163
Diplomatic representation from the US / email address and website: Amman-ACS@state.gov https://jo.usembassy.gov/
International organization participation: ABEDA, AFESD, AMF, CAEU, CD, CICA, EBRD, FAO, G-11, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAS, MIGA, MINUSTAH, MONUSCO, NAM, NATO (partner), OIC, OPCW, OSCE (partner), PCA, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNISFA, UNMIL, UNMISS, UNOCI, UNOOSA, UNRWA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Independence: 25 May 1946 (from League of Nations mandate under British administration)
National holiday: Independence Day, 25 May (1946)
Flag: description: three equal horizontal bands of black (top), white, and green; a red isosceles triangle is on the left side, with a small white seven-pointed star in the center meaning: black stands for the Abbassid Caliphate, white for the Ummayyad Caliphate, and green for the Fatimid Caliphate; the triangle stands for the Great Arab Revolt of 1916, and the star's points for the seven verses of the opening Sura (Al-Fatiha) of the Quran, as well as faith in One God, humanity, national spirit, humility, social justice, virtue, and aspirations history: the design is based on the Arab Revolt flag of World War I
National symbol(s): eagle
National color(s): black, white, green, red
National anthem(s) / title: "As-salam al-malaki al-urdoni" (Long Live the King of Jordan)
National anthem(s) / lyrics/music: Abdul-Mone'm al-RIFAI'/Abdul-Qader al-TANEER
National anthem(s) / history: adopted 1946; the shortened version of the anthem is most commonly used; the full version is reserved for special occasions
National heritage / total World Heritage Sites: 7 (6 cultural, 1 mixed)
National heritage / selected World Heritage Site locales: Petra (c); Quseir Amra (c); Um er-Rasas (Kastrom Mefa'a) (c); Wadi Rum Protected Area (m); Baptism Site “Bethany Beyond the Jordan” (Al-Maghtas) (c); As-Salt - The Place of Tolerance and Urban Hospitality (c); Umm Al-Jimāl (c)

## Economy
Economic overview: upper-middle-income Middle Eastern economy; high debt and unemployment, especially for youth and women; global events triggering trade slump and decreased revenue from tourism; growing manufacturing and agricultural sectors; key US foreign assistance recipient; natural-resource-poor and import-reliant
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $109.986 billion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $107.315 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $104.307 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: 2.9% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2022: 2.6% (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2024: $9,500 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2023: $9,400 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2022: $9,300 (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $53.352 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: 2.1% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 4.2% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / agriculture: 5.1% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / industry: 25.1% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / services: 60.4% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / household consumption: 78.9% (2021 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / government consumption: 15.8% (2021 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in fixed capital: 22.2% (2021 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in inventories: 3% (2021 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / exports of goods and services: 30% (2021 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / imports of goods and services: -50.4% (2021 est.)
Agricultural products: tomatoes, milk, chicken, potatoes, olives, cucumbers/gherkins, onions, chillies/peppers, peaches/nectarines, sheep milk (2023)
Industries: tourism, information technology, clothing, fertilizer, potash, phosphate mining, pharmaceuticals, petroleum refining, cement, inorganic chemicals, light manufacturing
Industrial production growth rate: 3.7% (2024 est.)
Labor force: 3.08 million (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2024: 18% (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2023: 18% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2022: 18.2% (2022 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / total: 41.7% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / male: 39.8% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / female: 49.2% (2024 est.)
Population below poverty line: 15.7% (2018 est.)
Average household expenditures / on food: 25% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Average household expenditures / on alcohol and tobacco: 4.5% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2023: 8.8% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2022: 10.1% of GDP (2022 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2021: 11% of GDP (2021 est.)
Budget / revenues: $13.779 billion (2023 est.)
Budget / expenditures: $17.159 billion (2023 est.)
Public debt / Public debt 2023: 102.8% of GDP (2023 est.)
Taxes and other revenues: 17% (of GDP) (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2023: -$1.91 billion (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2022: -$3.815 billion (2022 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2021: -$3.718 billion (2021 est.)
Exports / Exports 2023: $22.186 billion (2023 est.)
Exports / Exports 2022: $20.743 billion (2022 est.)
Exports / Exports 2021: $13.87 billion (2021 est.)
Exports - partners: USA 21%, India 13%, Saudi Arabia 11%, China 7%, Iraq 6% (2023)
Exports - commodities: fertilizers, garments, phosphates, jewelry, phosphoric acid (2023)
Imports / Imports 2023: $28.922 billion (2023 est.)
Imports / Imports 2022: $30.019 billion (2022 est.)
Imports / Imports 2021: $23.321 billion (2021 est.)
Imports - partners: China 17%, Saudi Arabia 14%, UAE 8%, India 6%, USA 5% (2023)
Imports - commodities: cars, refined petroleum, gold, crude petroleum, jewelry (2023)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024: $21.939 billion (2024 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023: $19.069 billion (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $18.198 billion (2022 est.)
Debt - external / Debt - external 2023: $21.058 billion (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Currency: Jordanian dinars (JOD) per US dollar -
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2024: 0.71 (2024 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2023: 0.71 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2022: 0.71 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2021: 0.71 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2020: 0.71 (2020 est.)

## Energy
Electricity access / electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)
Electricity access / electrification - urban areas: 100%
Electricity access / electrification - rural areas: 98.9%
Electricity / installed generating capacity: 6.891 million kW (2023 est.)
Electricity / consumption: 20.31 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / exports: 162.93 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / imports: 383.073 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / transmission/distribution losses: 2.472 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / fossil fuels: 76.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / solar: 15.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / wind: 7.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / hydroelectricity: 0.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Coal / consumption: 269,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / imports: 110,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum / total petroleum production: 20 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Petroleum / refined petroleum consumption: 97,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Petroleum / crude oil estimated reserves: 1 million barrels (2021 est.)
Natural gas / production: 200.004 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / consumption: 5.441 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / exports: 375.998 million cubic meters (2018 est.)
Natural gas / imports: 4.865 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / proven reserves: 6.031 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)
Energy consumption per capita / Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 32.909 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

## Communications
Telephones - fixed lines / total subscriptions: 451,000 (2023 est.)
Telephones - fixed lines / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 4 (2023 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / total subscriptions: 8.05 million (2024 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 70 (2024 est.)
Broadcast media: radio and TV dominated by the government-owned Jordan Radio and Television Corporation (JRTV) that operates a main network, a sports network, a film network, and a satellite channel; first independent TV broadcaster aired in 2007; international satellite TV and Israeli and Syrian TV broadcasts are available; roughly 30 radio stations; transmissions of multiple international radio broadcasters are available
Internet country code: .jo
Internet users / percent of population: 93% (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / total: 805,000 (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 7 (2023 est.)

## Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: JY
Airports: 18 (2025)
Heliports: 6 (2025)
Railways / total: 509 km (2020)
Railways / narrow gauge: 509 km (2014) 1.050-m gauge
Merchant marine / total: 34 (2023)
Merchant marine / by type: general cargo 5, other 29
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: Al Aqabah

## Military and Security
Military and security forces: Jordanian Armed Forces (JAF; aka Arab Army): Jordanian Army (Jordanian Ground Forces; includes Special Operations Forces, Border Guards, Royal Guard), Jordanian Air Force, Jordanian Navy) Ministry of Interior: Public Security Directorate (includes national police, the Gendarmerie, and the Civil Defense Directorate) (2025)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2024: 4.5% of GDP (2024 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2023: 4.5% of GDP (2023 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2022: 4.8% 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: approximately 100,000 active duty Armed Forces (2025)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the JAF inventory is comprised of mostly older or secondhand equipment provided by China, some European countries, select Gulf States, Russia, and the US (2025)
Military service age and obligation: 17 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women; initial service term is 24 months; selective compulsory military service (3 months) for men turning 18 will be reinstated in 2026; compulsory military service for jobless men aged 25-29 was reinstated in 2020 (12 months; 3 months of military training and 9 months of professional and technical training) (2025)
Military deployments: 140 Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) (2025)
Military - note: the Jordanian Armed Forces (JAF) are responsible for territorial defense and border security and have a supporting role for internal security; key areas of concern include regional conflict and instability and unconventional threats, such as terrorism and weapons smuggling; the JAF participates in both bilateral and multinational exercises, UN peacekeeping missions, and have taken part in regional military operations alongside international forces in Afghanistan, Syria, and Yemen the US is a key security partner, and Jordan is one of the largest recipients of US military aid in the region; it cooperates with the US on a number of issues, including border security, arms transfers, cybersecurity, and counterterrorism; Jordan has Major Non-NATO Ally 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): Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS)

## Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons / refugees: 675,388 (2024 est.)
Refugees and internally displaced persons / stateless persons: 17 (2024 est.)

=== Kuwait ===

## Introduction
Background: Kuwait has been ruled by the AL-SABAH dynasty since the 18th century. The threat of Ottoman invasion in 1899 prompted Amir Mubarak AL-SABAH to seek protection from Britain, ceding foreign and defense responsibility to Britain until 1961, when the country attained its independence. Iraq attacked and overran Kuwait in 1990. After several weeks of aerial bombardment, a US-led UN coalition began a ground assault in 1991 that liberated Kuwait in four days. In 1992, the Amir reconstituted the parliament that he had dissolved in 1986. Amid the 2010-11 uprisings and protests across the Arab world, stateless Arabs known as Bidoon staged small protests demanding citizenship, jobs, and other benefits available to Kuwaiti nationals. Other demographic groups, notably Islamists and Kuwaitis from tribal backgrounds, soon joined the growing protest movements, which culminated with the resignation of the prime minister amid allegations of corruption. Demonstrations renewed in 2012 in response to a decree amending the electoral law that lessened the voting power of the tribal blocs. An opposition coalition of Sunni Islamists, tribal populists, and some liberals largely boycotted legislative elections in 2012 and 2013, which ushered in a legislature more amenable to the government's agenda. Faced with the prospect of painful subsidy cuts, oppositionists and independents actively participated in the 2016 election, winning nearly half the seats, but the opposition became increasingly factionalized. Between 2006 and his death in 2020, the Amir dissolved the National Assembly on seven occasions and shuffled the cabinet over a dozen times, usually citing political stagnation and gridlock between the legislature and the government. The current Amir, who assumed his role in 2020, launched a "National Dialogue" in 2021 meant to resolve political gridlock. As part of this initiative, the Amir pardoned several opposition figures who had been living in exile, and they returned to Kuwait. Legislative challenges remain, and the cabinet has been reshuffled six times since 2020.

## Geography
Location: Middle East, bordering the Persian Gulf, between Iraq and Saudi Arabia
Geographic coordinates: 29 30 N, 45 45 E
Map references: Middle East
Area / total: 17,818 sq km
Area / land: 17,818 sq km
Area / water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly smaller than New Jersey
Land boundaries / total: 475 km
Land boundaries / border countries: Iraq 254 km; Saudi Arabia 221 km
Coastline: 499 km
Maritime claims / territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: dry desert; intensely hot summers; short, cool winters
Terrain: flat to slightly undulating desert plain
Elevation / highest point: 3.6 km W. of Al-Salmi Border Post 300 m
Elevation / lowest point: Persian Gulf 0 m
Elevation / mean elevation: 108 m
Natural resources: petroleum, fish, shrimp, natural gas
Land use / agricultural land: 8.4% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 0.4% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 0.3% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 7.6% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 0.4% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 91.2% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land: 100 sq km (2015)
Major watersheds (area sq km) / Indian Ocean drainage: (Persian Gulf) Tigris and Euphrates (918,044 sq km)
Major aquifers: Arabian Aquifer System
Population distribution: densest settlement is along the Persian Gulf, particularly in Kuwait City and on Bubiyan Island; significant population threads extend south and west along highways that radiate from the capital, particularly in the southern half of the country
Natural hazards: sudden cloudbursts are common from October to April and bring heavy rain, which can damage roads and houses; sandstorms and dust storms occur throughout the year but are most common between March and August
Geography - note: strategic location at head of Persian Gulf

## People and Society
Population / total: 3,172,511 (2025 est.)
Population / male: 1,827,274
Population / female: 1,345,237
Nationality / noun: Kuwaiti(s)
Nationality / adjective: Kuwaiti
Ethnic groups: Kuwaiti 30.4%, other Arab 27.4%, Asian 40.3%, African 1%, other 0.9% (includes European, North American, South American, and Australian) (2018 est.)
Languages / Languages: Arabic (official), English widely spoken
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) 74.6%, Christian 18.2%, other and unspecified 7.2% (2013 est.)
Age structure / 0-14 years: 23% (male 376,415/female 346,190)
Age structure / 15-64 years: 73.4% (male 1,386,349/female 917,465)
Age structure / 65 years and over: 3.6% (2024 est.) (male 47,778/female 64,158)
Dependency ratios / total dependency ratio: 36 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / youth dependency ratio: 30.9 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / elderly dependency ratio: 5.1 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / potential support ratio: 19.7 (2025 est.)
Median age / total: 30.4 years (2025 est.)
Median age / male: 31.1 years
Median age / female: 28.9 years
Population growth rate: 1.07% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 17.36 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 2.3 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: -4.39 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution: densest settlement is along the Persian Gulf, particularly in Kuwait City and on Bubiyan Island; significant population threads extend south and west along highways that radiate from the capital, particularly in the southern half of the country
Urbanization / urban population: 100% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 1.35% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 3.298 million KUWAIT (capital) (2023)
Sex ratio / at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 0-14 years: 1.09 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 15-64 years: 1.51 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 65 years and over: 0.74 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / total population: 1.36 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio: 8 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Infant mortality rate / total: 7 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Infant mortality rate / male: 7.4 deaths/1,000 live births
Infant mortality rate / female: 6.9 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth / total population: 79.6 years (2024 est.)
Life expectancy at birth / male: 78.1 years
Life expectancy at birth / female: 81.1 years
Total fertility rate: 2.19 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 1.07 (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): 5.8% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 9.4% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density: 2.27 physicians/1,000 population (2020)
Hospital bed density: 2.4 beds/1,000 population (2020 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: 37.9% (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: 22.4% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / male: 34.9% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / female: 1.9% (2025 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 2.8% (2023 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% GDP): 6.4% of GDP (2024 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% national budget): 13.8% national budget (2025 est.)
Literacy / total population: 96.5% (2020 est.)
Literacy / male: 97.1% (2020 est.)
Literacy / female: 95.3% (2020 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / total: 15 years (2015 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / male: 13 years (2015 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / female: 16 years (2015 est.)

## Environment
Environmental issues: limited natural freshwater resources; air and water pollution; desertification; 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, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
International environmental agreements / signed, but not ratified: Marine Dumping-London Convention
Climate: dry desert; intensely hot summers; short, cool winters
Land use / agricultural land: 8.4% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 0.4% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 0.3% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 7.6% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 0.4% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 91.2% (2023 est.)
Urbanization / urban population: 100% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 1.35% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / total emissions: 100.459 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from coal and metallurgical coke: 149,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from petroleum and other liquids: 48.723 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from consumed natural gas: 51.587 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Particulate matter emissions: 54.9 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Methane emissions / energy: 819.9 kt (2022-2024 est.)
Methane emissions / agriculture: 7.3 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Methane emissions / waste: 256.8 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Methane emissions / other: 0.9 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Waste and recycling / municipal solid waste generated annually: 1.75 million tons (2024 est.)
Waste and recycling / percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 15.4% (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / municipal: 448.3 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / industrial: 23.3 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / agricultural: 778.4 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total renewable water resources: 20 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: State of Kuwait
Country name / conventional short form: Kuwait
Country name / local long form: Dawlat al Kuwayt
Country name / local short form: Al Kuwayt
Country name / etymology: the name derives from the capital city, which comes from the Arabic al-kuwayt , itself a diminutive of the Hindustani term kut , meaning a fortress-like house
Government type: constitutional monarchy (emirate)
Capital / name: Kuwait City
Capital / geographic coordinates: 29 22 N, 47 58 E
Capital / time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Capital / etymology: the name comes from the Arabic al-kuwayt , a diminutive of the Hindustani term kut , meaning a fortress-like house
Administrative divisions: 6 governorates ( muhafazat , singular - muhafazah ); Al Ahmadi, Al 'Asimah, Al Farwaniyah, Al Jahra', Hawalli, Mubarak al Kabir
Legal system: mixed system consisting of English common law, French civil law, and Islamic sharia law
Constitution / history: approved and promulgated 11 November 1962; suspended 1976 to 1981 (4 articles); 1986 to 1991; May to July 1999
Constitution / amendment process: proposed by the amir or supported by at least one third of the National Assembly; passage requires two-thirds consent of the Assembly membership and promulgation by the amir; constitutional articles on the initiation, approval, and promulgation of general legislation 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 Kuwait
Citizenship / dual citizenship recognized: no
Citizenship / residency requirement for naturalization: not specified
Suffrage: 21 years of age and at least 20-year citizenship
Executive branch / chief of state: Amir MISHAL al-Ahmad al-Jabir al-Sabah (since 16 December 2023)
Executive branch / head of government: Prime Minister AHMAD ABDULLAH Al-Ahmad al Sabah (since 15 May 2024)
Executive branch / cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister, approved by the amir
Executive branch / election/appointment process: amir chosen from within the ruling family, confirmed by the National Assembly; prime minister appointed by the amir
Legislative branch / expected date of next election: April 2028
Judicial branch / highest court(s): Constitutional Court (consists of 5 judges); Supreme Court or Court of Cassation (organized into several circuits, each with 5 judges)
Judicial branch / judge selection and term of office: all Kuwaiti judges appointed by the Amir on recommendation of the Supreme Judicial Council, a consultative body comprised of Kuwaiti judges and Ministry of Justice officials
Judicial branch / subordinate courts: High Court of Appeal; Court of First Instance; Summary Court
Political parties: none; the government does not recognize any political parties or allow their formation, although no formal law bans political parties
Diplomatic representation in the US / chief of mission: Ambassador AL-ZAIN Sabah Naser Saud Al-Sabah (since 19 April 2023)
Diplomatic representation in the US / chancery: 2940 Tilden Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation in the US / telephone: [1] (202) 966-0702
Diplomatic representation in the US / FAX: [1] (202) 966-8468
Diplomatic representation in the US / email address and website: info@kuwaitembassy.us https://www.kuwaitembassy.us/
Diplomatic representation in the US / consulate(s) general: Beverly Hills (CA), New York
Diplomatic representation from the US / chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charg&eacute; d&rsquo;Affaires Steven R. BUTLER (since July 2025)
Diplomatic representation from the US / embassy: P.O. Box 77, Safat 13001
Diplomatic representation from the US / mailing address: 6200 Kuwait Place, Washington DC 20521-6200
Diplomatic representation from the US / telephone: [00] (965) 2259-1001
Diplomatic representation from the US / FAX: [00] (965) 2538-0282
Diplomatic representation from the US / email address and website: KuwaitACS@state.gov https://kw.usembassy.gov/
International organization participation: ABEDA, AfDB (nonregional member), AFESD, AMF, BDEAC, CAEU, CD, FAO, G-77, GCC, 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), LAS, MIGA, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, OPCW, OPEC, Paris Club (associate), PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHRC, UNIDO, UNOOSA, UNRWA, UN Security Council (temporary), UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Independence: 19 June 1961 (from the UK)
National holiday: National Day, 25 February (1950)
Flag: description: three equal horizontal bands of green (top), white, and red, with a black trapezoid based on the left side meaning: green stands for fertile fields, white for purity, red for blood on Kuwaiti swords, and black for defeating the enemy history: colors and design are based on the Arab Revolt flag of World War I
National symbol(s): golden falcon
National color(s): green, white, red, black
National anthem(s) / title: "Al-Nasheed Al-Watani" (National Anthem)
National anthem(s) / lyrics/music: Ahmad MUSHARI al-Adwani/Ibrahim Nasir al-SOULA
National anthem(s) / history: adopted 1978; the anthem is only used on formal occasions

## Economy
Economic overview: small, high-income, oil-based Middle East economy; renewable energy proponent; regional finance and investment leader; maintains oldest sovereign wealth fund; emerging space and tourism industries; mid-way through 25-year development program
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $225.947 billion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $231.884 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $235.815 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: -1.7% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2022: 6.8% (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2024: $45,400 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2023: $47,800 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2022: $51,400 (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $160.227 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: 3.6% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 4% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / agriculture: 0.5% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / industry: 57.1% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / services: 55.9% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / household consumption: 32.6% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / government consumption: 20.7% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in fixed capital: 16.1% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in inventories: 0.8% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / exports of goods and services: 60.4% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / imports of goods and services: -30.5% (2022 est.)
Agricultural products: dates, eggs, milk, tomatoes, chicken, lamb/mutton, cucumbers/gherkins, vegetables, maize, eggplants (2023)
Industries: petroleum, petrochemicals, cement, shipbuilding and repair, water desalination, food processing, construction materials
Industrial production growth rate: -5.2% (2024 est.)
Labor force: 3.003 million (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2024: 2.2% (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2023: 2.2% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2022: 2.2% (2022 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / total: 15.4% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / male: 9.3% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / female: 28.9% (2024 est.)
Average household expenditures / on food: 19.2% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Average household expenditures / on alcohol and tobacco: 0.2% of household expenditures (2023 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: $44.254 billion (2015 est.)
Budget / expenditures: $59.584 billion (2015 est.)
Public debt / Public debt 2016: 9.9% of GDP (2016 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2024: $46.703 billion (2024 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2023: $51.396 billion (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2022: $63.078 billion (2022 est.)
Exports / Exports 2024: $89.71 billion (2024 est.)
Exports / Exports 2023: $95.476 billion (2023 est.)
Exports / Exports 2022: $110.923 billion (2022 est.)
Exports - partners: China 25%, India 13%, Japan 13%, Taiwan 7%, UK 5% (2023)
Exports - commodities: crude petroleum, refined petroleum, natural gas, hydrocarbons, plastics (2023)
Imports / Imports 2024: $61.521 billion (2024 est.)
Imports / Imports 2023: $63.43 billion (2023 est.)
Imports / Imports 2022: $55.909 billion (2022 est.)
Imports - partners: China 18%, UAE 10%, USA 9%, Saudi Arabia 6%, Japan 6% (2023)
Imports - commodities: cars, natural gas, garments, broadcasting equipment, packaged medicine (2023)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024: $50.728 billion (2024 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023: $52.619 billion (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $52.462 billion (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Currency: Kuwaiti dinars (KD) per US dollar -
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2024: 0.307 (2024 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2023: 0.307 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2022: 0.306 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2021: 0.302 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2020: 0.306 (2020 est.)

## Energy
Electricity access / electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)
Electricity / installed generating capacity: 20.294 million kW (2023 est.)
Electricity / consumption: 78.047 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / transmission/distribution losses: 7.516 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / fossil fuels: 97.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / solar: 0.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / wind: 2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Coal / consumption: 60,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / exports: 11 metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / imports: 152,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum / total petroleum production: 2.91 million bbl/day (2023 est.)
Petroleum / refined petroleum consumption: 430,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Petroleum / crude oil estimated reserves: 101.5 billion barrels (2021 est.)
Natural gas / production: 19.207 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / consumption: 26.296 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / imports: 8.433 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: 389.848 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

## Communications
Telephones - fixed lines / total subscriptions: 573,000 (2023 est.)
Telephones - fixed lines / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 12 (2023 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / total subscriptions: 8.11 million (2023 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 168 (2023 est.)
Broadcast media: state-owned TV broadcaster operates 4 networks and a satellite channel; several private TV broadcasters; satellite TV available, and pan-Arab TV stations are especially popular; state-owned Radio Kuwait broadcasts on a number of channels in Arabic and English; first private radio station in 2005; transmissions of at least 2 international radio broadcasters are available (2019)
Internet country code: .kw
Internet users / percent of population: 100% (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / total: 49,000 (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 1 (2023 est.)

## Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: 9K
Airports: 6 (2025)
Heliports: 20 (2025)
Merchant marine / total: 176 (2023)
Merchant marine / by type: general cargo 15, oil tanker 28, other 133
Ports / total ports: 6 (2024)
Ports / large: 0
Ports / medium: 2
Ports / small: 1
Ports / very small: 3
Ports / ports with oil terminals: 4
Ports / key ports: Al Kuwayt, Doha Harbor, Mina Abd Allah, Mina Al Ahmadi, Mina Ash Shuaybah, Mina Az Zawr

## Military and Security
Military and security forces: Kuwait Armed Forces (KAF): Kuwait Army (aka Kuwait Land Forces, KLF), Kuwait Navy (aka Kuwait Naval Force), Kuwait Air Force; Kuwait National Guard (KNG) Ministry of Interior: Kuwait Police, State Security, Kuwait Coast Guard (2025)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2024: 4.9% of GDP (2024 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2023: 4.8% of GDP (2023 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2022: 4.5% of GDP (2022 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2021: 6.5% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2020: 6.3% of GDP (2020 est.)
Military and security service personnel strengths: approximately 17,000 active Kuwait Armed Forces; approximately 7,000 National Guard (2025)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the military's inventory consists of armaments from Western Europe, Russia, and particularly the US (2025)
Military service age and obligation: 18 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women; 12-month compulsory service for men aged 18-35; mandatory service is divided into two phases – 4 months for training and 8 months for military service (2025)
Military - note: the Kuwaiti Armed Forces (KAF) are responsible for defending Kuwait's sovereignty and territory; Kuwait’s security concerns include regional threats from state and non-state actors, maritime security, and terrorism; the KAF participates in bilateral and multilateral exercises, as well as a limited number of multinational security operations such as maritime patrols in the Persian Gulf; it also provided a few fighter aircraft to the Saudi-led coalition intervention in Yemen in 2015; the KAF is part of the Peninsula Shield Forces, a joint military force established by the GCC countries with the aim of maintaining security and stability in the region Kuwait's key security partner since the 1991 Gulf War has been the US; the US maintains thousands of military personnel as well as logistics and training facilities in Kuwait as part of mutual cooperation agreements signed in 1991 and 2013; the KAF conducts bilateral exercises with the US military and would look to US assistance in the event of an external attack; Kuwait has Major Non-NATO Ally 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)

## Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons / refugees: 1,271 (2024 est.)
Refugees and internally displaced persons / stateless persons: 92,000 (2024 est.)

=== Lebanon ===

## Introduction
Background: As a result of its location at the crossroads of three continents, the area that is modern-day Lebanon is rich in cultural and religious diversity. This region was subject to various foreign conquerors for much of its history, including the Romans, Arabs, and Ottomans. Following World War I, France acquired a mandate over the northern portion of the former Ottoman Empire province of Syria. From it the French demarcated the region of Lebanon in 1920, and it gained independence in 1943. Lebanon subsequently experienced periods of political turmoil interspersed with prosperity built on its position as a regional center for finance and trade. The country's 1975-90 civil war, which resulted in an estimated 120,000 fatalities, was followed by years of social and political instability, and sectarianism remains a key element of Lebanese political life. The Israeli defense forces, which occupied parts of Lebanon during the civil war, did not completely withdraw until 2000. Neighboring Syria influenced Lebanon's foreign and domestic policies while its military occupied Lebanon from 1976 until 2005, but its influence diminished significantly after 2005. Over 1.5 million Syrian refugees fled to Lebanon after the start of the Syrian conflict in 2011. Hizballah -- a major Lebanese political party, militia, and US-designated foreign terrorist organization -- and Israel continued attacks and counterattacks against each other after Syria's withdrawal and fought a brief war in 2006. After HAMAS attacked Israel on 7 October 2023, the intensity and frequency of these cross-border attacks increased substantially into a cycle of hostilities, mostly limited to the border areas as of January 2024. Lebanon's borders with Syria and Israel remain unresolved. Lebanon's prosperity has significantly diminished since the beginning of the country's economic crisis in 2019, which has crippled its economy, shut down its previously lucrative banking sector, reduced the value of its currency, and caused many Lebanese to emigrate in search of better prospects.

## Geography
Location: Middle East, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Israel and Syria
Geographic coordinates: 33 50 N, 35 50 E
Map references: Middle East
Area / total: 10,400 sq km
Area / land: 10,230 sq km
Area / water: 170 sq km
Area - comparative: about one-third the size of Maryland
Land boundaries / total: 484 km
Land boundaries / border countries: Israel 81 km; Syria 403 km
Coastline: 225 km
Maritime claims / territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: Mediterranean; mild to cool, wet winters with hot, dry summers; the Lebanon Mountains experience heavy winter snows
Terrain: narrow coastal plain; El Beqaa (Bekaa Valley) separates Lebanon and Anti-Lebanon Mountains
Elevation / highest point: Qornet es Saouda 3,088 m
Elevation / lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m
Elevation / mean elevation: 1,250 m
Natural resources: limestone, iron ore, salt, water-surplus state in a water-deficit region, arable land
Land use / agricultural land: 65.9% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 13.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 13.7% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 39.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 13.8% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 20.3% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land: 1,040 sq km (2012)
Population distribution: the majority of people live on or near the Mediterranean coast, particularly in and around the capital of Beirut
Natural hazards: earthquakes; dust storms, sandstorms
Geography - note: smallest country in continental Asia; Nahr el Litani is the only major river in Near East not crossing an international boundary

## People and Society
Population / total: 5,364,482 (2024 est.)
Population / male: 2,678,543
Population / female: 2,685,939
Nationality / noun: Lebanese (singular and plural)
Nationality / adjective: Lebanese
Ethnic groups: Arab 95%, Armenian 4%, other 1%
Languages / Languages: Arabic (official), French, English, Armenian
Languages / major-language sample(s): كتاب حقائق العالم، المصدر الذي لا يمكن الاستغناء عنه للمعلومات الأساسية (Arabic) The World Factbook, une source indispensable d'informations de base. (French) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
Religions: Muslim 67.8% (31.9% Sunni, 31.2% Shia, smaller percentages of Alawites and Ismailis), Christian 32.4% (Maronite Catholics are the largest Christian group), Druze 4.5%, very small numbers of Jews, Baha'is, Buddhists, and Hindus (2020 est.)
Age structure / 0-14 years: 18.9% (male 519,352/female 495,591)
Age structure / 15-64 years: 71.6% (male 1,939,311/female 1,900,574)
Age structure / 65 years and over: 9.5% (2024 est.) (male 219,880/female 289,774)
Dependency ratios / total dependency ratio: 50.3 (2024 est.)
Dependency ratios / youth dependency ratio: 39 (2024 est.)
Dependency ratios / elderly dependency ratio: 11.3 (2024 est.)
Dependency ratios / potential support ratio: 8.8 (2024 est.)
Median age / total: 29.4 years (2025 est.)
Median age / male: 35.6 years
Median age / female: 36.9 years
Population growth rate: -0.77% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 16.73 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 6.23 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: -18.23 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution: the majority of people live on or near the Mediterranean coast, particularly in and around the capital of Beirut
Urbanization / urban population: 89.4% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: -1.23% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 2.421 million BEIRUT (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: 0.76 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / total population: 1 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio: 15 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Infant mortality rate / total: 7.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Infant mortality rate / male: 7.3 deaths/1,000 live births
Infant mortality rate / female: 6.2 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth / total population: 79.2 years (2024 est.)
Life expectancy at birth / male: 77.8 years
Life expectancy at birth / female: 80.7 years
Total fertility rate: 2.2 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 1.07 (2025 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: total: total: 92.6% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: total: total: 7.4% of population (2022 est.)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 10.1% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 15.5% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density: 2.68 physicians/1,000 population (2020)
Hospital bed density: 2.7 beds/1,000 population (2021 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: 32% (2016)
Alcohol consumption per capita / total: 1.14 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / beer: 0.38 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / wine: 0.21 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: 0.02 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Tobacco use / total: 34.1% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / male: 43.8% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / female: 25.4% (2025 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 5.1% (2023 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49): 52.4% (2019 est.)
Child marriage / women married by age 15: 1.4% (2016)
Child marriage / women married by age 18: 6% (2016)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% GDP): 1.2% of GDP (2024 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% national budget): 8.6% national budget (2025 est.)
Literacy / total population: 92% (2019 est.)
Literacy / male: 94.8% (2019 est.)
Literacy / female: 89.5% (2019 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / total: 11 years (2023 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / male: 12 years
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / female: 11 years (2014)

## Environment
Environmental issues: deforestation; soil deterioration, erosion; desertification; species loss; air pollution in Beirut from vehicular traffic and the burning of industrial wastes; pollution of coastal waters from raw sewage and oil spills; waste-water management
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: Environmental Modification, Marine Life Conservation
Climate: Mediterranean; mild to cool, wet winters with hot, dry summers; the Lebanon Mountains experience heavy winter snows
Land use / agricultural land: 65.9% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 13.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 13.7% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 39.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 13.8% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 20.3% (2023 est.)
Urbanization / urban population: 89.4% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: -1.23% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / total emissions: 17.484 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from coal and metallurgical coke: 375,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from petroleum and other liquids: 17.109 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Particulate matter emissions: 23.8 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Methane emissions / energy: 7.9 kt (2022-2024 est.)
Methane emissions / agriculture: 11.8 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Methane emissions / waste: 105.3 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Methane emissions / other: 0.7 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Waste and recycling / municipal solid waste generated annually: 2.04 million tons (2024 est.)
Waste and recycling / percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 15% (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / municipal: 240 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / industrial: 900 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / agricultural: 700 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total renewable water resources: 4.503 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: Lebanese Republic
Country name / conventional short form: Lebanon
Country name / local long form: Al Jumhuriyah al Lubnaniyah
Country name / local short form: Lubnan
Country name / former: Greater Lebanon
Country name / etymology: derives from the Semitic root lbn, meaning "white," and probably refers to the country's snow-capped mountains
Government type: parliamentary democratic republic
Capital / name: Beirut
Capital / geographic coordinates: 33 52 N, 35 30 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: derived from the Phoenician or Hebrew word be'erot , meaning "the wells," which were the only source of water in the region
Administrative divisions: 8 governorates ( mohafazat , singular - mohafazah ); Aakkar, Baalbek-Hermel, Beqaa (Bekaa), Beyrouth (Beirut), Liban-Nord (North Lebanon), Liban-Sud (South Lebanon), Mont-Liban (Mount Lebanon), Nabatiye
Legal system: mixed system of civil law based on the French civil code, Ottoman legal tradition, and religious laws covering personal status, marriage, divorce, and other family relations of the Jewish, Islamic, and Christian communities
Constitution / history: drafted 15 May 1926, adopted 23 May 1926
Constitution / amendment process: proposed by the president of the republic and introduced as a government bill to the National Assembly or proposed by at least 10 members of the Assembly and agreed upon by two thirds of its members; if proposed by the National Assembly, review and approval by two-thirds majority of the Cabinet is required; if approved, the proposal is next submitted to the Cabinet for drafting as an amendment; Cabinet approval requires at least two-thirds majority, followed by submission to the National Assembly for discussion and vote; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote of a required two-thirds quorum of the Assembly membership and promulgation by 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: the father must be a citizen of Lebanon
Citizenship / dual citizenship recognized: yes
Citizenship / residency requirement for naturalization: unknown
Suffrage: 21 years of age; authorized for all men and women regardless of religion; excludes persons convicted of felonies and other crimes or those imprisoned; excludes all military and security service personnel regardless of rank
Executive branch / chief of state: President Joseph AOUN (since 9 January 2025)
Executive branch / head of government: Prime Minister Nawaf SALAM (since 8 February 2025)
Executive branch / cabinet: Cabinet chosen by the prime minister in consultation with the president and the National Assembly
Executive branch / election/appointment process: president indirectly elected by a qualified majority of two-thirds of Parliament members in the first round and, if needed, a two-thirds quorum of members by simple-majority popular vote for a 6-year term (eligible for non-consecutive terms); prime minister appointed by the president in consultation with the National Assembly
Executive branch / most recent election date: 9 January 2025
Executive branch / election results: 2025: Joseph AOUN elected president in second round; National Assembly vote - 99 of 128 2016: Michel AWN elected president in second round; National Assembly vote - Michel AWN (FPM) 83; the president elected in its 46th attempt on 31 October 2016
Executive branch / expected date of next election: 2031
Legislative branch / legislature name: National Assembly (Majlis Al-Nuwwab)
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: 5/15/2022
Legislative branch / parties elected and seats per party: Strong Republic (19); Strong Lebanon (18); Development and Liberation (15); Loyalty to the Resistance (15); Independent Deputies (9); Democratic Gathering (8); Independents (20); Other (24)
Legislative branch / percentage of women in chamber: 6.3%
Legislative branch / expected date of next election: May 2026
Judicial branch / highest court(s): Court of Cassation or Supreme Court (organized into 8 chambers, each with a presiding judge and 2 associate judges); Constitutional Council (consists of 10 members)
Judicial branch / judge selection and term of office: Court of Cassation judges appointed by Supreme Judicial Council, a 10-member body headed by the chief justice, and includes other judicial officials; judge tenure NA; Constitutional Council members appointed - 5 by the Council of Ministers and 5 by parliament; members serve 5-year terms
Judicial branch / subordinate courts: Courts of Appeal; Courts of First Instance; specialized tribunals, religious courts; military courts
Political parties: Al-Ahbash (Association of Islamic Charitable Projects) or AICP Amal Movement ("Hope Movement") Azm Movement Ba’th Arab Socialist Party of Lebanon Free Patriotic Movement or FPM Future Movement Bloc or FM Hizballah Islamic Action Front or IAF Kata'ib Party Lebanese Democratic Party Lebanese Forces or LF Marada Movement Progressive Socialist Party or PSP Social Democrat Hunshaqian Party Syrian Social Nationalist Party or SSNP Tashnaq or Armenian Revolutionary Federation
Diplomatic representation in the US / chief of mission: Ambassador Nada HAMADEH (since 5 September 2025)
Diplomatic representation in the US / chancery: 2560 28th Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation in the US / telephone: [1] (202) 939-6300
Diplomatic representation in the US / FAX: [1] (202) 939-6324
Diplomatic representation in the US / email address and website: info@lebanonembassyus.org http://www.lebanonembassyus.org/
Diplomatic representation in the US / consulate(s) general: Detroit, New York, Los Angeles
Diplomatic representation from the US / chief of mission: Ambassador Michel ISSA (since 17 November 2025)
Diplomatic representation from the US / embassy: Awkar facing the Municipality P.O. Box 70-840 Antelias, Beirut
Diplomatic representation from the US / mailing address: 6070 Beirut Place, Washington DC 20521-6070
Diplomatic representation from the US / telephone: [961] (04) 543-600
Diplomatic representation from the US / FAX: [961] (4) 544-019
Diplomatic representation from the US / email address and website: BeirutACS@state.gov https://lb.usembassy.gov/
International organization participation: ABEDA, AFESD, AMF, CAEU, FAO, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, LAS, MIGA, NAM, OAS (observer), OIC, OIF, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNOOSA, UNRWA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)
Independence: 22 November 1943 (from League of Nations mandate under French administration)
National holiday: Independence Day, 22 November (1943)
Flag: description: three horizontal bands consisting of red (top), white (middle, double-width), and red (bottom), with a green cedar tree centered on the white band meaning: red stands for blood shed for liberation, and white for peace, the snow of the mountains, and purity; the green cedar tree is the national symbol and represents eternity, steadiness, happiness, and prosperity
National symbol(s): cedar tree
National color(s): red, white, green
National coat of arms: Lebanon has had many coats of arms since declaring independence in 1943, but none were officially adopted. The current version is a variation of the national flag. Red stands for the blood shed for liberation, and white for peace, purity, and mountain snow. The cedar tree is the national symbol, embodying eternity, steadiness, happiness, and prosperity.
National anthem(s) / title: "Kulluna lil-watan" (All of Us, For Our Country!)
National anthem(s) / lyrics/music: Rachid NAKHLE/Wadih SABRA
National anthem(s) / history: adopted 1927
National heritage / total World Heritage Sites: 6 (all cultural)
National heritage / selected World Heritage Site locales: Anjar; Baalbek; Byblos; Tyre; Ouadi Qadisha (the Holy Valley) and the Forest of the Cedars of God (Horsh Arz el-Rab); Rachid Karami International Fair-Tripoli

## Economy
Economic overview: lower middle-income Middle Eastern economy; hyperinflation and sharp poverty increases; banks have ceased lending; economic contraction, destroyed infrastructure, and reduced consumer demand resulting from Israel-Hezbollah conflict
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $65.415 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $65.917 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2021: $66.329 billion (2021 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2023: -0.8% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2022: -0.6% (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2021: -7% (2021 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2023: $11,300 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2022: $11,500 (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2021: $11,600 (2021 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $20.079 billion (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024: 45.2% (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023: 221.3% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 171.2% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / agriculture: 1% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / industry: 2.1% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / services: 42.4% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / household consumption: 136% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / government consumption: 5.2% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in fixed capital: 1.9% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in inventories: 0% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / exports of goods and services: 30.6% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / imports of goods and services: -73.7% (2023 est.)
Agricultural products: potatoes, milk, tomatoes, apples, oranges, olives, cucumbers/gherkins, chicken, lemons/limes, wheat (2023)
Industries: banking, tourism, real estate and construction, food processing, wine, jewelry, cement, textiles, mineral and chemical products, wood and furniture products, oil refining, metal fabricating
Industrial production growth rate: 0.1% (2023 est.)
Labor force: 1.939 million (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2023: 11.6% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2022: 11.6% (2022 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2021: 12.7% (2021 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / total: 23.6% (2023 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / male: 24.4% (2023 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / female: 21.9% (2023 est.)
Average household expenditures / on food: 37.1% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Average household expenditures / on alcohol and tobacco: 0.7% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2023: 33.3% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2022: 30.7% of GDP (2022 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2021: 27.5% of GDP (2021 est.)
Budget / revenues: $12.73 billion (2021 est.)
Budget / expenditures: $11.853 billion (2021 est.)
Public debt / Public debt 2017: 146.8% of GDP (2017 est.)
Taxes and other revenues: 5.7% (of GDP) (2021 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2023: -$5.643 billion (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2022: -$7.265 billion (2022 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2021: -$4.556 billion (2021 est.)
Exports / Exports 2023: $11.77 billion (2023 est.)
Exports / Exports 2022: $12.445 billion (2022 est.)
Exports / Exports 2021: $9.684 billion (2021 est.)
Exports - partners: UAE 26%, Egypt 7%, Turkey 5%, Iraq 5%, USA 4% (2023)
Exports - commodities: jewelry, cars, diamonds, scrap iron, gold (2023)
Imports / Imports 2023: $23.313 billion (2023 est.)
Imports / Imports 2022: $24.536 billion (2022 est.)
Imports / Imports 2021: $17.667 billion (2021 est.)
Imports - partners: Switzerland 12%, China 11%, Greece 9%, Turkey 8%, Italy 6% (2023)
Imports - commodities: refined petroleum, gold, cars, packaged medicine, garments (2023)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024: $33.301 billion (2024 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023: $27.49 billion (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $32.513 billion (2022 est.)
Debt - external / Debt - external 2023: $41.936 billion (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Currency: Lebanese pounds (LBP) per US dollar -
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2024: 89,500 (2024 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2023: 13,875.625 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2022: 1,507.5 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2021: 1,507.5 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2020: 1,507.5 (2020 est.)

## Energy
Electricity access / electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)
Electricity / installed generating capacity: 5.161 million kW (2023 est.)
Electricity / consumption: 4.077 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / imports: 797 million kWh (2021 est.)
Electricity / transmission/distribution losses: 436.839 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / fossil fuels: 52.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / solar: 31% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / wind: 0.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / hydroelectricity: 15.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / biomass and waste: 0.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Coal / consumption: 166,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / exports: 47 metric tons (2022 est.)
Coal / imports: 164,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum / refined petroleum consumption: 115,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Energy consumption per capita / Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 43.105 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

## Communications
Telephones - fixed lines / total subscriptions: 875,000 (2021 est.)
Telephones - fixed lines / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 16 (2022 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / total subscriptions: 4.29 million (2021 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 77 (2021 est.)
Broadcast media: 7 TV stations, 1 of which is state-owned; more than 30 radio stations, 1 of which is state-owned; satellite and cable TV services available; transmissions of at least 2 international broadcasters are accessible through partner stations (2019)
Internet country code: .lb
Internet users / percent of population: 84% (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / total: 419,000 (2022 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 7 (2022 est.)

## Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: OD
Airports: 8 (2025)
Heliports: 27 (2025)
Railways / total: 401 km (2017)
Railways / standard gauge: 319 km (2017) 1.435-m gauge
Railways / narrow gauge: 82 km (2017) 1.050-m gauge
Merchant marine / total: 51 (2023)
Merchant marine / by type: bulk carrier 2, container ship 1, general cargo 30, oil tanker 1, other 17
Ports / total ports: 5 (2024)
Ports / large: 1
Ports / medium: 1
Ports / small: 0
Ports / very small: 3
Ports / ports with oil terminals: 3
Ports / key ports: Bayrut, Sayda, Selaata, Sidon/zahrani Terminal, Tarabulus

## Military and Security
Military and security forces: Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF): Army Command (includes Presidential Guard Brigade, Land Border Regiments), Naval Forces, Air Forces Ministry of Interior: General Directorate of Internal Security Forces (law enforcement; includes Mobile Gendarmerie), General Directorate for Public Security (border control, some domestic security duties) (2025)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2022: 2.9% of GDP (2022 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2021: 3.2% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2020: 3% of GDP (2020 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2019: 4.7% of GDP (2019 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2018: 5.1% of GDP (2018 est.)
Military and security service personnel strengths: approximately 70,000 active Lebanese Armed Forces (2025)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the LAF's inventory is comprised of mostly older or secondhand equipment from an array of countries, such as France, Germany, Russia, and especially the US (2025)
Military service age and obligation: 18-25 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women; no conscription (2026)
Military - note: the primary responsibilities of the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) are defense against external attack, border security, protecting the country’s territorial waters, and assisting with internal security and development projects the LAF’s domestic security responsibilities include countering narcotics trafficking and smuggling, managing protests, conducting search and rescue, and intervening to prevent violence between rival political factions; in recent years, the military has faced a financial crisis as government debt and national economic difficulties have undercut its ability to train and fully pay and supply personnel; the UN, as well as individual countries such as France, Qatar, and the US have provided financial assistance the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) has operated in the southern part of the country since 1978; it has approximately 10,500 personnel assigned and includes a maritime task force; the terrorist group Hizballah maintains thousands of fighters and militia in Lebanon, primarily in the south (see Terrorist Organizations in References) (2025)

## Terrorism
Terrorist group(s): Abdallah Azzam Brigades; al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade; Asbat al-Ansar; HAMAS; Hizballah; Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC)/Qods Force; Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS); Palestine Liberation Front (PLF); Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP); PFLP-General Command (PFLP-GC)

## Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons / refugees: 765,390 (2024 est.)
Refugees and internally displaced persons / IDPs: 984,514 (2024 est.)
Refugees and internally displaced persons / stateless persons: 40,000 (2024 est.)

=== Oman ===

## Introduction
Background: The inhabitants of the area of present-day Oman have long prospered from Indian Ocean trade. In the late 18th century, the nascent sultanate in Muscat signed the first in a series of friendship treaties with Britain. Over time, Oman's dependence on British political and military advisors increased, although the sultanate never became a British colony. In 1970, QABOOS bin Said Al Said overthrew his father and ruled as sultan for the next five decades. His extensive modernization program opened the country to the outside world. He prioritized strategic ties to the UK and US, and his moderate, independent foreign policy allowed Oman to maintain good relations with its neighbors and avoid external entanglements. In 2011, the popular uprisings that swept the Middle East and North Africa inspired demonstrations in Oman that called for more jobs and economic benefits and an end to corruption. In response, QABOOS implemented economic and political reforms such as granting Oman’s legislative body more power and authorizing direct elections for its lower house. Additionally, the sultan increased unemployment benefits and issued a royal directive mandating a national public- and private-sector job creation plan. As part of the government's efforts to decentralize authority and allow greater citizen participation in local governance, Oman successfully conducted its first municipal council elections in 2012. QABOOS, Oman's longest reigning monarch, died in 2020. His cousin, HAYTHAM bin Tariq Al Said, former Minister of Heritage and Culture, was sworn in as Oman's new sultan the same day.

## Geography
Location: Middle East, bordering the Arabian Sea, Gulf of Oman, and Persian Gulf, between Yemen and the UAE
Geographic coordinates: 21 00 N, 57 00 E
Map references: Middle East
Area / total: 309,500 sq km
Area / land: 309,500 sq km
Area / water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative: twice the size of Georgia
Land boundaries / total: 1,561 km
Land boundaries / border countries: Saudi Arabia 658 km; UAE 609 km; Yemen 294 km
Coastline: 2,092 km
Maritime claims / territorial sea: 12 nm
Maritime claims / contiguous zone: 24 nm
Maritime claims / exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate: dry desert; hot, humid along coast; hot, dry interior; strong southwest summer monsoon (May to September) in far south
Terrain: central desert plain, rugged mountains in north and south
Elevation / highest point: Jabal Shams 3,004 m
Elevation / lowest point: Arabian Sea 0 m
Elevation / mean elevation: 310 m
Natural resources: petroleum, copper, asbestos, some marble, limestone, chromium, gypsum, natural gas
Land use / agricultural land: 4.8% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 0.3% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 0.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 4.4% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 0% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 95.2% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land: 1,162 sq km (2022)
Major aquifers: Arabian Aquifer System
Population distribution: the vast majority of the population is located in and around the Al Hagar Mountains in the north; another smaller cluster is found around the city of Salalah in the far south; most of the country remains sparsely populated
Natural hazards: summer winds often raise large sandstorms and dust storms in interior; periodic droughts
Geography - note: consists of Oman proper and two northern exclaves, Musandam and Al Madhah; the former is a peninsula that occupies a strategic location adjacent to the Strait of Hormuz

## People and Society
Population / total: 3,969,824 (2025 est.)
Population / male: 2,130,080
Population / female: 1,839,744
Nationality / noun: Omani(s)
Nationality / adjective: Omani
Ethnic groups: Arab, Baluchi, South Asian (Indian, Pakistani, Sri Lankan, Bangladeshi), African
Languages / Languages: Arabic (official), English, Baluchi, Swahili, Urdu, Indian dialects
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 85.9%, Christian 6.4%, Hindu 5.7%, other and unaffiliated 2% (2020 est.)
Age structure / 0-14 years: 29.8% (male 594,909/female 566,682)
Age structure / 15-64 years: 66.2% (male 1,428,141/female 1,155,438)
Age structure / 65 years and over: 4% (2024 est.) (male 73,076/female 83,746)
Dependency ratios / total dependency ratio: 50.8 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / youth dependency ratio: 44.6 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / elderly dependency ratio: 6.2 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / potential support ratio: 16.2 (2025 est.)
Median age / total: 27.5 years (2025 est.)
Median age / male: 28.1 years
Median age / female: 26.3 years
Population growth rate: 1.7% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 20.65 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 3.17 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: -0.49 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution: the vast majority of the population is located in and around the Al Hagar Mountains in the north; another smaller cluster is found around the city of Salalah in the far south; most of the country remains sparsely populated
Urbanization / urban population: 88.4% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 2.32% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 1.650 million MUSCAT (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: 1.24 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 65 years and over: 0.87 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / total population: 1.16 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio: 13 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Infant mortality rate / total: 13.6 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Infant mortality rate / male: 15.1 deaths/1,000 live births
Infant mortality rate / female: 12.6 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth / total population: 77.4 years (2024 est.)
Life expectancy at birth / male: 75.5 years
Life expectancy at birth / female: 79.4 years
Total fertility rate: 2.61 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 1.27 (2025 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: urban: urban: 94.7% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: rural: rural: 76.3% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: total: total: 92.4% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: urban: urban: 5.3% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: rural: rural: 23.7% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: total: total: 7.6% of population (2022 est.)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 4.4% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 8.3% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density: 1.99 physicians/1,000 population (2022)
Hospital bed density: 1.2 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: 27% (2016)
Alcohol consumption per capita / total: 0.47 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / beer: 0.17 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / wine: 0.02 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: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Tobacco use / total: 11.6% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / male: 17.9% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / female: 0.4% (2025 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 11.2% (2017 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49): 55.8% (2020 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% GDP): 4.3% of GDP (2022 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% national budget): 14.2% national budget (2022 est.)
Literacy / total population: 97.3% (2022 est.)
Literacy / male: 98.6% (2022 est.)
Literacy / female: 94.9% (2022 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: 14 years (2021 est.)

## Environment
Environmental issues: limited natural freshwater resources; high levels of soil and water salinity in the coastal plains; beach pollution from oil spills; industrial effluents in the water table and aquifers; desertification due to high winds driving desert sand into arable lands
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, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
International environmental agreements / signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Climate: dry desert; hot, humid along coast; hot, dry interior; strong southwest summer monsoon (May to September) in far south
Land use / agricultural land: 4.8% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 0.3% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 0.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 4.4% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 0% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 95.2% (2023 est.)
Urbanization / urban population: 88.4% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 2.32% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / total emissions: 84.073 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from coal and metallurgical coke: 661,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from petroleum and other liquids: 28.611 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from consumed natural gas: 54.8 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Particulate matter emissions: 34.9 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Methane emissions / energy: 673.6 kt (2022-2024 est.)
Methane emissions / agriculture: 36.8 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Methane emissions / waste: 62.4 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Methane emissions / other: 9.9 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Waste and recycling / municipal solid waste generated annually: 3.308 million tons (2024 est.)
Waste and recycling / percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 13.9% (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / municipal: 130 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / industrial: 238 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / agricultural: 1.547 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total renewable water resources: 1.4 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: Sultanate of Oman
Country name / conventional short form: Oman
Country name / local long form: Saltanat Uman
Country name / local short form: Uman
Country name / former: Sultanate of Muscat and Oman
Country name / etymology: the origin of the name is uncertain, but it may date back at least 2,000 years, with an "Omana" mentioned by Pliny the Elder (1st century A.D.) and an "Omanon" by Ptolemy (2nd century A.D.); it is said to derive from Oman ben Ibrahim al Khalil (Oman ben Kahtan), who founded the state
Government type: absolute monarchy
Capital / name: Muscat
Capital / geographic coordinates: 23 37 N, 58 35 E
Capital / time difference: UTC+4 (9 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Capital / etymology: the name derives from the Arabic name for the city, Masqat, which is said to mean "hidden" and refers to the range of hills that isolate the port city from the rest of the country
Administrative divisions: 11 governorates ( muhafazat , singular - muhafaza ); Ad Dakhiliyah, Al Buraymi, Al Wusta, Az Zahirah, Janub al Batinah (Al Batinah South), Janub ash Sharqiyah (Ash Sharqiyah South), Masqat (Muscat), Musandam, Shamal al Batinah (Al Batinah North), Shamal ash Sharqiyah (Ash Sharqiyah North), Zufar (Dhofar)
Legal system: mixed system of Anglo-Saxon law and Islamic law
Constitution / history: promulgated by royal decree 6 November 1996 (the Basic Law of the Sultanate of Oman serves as the constitution); amended by royal decree in 2011
Constitution / amendment process: promulgated by the sultan or proposed by the Council of Oman and drafted by a technical committee as stipulated by royal decree and then promulgated through royal decree
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 Oman
Citizenship / dual citizenship recognized: no
Citizenship / residency requirement for naturalization: unknown
Suffrage: 21 years of age; universal
Executive branch / chief of state: Sultan and Prime Minister HAITHAM bin Tarik Al Said (since 11 January 2020)
Executive branch / head of government: Sultan and Prime Minister HAITHAM bin Tarik Al Said (since 11 January 2020)
Executive branch / cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the monarch
Legislative branch / legislature name: Majles
Legislative branch / legislative structure: bicameral
Legislative branch - lower chamber / chamber name: Shura Council (Majles A'Shura)
Legislative branch - lower chamber / number of seats: 90 (all directly elected)
Legislative branch - lower chamber / electoral system: other systems
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: 11/1/2023
Legislative branch - lower chamber / percentage of women in chamber: 0%
Legislative branch - lower chamber / expected date of next election: October 2027
Legislative branch - upper chamber / chamber name: State Council (Majles Addawla)
Legislative branch - upper chamber / number of seats: 87 (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: 10/29/2023
Legislative branch - upper chamber / percentage of women in chamber: 20.9%
Legislative branch - upper chamber / expected date of next election: November 2027
Judicial branch / highest court(s): Supreme Court (consists of 5 judges)
Judicial branch / judge selection and term of office: judges nominated by the 9-member Supreme Judicial Council (chaired by the monarch) and appointed by the monarch; judges appointed for life
Judicial branch / subordinate courts: Courts of Appeal; Administrative Court; Courts of First Instance; sharia courts; magistrates' courts; military courts
Political parties: note: organized political parties are banned in Oman, and loyalties tend to form around tribal affiliations
Diplomatic representation in the US / chief of mission: Ambassador Talal Sulaiman AL-RAHBI (since 24 July 2025)
Diplomatic representation in the US / chancery: 2535 Belmont Road, NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation in the US / telephone: [1] (202) 387-1980
Diplomatic representation in the US / FAX: [1] (202) 745-4933
Diplomatic representation in the US / email address and website: washington@fm.gov.om Embassy of the Sultanate of Oman, Washington, USA - FM.gov.om
Diplomatic representation from the US / chief of mission: Ambassador Ana ESCROGIMA (since 4 December 2023)
Diplomatic representation from the US / embassy: P.C. 115, Madinat Al Sultan Qaboos, Muscat
Diplomatic representation from the US / mailing address: 6220 Muscat Place, Washington DC 20521
Diplomatic representation from the US / telephone: [968] 2464-3400
Diplomatic representation from the US / FAX: [968] 2464-3740
Diplomatic representation from the US / email address and website: ConsularMuscat@state.gov https://om.usembassy.gov/
International organization participation: ABEDA, AFESD, AMF, CAEU, FAO, G-77, GCC, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, LAS, MIGA, NAM, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNOOSA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Independence: 1650 (expulsion of the Portuguese)
National holiday: National Day, 18 November
Flag: description: three equal horizontal bands of white (top), red, and green, with a vertical red band on the left side; the national emblem (a khanjar dagger in its sheath on top of crossed swords in scabbards) in white is centered near the top of the vertical band meaning: white stands for peace and prosperity, red for battles against foreign invaders, and green for the Jebel al Akhdar (Green Mountains) and fertility
National symbol(s): khanjar dagger on top of two crossed swords
National color(s): red, white, green
National anthem(s) / title: "Nashid as-Salaam as-Sultani" (The Sultan's Anthem)
National anthem(s) / lyrics/music: Rashid bin Uzayyiz al KHUSAIDI/James Frederick MILLS, arranged by Bernard EBBINGHAUS
National anthem(s) / history: adopted 1932; new lyrics written after QABOOS bin Said al Said came to power in 1970; first performed by the band of the HMS Hawkins as a salute to the Sultan during a 1932 visit to Muscat; the ship's bandmaster did the arrangement
National heritage / total World Heritage Sites: 5 (all cultural)
National heritage / selected World Heritage Site locales: Bahla Fort; Archaeological Sites of Bat; Land of Frankincense; Aflaj Irrigation Systems of Oman; Ancient Qalhat

## Economy
Economic overview: high-income, oil-based economy; large welfare system; growing government debt; citizenship-based labor force growth policy; US free trade agreement; diversifying portfolio; high female labor force participation
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $193.591 billion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $190.403 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $188.169 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: 1.2% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2022: 8% (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2024: $36,700 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2023: $37,700 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2022: $39,800 (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $106.943 billion (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023: 1% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 2.5% (2022 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021: 1.7% (2021 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / agriculture: 2.6% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / industry: 54.2% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / services: 46.5% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / household consumption: 37.8% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / government consumption: 19.1% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in fixed capital: 24.3% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in inventories: 2.4% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / exports of goods and services: 61.1% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / imports of goods and services: -44.8% (2023 est.)
Agricultural products: vegetables, dates, milk, tomatoes, sorghum, chillies/peppers, goat milk, cucumbers/gherkins, cantaloupes/melons, cabbages (2023)
Industries: crude oil production and refining, natural and liquefied natural gas production; construction, cement, copper, steel, chemicals, optic fiber
Industrial production growth rate: 0.2% (2024 est.)
Labor force: 2.696 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: 3.3% (2022 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / total: 13.9% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / male: 11% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / female: 30.9% (2024 est.)
Average household expenditures / on food: 18.7% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Average household expenditures / on alcohol and tobacco: 0.1% 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: $29.334 billion (2018 est.)
Budget / expenditures: $35.984 billion (2018 est.)
Public debt / Public debt 2017: 46.9% of GDP (2017 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2023: $2.638 billion (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2022: $4.362 billion (2022 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2021: -$4.836 billion (2021 est.)
Exports / Exports 2023: $64.749 billion (2023 est.)
Exports / Exports 2022: $69.483 billion (2022 est.)
Exports / Exports 2021: $46.572 billion (2021 est.)
Exports - partners: China 43%, India 6%, Saudi Arabia 5%, UAE 5%, South Africa 4% (2023)
Exports - commodities: crude petroleum, refined petroleum, natural gas, semi-finished iron, fertilizers (2023)
Imports / Imports 2023: $47.412 billion (2023 est.)
Imports / Imports 2022: $46.682 billion (2022 est.)
Imports / Imports 2021: $37.216 billion (2021 est.)
Imports - partners: UAE 25%, Saudi Arabia 12%, India 8%, China 7%, Qatar 5% (2023)
Imports - commodities: refined petroleum, cars, crude petroleum, iron ore, iron pipes (2023)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024: $18.287 billion (2024 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023: $17.455 billion (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $17.606 billion (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Currency: Omani rials (OMR) per US dollar -
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2024: 0.384 (2024 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2023: 0.384 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2022: 0.384 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2021: 0.384 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2020: 0.384 (2020 est.)

## Energy
Electricity access / electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)
Electricity / installed generating capacity: 11.589 million kW (2023 est.)
Electricity / consumption: 40.738 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / transmission/distribution losses: 4.267 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / fossil fuels: 96% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / solar: 3.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / wind: 0.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Coal / consumption: 82,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / exports: 70,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / imports: 323,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum / total petroleum production: 1.056 million bbl/day (2023 est.)
Petroleum / refined petroleum consumption: 218,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Petroleum / crude oil estimated reserves: 5.373 billion barrels (2021 est.)
Natural gas / production: 41.726 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / consumption: 28.646 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / exports: 15.536 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / imports: 1.924 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / proven reserves: 651.287 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)
Energy consumption per capita / Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 296.586 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

## Communications
Telephones - fixed lines / total subscriptions: 579,000 (2023 est.)
Telephones - fixed lines / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 11 (2023 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / total subscriptions: 6.35 million (2024 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 121 (2024 est.)
Broadcast media: 1 state-run TV broadcaster; TV stations transmitting from Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Iran, and Yemen available via satellite TV; state-run radio operates multiple stations; first private radio station began operating in 2007, and several additional stations now operating (2019)
Internet country code: .om
Internet users / percent of population: 95% (2024 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / total: 562,000 (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 11 (2023 est.)

## Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: A4O
Airports: 37 (2025)
Heliports: 20 (2025)
Merchant marine / total: 57 (2023)
Merchant marine / by type: general cargo 11, other 46
Ports / total ports: 7 (2024)
Ports / large: 0
Ports / medium: 1
Ports / small: 4
Ports / very small: 2
Ports / ports with oil terminals: 6
Ports / key ports: Duqm, Khawr Khasab, Mina Al Fahl, Mina Raysut, Sohar

## Military and Security
Military and security forces: Sultan's Armed Forces (SAF): Royal Army of Oman (RAO), Royal Navy of Oman (RNO), Royal Air Force of Oman (RAFO), Royal Guard of Oman (RGO), Sultan's Special Forces Royal Oman Police (ROP): Civil Defense, Immigration, Infrastructure Security Police, Coast Guard Police, Special Security Police, Special Task Force (2024)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2024: 6% of GDP (2024 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2023: 5.5% of GDP (2023 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2022: 5.5% of GDP (2022 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2021: 8% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2020: 11% of GDP (2020 est.)
Military and security service personnel strengths: approximately 40,000 active Sultan's Armed Forces (2025)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the SAF's inventory includes a mix of older and some more modern weapons systems from a variety of suppliers, particularly the UK and the US; other suppliers have included China, EU countries, South Africa, and T&uuml;rkiye (2025)
Military service age and obligation: 18-25 for voluntary military service for men and women; no conscription (2025)
Military - note: the Sultan's Armed Forces (SAF) are responsible for defending the country, ensuring internal security, and protecting the monarchy; it trains with foreign partners such as the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, the UK, and the US; the SAF has a security relationship with the British military going back to the 18th century; today, the SAF and the British maintain a joint training base in Oman, and the British military uses the facilities at Al Duqm Port; in 2019, the US obtained access to the port, expanding on previous military cooperation agreements in 2014, 2010, and 1980; Oman also allows other nations to use some of its maritime facilities, including China; the SAF is part of the Peninsula Shield Forces, a joint military force established by the GCC countries with the aim of maintaining security and stability in the region Oman's naval forces conduct maritime security operations along the country’s long coastline, including patrolling, ensuring freedom of navigation in the key naval chokepoint of the Strait of Hormuz, and countering piracy and smuggling; Oman participates in the US-led, multinational Combined Maritime Forces (CMF), which operates multinational task forces conducting maritime security in regional waters (2025)

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

## Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons / refugees: 714 (2024 est.)

=== Qatar ===

## Introduction
Background: Ruled by the Al Thani family since the mid-1800s, Qatar within the last 60 years transformed itself from a poor British protectorate noted mainly for pearling into an independent state with significant hydrocarbon revenues. Former Amir HAMAD bin Khalifa Al Thani, who overthrew his father in a bloodless coup in 1995, ushered in wide-sweeping political and media reforms, unprecedented economic investment, and a growing Qatari regional leadership role, in part through the creation of the pan-Arab satellite news network Al-Jazeera and Qatar's mediation of some regional conflicts. In the 2000s, Qatar resolved its longstanding border disputes with both Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, and by 2007, Doha had attained the highest per capita income in the world. Qatar did not experience domestic unrest or violence like that seen in other Near Eastern and North African countries in 2011, due in part to its immense wealth and patronage network. In mid-2013, HAMAD peacefully abdicated, transferring power to his son, the current Amir TAMIM bin Hamad. TAMIM is popular with the Qatari public for his role in shepherding the country through an economic embargo from some other regional countries, for his efforts to improve the country's healthcare and education systems, and for his expansion of the country's infrastructure in anticipation of hosting international sporting events. Qatar became the first country in the Arab world to host the FIFA Men’s World Cup in 2022. Following the outbreak of regional unrest in 2011, Doha prided itself on its support for many popular revolutions, particularly in Libya and Syria. This stance was to the detriment of Qatar’s relations with Bahrain, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), which temporarily recalled their respective ambassadors from Doha in 2014. TAMIM later oversaw a warming of Qatar’s relations with Bahrain, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE in November 2014 following Kuwaiti mediation and signing of the Riyadh Agreement. This reconciliation, however, was short-lived. In 2017, Bahrain, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE (the "Quartet") cut diplomatic and economic ties with Qatar in response to alleged violations of the agreement, among other complaints. They restored ties in 2021 after signing a declaration at the Gulf Cooperation Council Summit in Al Ula, Saudi Arabia. In 2022, the United States designated Qatar as a major non-NATO ally.

## Geography
Location: Middle East, peninsula bordering the Persian Gulf and Saudi Arabia
Geographic coordinates: 25 30 N, 51 15 E
Map references: Middle East
Area / total: 11,586 sq km
Area / land: 11,586 sq km
Area / water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative: almost twice the size of Delaware; slightly smaller than Connecticut
Land boundaries / total: 87 km
Land boundaries / border countries: Saudi Arabia 87 km
Coastline: 563 km
Maritime claims / territorial sea: 12 nm
Maritime claims / contiguous zone: 24 nm
Maritime claims / exclusive economic zone: as determined by bilateral agreements or the median line
Climate: arid; mild, pleasant winters; very hot, humid summers
Terrain: mostly flat and barren desert
Elevation / highest point: Tuwayyir al Hamir 103 m
Elevation / lowest point: Persian Gulf 0 m
Elevation / mean elevation: 28 m
Natural resources: petroleum, fish, natural gas
Land use / agricultural land: 6.4% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 1.8% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 0.3% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 4.4% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 0.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 93.4% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land: 130 sq km (2022)
Major aquifers: Arabian Aquifer System
Population distribution: most of the population is clustered in or around the capital of Doha on the eastern side of the peninsula
Natural hazards: haze, dust storms, sandstorms common
Geography - note: the peninsula occupies a strategic location in the central Persian Gulf near major petroleum deposits

## People and Society
Population / total: 2,568,426 (2025 est.)
Population / male: 1,970,605
Population / female: 597,821
Nationality / noun: Qatari(s)
Nationality / adjective: Qatari
Ethnic groups: non-Qatari 88.4%, Qatari 11.6% (2015 est.)
Languages / Languages: Arabic (official), English commonly used as a second language
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 65.2%, Christian 13.7%, Hindu 15.9%, Buddhist 3.8%, folk religion <0.1%, Jewish <0.1%, other <1%, unaffiliated <1% (2020 est.)
Age structure / 0-14 years: 13.1% (male 168,844/female 165,905)
Age structure / 15-64 years: 85.4% (male 1,767,294/female 411,977)
Age structure / 65 years and over: 1.5% (2024 est.) (male 24,997/female 13,071)
Dependency ratios / total dependency ratio: 17.3 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / youth dependency ratio: 15.4 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / elderly dependency ratio: 1.8 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / potential support ratio: 54.4 (2025 est.)
Median age / total: 34.4 years (2025 est.)
Median age / male: 35.7 years
Median age / female: 28.1 years
Population growth rate: 0.57% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 9.19 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 1.42 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: -2.09 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution: most of the population is clustered in or around the capital of Doha on the eastern side of the peninsula
Urbanization / urban population: 99.4% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 1.66% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 798,000 Ar-Rayyan, 658,000 DOHA (capital) (2023)
Sex ratio / at birth: 1.02 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 0-14 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 15-64 years: 4.29 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 65 years and over: 1.91 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / total population: 3.32 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio: 4 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Infant mortality rate / total: 6.2 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Infant mortality rate / male: 7 deaths/1,000 live births
Infant mortality rate / female: 5.8 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth / total population: 80.3 years (2024 est.)
Life expectancy at birth / male: 78.2 years
Life expectancy at birth / female: 82.4 years
Total fertility rate: 1.9 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 0.94 (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): 2.9% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 7.4% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density: 3.02 physicians/1,000 population (2023)
Hospital bed density: 1.1 beds/1,000 population (2019 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: 35.1% (2016)
Alcohol consumption per capita / total: 0.96 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / beer: 0.29 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / wine: 0.07 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / spirits: 0.59 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: 24.6% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / female: 2.3% (2025 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 2.3% (2023 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49): 64.6% (2020 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% GDP): 3.2% of GDP (2020 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% national budget): 9.3% national budget (2020 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / total: 13 years (2022 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / male: 12 years (2022 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / female: 15 years (2022 est.)

## Environment
Environmental issues: air, land, and water pollution; limited natural freshwater resources; limited conservation of oil and wildlife
International environmental agreements / party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution
International environmental agreements / signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Climate: arid; mild, pleasant winters; very hot, humid summers
Land use / agricultural land: 6.4% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 1.8% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 0.3% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 4.4% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 0.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 93.4% (2023 est.)
Urbanization / urban population: 99.4% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 1.66% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / total emissions: 127.783 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from coal and metallurgical coke: 10,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from petroleum and other liquids: 27.781 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from consumed natural gas: 99.991 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Particulate matter emissions: 59 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Methane emissions / energy: 1,040.8 kt (2022-2024 est.)
Methane emissions / agriculture: 9.5 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Methane emissions / waste: 64.7 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Methane emissions / other: 5.5 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Waste and recycling / municipal solid waste generated annually: 1.001 million tons (2024 est.)
Waste and recycling / percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 6% (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / municipal: 582.862 million cubic meters (2022)
Total water withdrawal / industrial: 40.18 million cubic meters (2022)
Total water withdrawal / agricultural: 311.156 million cubic meters (2022)
Total renewable water resources: 58 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: State of Qatar
Country name / conventional short form: Qatar
Country name / local long form: Dawlat Qatar
Country name / local short form: Qatar
Country name / etymology: the name may derive from the Arabic word katran , meaning "tar" or "resin" in reference to the area's oil and natural gas reserves
Government type: absolute monarchy
Capital / name: Doha
Capital / geographic coordinates: 25 17 N, 51 32 E
Capital / time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Capital / etymology: the name is derived from the Arabic ad-dawha , meaning "the big tree," and probably referred to a large tree at the site of the original fishing village
Administrative divisions: 8 municipalities ( baladiyat , singular - baladiyah ); Ad Dawhah, Al Khawr wa adh Dhakhirah, Al Wakrah, Ar Rayyan, Ash Shamal, Ash Shihaniyah, Az Za'ayin, Umm Salal
Legal system: mixed system of civil law and Islamic (sharia) law (in family and personal matters)
Constitution / history: previous 1972 (provisional); latest drafted 2 July 2002, approved by referendum 29 April 2003, endorsed 8 June 2004, effective 9 June 2005
Constitution / amendment process: proposed by the Amir or by one third of Advisory Council members; passage requires two-thirds majority vote of Advisory Council members and approval and promulgation by the emir; articles pertaining to the rule of state and its inheritance, functions of the emir, and citizen rights and liberties 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 father must be a citizen of Qatar
Citizenship / dual citizenship recognized: no
Citizenship / residency requirement for naturalization: 20 years; 15 years if an Arab national
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch / chief of state: Amir TAMIM bin Hamad Al Thani (since 25 June 2013)
Executive branch / head of government: Prime Minister and Foreign Minister MUHAMMAD bin Abd al-Rahman Al Thani (since 7 March 2023)
Executive branch / cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the amir
Executive branch / election/appointment process: the monarchy is hereditary; prime minister appointed by the amir
Legislative branch / legislature name: Shura Council (Majlis Al-Shura)
Legislative branch / legislative structure: unicameral
Legislative branch / number of seats: 49 (all 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: 10/9/2025
Legislative branch / percentage of women in chamber: 6.1%
Legislative branch / expected date of next election: September 2029
Judicial branch / highest court(s): Supreme Court or Court of Cassation (consists of the court president and several judges); Supreme Constitutional Court (consists of the chief justice and 6 members)
Judicial branch / judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court judges nominated by the Supreme Judiciary Council, a 9-member independent body consisting of judiciary heads appointed by the amir; judges appointed for 3-year renewable terms; Supreme Constitutional Court members nominated by the Supreme Judiciary Council and appointed by the monarch; term of appointment NA
Judicial branch / subordinate courts: Courts of Appeal; Administrative Court; Courts of First Instance; sharia courts; Courts of Justice; Qatar International Court and Dispute Resolution Center, established in 2009, provides dispute resolution services for institutions and bodies in Qatar, as well as internationally
Political parties: political parties are banned
Diplomatic representation in the US / chief of mission: Ambassador Meshal bin Hamad AL THANI (since 24 April 2017)
Diplomatic representation in the US / chancery: 2555 M Street NW, Washington, DC 20037
Diplomatic representation in the US / telephone: [1] (202) 274-1600
Diplomatic representation in the US / FAX: [1] (202) 237-0682
Diplomatic representation in the US / email address and website: info.dc@mofa.gov.qa https://washington.embassy.qa/en/home
Diplomatic representation in the US / consulate(s) general: Houston, Los Angeles, New York
Diplomatic representation from the US / chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charg&eacute; d&rsquo;Affaires Stefanie ALTMAN-WINANS (since June 2025)
Diplomatic representation from the US / embassy: 22 February Street, Al Luqta District, P.O. Box 2399, Doha
Diplomatic representation from the US / mailing address: 6130 Doha Place, Washington DC 20521-6130
Diplomatic representation from the US / telephone: [974] 4496-6000
Diplomatic representation from the US / FAX: [974] 4488-4298
Diplomatic representation from the US / email address and website: PasDoha@state.gov https://qa.usembassy.gov/
International organization participation: ABEDA, AFESD, AMF, CAEU, CD, CICA (observer), EITI (implementing country), FAO, G-77, GCC, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, LAS, MIGA, NAM, OAPEC, OAS (observer), OIC, OIF, OPCW, OPEC, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHRC, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNOOSA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Independence: 3 September 1971 (from the UK)
National holiday: National Day, 18 December (1878), anniversary of Al Thani family accession to the throne; Independence Day, 3 September (1971)
Flag: description: maroon with a broad, serrated white band on the left side meaning: maroon stands for the blood shed in Qatari wars, and white for peace; the nine-pointed serrated edge is a reference to Qatar's status as the ninth member of the "reconciled emirates" after the Qatari-British treaty of 1916 -- the other eight members are Bahrain and the seven that make up the UAE
National symbol(s): a white serrated band with nine white points on top of a maroon field
National color(s): maroon, white
National anthem(s) / title: "Al-Salam Al-Amiri" (Peace be to the Emir)
National anthem(s) / lyrics/music: Sheikh MUBARAK bin Saif al-Thani/Abdul Aziz Nasser OBAIDAN
National anthem(s) / history: adopted 1996
National heritage / total World Heritage Sites: 1 (cultural)
National heritage / selected World Heritage Site locales: Al Zubarah Archaeological Site

## Economy
Economic overview: high-income, oil-and-gas-based Middle Eastern economy; implementing “National Vision 2030” government strategy for economic development, diversification, and favorable business conditions to boost investment and employment; expansion of LNG sector expected to boost growth; Islamic finance leader
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $317.064 billion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $308.522 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $304.903 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: 1.2% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2022: 4.2% (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2024: $110,900 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2023: $116,200 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2022: $114,700 (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $217.983 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: 3% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 5% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / agriculture: 0.3% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / industry: 58.5% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / services: 45.9% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / household consumption: 19.5% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / government consumption: 12.9% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in fixed capital: 30.6% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in inventories: 0% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / exports of goods and services: 68.6% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / imports of goods and services: -31.6% (2022 est.)
Agricultural products: dates, chicken, tomatoes, camel milk, vegetables, cucumbers/gherkins, pumpkins/squash, eggs, sheep milk, eggplants (2023)
Industries: liquefied natural gas, crude oil production and refining, ammonia, fertilizer, petrochemicals, steel reinforcing bars, cement, commercial ship repair
Industrial production growth rate: 1.6% (2024 est.)
Labor force: 2.123 million (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2024: 0.2% (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2023: 0.2% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2022: 0.2% (2022 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / total: 0.4% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / male: 0.1% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / female: 1.2% (2024 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income / Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2017: 35.1 (2017 est.)
Average household expenditures / on food: 14.6% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Average household expenditures / on alcohol and tobacco: 0.3% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / lowest 10%: 2.6% (2017 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / highest 10%: 25.8% (2017 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2024: 0.7% of GDP (2024 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2023: 0.7% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2022: 0.4% of GDP (2022 est.)
Budget / revenues: $65.922 billion (2019 est.)
Budget / expenditures: $57.258 billion (2019 est.)
Public debt / Public debt 2016: 46.7% of GDP (2016 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2024: $38.117 billion (2024 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2023: $36.453 billion (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2022: $63.118 billion (2022 est.)
Exports / Exports 2024: $125.216 billion (2024 est.)
Exports / Exports 2023: $128.709 billion (2023 est.)
Exports / Exports 2022: $161.693 billion (2022 est.)
Exports - partners: China 18%, India 11%, S. Korea 10%, Japan 7%, Pakistan 6% (2023)
Exports - commodities: natural gas, crude petroleum, refined petroleum, plastics, fertilizers (2023)
Imports / Imports 2024: $69.692 billion (2024 est.)
Imports / Imports 2023: $72.174 billion (2023 est.)
Imports / Imports 2022: $74.52 billion (2022 est.)
Imports - partners: USA 12%, China 12%, UAE 9%, UK 7%, India 5% (2023)
Imports - commodities: gas turbines, cars, aircraft, iron pipes, ships (2023)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024: $53.987 billion (2024 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023: $51.539 billion (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $47.389 billion (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Currency: Qatari rials (QAR) per US dollar -
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2024: 3.64 (2024 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2023: 3.64 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2022: 3.64 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2021: 3.64 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2020: 3.64 (2020 est.)

## Energy
Electricity access / electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)
Electricity / installed generating capacity: 11.4 million kW (2023 est.)
Electricity / consumption: 51.965 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / transmission/distribution losses: 3.177 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / fossil fuels: 99.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / biomass and waste: 0.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Coal / exports: 300 metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / imports: 4,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum / total petroleum production: 1.818 million bbl/day (2023 est.)
Petroleum / refined petroleum consumption: 268,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Petroleum / crude oil estimated reserves: 25.244 billion barrels (2021 est.)
Natural gas / production: 171.805 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / consumption: 48.034 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / exports: 124.747 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / proven reserves: 23.861 trillion cubic meters (2021 est.)
Energy consumption per capita / Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 814.308 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

## Communications
Telephones - fixed lines / total subscriptions: 526,000 (2023 est.)
Telephones - fixed lines / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 18 (2023 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / total subscriptions: 4.68 million (2024 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 154 (2024 est.)
Broadcast media: state-controlled TV and radio licensing and access to local media markets; home of satellite TV channel Al-Jazeera, which was originally state-owned but is now independent; local radio includes state, private, and international broadcasters on FM frequencies; satellite TV available (2019)
Internet country code: .qa
Internet users / percent of population: 100% (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / total: 347,000 (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 12 (2023 est.)

## Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: A7
Airports: 8 (2025)
Heliports: 12 (2025)
Merchant marine / total: 123 (2023)
Merchant marine / by type: bulk carrier 5, container ship 4, general cargo 4, oil tanker 2, other 108
Ports / total ports: 6 (2024)
Ports / large: 0
Ports / medium: 1
Ports / small: 2
Ports / very small: 3
Ports / ports with oil terminals: 5
Ports / key ports: Al Rayyan Terminal, Al Shaheen Terminal, Doha, Jazirat Halul, Ras Laffan, Umm Said

## Military and Security
Military and security forces: Qatar Armed Forces (QAF): Qatari Amiri Land Force (QALF, includes Emiri Guard), Qatari Amiri Navy (QAN, includes Coast Guard), Qatari Amiri Air Force (QAAF) Ministry of Interior: General Directorate of Public Security, General Directorate of Coasts and Border Security, Internal Security Force (ISF or Lekhwiya) (2025)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2023: 5% of GDP (2023 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2022: 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 expenditures / Military Expenditures 2019: 3.4% of GDP (2019 est.)
Military and security service personnel strengths: approximately 15,000 active-duty Qatar Armed Forces (2025)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the Qatari military's inventory is a mix of older and modern weapons systems, mostly from Türkiye, the US, and various European countries, including France, Germany, and Italy (2025)
Military service age and obligation: typically 18-30 for voluntary service for men and women; compulsory military service for men 18-35; compulsory service is from 4-12 months, depending on educational and professional circumstances (2025)
Military - note: Qatar's military is responsible for territorial defense and maritime security; the military is in the midst of a large equipment acquisition program designed to enhance its capabilities and Qatar's regional standing; Qatar has military ties with a variety of countries, including France, the UK, the US, Turkey, and member countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC); it hosts the regional headquarters for the US Central Command (CENTCOM; established 1983) and several thousand US military forces at various military facilities, including the Al Udeid Air Base; Qatar has Major Non-NATO Ally 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; Qatar also hosts Turkish military forces at two bases established in 2014 and 2019; the Qatari military is part of the Peninsula Shield Forces, a joint military force established by the GCC countries with the aim of maintaining security and stability in the region (2025)

## Terrorism

## Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons / refugees: 349 (2024 est.)
Refugees and internally displaced persons / stateless persons: 1,200 (2024 est.)

=== Saudi Arabia ===

## Introduction
Background: Saudi Arabia is the birthplace of Islam and home to Islam's two holiest shrines in Mecca and Medina. The king's official title is the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques. ABD AL-AZIZ bin Abd al-Rahman AL SAUD (Ibn Saud) founded the modern Saudi state in 1932 after a 30-year campaign to unify most of the Arabian Peninsula. One of his male descendants rules the country today, as required by the country's 1992 Basic Law. After Iraq invaded Kuwait in 1990, Saudi Arabia took in the Kuwaiti royal family and 400,000 refugees, while allowing Western and Arab troops to deploy on its soil and liberate Kuwait the following year. Major terrorist attacks in 2003 spurred a strong ongoing campaign against domestic terrorism and extremism. US troops returned to the Kingdom in 2019 after attacks on Saudi oil infrastructure. From 2005 to 2015, King ABDALLAH bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud incrementally modernized the Kingdom through a series of social and economic initiatives that included expanding employment and social opportunities for women, attracting foreign investment, increasing the private sector's role in the economy, and discouraging the hiring of foreign workers. Saudi Arabia saw some protests during the 2011 Arab Spring but not the level of bloodshed seen in protests elsewhere in the region; Riyadh took a cautious but firm approach, arresting and quickly releasing some protesters and using its state-sponsored clerics to counter political and Islamist activism. The government held its first-ever elections in 2005 and 2011, when Saudis voted for municipal councilors. King ABDALLAH's reforms accelerated under King SALMAN bin Abd al-Aziz, who ascended to the throne in 2015 and lifted the Kingdom's ban on women driving, implemented education reforms, funded green initiatives, and allowed cinemas to operate for the first time in decades. In 2015, women were allowed to vote and stand as candidates for the first time in municipal elections, with 19 women winning seats. King SALMAN initially named his nephew, MUHAMMAD BIN NAYIF bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud, as the Crown Prince, but a palace coup in 2017 resulted in King SALMAN's son, Deputy Crown Prince MUHAMMAD BIN SALMAN bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud, taking over as Crown Prince. King SALMAN appointed MUHAMMAD BIN SALMAN as prime minister in 2022. In 2015, Saudi Arabia led a coalition of 10 countries in a military campaign to restore Yemen's legitimate government, which had been ousted by Houthi forces. The war in Yemen has drawn international criticism for civilian casualties and its effect on the country’s dire humanitarian situation. The same year, MUHAMMAD BIN SALMAN announced that Saudi Arabia would lead a multi-nation Islamic Coalition to fight terrorism, and in 2017, Saudi Arabia inaugurated the Global Center for Combatting Extremist Ideology (also known as "Etidal"). The country remains a leading producer of oil and natural gas and holds about 17% of the world's proven oil reserves as of 2020. The government continues to pursue economic reform and diversification -- particularly since Saudi Arabia's accession to the WTO in 2005 -- and promotes foreign investment in the Kingdom. In 2016, the Saudi Government announced broad socio-economic reforms known as Vision 2030. Low global oil prices in 2015 and 2016 significantly lowered Saudi Arabia’s governmental revenue, prompting cuts to subsidies on water, electricity, and gasoline; reduced government-employee compensation; and new land taxes. In coordination with OPEC and some key non-OPEC countries, Saudi Arabia agreed to cut oil output in 2017 to regulate supply and help boost global prices. In 2020, this agreement collapsed, and Saudi Arabia launched a price war by flooding the market with low-priced oil before returning to the negotiating table to agree to a major output cut that helped buoy prices.

## Geography
Location: Middle East, bordering the Persian Gulf and the Red Sea, north of Yemen
Geographic coordinates: 25 00 N, 45 00 E
Map references: Middle East
Area / total: 2,149,690 sq km
Area / land: 2,149,690 sq km
Area / water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly more than one-fifth the size of the US
Land boundaries / total: 4,272 km
Land boundaries / border countries: Iraq 811 km; Jordan 731 km; Kuwait 221 km; Oman 658 km; Qatar 87 km; UAE 457 km; Yemen 1,307 km
Coastline: 2,640 km
Maritime claims / territorial sea: 12 nm
Maritime claims / contiguous zone: 18 nm
Maritime claims / continental shelf: not specified
Climate: harsh, dry desert with great temperature extremes
Terrain: mostly sandy desert
Elevation / highest point: As Sarawat range, 3,000 m
Elevation / lowest point: Persian Gulf 0 m
Elevation / mean elevation: 665 m
Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, gold, copper
Land use / agricultural land: 80.8% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 1.6% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 0.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 79.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 1.3% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 17.9% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land: 7,575 sq km (2022)
Major watersheds (area sq km) / Indian Ocean drainage: (Persian Gulf) Tigris and Euphrates (918,044 sq km)
Major aquifers: Arabian Aquifer System
Population distribution: historically a population that was mostly nomadic or semi-nomadic, the Saudi population has become more settled since oil was discovered in the 1930s; most of the country's population is now concentrated in a wide area across the middle of the peninsula, from Ad Dammam in the east through Riyadh in the interior to Mecca-Medina in the west near the Red Sea
Natural hazards: frequent sand and dust storms volcanism: little activity in the past few centuries, despite many volcanic formations; volcanoes include Harrat Rahat, Harrat Khaybar, Harrat Lunayyir, and Jabal Yar
Geography - note: Saudi Arabia is the largest country in the world without a river; extensive coastlines on the Persian Gulf and Red Sea allow for considerable shipping (especially of crude oil) through the Persian Gulf and Suez Canal

## People and Society
Population / total: 36,544,431 (2024 est.)
Population / male: 20,700,838
Population / female: 15,843,593
Nationality / noun: Saudi(s)
Nationality / adjective: Saudi or Saudi Arabian
Ethnic groups: Arab 90%, Afro-Asian 10%
Languages / Languages: Arabic (official)
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; citizens are 85-90% Sunni and 10-12% Shia), other (includes Eastern Orthodox, Protestant, Roman Catholic, Jewish, Hindu, Buddhist, and Sikh) (2020 est.)
Age structure / 0-14 years: 22.9% (male 4,266,720/female 4,097,270)
Age structure / 15-64 years: 72.7% (male 15,577,133/female 10,994,061)
Age structure / 65 years and over: 4.4% (2024 est.) (male 856,985/female 752,262)
Dependency ratios / total dependency ratio: 37.5 (2024 est.)
Dependency ratios / youth dependency ratio: 31.5 (2024 est.)
Dependency ratios / elderly dependency ratio: 6.1 (2024 est.)
Dependency ratios / potential support ratio: 16.5 (2024 est.)
Median age / total: 32.8 years (2025 est.)
Median age / male: 34.6 years
Median age / female: 29.3 years
Population growth rate: 1.72% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 13.41 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 3.51 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: 7.35 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution: historically a population that was mostly nomadic or semi-nomadic, the Saudi population has become more settled since oil was discovered in the 1930s; most of the country's population is now concentrated in a wide area across the middle of the peninsula, from Ad Dammam in the east through Riyadh in the interior to Mecca-Medina in the west near the Red Sea
Urbanization / urban population: 85% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 1.69% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 7.682 million RIYADH (capital), 4.863 million Jeddah, 2.150 million Mecca, 1.573 million Medina, 1.329 million Ad Dammam, 872,000 million Hufuf-Mubarraz (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: 1.42 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 65 years and over: 1.14 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / total population: 1.31 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio: 7 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Infant mortality rate / total: 11.4 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Infant mortality rate / male: 12.8 deaths/1,000 live births
Infant mortality rate / female: 10.5 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth / total population: 77.2 years (2024 est.)
Life expectancy at birth / male: 75.6 years
Life expectancy at birth / female: 78.8 years
Total fertility rate: 1.84 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 0.9 (2025 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: urban: urban: 98.4% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: rural: rural: 100% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: total: total: 98.6% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: urban: urban: 1.6% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: rural: rural: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: total: total: 1.4% of population (2022 est.)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 6% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 12.8% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density: 3.41 physicians/1,000 population (2023)
Hospital bed density: 2.2 beds/1,000 population (2021 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: urban: urban: 99.7% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: rural: rural: 99.7% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: total: total: 99.7% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: urban: urban: 0.3% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: rural: rural: 0.3% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: total: total: 0.3% of population (2022 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 35.4% (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: 17.6% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / male: 28.3% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / female: 2% (2025 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 3.5% (2020 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49): 55.3% (2022 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% GDP): 5.1% of GDP (2023 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% national budget): 14.8% national budget (2024 est.)
Literacy / total population: 97.9% (2024 est.)
Literacy / male: 98.6% (2024 est.)
Literacy / female: 96.7% (2024 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: desertification; depletion of underground water resources; limited freshwater resources; coastal pollution from oil spills; air pollution; waste management
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
International environmental agreements / signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Climate: harsh, dry desert with great temperature extremes
Land use / agricultural land: 80.8% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 1.6% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 0.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 79.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 1.3% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 17.9% (2023 est.)
Urbanization / urban population: 85% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 1.69% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / total emissions: 656.511 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from coal and metallurgical coke: 384,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from petroleum and other liquids: 418.326 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from consumed natural gas: 237.801 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Particulate matter emissions: 60.7 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Methane emissions / energy: 1,743.8 kt (2022-2024 est.)
Methane emissions / agriculture: 162.9 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Methane emissions / waste: 927.6 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Methane emissions / other: 28.3 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Waste and recycling / municipal solid waste generated annually: 16.126 million tons (2024 est.)
Waste and recycling / percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 18.8% (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / municipal: 3.392 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / industrial: 1.4 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / agricultural: 21.2 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total renewable water resources: 2.4 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Geoparks / total global geoparks and regional networks: 2 (2025)
Geoparks / global geoparks and regional networks: North Riyadh; Salma (2025)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Country name / conventional short form: Saudi Arabia
Country name / local long form: Al Mamlakah al Arabiyah as Suudiyah
Country name / local short form: Al Arabiyah as Suudiyah
Country name / etymology: named after the ruling dynasty of the country, the House of Saud; the name Arabia can be traced back at least as far as the ancient Romans, who referred to the peninsula as "Arabia Felix" (Arabia the Fortunate)
Government type: absolute monarchy
Capital / name: Riyadh
Capital / geographic coordinates: 24 39 N, 46 42 E
Capital / time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Capital / etymology: the name derives from the Arabic word riyadh , meaning "gardens;" the city was built around a small oasis
Administrative divisions: 13 regions ( manatiq , singular - mintaqah ); Al Bahah, Al Hudud ash Shamaliyah (Northern Border), Al Jawf, Al Madinah al Munawwarah (Medina), Al Qasim, Ar Riyad (Riyadh), Ash Sharqiyah (Eastern), 'Asir, Ha'il, Jazan, Makkah al Mukarramah (Mecca), Najran, Tabuk
Legal system: Islamic (sharia) system with some elements of Egyptian, French, and customary law; commercial disputes handled by special committees
Constitution / history: 1 March 1992 -- Basic Law of Government, issued by royal decree, serves as the constitutional framework and is based on the Qur'an and the life and traditions of the Prophet Muhammad
Constitution / amendment process: proposed by the king directly or proposed to the king by the Consultative Assembly or by the Council of Ministers; passage by the king through royal decree
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 Saudi Arabia; a child born out of wedlock in Saudi Arabia to a Saudi mother and unknown father
Citizenship / dual citizenship recognized: no
Citizenship / residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal for municipal elections
Executive branch / chief of state: King SALMAN bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud (since 23 January 2015)
Executive branch / head of government: Crown Prince and Prime Minister MUHAMMAD BIN SALMAN bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud (since 27 September 2022)
Executive branch / cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the monarch every 4 years and includes many royal family members
Executive branch / election/appointment process: none; the monarchy is hereditary; an Allegiance Council created by royal decree in 2006 established a committee of Saudi princes who have a voice in selecting future Saudi kings
Legislative branch / legislature name: Shura Council (Majlis Ash-Shura)
Legislative branch / legislative structure: unicameral
Legislative branch / number of seats: 151 (all appointed)
Legislative branch / scope of elections: full renewal
Legislative branch / term in office: 4 years
Legislative branch / most recent election date: 9/2/2024
Legislative branch / percentage of women in chamber: 19.9%
Legislative branch / expected date of next election: August 2028
Judicial branch / highest court(s): High Court (consists of the court chief; organized into circuits with 3-judge panels, except for the criminal circuit, which has a 5-judge panel for cases involving major punishments)
Judicial branch / judge selection and term of office: High Court chief and chiefs of the High Court Circuits appointed by royal decree on the recommendation of the Supreme Judiciary Council, a 10-member body of high-level judges and other judicial heads; new judges and assistant judges serve 1- and 2-year probations, respectively, before permanent assignment
Judicial branch / subordinate courts: Court of Appeals; Specialized Criminal Court, first-degree courts composed of general, criminal, personal status, and commercial courts; Labor Court; a hierarchy of administrative courts
Political parties: none
Diplomatic representation in the US / chief of mission: Ambassador Reema Bint Bandar Bin Sultan AL SAUD (since 8 July 2019)
Diplomatic representation in the US / chancery: 601 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20037
Diplomatic representation in the US / telephone: [1] (202) 342-3800
Diplomatic representation in the US / FAX: [1] (202) 295-3625
Diplomatic representation in the US / email address and website: saudisusemb@mofa.gov.sa https://www.saudiembassy.net/
Diplomatic representation in the US / consulate(s) general: Houston, Los Angeles, New York
Diplomatic representation from the US / chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charg&eacute; d&rsquo;Affaires Alison DILWORTH (since January 2025)
Diplomatic representation from the US / embassy: Riyadh 11564
Diplomatic representation from the US / mailing address: 6300 Riyadh Place, Washington DC 20521-6300
Diplomatic representation from the US / telephone: [966] (11) 835-4000
Diplomatic representation from the US / FAX: [966] (11) 488-7360
Diplomatic representation from the US / email address and website: RiyadhACS@state.gov https://sa.usembassy.gov/
Diplomatic representation from the US / consulate(s) general: Dhahran, Jeddah
International organization participation: ABEDA, AfDB (nonregional member), AFESD, AMF, BIS, BRICS, CAEU, CP, FAO, G-20, G-77, GCC, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, LAS, MIGA, NAM, OAPEC, OAS (observer), OIC, OPCW, OPEC, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNOOSA, UNRWA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Independence: 23 September 1932 (unification of the kingdom)
National holiday: Saudi National Day (Unification of the Kingdom), 23 September (1932)
Flag: description: green (traditional Islamic color) with the Shahada, or Muslim creed, in large white Arabic script that translates as, "There is no god but God; Muhammad is the messenger of God;" the text is above a white horizontal saber pointing to the left history: design dates to the early 20th century and is closely associated with the Al Saud family that established the kingdom in 1932; the flag has different sides so that the text reads correctly from right to left and the saber points in the same direction on both sides
National symbol(s): palm tree over two crossed swords
National color(s): green, white
National anthem(s) / title: "Aash Al Maleek" (Long Live Our Beloved King)
National anthem(s) / lyrics/music: Ibrahim KHAFAJI/Abdul Rahman al-KHATEEB
National anthem(s) / history: music adopted 1947, lyrics adopted 1984
National heritage / total World Heritage Sites: 7 (7 cultural, 1 natural)
National heritage / selected World Heritage Site locales: Hegra Archaeological Site (al-Hijr / Madā ͐ in Ṣāliḥ) (c); At-Turaif District in ad-Dir'iyah (c); Historic Jeddah, the Gate to Makkah (c); Rock Art in the Hail Region of Saudi Arabia (c); Al-Ahsa Oasis, an Evolving Cultural Landscape (c); Ḥimā Cultural Area (c); &lsquo;Uruq Bani Ma&rsquo;arid (n);The Cultural Landscape of Al-Faw Archaeological Area (c)

## Economy
Economic overview: high-income, oil-based Middle Eastern economy; OPEC founding member; Vision 2030 strategy prioritizing economic diversification, increased private sector involvement, and projects funded by sovereign wealth fund and foreign investment; young labor force; falling but significant poverty rate despite lack of official statistics
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $2.213 trillion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $2.173 trillion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $2.161 trillion (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2024: 1.8% (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2023: 0.5% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2022: 12% (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2024: $62,700 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2023: $64,500 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2022: $67,200 (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $1.238 trillion (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024: 1.7% (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023: 2.3% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 2.5% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / agriculture: 2.5% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / industry: 44.8% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / services: 47.2% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / household consumption: 45% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / government consumption: 21.4% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in fixed capital: 28.7% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in inventories: 1.4% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / exports of goods and services: 29.2% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / imports of goods and services: -25.6% (2024 est.)
Agricultural products: milk, dates, chicken, wheat, tomatoes, watermelons, potatoes, olives, eggs, onions (2023)
Industries: crude oil production, petroleum refining, basic petrochemicals, ammonia, industrial gases, sodium hydroxide (caustic soda), cement, fertilizer, plastics, metals, commercial ship repair, commercial aircraft repair, construction
Industrial production growth rate: -1.3% (2024 est.)
Labor force: 17.168 million (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2024: 3.9% (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2023: 4.1% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2022: 5.6% (2022 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / total: 13.8% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / male: 9.8% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / female: 23.8% (2024 est.)
Average household expenditures / on food: 20.5% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Average household expenditures / on alcohol and tobacco: 0.7% of household expenditures (2023 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: $378.413 billion (2023 est.)
Budget / expenditures: $388.489 billion (2023 est.)
Public debt / Public debt 2016: 13.1% of GDP (2016 est.)
Taxes and other revenues: 7.8% (of GDP) (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2024: -$5.685 billion (2024 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2023: $35.133 billion (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2022: $150.353 billion (2022 est.)
Exports / Exports 2024: $360.897 billion (2024 est.)
Exports / Exports 2023: $368.731 billion (2023 est.)
Exports / Exports 2022: $445.881 billion (2022 est.)
Exports - partners: China 21%, India 12%, Japan 12%, USA 6%, UAE 4% (2023)
Exports - commodities: crude petroleum, refined petroleum, plastics, alcohols, ships (2023)
Imports / Imports 2024: $317.012 billion (2024 est.)
Imports / Imports 2023: $289.91 billion (2023 est.)
Imports / Imports 2022: $258.371 billion (2022 est.)
Imports - partners: China 21%, UAE 8%, USA 7%, India 6%, Germany 5% (2023)
Imports - commodities: cars, refined petroleum, gold, broadcasting equipment, packaged medicine (2023)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024: $463.87 billion (2024 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023: $457.949 billion (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $478.232 billion (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Currency: Saudi riyals (SAR) per US dollar -
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2024: 3.75 (2024 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2023: 3.75 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2022: 3.75 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2021: 3.75 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2020: 3.75 (2020 est.)

## Energy
Electricity access / electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)
Electricity / installed generating capacity: 119.62 million kW (2023 est.)
Electricity / consumption: 383.512 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / exports: 352 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / imports: 308 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / transmission/distribution losses: 38.23 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / fossil fuels: 99.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / solar: 0.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / wind: 0.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Coal / consumption: 66,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / exports: 500 metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / imports: 223,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum / total petroleum production: 11.174 million bbl/day (2023 est.)
Petroleum / refined petroleum consumption: 3.524 million bbl/day (2023 est.)
Petroleum / crude oil estimated reserves: 258.6 billion barrels (2021 est.)
Natural gas / production: 121.219 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / consumption: 121.219 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / proven reserves: 9.423 trillion cubic meters (2021 est.)
Energy consumption per capita / Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 349.692 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

## Communications
Telephones - fixed lines / total subscriptions: 6.788 million (2023 est.)
Telephones - fixed lines / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 20 (2023 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / total subscriptions: 52.5 million (2023 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 132 (2022 est.)
Broadcast media: state-controlled broadcast media; state-run TV operates 4 networks; major market for pan-Arab satellite TV broadcasters; state-run radio with several networks; multiple international broadcasters available
Internet country code: .sa
Internet users / percent of population: 100% (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / total: 14.5 million (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 44 (2023 est.)

## Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: HZ
Airports: 90 (2025)
Heliports: 69 (2025)
Railways / total: 5,410 km (2016)
Railways / standard gauge: 5,410 km (2016) 1.435-m gauge (with branch lines and sidings)
Merchant marine / total: 433 (2023)
Merchant marine / by type: bulk carrier 9, container ship 1, general cargo 20, oil tanker 55, other 348
Ports / total ports: 16 (2024)
Ports / large: 0
Ports / medium: 1
Ports / small: 7
Ports / very small: 8
Ports / ports with oil terminals: 10
Ports / key ports: Dammam, Duba, Jiddah, Jizan, Ju Aymah Oil Terminal, Ras Tannurah, Ras Al Khafji, Ras Al Mishab

## Military and Security
Military and security forces: the Saudi Arabian Armed Forces (SAAF) are divided into two ministries: Ministry of Defense: Royal Saudi Land Forces, Royal Saudi Naval Forces (includes marines, special forces, naval aviation), Royal Saudi Air Force, Royal Saudi Air Defense Forces, Royal Saudi Strategic Missiles Force; Ministry of the National Guard: Saudi Arabian National Guard (SANG) Other security forces include: Ministry of Interior: Facilities Security Forces, Public Security Forces (police), General Directorate of Border Guard State Security Presidency (SSP): General Directorate of Investigation (Mabahith), Special Security Forces, Special Emergency Forces (2025)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2024: 7.1% of GDP (2024 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2023: 7% of GDP (2023 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2022: 6.5% of GDP (2022 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2021: 7% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2020: 8% of GDP (2020 est.)
Military and security service personnel strengths: approximately 250,000 active Saudi Armed Forces, including 125,000 under the Ministry of Defense and 125,000 in the National Guard (2025)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the inventory of the Saudi military forces, including the SANG, is comprised of imported modern armaments; major suppliers include Canada, China, France, Spain, the UK, and the US; Saudi Arabia is one of the world's largest importers of arms (2025)
Military service age and obligation: voluntary military service for men (17-40) and women (typically 21-40, although maximum age may vary by role); no conscription (2025)
Military - note: Saudi Arabia's security concerns include border security, cyberattacks, instability in Yemen, international terrorism, maritime security, and regional rivals such as Iran and Turkey Saudi Arabia has close security ties with the US; the SAAF conducts bilateral exercises with the US military and hosts US forces; the US has participated in a cooperative program to equip and train the SANG since 1973, and much of the equipment for both the regular forces and the SANG has been acquired from the US; Saudi Arabia also has defense relationships with China, France, India, Pakistan, the UK, and fellow Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) members; it is a member of the Peninsula Shield Forces, a joint military force established by the GCC countries with the aim of maintaining security and stability in the region; the force was established in 1982, and its leadership is based in Saudi Arabia (2025)

## Space
Space agency/agencies: Saudi Space Agency (SSA; elevated to agency level from previous Saudi Space Commission or SSC, which was established in 2018); King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST; established 1977) (2024)
Space program overview: has a national space strategy (Vision 2030) that seeks to grow its domestic space industry and use the space sector to accelerate economic diversification, enhance scientific research and development, and raise private-sector participation in the global space industry; manufactures and operates communications, remote sensing (RS), and scientific satellites; develops a range of satellite subsystems and payload technologies; is the main founder and financier of the Arab Satellite Communications Organization (Arabsat, launched in 1976 and headquartered in Riyadh); cooperates with the space agencies and industries of a wide range of countries, including those of Belarus, China, Egypt, the ESA and its member states (particularly France, Germany, Greece, and Hungary), India, Kazakhstan, Morocco, Russia, South Africa, South Korea, Ukraine, the UAE, the UK, and the US; member of the Arab Space Cooperation Group (2025)
Key space-program milestones: 1985 - first communications satellite (Arabsat-1A) built and launched by European commercial companies; first Saudi astronaut in space on US Space Shuttle 2004 - first domestically built, experimental remote sensing (RS) satellite (SaudiSat-2) launched by Russia 2017-2019 - contributed to China’s robotic spacecraft mission (Chang’e-4) to the far side of the Moon 2021 - domestically built maritime-tracking satellite (Shaheen Sat) launched by Russia; began participating in Russia's astronaut training program 2022 - signed US-led Artemis Accords on space and lunar exploration 2023 - sent two astronauts, including first Saudi woman, to the International Space Station on a US commercial spacecraft

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

## Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons / refugees: 4,355 (2024 est.)
Refugees and internally displaced persons / stateless persons: 70,000 (2024 est.)

=== Syria ===

## Introduction
Background: After World War I, France acquired a mandate over the northern portion of the former Ottoman Empire province of Syria. The French administered the area until granting it independence in 1946. The new country lacked political stability and experienced a series of military coups. Syria united with Egypt in 1958 to form the United Arab Republic. In 1961, the two entities separated, and the Syrian Arab Republic was reestablished. In the 1967 Arab-Israeli War, Syria lost control of the Golan Heights region to Israel. During the 1990s, Syria and Israel held occasional, albeit unsuccessful, peace talks over its return. In 1970, Hafiz al-ASAD, a member of the socialist Ba'ath Party and the minority Alawi sect, seized power in a bloodless coup and brought political stability to the country. Following the death of al-ASAD, his son, Bashar al-ASAD, was approved as president by popular referendum in 2000. Syrian troops that were stationed in Lebanon since 1976 in an ostensible peacekeeping role were withdrawn in 2005. During the 2006 conflict between Israel and Hizballah, Syria placed its military forces on alert but did not intervene directly on behalf of its ally Hizballah. In 2007, Bashar al-ASAD's second term as president was again approved in a referendum. In the wake of major uprisings elsewhere in the region, antigovernment protests broke out in the southern province of Dar'a in 2011. Protesters called for the legalization of political parties, the removal of corrupt local officials, and the repeal of the restrictive Emergency Law allowing arrests without charge. Demonstrations and violent unrest spread across Syria, and the government responded with concessions, but also with military force and detentions that led to extended clashes and eventually civil war. International pressure on the Syrian Government intensified after 2011, as the Arab League, the EU, Turkey, and the US expanded economic sanctions against the ASAD regime and those entities that supported it. In 2012, more than 130 countries recognized the Syrian National Coalition as the sole legitimate representative of the Syrian people. In 2015, Russia launched a military intervention on behalf of the ASAD regime, and domestic and foreign-government-aligned forces recaptured swaths of territory from opposition forces. With foreign support, the regime continued to periodically regain opposition-held territory until 2020, when Turkish firepower halted a regime advance and forced a stalemate between regime and opposition forces. The government lacks territorial control over much of the northeastern part of the country, which the predominantly Kurdish Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) hold, and a smaller area dominated by Turkey. Since 2016, Turkey has conducted three large-scale military operations to capture territory along Syria's northern border. Some opposition forces organized under the Turkish-backed Syrian National Army and Turkish forces have maintained control of northwestern Syria along the Turkish border with the Afrin area of Aleppo Province since 2018. The violent extremist organization Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (formerly the Nusrah Front) emerged in 2017 as the predominant opposition force in Idlib Province, and still dominates an area also hosting Turkish forces. Negotiations have failed to produce a resolution to the conflict, and the UN estimated in 2022 that at least 306,000 people have died during the civil war. Approximately 6.7 million Syrians were internally displaced as of 2022, and 14.6 million people were in need of humanitarian assistance across the country. An additional 5.6 million Syrians were registered refugees in Turkey, Jordan, Iraq, Egypt, and North Africa. The conflict in Syria remains one of the two largest displacement crises worldwide (the other is the full-scale invasion of Ukraine). On 8 December 2024, Syrian Islamist rebels captured the capital city of Damascus and overthrew President Bashar al-ASAD. The former president and his family fled to Moscow, where they were granted political asylum. The al-ASAD regime had ruled Syria for over 50 years.

## Geography
Location: Middle East, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Lebanon and Turkey
Geographic coordinates: 35 00 N, 38 00 E
Map references: Middle East
Area / total: 187,437 sq km
Area / land: 185,887 sq km
Area / water: 1,550 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly more than 1.5 times the size of Pennsylvania
Land boundaries / total: 2,363 km
Land boundaries / border countries: Iraq 599 km; Israel 83 km; Jordan 379 km; Lebanon 403 km; Turkey 899 km
Coastline: 193 km
Maritime claims / territorial sea: 12 nm
Maritime claims / contiguous zone: 24 nm
Climate: mostly desert; hot, dry, sunny summers (June to August) and mild, rainy winters (December to February) along coast; cold weather with snow or sleet periodically in Damascus
Terrain: primarily semiarid and desert plateau; narrow coastal plain; mountains in west
Elevation / highest point: Mount Hermon (Jabal a-Shayk) 2,814 m
Elevation / lowest point: Yarmuk River -66 m
Elevation / mean elevation: 514 m
Natural resources: petroleum, phosphates, chrome and manganese ores, asphalt, iron ore, rock salt, marble, gypsum, hydropower
Land use / agricultural land: 74.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 24% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 5.7% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 44.5% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 2.9% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 23% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land: 9,820 sq km (2022)
Major rivers (by length in km): Euphrates (shared with Turkey [s], Iran, and Iraq [m]) - 3,596 km; Tigris (shared with Turkey, Iran, and Iraq [m]) - 1,950 km note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Major watersheds (area sq km) / Indian Ocean drainage: (Persian Gulf) Tigris and Euphrates (918,044 sq km)
Population distribution: significant population density along the Mediterranean coast; larger concentrations found in the major cities of Damascus, Aleppo (the country's largest city), and Hims (Homs); more than half of the population lives in the coastal plain, the province of Halab, and the Euphrates River valley
Natural hazards: dust storms, sandstorms volcanism: Syria's two historically active volcanoes, Es Safa and an unnamed volcano near the Turkish border, have not erupted in centuries
Geography - note: the capital of Damascus is located at an oasis fed by the Barada River and is thought to be one of the world's oldest continuously inhabited cities; there are Israeli settlements and civilian land-use sites in the Israeli-controlled Golan Heights (2017)

## People and Society
Population / total: 24,261,882 (2025 est.)
Population / male: 12,183,128
Population / female: 12,078,754
Nationality / noun: Syrian(s)
Nationality / adjective: Syrian
Ethnic groups: Arab ~50%, Alawite ~15%, Kurd ~10%, Levantine ~10%, other ~15% (includes Druze, Ismaili, Imami, Nusairi, Assyrian, Turkoman, Armenian)
Languages / Languages: Arabic (official), Kurdish, Armenian, Aramaic, Circassian, French, English
Languages / major-language sample(s): كتاب حقائق العالم، المصدر الذي لا يمكن الاستغناء عنه للمعلومات الأساسية (Arabic) ڕاستییەکانی جیهان، باشترین سەرچاوەیە بۆ زانیارییە بنەڕەتییەکان (Kurdish) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
Religions: Muslim 87% (official; includes Sunni 74% and Alawi, Ismaili, and Shia 13%), Christian 10% (includes Orthodox, Uniate, and Nestorian), Druze 3%
Age structure / 0-14 years: 33% (male 4,037,493/female 3,828,777)
Age structure / 15-64 years: 62.8% (male 7,475,355/female 7,522,797)
Age structure / 65 years and over: 4.2% (2024 est.) (male 468,730/female 532,271)
Dependency ratios / total dependency ratio: 58.1 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / youth dependency ratio: 51.2 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / elderly dependency ratio: 6.9 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / potential support ratio: 14.5 (2025 est.)
Median age / total: 24.5 years (2025 est.)
Median age / male: 23.6 years
Median age / female: 24.7 years
Population growth rate: 1.63% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 21.26 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 3.97 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: -1.03 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution: significant population density along the Mediterranean coast; larger concentrations found in the major cities of Damascus, Aleppo (the country's largest city), and Hims (Homs); more than half of the population lives in the coastal plain, the province of Halab, and the Euphrates River valley
Urbanization / urban population: 57.4% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 5.38% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 2.585 million DAMASCUS (capital), 2.203 million Aleppo, 1.443 million Hims (Homs), 996,000 Hamah (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: 0.99 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 65 years and over: 0.88 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio: 20 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Infant mortality rate / total: 14.7 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Infant mortality rate / male: 16.6 deaths/1,000 live births
Infant mortality rate / female: 13.5 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth / total population: 74.8 years (2024 est.)
Life expectancy at birth / male: 73.4 years
Life expectancy at birth / female: 76.4 years
Total fertility rate: 2.64 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 1.28 (2025 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: urban: urban: 95.6% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: rural: rural: 92.1% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: total: total: 94.1% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: urban: urban: 4.4% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: rural: rural: 7.9% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: total: total: 5.9% of population (2022 est.)
Health expenditure: 7.8% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density: 1.52 physicians/1,000 population (2021)
Hospital bed density: 1.4 beds/1,000 population (2021 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: urban: urban: 99.8% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: rural: rural: 99.3% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: total: total: 99.6% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: urban: urban: 0.2% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: rural: rural: 0.7% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: total: total: 0.4% of population (2022 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 27.8% (2016)
Alcohol consumption per capita / total: 0.13 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / beer: 0.02 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / wine: 0 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.)
Literacy / total population: 94.4% (2021 est.)
Literacy / male: 97.2% (2021 est.)
Literacy / female: 91.8% (2021 est.)

## Environment
Environmental issues: deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification; depletion of water resources; water pollution from raw sewage and petroleum refining wastes; inadequate potable water
International environmental agreements / party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
International environmental agreements / signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification
Climate: mostly desert; hot, dry, sunny summers (June to August) and mild, rainy winters (December to February) along coast; cold weather with snow or sleet periodically in Damascus
Land use / agricultural land: 74.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 24% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 5.7% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 44.5% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 2.9% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 23% (2023 est.)
Urbanization / urban population: 57.4% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 5.38% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / total emissions: 20.243 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from coal and metallurgical coke: 33,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from petroleum and other liquids: 14.79 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from consumed natural gas: 5.42 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Particulate matter emissions: 25.3 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Methane emissions / energy: 519.8 kt (2022-2024 est.)
Methane emissions / agriculture: 144.7 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Methane emissions / waste: 138 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Methane emissions / other: 1.3 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Waste and recycling / municipal solid waste generated annually: 4.5 million tons (2024 est.)
Waste and recycling / percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 2.5% (2010 est.)
Total water withdrawal / municipal: 1.475 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / industrial: 615.4 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / agricultural: 14.67 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total renewable water resources: 16.802 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: Syrian Arab Republic
Country name / conventional short form: Syria
Country name / local long form: Al Jumhuriyah al Arabiyah as Suriyah
Country name / local short form: Suriyah
Country name / former: United Arab Republic (with Egypt)
Country name / etymology: the source of the name is uncertain; the name appears as "Suri" in Babylonian cuneiform writings dating from about 4000 B.C.
Government type: transitional presidential republic
Capital / name: Damascus
Capital / geographic coordinates: 33 30 N, 36 18 E
Capital / time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Capital / etymology: the city has an ancient, pre-Semitic name of unknown origin
Administrative divisions: 14 provinces ( muhafazat , singular - muhafazah ); Al Hasakah, Al Ladhiqiyah (Latakia), Al Qunaytirah, Ar Raqqah, As Suwayda', Dar'a, Dayr az Zawr, Dimashq (Damascus), Halab (Aleppo), Hamah, Hims (Homs), Idlib, Rif Dimashq (Damascus Countryside), Tartus
Legal system: mixed system of civil and Islamic (sharia) law (for family courts)
Constitution / history: Syria's 2012 constitution was rescinded by the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham-led government in January 2025; in March 2025, interim authorities announced a transitional constitution to remain in effect for up to five years
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 Syria; if the father is unknown or stateless, the mother must be a citizen of Syria
Citizenship / dual citizenship recognized: yes
Citizenship / residency requirement for naturalization: 10 years
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch / chief of state: Ahmad al-Shara'; former President Bashar al-ASAD was overthrown by Islamist rebels on 8 December 2024
Executive branch / head of government: Prime Minister Muhammad al-BASHIR (since 8 December 2024)
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 7-year term (eligible for a second term); the president appoints the vice president and prime minister
Executive branch / most recent election date: 26 May 2021
Executive branch / election results: 2021: Bashar al-ASAD elected president; percent of vote - Bashar al-ASAD (Ba'th Party) 95.2%, Mahmoud Ahmad MAREI (Democratic Arab Socialist Union) 3.3%, other 1.5% 2014: Bashar al-ASAD elected president; percent of vote - Bashar al-ASAD (Ba'th Party) 88.7%, Hassan al-NOURI (independent) 4.3%, Maher HAJJER (independent) 3.2%, other/invalid 3.8%
Executive branch / expected date of next election: 2028
Legislative branch / legislature name: People's Assembly (Majlis Al-Chaab)
Legislative branch / legislative structure: unicameral
Legislative branch / number of seats: 210 (140 indirectly elected; 70 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: 10/5/2025
Legislative branch / percentage of women in chamber: 9.6%
Legislative branch / expected date of next election: March 2030
Judicial branch / highest court(s): Court of Cassation (organized into civil, criminal, religious, and military divisions, each with 3 judges); Supreme Constitutional Court (consists of 7 members)
Judicial branch / judge selection and term of office: Court of Cassation judges appointed by the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC), a judicial management body headed by the minister of justice with 7 members, including the national president; judge tenure NA; Supreme Constitutional Court judges nominated by the president and appointed by the SJC; judges serve 4-year renewable terms
Judicial branch / subordinate courts: courts of first instance; magistrates' courts; religious and military courts; Economic Security Court; Counterterrorism Court
Political parties: legal parties/alliances: Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party Arab Socialist (Ba'ath) Party – Syrian Regional Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party – Syrian Regional Branch, Socialist Unionist Democratic Party Arab Socialist Union of Syria or ASU Democratic Arab Socialist Union National Progressive Front or NPF Socialist Unionist Democratic Party Socialist Unionist Party Syrian Communist Party (two branches) Syrian Social Nationalist Party or SSNP Unionist Socialist Party major political organizations: Kurdish Democratic Union Party or PYD Kurdish National Council or KNC Syriac Union Party Syrian Democratic Council or SDC Syrian Democratic Party Syrian Opposition Coalition de facto governance entities: Democratic Autonomous Administration of Northeast Syria or DAANES Syrian Interim Government or SIG Syrian Salvation Government or SSG
Diplomatic representation in the US: none note : operations at the embassy were suspended on 18 March 2014
Diplomatic representation from the US / chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); note - on 6 February 2012, the US suspended operations at its embassy in Damascus; Czechia serves as a protecting power for US interests in Syria
Diplomatic representation from the US / mailing address: 6110 Damascus Place, Washington DC 20521-6110
Diplomatic representation from the US / email address and website: USIS_damascus@embassy.mzv.cz https://sy.usembassy.gov/
International organization participation: ABEDA, AFESD, AMF, CAEU, FAO, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, ICSID, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, LAS, MIGA, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNOOSA, UNRWA, UNWTO, UPU, WBG, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)
Independence: 17 April 1946 (from League of Nations mandate under French administration)
National holiday: Independence Day (Evacuation Day), 17 April (1946)
Flag: description: three equal horizontal bands of green (top), white, and black; three five-pointed red stars in a horizontal line, centered on the white band meaning: the design is the same as a previous Syrian national flag (in use 1932-58 and 1961-63), but it is still unclear if the elements will retain the same meanings; the bands formerly represented Syria’s past rulers: white (Umayyad Caliphate), black (Abbasid Caliphate), and green (Rashidun Caliphate); the first star represented Damascus, Aleppo, and Deir ez-Zor, the three administrative subdivisions in Syria in the 1930s; the second star stood for Jabal Druze (the Mountain of the Druze), and the third star for the Alawite Mountains history: in 2011, opponents to the Asad regime adopted the flag; in 2025, it became the new national flag, replacing the two-star design
National symbol(s): northern bald ibis
National color(s): red, white, black, green
National anthem(s) / title: &ldquo;Ħumāt ad-Diyār (Guardians of the Homeland)
National anthem(s) / lyrics/music: Khalil Mardam BEY/Mohammad Salim FLAYFEL and Ahmad Salim FLAYFEL
National anthem(s) / history: adopted 1936, restored 1961; the country had a different anthem between 1958 and 1961, when Syria was part of the United Arab Republic
National heritage / total World Heritage Sites: 6 (all cultural)
National heritage / selected World Heritage Site locales: Ancient City of Damascus; Ancient City of Bosra; Site of Palmyra; Ancient City of Aleppo; Crac des Chevaliers and Qal’at Salah El-Din; Ancient Villages of Northern Syria

## Economy
Economic overview: low-income Middle Eastern economy; prior infrastructure and economy devastated by 11-year civil war; ongoing US sanctions; sporadic trans-migration during conflict; currently being supported by World Bank trust fund; ongoing hyperinflation
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $98.858 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $100.066 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2021: $99.338 billion (2021 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2023: -1.2% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2022: 0.7% (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2021: 1.9% (2021 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2023: $4,200 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2022: $4,500 (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2021: $4,600 (2021 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $19.993 billion (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 94.1% (2022 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021: 98.3% (2021 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2020: 114.2% (2020 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / agriculture: 43.1% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / industry: 12% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / services: 44.9% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / household consumption: 114.8% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / government consumption: 2.7% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in fixed capital: 4.5% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / exports of goods and services: 6.8% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / imports of goods and services: -28.8% (2022 est.)
Agricultural products: wheat, barley, milk, sheep milk, tomatoes, olives, potatoes, maize, oranges, grapes (2023)
Industries: petroleum, textiles, food processing, beverages, tobacco, phosphate rock mining, cement, oil seeds crushing, automobile assembly
Industrial production growth rate: -13.4% (2022 est.)
Labor force: 6.617 million (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2024: 13% (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2023: 13.2% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2022: 13.3% (2022 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / total: 31.5% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / male: 27.8% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / female: 47.9% (2024 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income / Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2022: 26.6 (2022 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / lowest 10%: 3.8% (2022 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / highest 10%: 21.1% (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: $1.162 billion (2017 est.)
Budget / expenditures: $3.211 billion (2017 est.)
Public debt / Public debt 2016: 91.3% of GDP (2016 est.)
Exports / Exports 2022: $1.609 billion (2022 est.)
Exports / Exports 2021: $2.227 billion (2021 est.)
Exports / Exports 2020: $1.649 billion (2020 est.)
Exports - partners: Turkey 29%, Saudi Arabia 16%, Lebanon 10%, India 10%, UAE 5% (2023)
Exports - commodities: olive oil, phosphates, spice seeds, cotton, tomatoes (2023)
Imports / Imports 2022: $6.803 billion (2022 est.)
Imports / Imports 2021: $6.56 billion (2021 est.)
Imports / Imports 2020: $3.751 billion (2020 est.)
Imports - partners: Turkey 49%, UAE 11%, China 8%, Egypt 7%, Lebanon 3% (2023)
Imports - commodities: tobacco, plastics, wheat flours, plastic products, seed oils (2023)
Debt - external / Debt - external 2023: $4.573 billion (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Currency: Syrian pounds (SYP) per US dollar -
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2022: 2,505.747 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2021: 1,256 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2020: 877.945 (2020 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2019: 436.5 (2019 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2018: 436.5 (2018 est.)

## Energy
Electricity access / electrification - total population: 89% (2022 est.)
Electricity access / electrification - urban areas: 100%
Electricity access / electrification - rural areas: 75%
Electricity / installed generating capacity: 9.636 million kW (2023 est.)
Electricity / consumption: 15.522 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / exports: 358.723 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / transmission/distribution losses: 4.214 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / fossil fuels: 95.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / solar: 0.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / hydroelectricity: 3.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / biomass and waste: 0.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Coal / consumption: 15,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / imports: 15,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum / total petroleum production: 65,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Petroleum / refined petroleum consumption: 102,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Petroleum / crude oil estimated reserves: 2.5 billion barrels (2021 est.)
Natural gas / production: 2.763 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / consumption: 2.763 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / proven reserves: 240.693 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)
Energy consumption per capita / Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 13.569 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

## Communications
Telephones - fixed lines / total subscriptions: 2.816 million (2023 est.)
Telephones - fixed lines / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 12 (2023 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / total subscriptions: 17.6 million (2024 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 71 (2024 est.)
Broadcast media: state-run TV has 2 networks and 5 satellite channels; roughly two-thirds of homes have a satellite dish with access to foreign TV; 3 state-run radio channels; first private radio station launched in 2005; private radio broadcasters prohibited from transmitting news or political content (2018)
Internet country code: .sy
Internet users / percent of population: 35% (2019 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / total: 1.62 million (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 7 (2023 est.)

## Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: YK
Airports: 42 (2025)
Heliports: 13 (2025)
Railways / total: 2,052 km (2014)
Railways / standard gauge: 1,801 km (2014) 1.435-m gauge
Railways / narrow gauge: 251 km (2014) 1.050-m gauge
Merchant marine / total: 24 (2023)
Merchant marine / by type: bulk carrier 1, container ship 1, general cargo 8, oil tanker 1, other 13
Ports / total ports: 3 (2024)
Ports / large: 1
Ports / medium: 1
Ports / small: 1
Ports / very small: 0
Ports / ports with oil terminals: 3
Ports / key ports: Al Ladhiqiyah, Baniyas, Tartus

## Military and Security
Military and security forces: the interim government authorities in Syria have established a Ministry of Defense and are attempting to unify the dozens of armed factions operating in Syria under a single, state-linked army; it has also established a Ministry of Interior to manage police and other security forces (2025)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2019: 6.5% of GDP (2019 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2018: 6.7% of GDP (2018 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2017: 6.8% of GDP (2017 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2016: 6.9% of GDP (2016 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2015: 7.2% of GDP (2015 est.)
Military and security service personnel strengths: not available
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the military forces of Syria are equipped with Russian and Soviet-era armaments (2025)
Military service age and obligation: under Bashar al-ASAD, Syrian men aged 18-38 were required to serve 18-21 months in the military; conscription continued until ASAD's fall when the interim government announced that mandatory conscription to Syria&rsquo;s armed forces would be abolished and only be reinstated in extreme cases, such as national emergencies relating to war (2025)
Military - note: as of September 2025, the government did not exercise control over all of Syria; areas of the northeast were under the control of ethnic Kurdish-led forces and areas south of the capital Damascus were controlled by members of the Druze religious minority; Turkish forces remained in parts of the north, while Israeli forces had moved into formerly demilitarized areas between Syria and Israel and into some Syrian territory near the frontier the UN Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) has operated in the Golan between Israel and Syria since 1974 to monitor the ceasefire following the 1973 Arab-Israeli War and supervise the areas of separation between the two countries; UNDOF has about 1,300 personnel (2025)

## Space
Space agency/agencies: Syrian Space Agency (created in 2014); status is unclear since the fall of the ASAD Government (2025)
Space program overview: status unclear; has been handicapped by the impact of the civil war, including the loss of students and scientists who fled the country; had previously focused on satellite development and related space technologies, as well as scientific research; has relations with the space agency and space industries of Russia (2024)
Key space-program milestones: 1987 - first and only Syrian astronaut into space as part of a Soviet-crewed mission to the Mir Space Station under the Intercosmos program 2016 - signed a scientific cooperation agreement in the field of space technology and remote sensing with Russia 2018 - announced that developing a satellite would be a primary goal of the space program

## Terrorism
Terrorist group(s): Abdallah Azzam Brigades; Ansar al-Islam; Asa’ib Ahl Al-Haq; Hizballah; Hurras al-Din; Islamic Jihad Union; Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC)/Qods Force; Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS); Kata'ib Hizballah; Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK); al-Qa'ida; Palestine Liberation Front (PLF); Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP); PFLP-General Command (PLFP-GC)

## Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons / refugees: 16,402 (2024 est.)
Refugees and internally displaced persons / IDPs: 7,408,809 (2024 est.)
Refugees and internally displaced persons / stateless persons: 160,000 (2024 est.)
Trafficking in persons / tier rating: Tier 3 — Syria does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and is not making significant efforts to do so, therefore, Syria remained on Tier 3; for more details, go to: https://www.state.gov/reports/2025-trafficking-in-persons-report/syria/

=== Turkey ===

## Introduction
Background: Modern Turkey was founded in 1923 from the remnants of the Ottoman Empire by reformer and national hero Mustafa KEMAL, known as Ataturk or "Father of the Turks." One-party rule ended in 1950, and periods of instability and military coups have since fractured the multiparty democracy, in 1960, 1971, 1980, 1997, and 2016. Turkey joined the UN in 1945 and NATO in 1952. In 1963, Turkey became an associate member of the European Community; it began accession talks with the EU in 2005. Turkey intervened militarily on Cyprus in 1974 to prevent a Greek takeover of the island and has since acted as patron state to the "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus," which only Turkey recognizes. The Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), a US-designated terrorist organization, began a separatist insurgency in Turkey in 1984, and the struggle has long dominated the attention of Turkish security forces. In 2013, the Turkish Government and the PKK conducted negotiations aimed at ending the violence, but intense fighting resumed in 2015. The Turkish Government conducted a referendum in 2017 in which voters approved constitutional amendments changing Turkey from a parliamentary to a presidential system.

## Geography
Location: Southeastern Europe and Southwestern Asia (that portion of Turkey west of the Bosporus is geographically part of Europe), bordering the Black Sea, between Bulgaria and Georgia, and bordering the Aegean Sea and the Mediterranean Sea, between Greece and Syria
Geographic coordinates: 39 00 N, 35 00 E
Map references: Middle East
Area / total: 783,562 sq km
Area / land: 769,632 sq km
Area / water: 13,930 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly larger than Texas
Land boundaries / total: 2,816 km
Land boundaries / border countries: Armenia 311 km; Azerbaijan 17 km; Bulgaria 223 km; Georgia 273 km; Greece 192 km; Iran 534 km; Iraq 367 km; Syria 899 km
Coastline: 7,200 km
Maritime claims / territorial sea: 6 nm in the Aegean Sea
Maritime claims / exclusive economic zone: in Black Sea only: to the maritime boundary agreed on with the former USSR
Climate: temperate; hot, dry summers with mild, wet winters; harsher in interior
Terrain: high central plateau (Anatolia); narrow coastal plain; several mountain ranges
Elevation / highest point: Mount Ararat 5,137 m
Elevation / lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m
Elevation / mean elevation: 1,132 m
Natural resources: coal, iron ore, copper, chromium, antimony, mercury, gold, barite, borate, celestite (strontium), emery, feldspar, limestone, magnesite, marble, perlite, pumice, pyrites (sulfur), clay, arable land, hydropower
Land use / agricultural land: 50.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 26.3% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 4.8% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 19% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 29.3% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 20.5% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land: 52,150 sq km (2022)
Major lakes (area sq km) / fresh water lake(s): Lake Beysehir - 650 sq km; Lake Egridir - 520 sq km
Major lakes (area sq km) / salt water lake(s): Lake Van - 3,740 sq km; Lake Tuz - 1,640 sq km;
Major rivers (by length in km): Euphrates river source (shared with Syria, Iran, and Iraq [m]) - 3,596 km; Tigris river source (shared with Syria, Iran, and Iraq [m]) - 1,950 km note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Major watersheds (area sq km) / Indian Ocean drainage: (Persian Gulf) Tigris and Euphrates (918,044 sq km)
Population distribution: the most densely populated area is found around the Bosporus in the northwest, where 20% of the population lives in Istanbul; with the exception of Ankara, urban centers remain small and scattered throughout the interior of Anatolia; an overall pattern of peripheral development exists, particularly along the Aegean Sea coast in the west, and the Tigris and Euphrates River systems in the southeast
Natural hazards: severe earthquakes, especially in northern Turkey, along an arc extending from the Sea of Marmara to Lake Van; landslides; flooding volcanism: limited volcanic activity; the three historically active volcanoes (Ararat, Nemrut Dagi, and Tendurek Dagi) have not erupted since the 19th century or earlier
Geography - note: strategic location controlling the Turkish Straits (Bosporus, Sea of Marmara, Dardanelles) that link the Black and Aegean Seas; the 3% of Turkish territory north of the Straits lies in Europe and goes by the names of European Turkey, Eastern Thrace, or Turkish Thrace; the 97% of the country in Asia is referred to as Anatolia; Istanbul, which straddles the Bosporus, is the only metropolis in the world located on two continents; Mount Ararat, reputed to be the landing place of Noah's ark, is in the far-eastern part of the country

## People and Society
Population / total: 84,625,585 (2025 est.)
Population / male: 42,489,277
Population / female: 42,136,308
Nationality / noun: Turk(s)
Nationality / adjective: Turkish
Ethnic groups: Turkish 70-75%, Kurdish 19%, other minorities 6-11% (2016 est.)
Languages / Languages: Turkish (official), Kurdish, other minority languages
Languages / major-language sample(s): The World Factbook, temel bilgi edinmek için vazgeçilmez bir kaynak. (Turkish) ڕاستییەکانی جیهان، باشترین سەرچاوەیە بۆ زانیارییە بنەڕەتییەکان (Kurdish) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
Religions: Muslim 99.8% (mostly Sunni), other 0.2% (mostly Christians and Jews)
Age structure / 0-14 years: 21.7% (male 9,358,711/female 8,933,673)
Age structure / 15-64 years: 68.6% (male 29,219,389/female 28,494,315)
Age structure / 65 years and over: 9.6% (2024 est.) (male 3,669,330/female 4,444,113)
Dependency ratios / total dependency ratio: 45.7 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / youth dependency ratio: 31.2 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / elderly dependency ratio: 14.6 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / potential support ratio: 6.9 (2025 est.)
Median age / total: 34.4 years (2025 est.)
Median age / male: 33.4 years
Median age / female: 34.6 years
Population growth rate: 0.59% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 13.56 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 6.19 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: -1.51 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution: the most densely populated area is found around the Bosporus in the northwest, where 20% of the population lives in Istanbul; with the exception of Ankara, urban centers remain small and scattered throughout the interior of Anatolia; an overall pattern of peripheral development exists, particularly along the Aegean Sea coast in the west, and the Tigris and Euphrates River systems in the southeast
Urbanization / urban population: 77.5% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 1.11% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 15.848 million Istanbul, 5.397 million ANKARA (capital), 3.088 million Izmir, 2.086 million Bursa, 1.836 million Adana, 1.805 million Gaziantep (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: 0.83 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth: 26.6 years (2020 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio: 15 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Infant mortality rate / total: 17.9 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Infant mortality rate / male: 19.9 deaths/1,000 live births
Infant mortality rate / female: 16.7 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth / total population: 76.7 years (2024 est.)
Life expectancy at birth / male: 74.4 years
Life expectancy at birth / female: 79.2 years
Total fertility rate: 1.88 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 0.92 (2025 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: urban: urban: 97.3% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: rural: rural: 96% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: total: total: 97% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: urban: urban: 2.7% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: rural: rural: 4% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: total: total: 3% 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% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density: 2.24 physicians/1,000 population (2022)
Hospital bed density: 3 beds/1,000 population (2020 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: urban: urban: 99.8% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: rural: rural: 98.7% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: total: total: 99.6% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: urban: urban: 0.2% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: rural: rural: 1.3% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: total: total: 0.4% of population (2022 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 32.1% (2016)
Alcohol consumption per capita / total: 1.18 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / beer: 0.67 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / wine: 0.16 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / spirits: 0.35 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / other alcohols: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Tobacco use / total: 30.1% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / male: 40.1% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / female: 20.1% (2025 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 1.5% (2018 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49): 59.6% (2021 est.)
Child marriage / women married by age 15: 2% (2018)
Child marriage / women married by age 18: 14.7% (2018)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% GDP): 3.1% of GDP (2022 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% national budget): 11.3% national budget (2022 est.)
Literacy / total population: 97.3% (2021 est.)
Literacy / male: 99.3% (2021 est.)
Literacy / female: 95.3% (2021 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / total: 20 years (2022 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / male: 20 years (2022 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / female: 20 years (2022 est.)

## Environment
Environmental issues: water pollution from dumping of chemicals and detergents; air pollution, particularly in urban areas; deforestation; land degradation; conservation of biodiversity
International environmental agreements / party to: Air Pollution, Antarctic-Environmental Protection, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
International environmental agreements / signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Environmental Modification
Climate: temperate; hot, dry summers with mild, wet winters; harsher in interior
Land use / agricultural land: 50.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 26.3% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 4.8% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 19% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 29.3% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 20.5% (2023 est.)
Urbanization / urban population: 77.5% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 1.11% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / total emissions: 399.173 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from coal and metallurgical coke: 155.26 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from petroleum and other liquids: 147.211 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from consumed natural gas: 96.703 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Particulate matter emissions: 23.1 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Waste and recycling / municipal solid waste generated annually: 35.374 million tons (2024 est.)
Waste and recycling / percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 32% (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / municipal: 7.144 billion cubic meters (2022)
Total water withdrawal / industrial: 1.297 billion cubic meters (2022)
Total water withdrawal / agricultural: 56.127 billion cubic meters (2022)
Total renewable water resources: 211.6 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Geoparks / total global geoparks and regional networks: 1
Geoparks / global geoparks and regional networks: Kula-Salihli (2023)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: Republic of Turkey
Country name / conventional short form: Turkey
Country name / local long form: Turkey Cumhuriyeti
Country name / local short form: Turkey
Country name / etymology: the name means "Land of the Turks"
Government type: presidential republic
Capital / name: Ankara
Capital / geographic coordinates: 39 56 N, 32 52 E
Capital / time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Capital / etymology: the name probably derives from the Indo-European root word ang , meaning "bend" and relating to the settlement's original location in a winding gorge; the city was referred to as Angora by the 13th century; the name was officially modified to Ankara in 1923 when the Republic of Turkey was founded
Administrative divisions: 81 provinces ( iller , singular - ili ); Adana, Adiyaman, Afyonkarahisar, Agri, Aksaray, Amasya, Ankara, Antalya, Ardahan, Artvin, Aydin, Balikesir, Bartin, Batman, Bayburt, Bilecik, Bingol, Bitlis, Bolu, Burdur, Bursa, Canakkale, Cankiri, Corum, Denizli, Diyarbakir, Duzce, Edirne, Elazig, Erzincan, Erzurum, Eskisehir, Gaziantep, Giresun, Gumushane, Hakkari, Hatay, Igdir, Isparta, Istanbul, Izmir (Smyrna), Kahramanmaras, Karabuk, Karaman, Kars, Kastamonu, Kayseri, Kilis, Kirikkale, Kirklareli, Kirsehir, Kocaeli, Konya, Kutahya, Malatya, Manisa, Mardin, Mersin, Mugla, Mus, Nevsehir, Nigde, Ordu, Osmaniye, Rize, Sakarya, Samsun, Sanliurfa, Siirt, Sinop, Sirnak, Sivas, Tekirdag, Tokat, Trabzon (Trebizond), Tunceli, Usak, Van, Yalova, Yozgat, Zonguldak
Legal system: civil law system based on various European systems, notably the Swiss civil code
Constitution / history: several previous; latest ratified 9 November 1982
Constitution / amendment process: proposed by written consent of at least one third of Grand National Assembly (GNA) of Turkey (TBMM) members; adoption of draft amendments requires two debates in plenary TBMM session and three-fifths majority vote of all GNA members; the president of the republic can request TBMM reconsideration of the amendment and, if readopted by two-thirds majority TBMM vote, the president may submit the amendment to a referendum; passage by referendum requires absolute majority vote
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 Turkey
Citizenship / dual citizenship recognized: yes, but requires prior permission from the government
Citizenship / residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch / chief of state: President Recep Tayyip ERDOGAN (since 28 August 2014)
Executive branch / head of government: President Recep Tayyip ERDOGAN (since 9 July 2018)
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: 14 May 2023, with a runoff on 28 May 2023
Executive branch / election results: 2023: Recep Tayyip ERDOGAN reelected president in second round - Recep Tayyip ERDOGAN (AKP) 52.2%, Kemal KILICDAROGLU (CHP) 47.8% 2018: Recep Tayyip ERDOGAN reelected president in first round - Recep Tayyip ERDOGAN (AKP) 52.6%, Muharrem INCE (CHP) 30.6%, Selahattin DEMIRTAS (HDP) 8.4%, Meral AKSENER (IYI) 7.3%, other 1.1%
Executive branch / expected date of next election: 2028
Legislative branch / legislature name: Grand National Assembly of Türkiye (Türkiye Büyük Millet Meclisi (T.B.M.M))
Legislative branch / legislative structure: unicameral
Legislative branch / number of seats: 600 (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: 5/14/2023
Legislative branch / parties elected and seats per party: Justice and Development Party (Ak Party) (267); Republican People's Party (CHP) (130); Green and the Left Party of the Future (YSGP) (57); Nationalist Action Party (MHP) (50); Good Party (İyi Party) (44); Other (52)
Legislative branch / percentage of women in chamber: 19.9%
Legislative branch / expected date of next election: May 2028
Judicial branch / highest court(s): Constitutional Court or Anayasa Mahkemesi (consists of the president, 2 vice presidents, and 12 judges); Court of Cassation (consists of about 390 judges and is organized into civil and penal chambers); Council of State (organized into 15 divisions -- 14 judicial and 1 consultative -- each with a division head and at least 5 members)
Judicial branch / judge selection and term of office: Constitutional Court members - 3 appointed by the Grand National Assembly and 12 by the president of the republic; court president and 2 deputy court presidents appointed from among its members for 4-year terms; judges serve 12-year, nonrenewable terms with mandatory retirement at age 65; Court of Cassation judges appointed by the Board of Judges and Prosecutors, a 13-member body of judicial officials; Court of Cassation judges serve until retirement at age 65; Council of State members appointed by the Board and by the president of the republic; members serve renewable, 4-year terms
Judicial branch / subordinate courts: regional appeals courts; basic (first instance) courts; peace courts; aggravated crime courts; specialized courts, including administrative and audit
Political parties: Democracy and Progress Party or DEVA Democrat Party or DP Democratic Regions Party or DBP Felicity Party (Saadet Party) or SP Free Cause Party or HUDA PAR Future Party (Gelecek Partisi) or GP Good Party or IYI Grand Unity Party or BBP Justice and Development Party or AKP Labor and Freedom Alliance (electoral alliance includes YSGP, HDP, TIP) Nationalist Movement Party or MHP New Welfare Party or YRP Party of Greens and the Left Future or YSGP People's Alliance (electoral alliance includes AKP, BBP, MHP, YRP) Peoples' Democratic Party or HDP Republican People's Party or CHP Workers' Party of Turkey or TIP
Diplomatic representation in the US / chief of mission: Ambassador Sedat &Ouml;NAL (since 17 June 2024)
Diplomatic representation in the US / chancery: 2525 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation in the US / telephone: [1] (202) 612-6700
Diplomatic representation in the US / FAX: [1] (202) 612-6744
Diplomatic representation in the US / email address and website: embassy.washingtondc@mfa.gov.tr T.C. Dışişleri Bakanlığı - Turkish Embassy In Washington, D.C. (mfa.gov.tr)
Diplomatic representation in the US / consulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, San Francisco
Diplomatic representation from the US / chief of mission: Ambassador Thomas J. BARRACK (since 14 May 2025)
Diplomatic representation from the US / embassy: 1480 Sokak No. 1, Cukurambar Mahallesi, 06530 Cankaya, Ankara
Diplomatic representation from the US / mailing address: 7000 Ankara Place, Washington, DC 20512-7000
Diplomatic representation from the US / telephone: [90] (312) 294-0000
Diplomatic representation from the US / FAX: [90] (312) 467-0019
Diplomatic representation from the US / email address and website: Ankara-ACS@state.gov https://tr.usembassy.gov/
Diplomatic representation from the US / consulate(s) general: Istanbul
Diplomatic representation from the US / consulate(s): Adana
International organization participation: ADB (nonregional member), Australia Group, BIS, BSEC, CBSS (observer), CD, CE, CERN (observer), CICA, CPLP (associate observer), D-8, EAPC, EBRD, ECO, EU (candidate country), FAO, FATF, G-20, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OIC, OPCW, OSCE, Pacific Alliance (observer), Paris Club (associate), PCA, PIF (partner), SCO (dialogue member), SELEC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNOOSA, UNRWA, UNWTO, UPU, Wassenaar Arrangement, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
Independence: 29 October 1923 (republic proclaimed, succeeding the Ottoman Empire)
National holiday: Republic Day, 29 October (1923)
Flag: description: red with a vertical white crescent moon and five-pointed white star centered just outside the crescent's opening meaning: the flag colors and designs closely resemble the Ottoman Empire's flag; the crescent moon and star serve as insignia for Turkic peoples; according to one interpretation, the flag represents the reflection of the moon and a star in a pool of blood of Turkish warriors
National symbol(s): vertical crescent moon with adjacent five-pointed star
National color(s): red, white
National anthem(s) / title: "Istiklal Marsi" (The March of Independence)
National anthem(s) / lyrics/music: Mehmet Akif ERSOY/Zeki UNGOR
National anthem(s) / history: lyrics adopted 1921, music adopted 1932; the anthem's original music was adopted in 1924
National heritage / total World Heritage Sites: 22 (20 cultural, 2 mixed)
National heritage / selected World Heritage Site locales: Archaeological Site of Troy (c); Ephesus (c); Diyarbakır Fortress and Hevsel Gardens Cultural Landscape (c); Hierapolis-Pamukkale (m); Göreme National Park and the Rock Sites of Cappadocia (m); Göbekli Tepe (c); Historic Areas of Istanbul (c); Selimiye Mosque and its Social Complex (c); Neolithic Site of Çatalhöyük (c); Bursa and Cumalıkızık: the Birth of the Ottoman Empire (c); Gordion (c); Great Mosque and Hospital of Divriği (c); Hattusha: the Hittite Capital (c); Nemrut Dağ (c); Xanthos-Letoon (c); City of Safranbolu (c); Pergamon and its Multi-Layered Cultural Landscape (c); Archaeological Site of Ani (c); Aphrodisias (c); Arslantepe Mound (c); Wooden Hypostyle Mosques of Medieval Anatolia (c); Turkmenistan (c); Sardis and the Lydian Tumuli of Bin Tepe (c)

## Economy
Economic overview: upper-middle-income, diversified Middle Eastern economy; industrializing economy that maintains large agricultural base; key energy, tourism, and construction sectors; high inflation, interest rates, and foreign debt pose risk to financial stability
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $3.018 trillion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $2.925 trillion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $2.783 trillion (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2024: 3.2% (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2023: 5.1% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2022: 5.5% (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2024: $35,300 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2023: $34,300 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2022: $32,700 (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $1.323 trillion (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024: 58.5% (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023: 53.9% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 72.3% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / agriculture: 5.6% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / industry: 25.9% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / services: 56.8% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / household consumption: 59.4% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / government consumption: 14.7% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in fixed capital: 31% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in inventories: -5.5% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / exports of goods and services: 28% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / imports of goods and services: -27.8% (2024 est.)
Agricultural products: sugar beets, wheat, milk, tomatoes, barley, maize, potatoes, apples, grapes, watermelons (2023)
Industries: textiles, food processing, automobiles, electronics, mining (coal, chromate, copper, boron), steel, petroleum, construction, lumber, paper
Industrial production growth rate: 2.2% (2024 est.)
Labor force: 36.081 million (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2024: 8.5% (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2023: 9.4% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2022: 10.5% (2022 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / total: 15.6% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / male: 12.4% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / female: 21.2% (2024 est.)
Population below poverty line: 13.9% (2022 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income / Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2022: 44.5 (2022 est.)
Average household expenditures / on food: 22.8% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Average household expenditures / on alcohol and tobacco: 2.3% 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%: 35.2% (2022 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: $330.21 billion (2023 est.)
Budget / expenditures: $382.998 billion (2023 est.)
Public debt / Public debt 2023: 33.1% of GDP (2023 est.)
Taxes and other revenues: 18.5% (of GDP) (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2024: -$9.973 billion (2024 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2023: -$39.877 billion (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2022: -$46.283 billion (2022 est.)
Exports / Exports 2024: $372.756 billion (2024 est.)
Exports / Exports 2023: $357.588 billion (2023 est.)
Exports / Exports 2022: $346.602 billion (2022 est.)
Exports - partners: Germany 9%, USA 6%, UK 6%, UAE 5%, Iraq 5% (2023)
Exports - commodities: garments, cars, gold, refined petroleum, vehicle parts/accessories (2023)
Imports / Imports 2024: $367.022 billion (2024 est.)
Imports / Imports 2023: $386.602 billion (2023 est.)
Imports / Imports 2022: $383.7 billion (2022 est.)
Imports - partners: China 13%, Russia 9%, Germany 9%, Switzerland 6%, USA 5% (2023)
Imports - commodities: gold, refined petroleum, cars, plastics, natural gas (2023)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024: $154.774 billion (2024 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023: $140.868 billion (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $128.735 billion (2022 est.)
Debt - external / Debt - external 2023: $149.654 billion (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Currency: Turkish liras (TRY) per US dollar -
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2024: 32.806 (2024 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2023: 23.739 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2022: 16.549 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2021: 8.85 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2020: 7.009 (2020 est.)

## Energy
Electricity access / electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)
Electricity / installed generating capacity: 106.281 million kW (2023 est.)
Electricity / consumption: 285.177 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / exports: 1.993 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / imports: 5.892 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / transmission/distribution losses: 28.964 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / fossil fuels: 57.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / solar: 6.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / wind: 10.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / hydroelectricity: 19.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / geothermal: 2.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / biomass and waste: 2.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Nuclear energy / Number of nuclear reactors under construction: 4 (2025)
Coal / production: 82.534 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / consumption: 124.183 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / exports: 685,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / imports: 41.119 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / proven reserves: 10.975 billion metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum / total petroleum production: 83,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Petroleum / refined petroleum consumption: 1.107 million bbl/day (2024 est.)
Petroleum / crude oil estimated reserves: 366 million barrels (2021 est.)
Natural gas / production: 807.281 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / consumption: 50.211 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / exports: 896.281 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / imports: 50.484 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / proven reserves: 3.794 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)
Energy consumption per capita / Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 70.521 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

## Communications
Telephones - fixed lines / total subscriptions: 9.926 million (2023 est.)
Telephones - fixed lines / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 11 (2023 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / total subscriptions: 94.3 million (2024 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 108 (2024 est.)
Broadcast media: Turkish Radio and Television Corporation (TRT) operates multiple TV and radio networks and stations; multiple privately owned national TV stations and 567 private regional and local TV stations; multi-channel cable TV available; 1,007 private radio stations (2019)
Internet country code: .tr
Internet users / percent of population: 87% (2024 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / total: 19.6 million (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 22 (2023 est.)

## Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: TC
Airports: 116 (2025)
Heliports: 240 (2025)
Railways / total: 11,497 km (2018)
Railways / standard gauge: 11,497 km (2018) 1.435-m gauge (1.435 km high speed train)
Merchant marine / total: 1,170 (2023)
Merchant marine / by type: bulk carrier 43, container ship 43, general cargo 223, oil tanker 134, other 727
Ports / total ports: 54 (2024)
Ports / large: 3
Ports / medium: 3
Ports / small: 6
Ports / very small: 42
Ports / ports with oil terminals: 28
Ports / key ports: Haydarpasa, Istanbul, Izmir, Mersin, Nemrut Limani Bay, Samsun

## Military and Security
Military and security forces: Turkish Armed Forces (TAF; Türk Silahlı Kuvvetleri, TSK): Turkish Land Forces (Türk Kara Kuvvetleri), Turkish Naval Forces (Türk Deniz Kuvvetleri; includes naval air and naval infantry), Turkish Air Forces (Türk Hava Kuvvetleri) Ministry of Interior: Gendarmerie General Command (aka Gendarmerie of the Turkish Republic), Turkish Coast Guard Command, General Directorate of Security (National Police) (2025)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2025: 2.3% 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: 1.4% of GDP (2022 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2021: 1.6% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military and security service personnel strengths: approximately 495,000 active military personnel; approximately 150,000 Gendarmerie (2025)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the military's inventory is comprised of domestically produced and mostly European (such as Germany, Italy, and Spain) or US armaments; other suppliers have included Russia and South Korea; T&uuml;rkiye's defense industry produces a range of weapons systems for both export and internal use, including armored vehicles, naval vessels, and unmanned aerial vehicles/drones; some of its domestically produced armaments are produced jointly with foreign partners or based on imported weapons systems and produced under license (2025)
Military service age and obligation: military service is compulsory for Turkish men 20-41 for a period of 6-12 months; men and women may volunteer (2025)
Military deployments: approximately 250 Bosnia-Herzegovina (EUFOR); approximately 30,000 Cyprus; 730 Kosovo (NATO/KFOR); Turkiye also has several thousand military personnel deployed to other countries under bilateral agreements, including Azerbaijan, Libya, Qatar, and Somalia (2025)
Military - note: the responsibilities of the Turkish Armed Forces (TAF) include protecting the country's territory and sovereignty, participating in international peacekeeping operations, fulfilling Türkiye’s military commitments to NATO, providing disaster/humanitarian relief and assistance to domestic law enforcement if requested by civil authorities, and supporting the country's overall national security interests; it also has overall responsibility for the security of Türkiye’s borders Türkiye is active in international peacekeeping and other military/security operations under NATO and the UN, as well as under bilateral agreements with some countries, such as Azerbaijan, Libya, Somalia, and Qatar; Türkiye has been a member of NATO since 1952 and hosts the headquarters for a NATO Land Command and a Rapid Deployment Corps, multiple airbases for NATO and US aircraft, NATO air/missile defense systems, and training centers; the TAF is the second-largest military in NATO behind the US the military traces its history back to 200 B.C., although the modern TAF was formed following the collapse of the Ottoman Empire at the conclusion of the Turkish War of Independence (1919-1923); the TAF traditionally has been viewed as the “guardian” of Turkish politics, but its political role was diminished after the failed 2016 coup attempt; the military has a stake in Türkiye's economy through a holding company that is involved in the automotive, defense, energy, finance, and logistics sectors, as well as iron and steel production (2025)

## Space
Space agency/agencies: Turkish Space Agency (TUA; established 2018) (2025)
Space launch site(s): rocket test launch site on the Black Sea in Sinop Province; constructing a rocket launch facility in Somalia (2025)
Space program overview: has an ambitious national space program with a focus on satellites, satellite components, satellite launch capabilities, software development, ground station technologies, and building up the country&rsquo;s space industries; manufactures and operates remote sensing and telecommunications satellites; in recent years has initiated a satellite/space launch vehicle (SLV) program with the goal of independently placing satellites into orbit and a probe on the Moon; works with more than 25 foreign space agencies and corporations, including those of Azerbaijan, China, France, India, Japan, Kazakhstan, Pakistan, Russia, South Korea, Ukraine, and the US, as well as the ESA; has state-owned rocket and satellite development companies, including some under the Ministry of Defense; has a growing private space-industry sector, and the Turkish Government has pledged to increase the country's share of the global space market (2025)
Key space-program milestones: 1994 - first commercial communications satellite built jointly with and launched by France 2003 - first domestically built experimental remote sensing (RS) satellite (BILSAT) launched by Russia 2018 - launched first domestically produced solid-fuel sounding rocket to an altitude of 135 km (84 mi) 2024 - first Turkish astronaut in space on the International Space Station; first domestically produced communications satellite launched by US 2025 - successfully launched 2-stage hybrid rocket more than 200 km (124 mi) in altitude

## Terrorism
Terrorist group(s): Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS); Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU); Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC)/Qods Force; Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK); al-Qa'ida; Revolutionary People's Liberation Party/Front (DHKP/C)

## Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons / refugees: 3,094,818 (2024 est.)
Refugees and internally displaced persons / IDPs: 538,105 (2024 est.)
Refugees and internally displaced persons / stateless persons: 420 (2024 est.)

=== West Bank ===

## Introduction
Background: The landlocked West Bank -- the larger of the two Palestinian territories -- is home to some three million Palestinians. Inhabited since at least the 15th century B.C., the area currently known as the West Bank has been dominated by a succession of different powers. In the early 16th century, it was incorporated into the Ottoman Empire. The West Bank fell to British forces during World War I, becoming part of the British Mandate of Palestine. After the 1948 Arab-Israeli War, Transjordan (later renamed Jordan) captured the West Bank and annexed it in 1950; Israel then captured it in the Six-Day War in 1967. Under the Oslo Accords -- a series of agreements that were signed between 1993 and 1999 -- Israel transferred to the newly created Palestinian Authority (PA) security and civilian responsibility for the many Palestinian-populated areas of the West Bank, as well as the Gaza Strip. In addition to establishing the PA as an interim government, the Oslo Accords divided the West Bank into three areas, with one fully managed by the PA (Area A), another fully managed by Israel (Area C), and a third with shared control (Area B) until a permanent agreement could be reached between the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) and Israel. In 2000, a violent intifada , or uprising, began across the Palestinian territories, and in 2001, negotiations for a permanent agreement between the PLO and Israel on final status issues stalled. Subsequent attempts to re-start direct negotiations have not resulted in progress toward determining final status of the area. The PA last held national elections in 2006, when the Islamic Resistance Movement (HAMAS) won a majority of seats in the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC). Fatah, the dominant Palestinian political faction in the West Bank, and HAMAS failed to maintain a unity government, leading to violent clashes between their respective supporters and to HAMAS's violent seizure of all PA military and governmental institutions in the Gaza Strip in 2007. In 2018, the Palestinian Constitutional Court dissolved the PLC. In recent years, Fatah and HAMAS have made several attempts at reconciliation, but the factions have been unable to implement agreements.

## Geography
Location: Middle East, west of Jordan, east of Israel
Geographic coordinates: 32 00 N, 35 15 E
Map references: Middle East
Area / total: 5,860 sq km
Area / land: 5,640 sq km
Area / water: 220 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly smaller than Delaware
Land boundaries / total: 478 km
Land boundaries / border countries: Israel 330 km; Jordan 148 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
Climate: temperate; temperature and precipitation vary with altitude, warm to hot summers, cool to mild winters
Terrain: mostly rugged, dissected upland in west, flat plains descending to Jordan River Valley to the east
Elevation / highest point: Khallat al Batrakh 1,020 m
Elevation / lowest point: Dead Sea -431 m
Natural resources: arable land
Land use / agricultural land: 64.9% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 7% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 11.8% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 46.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 1.8% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 32.1% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land: (2013) 151 sq km; note - includes Gaza Strip
Major lakes (area sq km) / salt water lake(s): Dead Sea (shared with Jordan and Israel) - 1,020 sq km note - endorheic hypersaline lake; 9.6 times saltier than the ocean; lake shore is 431 meters below sea level
Population distribution: the most populous Palestinian communities in the West Bank are located in the central ridge and western half of its territory; Jewish settlements are located throughout the West Bank, the most populous in the Seam Zone -- between the 1949 Armistice Line and the separation barrier -- and around Jerusalem
Natural hazards: droughts
Geography - note: landlocked; highlands are main recharge area for Israel's coastal aquifers (2017)

## People and Society
Population / total: 3,310,554 (2025 est.)
Population / male: 1,682,493
Population / female: 1,628,061
Ethnic groups: Palestinian Arab, Jewish, other
Languages / Languages: Arabic, Hebrew (spoken by Israeli settlers and many Palestinians), English (widely understood)
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 80-85% (predominantly Sunni), Jewish 12-14%, Christian 1-2.5% (mainly Greek Orthodox), other, unaffiliated, unspecified <1% (2012 est.)
Age structure / 0-14 years: 36.7% (male 609,497/female 579,227)
Age structure / 15-64 years: 59.5% (male 979,719/female 949,746)
Age structure / 65 years and over: 3.9% (2024 est.) (male 59,234/female 65,946)
Dependency ratios / total dependency ratio: 68.2 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / youth dependency ratio: 61.4 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / elderly dependency ratio: 6.8 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / potential support ratio: 14.8 (2025 est.)
Median age / total: 22 years (2025 est.)
Median age / male: 21.6 years
Median age / female: 22.1 years
Population growth rate: 2.03% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 27.24 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 3.2 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: -3.71 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution: the most populous Palestinian communities in the West Bank are located in the central ridge and western half of its territory; Jewish settlements are located throughout the West Bank, the most populous in the Seam Zone -- between the 1949 Armistice Line and the separation barrier -- and around Jerusalem
Urbanization / urban population: 77.6% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 2.85% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Sex ratio / at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 15-64 years: 1.03 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: 16 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Infant mortality rate / total: 14.2 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Infant mortality rate / male: 17.5 deaths/1,000 live births
Infant mortality rate / female: 12.6 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth / total population: 76.5 years (2024 est.)
Life expectancy at birth / male: 74.4 years
Life expectancy at birth / female: 78.8 years
Total fertility rate: 3.44 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 1.67 (2025 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: urban: urban: 98% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: rural: rural: 100% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: total: total: 98.4% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: urban: urban: 2% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: total: total: 1.6% of population (2022 est.)
Health expenditure: 13.5% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density: 3.25 physicians/1,000 population (2020)
Hospital bed density: 1.3 beds/1,000 population (2019 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: urban: urban: 100% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: rural: rural: 99% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: total: total: 99.8% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: urban: urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: rural: rural: 1% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: total: total: 0.2% of population (2022 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 2.1% (2020 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49): 62.4% (2020 est.)
Child marriage / women married by age 15: 0.7% (2020)
Child marriage / women married by age 18: 13.4% (2020)
Education expenditure: 5.4% of GDP (2021 est.)
Literacy / total population: 98% (2022 est.)
Literacy / male: 99% (2022 est.)
Literacy / female: 97% (2022 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: 14 years (2023 est.)

## Environment
Environmental issues: adequacy of freshwater supply; sewage treatment
Climate: temperate; temperature and precipitation vary with altitude, warm to hot summers, cool to mild winters
Land use / agricultural land: 64.9% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 7% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 11.8% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 46.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 1.8% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 32.1% (2023 est.)
Urbanization / urban population: 77.6% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 2.85% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / total emissions: 3.913 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from petroleum and other liquids: 3.913 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: 1.387 million tons (2024 est.)
Total water withdrawal / municipal: 251 million cubic meters (2022)
Total water withdrawal / industrial: 37 million cubic meters (2022)
Total water withdrawal / agricultural: 158 million cubic meters (2022)
Total renewable water resources: 837 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: none
Country name / conventional short form: West Bank
Country name / etymology: name refers to the location of the British Mandate of Palestine that was occupied and administered by Jordan in 1948, on the west bank of the Jordan River; the designation was retained after the 1967 Six-Day War and subsequent changes in administration
National heritage / total World Heritage Sites: 4 (all cultural)
National heritage / selected World Heritage Site locales: Ancient Jericho/Tell es-Sultan; Birthplace of Jesus: Church of the Nativity and the Pilgrimage Route, Bethlehem; Hebron/Al-Khalil Old Town; Land of Olives and Vines &ndash; Cultural Landscape of Southern Jerusalem, Battir

## Economy
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $20.339 billion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $27.694 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $29.016 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2024: -26.6% (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2023: -4.6% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2022: 4.1% (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2024: $3,800 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2023: $5,400 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2022: $5,800 (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $13.711 billion (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024: 53.7% (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023: 5.9% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 3.7% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / agriculture: 5.7% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / industry: 17.4% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / services: 58.3% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / household consumption: 95.5% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / government consumption: 20.7% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in fixed capital: 24.7% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in inventories: 1.7% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / exports of goods and services: 21% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / imports of goods and services: -60.3% (2024 est.)
Agricultural products: tomatoes, cucumbers, olives, poultry, milk, potatoes, sheep milk, eggplants, gourds
Industries: small-scale manufacturing, quarrying, textiles, soap, olive-wood carvings, and mother-of-pearl souvenirs
Industrial production growth rate: -32.2% (2024 est.)
Labor force: 1.391 million (2022 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2022: 24.5% (2022 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2021: 26.4% (2021 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2020: 25.9% (2020 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / total: 36.1% (2022 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / male: 31.6% (2022 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / female: 56.6% (2022 est.)
Population below poverty line: 29.2% (2016 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income / Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2023: 36.4 (2023 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / lowest 10%: 2.5% (2023 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / highest 10%: 27.1% (2023 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2024: 5.4% of GDP (2024 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2023: 18.2% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2022: 24% of GDP (2022 est.)
Budget / revenues: $1.409 billion (2021 est.)
Budget / expenditures: $1.499 billion (2021 est.)
Public debt / Public debt 2013: 23.8% of GDP (2013 est.)
Taxes and other revenues: 21.5% (of GDP) (2021 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2024: -$2.899 billion (2024 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2023: -$2.895 billion (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2022: -$2.037 billion (2022 est.)
Exports / Exports 2024: $2.885 billion (2024 est.)
Exports / Exports 2023: $3.413 billion (2023 est.)
Exports / Exports 2022: $3.533 billion (2022 est.)
Exports - partners: Jordan 51%, Turkey 12%, UAE 8%, Saudi Arabia 5%, UK 4% (2023)
Exports - commodities: scrap iron, tropical fruits, olive oil, building stone, prepared meat (2023)
Imports / Imports 2024: $8.264 billion (2024 est.)
Imports / Imports 2023: $11.637 billion (2023 est.)
Imports / Imports 2022: $12.257 billion (2022 est.)
Imports - partners: Egypt 25%, Jordan 17%, China 8%, Germany 7%, UAE 7% (2023)
Imports - commodities: cement, raw sugar, cars, baked goods, perfumes (2023)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024: $1.328 billion (2024 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023: $1.323 billion (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $896.9 million (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Currency: new Israeli shekels (ILS) per US dollar -
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2024: 3.7 (2024 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2023: 3.67 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2022: 3.36 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2021: 3.23 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2020: 3.442 (2020 est.)

## Energy
Electricity access / electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)
Electricity / installed generating capacity: 352,000 kW (2023 est.)
Electricity / consumption: 6.956 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / imports: 6.925 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / transmission/distribution losses: 988 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / fossil fuels: 66.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / solar: 33.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Coal / exports: 1 metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum / refined petroleum consumption: 29,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Energy consumption per capita / Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 14.991 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

## Communications
Telephones - fixed lines / total subscriptions: 383,653 (2023 est.)
Telephones - fixed lines / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 7 (2023 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / total subscriptions: 4,148,420 (2023 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 77 (2023 est.)
Broadcast media: the Palestinian Authority operates 1 TV and 1 radio station; about 20 private TV and 40 radio stations; Jordanian TV and satellite TV accessible
Internet country code: .ps
Internet users / percent of population: 87% (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / total: 431,000 (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 8 (2023 est.)

## Transportation
Airports: 1 (2025)
Heliports: 2 (2025)

## Military and Security
Military and security forces: per the Oslo Accords, the Palestinian Authority (PA) is not permitted a conventional military but maintains security and police forces; PA security personnel have operated exclusively in the West Bank since HAMAS seized power in the Gaza Strip in 2007; PA forces include the Palestinian National Security Forces, Presidential Guard, Civil Police, Civil Defense, Preventive Security Organization, the General Intelligence Organization, and the Military Intelligence Organization (2024)
Military expenditures: not available
Military and security service personnel strengths: the PA police and security forces have approximately 28,000 active personnel, including about 11,500 National Security Forces (2024)
Military - note: Palestinian Authority security forces maintain security control of 17.5% (called Area A) of the West Bank, as agreed by the Palestine Liberation Organization and Israel in the Oslo Accords, although Israeli security forces frequently conducted security operations there; Israeli security forces maintain responsibility for the remaining 82.5% of the West Bank, including Area B (22.5%), where the Palestinian Authority has administrative control, and Area C (60%), where Israel maintains administrative control (2024)

## Terrorism
Terrorist group(s): Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade; HAMAS; Palestine Islamic Jihad; Palestine Liberation Front; Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine

## Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons / IDPs: 2,032,011 (2024 est.)

=== Yemen ===

## Introduction
Background: The Kingdom of Yemen (colloquially known as North Yemen) became independent from the Ottoman Empire in 1918 and in 1962 became the Yemen Arab Republic. The British, who had set up a protectorate area around the southern port of Aden in the 19th century, withdrew in 1967 from what became the People's Republic of Southern Yemen (colloquially known as South Yemen). Three years later, the southern government adopted a Marxist orientation and changed the country's name to the People's Democratic Republic of Yemen. The exodus of hundreds of thousands of Yemenis from the south to the north contributed to two decades of hostility between the states, which were formally unified as the Republic of Yemen in 1990. A southern secessionist movement and brief civil war in 1994 was quickly subdued. In 2000, Saudi Arabia and Yemen agreed to delineate their border. Fighting in the northwest between the government and the Houthis, a Zaydi Shia Muslim minority, continued intermittently from 2004 to 2010, and then again from 2014 to the present. The southern secessionist movement was revitalized in 2007. Public rallies in Sana'a against then President Ali Abdallah SALIH -- inspired by similar Arab Spring demonstrations in Tunisia and Egypt -- slowly gained momentum in 2011, fueled by complaints over high unemployment, poor economic conditions, and corruption. Some protests resulted in violence, and the demonstrations spread to other major cities. The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) mediated the crisis with the GCC Initiative, an agreement in which the president would step down in exchange for immunity from prosecution. SALIH eventually agreed to step down and transfer some powers to Vice President Abd Rabuh Mansur HADI. After HADI's uncontested election victory in 2012, SALIH formally transferred all presidential powers. In accordance with the GCC Initiative, Yemen launched a National Dialogue Conference (NDC) in 2013 to discuss key constitutional, political, and social issues. HADI concluded the NDC in 2014 and planned to proceed with constitutional drafting, a constitutional referendum, and national elections. The Houthis, perceiving their grievances were not addressed in the NDC, joined forces with SALIH and expanded their influence in northwestern Yemen, which culminated in a major offensive against military units and rival tribes and enabled their forces to overrun the capital, Sana'a, in 2014. In 2015, the Houthis surrounded key government facilities, prompting HADI and the cabinet to resign. HADI fled first to Aden -- where he rescinded his resignation -- and then to Oman before moving to Saudi Arabia and asking the GCC to intervene militarily in Yemen. Saudi Arabia assembled a coalition of Arab militaries and began airstrikes, and ground fighting continued through 2016. In 2016, the UN initiated peace talks that ended without agreement. Rising tensions between the Houthis and SALIH culminated in Houthi forces killing SALIH. In 2018, the Houthis and the Yemeni Government participated in UN-brokered peace talks, agreeing to a limited cease-fire and the establishment of a UN mission. In 2019, Yemen’s parliament convened for the first time since the conflict broke out in 2014. Violence then erupted between HADI's government and the pro-secessionist Southern Transitional Council (STC) in southern Yemen. HADI's government and the STC signed a power-sharing agreement to end the fighting, and in 2020, the signatories formed a new cabinet. In 2020 and 2021, fighting continued as the Houthis gained territory and also conducted regular UAV and missile attacks against targets in Saudi Arabia. In 2022, the UN brokered a temporary truce between the Houthis and the Saudi-led coalition. HADI and his vice-president resigned and were replaced by an eight-person Presidential Leadership Council. Although the truce formally expired in 2022, the parties nonetheless refrained from large-scale conflict through the end of 2023. Saudi Arabia, after the truce expired, continued to negotiate with the Yemeni Government and Houthis on a roadmap agreement that would include a permanent ceasefire and a peace process under UN auspices.

## Geography
Location: Middle East, bordering the Arabian Sea, Gulf of Aden, and Red Sea, between Oman and Saudi Arabia
Geographic coordinates: 15 00 N, 48 00 E
Map references: Middle East
Area / total: 527,968 sq km
Area / land: 527,968 sq km
Area / water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative: almost four times the size of Alabama; slightly larger than twice the size of Wyoming
Land boundaries / total: 1,601 km
Land boundaries / border countries: Oman 294 km; Saudi Arabia 1,307 km
Coastline: 1,906 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: mostly desert; hot and humid along west coast; temperate in western mountains affected by seasonal monsoon; extraordinarily hot, dry, harsh desert in east
Terrain: narrow coastal plain backed by flat-topped hills and rugged mountains; dissected upland desert plains in center slope into the desert interior of the Arabian Peninsula
Elevation / highest point: Jabal an Nabi Shu'ayb 3,666 m
Elevation / lowest point: Arabian Sea 0 m
Elevation / mean elevation: 999 m
Natural resources: petroleum, fish, rock salt, marble; small deposits of coal, gold, lead, nickel, and copper; fertile soil in west
Land use / agricultural land: 44.4% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 2.2% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 0.6% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 41.7% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 1% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 54.5% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land: 6,800 sq km (2012)
Population distribution: the vast majority of the population is found in the Asir Mountains (part of the larger Sarawat Mountain system), located in the far western region of the country
Natural hazards: sandstorms and dust storms in summer volcanism: limited volcanic activity; Jebel at Tair (Jabal al-Tair, Jebel Teir, Jabal al-Tayr, Jazirat at-Tair) (244 m), which forms an island in the Red Sea, became active in 2007; other historically active volcanoes include Harra of Arhab, Harras of Dhamar, Harra es-Sawad, and Jebel Zubair, although many of these have not erupted in over a century
Geography - note: strategic location on Bab el Mandeb, the strait linking the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden and one of world's most active shipping lanes

## People and Society
Population / total: 34,505,496 (2025 est.)
Population / male: 17,275,539
Population / female: 17,229,957
Nationality / noun: Yemeni(s)
Nationality / adjective: Yemeni
Ethnic groups: predominantly Arab; but also Afro-Arab, South Asian, European
Languages / Languages: Arabic (official)
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 99.1% (official; virtually all are citizens, an estimated 65% are Sunni and 35% are Shia), other 0.9% (includes Jewish, Baha'i, Hindu, and Christian; many are refugees or temporary foreign residents) (2020 est.)
Age structure / 0-14 years: 34.4% (male 5,622,998/female 5,430,285)
Age structure / 15-64 years: 62.2% (male 10,112,603/female 9,865,805)
Age structure / 65 years and over: 3.4% (2024 est.) (male 485,538/female 623,214)
Dependency ratios / total dependency ratio: 70.2 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / youth dependency ratio: 64.8 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / elderly dependency ratio: 5.4 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / potential support ratio: 18.4 (2025 est.)
Median age / total: 20.5 years (2025 est.)
Median age / male: 21.9 years
Median age / female: 22.2 years
Population growth rate: 2.22% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 29.07 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 6.21 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: -0.65 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution: the vast majority of the population is found in the Asir Mountains (part of the larger Sarawat Mountain system), located in the far western region of the country
Urbanization / urban population: 39.8% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 3.71% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 3.292 million SANAA (capital), 1.080 million Aden, 941,000 Taiz, 772,000 Ibb (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: 0.78 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth: 20.8 years (2013 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio: 118 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Infant mortality rate / total: 42.4 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Infant mortality rate / male: 49.9 deaths/1,000 live births
Infant mortality rate / female: 39 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth / total population: 68.2 years (2024 est.)
Life expectancy at birth / male: 65.8 years
Life expectancy at birth / female: 70.6 years
Total fertility rate: 3.65 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 1.78 (2025 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: urban: urban: 77.2% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: rural: rural: 51.8% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: total: total: 61.8% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: urban: urban: 22.8% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: rural: rural: 48.2% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: total: total: 38.2% of population (2022 est.)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 4.3% of GDP (2015)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 2.5% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density: 0.1 physicians/1,000 population (2023)
Sanitation facility access / improved: urban: urban: 83.1% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: rural: rural: 44.8% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: total: total: 59.9% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: urban: urban: 16.9% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: rural: rural: 55.2% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: total: total: 40.1% of population (2022 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 17.1% (2016)
Alcohol consumption per capita / total: 0.02 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / beer: 0.02 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: 20.2% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / male: 33.1% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / female: 7.3% (2025 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 40.7% (2022 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49): 63.9% (2023 est.)
Child marriage / women married by age 15: 6.5% (2023)
Child marriage / women married by age 18: 29.6% (2023)
Literacy / female: 54.1% (2023 est.)

## Environment
Environmental issues: limited natural freshwater resources; inadequate supplies of potable water; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification
International environmental agreements / party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
International environmental agreements / signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban
Climate: mostly desert; hot and humid along west coast; temperate in western mountains affected by seasonal monsoon; extraordinarily hot, dry, harsh desert in east
Land use / agricultural land: 44.4% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 2.2% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 0.6% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 41.7% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 1% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 54.5% (2023 est.)
Urbanization / urban population: 39.8% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 3.71% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / total emissions: 8.193 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from coal and metallurgical coke: 93,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from petroleum and other liquids: 8.08 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from consumed natural gas: 21,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Particulate matter emissions: 43.9 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Methane emissions / energy: 190.5 kt (2022-2024 est.)
Methane emissions / agriculture: 192.2 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Methane emissions / waste: 135.9 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Methane emissions / other: 0.4 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Waste and recycling / municipal solid waste generated annually: 4.837 million tons (2024 est.)
Waste and recycling / percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 8% (2016 est.)
Total water withdrawal / municipal: 265 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / industrial: 65 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / agricultural: 3.235 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total renewable water resources: 2.1 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: Republic of Yemen
Country name / conventional short form: Yemen
Country name / local long form: Al Jumhuriyah al Yamaniyah
Country name / local short form: Al Yaman
Country name / former: Yemen Arab Republic [Yemen (Sanaa) or North Yemen] and People's Democratic Republic of Yemen [Yemen (Aden) or South Yemen]
Country name / etymology: the name origin is unclear but may come from the Arabic word al-yamin , meaning "the right," as a reference to its geographic position in relation to Mecca
Government type: in transition
Capital / name: Sanaa
Capital / geographic coordinates: 15 21 N, 44 12 E
Capital / time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Capital / etymology: the name is reputed to mean "fortified place" in an ancient language
Administrative divisions: 22 governorates ( muhafazat , singular - muhafazah ); Abyan, 'Adan (Aden), Ad Dali', Al Bayda', Al Hudaydah, Al Jawf, Al Mahrah, Al Mahwit, Amanat al 'Asimah (Sanaa City), 'Amran, Arkhabil Suqutra (Socotra Archipelago), Dhamar, Hadramawt, Hajjah, Ibb, Lahij, Ma'rib, Raymah, Sa'dah, San'a' (Sanaa), Shabwah, Ta'izz
Legal system: mixed system of Islamic (sharia) law, Napoleonic law, English common law, and customary law
Constitution / history: adopted by referendum 16 May 1991 (following unification)
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 Yemen; if the father is 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: Presidential Leadership Council Chairperson Dr. Rashad Muhammad al-ALIMI (since 19 April 2022)
Executive branch / head of government: Prime Minister Salim Salih BIN BURAYK (since 9 May 2025)
Executive branch / cabinet: 24 members from northern and southern Yemen, with representatives from Yemen's major political parties
Executive branch / election/appointment process: formerly, the president was directly elected by absolute-majority popular vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a 7-year term (eligible for a second term); vice president appointed by the president; prime minister appointed by the president
Executive branch / most recent election date: 21 February 2012
Executive branch / election results: 2012: Abd Rabuh Mansur HADI (GPC) elected consensus president
Legislative branch / legislature name: Parliament (Majlis)
Legislative branch / legislative structure: bicameral
Legislative branch - lower chamber / chamber name: House of Representatives (Majlis Annowab)
Legislative branch - lower chamber / number of seats: 301 (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: 4/27/2003
Legislative branch - lower chamber / parties elected and seats per party: General People's Congress (GPC) (238); Yemeni Congregation for Reform (Islah) (46); Other (17)
Legislative branch - lower chamber / percentage of women in chamber: 0%
Legislative branch - upper chamber / chamber name: Shura Council (Majlis Alshoora)
Legislative branch - upper chamber / number of seats: 111 (all appointed)
Legislative branch - upper chamber / scope of elections: full renewal
Legislative branch - upper chamber / most recent election date: 4/28/2001
Legislative branch - upper chamber / percentage of women in chamber: 1.1%
Judicial branch / highest court(s): Supreme Court (consists of the court president, 2 deputies, and nearly 50 judges; court organized into constitutional, civil, commercial, family, administrative, criminal, military, and appeals scrutiny divisions)
Judicial branch / judge selection and term of office: judges appointed by the Supreme Judicial Council, which is chaired by the president of the republic and includes 10 high-ranking judicial officers; judges serve for life with mandatory retirement at age 65
Judicial branch / subordinate courts: appeal courts; district or first instance courts; commercial courts
Political parties: General People’s Congress or GPC (3 factions: pro-Hadi, pro-Houthi, pro-Salih) Nasserist Unionist People's Organization National Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party Southern Transitional Council or STC Yemeni Reform Grouping or Islah Yemeni Socialist Party or YSP
Diplomatic representation in the US / chief of mission: Ambassador Abdulwahab Abdullah Ahmed AL-HAJRI (since 24 July 2025)
Diplomatic representation in the US / chancery: 2319 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation in the US / telephone: [1] (202) 965-4760
Diplomatic representation in the US / FAX: [1] (202) 337-2017
Diplomatic representation in the US / email address and website: Information@yemenembassy.org https://www.yemenembassy.org/
Diplomatic representation from the US / chief of mission: Ambassador Steven H. FAGIN (since 1 June 2022); note - the embassy closed in March 2015; Yemen Affairs Unit currently operates out of US Embassy Riyadh
Diplomatic representation from the US / mailing address: 6330 Sanaa Place, Washington DC 20521-6330
Diplomatic representation from the US / telephone: US Embassy Riyadh [966] 11-835-4000
Diplomatic representation from the US / FAX: US Embassy Riyadh [966] 11-488-7360
Diplomatic representation from the US / email address and website: YemenEmergencyUSC@state.gov https://ye.usembassy.gov/
International organization participation: AFESD, AMF, CAEU, CD, EITI (temporarily suspended), FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAS, MIGA, MINURSO, MINUSMA, MONUSCO, NAM, OAS (observer), OIC, OPCW, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNISFA, UNMHA, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNOCI, UNVIM, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Independence: 22 May 1990 (Republic of Yemen established with the merger of the Yemen Arab Republic [Yemen (Sanaa) or North Yemen] and the People's Democratic Republic of Yemen [Yemen (Aden) or South Yemen]); notable earlier dates: 1 November 1918 (North Yemen independent from the Ottoman Empire), 27 September 1962 (North Yemen becomes republic), 30 November 1967 (South Yemen independent from the UK)
National holiday: Unification Day, 22 May (1990)
Flag: description: three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black meaning: the band colors come 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
National color(s): red, white, black
National anthem(s) / title: "Al-qumhuriyatu l-muttahida" (United Republic)
National anthem(s) / lyrics/music: Abdullah Abdulwahab NOA'MAN/Ayyoab Tarish ABSI
National anthem(s) / history: adopted 1990; the music first served as the anthem for South Yemen before unification with North Yemen in 1990
National heritage / total World Heritage Sites: 5 (4 cultural, 1 natural)
National heritage / selected World Heritage Site locales: Old Walled City of Shibam (c); Old City of Sana'a (c); Historic Town of Zabid (c); Socotra Archipelago (n); Landmarks of the Ancient Kingdom of Saba, Marib (c)

## Economy
Economic overview: low-income Middle Eastern economy; infrastructure, trade, and economic institutions devastated by civil war; oil/gas-dependent but decreasing reserves; massive poverty, food insecurity, and unemployment; high inflation
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $18.719 billion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $18.908 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $19.294 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2018: 0.8% (2018 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2017: -5.1% (2017 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2016: -9.4% (2016 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2024: $200 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2023: $200 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2022: $300 (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $8.278 billion (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 29.1% (2022 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021: 26% (2021 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2020: 19.6% (2020 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / agriculture: 28.7% (2018 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / industry: 25.4% (2018 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / services: 41.8% (2018 est.)
Agricultural products: mangoes/guavas, potatoes, milk, onions, spices, chicken, sorghum, watermelons, tomatoes, grapes (2023)
Industries: crude oil production and petroleum refining; small-scale production of cotton textiles, leather goods; food processing; handicrafts; aluminum products; cement; commercial ship repair; natural gas production
Industrial production growth rate: -1.1% (2018 est.)
Labor force: 7.848 million (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2024: 17.1% (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2023: 17.1% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2022: 17.4% (2022 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / total: 32.4% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / male: 31.8% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / female: 38.4% (2024 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2023: 20.05% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2022: 16.02% of GDP (2022 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2021: 19.44% of GDP (2021 est.)
Budget / revenues: $2.207 billion (2019 est.)
Budget / expenditures: $3.585 billion (2019 est.)
Public debt / Public debt 2016: 68.1% of GDP (2016 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2016: -$2.419 billion (2016 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2015: -$3.026 billion (2015 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2014: -$1.488 billion (2014 est.)
Exports / Exports 2017: $384.5 million (2017 est.)
Exports / Exports 2016: $938.469 million (2016 est.)
Exports / Exports 2015: $1.867 billion (2015 est.)
Exports - partners: UAE 28%, India 21%, Saudi Arabia 17%, Oman 7%, Malaysia 5% (2023)
Exports - commodities: gold, fish, scrap iron, shellfish, industrial acids/oils/alcohols (2023)
Imports / Imports 2017: $4.079 billion (2017 est.)
Imports / Imports 2016: $8.256 billion (2016 est.)
Imports / Imports 2015: $7.697 billion (2015 est.)
Imports - partners: China 23%, UAE 15%, Saudi Arabia 11%, Turkey 8%, India 7% (2023)
Imports - commodities: wheat, raw sugar, rice, iron bars, plastic products (2023)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $1.251 billion (2022 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2021: $1.688 billion (2021 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2020: $969.613 million (2020 est.)
Debt - external / Debt - external 2023: $6.492 billion (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Currency: Yemeni rials (YER) per US dollar -
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2023: 1,355.116 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2022: 1,115.002 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2021: 1,028.108 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2020: 743.006 (2020 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2019: 486.731 (2019 est.)

## Energy
Electricity access / electrification - total population: 76% (2022 est.)
Electricity access / electrification - urban areas: 96.1%
Electricity access / electrification - rural areas: 65%
Electricity / installed generating capacity: 1.79 million kW (2023 est.)
Electricity / consumption: 2.579 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / transmission/distribution losses: 486.24 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / fossil fuels: 83% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / solar: 17% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Coal / consumption: 27,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / imports: 36,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum / total petroleum production: 15,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Petroleum / refined petroleum consumption: 58,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Petroleum / crude oil estimated reserves: 3 billion barrels (2021 est.)
Natural gas / production: 10.286 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / consumption: 10.286 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / proven reserves: 478.555 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)
Energy consumption per capita / Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 2.987 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

## Communications
Telephones - fixed lines / total subscriptions: 728,000 (2022 est.)
Telephones - fixed lines / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 2 (2022 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / total subscriptions: 20 million (2023 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 51 (2023 est.)
Broadcast media: state-run TV with 2 stations; state-run radio with 2 national radio stations and 5 local stations; stations from Oman and Saudi Arabia can be accessed
Internet country code: .ye
Internet users / percent of population: 14% (2020 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / total: 486,000 (2022 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 1 (2022 est.)

## Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: 7O
Airports: 37 (2025)
Heliports: 6 (2025)
Merchant marine / total: 30 (2023)
Merchant marine / by type: general cargo 2, oil tanker 1, other 27
Ports / total ports: 10 (2024)
Ports / large: 1
Ports / medium: 2
Ports / small: 2
Ports / very small: 5
Ports / ports with oil terminals: 6
Ports / key ports: Aden, Al Ahmadi, Al Mukalla, Al Mukha, Ras Isa Marine Terminal

## Military and Security
Military and security forces: Yemeni Armed Forces: Yemeni National Army, Air Force and Air Defense, Navy and Coastal Defense Forces, Border Guard, Strategic Reserve Forces (includes Special Forces and Presidential Protection Brigades, which are under the Ministry of Defense but responsible to the president), Popular Committee Forces (aka Popular Resistance Forces; government-backed tribal militia) Ministry of Interior: Security Forces, Emergency Forces, Counterterrorism Units (2025)
Military and security service personnel strengths: not available
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the Yemeni Government forces have an inventory consisting primarily of older foreign-supplied weapons systems, mostly of Russian or Soviet origin (2025)
Military service age and obligation: limited available information; 18 is the legal minimum age for military service under the Yemeni Government (2025)
Military - note: government forces under the Yemeni Ministry of Defense are responsible for both external and internal defense; their priorities are the Houthi separatists (aka Ansarallah), the terrorist groups al-Qa&rsquo;ida in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) and the Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham in Yemen (ISIS-Yemen), and maritime security, particularly against arms smuggling; in 2022, the Yemeni Government and the Houthis signed a truce, halting most fighting and establishing humanitarian measures; the former front lines of conflict, in some areas mirroring Yemen&rsquo;s pre-unification borders, remain static; AQAP and ISIS-Yemen continue to be active in remote areas (2025)

## Terrorism
Terrorist group(s): Ansarallah (Houthis); Hizballah; Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC)/Qods Force; Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS) - Yemen; al-Qa'ida in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP)

## Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons / refugees: 60,921 (2024 est.)
Refugees and internally displaced persons / IDPs: 4,795,983 (2024 est.)
Trafficking in persons / tier rating: Special Case; for more details, go to: https://www.state.gov/reports/2025-trafficking-in-persons-report/yemen/

=== Bermuda ===

## Introduction
Background: Bermuda was first settled in 1609 by shipwrecked English colonists heading for Virginia. Self-governing since 1620, Bermuda is the oldest and most populous of the British Overseas Territories. Vacationing on the island to escape North American winters first developed in Victorian times. Tourism continues to be important for the island's economy, although international business has overtaken it in recent years as Bermuda has developed into a highly successful offshore financial center. A referendum on independence from the UK was soundly defeated in 1995.

## Geography
Location: North America, group of islands in the North Atlantic Ocean, east of South Carolina (US)
Geographic coordinates: 32 20 N, 64 45 W
Map references: North America
Area / total: 54 sq km
Area / land: 54 sq km
Area / water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative: about one-third the size of Washington, D.C.
Land boundaries / total: 0 km
Coastline: 103 km
Maritime claims / territorial sea: 12 nm
Maritime claims / exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Maritime claims / exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
Climate: subtropical; mild, humid; gales, strong winds common in winter
Terrain: low hills separated by fertile depressions
Elevation / highest point: Town Hill 79 m
Elevation / lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
Natural resources: limestone, pleasant climate fostering tourism
Land use / agricultural land: 5.6% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 5.6% (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: 14.4% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 80% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land: NA
Population distribution: relatively even population distribution throughout
Natural hazards: hurricanes (June to November)
Geography - note: the archipelago consists of over 170 coral islands and islets with ample rainfall, as well as thousands of cays, but no rivers or freshwater lakes; some land was leased by the US Government from 1941 to 1995

## People and Society
Population / total: 72,800 (2024 est.)
Population / male: 35,401
Population / female: 37,399
Nationality / noun: Bermudian(s)
Nationality / adjective: Bermudian
Ethnic groups: African descent 52%, White 31%, mixed 9%, Asian 4%, other 4% (2010 est.)
Languages: English (official), Portuguese
Religions: Protestant 46.2% (includes Anglican 15.8%, African Methodist Episcopal 8.6%, Seventh Day Adventist 6.7%, Pentecostal 3.5%, Methodist 2.7%, Presbyterian 2.0%, Church of God 1.6%, Baptist 1.2%, Salvation Army 1.1%, Brethren 1.0%, other Protestant 2.0%), Roman Catholic 14.5%, Jehovah's Witness 1.3%, other Christian 9.1%, Muslim 1%, other 3.9%, none 17.8%, unspecified 6.2% (2010 est.)
Age structure / 0-14 years: 16.4% (male 6,133/female 5,817)
Age structure / 15-64 years: 60.9% (male 22,247/female 22,113)
Age structure / 65 years and over: 22.7% (2024 est.) (male 7,021/female 9,469)
Dependency ratios / total dependency ratio: 64.1 (2024 est.)
Dependency ratios / youth dependency ratio: 26.9 (2024 est.)
Dependency ratios / elderly dependency ratio: 37.2 (2024 est.)
Dependency ratios / potential support ratio: 2.7 (2024 est.)
Median age / total: 43.9 years (2025 est.)
Median age / male: 41.5 years
Median age / female: 46.3 years
Population growth rate: 0.27% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 10.82 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 9.4 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: 1.31 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution: relatively even population distribution throughout
Urbanization / urban population: 100% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: -0.2% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 10,000 HAMILTON (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: 1.01 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.)
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: 1.8 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth / total population: 82.5 years (2024 est.)
Life expectancy at birth / male: 79.4 years
Life expectancy at birth / female: 85.7 years
Total fertility rate: 1.88 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 0.92 (2025 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: urban: urban: 99.9% 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: total: total: 0.1% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: urban: urban: 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: total: total: 0.1% of population (2022 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49): 49.7% (2016 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% GDP): 1.9% of GDP (2023 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% national budget): 7.8% national budget (2017 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 vehicle emissions; scarce water resources; solid waste disposal; hazardous waste disposal; sewage disposal; overfishing; oil spills
Climate: subtropical; mild, humid; gales, strong winds common in winter
Land use / agricultural land: 5.6% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 5.6% (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: 14.4% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 80% (2023 est.)
Urbanization / urban population: 100% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: -0.2% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / total emissions: 577,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from coal and metallurgical coke: 9 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from petroleum and other liquids: 577,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Waste and recycling / municipal solid waste generated annually: 82,000 tons (2024 est.)
Waste and recycling / percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 2% (2012 est.)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: none
Country name / conventional short form: Bermuda
Country name / former: Somers Islands
Country name / etymology: named after Juan de BERMUDEZ, an early 16th-century Spanish sea captain and the first European explorer of the archipelago
Government type: Overseas Territory of the UK with limited self-government; parliamentary democracy
Dependency status: overseas territory of the UK
Capital / name: Hamilton
Capital / geographic coordinates: 32 17 N, 64 47 W
Capital / time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Capital / daylight saving time: +1hr, begins second Sunday in March; ends first Sunday in November
Capital / etymology: named after Henry HAMILTON, who served as governor of Bermuda from 1788 to 1794
Administrative divisions: 9 parishes and 2 municipalities*; Devonshire, Hamilton, Hamilton*, Paget, Pembroke, Saint George*, Saint George's, Sandys, Smith's, Southampton, Warwick
Legal system: English common law
Constitution / history: several previous (dating to 1684); latest entered into force 8 June 1968 (Bermuda Constitution Order 1968)
Constitution / amendment process: proposal procedure - NA; passage by an Order in Council in the UK
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 UK
Citizenship / dual citizenship recognized: yes
Citizenship / residency requirement for naturalization: 10 years
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch / chief of state: King CHARLES III (since 8 September 2022); represented by Governor Andrew MURDOCH (since 23 January 2025)
Executive branch / head of government: Premier David BURT (since 19 July 2017)
Executive branch / cabinet: Cabinet nominated by the premier, approved by the governor
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 the premier
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: 36 (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: 10/1/2020
Legislative branch - lower chamber / parties elected and seats per party: PLP (30); OBA (6)
Legislative branch - lower chamber / percentage of women in chamber: 20%
Legislative branch - lower chamber / expected date of next election: 2025
Legislative branch - upper chamber / chamber name: Senate
Legislative branch - upper chamber / number of seats: 11 (appointed)
Legislative branch - upper chamber / term in office: 5 years
Legislative branch - upper chamber / most recent election date: 2022
Legislative branch - upper chamber / percentage of women in chamber: 63.6%
Legislative branch - upper chamber / expected date of next election: 2027
Judicial branch / highest court(s): Court of Appeal (consists of the court president and at least 2 justices); Supreme Court (consists of the chief justice, 4 puisne judges, and 1 associate justice); the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (in London) is the court of final appeal
Judicial branch / judge selection and term of office: Court of Appeal justice appointed by the governor; justice tenure by individual appointment; Supreme Court judges nominated by the Judicial and Legal Services Commission and appointed by the governor; judge tenure based on terms of appointment
Judicial branch / subordinate courts: commercial court (began in 2006); magistrates' courts
Political parties: Free Democratic Movement or FDM One Bermuda Alliance or OBA Progressive Labor Party or PLP
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (overseas territory of the UK)
Diplomatic representation from the US / chief of mission: Consul General Antoinette HURTADO (since 27 March 2025)
Diplomatic representation from the US / embassy: US Consulate Bermuda, 16 Middle Road, Devonshire, DV 03, Bermuda
Diplomatic representation from the US / mailing address: 5300 Hamilton Place, Washington, DC 20520-5300
Diplomatic representation from the US / telephone: (441) 295-1342
Diplomatic representation from the US / FAX: (441) 295-1592
Diplomatic representation from the US / email address and website: HamiltonConsulate@state.gov https://bm.usconsulate.gov/
Diplomatic representation from the US / consulate(s) general: 16 Middle Road, Devonshire DV O3
International organization participation: Caricom (associate), ICC (NGOs), Interpol (subbureau), IOC, ITUC (NGOs), UPU, WCO
Independence: none (overseas territory of the UK)
National holiday: Bermuda Day, 24 May
Flag: description: a red field with the UK flag in the upper-left quadrant and the Bermudian coat of arms centered on the right half of the flag; the coat of arms is a white shield with a red lion on a green field, holding a scroll showing the sinking of the ship "Sea Venture" history: the 1609 shipwreck of the "Sea Venture" led to the settling of Bermuda
National symbol(s): red lion
National coat of arms: Bermuda's coat of arms was formally granted by Royal Warrant on 4 October 1910 but has been in use since at least 1624; the red lion is a symbol of Great Britain; the Latin motto under the coat of arms, Quo Fata Ferunt , means "Whither the Fates Carry [Us];" the ship is the Sea Venture , an English ship that was wrecked on then-uninhabited Bermuda in 1609
National anthem(s) / title: "God Save the King"
National anthem(s) / lyrics/music: unknown
National anthem(s) / history: official anthem, as a UK territory
National heritage / total World Heritage Sites: 1 (cultural); note - excerpted from the UK entry
National heritage / selected World Heritage Site locales: Historic Town of St. George and Related Fortifications

## Economy
Economic overview: small, tourism- and construction-based, territorial-island economy; American import and tourist destination; known offshore banking hub; increasing inflation; major re-exportation and re-importation area
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $6.808 billion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $6.667 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $6.355 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: 4.9% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2022: 6.5% (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2024: $105,300 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2023: $103,100 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2022: $98,100 (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $8.98 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: 1.4% (2021 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2020: 0% (2020 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / agriculture: 0.2% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / industry: 4.6% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / services: 91.5% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / household consumption: 45.6% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / government consumption: 11% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in fixed capital: 11.3% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in inventories: 0% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / exports of goods and services: 56.3% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / imports of goods and services: -24.2% (2024 est.)
Agricultural products: bananas, vegetables, citrus, flowers; dairy products, honey
Industries: international business, tourism, light manufacturing
Industrial production growth rate: -3.6% (2023 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2023: 23.7% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2022: 22.3% of GDP (2022 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2021: 22.7% of GDP (2021 est.)
Budget / revenues: $999.2 million (2017 est.)
Budget / expenditures: $1.176 billion (2017 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2023: $1.32 billion (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2022: $1.135 billion (2022 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2021: $962.258 million (2021 est.)
Exports / Exports 2023: $1.599 billion (2023 est.)
Exports / Exports 2022: $1.425 billion (2022 est.)
Exports / Exports 2021: $1.136 billion (2021 est.)
Exports - partners: Germany 40%, South Africa 38%, Netherlands 15%, USA 2%, Angola 2% (2023)
Exports - commodities: crude petroleum, ships, aircraft, liquor, railway cargo containers (2023)
Imports / Imports 2023: $2.3 billion (2023 est.)
Imports / Imports 2022: $2.235 billion (2022 est.)
Imports / Imports 2021: $1.925 billion (2021 est.)
Imports - partners: USA 38%, Cyprus 31%, UK 6%, China 6%, Canada 4% (2023)
Imports - commodities: ships, refined petroleum, railway cargo containers, packaged medicine, cars (2023)
Exchange rates / Currency: Bermudian dollars (BMD) 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: 172,000 kW (2023 est.)
Electricity / consumption: 590.38 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / transmission/distribution losses: 43.172 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / fossil fuels: 99% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / biomass and waste: 1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Coal / consumption: 4 metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / imports: 4 metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum / refined petroleum consumption: 4,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Energy consumption per capita / Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 122.737 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

## Communications
Telephones - fixed lines / total subscriptions: 25,000 (2021 est.)
Telephones - fixed lines / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 39 (2022 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / total subscriptions: 68,164 (2022 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 97 (2024 est.)
Broadcast media: 3 TV stations; cable and satellite TV subscription services are available; roughly 13 radio stations operating
Internet country code: .bm
Internet users / percent of population: 98% (2017 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / total: 23,000 (2022 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 36 (2022 est.)

## Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: VP-B
Airports: 1 (2025)
Merchant marine / total: 122 (2023)
Merchant marine / by type: container ship 15, oil tanker 8, other 99
Ports / total ports: 4 (2024)
Ports / large: 0
Ports / medium: 1
Ports / small: 2
Ports / very small: 0
Ports / size unknown: 1
Ports / ports with oil terminals: 3
Ports / key ports: Freeport, Hamilton, Ireland Island, St. George

## Military and Security
Military and security forces: Royal Bermuda Regiment; Bermuda Police Service (2025)
Military and security service personnel strengths: the Royal Bermuda Regiment has about 350 troops (2025)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the Regiment is equipped with small arms (2025)
Military service age and obligation: men and women who are Commonwealth citizens and 18-45 years of age can volunteer for the Bermuda Regiment; service is for a minimum period of three years and two months from the date of enlistment; after completing their initial service, soldiers in the Regiment can choose to extend their service (2025)
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of the UK; the Royal Bermuda Regiment&rsquo;s responsibilities include maritime security of Bermuda&rsquo;s inshore waters, search and rescue, ceremonial duties, humanitarian/disaster assistance, security of key installations, and assisting the Bermuda Police with maintaining public order; it includes explosive ordnance disposal, diver, maritime, security police, and support units (2025)

## Transnational Issues

=== Canada ===

## Introduction
Background: A land of vast distances and rich natural resources, Canada became a self-governing dominion in 1867, while retaining ties to the British crown. Canada gained legislative independence from Britain in 1931 and formalized its constitutional independence from the UK when it passed the Canada Act in 1982. Economically and technologically, the nation has developed in parallel with the US, its neighbor to the south across the world's longest international border. Canada faces the political challenges of meeting public demands for quality improvements in health care, education, social services, and economic competitiveness, as well as responding to the particular concerns of predominantly francophone Quebec. Canada also aims to develop its diverse energy resources while maintaining its commitment to the environment.

## Geography
Location: Northern North America, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean on the east, North Pacific Ocean on the west, and the Arctic Ocean on the north, north of the conterminous US
Geographic coordinates: 60 00 N, 95 00 W
Map references: North America
Area / total: 9,984,670 sq km
Area / land: 9,093,507 sq km
Area / water: 891,163 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly larger than the US
Land boundaries / total: 8,892 km
Land boundaries / border countries: US 8,891 km (includes 2,475 km with Alaska); Denmark (Greenland) 1.3 km
Coastline: 202,080 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: varies from temperate in south to subarctic and arctic in north
Terrain: mostly plains with mountains in west, lowlands in southeast
Elevation / highest point: Mount Logan 5,959 m
Elevation / lowest point: Atlantic/Pacific/Arctic Oceans 0 m
Elevation / mean elevation: 487 m
Natural resources: bauxite, iron ore, nickel, zinc, copper, gold, lead, uranium, rare earth elements, molybdenum, potash, diamonds, silver, fish, timber, wildlife, coal, petroleum, natural gas, hydropower
Land use / agricultural land: 6.5% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 4.3% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 0% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 2.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 42% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 51.4% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land: 9,045 sq km (2015)
Major lakes (area sq km) / fresh water lake(s): Huron* - 35,972 sq km; Great Bear Lake - 31,328 sq km; Superior* - 28,754 sq km; Great Slave Lake - 28,568 sq km; Lake Winnipeg - 24,387 sq km; Erie* - 12,776 sq km; Ontario* - 9,790 sq km; Lake Athabasca - 7,935 sq km; Reindeer Lake - 6,650 sq km; Nettilling Lake - 5,542 sq km note - Great Lakes* area shown as Canadian waters
Major rivers (by length in km): Mackenzie - 4,241 km; Yukon river source (shared with the US [m]) - 3,185 km; Saint Lawrence river mouth (shared with US) - 3,058 km; Nelson - 2,570 km; Columbia river source (shared with the US [m]) - 1,953 km; Churchill - 1,600 km; Fraser - 1,368 km; Ottawa - 1,271 km; Athabasca - 1,231 km; North Saskatchewan - 1,220 km; Liard - 1,115 km note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Major watersheds (area sq km) / Arctic Ocean drainage: Mackenzie (1,706,388 sq km)
Major watersheds (area sq km) / Atlantic Ocean drainage: Mississippi* (Gulf of America) (3,202,185 sq km, Canada only 32,000 sq km), Nelson (Hudson Bay) (1,093,141 sq km), Saint Lawrence* (1,049,636 sq km, Canada only 839,200 sq km)
Major watersheds (area sq km) / Pacific Ocean drainage: Yukon* (847,620 sq km, Canada only 823,800 sq km), Columbia* (657,501 sq km, Canada only 103,000 sq km)
Major aquifers: Northern Great Plains Aquifer
Population distribution: vast majority of the population lives in a discontinuous band within approximately 300 km (186 mi) of the southern border with the United States; the most populated province is Ontario, followed by Quebec and British Columbia
Natural hazards: continuous permafrost in north is a serious obstacle to development; cyclonic storms form east of the Rocky Mountains, a result of the mixing of air masses from the Arctic, Pacific, and North American interior, and produce most of the country's rain and snow east of the mountains volcanism: the vast majority of volcanoes in Western Canada's Coast Mountains remain dormant
Geography - note: note 1: second-largest country in the world (after Russia) and largest in the Americas; strategic location between Russia and US via north polar route; approximately 90% of the population is concentrated within 160 km (100 mi) of the US border note 2: Canada has more fresh water than any other country, and almost 9% of Canadian territory is water; Canada has at least 2 million and possibly over 3 million lakes, more than all other countries combined

## People and Society
Population / total: 39,187,155 (2025 est.)
Population / male: 19,515,416
Population / female: 19,671,739
Nationality / noun: Canadian(s)
Nationality / adjective: Canadian
Ethnic groups: Canadian 15.6%, English 14.7%, Scottish 12.1%, French 11%, Irish 12.1%, German 8.1%, Chinese 4.7%, Italian 4.3%, First Nations 1.7%, Indian 3.7%, Ukrainian 3.5%, Metis 1.5% (2021 est.)
Languages / Languages: English (official) 87.1%, French (official) 29.1%, Chinese languages 4.2%, Spanish 3.2%, Punjabi 2.6%, Arabic 2.4%, Tagalog 2.3%, Italian 1.5% (2022 est.)
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: Christian 53.3%, Muslim 4.9%, Hindu 2.3%, Sikh 2.1%, Buddhist 1%, Jewish 0.9%, Traditional (North American Indigenous) 0.2%, other religions and traditional spirituality 0.6%, none 34.6% (2021 est.)
Age structure / 0-14 years: 15.5% (male 3,098,478/female 2,929,148)
Age structure / 15-64 years: 63.4% (male 12,382,422/female 12,227,512)
Age structure / 65 years and over: 21% (2024 est.) (male 3,753,829/female 4,403,424)
Dependency ratios / total dependency ratio: 57.7 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / youth dependency ratio: 23.8 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / elderly dependency ratio: 33.9 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / potential support ratio: 2.9 (2025 est.)
Median age / total: 42.8 years (2025 est.)
Median age / male: 41.4 years
Median age / female: 43.8 years
Population growth rate: 0.73% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 9.12 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 7.75 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: 5.91 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution: vast majority of the population lives in a discontinuous band within approximately 300 km (186 mi) of the southern border with the United States; the most populated province is Ontario, followed by Quebec and British Columbia
Urbanization / urban population: 81.9% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 0.95% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 6.372 million Toronto, 4.308 million Montreal, 2.657 million Vancouver, 1.640 million Calgary, 1.544 million Edmonton, 1.437 million OTTAWA (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: 1.01 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 65 years and over: 0.85 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth: 29.4 years (2019 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio: 12 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Infant mortality rate / total: 3.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Infant mortality rate / male: 4.5 deaths/1,000 live births
Infant mortality rate / female: 4 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth / total population: 84.2 years (2024 est.)
Life expectancy at birth / male: 81.9 years
Life expectancy at birth / female: 86.6 years
Total fertility rate: 1.43 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 0.7 (2025 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: urban: urban: 99.3% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: rural: rural: 99.1% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: total: total: 99.2% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: urban: urban: 0.7% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: rural: rural: 0.9% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: total: total: 0.8% of population (2022 est.)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 11.2% of GDP (2022)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 19.5% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density: 2.82 physicians/1,000 population (2023)
Hospital bed density: 2.6 beds/1,000 population (2020 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: urban: urban: 98.6% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: rural: rural: 98.8% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: total: total: 98.6% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: urban: urban: 1.4% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: rural: rural: 1.2% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: total: total: 1.4% of population (2022 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 29.4% (2016)
Alcohol consumption per capita / total: 8 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / beer: 3.5 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / wine: 2 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: 0.4 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Tobacco use / total: 10.1% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / male: 12.3% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / female: 8% (2025 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49): 51.6% (2021 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% GDP): 4.9% of GDP (2022 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% national budget): 10.7% national budget (2022 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 and acid rain from vehicle emissions, coal-burning, and metal smelting severely affecting lakes and forests; seawater pollution from agriculture, industry, mining, and forestry
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, Antarctic-Environmental Protection, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
International environmental agreements / signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Marine Life Conservation
Climate: varies from temperate in south to subarctic and arctic in north
Land use / agricultural land: 6.5% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 4.3% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 0% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 2.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 42% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 51.4% (2023 est.)
Urbanization / urban population: 81.9% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 0.95% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / total emissions: 585.853 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from coal and metallurgical coke: 32.486 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from petroleum and other liquids: 294.196 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from consumed natural gas: 259.171 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Particulate matter emissions: 6.7 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Methane emissions / energy: 2,787.3 kt (2022-2024 est.)
Methane emissions / agriculture: 1,049.8 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Methane emissions / waste: 816.7 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Methane emissions / other: 39.3 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Waste and recycling / municipal solid waste generated annually: 25.103 million tons (2024 est.)
Waste and recycling / percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 23.1% (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / municipal: 4.869 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / industrial: 27.357 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / agricultural: 3.859 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total renewable water resources: 2.902 trillion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Geoparks / total global geoparks and regional networks: 5
Geoparks / global geoparks and regional networks: Perce; Stonehammer; Tumbler Ridge; Cliffs of Fundy; Discovery (2023)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: none
Country name / conventional short form: Canada
Country name / etymology: the name is probably derived from the Huron or Iroquois word kanata , meaning village or camp
Government type: federal parliamentary democracy (Parliament of Canada) under a constitutional monarchy; a Commonwealth realm; federal and state authorities and responsibilities regulated in constitution
Capital / name: Ottawa
Capital / geographic coordinates: 45 25 N, 75 42 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 / time zone note: Canada has six time zones
Capital / etymology: the city lies on the south bank of the Ottawa River, from which it derives its name; the river name comes from the Algonquin word adawe , meaning "to trade"
Administrative divisions: 10 provinces and 3 territories*; Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Northwest Territories*, Nova Scotia, Nunavut*, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Qu&eacute;bec, Saskatchewan, Yukon*
Legal system: common law system except in Quebec, where civil law based on the French civil code prevails
Constitution / history: consists of unwritten and written acts, customs, judicial decisions, and traditions dating from 1763; the written part of the constitution consists of the Constitution Act of 29 March 1867, which created a federation of four provinces, and the Constitution Act of 17 April 1982
Constitution / amendment process: proposed by either house of Parliament or by the provincial legislative assemblies; there are 5 methods for passage though most require approval by both houses of Parliament, approval of at least two thirds of the provincial legislative assemblies and assent and formalization as a proclamation by the governor general in council; the most restrictive method is reserved for amendments affecting fundamental sections of the constitution, such as the office of the monarch or the governor general, and the constitutional amendment procedures, which require unanimous approval by both houses and by all the provincial assemblies, and assent of the governor general in council
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: minimum of 3 of last 5 years resident in Canada
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch / chief of state: King CHARLES III (since 8 September 2022); represented by Governor General Mary SIMON (since 26 July 2021)
Executive branch / head of government: Prime Minister Mark CARNEY (since 14 March 2025)
Executive branch / cabinet: Federal Ministry chosen by the prime minister usually from among members of his/her own party sitting in Parliament
Executive branch / election/appointment process: the monarchy is hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch on the advice of the prime minister for a 5-year term; after legislative elections, the governor general usually designates the leader of the majority party or majority coalition in the House of Commons as prime minister
Legislative branch / legislature name: Parliament of Canada - Parlement du Canada
Legislative branch / legislative structure: bicameral
Legislative branch - lower chamber / chamber name: House of Commons
Legislative branch - lower chamber / number of seats: 343 (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: 4/28/2025
Legislative branch - lower chamber / parties elected and seats per party: Liberal Party (169); Conservative Party (144); Bloc Québécois (BQ) (22); Other (30)
Legislative branch - lower chamber / percentage of women in chamber: 30.3%
Legislative branch - lower chamber / expected date of next election: October 2029
Legislative branch - upper chamber / chamber name: Senate
Legislative branch - upper chamber / number of seats: 105 (all appointed)
Legislative branch - upper chamber / percentage of women in chamber: 54.8%
Judicial branch / highest court(s): Supreme Court of Canada (consists of the chief justice and 8 judges)
Judicial branch / judge selection and term of office: chief justice and judges appointed by the prime minister in council; all judges appointed for life with mandatory retirement at age 75
Judicial branch / subordinate courts: federal level: Federal Court of Appeal; Federal Court; Tax Court; federal administrative tribunals; Courts Martial; provincial/territorial level: provincial superior, appeals, first instance, and specialized courts
Political parties: Bloc Québécois Conservative Party of Canada or CPC Green Party of Canada Liberal Party of Canada New Democratic Party
Diplomatic representation in the US / chief of mission: Ambassador Kirsten HILLMAN (since 17 July 2020)
Diplomatic representation in the US / chancery: 501 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20001
Diplomatic representation in the US / telephone: [1] (844) 880-6519
Diplomatic representation in the US / FAX: [1] (202) 682-7738
Diplomatic representation in the US / email address and website: ccs.scc@international.gc.ca https://www.international.gc.ca/country-pays/us-eu/washington.aspx?lang=eng
Diplomatic representation in the US / consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Detroit, Los Angeles, Miami, Minneapolis, New York, San Francisco, Seattle
Diplomatic representation in the US / trade office(s): Houston, Palo Alto (CA), San Diego; note - there are trade offices in the Consulates General
Diplomatic representation from the US / chief of mission: Ambassador Pete HOEKSTRA (since 29 April 2025)
Diplomatic representation from the US / embassy: 490 Sussex Drive, Ottawa, Ontario K1N 1G8
Diplomatic representation from the US / mailing address: 5480 Ottawa Place, Washington DC 20521-5480
Diplomatic representation from the US / telephone: [1] (613) 688-5335
Diplomatic representation from the US / FAX: [1] (613) 241-7845
Diplomatic representation from the US / email address and website: OttawaNIV@state.gov https://ca.usembassy.gov/
Diplomatic representation from the US / consulate(s) general: Calgary, Halifax, Montreal, Quebec City, Toronto, Vancouver
Diplomatic representation from the US / consulate(s): Winnipeg
International organization participation: ADB (nonregional member), AfDB (nonregional member), APEC, Arctic Council, ARF, ASEAN (dialogue partner), Australia Group, BIS, C, CD, CDB, CE (observer), EAPC, EBRD, EITI (implementing country), 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), MIGA, MINUSTAH, MONUSCO, NAFTA, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS, OECD, OIF, OPCW, OSCE, Pacific Alliance (observer), Paris Club, PCA, PIF (partner), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNMISS, UNOOSA, UNRWA, UNTSO, UPU, USMCA, Wassenaar Arrangement, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
Independence: 1 July 1867 (union of British North American colonies); 11 December 1931 (recognized by UK per Statute of Westminster)
National holiday: Canada Day, 1 July (1867)
Flag: description: two vertical bands of red on each side, with a white square between them; a large 11-pointed red maple leaf is centered in the white square meaning: the maple leaf is a national symbol
National symbol(s): maple leaf, beaver
National color(s): red, white
National coat of arms: The current design of the Royal Coat of Arms of Canada was adopted in 1921 and references the four nations that helped found Canada. England is represented with royal lions, a union flag, and a rose, and Scotland with a royal lion, a unicorn, and a thistle. Ireland’s symbols include a harp and a shamrock, and France’s symbols are a royal fleur-de-lis and a royal flag. The maple leaves are the Canadian national symbol. A red circle displays the motto Desiderantes Meliorem Patriam (Desiring a Better Country), and a blue ribbon displays A Mari usque ad Mare (From Sea to Sea).
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: 22 (10 cultural, 11 natural, 1 mixed) (2021)
National heritage / selected World Heritage Site locales: L'Anse aux Meadows (c); Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks (n); Dinosaur Provincial Park (n); Historic District of Old Quebec (c); Old Town Lunenburg (c); Wood Buffalo National Park (n); Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump (c); Gros Morne National Park (n); Pimachiowin Aki (m)

## Economy
Economic overview: high-income economy and second-largest US trading partner; key timber, oil, and gas industries; trade uncertainties and weak business investments contributing to economic slowdown; high and growing public debt; inflation moderating but remains above target range
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $2.341 trillion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $2.305 trillion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $2.271 trillion (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2024: 1.5% (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2023: 1.5% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2022: 4.2% (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2024: $56,700 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2023: $57,500 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2022: $58,300 (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $2.241 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: 3.9% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 6.8% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / agriculture: 1.6% (2021 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / industry: 25.3% (2021 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / services: 66.4% (2021 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / household consumption: 54.4% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / government consumption: 20.9% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in fixed capital: 22.9% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in inventories: 1% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / exports of goods and services: 33.3% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / imports of goods and services: -33.3% (2023 est.)
Agricultural products: wheat, rapeseed, maize, milk, barley, soybeans, potatoes, peas, oats, pork (2023)
Industries: transportation equipment, chemicals, processed and unprocessed minerals, food products, wood and paper products, fish products, petroleum, natural gas
Industrial production growth rate: 0% (2024 est.)
Labor force: 22.868 million (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2024: 6.5% (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2023: 5.5% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2022: 5.3% (2022 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / total: 13% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / male: 13.8% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / female: 12.1% (2024 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income / Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2020: 29.9 (2020 est.)
Average household expenditures / on food: 9.7% 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%: 3.5% (2020 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / highest 10%: 23.4% (2020 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: $428.312 billion (2023 est.)
Budget / expenditures: $417.421 billion (2023 est.)
Public debt / Public debt 2023: 61.3% of GDP (2023 est.)
Taxes and other revenues: 13.8% (of GDP) (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2024: -$10.349 billion (2024 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2023: -$13.764 billion (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2022: -$6.318 billion (2022 est.)
Exports / Exports 2024: $727.831 billion (2024 est.)
Exports / Exports 2023: $724.754 billion (2023 est.)
Exports / Exports 2022: $743.782 billion (2022 est.)
Exports - partners: USA 71%, China 5%, UK 3%, Japan 2%, Mexico 2% (2023)
Exports - commodities: crude petroleum, cars, gold, natural gas, refined petroleum (2023)
Imports / Imports 2024: $733.778 billion (2024 est.)
Imports / Imports 2023: $723.399 billion (2023 est.)
Imports / Imports 2022: $731.058 billion (2022 est.)
Imports - partners: USA 51%, China 11%, Mexico 6%, Germany 3%, Japan 3% (2023)
Imports - commodities: cars, trucks, vehicle parts/accessories, refined petroleum, crude petroleum (2023)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024: $119.778 billion (2024 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023: $117.551 billion (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $106.952 billion (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Currency: Canadian dollars (CAD) per US dollar -
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2024: 1.369 (2024 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2023: 1.35 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2022: 1.302 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2021: 1.254 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2020: 1.341 (2020 est.)

## Energy
Electricity access / electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)
Electricity / installed generating capacity: 161.988 million kW (2023 est.)
Electricity / consumption: 555.683 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / exports: 49.444 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / imports: 21.77 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / transmission/distribution losses: 31.784 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / fossil fuels: 18.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / nuclear: 13.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / solar: 1.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / wind: 6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / hydroelectricity: 58.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / biomass and waste: 1.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Nuclear energy / Number of operational nuclear reactors: 17 (2025)
Nuclear energy / Net capacity of operational nuclear reactors: 12.71GW (2025 est.)
Nuclear energy / Percent of total electricity production: 13.7% (2023 est.)
Nuclear energy / Number of nuclear reactors permanently shut down: 8 (2025)
Coal / production: 50.687 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / consumption: 20.092 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / exports: 35.447 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / imports: 7.03 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / proven reserves: 6.582 billion metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum / total petroleum production: 5.688 million bbl/day (2023 est.)
Petroleum / refined petroleum consumption: 2.377 million bbl/day (2024 est.)
Petroleum / crude oil estimated reserves: 170.3 billion barrels (2021 est.)
Natural gas / production: 194.105 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / consumption: 131.887 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / exports: 82.537 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / imports: 29.058 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / proven reserves: 2.067 trillion cubic meters (2021 est.)
Energy consumption per capita / Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 311.599 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

## Communications
Telephones - fixed lines / total subscriptions: 11 million (2024 est.)
Telephones - fixed lines / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 28 (2024 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / total subscriptions: 37.4 million (2024 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 94 (2024 est.)
Broadcast media: 2 public TV broadcasting networks, 1 in English and 1 in French, each with a large number of network affiliates; several private commercial networks, also with multiple network affiliates; a total of about 150 TV stations, accessible via multi-channel satellite and cable systems; mix of public and commercial radio, with over 1,000 licensed stations; public broadcaster Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) provides 4 radio networks, Radio Canada International, and radio services to ethnic populations in the north (2016)
Internet country code: .ca
Internet users / percent of population: 94% (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / total: 17 million (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 43 (2023 est.)

## Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: C
Airports: 1,459 (2025)
Heliports: 506 (2025)
Railways / total: 49,422 km (2021) note: 129 km electrified (2021)
Railways / standard gauge: 49,422 km (2021) 1.435-m gauge
Merchant marine / total: 716 (2023)
Merchant marine / by type: bulk carrier 22, container ship 1, general cargo 78, oil tanker 15, other 600
Ports / total ports: 284 (2024)
Ports / large: 4
Ports / medium: 14
Ports / small: 58
Ports / very small: 149
Ports / size unknown: 59
Ports / ports with oil terminals: 59
Ports / key ports: Argentia, Canaport (St. John), Halifax, Hamilton, Montreal, New Westminster, Pond Inlet, Prince Rupert, Quebec, Sept Iles, St. John, Sydney, Thunder Bay, Toronto, Trois Rivieres, Vancouver, Victoria Harbor, Windsor

## Military and Security
Military and security forces: Canadian Forces: Canadian Army, Royal Canadian Navy, Royal Canadian Air Force (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: 1.3% 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 and security service personnel strengths: approximately 75,000 active-duty military personnel (2025)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the CAF's inventory is a mix of domestically produced and imported weapons systems from Australia, Europe, Israel, the UK, and the US; in recent years, the leading supplier has been the US; Canada's defense industry develops, maintains, and produces a range of equipment, including aircraft, combat vehicles, naval vessels, and associated components; it also collaborates with the defense industries of allied countries such as the UK (2025)
Military service age and obligation: 17 years of age for men and women for voluntary military service (with parental consent); 16 years of age for Reserve and Military College applicants; Canadian citizenship or permanent residence status required; service obligation 3-9 years depending on the position (2025)
Military deployments: approximately 2,000 Latvia (NATO); the CAF also has air and naval assets supporting NATO missions (2025)
Military - note: the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) are responsible for external security; the CAF’s core missions include detecting, deterring, and defending against threats to or attacks on Canada; the military also provides assistance to civil authorities and law enforcement as needed for such missions as counterterrorism, search and rescue, and responding to natural disasters or other major emergencies; it regularly participates in bilateral and multinational training exercises with a variety of partners, including NATO (Canada is one of the original members) and the US; the CAF also contributes to international peacekeeping, stability, humanitarian, combat, and capacity building operations, principally through NATO, but also with the UN and other security partners Canada is part of the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD; established 1958); NORAD is a Canada/US bi-national military command responsible for monitoring and defending North American airspace; traditionally, a CAF officer has served as the deputy commander of NORAD; Canada’s defense relationship with the US extends back to the Ogdensburg Declaration of 1940, when the two countries formally agreed on military cooperation, including the establishment of the Permanent Joint Board on Defense (PJBD), which continues to be the highest-level bilateral defense forum between Canada and the US British troops withdrew from Canada in 1871 as part of the US-UK Treaty of Washington; following the withdrawal, the first Canadian militia, known as the Royal Canadian Regiment, was organized in 1883 to protect Canadian territory and defend British interests abroad, which it did in the South African War (1899-1902), Canada’s first overseas conflict; militia units formed the backbone of the more than 425,000 Canadian soldiers that went to Europe during World War I in what was called the Canadian Expeditionary Force; the Royal Canadian Navy was created in 1910, while the Canadian Air Force was established in 1920 and became the Royal Canadian Air Force in 1924; the Canadian Army was officially founded in 1942; a unified Canadian Armed Forces was created in 1968 (2025)

## Space
Space agency/agencies: Canadian Space Agency (CSA; established 1989) (2025)
Space launch site(s): developing commercial space port sites in Nova Scotia and Newfoundland (2025)
Space program overview: has a national space strategy and a long history of developing space-related technologies; designs, builds, operates, and tracks communications, remote sensing (RS), multi-mission, and scientific/testing satellites; has an astronaut program; involved in the development and production of advanced communications systems, lunar rovers, planetary probes, robotics, sensors, and space telescopes; participates in international space programs, including the International Space Station, the Hubble Space Telescope, the Square Kilometer Array radio telescope, and the James Webb Space Telescope; Cooperating State of the ESA since 1979 and participates in a variety of ESA programs, such as the Copernicus Earth observation project; works with numerous foreign space agencies and commercial entities, including those of Argentina, Brazil, individual ESA and EU member states, Japan, India, and particularly the US; has an active commercial space sector (2025)
Key space-program milestones: 1959-1962 - launched first domestically built sounding rocket (Black Brant 1); first domestically designed and built satellite (Alouette) launched by US 1972-1973 - first domestic communications satellites (Anik A-1 and Anik A-2) launched by US, making Canada first country to employ satellites for domestic communications 1970s - began participating in US Space Shuttle (first Canadian in space on Shuttle in 1984) and US Mars probe/exploration programs 1995 - first Canadian-built, radar-capable remote sensing satellite (Radarsat-1) launched by US 2019 - began participating in US/NASA Lunar Gateway orbital station program; launched constellation of remote sensing satellites (RADARSAT Constellation Mission) 2020 - signed the US-led Artemis Accords for space exploration (active participant in planned Moon missions under the Artemis program)

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

## Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons / refugees: 561,551 (2024 est.)
Refugees and internally displaced persons / IDPs: 1,981 (2024 est.)
Refugees and internally displaced persons / stateless persons: 8,166 (2024 est.)
Illicit drugs / USG identification: major precursor-chemical producer (2025)

=== Greenland ===

## Introduction
Background: Greenland, the world's largest island, is about 80% ice capped. The Inuit came to Greenland from North America in a series of migrations that stretched from 2500 BC to the11th century. Vikings reached the island in the 10th century from Iceland; Danish colonization began in the 18th century, and Greenland became part of the Kingdom of Denmark in 1953. It joined the European Community (now the EU) with Denmark in 1973 but withdrew in 1985 over a dispute centered on stringent fishing quotas. Greenland remains a member of the EU's Overseas Countries and Territories Association. The Danish parliament granted Greenland home rule in 1979; the law went into effect the following year. Greenland voted in favor of self-government in 2008 and acquired greater responsibility for internal affairs when the Act on Greenland Self-Government was signed into law in 2009. The Kingdom of Denmark, however, continues to exercise control over several policy areas on behalf of Greenland, including foreign affairs, security, and financial policy, in consultation with Greenland's Self-Rule Government.

## Geography
Location: Northern North America, island between the Arctic Ocean and the North Atlantic Ocean, northeast of Canada
Geographic coordinates: 72 00 N, 40 00 W
Map references: Arctic Region
Area / total: 2,166,086 sq km
Area / land: 2,166,086 sq km (approximately 1,710,000 sq km ice-covered)
Area - comparative: slightly more than three times the size of Texas
Land boundaries / total: 0 km
Coastline: 44,087 km
Maritime claims / territorial sea: 3 nm
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: arctic to subarctic; cool summers, cold winters
Terrain: flat to gradually sloping icecap covers all but a narrow, mountainous, barren, rocky coast
Elevation / highest point: Gunnbjorn Fjeld 3,694 m
Elevation / lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
Elevation / mean elevation: 1,792 m
Natural resources: coal, iron ore, lead, zinc, molybdenum, diamonds, gold, platinum, niobium, tantalite, uranium, fish, seals, whales, hydropower, possible oil and gas
Land use / agricultural land: 0.6% (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: 0.6% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 0% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 99.4% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land: NA
Population distribution: settlement concentrated on the southwest shoreline, with limited settlements scattered along the remaining coast; interior is uninhabited
Natural hazards: continuous permafrost over northern two-thirds of the island
Geography - note: dominates North Atlantic Ocean between North America and Europe; sparse population confined to small settlements along coast; close to one-quarter of the population lives in the capital, Nuuk; world's second largest ice sheet after that of Antarctica, covering an area of 1.71 million sq km (660,000 sq mi), or about 79% of the island, and containing 2.85 million cu km (684 thousand cu mi) of ice (almost 7% of the world's fresh water)

## People and Society
Population / total: 57,751 (2024 est.)
Population / male: 29,843
Population / female: 27,908
Nationality / noun: Greenlander(s)
Nationality / adjective: Greenlandic
Ethnic groups: Greenlandic 88.1%, Danish 7.1%, Filipino 1.6%, other Nordic peoples 0.9%, and other 2.3% (2024 est.)
Languages: Greenlandic, Danish, English
Religions: Evangelical Lutheran, traditional Inuit spiritual beliefs
Age structure / 0-14 years: 20.4% (male 5,964/female 5,798)
Age structure / 15-64 years: 67.1% (male 20,050/female 18,711)
Age structure / 65 years and over: 12.5% (2024 est.) (male 3,829/female 3,399)
Dependency ratios / total dependency ratio: 49 (2024 est.)
Dependency ratios / youth dependency ratio: 30.3 (2024 est.)
Dependency ratios / elderly dependency ratio: 18.6 (2024 est.)
Dependency ratios / potential support ratio: 5.4 (2024 est.)
Median age / total: 35.6 years (2025 est.)
Median age / male: 35.9 years
Median age / female: 34.7 years
Population growth rate: -0.08% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 13.32 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 9.29 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: -4.82 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution: settlement concentrated on the southwest shoreline, with limited settlements scattered along the remaining coast; interior is uninhabited
Urbanization / urban population: 87.9% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 0.41% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 18,000 NUUK (capital) (2018)
Sex ratio / at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 0-14 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 15-64 years: 1.07 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 65 years and over: 1.13 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / total population: 1.07 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Infant mortality rate / total: 8.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Infant mortality rate / male: 9.9 deaths/1,000 live births
Infant mortality rate / female: 6.9 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth / total population: 74.5 years (2024 est.)
Life expectancy at birth / male: 71.8 years
Life expectancy at birth / female: 77.3 years
Total fertility rate: 1.87 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 0.91 (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: 1.87 physicians/1,000 population (2016)
Sanitation facility access / improved: total: total: 62.5% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: urban: urban: 0% of population
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: rural: rural: 0% of population
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: total: total: 37.5% of population (2022 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49): 38.8% (2022 est.)
Education expenditure: 10.2% of GDP (2019 est.)

## Environment
Environmental issues: changes in sea levels and other disruptions in the Arctic environment
Climate: arctic to subarctic; cool summers, cold winters
Land use / agricultural land: 0.6% (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: 0.6% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 0% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 99.4% (2023 est.)
Urbanization / urban population: 87.9% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 0.41% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / total emissions: 527,000 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: 527,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Waste and recycling / municipal solid waste generated annually: 50,000 tons (2024 est.)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: none
Country name / conventional short form: Greenland
Country name / local long form: none
Country name / local short form: Kalaallit Nunaat
Country name / etymology: named by Norse navigator Erik THORVALDSSON (Erik the Red) in A.D. 985 to attract settlers to the island; the original Greenlandic name, Kalaallit Nunaat, means "land of the people"
Government type: parliamentary democracy (Parliament of Greenland or Inatsisartut)
Dependency status: part of the Kingdom of Denmark; self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark since 1979
Capital / name: Nuuk
Capital / geographic coordinates: 64 11 N, 51 45 W
Capital / time difference: UTC-2 (3 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: Greenland has three time zones
Capital / etymology: nuuk is the Inuit word for "cape;" until 1979, the name was Godthab, from the Danish words meaning "good hope"
Administrative divisions: 5 municipalities ( kommuner , singular - kommune ); Avannaata, Kujalleq, Qeqertalik, Qeqqata, Sermersooq
Legal system: Denmark's laws apply in some areas, and Greenland's law for the remainder
Constitution / history: previous 1953 (Greenland established as a constituency in the Danish constitution), 1979 (Greenland Home Rule Act); latest 21 June 2009 (Greenland Self-Government Act)
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 Julie Praest WILCHE (since May 2022) (2024)
Executive branch / head of government: Prime Minister Jens-Frederik NIELSEN (since 28 March 2025)
Executive branch / cabinet: Self-rule Government (Naalakkersuisut) elected by the Parliament (Inatsisartut)
Executive branch / election/appointment process: the monarchy is hereditary; high commissioner appointed by the monarch; premier indirectly elected by Parliament for a 4-year term
Executive branch / election results: 2025: Jens-Frederik NIELSEN (D) elected premier 2021: Mute B. EGEDE elected premier; Parliament vote - Mute B. EGEDE (Inuit Ataqatigiit) unanimous 2014: Kim KIELSEN elected premier; Parliament vote - Kim KIELSEN (S) 27.2%, Sara OLSVIG (IA) 25.5%, Randi Vestergaard EVALDSEN (D) 19.5%, other 27.8%
Legislative branch / legislature name: Parliament (Inatsisartut)
Legislative branch / legislative structure: unicameral
Legislative branch / number of seats: 31 (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: 4/6/2021
Legislative branch / parties elected and seats per party: IA (12); S (10); N (4); D (3); A (2)
Legislative branch / percentage of women in chamber: 35%
Legislative branch / expected date of next election: 2025
Judicial branch / highest court(s): High Court of Greenland (consists of the presiding professional judge and 2 lay assessors)
Judicial branch / judge selection and term of office: judges appointed by the monarch on the recommendation of the Judicial Appointments Council, a 6-member independent body of judges and lawyers; judges appointed for life with retirement at age 70
Judicial branch / subordinate courts: Court of Greenland; 18 district or magistrates' courts
Political parties: Democrats Party (Demokraatit) or D Fellowship Party (Atassut) or A Forward Party (Siumut) or S Inuit Community (Inuit Ataqatigiit) or IA Signpost Party (Naleraq) or N (formerly Partii Naleraq)
Diplomatic representation in the US / chief of mission: Kenneth H&Oslash;EGH, Head of Representation (since 1 August 2021)
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: washington@nanoq.gl All Greenlandic Representations | GrÃ¸nlands ReprÃ¦sentation (grl-rep.dk); https://naalakkersuisut.gl/en/Naalakkersuisut/Groenlands-repraesentation-Washington
Diplomatic representation from the US / chief of mission: Consul Susan A. "Suzi" WILSON (since August 2025)
Diplomatic representation from the US / embassy: Aalisartut Aqqutaa 47 Nuuk 3900 Greenland
Diplomatic representation from the US / telephone: (+299) 384100
Diplomatic representation from the US / email address and website: USConsulateNuuk@state.gov Homepage - U.S. Embassy & Consulate in the Kingdom of Denmark (usembassy.gov)
International organization participation: Arctic Council, ICC, NC, NIB, UPU
Independence: none (extensive self-rule as part of the Kingdom of Denmark)
National holiday: National Day, June 21
Flag: description: two equal horizontal bands of white (top) and red, with a large disk set slightly to the left; the top half of the disk is red, and the bottom is white meaning: the design represents the sun reflecting off a field of ice; the colors are the same as the Danish flag and symbolize Greenland's links to the Kingdom of Denmark
National symbol(s): polar bear
National color(s): red, white
National anthem(s) / title: "Nuna asiilasooq" (The Land of Great Length)
National anthem(s) / lyrics/music: unknown
National anthem(s) / history: adopted 1979, when home rule was granted; the Greenlandic government recognizes this local Kalaallit song as a secondary anthem
National heritage / total World Heritage Sites: 3 (2 cultural, 1 natural); note - excerpted from the Denmark entry
National heritage / selected World Heritage Site locales: Ilulissat Icefjord (n); Kujataa, Norse, and Inuit Farming (c); Aasivissuit–Nipisat, Inuit Hunting Ground (c)

## Economy
Economic overview: high-income, self-governing Danish territorial economy; non-EU member but preferential market access; dependent on Danish financial support; exports led by fishing industry; growing tourism and interest in untapped mineral deposits; relies on hydropower for fuel
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $4.04 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $4.005 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2021: $3.926 billion (2021 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2023: 0.9% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2022: 2% (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2021: 1.6% (2021 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2023: $71,000 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2022: $70,700 (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2021: $69,300 (2021 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $3.327 billion (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 1.2% (2022 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021: 0% (2021 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2020: 2.1% (2020 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / agriculture: 16.6% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / industry: 18.4% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / services: 61% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / household consumption: 32.6% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / government consumption: 41.7% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in fixed capital: 34.7% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in inventories: 1.3% (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: -51.1% (2023 est.)
Agricultural products: sheep, cattle, reindeer, fish, shellfish
Industries: fish processing (mainly shrimp and Greenland halibut), anorthosite and ruby mining, handicrafts, hides and skins, small shipyards
Industrial production growth rate: -1.3% (2023 est.)
Budget / revenues: $1.719 billion (2016 est.)
Budget / expenditures: $1.594 billion (2016 est.)
Exports / Exports 2023: $1.357 billion (2023 est.)
Exports / Exports 2022: $1.286 billion (2022 est.)
Exports / Exports 2021: $1.122 billion (2021 est.)
Exports - partners: Denmark 50%, China 23%, UK 5%, Japan 5%, Germany 3% (2023)
Exports - commodities: fish, shellfish, processed crustaceans, ships, precious stones (2023)
Imports / Imports 2023: $1.7 billion (2023 est.)
Imports / Imports 2022: $1.657 billion (2022 est.)
Imports / Imports 2021: $1.635 billion (2021 est.)
Imports - partners: Denmark 58%, Sweden 19%, Spain 8%, Iceland 7%, Canada 2% (2023)
Imports - commodities: refined petroleum, ships, garments, plastic products, furniture (2023)
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: 190,000 kW (2023 est.)
Electricity / consumption: 534.5 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / transmission/distribution losses: 10 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / fossil fuels: 13.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / solar: 0.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / hydroelectricity: 85.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / biomass and waste: 0.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Coal / imports: 5 metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / proven reserves: 383 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum / refined petroleum consumption: 4,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

## Communications
Telephones - fixed lines / total subscriptions: 6,000 (2020 est.)
Telephones - fixed lines / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 9 (2022 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / total subscriptions: 67,000 (2021 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 118 (2021 est.)
Broadcast media: Greenland Broadcasting Company provides public radio and TV, with a broadcast station and a series of repeaters; a few private local TV and radio stations; Danish public radio rebroadcasts are available (2019)
Internet country code: .gl
Internet users / percent of population: 70% (2017 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / total: 18,000 (2022 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 32 (2022 est.)

## Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: OY-H
Airports: 25 (2025)
Heliports: 54 (2025)
Merchant marine / total: 10 (2023)
Merchant marine / by type: other 10
Ports / total ports: 23 (2024)
Ports / large: 0
Ports / medium: 0
Ports / small: 7
Ports / very small: 10
Ports / size unknown: 6
Ports / ports with oil terminals: 5
Ports / key ports: Aasiaat, Illulissat (Jakobshavn), Kusanartoq, Nuuk, Paamuit (Frederikshab), Qeqertarsuaq, Sisimiut

## Military and Security
Military and security forces: no regular military forces
Military - note: the Danish military’s Joint Arctic Command in Nuuk is responsible for coordinating Denmark's defense of Greenland the US Space Force maintains a base on Greenland’s northwest coast, about 750 miles from the North Pole

## Transnational Issues

=== Clipperton Island ===

## Introduction
Background: This isolated atoll was named for John CLIPPERTON, an English pirate who was rumored to have made it his hideout early in the 18th century. Annexed by France in 1855 and claimed by the US, it was seized by Mexico in 1897. Arbitration eventually awarded the island to France in 1931, which took possession in 1935.

## Geography
Location: Middle America, atoll in the North Pacific Ocean, 1,120 km southwest of Mexico
Geographic coordinates: 10 17 N, 109 13 W
Map references: Political Map of the World
Area / total: 6 sq km
Area / land: 6 sq km
Area / water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative: about 12 times the size of the National Mall in Washington, D.C.
Land boundaries / total: 0 km
Coastline: 11.1 km
Maritime claims / territorial sea: 12 nm
Maritime claims / exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate: tropical; humid, average temperature 20-32 degrees Celsius, wet season (May to October)
Terrain: coral atoll
Elevation / highest point: Rocher Clipperton 29 m
Elevation / lowest point: Pacific 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.)
Natural hazards: subject to tropical storms and hurricanes from May to October
Geography - note: the atoll reef is approximately 12 km (7.5 mi) in circumference

## People and Society
Population / total: uninhabited

## Environment
Environmental issues: no natural resources, guano deposits depleted; stagnant fresh-water lagoon
Climate: tropical; humid, average temperature 20-32 degrees Celsius, wet season (May to October)
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: none
Country name / conventional short form: Clipperton Island
Country name / local long form: none
Country name / local short form: Ile Clipperton
Country name / former: sometimes referred to as Ile de la Passion or Atoll Clipperton
Country name / etymology: named after an 18th-century English pirate who is alleged to have used the island as a base starting in 1705
Dependency status: possession of France; administered directly by the Minister of Overseas France
Legal system: the laws of France apply
Flag: the flag of France is used

## Economy

## Communications

## Transportation

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

## Transnational Issues

=== Mexico ===

## Introduction
Background: Mexico was the site of several advanced Amerindian civilizations -- including the Olmec, Toltec, Teotihuacan, Zapotec, Maya, and Aztec -- until Spain conquered and colonized the area in the early 16th century. Administered as the Viceroyalty of New Spain for three centuries, it achieved independence early in the 19th century. Elections held in 2000 marked the first time since Mexican Revolution in 1910 that an opposition candidate -- Vicente FOX of the National Action Party (PAN) -- defeated the party in government, the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI). He was succeeded in 2006 by another PAN candidate Felipe CALDERON, but Enrique PEÑA NIETO regained the presidency for the PRI in 2012. Left-leaning anti-establishment politician and former mayor of Mexico City (2000-05) Andrés Manuel LÓPEZ OBRADOR, from the National Regeneration Movement (MORENA), became president in 2018. The US-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA, or T-MEC by its Spanish acronym) entered into force in 2020 and replaced its predecessor, the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). Mexico amended its constitution in 2019 to facilitate the implementation of the labor components of USMCA. Mexico is currently the US's second-largest goods trading partner, after Canada. Ongoing economic and social concerns include low real wages, high underemployment, inequitable income distribution, and few advancement opportunities, particularly for the largely indigenous population in the impoverished southern states. Since 2007, Mexico's powerful transnational criminal organizations have engaged in a struggle to control criminal markets, resulting in tens of thousands of drug-related homicides and forced disappearances.

## Geography
Location: North America, bordering the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of America, between Belize and the United States and bordering the North Pacific Ocean, between Guatemala and the United States
Geographic coordinates: 23 00 N, 102 00 W
Map references: North America
Area / total: 1,964,375 sq km
Area / land: 1,943,945 sq km
Area / water: 20,430 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly less than three times the size of Texas
Land boundaries / total: 4,389 km
Land boundaries / border countries: Belize 276 km; Guatemala 958 km; US 3,155 km
Coastline: 9,330 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: varies from tropical to desert
Terrain: high, rugged mountains; low coastal plains; high plateaus; desert
Elevation / highest point: Volcan Pico de Orizaba 5,636 m
Elevation / lowest point: Laguna Salada -10 m
Elevation / mean elevation: 1,111 m
Natural resources: petroleum, silver, antimony, copper, gold, lead, zinc, natural gas, timber
Land use / agricultural land: 50.7% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 10.3% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 2.3% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 38.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 34.2% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 15.1% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land: 59,910 sq km (2022)
Major lakes (area sq km) / fresh water lake(s): Laguna de Chapala - 1,140 sq km
Major lakes (area sq km) / salt water lake(s): Laguna de Terminos - 1,550 sq km
Major rivers (by length in km): Rio Grande river mouth (shared with US [s]) - 3,057 km; Colorado river mouth (shared with US [s]) - 2,333 km note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Major watersheds (area sq km) / Atlantic Ocean drainage: (Gulf of America) Rio Grande/Bravo (607,965 sq km)
Major watersheds (area sq km) / Pacific Ocean drainage: (Gulf of California) Colorado (703,148 sq km)
Major aquifers: Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plains Aquifer
Population distribution: most of the population is found in the middle of the country between the states of Jalisco and Veracruz; approximately a quarter of the population lives in and around Mexico City
Natural hazards: tsunamis along the Pacific coast; volcanoes and destructive earthquakes in the center and south; hurricanes on the Pacific, Gulf of America, and Caribbean coasts volcanism: volcanic activity in the central-southern part of the country; the volcanoes in Baja California are mostly dormant; Colima (3,850 m) is Mexico's most active volcano and is responsible for periodic evacuations of nearby villagers; it 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; Popocatepetl (5,426 m) poses a threat to Mexico City; other historically active volcanoes include Barcena, Ceboruco, El Chichon, Michoacan-Guanajuato, Pico de Orizaba, San Martin, Socorro, and Tacana; see note 2 under "Geography - note"
Geography - note: note 1: strategic location on southern border of the US; Mexico 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 2: the Sac Actun cave system at 348 km (216 mi) is the longest underwater cave in the world and the second longest cave worldwide, after Mammoth Cave in the United States (see "Geography - note" under United States) note 3: the prominent Yucatán Peninsula that divides the Gulf of America from the Caribbean Sea is shared by Mexico, Guatemala, and Belize; on the northern coast of Yucatan near the town of Chicxulub lie the remnants of a massive asteroid or comet crater about 150 km (93 mi) in diameter and extending into the Gulf of America; the impact is believed to have initiated a worldwide climate disruption that caused a mass extinction of 75% of the earth's plant and animal species, including the non-avian dinosaurs

## People and Society
Population / total: 130,739,927 (2024 est.)
Population / male: 63,899,138
Population / female: 66,840,789
Nationality / noun: Mexican(s)
Nationality / adjective: Mexican
Ethnic groups: Mestizo (Indigenous-Spanish) 62%, predominantly Indigenous 21%, Indigenous 7%, other 10% (mostly European) (2012 est.)
Languages / Languages: Spanish only 93.8%, Spanish and indigenous languages (including Mayan, Nahuatl, and others) 5.4%, indigenous only 0.6%, unspecified 0.2% (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: Catholic 77.7%, no religion 10.6%, other Evangelical Churches 7.5%, Jehovah Witness 1.2%; less than 1 percent: Pentecostal, Seventh Day Adventist, Historics, not specified, Latter Day Saints, other religions (2020 est.)
Age structure / 0-14 years: 23.3% (male 15,647,805/female 14,754,004)
Age structure / 15-64 years: 68.6% (male 43,651,105/female 45,983,174)
Age structure / 65 years and over: 8.2% (2024 est.) (male 4,600,228/female 6,103,611)
Dependency ratios / total dependency ratio: 45.9 (2024 est.)
Dependency ratios / youth dependency ratio: 33.9 (2024 est.)
Dependency ratios / elderly dependency ratio: 11.9 (2024 est.)
Dependency ratios / potential support ratio: 8.4 (2024 est.)
Median age / total: 31 years (2025 est.)
Median age / male: 28.8 years
Median age / female: 32.7 years
Population growth rate: 0.81% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 14.73 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 6.04 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: -0.59 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution: most of the population is found in the middle of the country between the states of Jalisco and Veracruz; approximately a quarter of the population lives in and around Mexico City
Urbanization / urban population: 81.6% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 1.4% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 22.281 million MEXICO CITY (capital), 5.420 million Guadalajara, 5.117 million Monterrey, 3.345 million Puebla, 2.626 million Toluca de Lerdo, 2.260 million Tijuana (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: 0.95 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 65 years and over: 0.75 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth: 21.3 years (2008 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio: 42 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Infant mortality rate / total: 12.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Infant mortality rate / male: 13.4 deaths/1,000 live births
Infant mortality rate / female: 10.9 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth / total population: 74.6 years (2024 est.)
Life expectancy at birth / male: 71.6 years
Life expectancy at birth / female: 77.7 years
Total fertility rate: 1.85 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: 98.4% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: total: total: 99.7% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: urban: urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: rural: rural: 1.6% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: total: total: 0.3% of population (2022 est.)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 6.1% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 10.4% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density: 2.59 physicians/1,000 population (2022)
Hospital bed density: 1 beds/1,000 population (2021 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: urban: urban: 100% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: rural: rural: 98.2% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: total: total: 99.7% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: urban: urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: rural: rural: 1.8% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: total: total: 0.3% of population (2022 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 28.9% (2016)
Alcohol consumption per capita / total: 4.25 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / beer: 3.72 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / wine: 0.19 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / spirits: 0.19 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / other alcohols: 0.15 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Tobacco use / total: 13.8% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / male: 21.8% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / female: 6.3% (2025 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 4.2% (2022 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49): 53% (2023 est.)
Child marriage / women married by age 15: 3.6% (2018)
Child marriage / women married by age 18: 20.7% (2018)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% GDP): 4.1% of GDP (2022 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% national budget): 14.2% national budget (2022 est.)
Literacy / total population: 95% (2020 est.)
Literacy / male: 96% (2020 est.)
Literacy / female: 94% (2020 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / total: 15 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: scarcity of hazardous waste disposal facilities; natural freshwater resources scarce and polluted in north, inaccessible and poor quality in center and extreme southeast; urban river pollution from raw sewage and industrial effluents; deforestation; widespread erosion; desertification; serious air and water pollution in urban areas; land subsidence in Valley of Mexico caused by groundwater 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 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: varies from tropical to desert
Land use / agricultural land: 50.7% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 10.3% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 2.3% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 38.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 34.2% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 15.1% (2023 est.)
Urbanization / urban population: 81.6% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 1.4% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / total emissions: 441.049 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from coal and metallurgical coke: 32.087 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from petroleum and other liquids: 228.279 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from consumed natural gas: 180.684 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Particulate matter emissions: 17.8 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Methane emissions / energy: 1,389 kt (2022-2024 est.)
Methane emissions / agriculture: 2,372.1 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Methane emissions / waste: 1,832.6 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Methane emissions / other: 49.8 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Waste and recycling / municipal solid waste generated annually: 53.1 million tons (2024 est.)
Waste and recycling / percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 9.6% (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / municipal: 13.33 billion cubic meters (2022)
Total water withdrawal / industrial: 7.953 billion cubic meters (2022)
Total water withdrawal / agricultural: 68.523 billion cubic meters (2022)
Total renewable water resources: 461.888 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Geoparks / total global geoparks and regional networks: 2
Geoparks / global geoparks and regional networks: Comarca Minera, Hidalgo; Mixteca Alta, Oaxaca (2023)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: United Mexican States
Country name / conventional short form: Mexico
Country name / local long form: Estados Unidos Mexicanos
Country name / local short form: Mexico
Country name / former: Mexican Republic, Mexican Empire
Country name / etymology: name may derive from one of the Nahuatl (Aztec) names for the capital city, Metztlixihtlico, which probably meant "the center of the moon;" alternatively, it may come from Mexica, the original name of the Aztec people
Government type: federal presidential republic
Capital / name: Mexico City (Ciudad de Mexico)
Capital / geographic coordinates: 19 26 N, 99 08 W
Capital / time difference: UTC-6 (1 hour behind Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Capital / daylight saving time: DST was permanently removed in October 2022
Capital / time zone note: Mexico has four time zones
Capital / etymology: name may derive from one of the Nahuatl (Aztec) names for the capital city, Metztlixihtlico, which probably meant "the center of the moon;" alternatively, it may come from Mexica, the original name of the Aztec people
Administrative divisions: 32 states ( estados , singular - estado ); Aguascalientes, Baja California, Baja California Sur, Campeche, Chiapas, Chihuahua, Coahuila, Colima, Cuidad de Mexico, Durango, Guanajuato, Guerrero, Hidalgo, Jalisco, Mexico, Michoacán, Morelos, Nayarit, Nuevo Leon, Oaxaca, Puebla, Queretaro, Quintana Roo, San Luis Potosi, Sinaloa, Sonora, Tabasco, Tamaulipas, Tlaxcala, Veracruz, Yucatan, Zacatecas
Legal system: civil law system with US constitutional law influence; judicial review of legislative acts
Constitution / history: several previous; latest approved 5 February 1917
Constitution / amendment process: proposed by the Congress of the Union; passage requires approval by at least two thirds of the members present and approval by a majority of the state legislatures
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: not specified
Citizenship / residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Executive branch / chief of state: President Claudia SHEINBAUM Pardo (since 1 October 2024)
Executive branch / head of government: President Claudia SHEINBAUM Pardo (since 1 October 2024)
Executive branch / cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president
Executive branch / election/appointment process: president directly elected by simple-majority popular vote for a single 6-year term
Executive branch / most recent election date: 2 June 2024
Executive branch / election results: 2024: Claudia SHEINBAUM Pardo elected president; percent of vote - Claudia SHEINBAUM Pardo (MORENA) 59.4%, Xóchitl GÁLVEZ Ruiz (PAN) 27.9%, Jorge Álvarez MÁYNEZ (MC) 10.4%, other 2.3% 2018: Andrés Manuel LÓPEZ OBRADOR elected president; percent of vote - Andrés Manuel LÓPEZ OBRADOR (MORENA) 53.2%, Ricardo ANAYA Cortés (PAN) 22.3%, José Antonio MEADE Kuribreña (PRI) 16.4%, Jaime RODRÍGUEZ Calderón (independent) 5.2%, other 2.9% 2012: Enrique PEÑA NIETO elected president; percent of vote - Enrique PEÑA NIETO (PRI) 38.2%, Andrés Manuel LÓPEZ OBRADOR (PRD) 31.6%, Josefina Eugenia VÁZQUEZ Mota (PAN) 25.4%, other 4.8%
Executive branch / expected date of next election: 2030
Legislative branch / legislature name: Congress of the Union (Congreso de la Unión)
Legislative branch / legislative structure: bicameral
Legislative branch - lower chamber / chamber name: Chamber of Deputies (Cámara de Diputados)
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: 3 years
Legislative branch - lower chamber / most recent election date: 6/2/2024
Legislative branch - lower chamber / parties elected and seats per party: National Regeneration Movement (MORENA) (236); Ecologist Green Party of Mexico (PVEM) (77); National Action Party (PAN) (72); Labour Party (PT) (51); Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) (35); Citizens' Movement (MC) (27); Other (2)
Legislative branch - lower chamber / percentage of women in chamber: 50.2%
Legislative branch - lower chamber / expected date of next election: June 2027
Legislative branch - upper chamber / chamber name: Senate (Cámara de Senadores)
Legislative branch - upper chamber / number of seats: 128 (all directly elected)
Legislative branch - upper chamber / electoral system: mixed system
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: 6/2/2024
Legislative branch - upper chamber / parties elected and seats per party: National Regeneration Movement (MORENA) (60); National Action Party (PAN) (22); Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) (16); Ecologist Green Party of Mexico (PVEM) (14); Labour Party (PT) (9); Other (7)
Legislative branch - upper chamber / percentage of women in chamber: 50%
Legislative branch - upper chamber / expected date of next election: June 2030
Judicial branch / highest court(s): Supreme Court of Justice or Suprema Corte de Justicia de la Naci&oacute;n (consists of the chief justice and 11 justices and organized into civil, criminal, administrative, and labor panels) and the Electoral Tribunal of the Federal Judiciary (organized into the superior court, with 7 judges including the court president, and 5 regional courts, each with 3 judges)
Judicial branch / judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court justices nominated by the president of the republic and approved by two-thirds vote of the members present in the Senate; justices serve 15-year terms; Electoral Tribunal superior and regional court judges nominated by the Supreme Court and elected by two-thirds vote of members present in the Senate; superior court president elected from among its members to hold office for a 4-year term; other judges of the superior and regional courts serve staggered, 9-year terms
Judicial branch / subordinate courts: federal level includes circuit, collegiate, and unitary courts; state and district level courts
Political parties: Citizen's Movement (Movimiento Ciudadano) or MC Institutional Revolutionary Party (Partido Revolucionario Institucional) or PRI Labor Party (Partido del Trabajo) or PT Mexican Green Ecological Party (Partido Verde Ecologista de México) or PVEM Movement for National Regeneration (Movimiento Regeneración Nacional) or MORENA National Action Party (Partido Acción Nacional) or PAN Party of the Democratic Revolution (Partido de la Revolución Democrática) or PRD
Diplomatic representation in the US / chief of mission: Ambassador Esteban MOCTEZUMA Barrag&aacute;n (since 20 April 2021)
Diplomatic representation in the US / chancery: 1911 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20006
Diplomatic representation in the US / telephone: [1] (202) 728-1600
Diplomatic representation in the US / FAX: [1] (202) 728-1698
Diplomatic representation in the US / email address and website: mexembusa@sre.gob.mx https://embamex.sre.gob.mx/eua/index.php/en/
Diplomatic representation in the US / consulate(s) general: Atlanta (GA), Austin (TX), Boston (MA), Chicago (IL), Dallas (TX), Denver (GA), El Paso (TX), Houston (TX), Laredo (TX), Miami (FL), New York (NY), Nogales (AZ), Phoenix (AZ), Raleigh (NC), Sacramento (CA), San Antonio (TX), San Diego (CA), San Francisco (CA), San Jose (CA), San Juan (Puerto Rico)
Diplomatic representation in the US / consulate(s): Albuquerque (NM), Boise (ID), Brownsville (TX), Calexico (CA), Del Rio (TX), Detroit (MI), Douglas (AZ), Eagle Pass (TX), Fresno (CA), Indianapolis (IN), Kansas City (MO), Las Vegas (NV), Little Rock (AR), Los Angeles (CA), McAllen (TX), Milwaukee (WI), New Orleans (LA), Oklahoma City (OK), Omaha (NE), Orlando (FL), Oxnard (CA), Philadelphia (PA), Portland (OR), Presidio (TX), Salt Lake City (UT), San Bernardino (CA), Santa Ana (CA), Seattle (WA), St. Paul (MN), Tucson (AZ), Yuma (AZ)
Diplomatic representation from the US / chief of mission: Ambassador Ronald D. JOHNSON (since 19 May 2025)
Diplomatic representation from the US / embassy: Paseo de la Reforma 305, Colonia Cuauht&eacute;moc, 06500 Mexico, CDMX
Diplomatic representation from the US / mailing address: 8700 Mexico City Place, Washington DC 20521-8700
Diplomatic representation from the US / telephone: (011) [52]-55-5080-2000
Diplomatic representation from the US / FAX: (011) 52-55-5080-2005
Diplomatic representation from the US / email address and website: ACSMexicoCity@state.gov https://mx.usembassy.gov/
Diplomatic representation from the US / consulate(s) general: Ciudad Ju&aacute;rez, Guadalajara, Hermosillo, Matamoros, M&eacute;rida, Monterrey, Nogales, Nuevo Laredo, Tijuana
International organization participation: ACS, APEC, Australia Group, BCIE, BIS, CABEI, CAN (observer), Caricom (observer), CD, CDB, CE (observer), CELAC, CSN (observer), EBRD, FAO, FATF, G-3, G-15, G-20, G-24, G-5, 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), LAES, LAIA, MIGA, NAFTA, NAM (observer), NEA, NSG, OAS, OECD, OPANAL, OPCW, Pacific Alliance, Paris Club (associate), PCA, SICA (observer), UN, UNASUR (observer), UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, Union Latina (observer), UNOOSA, UNWTO, UPU, USMCA, Wassenaar Arrangement, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Independence: 16 September 1810 (declared independence from Spain); 27 September 1821 (recognized by Spain)
National holiday: Independence Day, 16 September (1810)
Flag: description: three equal vertical bands of green (left side), white, and red; Mexico's coat of arms (an eagle with a snake in its beak, perched on a cactus) is centered in the white band meaning: green stands for hope, joy, and love; white for peace and honesty; red for hardiness, bravery, strength, and valor
National symbol(s): golden eagle, dahlia
National color(s): green, white, red
National coat of arms: Adopted in 1968, Mexico’s coat of arms is also used as the Seal of the United Mexican States. The Mexican Golden Eagle, a national symbol, is perched on a prickly pear cactus and eats a snake. Beneath the eagle, oak and laurel leaves are joined by a ribbon in the national colors. The image symbolizes the triumph of good over evil.
National anthem(s) / title: "Himno Nacional Mexicano" (National Anthem of Mexico)
National anthem(s) / lyrics/music: Francisco Gonzalez BOCANEGRA/Jaime Nuno ROCA
National anthem(s) / history: adopted 1943
National heritage / total World Heritage Sites: 36 (28 cultural, 6 natural, 2 mixed)
National heritage / selected World Heritage Site locales: Historic Mexico City (c); Earliest 16th-Century Monasteries on the Slopes of Popocatepetl (c); Teotihuacan (c); Whale Sanctuary of El Vizcaino (n); Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve (n); Tehuacán-Cuicatlán Valley (m); Historic Puebla (c); El Tajin (c); Historic Tlacotalpan (c); Historic Oaxaca and Monte Albán (c); Palenque (c); Chichen-Itza (c); Uxmal (c); Wixárika Route through Sacred Sites to Wirikuta (Tatehuarí Huajuyé) (c)

## Economy
Economic overview: upper-middle-income economy; highly integrated with US via trade and nearshore manufacturing; weak domestic demand, fiscal consolidation, and trade uncertainty contributing to sluggish growth; low unemployment; challenges from income inequality, corruption, and cartel-based violence
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $2.883 trillion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $2.842 trillion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $2.751 trillion (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2024: 1.5% (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2023: 3.3% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2022: 3.7% (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2024: $22,000 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2023: $21,900 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2022: $21,400 (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $1.853 trillion (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024: 4.7% (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023: 5.5% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 7.9% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / agriculture: 3.8% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / industry: 31.6% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / services: 58.2% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / household consumption: 70.3% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / government consumption: 11.2% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in fixed capital: 24.2% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in inventories: 0% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / exports of goods and services: 36.8% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / imports of goods and services: -37.9% (2024 est.)
Agricultural products: sugarcane, maize, milk, oranges, sorghum, tomatoes, chicken, chillies/peppers, wheat, lemons/limes (2023)
Industries: food and beverages, tobacco, chemicals, iron and steel, petroleum, mining, textiles, clothing, motor vehicles, consumer durables, tourism
Industrial production growth rate: 0.2% (2024 est.)
Labor force: 60.959 million (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2024: 2.8% (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2023: 2.8% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2022: 3.3% (2022 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / total: 5.5% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / male: 5.2% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / female: 6.1% (2024 est.)
Population below poverty line: 36.3% (2022 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income / Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2022: 43.5 (2022 est.)
Average household expenditures / on food: 25.7% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Average household expenditures / on alcohol and tobacco: 2.3% 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%: 34.4% (2022 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2024: 3.7% of GDP (2024 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2023: 3.7% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2022: 4.2% of GDP (2022 est.)
Budget / revenues: $342.571 billion (2023 est.)
Budget / expenditures: $417.843 billion (2023 est.)
Public debt / Public debt 2023: 45.1% of GDP (2023 est.)
Taxes and other revenues: 14.2% (of GDP) (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2024: -$5.986 billion (2024 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2023: -$5.611 billion (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2022: -$17.701 billion (2022 est.)
Exports / Exports 2024: $680.798 billion (2024 est.)
Exports / Exports 2023: $649.729 billion (2023 est.)
Exports / Exports 2022: $630.347 billion (2022 est.)
Exports - partners: USA 76%, Canada 5%, China 2%, Germany 2%, Spain 1% (2023)
Exports - commodities: cars, vehicle parts/accessories, crude petroleum, trucks, computers (2023)
Imports / Imports 2024: $697.067 billion (2024 est.)
Imports / Imports 2023: $674.695 billion (2023 est.)
Imports / Imports 2022: $672.914 billion (2022 est.)
Imports - partners: USA 46%, China 20%, Germany 4%, Japan 3%, S. Korea 3% (2023)
Imports - commodities: vehicle parts/accessories, refined petroleum, integrated circuits, broadcasting equipment, cars (2023)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024: $232.035 billion (2024 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023: $214.317 billion (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $201.119 billion (2022 est.)
Debt - external / Debt - external 2023: $306.308 billion (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Currency: Mexican pesos (MXN) per US dollar -
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2024: 18.305 (2024 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2023: 17.759 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2022: 20.127 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2021: 20.272 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2020: 21.486 (2020 est.)

## Energy
Electricity access / electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)
Electricity access / electrification - urban areas: 99.8%
Electricity access / electrification - rural areas: 100%
Electricity / installed generating capacity: 105.586 million kW (2023 est.)
Electricity / consumption: 332.042 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / exports: 1.97 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / imports: 4.863 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / transmission/distribution losses: 45.47 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / fossil fuels: 79.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / nuclear: 3.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / solar: 4.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / wind: 5.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / hydroelectricity: 5.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / geothermal: 1.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / biomass and waste: 1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Nuclear energy / Number of operational nuclear reactors: 2 (2025)
Nuclear energy / Net capacity of operational nuclear reactors: 1.55GW (2025 est.)
Nuclear energy / Percent of total electricity production: 4.9% (2023 est.)
Coal / production: 6.296 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / consumption: 15.132 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / exports: 4,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / imports: 8.809 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / proven reserves: 1.16 billion metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum / total petroleum production: 2.101 million bbl/day (2023 est.)
Petroleum / refined petroleum consumption: 1.741 million bbl/day (2024 est.)
Petroleum / crude oil estimated reserves: 5.786 billion barrels (2021 est.)
Natural gas / production: 33.118 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / consumption: 97.118 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / exports: 27.92 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / imports: 64.289 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / proven reserves: 180.322 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)
Energy consumption per capita / Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 57.539 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

## Communications
Telephones - fixed lines / total subscriptions: 25.637 million (2023 est.)
Telephones - fixed lines / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 20 (2023 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / total subscriptions: 140 million (2023 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 100 (2022 est.)
Broadcast media: telecom reform in 2013 ended a quasi-monopoly; now 885 TV stations and 1,841 radio stations, most privately owned; foreign satellite and cable operators are available; completed transition to digital in 2016 (2022)
Internet country code: .mx
Internet users / percent of population: 81% (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / total: 26.6 million (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 21 (2023 est.)

## Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: XA
Airports: 1,580 (2025)
Heliports: 488 (2025)
Railways / total: 23,389 km (2017)
Railways / standard gauge: 23,389 km (2017) 1.435-m gauge (27 km electrified)
Merchant marine / total: 674 (2023)
Merchant marine / by type: bulk carrier 4, general cargo 11, oil tanker 32, other 627
Ports / total ports: 35 (2024)
Ports / large: 0
Ports / medium: 7
Ports / small: 10
Ports / very small: 14
Ports / size unknown: 4
Ports / ports with oil terminals: 21
Ports / key ports: Acapulco, Ensenada, Manzanillo, Mazatlan, Tampico, Tuxpan, Veracruz

## Military and Security
Military and security forces: the Mexican Armed Forces (Fuerzas Armadas de México) are divided between the Secretariat of National Defense and the Secretariat of the Navy: Secretariat of National Defense (Secretaria de Defensa Nacional, SEDENA): Army (Ejercito), Mexican Air Force (Fuerza Aerea Mexicana, FAM), National Guard (Guardia Nacional); Secretariat of the Navy (Secretaria de Marina, SEMAR): Mexican Navy (Armada de Mexico (ARM), includes Naval Air Force (FAN), Mexican Naval Infantry Corps (Cuerpo de Infanteria de Marina, Mexmar or CIM)) Secretariat of Security and Civilian Protection/SEDENA: National Guard (2025)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2024: 0.9% 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: 0.6% of GDP (2020 est.)
Military and security service personnel strengths: information varies; approximately 260,000 active-duty Armed Forces; approximately 110,000 National Guard personnel (2025)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the Mexican military inventory includes a mix of domestically produced and imported armaments from a variety of mostly Western suppliers, particularly the US; Mexico's defense industry produces light armored vehicles and some naval vessels, as well as small arms and other miscellaneous equipment (2025)
Military service age and obligation: 18 years of age (16 with parental consent) for voluntary service for men and women; men at age 18 subject to lottery-based 12-month compulsory military service (2025)
Military - note: the Mexican military is responsible for defending the independence, integrity, and sovereignty of Mexico, as well as providing for internal security, disaster response, humanitarian assistance, and socio-economic development; internal security duties are a key focus, particularly combating narcotics trafficking and organized crime groups, as well as border control and immigration enforcement; the constitution was amended in 2019 to grant the president the authority to use the armed forces to protect internal and national security, and courts have upheld the legality of the armed forces&rsquo; role in law enforcement activities in support of civilian authorities through 2028; the military also provides security for strategic facilities, such as oil production infrastructure, and administers most of the country's land and sea ports and customs services, plus a state-owned development bank; in addition, President L&Oacute;PEZ OBRADOR placed the military in charge of a growing number of infrastructure projects, such as building and operating a new airport for Mexico City and sections of a train line in the country&rsquo;s southeast (2025)

## Space
Space agency/agencies: Mexican Space Agency (Agencia Espacial Mexicana or AEM; established 2010 and began operating in 2013) (2025)
Space program overview: has a national space policy with a focus on expanding Mexico's commercial space sector, including acquiring satellites and developing specialists, technologies, and infrastructure; manufactures and operates communications and scientific satellites; conducts research on a range of space-related capabilities and technologies, including astronomy, astrophysics, Earth and weather sciences, remote sensing, robotics, satellite payloads, and telecommunications; works with a variety of foreign space agencies and commercial space industries, including those of Argentina, Brazil, Chile, the ESA, individual ESA member states (particularly France, Germany, and the UK), India, Japan, Peru, Russia, Ukraine, and the US; led effort to establish the Latin American and Caribbean Space Agency and hosts its headquarters (2025)
Key space-program milestones: 1962-1977 - sounding rocket program 1985 - first Mexican in space on US Space Shuttle; first communications satellite (Morelos-1) built by US and released from the US Space Shuttle 2015 - first successful launch of MEXSAT series of communications satellites by the US 2021 - signed US-led Artemis Accords for space and lunar exploration 2024 - contributed five autonomous micro-robots (Colmena project) on failed US commercial Moon lander mission

## Terrorism
Terrorist group(s): Gulf Cartel (CDG); Jalisco Cartel New Generation (CJNG); La Mara Salvatruche (MS-13); Northeast Cartel (CDN); The New Family Michoacana (LNFM); Sinaloa Cartel; United Cartels (CU)

## Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons / refugees: 417,546 (2024 est.)
Refugees and internally displaced persons / IDPs: 390,250 (2024 est.)
Refugees and internally displaced persons / stateless persons: 13 (2024 est.)
Illicit drugs / USG identification: major illicit drug-producing and/or drug-transit country major precursor-chemical producer (2025)

=== Saint Pierre and Miquelon ===

## Introduction
Background: First settled by the French in the early 17th century, Saint Pierre and Miquelon are the sole remaining vestige of France's once vast North American possessions. They attained the status of an overseas collectivity in 2003.

## Geography
Location: Northern North America, islands in the North Atlantic Ocean, south of Newfoundland (Canada)
Geographic coordinates: 46 50 N, 56 20 W
Map references: North America
Area / total: 242 sq km
Area / land: 242 sq km
Area / water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative: 1.5 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
Climate: cold and wet, with considerable mist and fog; spring and autumn are often windy
Terrain: mostly barren rock
Elevation / highest point: Morne de la Grande Montagne 240 m
Elevation / lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
Natural resources: fish, deepwater ports
Land use / agricultural land: 8.7% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 8.7% (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: 5% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 86.3% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land: 0 sq km (2022)
Population distribution: most of the population is found on Saint Pierre Island; a small settlement is located on the north end of Miquelon Island
Natural hazards: persistent fog throughout the year can be a maritime hazard
Geography - note: vegetation scanty; the islands are part of the northern Appalachians, along with Newfoundland

## People and Society
Population / total: 5,070 (2025 est.)
Population / male: 2,442
Population / female: 2,628
Nationality / noun: Frenchman(men), Frenchwoman(women)
Nationality / adjective: French
Ethnic groups: Basques and Bretons (French fishermen)
Languages / Languages: French (official)
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 99%, other 1%
Age structure / 0-14 years: 13.1% (male 346/female 328)
Age structure / 15-64 years: 61.6% (male 1,559/female 1,600)
Age structure / 65 years and over: 25.3% (2024 est.) (male 571/female 728)
Dependency ratios / total dependency ratio: 63.3 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / youth dependency ratio: 21 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / elderly dependency ratio: 42.3 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / potential support ratio: 2.4 (2025 est.)
Median age / total: 51.8 years (2025 est.)
Median age / male: 50.5 years
Median age / female: 51.9 years
Population growth rate: -1.24% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 6.31 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 11.83 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: -6.9 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution: most of the population is found on Saint Pierre Island; a small settlement is located on the north end of Miquelon Island
Urbanization / urban population: 90.1% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 0.75% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 6,000 SAINT-PIERRE (capital) (2018)
Sex ratio / at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
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: 0.78 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / total population: 0.93 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Infant mortality rate / total: 7.6 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Infant mortality rate / male: 9.6 deaths/1,000 live births
Infant mortality rate / female: 5.8 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth / total population: 81.8 years (2024 est.)
Life expectancy at birth / male: 79.5 years
Life expectancy at birth / female: 84.3 years
Total fertility rate: 1.6 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 0.79 (2025 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.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49): 65.2% (2020 est.)

## Environment
Environmental issues: overfishing
Climate: cold and wet, with considerable mist and fog; spring and autumn are often windy
Land use / agricultural land: 8.7% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 8.7% (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: 5% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 86.3% (2023 est.)
Urbanization / urban population: 90.1% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 0.75% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / total emissions: 57,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from petroleum and other liquids: 57,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: Territorial Collectivity of Saint Pierre and Miquelon
Country name / conventional short form: Saint Pierre and Miquelon
Country name / local long form: D&eacute;partement de Saint-Pierre et Miquelon
Country name / local short form: Saint-Pierre et Miquelon
Country name / etymology: Saint-Pierre and Miquelon is reputed to be named after two navigators, one called Peter and one called Michael (in a nickname form) or Mikelon, a Basque name
Government type: parliamentary democracy (Territorial Council); overseas collectivity of France
Dependency status: overseas collectivity of France
Capital / name: Saint-Pierre
Capital / geographic coordinates: 46 46 N, 56 11 W
Capital / time difference: UTC-3 (2 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Capital / daylight saving time: +1hr, begins second Sunday in March; ends first Sunday in November
Capital / etymology: may be named after Saint Peter, the patron saint of fisherman; alternatively, the name may come from one of the two navigators for whom the island as a whole is named
Administrative divisions: no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US government, but 2 communes are considered second-order: Saint Pierre, Miquelon
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 Bruno ANDRE (since September 2023)
Executive branch / head of government: President of Territorial Council Marc DIDIO (since 12 January 2026)
Executive branch / cabinet: Le Cabinet du Pr&eacute;fet
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; Territorial Council president elected by Territorial Council councilors by absolute majority vote; term NA
Executive branch / most recent election date: 13 October 2020
Executive branch / election results: 2020: Bernard BRIAND elected President of Territorial Council; Territorial Council vote - 17 for, 2 abstentions 2017: Stephane LENORMAND elected President of Territorial Council vote - NA
Legislative branch / legislature name: Territorial Council (Conseil Territorial)
Legislative branch / legislative structure: unicameral
Legislative branch / number of seats: 19 (directly elected)
Legislative branch / electoral system: plurality/majority
Legislative branch / scope of elections: full renewal
Legislative branch / term in office: 6 years
Legislative branch / most recent election date: 3/27/2022
Legislative branch / parties elected and seats per party: AD (15); Focus on the Future (4)
Legislative branch / expected date of next election: March 2028
Judicial branch / highest court(s): Superior Tribunal of Appeals or Tribunal Sup&eacute;rieur d'Appel (composition NA)
Judicial branch / judge selection and term of office: judge selection and tenure NA
Political parties: Archipelago Tomorrow (Archipel Domain) or AD (affiliated with The Republicans) Focus on the Future (Cap sur l'Avenir) (affiliated with Left Radical Party) Together to Build (Ensemble pour Construire)
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (overseas territory of France)
Diplomatic representation from the US / embassy: none (territorial overseas collectivity of France)
International organization participation: UPU, WFTU (NGOs)
Independence: none (overseas collectivity collectivity of France; has been under French control since 1763)
National holiday: Fête de la Fédération, 14 July (1790)
Flag: description: a yellow three-masted sailing ship facing the left side rides on a blue background with wavy white lines; a black-over-white wavy line divides the ship from the white wavy lines; on the left side, a vertical band is divided into three heraldic arms: the top (called ikkurina ) is red with a green diagonal cross extending to the corners and overlaid with a white cross, the middle is white with an ermine pattern, and the bottom is red with two yellow lions outlined in black meaning: the arms represent settlers from the Basque Country (top), Brittany, and Normandy in France; blue symbolizes the Atlantic Ocean, and the ship represents explorer Jacques Cartier's ship when he visited the islands in 1536
National symbol(s): 16th-century sailing ship
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 North American territorial economy; primarily fishing exports; substantial French Government support; highly seasonal labor force; euro user; increasing tourism and aquaculture investments
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2015: $261.3 million (2015 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $261.3 million (2015 est.)
Agricultural products: vegetables; poultry, cattle, sheep, pigs; fish
Industries: fish processing and supply base for fishing fleets; tourism
Exports - partners: Canada 78%, Ireland 5%, France 5%, Djibouti 4%, UK 2% (2023)
Exports - commodities: processed crustaceans, shellfish (2023)
Imports - partners: France 57%, Canada 37%, Netherlands 3%, Belgium 2%, Spain 0% (2023)
Imports - commodities: refined petroleum, packaged medicine, cars, plastic products, other foods (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 / installed generating capacity: 26,000 kW (2023 est.)
Electricity / consumption: 48.714 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / transmission/distribution losses: 2 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / fossil fuels: 100% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Petroleum / refined petroleum consumption: 400 bbl/day (2023 est.)

## Communications
Telephones - fixed lines / total subscriptions: 4,800 (2015 est.)
Telephones - fixed lines / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 76 (2015 est.)
Broadcast media: 8 TV stations, all part of the French Overseas Network, and local cable provided by SPM Telecom; 3 of 4 radio stations are part of the French Overseas Network (2021)
Internet country code: .pm
Internet users / percent of population: 88.7% (2022 est.)

## Transportation
Airports: 2 (2025)
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: Miquelon, St. Pierre

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

## Transnational Issues

=== United States ===

## Introduction
Background: Thirteen of Britain's American colonies broke with the mother country in 1776 and were recognized as the new nation of the United States of America following the Treaty of Paris in 1783. During the 19th and 20th centuries, 37 new states were added as the nation expanded across the North American continent and acquired a number of overseas possessions. Two of the most traumatic experiences in the nation's history were the Civil War (1861-65), in which a northern Union of states defeated a secessionist Confederacy of 11 southern slave states, and the Great Depression of the 1930s, an economic downturn during which about a quarter of the labor force lost its jobs. Buoyed by victories in World Wars I and II and the end of the Cold War in 1991, the US remains the world's most powerful nation state. Since the end of World War II, the economy has achieved relatively steady growth, low unemployment, and rapid advances in technology.

## Geography
Location: North America, bordering both the North Atlantic Ocean and the North Pacific Ocean, between Canada and Mexico
Geographic coordinates: 38 00 N, 97 00 W
Map references: North America
Area / total: 9,833,517 sq km
Area / land: 9,147,593 sq km
Area / water: 685,924 sq km
Area - comparative: about half the size of Russia; about three-tenths the size of Africa; about half the size of South America (or slightly larger than Brazil); slightly larger than China; more than twice the size of the European Union
Land boundaries / total: 12,002 km
Land boundaries / border countries: Canada 8,891 km (including 2,475 km with Alaska); Mexico 3,111 km
Coastline: 19,924 km
Maritime claims / territorial sea: 12 nm
Maritime claims / contiguous zone: 24 nm
Maritime claims / exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Maritime claims / continental shelf: not specified
Climate: mostly temperate, but tropical in Hawaii and Florida, arctic in Alaska, semiarid in the great plains west of the Mississippi River, and arid in the Great Basin of the southwest; low winter temperatures in the northwest are ameliorated occasionally in January and February by warm chinook winds from the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains
Terrain: vast central plain, mountains in west, hills and low mountains in east; rugged mountains and broad river valleys in Alaska; rugged, volcanic topography in Hawaii
Elevation / highest point: Mount McKinley 6,190 m (highest point in North America)
Elevation / lowest point: Death Valley (lowest point in North America) -86 m
Elevation / mean elevation: 760 m
Natural resources: coal, copper, lead, molybdenum, phosphates, rare earth elements, uranium, bauxite, gold, iron, mercury, nickel, potash, silver, tungsten, zinc, petroleum, natural gas, timber, arable land
Land use / agricultural land: 46.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 16.6% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 0.3% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 29.2% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 33.8% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 18.7% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land: 234,782 sq km (2017)
Major lakes (area sq km) / fresh water lake(s): Michigan – 57,750 sq km; Superior* – 53,348 sq km; Huron* – 23,597 sq km; Erie* – 12,890 sq km; Ontario* – 9,220 sq km; Lake of the Woods – 4,350 sq km; Iliamna – 2,590 sq km; Okeechobee – 1,810 sq km; Belcharof – 1,190 sq km; Red – 1,170 sq km; Saint Clair – 1,113 sq km; Champlain – 1,100 sq km note - Great Lakes* area shown as US waters
Major lakes (area sq km) / salt water lake(s): Great Salt &ndash; 4,360 sq km; Pontchartrain &ndash; 1,620 sq km; Selawik &ndash; 1,400 sq km; Salton Sea &ndash; 950 sq km
Major rivers (by length in km): Missouri - 3,768 km; Mississippi - 3,544 km; Yukon river mouth (shared with Canada [s]) - 3,190 km; Saint Lawrence (shared with Canada) - 3,058 km; Rio Grande river source (mouth shared with Mexico) - 3,057 km; Colorado river source (shared with Mexico [m]) - 2,333 km; Arkansas - 2,348 km; Columbia river mouth (shared with Canada [s]) - 2,250 km; Red - 2,188 km; Ohio - 2,102 km); Snake - 1,670 km note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Major watersheds (area sq km) / Atlantic Ocean drainage: (Gulf of America) Mississippi* (3,202,185 sq km); Rio Grande (607,965 sq km); (Gulf of Saint Lawrence) Saint Lawrence* (1,049,636 sq km total, US only 505,000 sq km)
Major watersheds (area sq km) / Pacific Ocean drainage: Yukon* (847,620 sq km, US only 23,820 sq km); Colorado (703,148 sq km); Columbia* (657,501 sq km, US only 554,501 sq km)
Major aquifers: Northern Great Plains Aquifer, Cambrian-Ordovician Aquifer System, Californian Central Valley Aquifer System, Ogallala Aquifer (High Plains), Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plains Aquifer
Population distribution: large urban clusters are spread throughout the eastern half of the US (particularly the Great Lakes area, northeast, east, and southeast) and the western-tier states; mountainous areas such as the Rocky Mountains and Appalachians, deserts in the southwest, the dense boreal forests in the extreme north, and the central prairie states are less densely populated; Alaska's population is concentrated along its southern coast, particularly around Anchorage, and Hawaii's is centered on the island of Oahu
Natural hazards: tsunamis; volcanoes; earthquake activity around Pacific Basin; hurricanes along the Atlantic and Gulf of America coasts; tornadoes in the Midwest and Southeast; mud slides in California; forest fires in the west; flooding; permafrost in northern Alaska is a major impediment to development volcanism: volcanic activity in the Hawaiian Islands, Western Alaska, the Pacific Northwest, and in the Northern Mariana Islands; Mauna Loa (4,170 m) in Hawaii and Mount Rainier (4,392 m) in Washington 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; Pavlof (2,519 m) is the most active volcano in Alaska's Aleutian Arc and poses a significant threat to intercontinental air travel; St. Helens (2,549 m), famous for the devastating 1980 eruption, remains active today; other historically active volcanoes are mostly concentrated in the Aleutian arc and Hawaii, including (in Alaska) Aniakchak, Augustine, Chiginagak, Fourpeaked, Iliamna, Katmai, Kupreanof, Martin, Novarupta, Redoubt, Spurr, Wrangell, Trident, Ugashik-Peulik, Ukinrek Maars, Veniaminof, (in Hawaii) Haleakala, Kilauea, Loihi, (in the Northern Mariana Islands) Anatahan, (in the Pacific Northwest) Mount Baker, and Mount Hood; see note 2 under "Geography - note"
Geography - note: note 1: world's third-largest country by size (after Russia and Canada) and by population (after China and India); Mt. McKinley is the highest point (6,190 m; 20,308 ft) in North America, and Death Valley is the lowest point (-86 m; -282 ft) note 2: the western US coast and the southern coast of Alaska lie 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 Aleutian Islands are a chain of volcanic islands that divide the Bering Sea (north) from the main Pacific Ocean (south); they extend about 1,800 km (1,118 mi) westward from the Alaskan Peninsula; the archipelago consists of 14 larger islands, 55 smaller islands, and hundreds of islets; there are 41 active volcanoes on the islands, which together form a large northern section of the Ring of Fire note 4: Mammoth Cave, in west-central Kentucky, is the world's longest known cave system with more than 650 km (405 miles) of surveyed passageways, which is nearly twice as long as the second-longest cave system, the Sac Actun underwater cave in Mexico (see "Geography - note" under Mexico) note 5: Kazumura Cave on the island of Hawaii is the world's longest and deepest lava-tube cave; it has been surveyed at 66 km (41 mi) long and 1,102 m (3,614 ft) deep note 6: Bracken Cave outside San Antonio, Texas is the world's largest bat cave and the summer home to the largest colony of bats in the world; an estimated 20 million Mexican free-tailed bats roost in the cave from March to October, making it the world's largest known concentration of mammals

## People and Society
Population / total: 338,016,259 (2025 est.)
Population / male: 167,543,554
Population / female: 170,472,705
Nationality / noun: American(s)
Nationality / adjective: American
Ethnic groups: White 61.6%, Black or African American 12.4%, Asian 6%, Indigenous and Alaska native 1.1%, Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander 0.2%, other 8.4%, two or more races 10.2% (2020 est.)
Languages: English only (official) 78.2%, Spanish 13.4%, Chinese 1.1%, other 7.3% (2017 est.)
Religions: Protestant 46.5%, Roman Catholic 20.8%, Jewish 1.9%, Church of Jesus Christ 1.6%, other Christian 0.9%, Muslim 0.9%, Jehovah's Witness 0.8%, Buddhist 0.7%, Hindu 0.7%, other 1.8%, unaffiliated 22.8%, don't know/refused 0.6% (2014 est.)
Age structure / 0-14 years: 18.1% (male 31,618,532/female 30,254,223)
Age structure / 15-64 years: 63.4% (male 108,553,822/female 108,182,491)
Age structure / 65 years and over: 18.5% (2024 est.) (male 28,426,426/female 34,927,914)
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: 39.5 years (2025 est.)
Median age / male: 37.8 years
Median age / female: 40 years
Population growth rate: 0.45% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 10.75 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 8.76 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: 2.54 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution: large urban clusters are spread throughout the eastern half of the US (particularly the Great Lakes area, northeast, east, and southeast) and the western-tier states; mountainous areas such as the Rocky Mountains and Appalachians, deserts in the southwest, the dense boreal forests in the extreme north, and the central prairie states are less densely populated; Alaska's population is concentrated along its southern coast, particularly around Anchorage, and Hawaii's is centered on the island of Oahu
Urbanization / urban population: 83.3% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 0.96% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 18.937 million New York-Newark, 12.534 million Los Angeles-Long Beach-Santa Ana, 8.937 million Chicago, 6.707 million Houston, 6.574 million Dallas-Fort Worth, 5.490 million WASHINGTON, D.C. (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: 0.81 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth: 27.5 years (2023 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio: 17 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Infant mortality rate / total: 5 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Infant mortality rate / male: 5.4 deaths/1,000 live births
Infant mortality rate / female: 4.7 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth / total population: 80.9 years (2024 est.)
Life expectancy at birth / male: 78.7 years
Life expectancy at birth / female: 83.1 years
Total fertility rate: 1.63 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 0.02 (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): 16.6% of GDP (2022)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 24.7% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density: 3.68 physicians/1,000 population (2022)
Hospital bed density: 2.7 beds/1,000 population (2020 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: urban: urban: 99.9% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: rural: rural: 98.5% 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: 1.5% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: total: total: 0.4% of population (2022 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 36.2% (2016)
Alcohol consumption per capita / total: 8.93 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / beer: 3.97 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / wine: 1.67 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / spirits: 3.29 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / other alcohols: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Tobacco use / total: 22.1% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / male: 27.7% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / female: 16.7% (2025 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 0.4% (2018 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49): 52.1% (2022 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% GDP): 5.4% of GDP (2021 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% national budget): 11.3% 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; water pollution from runoff of pesticides and fertilizers; declining natural freshwater resources in the west; deforestation; mining; desertification; species conservation; invasive species
International environmental agreements / party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Multi-effect Protocol, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Antarctic-Environmental Protection, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling
International environmental agreements / signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Biodiversity, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping-London Protocol
Climate: mostly temperate, but tropical in Hawaii and Florida, arctic in Alaska, semiarid in the great plains west of the Mississippi River, and arid in the Great Basin of the southwest; low winter temperatures in the northwest are ameliorated occasionally in January and February by warm chinook winds from the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains
Land use / agricultural land: 46.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 16.6% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 0.3% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 29.2% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 33.8% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 18.7% (2023 est.)
Urbanization / urban population: 83.3% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 0.96% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / total emissions: 4.795 billion metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from coal and metallurgical coke: 777.302 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from petroleum and other liquids: 2.258 billion metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from consumed natural gas: 1.76 billion metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Particulate matter emissions: 7.4 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Methane emissions / energy: 20,500.6 kt (2022-2024 est.)
Methane emissions / agriculture: 9,063.9 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Methane emissions / waste: 4,974 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Methane emissions / other: 758.6 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Waste and recycling / municipal solid waste generated annually: 265.225 million tons (2024 est.)
Waste and recycling / percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 14.8% (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / municipal: 58.39 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / industrial: 209.7 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / agricultural: 176.2 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total renewable water resources: 3.069 trillion cubic meters (2022 est.)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: United States of America
Country name / conventional short form: United States
Country name / abbreviation: US or USA
Country name / etymology: the name America was first used in 1507 and is derived from the first name of Amerigo VESPUCCI (1454-1512), an Italian explorer, navigator, and cartographer; the name United States first appeared in a document subtitle during the discussions that led to the Declaration of Independence in 1776
Government type: constitutional federal republic
Capital / name: Washington, D.C.
Capital / geographic coordinates: 38 53 N, 77 02 W
Capital / time difference: UTC-5 (during Standard Time)
Capital / daylight saving time: +1hr, begins second Sunday in March; ends first Sunday in November; note - no DST for Hawaii and most of Arizona
Capital / time zone note: the 50 United States cover six time zones
Capital / etymology: named after George WASHINGTON (1732-1799), the first president of the United States
Administrative divisions: 50 states and 1 district*; Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia*, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming
Dependent areas: American Samoa, Baker Island, Guam, Howland Island, Jarvis Island, Johnston Atoll, Kingman Reef, Midway Islands, Navassa Island, Northern Mariana Islands, Palmyra Atoll, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, Wake Island (14)
Legal system: common law system based on English common law at the federal level; state legal systems based on common law, except Louisiana, where state law is based on Napoleonic civil code; judicial review of legislative acts
Constitution / history: previous 1781 (Articles of Confederation and Perpetual Union); latest drafted July - September 1787, submitted to the Congress of the Confederation 20 September 1787, submitted for states' ratification 28 September 1787, ratification completed by nine of the 13 states 21 June 1788, effective 4 March 1789
Constitution / amendment process: proposed as a "joint resolution" by Congress, which requires a two-thirds majority vote in both the House of Representatives and the Senate or by a constitutional convention called for by at least two thirds of the state legislatures; passage requires ratification by three fourths of the state legislatures or passage in state-held constitutional conventions as specified by Congress; the US president has no role in the constitutional amendment process
International law organization participation: withdrew acceptance of compulsory ICJ jurisdiction in 2005; withdrew acceptance of ICCt jurisdiction in 2002
Citizenship / citizenship by birth: yes
Citizenship / citizenship by descent only: yes
Citizenship / dual citizenship recognized: no, but the US government acknowledges such situtations exist; US citizens are not encouraged to seek dual citizenship since it limits protection by the US
Citizenship / residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch / chief of state: President Donald J. TRUMP (since 20 January 2025)
Executive branch / head of government: President Donald J. TRUMP (since 20 January 2025)
Executive branch / cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president, approved by the Senate
Executive branch / election/appointment process: president and vice president indirectly elected on the same ballot by the Electoral College of electors chosen from each state; president and vice president serve a 4-year term (eligible for a second term)
Executive branch / most recent election date: 5 November 2024
Executive branch / election results: 2024: Donald J. TRUMP elected president; electoral vote - Donald J. TRUMP (Republican Party) 312, Kamala HARRIS (Democratic Party) 226; percent of direct popular vote - Donald J. TRUMP 49.8%, Kamala HARRIS 48.3%, other 1.9% 2020: Joseph R. BIDEN, Jr. elected president; electoral vote - Joseph R. BIDEN, Jr. (Democratic Party) 306, Donald J. TRUMP (Republican Party) 232; percent of direct popular vote - Joseph R. BIDEN Jr. 51.3%, Donald J. TRUMP 46.9%, other 1.8%
Executive branch / expected date of next election: 7 November 2028
Legislative branch / legislature name: Congress
Legislative branch / legislative structure: bicameral
Legislative branch - lower chamber / chamber name: House of Representatives
Legislative branch - lower chamber / number of seats: 435 (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: 2 years
Legislative branch - lower chamber / most recent election date: 11/5/2024
Legislative branch - lower chamber / parties elected and seats per party: Republican Party (220); Democratic Party (215)
Legislative branch - lower chamber / percentage of women in chamber: 28.9%
Legislative branch - lower chamber / expected date of next election: November 2026
Legislative branch - upper chamber / chamber name: Senate
Legislative branch - upper chamber / number of seats: 100 (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: 11/5/2024
Legislative branch - upper chamber / parties elected and seats per party: Republican Party (15); Democratic Party (19)
Legislative branch - upper chamber / percentage of women in chamber: 26%
Legislative branch - upper chamber / expected date of next election: November 2026
Judicial branch / highest court(s): US Supreme Court (consists of 9 justices -- the chief justice and 8 associate justices)
Judicial branch / judge selection and term of office: president nominates and, with the advice and consent of the Senate, appoints Supreme Court justices; justices serve for life
Judicial branch / subordinate courts: Courts of Appeal (includes the US Court of Appeal for the Federal District and 12 regional appeals courts); 94 federal district courts in 50 states and territories
Political parties: Alliance Party Constitution Party Democratic Party Green Party Libertarian Party Republican Party Vermont Progressive Party
International organization participation: ADB (nonregional member), AfDB (nonregional member), ANZUS, APEC, Arctic Council, ARF, ASEAN (dialogue partner), Australia Group, BIS, BSEC (observer), CBSS (observer), CD, CE (observer), CERN (observer), CICA (observer), CP, EAPC, EAS, EBRD, EITI (implementing country), FAO, FATF, G-5, G-7, G-8, G-10, G-20, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD (partners), IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MINUSTAH, MONUSCO, NAFTA, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS, OECD, OPCW, OSCE, Pacific Alliance (observer), Paris Club, PCA, PIF (partner), Quad, SAARC (observer), SELEC (observer), SICA (observer), SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNITAR, UNMIL, UNMISS, UNOOSA, UN Security Council (permanent), UNTSO, UPU, USMCA, Wassenaar Arrangement, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
Independence: 4 July 1776 (declared independence from Great Britain); 3 September 1783 (recognized by Great Britain)
National holiday: Independence Day, 4 July (1776)
Flag: description: 13 equal horizontal stripes of red (top and bottom) alternating with white; a blue rectangle in the upper-left corner has 50 five-pointed white stars, arranged in nine offset horizontal rows of six stars (top and bottom) alternating with rows of five stars meaning: the stars represent the 50 states, and the stripes represent the 13 original colonies; blue stands for loyalty, devotion, truth, justice, and friendship; red for courage, zeal, and fervency; white for purity and rectitude of conduct
National symbol(s): bald eagle
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: adopted 1931; during the War of 1812, Francis Scott KEY witnessed the successful American defense of Baltimore's Fort McHenry against a British naval bombardment, later writing a poem about it that would become the US national anthem; the lyrics were set to the tune of "The Anacreontic Song;" there are four verses, but only the first verse is sung
National heritage / total World Heritage Sites: 26 (13 cultural, 12 natural, 1 mixed); note - includes one site in Puerto Rico
National heritage / selected World Heritage Site locales: Yellowstone National Park (n); Grand Canyon National Park (n); Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site (c); Independence Hall (c); Statue of Liberty (c); Yosemite National Park (n); Papahānaumokuākea (m); Monumental Earthworks of Poverty Point (c); The 20th-Century Architecture of Frank Lloyd Wright (c); Mesa Verde National Park (c); Mammoth Cave National Park (n); Monticello and the University of Virginia in Charlottesville (c); Olympic National Park (n); Everglades National Park (n); Kluane / Wrangell-St. Elias / Glacier Bay / Tatshenshini-Alsek (n); Redwood National and State Parks (n); Great Smoky Mountains National Park (n); La Fortaleza and San Juan National Historic Site in Puerto Rico (c); Chaco Culture (c); Hawaii Volcanoes National Park (n); Taos Pueblo (c); Carlsbad Caverns National Park (n); Waterton Glacier International Peace Park (n); Moravian Church Settlements (c); San Antonio Missions (c); Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks (c)

## Economy
Economic overview: world’s largest economy by nominal GDP; largest importer and second-largest exporter; home to leading financial exchanges and global reserve currency; high and growing public debt; inflation moderating but remains above pre-pandemic levels
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $25.676 trillion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $24.977 trillion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $24.276 trillion (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2024: 2.8% (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2023: 2.9% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2022: 2.5% (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2024: $75,500 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2023: $74,200 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2022: $72,700 (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $29.185 trillion (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024: 2.9% (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023: 4.1% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 8% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / agriculture: 0.9% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / industry: 17.3% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / services: 79.7% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / household consumption: 67.9% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / government consumption: 13.4% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in fixed capital: 21.6% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in inventories: 0.1% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / exports of goods and services: 10.9% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / imports of goods and services: -14% (2024 est.)
Agricultural products: maize, soybeans, milk, wheat, sugar beets, sugarcane, potatoes, chicken, pork, tomatoes (2023)
Industries: highly diversified, world leading, high-technology innovator, second-largest industrial output in the world; petroleum, steel, motor vehicles, aerospace, telecommunications, chemicals, electronics, food processing, consumer goods, lumber, mining
Industrial production growth rate: 3.25% (2021 est.)
Labor force: 174.174 million (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2024: 4.2% (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: 9.4% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / male: 10.4% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / female: 8.3% (2024 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income / Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2023: 41.8 (2023 est.)
Average household expenditures / on food: 6.8% 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%: 1.8% (2023 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / highest 10%: 30.4% (2023 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: $4.877 trillion (2023 est.)
Budget / expenditures: $6.857 trillion (2023 est.)
Public debt / Public debt 2023: 114.8% of GDP (2023 est.)
Taxes and other revenues: 10.6% (of GDP) (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2024: -$1.134 trillion (2024 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2023: -$905.378 billion (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2022: -$1.012 trillion (2022 est.)
Exports / Exports 2024: $3.191 trillion (2024 est.)
Exports / Exports 2023: $3.072 trillion (2023 est.)
Exports / Exports 2022: $3.039 trillion (2022 est.)
Exports - partners: Canada 14%, Mexico 13%, China 8%, Germany 5%, Japan 4% (2023)
Exports - commodities: crude petroleum, refined petroleum, natural gas, gas turbines, cars (2023)
Imports / Imports 2024: $4.108 trillion (2024 est.)
Imports / Imports 2023: $3.857 trillion (2023 est.)
Imports / Imports 2022: $3.984 trillion (2022 est.)
Imports - partners: Mexico 15%, China 15%, Canada 14%, Germany 5%, Japan 5% (2023)
Imports - commodities: cars, crude petroleum, broadcasting equipment, computers, garments (2023)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024: $910.037 billion (2024 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023: $773.426 billion (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $706.644 billion (2022 est.)
Exchange rates: British pounds per US dollar: 0.782 (2024 est.), 0.805 (2023 est.), 0.811 (2022 est.), 0.727 (2021 est.), 0.780 (2020 est.) Canadian dollars per US dollar: 1.369 (2024 est.), 1.35 (2023 est.), 1.302 (2022 est.), 1.254 (2021 est.), 1.341 (2020 est.) Chinese yuan per US dollar: 0.783 (2024 est.), 7.084 (2023 est.), 6.737 (2022 est.), 6.449 (2021 est.), 6.901 (2020 est.) euros per US dollar: 0.924 (2024 est.), 0.925 (2023 est.), 0.950 (2022 est.), 0.845 (2021 est.), 0.876 (2020 est.) Japanese yen per US dollar: 151.366 (2024 est.), 140.49 (2023 est.), 131.50 (2022 est.), 109.75 (2021 est.), 106.78 (2020 est.) note 1: the following countries and territories use the US dollar officially as their legal tender: British Virgin Islands, Ecuador, El Salvador, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Palau, Timor Leste, Turks and Caicos, and islands of the Caribbean Netherlands (Bonaire, Sint Eustatius, and Saba) note 2: the following countries and territories use the US dollar as official legal tender alongside local currency: Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, and Panama

## Energy
Electricity access / electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)
Electricity / installed generating capacity: 1.235 billion kW (2023 est.)
Electricity / consumption: 4.085 trillion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / exports: 19.87 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / imports: 38.874 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / transmission/distribution losses: 191.104 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / fossil fuels: 58.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / nuclear: 18.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / solar: 5.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / wind: 9.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / hydroelectricity: 5.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / geothermal: 0.4% 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: 94 (2025)
Nuclear energy / Net capacity of operational nuclear reactors: 96.95GW (2025 est.)
Nuclear energy / Percent of total electricity production: 18.5% (2023 est.)
Nuclear energy / Number of nuclear reactors permanently shut down: 41 (2025)
Coal / production: 534.234 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / consumption: 495.156 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / exports: 92.28 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / imports: 3.825 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / proven reserves: 247.883 billion metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum / total petroleum production: 20.953 million bbl/day (2023 est.)
Petroleum / refined petroleum consumption: 20.307 million bbl/day (2024 est.)
Petroleum / crude oil estimated reserves: 38.212 billion barrels (2021 est.)
Natural gas / production: 1.072 trillion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / consumption: 920.47 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / exports: 215.48 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / imports: 82.917 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / proven reserves: 13.402 trillion cubic meters (2021 est.)
Energy consumption per capita / Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 278.474 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

## Communications
Telephones - fixed lines / total subscriptions: 87.987 million (2023 est.)
Telephones - fixed lines / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 26 (2023 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / total subscriptions: 391 million (2024 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 113 (2024 est.)
Broadcast media: 4 major terrestrial TV networks with affiliate stations, plus cable and satellite networks, independent stations, and a limited public broadcasting sector; thousands of TV stations broadcasting; multiple national radio networks with many affiliate stations; over 15,000 radio stations, most commercial; National Public Radio (NPR) has a network of about 900 member stations; satellite radio available (2018)
Internet country code: .us
Internet users / percent of population: 93% (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / total: 131 million (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 38 (2023 est.)

## Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: N
Airports: 16,116 (2025)
Heliports: 8,130 (2025)
Railways / total: 293,564.2 km (2014)
Railways / standard gauge: 293,564.2 km (2014) 1.435-m gauge
Merchant marine / total: 3,533 (2023)
Merchant marine / by type: bulk carrier 4, container ship 60, general cargo 96, oil tanker 68, other 3,305
Ports / total ports: 666 (2024)
Ports / large: 21
Ports / medium: 38
Ports / small: 132
Ports / very small: 475
Ports / ports with oil terminals: 204
Ports / key ports: Baltimore, Boston, Brooklyn, Buffalo, Chester, Cleveland, Detroit, Galveston, Houston, Los Angeles, Louisiana Offshore Oil Port (LOOP), Mobile, New Orleans, New York City, Norfolk, Oakland, Philadelphia, Portland, San Francisco, Seattle, Tri-City Port

## Military and Security
Military and security forces: United States Armed Forces (aka US Military): US Army (USA), US Navy (USN; includes US Marine Corps or USMC), US Air Force (USAF), US Space Force (USSF); US Coast Guard (USCG); National Guard (Army National Guard and Air National Guard) (2025)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2025: 3.2% of GDP (2025 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2024: 3.2% of GDP (2024 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2023: 3.1% of GDP (2023 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2022: 3.2% of GDP (2022 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2021: 3.5% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military and security service personnel strengths: approximately 1.28 million active duty Armed Forces (450,000 Army; 334,000 Navy; 317,000 Air Force; 10,000 Space Force; 168,000 Marine Corps); 42,000 Coast Guard) (2025)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the US military's inventory is comprised almost entirely of domestically produced weapons systems (some assembled with foreign components) along with a smaller mix of imported equipment from a variety of countries such as Germany and the UK; the US defense industry is capable of designing, developing, maintaining, and producing the full spectrum of weapons systems; the US is the world's leading arms exporter (2025)
Military service age and obligation: 17 years of age (under 18 with parental consent) for voluntary service for men and women; maximum enlistment age varies by service; 8-year initial service obligation, including 2-5 years active duty depending on the particular military service (2025)
Military deployments: the US has approximately 200,000 military personnel deployed overseas on a permanent or a long-term rotational (typically 3-9 months) basis (2025)
Military - note: the US military's primary missions are to deter potential enemies, provide for the defense of the US, its Territories, Commonwealths and possessions, and any areas occupied by the US, and to protect US national interests; its responsibilities are worldwide and include providing humanitarian assistance, participating in international military exercises and operations, conducting military diplomacy, and fulfilling the US's alliance and treaty commitments; the US has been a leading member of NATO since the Alliance's formation in 1949 the US military has a global presence; the separate services operate jointly under 11 regional or functionally based joint service "combatant" commands: Africa Command; Central Command, Cyber Command, European Command, Indo-Pacific Command, Northern Command, Southern Command, Space Command, Special Operations Command, Strategic Command, and Transportation Command Congress officially created the US military in September 1789; the US Army was established in June 1775 as the Continental Army; after the declaration of independence in July 1776, the Continental Army and the militia in the service of Congress became known collectively as the Army of the United States; when Congress ordered the Continental Army to disband in 1784, it retained a small number of personnel that would form the nucleus of the 1st American Regiment for national service formed later that year; both the US Navy and the US Marines were also established in 1775, but the Navy fell into disuse after the Revolutionary War, and was reestablished by Congress in 1794; the first US military unit devoted exclusively to aviation began operations in 1913 as part of the US Army; the Army Air Corps (AAC) was the US military service dedicated to aerial warfare between 1926 and 1941; the AAC became the US Army Air Forces in 1941 and remained as a combat arm of the Army until the establishment of the US Air Force in 1947 (2025)

## Space
Space agency/agencies: National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA; established 1958) (2025)
Space launch site(s): has 20 government and commercial spaceports licensed by the Federal Aviation Administration spread across 10 states (Alabama, Alaska, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas, and Virginia) (2025)
Space program overview: has a large, comprehensive space program and is one of the world&rsquo;s top space powers; builds, launches, and operates space launch vehicles (SLVs)/rockets and the full spectrum of spacecraft, including interplanetary probes, manned craft, reusable rockets, satellites, space stations, and space planes/shuttles; has an astronaut program and a corps of astronauts; researching and developing a broad range of other space-related technologies, including advanced telecommunications and optics, navigational aids, propulsion, and robotics; has launched orbital or lander probes to the Sun and all the planets in the solar system, as well as to asteroids and beyond the solar system; has dozens of international missions and projects, including with Canada, Japan, Russia, South Korea, and the ESA; as of January 2026, 60 countries had signed onto the US-led Artemis Accords to enhance the governance of civil exploration and use of outer space; the US commercial space industry is one of the world&rsquo;s largest and is active across the spectrum of US government space programs; US commercial companies conduct the majority of NASA and US military space launches (2026)
Key space-program milestones: 1958-1963 - Project Mercury first manned space flights 1961-1963 - Project Gemini (longer-duration manned flights in preparation for Moon landings) 1963-1971 - Project Apollo Moon landings (world's first manned landing on the Moon, 1969) 1964 - launched first successful Mars probe (Mariner) 1965-1979 - operated Skylab space station 1977 - began launching Voyager probes to Jupiter, Saturn, and beyond the solar system 1980s-2011 - operated Space Shuttle program (world’s first re-usable space orbiters) 1990 - launched Hubble Space Telescope 1993 - began participating in International Space Station project 2003 - launched surface rover vehicles (Spirit and Opportunity) to Mars 2011 - launched orbital probe (Juno) to Jupiter 2016 - launched OSIRIS-REx mission to retrieve asteroid sample (landed on asteroid Bennu in 2020 and returned with sample in 2023) 2017 - initiated Artemis lunar landing project 2019 - initiated Gateway lunar orbital station project 2021 - launched James Webb Space Telescope (ESA contributed launch vehicle and launch site); surface rover vehicle (Perseverance) with robot helicopter (Ingenuity) successfully landed on surface of Mars 2024 - successfully placed a commercial lander on the Moon and launched probe (Europa Clipper) to study Jupiter's Europa moon

## Terrorism
Terrorist group(s): al-Qa'ida; Hizballah; Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC)/Qods Force; Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS); La Mara Salvatruche (MS-13); Lashkar-e Tayyiba (LeT); Tren de Aragua (TdA)

## Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons / refugees: 3,619,495 (2024 est.)
Refugees and internally displaced persons / IDPs: 21,737 (2024 est.)

=== OO ===

## Introduction
Background: A large body of recent oceanographic research has shown that the Antarctic Circumpolar Current (ACC), an ocean current that flows from west to east around Antarctica, plays a crucial role in global ocean circulation. The region where the cold waters of the ACC meet and mingle with the warmer waters of the north defines a distinct border -- the Antarctic Convergence -- which fluctuates with the seasons but encompasses a discrete body of water and a unique ecologic region. The Convergence concentrates nutrients, which promotes marine plant life, which in turn allows for a greater abundance of animal life. In 2000, the International Hydrographic Organization delimited the waters within the Convergence as a fifth world ocean basin -- the Southern Ocean -- by combining the southern portions of the Atlantic Ocean, Indian Ocean, and Pacific Ocean. The Southern Ocean extends from the coast of Antarctica north to 60 degrees south latitude, which coincides with the Antarctic Treaty region and which approximates the extent of the Antarctic Convergence. As such, the Southern Ocean is now the fourth largest of the world's five ocean basins (after the Pacific Ocean, Atlantic Ocean, and Indian Ocean). It should be noted that inclusion of the Southern Ocean does not imply US Government recognition of this feature as one of the world's primary ocean basins.

## Geography
Location: body of water between 60 degrees south latitude and Antarctica
Geographic coordinates: 60 00 S, 90 00 E (nominally), but the Southern Ocean has the unique distinction of being a large circumpolar body of water totally encircling the continent of Antarctica; this ring of water lies between 60 degrees south latitude and the coast of Antarctica and encompasses 360 degrees of longitude
Map references: Antarctic Region
Area / total: 21.96 million sq km
Area - comparative: slightly more than twice the size of the US
Coastline: 17,968 km
Climate: sea temperatures vary from about 10 degrees Celsius to -2 degrees Celsius; cyclonic storms travel eastward around the continent and frequently are intense because of the temperature contrast between ice and open ocean; the ocean area from about latitude 40 south to the Antarctic Circle has the strongest average winds found anywhere on Earth; in winter the ocean freezes outward to 65 degrees south latitude in the Pacific sector and 55 degrees south latitude in the Atlantic sector, lowering surface temperatures well below 0 degrees Celsius; at some coastal points intense persistent drainage winds from the interior keep the shoreline ice-free throughout the winter
Ocean volume / ocean volume: 71.8 million cu km
Ocean volume / percent of World Ocean total volume: 5.4%
Major ocean currents: the cold, clockwise-flowing Antarctic Circumpolar Current (West Wind Drift; 21,000 km long) moves perpetually eastward around the continent and is the world's largest and strongest ocean current, transporting 130 million cubic meters of water per second - 100 times the flow of all the world's rivers; it is also the only current that flows all the way around the planet and connects the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Ocean basins; the cold Antarctic Coastal Current (East Wind Drift) is the southernmost current in the world, flowing westward and parallel to the Antarctic coastline
Bathymetry / continental shelf: the following are examples of features on the continental shelf of the Southern Ocean (see Figure 2): Astrid Ridge (see also Figure 4) Belgrano Bank Gunnerus Ridge (see also Figure 4) Hayes Bank Iselin Bank
Bathymetry / continental slope: the following are examples of features on the continental slope of the Southern Ocean (see Figure 2): Amery Basin (Figure 4) Filchner Trough Hillary Canyon Pobeda Canyon (Figure 3)
Bathymetry / abyssal plains: the following are examples of features on the abyssal plains of the Southern Ocean (see Figures 2, 3, and 4): Amundsen (Abyssal) Plain Enderby (Abyssal) Plain South Indian/Australian-Antarctic Basin Southeast Pacific/Bellinghausen Basin Weddell (Abyssal) Plain
Bathymetry / mid-ocean ridge: the following are examples of mid-ocean ridges on the floor of the Southern Ocean (see Figure 2): Pacific-Antarctic Ridge (Figure 3)
Bathymetry / undersea terrain features: the following are examples of undersea terrain features on the floor of the Southern Ocean (see Figure 2): Akopov Seamounts (Figure 3) De Gerlache Seamounts (see also Figure 3, 4) Endurance Ridge (Figure 4) Marie Byrd Seamount (see also Figure 3) Maud Rise (see also Figure 4) Scott Seamounts (see also Figure 3)
Bathymetry / ocean trenches: the following are examples of ocean trenches on the floor of the Southern Ocean (see Figure 2): South Sandwich Trench (Figure 4; the deepest location in the Southern Ocean)
Bathymetry / atolls: none, due to the extremely cold water
Elevation / highest point: sea level
Elevation / lowest point: southern end of the South Sandwich Trench -7,434 m unnamed deep
Elevation / mean depth: -3,270 m
Elevation / ocean zones: the ocean is divided into three zones based on depth and light level; sunlight entering the water may travel about 1,000 m into the oceans under the right conditions, but there is rarely any significant light below 200 m euphotic zone : the upper 200 m (656 ft) is also called "sunlight" zone; only a small amount of light penetrates beyond this depth dysphotic zone : between 200 m (656 ft) and 1,000 m (3,280 ft), and also called the twilight zone; the intensity of light rapidly dissipates as depth increases, and photosynthesis is no longer possible aphotic zone : below 1,000 m (3,280 ft) and also called the midnight zone; sunlight does not penetrate to these depths
Natural resources: probable large oil and gas fields on the continental margin; manganese nodules, possible placer deposits, sand and gravel, fresh water as icebergs; krill, fish
Natural hazards: huge icebergs with drafts up to several hundred meters; smaller bergs and iceberg fragments; sea ice (generally 0.5 to 1 m thick) with sometimes dynamic short-term variations and with large annual and interannual variations; deep continental shelf floored by glacial deposits varying widely over short distances; high winds and large waves much of the year; ship icing, especially May-October; most of region is remote from sources of search and rescue
Geography - note: the major chokepoint is the Drake Passage between South America and Antarctica; the Polar Front (Antarctic Convergence) is the best natural definition of the northern extent of the Southern Ocean; it is a distinct region at the middle of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current that separates the cold polar surface waters to the south from the warmer waters to the north; the Front and the Current extend entirely around Antarctica, reaching south of 60 degrees south near New Zealand and near 48 degrees south in the far South Atlantic, coinciding with the path of the maximum westerly winds

## Environment
Environmental issues: natural and man-made changes to the ocean's physical, chemical, and biological systems
International environmental agreements: the Southern Ocean is subject to all international agreements regarding the world's oceans; in addition, it is subject to these agreements specific to the Antarctic region: International Whaling Commission (prohibits commercial whaling south of 40 degrees south [south of 60 degrees south between 50 degrees and 130 degrees west]); Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Seals (limits sealing); Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (regulates fishing) note: mineral exploitation except for scientific research is banned by the Environmental Protocol to the Antarctic Treaty; additionally, many nations (including the US) prohibit mineral resource exploration and exploitation south of the fluctuating Polar Front (Antarctic Convergence), which is in the middle of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current and serves as the dividing line between the cold polar surface waters to the south and the warmer waters to the north
Climate: sea temperatures vary from about 10 degrees Celsius to -2 degrees Celsius; cyclonic storms travel eastward around the continent and frequently are intense because of the temperature contrast between ice and open ocean; the ocean area from about latitude 40 south to the Antarctic Circle has the strongest average winds found anywhere on Earth; in winter the ocean freezes outward to 65 degrees south latitude in the Pacific sector and 55 degrees south latitude in the Atlantic sector, lowering surface temperatures well below 0 degrees Celsius; at some coastal points intense persistent drainage winds from the interior keep the shoreline ice-free throughout the winter
Marine fisheries: the Southern Ocean fishery is relatively small with a total catch of 388,901 mt in 2021; the Food and Agriculture Organization has delineated three regions in the Southern Ocean (Regions 48, 58, 88) that generally encompass the waters south of 40° to 60° South latitude; the most important producers in these regions include Norway (241,408 mt), China (47,605 mt), and South Korea (39,487 mt); Antarctic krill made up 95.5% of the total catch in 2021, while other important species include Patagonian and Antarctic toothfish Regional fisheries bodies: Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources

## Government
Country name / etymology: the International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) has not formally adopted the definition of the Southern Ocean as the waters south of 60 degrees south; the definition, however, was circulated in a draft edition of the IHO's Names and Limits of Oceans and Seas in 2002 and has since become the de facto name for many nations and organizations, including the CIA

## Economy

## Communications

## Transportation
Transportation - note: Drake Passage offers alternative to transit through the Panama Canal

## Transnational Issues

=== XO ===

## Introduction
Background: The Indian Ocean is the third largest of the world's five ocean basins (after the Pacific Ocean and Atlantic Ocean, but larger than the Southern Ocean and Arctic Ocean). Four critically important access waterways are the Suez Canal (Egypt), Bab el Mandeb (Djibouti-Yemen), Strait of Hormuz (Iran-Oman), and Strait of Malacca (Indonesia-Malaysia). The International Hydrographic Organization decided in 2000 to delimit a fifth world ocean basin, the Southern Ocean, which removed the portion of the Indian Ocean south of 60 degrees south latitude.

## Geography
Location: body of water between Africa, the Southern Ocean, Asia, and Australia
Geographic coordinates: 20 00 S, 80 00 E
Area / total: 70.56 million sq km
Area - comparative: almost seven times the size of the US
Coastline: 66,526 km
Climate: northeast monsoon (December to April), southwest monsoon (June to October); tropical cyclones occur during May/June and October/November in the northern Indian Ocean and January/February in the southern Indian Ocean
Ocean volume / ocean volume: 264 million cu km
Ocean volume / percent of World Ocean total volume: 19.8%
Major ocean currents: the counterclockwise Indian Ocean Gyre comprised of the southward flowing warm Agulhas and East Madagascar Currents in the west, the eastward flowing South Indian Current in the south, the northward flowing cold West Australian Current in the east, and the westward flowing South Equatorial Current in the north; a distinctive annual reversal of surface currents occurs in the northern Indian Ocean; low atmospheric pressure over southwest Asia from hot, rising, summer air results in the southwest monsoon and southwest-to-northeast winds and clockwise currents, while high pressure over northern Asia from cold, falling, winter air results in the northeast monsoon and northeast-to-southwest winds and counterclockwise currents
Bathymetry / continental shelf: the following are examples of features on the continental shelf of the Indian Ocean (see Figure 2): Exmouth Plateau Indus Canyon The Swatch of No Ground/Ganges Canyon (Bay of Bengal) Sunda Shelf
Bathymetry / continental slope: the following are examples of features on the continental slope of the Indian Ocean (see Figure 2): Bengal Fan Indus Fan
Bathymetry / abyssal plains: the following are examples of features on the abyssal plains of the Indian Ocean (see Figure 2): Arabian Basin Crozet Basin Madagascar Basin Mid-Indian Basin Mozambique Basin Wharton Basin
Bathymetry / mid-ocean ridge: the following are examples of mid-ocean ridges on the floor of the Indian Ocean (see Figure 2): Central Indian Ridge Davie Ridge Southeast Indian Ridge Southwest Indian Ridge
Bathymetry / undersea terrain features: the following are examples of undersea terrain features on the floor of the Indian Ocean (see Figure 2): Andaman-Nicobar Ridge Chagos-Laccadive Ridge Kerguelen Plateau Madagascar Plateau Mascarene Plateau Mozambique Plateau Ninetyeast Ridge
Bathymetry / ocean trenches: the following are examples of ocean trenches on the floor of the Indian Ocean (see Figure 2): Java/Sunda Trench (deepest point in the Indian Ocean)
Bathymetry / atolls: the following are examples of atolls in the Indian Ocean (see Figure 2): Bassas da India Chagos Archipelago/Diego Garcia Europa Island Juan de Nova Island Lakshadweep Islands Maldive Islands Seychelles
Elevation / highest point: sea level
Elevation / lowest point: Java Trench -7,192 m unnamed deep
Elevation / mean depth: -3,741 m
Elevation / ocean zones: the ocean is divided into three zones based on depth and light level; sunlight entering the water may travel about 1,000 m into the oceans under the right conditions, but there is rarely any significant light below 200 m euphotic zone : the upper 200 m (656 ft) is also called "sunlight" zone; only a small amount of light penetrates beyond this depth dysphotic zone : between 200 m (656 ft) and 1,000 m (3,280 ft), and also called the twilight zone; the intensity of light rapidly dissipates as depth increases, and photosynthesis is no longer possible aphotic zone : below 1,000 m (3,280 ft) and also called the midnight zone; sunlight does not penetrate to these depths
Natural resources: oil and gas fields, fish, shrimp, sand and gravel aggregates, placer deposits, polymetallic nodules
Natural hazards: occasional icebergs pose navigational hazard in southern reaches
Geography - note: major chokepoints include Bab el Mandeb, Strait of Hormuz, Strait of Malacca, southern access to the Suez Canal, and the Lombok Strait

## People and Society

## Environment
Environmental issues: marine pollution from ocean dumping, improper waste disposal, and oil spills; oil pollution in Arabian Sea, Persian Gulf, and Red Sea; threats to coral reefs; loss of biodiversity; endangered marine species
Climate: northeast monsoon (December to April), southwest monsoon (June to October); tropical cyclones occur during May/June and October/November in the northern Indian Ocean and January/February in the southern Indian Ocean
Marine fisheries: the Indian Ocean fisheries are the third most important in the world, accounting for 15.5%, or 12,220,000 mt of the global catch in 2020; tuna, small pelagic fish, and shrimp are important species in these regions; the Food and Agriculture Organization delineated two fishing regions in the Indian Ocean: Eastern Indian Ocean region (Region 57) is the most important and the fifth-largest-producing region in the world with 8.4%, or 6,590,000 mt, of the global catch in 2020; the region encompasses the waters north of 55º South latitude and east of 80º East longitude, including the Bay of Bengal and Andaman Sea, with the major producers including India (2,362,481 mt), Indonesia (1,940,558 mt), Burma (1,114,777 mt), Bangladesh (877,837 mt), and Sri Lanka (373,369 mt); the principal catches include shad, skipjack tuna, mackerel, shrimp, and sardinellas Western Indian Ocean region (Region 51) is the world’s sixth-largest-producing region with more than 7.1% or 5,630,000 mt of the global catch in 2020; this region encompasses the waters north of 40º South latitude and west of 80º East longitude, including the western Indian Ocean, Arabian Sea, Persian Gulf, and Red Sea, as well as the waters along the east coast of Africa and Madagascar, the south coast of the Arabian Peninsula, and the west coast of India; major producers include India (2,207,125 mt), Oman (580,048 mt), Pakistan (341,730 mt), and Mozambique (274,791 mt); the principal catches include skipjack and yellowfin tuna, mackerel, sardines, shrimp, and cephalopods Regional fisheries bodies: Indian Ocean Tuna Commission, Commission for the Conservation of Southern Bluefin Tuna, Regional Commission for Fisheries (Persian Gulf/Gulf of Oman), Southeast Asia Fisheries Development Center, Southwest Indian Ocean Fisheries Commission, South Indian Ocean Fisheries Agreement

## Government
Country name / etymology: named for the country of India, which makes up much of its northern border

## Economy

## Communications

## Transportation

## Military and Security

## Transnational Issues

=== XQ ===

## Introduction
Background: The Arctic Ocean is the smallest of the world's five ocean basins (after the Pacific Ocean, Atlantic Ocean, Indian Ocean, and the Southern Ocean). The Northwest Passage (US and Canada) and Northern Sea Route (Norway and Russia) are two important seasonal waterways. In recent years, the polar ice pack has receded in the summer allowing for increased navigation and raising the possibility of future sovereignty and shipping disputes among the Arctic coastal states affected (Canada, Denmark (Greenland), Iceland, Norway, Russia, US).

## Geography
Location: body of water between Europe, Asia, and North America, mostly north of the Arctic Circle
Geographic coordinates: 90 00 N, 0 00 E
Map references: Arctic Region
Area / total: 15.558 million sq km
Area - comparative: slightly less than 1.5 times the size of the US
Coastline: 45,389 km
Climate: polar climate characterized by persistent cold and relatively narrow annual temperature range; winters characterized by continuous darkness, cold and stable weather conditions, and clear skies; summers characterized by continuous daylight, damp and foggy weather, and weak cyclones with rain or snow
Ocean volume / ocean volume: 18.75 million cu km
Ocean volume / percent of World Ocean total volume: 1.4%
Major ocean currents: two major, slow-moving, wind-driven currents (drift streams) dominate: a clockwise drift pattern in the Beaufort Gyre in the western part of the Arctic Ocean and a nearly straight line Transpolar Drift Stream that moves eastward across the ocean from the New Siberian Islands (Russia) to the Fram Strait (between Greenland and Svalbard); sea ice that lies close to the center of the gyre can complete a 360 degree circle in about 2 years, while ice on the gyre periphery will complete the same circle in about 7-8 years; sea ice in the Transpolar Drift crosses the ocean in about 3 years
Bathymetry / continental shelf: more than one quarter of the Arctic sea floor; the Eurasian shelf is very wide, extending out 1,500 km (930 mi), and is the largest continental shelf in the world the following are examples of continental-shelf features in the Arctic Ocean (see Figure 2): Barents Shelf Beaufort Shelf Davis Sill Chukchi Shelf East Siberian Shelf Kara Shelf Laptev Shelf Lincoln Shelf
Bathymetry / continental slope: the following are examples of continental-slope features in the Arctic Ocean (see Figure 2): Litke Trough Novaya Zemlya Trough Svyataya Anna Trough (Saint Anna Trough) Voronin Trough
Bathymetry / abyssal plains: the following are examples of abyssal-plain features in the Arctic Ocean (see Figure 2): Baffin Basin Canada Basin Fram/Amundsen Basin Greenland Abyssal Plain Iceland Basin Makarov Basin Molloy Deep (deepest point in the Arctic Ocean) Nansen Basin Norwegian Basin
Bathymetry / mid-ocean ridge: the following are examples of mid-ocean ridges in the Arctic Ocean (see Figure 2): Gakkel Ridge Mohns Ridge
Bathymetry / undersea terrain features: the following are examples of undersea terrain features on the floor of the Arctic Ocean (see Figure 2): Lomonosov Ridge Gakkel Ridge Alpha Ridge Mendeleev Rise Chukchi Plateau
Bathymetry / ocean trenches: none
Bathymetry / atolls: none
Elevation / highest point: sea level
Elevation / lowest point: Molloy Deep -5,577 m
Elevation / mean depth: -1,205 m
Elevation / ocean zones: the ocean is divided into three zones based on depth and light level; sunlight entering the water may travel about 1,000 m into the oceans under the right conditions, but there is rarely any significant light below 200 m euphotic zone : the upper 200 m (656 ft) is also called "sunlight" zone; only a small amount of light penetrates beyond this depth dysphotic zone : between 200 m (656 ft) and 1,000 m (3,280 ft), and also called the twilight zone; the intensity of light rapidly dissipates as depth increases, and photosynthesis is no longer possible aphotic zone : below 1,000 m (3,280 ft) and also called the midnight zone; sunlight does not penetrate to these depths
Natural resources: sand and gravel aggregates, placer deposits, polymetallic nodules, oil and gas fields, fish, marine mammals (seals and whales)
Natural hazards: ice islands occasionally break away from northern Ellesmere Island; icebergs calved from glaciers in western Greenland and extreme northeastern Canada; permafrost in islands; virtually ice locked from October to June; ships subject to superstructure icing from October to May
Geography - note: major chokepoint is the southern Chukchi Sea (northern access to the Pacific Ocean via the Bering Strait); strategic location between North America and Russia; shortest marine link between the extremes of eastern and western Russia; floating research stations operated by the US and Russia; maximum snow cover in March or April about 20 to 50 centimeters over the frozen ocean; snow cover lasts about 10 months

## People and Society

## Environment
Environmental issues: changes in biodiversity and temperature; water pollution from use of toxic chemicals; endangered marine species; ecosystem slow to recover from disruptions or damage; thinning polar icepack
Climate: polar climate characterized by persistent cold and relatively narrow annual temperature range; winters characterized by continuous darkness, cold and stable weather conditions, and clear skies; summers characterized by continuous daylight, damp and foggy weather, and weak cyclones with rain or snow
Marine fisheries: the Arctic fishery region (Region 18) is the smallest in the world with a catch of only 708 mt in 2019, although the Food and Agriculture Organization assesses that some Arctic catches are reported in adjacent regions; Russia and Canada were historically the major producers; in 2017, Canada, Denmark (Greenland), Iceland, Norway, Russia, and the US, along with the People’s Republic of China, the European Union, Japan, and the Republic of Korea, agreed to a 16-year ban on fishing in the Central Arctic Ocean to allow for time to study the ecological system of these waters Regional fisheries bodies: International Council for the Exploration of the Seas; Agreement to Prevent Unregulated High Seas Fisheries in the Central Arctic Ocean

## Government
Country name / etymology: the name comes from the Greek word arktikos meaning "near the bear" or "northern," and that word derives from arktos , meaning "bear;" the name refers either to the constellation Ursa Major, the "Great Bear," which is prominent in the northern celestial sphere, or to the constellation Ursa Minor, the "Little Bear," which contains Polaris, the North (Pole) Star

## Economy

## Communications

## Transportation
Transportation - note: sparse network of air, ocean, river, and land routes; the Northwest Passage (North America) and Northern Sea Route (Eurasia) are important seasonal waterways

## Transnational Issues

=== ZH ===

## Introduction
Background: The Atlantic Ocean is the second largest of the world's five ocean basins (after the Pacific Ocean, but larger than the Indian Ocean, Southern Ocean, and Arctic Ocean). The Kiel Canal (Germany), Oresund (Denmark-Sweden), Bosporus (Turkey), Strait of Gibraltar (Morocco-Spain), and the Saint Lawrence Seaway (Canada-US) are important strategic access waterways. The decision by the International Hydrographic Organization in the spring of 2000 to delimit a fifth world ocean basin, the Southern Ocean, removed the portion of the Atlantic Ocean south of 60 degrees south latitude. For convenience and because of its immense size, the Atlantic Ocean is often divided at the Equator and designated as the North Atlantic Ocean and the South Atlantic Ocean.

## Geography
Location: body of water between Africa, Europe, the Arctic Ocean, the Americas, and the Southern Ocean
Geographic coordinates: 0 00 N, 25 00 W
Map references: Map of the world oceans
Area / total: 85.133 million sq km
Area - comparative: about 7.5 times the size of the US
Coastline: 111,866 km
Climate: tropical cyclones (hurricanes) develop off the coast of Africa near Cabo Verde and move westward into the Caribbean Sea; hurricanes can occur from May to December but are most frequent from August to November
Ocean volume / ocean volume: 310,410,900 cu km
Ocean volume / percent of World Ocean total volume: 23.3%
Major ocean currents: clockwise North Atlantic Gyre consists of the northward flowing, warm Gulf Stream in the west, the eastward flowing North Atlantic Current in the north, the southward flowing cold Canary Current in the east, and the westward flowing North Equatorial Current in the south; the counterclockwise South Atlantic Gyre composed of the southward flowing warm Brazil Current in the west, the eastward flowing South Atlantic Current in the south, the northward flowing cold Benguela Current in the east, and the westward flowing South Equatorial Current in the north
Bathymetry / continental shelf: the passive margins of the Atlantic Ocean provide for wide continental shelves in North America, Northwest Europe, and the southern coast of South America the following are examples of features on the continental shelf of the Atlantic Ocean: Blake Plateau (Figure 5) Celtic Shelf (Figure 2) Dogger Bank (Figure 2) Flemish Cap (Figure 2) Falkland Plateau (Figure 3) Grand Banks of Newfoundland (Figure 2) Great Bahama Bank (Figure 5) Little Bahama Bank (Figure 5) Tunisian Plateau (Figure 4) Yucatán Shelf (Figure 5)
Bathymetry / continental slope: the following are examples of features on the continental slope of the Atlantic Ocean: Amazon Cone (Figure 3) Congo Fan (Figure 3) Hudson Canyon (Figure 5) Mississippi Fan (Figure 5)
Bathymetry / abyssal plains: the following are examples of features on the abyssal plains of the Atlantic Ocean: Angola Basin (Figure 3) Agulhas Basin (Figure 3) Argentine Basin (Figure 3) Brazil Basin (Figure 3) Canary Basin (Figure 2) Cape Basin (Figure 3) Colombia Basin (Figure 2) Labrador Basin (Figure 2) Mexico Basin (Figure 2) Newfoundland Basin (Figure 2) North American Basin (Figure 2) Venezuela Basin (Figure 2) West European Basin (Figure 2)
Bathymetry / mid-ocean ridge: the Charlie-Gibbs Fracture Zone displaces the mid-ocean ridge 350 km to the west, separating the Mid-Atlantic Ridge from the Reykjanes Ridge; the Romanche Fracture Zone, located near the equator, offsets the Mid-Atlantic Ridge 900 km and is considered the dividing line between the North and South Atlantic Oceans the following are examples of mid-ocean ridges on the floor of the Atlantic Ocean: East Mediterranean Ridge (Figure 4) Mid-Atlantic Ridge (Figures 2, 3) Reykjanes Ridge (Figure 2)
Bathymetry / undersea terrain features: the following are examples of undersea terrain features on the floor of the Atlantic Ocean: Bermuda Rise (Figure 2) Cape Verde Plateau (Figure 2) New England Seamounts (Figure 2) Rio Grande Plateau (Figure 3) Rockall Plateau (Figure 2)
Bathymetry / ocean trenches: the following are examples of ocean trenches on the floor of the Atlantic Ocean: Cayman Trench (Caribbean Sea) (Figure 2) Hellenic Trench (Mediterranean Sea) (Figure 4) Puerto Rico Trench (Figure 2) - deepest point in the Atlantic South Sandwich Trench (South Atlantic) (Figure 3)
Bathymetry / atolls: Rocas Atoll (Brazil) is the only atoll in the South Atlantic
Elevation / highest point: sea level
Elevation / lowest point: Puerto Rico Trench -8,605 m
Elevation / mean depth: -3,646 m
Elevation / ocean zones: the ocean is divided into three zones based on depth and light level; sunlight entering the water may travel about 1,000 m into the oceans under the right conditions, but there is rarely any significant light below 200 m euphotic zone : the upper 200 m (656 ft) is also called "sunlight" zone; only a small amount of light penetrates beyond this depth dysphotic zone : between 200 m (656 ft) and 1,000 m (3,280 ft), and also called the twilight zone; the intensity of light rapidly dissipates as depth increases, and photosynthesis is no longer possible aphotic zone : below 1,000 m (3,280 ft) and also called the midnight zone; sunlight does not penetrate to these depths
Natural resources: oil and gas fields, fish, marine mammals (seals and whales), sand and gravel aggregates, placer deposits, polymetallic nodules, precious stones
Natural hazards: icebergs common in Davis Strait, Denmark Strait, and the northwestern Atlantic Ocean from February to August and have been spotted as far south as Bermuda and the Madeira Islands; ships subject to superstructure icing in extreme northern Atlantic from October to May; persistent fog can be a maritime hazard from May to September; hurricanes (May to December)
Geography - note: major chokepoints include the Dardanelles, Strait of Gibraltar, access to the Panama and Suez Canals; strategic straits include the Strait of Dover, Straits of Florida, Mona Passage, The Sound (Oresund), and Windward Passage; the equator divides the Atlantic Ocean into the North Atlantic Ocean and South Atlantic Ocean

## Environment
Environmental issues: endangered marine species; fishery issues (over-fishing, unregulated bottom trawling, drift-net fishing, discards, catch of non-target species); pollution (maritime transport, discharges, offshore drilling, oil spills, improperly disposed waste); municipal sludge pollution off eastern US, southern Brazil, and eastern Argentina; oil pollution in Caribbean Sea, Gulf of America, Lake Maracaibo, Mediterranean Sea, and North Sea; industrial waste and municipal sewage pollution in Baltic Sea, North Sea, and Mediterranean Sea
Climate: tropical cyclones (hurricanes) develop off the coast of Africa near Cabo Verde and move westward into the Caribbean Sea; hurricanes can occur from May to December but are most frequent from August to November
Marine fisheries: the Atlantic Ocean fisheries are the second most important in the world accounting for 25.8%, or 20,300,000 mt, of the global catch in 2020; of the seven regions delineated by the Food and Agriculture Organization in the Atlantic basin, the most important include the following: Northeast Atlantic region (Region 27) is the fourth most important in the world, producing 10.5% of the global catch or 8,310,000 mt in 2020; the region encompasses the waters north of 36º North latitude and east of 40º West longitude, with the major producers including Norway (3,528,240 mt), Russia (1,044,153 mt), Iceland (933,019 mt), UK (823,669 mt), and Denmark (641,927 mt); the region includes the historically important fishing grounds of the North Sea, the Baltic Sea, and the Atlantic waters around Greenland, Iceland, and the British Isles; the principal catches include Atlantic cod, haddock, saithe (pollock), blue whiting, herring, and mackerel Eastern Central Atlantic region (Region 34) is the second most important Atlantic fishery, and seventh largest in the world, producing more than 6.3% of the global catch or 4,950,000 mt in 2020; the region encompasses the waters between 36º North and 6º South latitude and east of 40º West longitude off the west coast of Africa, with the major producers including Morocco (1,419,872 mt), Mauritania (705,850 mt), Senegal (472,571 mt), Nigeria (451,768 mt), Ghana (303,001 mt), Cameroon (265,969 mt), and Sierra Leone (200,000 mt); the principal catches include pilchard, sardinellas, shad, and mackerel Northwest Atlantic region (Region 21) is the fourth most important Atlantic fishery and eleventh in the world producing 1.9% of the global catch and 1,540,000 mt in 2020; it encompasses the waters north of 35º North latitude and west of 42º West longitude, including major fishing grounds over North America's continental shelf (the Grand Banks, Georges Bank, Flemish Cap, and Baffin Bay); the major producers include the US (927,777 mt), Canada (615,651 mt), and Greenland (179,990 mt); the principal catches include sea scallops, prawns, lobster, herring, and menhaden Mediterranean and Black Sea region (Region 37) is a minor fishing region representing 1.5% or 1,190,000 mt of the world’s total capture in 2020; the region encompasses all waters east of the Strait of Gibraltar, with the major producers including Turkey (686,650 mt), Italy (281,212 mt), Tunisia (129,325 mt), Spain (119,759 mt), and Russia (72,279 mt); the principal catches include European anchovy, European pilchard, gobies, and clams Regional fisheries bodies: Commission for the Conservation of Southern Bluefin Tuna, Fishery Committee for the Eastern Central Atlantic, Fisheries Committee for the West Central Gulf of Guinea, General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean, International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas, International Council for the Exploration of the Seas, Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization, North Atlantic Salmon Conservation Organization, North East Atlantic Fisheries Commission, Southeast Atlantic Fisheries Organization, Western Central Atlantic Fishery Commission

## Government
Country name / etymology: name derives from the ancient Greek description of the waters beyond the Strait of Gibraltar, Atlantis thalassa , meaning "Sea of Atlas"

## Economy

## Communications

## Transportation
Transportation - note: Kiel Canal and Saint Lawrence Seaway are two important waterways; significant domestic commercial and recreational use of Intracoastal Waterway on central and south Atlantic seaboard and Gulf of America coast of US

## Military and Security

## Transnational Issues

=== ZN ===

## Introduction
Background: The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the world's five ocean basins (followed by the Atlantic Ocean, Indian Ocean, Southern Ocean, and Arctic Ocean). Strategically important access waterways include the La Perouse, Tsugaru, Tsushima, Taiwan, Singapore, and Torres Straits. The International Hydrographic Organization decision in 2000 to delimit a fifth world ocean basin, the Southern Ocean, removed the portion of the Pacific Ocean south of 60 degrees south. For convenience and because of its immense size, the Pacific Ocean is often divided at the Equator and designated as the North Pacific Ocean and the South Pacific Ocean.

## Geography
Location: body of water between the Southern Ocean, Asia, Australia, and the Western Hemisphere
Geographic coordinates: 0 00 N, 160 00 W
Area / total: 168.723 million sq km
Area - comparative: about 15 times the size of the US; covers about 28% of the global surface; almost equal to the total land area of the world
Coastline: 135,663 km
Climate: planetary air pressure systems and resultant wind patterns exhibit remarkable uniformity in the south and east; trade winds and westerly winds are well-developed patterns, modified by seasonal fluctuations; tropical cyclones (hurricanes) may form south of Mexico from June to October and affect Mexico and Central America; continental influences cause climatic uniformity to be much less pronounced in the eastern and western regions at the same latitude in the North Pacific Ocean; the western Pacific is monsoonal - a rainy season occurs during the summer months, when moisture-laden winds blow from the ocean over the land, and a dry season during the winter months, when dry winds blow from the Asian landmass back to the ocean; tropical cyclones (typhoons) may strike southeast and east Asia from May to December
Ocean volume / ocean volume: 669.88 million cu km
Ocean volume / percent of World Ocean total volume: 50.1%
Major ocean currents: the clockwise North Pacific Gyre formed by the warm northward flowing Kuroshio Current in the west, the eastward flowing North Pacific Current in the north, the southward flowing cold California Current in the east, and the westward flowing North Equatorial Current in the south; the counterclockwise South Pacific Gyre composed of the southward flowing warm East Australian Current in the west, the eastward flowing South Pacific Current in the south, the northward flowing cold Peru (Humbolt) Current in the east, and the westward flowing South Equatorial Current in the north
Bathymetry / continental shelf: the following are examples of features on the continental shelf of the Pacific Ocean: Arafura Shelf (Figure 5) Sahul Shelf (Figure 5) Sunda Shelf (Figure 5) Taiwan Banks (Figure 5)
Bathymetry / continental slope: the following are examples of features on the continental slope of the Pacific Ocean: Pribilof Canyon (Figure 2) Zhemchug Canyon (Figure 2; deepest submarine canyon)
Bathymetry / abyssal plains: the following are examples of features on the abyssal plains of the Pacific Ocean: Aleutian Basin (Figure 2) Central Pacific Basin (Figure 2) Northeast Pacific Basin (Figure 2) Northwest Pacific Basin (Figure 2) Philippine Basin (Figure 4) Southwest Pacific Basin (Figure 4) Tasman Basin (Figure 4)
Bathymetry / mid-ocean ridge: the following are examples of mid-ocean ridges on the floor of the Pacific Ocean: East Pacific Rise (Figure 3) Pacific-Antarctic Ridge (Figure 3)
Bathymetry / undersea terrain features: the following are examples of undersea terrain features on the floor of the Pacific Ocean: Caroline Seamounts (Figure 5) East Mariana Ridge (Figure 4) Emperor Seamount Chain (Figure 2) Hawaiian Ridge (Figure 2) Lord Howe Seamount Chain (Figure 4) Louisville Ridge (Figure 4) Kapingamarangi (Ontong-Java) Rise (Figure 5; largest submarine plateau) Macclesfield Bank (Figure 5) Marshall Seamounts (Figure 2) Magellan Seamounts (Figure 2) Mid-Pacific Seamounts (Figure 2) Reed Tablemount (Figure 5) Shatsky Rise (Figure 2; third-largest submarine plateau) Tonga-Kermadec Ridge (Figure 4)
Bathymetry / ocean trenches: the following are examples of ocean trenches on the floor of the Pacific Ocean: Aleutian Trench (Figure 2) Chile Trench (Figure 3) Izu-Ogasawara Trench (Figure 2) Japan Trench (Figure 2) Kermadec Trench (Figures 3, 4) Kuril-Kamchatka Trench (Figure 2) Manus Trench (Figure 4) Mariana Trench (Figures 2, 4; deepest ocean trench) Middle America Trench (Figure 3) Nansei-Shoto Trench (Figure 5) Palau Trench (Figures 2, 4) Philippine Trench (Figure 4) Peru-Chile Trench (Figure 3) South New Hebrides Trench (Figure 4) Tonga Trench (Figures 3, 4) Yap Trench (Figures 2, 4)
Bathymetry / atolls: the following are examples of atolls in the Pacific Ocean, and because they are also countries or territories, they have entries in The World Factbook with additional information: Federated States of Micronesia French Polynesia Kiribati Marshall Islands Midway Island Tonga Tuvalu Vanuatu Wake Island
Elevation / highest point: sea level
Elevation / lowest point: Challenger Deep in the Mariana Trench -10,924 m
Elevation / mean depth: -4,080 m
Elevation / ocean zones: the ocean is divided into three zones based on depth and light level; sunlight entering the water may travel about 1,000 m into the oceans under the right conditions, but there is rarely any significant light below 200 m euphotic zone : the upper 200 m (656 ft) is also called "sunlight" zone; only a small amount of light penetrates beyond this depth dysphotic zone : between 200 m (656 ft) and 1,000 m (3,280 ft), and also called the twilight zone; the intensity of light rapidly dissipates as depth increases, and photosynthesis is no longer possible aphotic zone : below 1,000 m (3,280 ft) and also called the midnight zone; sunlight does not penetrate to these depths
Natural resources: oil and gas fields, polymetallic nodules, sand and gravel aggregates, placer deposits, fish
Natural hazards: surrounded by a zone of violent volcanic and earthquake activity sometimes referred to as the "Pacific Ring of Fire"; up to 90% of the world's earthquakes and some 75% of the world's volcanoes occur within the Ring of Fire; 80% of tsunamis, caused by volcanic or seismic events, occur within the "Pacific Ring of Fire"; subject to tropical cyclones (typhoons) in southeast and east Asia from May to December (most frequent from July to October); tropical cyclones (hurricanes) may form south of Mexico and strike Central America and Mexico from June to October (most common in August and September); cyclical El Ni&ntilde;o/La Ni&ntilde;a phenomenon occurs in the equatorial Pacific, influencing weather in the Western Hemisphere and the western Pacific; ships subject to superstructure icing in extreme north from October to May; persistent fog in the northern Pacific can be a maritime hazard from June to December
Geography - note: the major chokepoints are the Bering Strait, Panama Canal, Luzon Strait, and the Singapore Strait; the equator divides the Pacific Ocean into the North Pacific Ocean and the South Pacific Ocean; dotted with low coral islands and rugged volcanic islands in the southwestern Pacific Ocean; much of the Pacific Ocean's rim lies along the Ring of Fire, which is a belt that contains about 75% of the world's volcanoes and up to 90% of the world's earthquakes; the Pacific Ocean is the deepest ocean basin, averaging 4,000 m (13,123 ft) in depth

## People and Society

## Environment
Environmental issues: pollution from sources such as sewage, nutrient runoff from agriculture, plastic pollution, and toxic waste; habitat destruction; overfishing; sea level-rise and ocean acidification; endangered marine species include the dugong, sea lion, sea otter, seals, turtles, and whales; oil pollution in Philippine Sea and South China Sea
Climate: planetary air pressure systems and resultant wind patterns exhibit remarkable uniformity in the south and east; trade winds and westerly winds are well-developed patterns, modified by seasonal fluctuations; tropical cyclones (hurricanes) may form south of Mexico from June to October and affect Mexico and Central America; continental influences cause climatic uniformity to be much less pronounced in the eastern and western regions at the same latitude in the North Pacific Ocean; the western Pacific is monsoonal - a rainy season occurs during the summer months, when moisture-laden winds blow from the ocean over the land, and a dry season during the winter months, when dry winds blow from the Asian landmass back to the ocean; tropical cyclones (typhoons) may strike southeast and east Asia from May to December
Marine fisheries: the Pacific Ocean fisheries are the most important in the world, accounting for 58.1%, or 45,800,000 mt, of the global marine capture in 2020; of the six regions delineated by the Food and Agriculture Organization in the Pacific Ocean, the following are the most important: Northwest Pacific region (Region 61) is the world’s most important fishery, producing 24.3% of the global catch or 19,150,000 mt in 2020; it encompasses the waters north of 20º north latitude and west of 175º west longitude, with the major producers including China (29,080726 mt), Japan (3,417,871 mt), South Korea (1,403,892 mt), and Taiwan (487,739 mt); the principal catches include Alaska pollock, Japanese anchovy, chub mackerel, and scads Western Central Pacific region (Region 71) is the world’s second most important fishing region producing 16.8%, or 13,260,000 mt, of the global catch in 2020; tuna is the most important species in this region; the region includes the waters between 20º North and 25º South latitude and west of 175º West longitude with the major producers including Indonesia (6,907,932 mt), Vietnam (4,571,497 mt), Philippines (2,416,879 mt), Thailand (1,509,574 mt), and Malaysia (692,553 mt); the principal catches include skipjack and yellowfin tuna, sardinellas, and cephalopods Southeast Pacific region (Region 87) is the third largest fishery in the world, producing 10.7%, or 8,400,000 mt, of the global catch in 2020; this region includes the nutrient-rich waters off the west coast of South America between 5º North and 60º South latitude and east of 120º West longitude, with the major producers including Peru (4,888,730 mt), Chile (3,298,795 mt), and Ecuador (1,186,249 mt); the principal catches include Peruvian anchovy (68.5% of the catch), jumbo flying squid, and Chilean jack mackerel Pacific Northeast region (Region 67) is the eighth largest fishery in the world, producing 3.6% of the global catch or 2,860,000 mt in 2020; this region encompasses the waters north of 40º North latitude and east of 175º West longitude, including the Gulf of Alaska and Bering Sea, with the major producers including the US (3,009,568 mt), Canada (276,677 mt), and Russia (6,908 mt); the principal catches include Alaska pollock, Pacific cod, and North Pacific hake Regional fisheries bodies: Commission for the Conservation of Southern Bluefin Tuna, Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission, International Council for the Exploration of the Seas, North Pacific Anadromous Fish Commission, North Pacific Fisheries Commission, South Pacific Regional Fisheries Management Organization, Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center, Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission

## Government
Country name / etymology: named by Portuguese explorer Ferdinand MAGELLAN while circumnavigating the world in 1520; he called it "Mar Pacifico," which means "peaceful sea" in both Portuguese and Spanish, because he encountered no storms during the crossing

## Economy

## Communications

## Transportation

## Military and Security

## Transnational Issues

=== Argentina ===

## Introduction
Background: In 1816, the United Provinces of the Río de la Plata declared their independence from Spain. After Bolivia, Paraguay, and Uruguay went their separate ways, the area that remained became Argentina. European immigrants heavily shaped the country's population and culture, with Italy and Spain providing the largest percentage of newcomers from 1860 to 1930. Until about the mid-20th century, much of Argentina's history was dominated by periods of internal political unrest and conflict between civilian and military factions. After World War II, former President Juan Domingo PERÓN -- the founder of the Peronist political movement -- introduced an era of populism, serving three non-consecutive terms in office until his death in 1974. Direct and indirect military interference in government throughout the PERÓN years led to a military junta taking power in 1976. In 1982, the junta failed in its bid to seize the Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) by force from the United Kingdom. Democracy was reinstated in 1983 and has persisted despite numerous challenges, the most formidable of which was a severe economic crisis in 2001-02 that led to violent public protests and the successive resignations of several presidents. The years 2003-15 saw Peronist rule by Néstor KIRCHNER (2003-07) and his spouse Cristina FERNÁNDEZ DE KIRCHNER (2007-15), who oversaw several years of strong economic growth (2003-11) followed by a gradual deterioration in the government’s fiscal situation and eventual economic stagnation and isolation. Argentina underwent a brief period of economic reform and international reintegration under Mauricio MACRI (2015-19), but a recession in 2018-19 and frustration with MACRI’s economic policies ushered in a new Peronist government in 2019 led by President Alberto FERNÁNDEZ and Vice President Cristina FERNÁNDEZ DE KIRCHNER. Argentina's high public debts, its pandemic-related inflationary pressures, and systemic monetary woes served as the catalyst for the 2023 elections, culminating with President Javier MILEI's electoral success. Argentina has since eliminated half of its government agencies and is seeking shock therapy to amend taxation and monetary policies.

## Geography
Location: Southern South America, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, between Chile and Uruguay
Geographic coordinates: 34 00 S, 64 00 W
Map references: South America
Area / total: 2,780,400 sq km
Area / land: 2,736,690 sq km
Area / water: 43,710 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly less than three-tenths the size of the US
Land boundaries / total: 11,968 km
Land boundaries / border countries: Bolivia 942 km; Brazil 1,263 km; Chile 6,691 km; Paraguay 2,531 km; Uruguay 541 km
Coastline: 4,989 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: mostly temperate; arid in southeast; subantarctic in southwest
Terrain: rich plains of the Pampas in northern half, flat to rolling plateau of Patagonia in south, rugged Andes along western border
Elevation / highest point: Cerro Aconcagua (located in the northwestern corner of the province of Mendoza; highest point in South America) 6,962 m
Elevation / lowest point: Laguna del Carb&oacute;n (located between Puerto San Juli&aacute;n and Comandante Luis Piedra Buena in the province of Santa Cruz) -105 m
Elevation / mean elevation: 595 m
Natural resources: fertile plains of the pampas, lead, zinc, tin, copper, iron ore, manganese, petroleum, uranium, arable land
Land use / agricultural land: 42.4% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 14.8% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 0.4% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 27.3% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 17.2% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 40.4% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land: 13,910 sq km (2018)
Major lakes (area sq km) / fresh water lake(s): Lago Buenos Aires (shared with Chile) - 2,240 sq km; Lago Argentino - 1,410 sq km; Lago Viedma - 1,090 sq km; Lago San Mart&iacute;n (shared with Chile) - 1,010 sq km; Lago Colhu&eacute; Huapi - 800 sq km; Lago Fagnano (shared with Chile) - 590 sq km; Lago Nahuel Huapi - 550 sq km
Major lakes (area sq km) / salt water lake(s): Laguna Mar Chiquita - 1,850 sq km;
Major rivers (by length in km): Río de la Plata/Paraná river mouth (shared with Brazil [s], Paraguay, and Uruguay) - 4,880 km; Paraguay (shared with Brazil [s], and Paraguay [m]) - 2,549 km; Uruguay (shared with Brazil [s] and Uruguay [m]) - 1,610 km note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Major watersheds (area sq km) / Atlantic Ocean drainage: Paran&aacute; (2,582,704 sq km)
Major aquifers: Guaran&iacute; Aquifer System
Population distribution: one third of the population lives in Buenos Aires; pockets of agglomeration occur throughout the northern and central parts of the country; Patagonia to the south remains sparsely populated
Natural hazards: San Miguel de Tucumán and Mendoza areas in the Andes subject to earthquakes; pamperos are violent windstorms that can strike the pampas and northeast; heavy flooding in some areas volcanism: volcanic activity in the Andes Mountains along the Chilean border; Copahue (2,997 m) last erupted in 2000; other historically active volcanoes include Llullaillaco, Maipo, Planchón-Peteroa, San José, Tromen, Tupungatito, and Viedma
Geography - note: second-largest country in South America (after Brazil); strategic location relative to sea lanes between the South Atlantic and the South Pacific Oceans (Strait of Magellan, Beagle Channel, Drake Passage); diverse geophysical landscapes range from tropical climates in the north to tundra in the far south; Cerro Aconcagua is the Western Hemisphere's tallest mountain, while Laguna del Carb&oacute;n is the lowest point in the Western Hemisphere; shares Iguaz&uacute; Falls, the world's largest waterfalls system, with Brazil

## People and Society
Population / total: 45,418,098 (2025 est.)
Population / male: 22,535,980
Population / female: 22,882,118
Nationality / noun: Argentine(s)
Nationality / adjective: Argentine
Ethnic groups: European (mostly Spanish and Italian descent) and Mestizo (mixed European and Indigenous ancestry) 97.2%, Indigenous 2.4%, African descent 0.4% (2010 est.)
Languages / Languages: Spanish (official), Italian, English, German, French, indigenous (Quechua, Guarani, Mapudungun)
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 62.9%, Evangelical 15.3% (Pentecostal 13%, other Evangelical 2.3%), Jehovah's Witness and Church of Jesus Christ 1.4%, other 1.2% (includes Muslim, Jewish), none 18.9% (includes agnostic and atheist), unspecified 0.3% (2019 est.)
Age structure / 0-14 years: 23.3% (male 5,632,983/female 5,301,778)
Age structure / 15-64 years: 63.9% (male 15,071,215/female 14,956,069)
Age structure / 65 years and over: 12.8% (2024 est.) (male 2,570,596/female 3,461,743)
Dependency ratios / total dependency ratio: 49.9 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / youth dependency ratio: 30.3 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / elderly dependency ratio: 19.6 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / potential support ratio: 5.1 (2025 est.)
Median age / total: 34.6 years (2025 est.)
Median age / male: 32.1 years
Median age / female: 34.6 years
Population growth rate: 0.26% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 10.47 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 7.94 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: 0.06 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution: one third of the population lives in Buenos Aires; pockets of agglomeration occur throughout the northern and central parts of the country; Patagonia to the south remains sparsely populated
Urbanization / urban population: 92.5% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 0.97% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 15.490 million BUENOS AIRES (capital), 1.612 million C&oacute;rdoba, 1.594 million Rosario, 1.226 million Mendoza, 1.027 million San Miguel de Tucum&aacute;n, 914,000 La Plata (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: 1.01 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 65 years and over: 0.74 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio: 33 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Infant mortality rate / total: 7.4 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Infant mortality rate / male: 9.9 deaths/1,000 live births
Infant mortality rate / female: 7.9 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth / total population: 78.8 years (2024 est.)
Life expectancy at birth / male: 75.8 years
Life expectancy at birth / female: 82 years
Total fertility rate: 1.43 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 0.69 (2025 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: urban: urban: 99.8% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: urban: urban: 0.2% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: total: total: (2020 est.) NA
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 9.7% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 15.2% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density: 5.11 physicians/1,000 population (2023)
Hospital bed density: 3.3 beds/1,000 population (2021 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: 28.3% (2016)
Alcohol consumption per capita / total: 7.95 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / beer: 3.62 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / wine: 2.88 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / spirits: 0.72 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / other alcohols: 0.72 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Tobacco use / total: 21.9% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / male: 26.9% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / female: 17.1% (2025 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 2% (2018 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49): 49.7% (2020 est.)
Child marriage / women married by age 15: 2.4% (2020)
Child marriage / women married by age 18: 15.5% (2020)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% GDP): 5.9% of GDP (2023 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% national budget): 14% national budget (2023 est.)
Literacy / total population: 99.1% (2020 est.)
Literacy / male: 99.1% (2020 est.)
Literacy / female: 99.2% (2020 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / total: 19 years (2022 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / male: 17 years (2022 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / female: 21 years (2022 est.)

## Environment
Environmental issues: deforestation; soil degradation (erosion, salinization); desertification; air pollution; water pollution
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, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
International environmental agreements / signed, but not ratified: Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Marine Life Conservation
Climate: mostly temperate; arid in southeast; subantarctic in southwest
Land use / agricultural land: 42.4% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 14.8% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 0.4% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 27.3% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 17.2% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 40.4% (2023 est.)
Urbanization / urban population: 92.5% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 0.97% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / total emissions: 198.141 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from coal and metallurgical coke: 5.022 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from petroleum and other liquids: 102.998 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from consumed natural gas: 90.122 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Particulate matter emissions: 12 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Methane emissions / energy: 1,553.3 kt (2022-2024 est.)
Methane emissions / agriculture: 3,035.5 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Methane emissions / waste: 631 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Methane emissions / other: 89.9 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Waste and recycling / municipal solid waste generated annually: 17.911 million tons (2024 est.)
Waste and recycling / percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 9.6% (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / municipal: 5.85 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / industrial: 4 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / agricultural: 27.93 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total renewable water resources: 876.24 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: Argentine Republic
Country name / conventional short form: Argentina
Country name / local long form: Rep&uacute;blica Argentina
Country name / local short form: Argentina
Country name / etymology: the name is derived from one of the Spanish words for "silver," but the origin is unclear; it may have described the land next to the Rio de la Plata ("Silver River"), a major river that forms the boundary between Argentina and Uruguay; another possible source is the Spanish explorers in the 16th century mistakenly believing that the silver ornaments they bought from inhabitants came from a local source of silver
Government type: presidential republic
Capital / name: Buenos Aires
Capital / geographic coordinates: 34 36 S, 58 22 W
Capital / time difference: UTC-3 (2 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Capital / etymology: the name translates as "fair winds" in Spanish; the full original name, Nuestra Senora Santa Maria de los Buenos Aires, was given only to the port; the city was founded separately from the port in 1536 and was named Ciudad de la Santissima Trinidad (City of the Most Holy Trinity); the shortened version of the port name eventually became the city name
Administrative divisions: 23 provinces ( provincias , singular - provincia ) and 1 autonomous city*; Buenos Aires, Catamarca, Chaco, Chubut, Ciudad Autonoma de Buenos Aires*, Cordoba, Corrientes, Entre Rios, Formosa, Jujuy, La Pampa, La Rioja, Mendoza, Misiones, Neuquen, Rio Negro, Salta, San Juan, San Luis, Santa Cruz, Santa Fe, Santiago del Estero, Tierra del Fuego - Antartida e Islas del Atlántico Sur (Tierra del Fuego - Antarctica and the South Atlantic Islands), Tucuman
Legal system: civil law system based on Western European legal systems
Constitution / history: several previous; latest effective 11 May 1853
Constitution / amendment process: a declaration of proposed amendments requires two-thirds majority vote by both houses of the National Congress followed by approval by an ad hoc, multi-member constitutional convention
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: 2 years
Suffrage: 18-70 years of age; universal and compulsory; 16-17 years of age: optional for national elections
Executive branch / chief of state: President Javier Gerardo MILEI (since 10 December 2023)
Executive branch / head of government: President Javier Gerardo MILEI (since 10 December 2023)
Executive branch / cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president
Executive branch / election/appointment process: president and vice president directly elected on the same ballot by qualified majority vote (to win, a candidate must receive at least 45% of votes, or 40% of votes and a 10-point lead over the second-place candidate; if neither occurs, a second round is held); the president serves a 4-year term (eligible for a second consecutive term)
Executive branch / most recent election date: 22 October 2023, with a runoff held 19 November 2023
Executive branch / election results: 2023: Javier Gerardo MILEI elected president in second round; percent vote in first round - Sergio Tomás MASSA (FR) 36.7%, Javier Gerardo MILEI (PL) 30%, Patricia BULLRICH 23.8% (JxC/PRO), Juan SCHIARETTI (PJ) 6.8%, Myriam BREGMAN (PTS) 2.7%; percent of vote in second round - Javier Gerardo MILEI 55.7%, Sergio Tomás MASSA 44.3% 2019: Alberto Ángel FERNÁNDEZ elected president; percent of vote - Alberto Angel FERNÁNDEZ (TODOS) 48.1%, Mauricio MACRI (PRO) 40.4%, Roberto LAVAGNA (independent) 6.2%, other 5.3%
Executive branch / expected date of next election: October 2027
Legislative branch / legislature name: National Congress (Congreso de la nación)
Legislative branch / legislative structure: bicameral
Legislative branch - lower chamber / chamber name: Chamber of Deputies (Cámara de Diputados)
Legislative branch - lower chamber / number of seats: 257 (all directly elected)
Legislative branch - lower chamber / electoral system: proportional representation
Legislative branch - lower chamber / scope of elections: partial renewal
Legislative branch - lower chamber / term in office: 4 years
Legislative branch - lower chamber / most recent election date: 10/22/2023
Legislative branch - lower chamber / parties elected and seats per party: Union for the Homeland (UP) (48); Freedom Advances (LLA) (28); Together for Change (JxC/Juntos) (27); Other (25)
Legislative branch - lower chamber / percentage of women in chamber: 42.4%
Legislative branch - lower chamber / expected date of next election: October 2025
Legislative branch - upper chamber / chamber name: Senate (Senado)
Legislative branch - upper chamber / number of seats: 72 (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: 10/22/2023
Legislative branch - upper chamber / parties elected and seats per party: Union for the Homeland (UP) (9); Freedom Advances (LLA) (6); Together for Change (JxC/Juntos) (2); Front for the Renewal of Social Concord – Federal Innovation (2); Federal Renewal (2); For Santa Cruz (2); Other (1)
Legislative branch - upper chamber / percentage of women in chamber: 45.8%
Legislative branch - upper chamber / expected date of next election: October 2025
Judicial branch / highest court(s): Supreme Court or Corte Suprema (consists of the court president, vice president, 2 judges, 1 vacancy)
Judicial branch / judge selection and term of office: judges nominated by the president and approved by the Senate; ministers can serve until mandatory retirement at age 75; extensions beyond 75 require renomination by the president and approval by the Senate
Judicial branch / subordinate courts: federal-level appellate, district, and territorial courts; provincial-level supreme, appellate, and first-instance courts
Political parties: Avanza Libertad or AL Civic Coalition ARI or CC-ARI Consenso Federal (Federal Consensus) or CF Frente Cívico por Santiago (Civic Front for Santiago) Frente de Izquierda y de los Trabajadores – Unidad (Workers' Left Front) or FIT-U (coalition of leftist parties in lower house; includes PTS, PO, and MST) Frente de la Concordia Misionero (Front for the Renewal of Social Concord) or FRCS Frente Renovador (Renewal Front) or FR Generación por un Encuentro Nacional (Generation for a National Encounter) or GEN Hacemos por Córdoba (We do for Cordoba) or HC Hacemos por Nuestro Pais (We Do For Our Country) or NHP Juntos por el Cambio (Together for Change) or JxC (includes CC-ARI, PRO, and UCR); note - primary opposition coalition since 2019 Juntos Somos Río Negro (Together We Are Rio Negro) or JSRN Partido Justicialista (Justicialist Party) or PJ La Cámpora La Libertad Avanza (The Liberty Advances) or LLA Movimiento Popular Neuquino (Neuquén People's Movement) or MPN Movimiento Socialista de los Trabajadores (Workers' Socialist Movement) or MST Partido de los Trabajadores Socialistas (Socialist Workers' Party) or PTS Partido Demócrata (Democratic Party) or PDN Partido Libertario (Libertarian Party) or PL; note - party is also a founding member of the coalition La Libertad Avanza Partido Obrero (Workers' Party) or PO Partido Socialista or PS Propuesta Republicana (Republican Proposal) or PRO Unidad Federal (coalition of provencial parties in the lower house; includes FRCS and JSRN) Unión Cívica Radical (Radical Civic Union) or UCR Unión por la Patria (Union for the Homeland) or UP (formerly Frente de Todos (Everyone's Front) or FdT) (includes FR, La Cámpora, and PJ); note - ruling coalition since 2019; includes several national and provincial Peronist political parties Vamos con Vos (Let's Go with You) or VcV
Diplomatic representation in the US / chief of mission: Ambassador Alejandro (Alec) Carlos Francisco OXENFORD (since 11 June 2025)
Diplomatic representation in the US / chancery: 1600 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009
Diplomatic representation in the US / telephone: [1] (202) 238-6400
Diplomatic representation in the US / FAX: [1] (202) 332-3171
Diplomatic representation in the US / email address and website: eeeuu@mrecic.gov.ar https://eeeuu.cancilleria.gob.ar/en
Diplomatic representation in the US / consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York
Diplomatic representation from the US / chief of mission: Ambassador Peter LAMELAS (since 4 November 2025)
Diplomatic representation from the US / embassy: Avenida Colombia 4300, (C1425GMN) Buenos Aires
Diplomatic representation from the US / mailing address: 3130 Buenos Aires Place, Washington DC 20521-3130
Diplomatic representation from the US / telephone: [54] (11) 5777-4533
Diplomatic representation from the US / FAX: [54] (11) 5777-4240
Diplomatic representation from the US / email address and website: Buenosairespublicaffairs@state.gov https://ar.usembassy.gov/
International organization participation: AfDB (nonregional member), Australia Group, BCIE, BIS, CAN (associate), CD, CABEI, CELAC, FAO, FATF, G-15, G-20, G-24, G-77, 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), LAES, LAIA, Mercosur, MIGA, MINURSO, MINUSTAH, NAM (observer), NSG, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, Paris Club (associate), PCA, PROSUR, SICA (observer), UN, UNASUR, UNCTAD, UNDOF, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNHRC, UNIDO, Union Latina (observer), UNOOSA, UNTSO, UNWTO, UPU, Wassenaar Arrangement, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
Independence: 9 July 1816 (from Spain)
National holiday: Revolution Day (May Revolution Day), 25 May (1810)
Flag: description: three equal horizontal bands of sky blue (top), white, and sky blue; centered in the white band is a radiant yellow sun with a human face that is known as the Sun of May meaning: the colors represent the clear skies and snow of the Andes Mountains; the sun commemorates the first mass demonstration in favor of independence on 25 May 1810, when the sun broke through the clouds; the sun is designed to look like Inti, the Incan god of the sun
National symbol(s): Sun of May (a sun-with-face symbol)
National color(s): sky blue, white
National anthem(s) / title: "Himno Nacional Argentino" (Argentine National Anthem)
National anthem(s) / lyrics/music: Vicente LOPEZ y PLANES/Jose Blas PARERA
National anthem(s) / history: adopted 1813; Vicente LOPEZ was inspired to write the anthem after watching a play about the 1810 May Revolution against Spain; a 1900 presidential decree declared that only the first and last verses would be considered official, rather than the original nine verses
National heritage / total World Heritage Sites: 12 (7 cultural, 5 natural)
National heritage / selected World Heritage Site locales: Los Glaciares National Park (n); Jesuit Missions of the Guaranis (c); Iguazú National Park (n); Cueva de las Manos (c); Valdés Península (n); Ischigualasto/Talampaya National Parks (n); Jesuit Block and Estancias of Córdoba (c); Quebrada de Humahuaca (c); Qhapaq Ñan/Andean Road System (c)

## Economy
Economic overview: large diversified economy; financial risks from debt obligations, rapid inflation, and reduced investor appetites; resource-rich, export-led growth model; increasing trade relations with China; G20 and OAS leader; tendency to nationalize businesses and under-report inflation
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $1.213 trillion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $1.234 trillion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $1.255 trillion (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2024: -1.7% (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2023: -1.6% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2022: 5.3% (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2024: $26,500 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2023: $27,100 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2022: $27,600 (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $633.267 billion (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 73.1% (2022 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021: 47.1% (2021 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2020: 40.5% (2020 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / agriculture: 6% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / industry: 24% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / services: 53.4% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / household consumption: 68.1% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / government consumption: 15% (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: 15.3% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / imports of goods and services: -12.8% (2024 est.)
Agricultural products: maize, soybeans, sugarcane, wheat, milk, sunflower seeds, barley, beef, potatoes, chicken (2023)
Industries: food processing, motor vehicles, consumer durables, textiles, chemicals and petrochemicals, printing, metallurgy, steel
Industrial production growth rate: -7.2% (2024 est.)
Labor force: 22.286 million (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2024: 7.9% (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2023: 6.2% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2022: 6.9% (2022 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / total: 21.2% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / male: 19.8% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / female: 23% (2024 est.)
Population below poverty line: 41.7% (2023 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income / Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2023: 42.4 (2023 est.)
Average household expenditures / on food: 23.1% 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%: 1.9% (2023 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / highest 10%: 31% (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: $115.69 billion (2023 est.)
Budget / expenditures: $139.037 billion (2023 est.)
Public debt / Public debt 2016: 55% of GDP (2016 est.)
Taxes and other revenues: 10% (of GDP) (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2024: $6.285 billion (2024 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2023: -$20.956 billion (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2022: -$4.055 billion (2022 est.)
Exports / Exports 2024: $96.899 billion (2024 est.)
Exports / Exports 2023: $82.947 billion (2023 est.)
Exports / Exports 2022: $102.928 billion (2022 est.)
Exports - partners: Brazil 18%, USA 9%, Chile 8%, China 8%, India 4% (2023)
Exports - commodities: soybean meal, corn, trucks, soybean oil, crude petroleum (2023)
Imports / Imports 2024: $79.999 billion (2024 est.)
Imports / Imports 2023: $92.3 billion (2023 est.)
Imports / Imports 2022: $97.399 billion (2022 est.)
Imports - partners: Brazil 23%, China 20%, USA 12%, Paraguay 5%, Germany 4% (2023)
Imports - commodities: soybeans, vehicle parts/accessories, refined petroleum, natural gas, cars (2023)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024: $29.56 billion (2024 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023: $23.081 billion (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $44.795 billion (2022 est.)
Debt - external / Debt - external 2023: $74.362 billion (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Currency: Argentine pesos (ARS) per US dollar -
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2024: 914.695 (2024 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2023: 296.258 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2022: 130.617 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2021: 94.991 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2020: 70.539 (2020 est.)

## Energy
Electricity access / electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)
Electricity / installed generating capacity: 47.631 million kW (2023 est.)
Electricity / consumption: 114.667 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / exports: 31 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / imports: 11.393 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / transmission/distribution losses: 27.027 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / fossil fuels: 61.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / nuclear: 6.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / solar: 2.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / wind: 11% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / hydroelectricity: 16.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / biomass and waste: 1.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Nuclear energy / Number of operational nuclear reactors: 3 (2025)
Nuclear energy / Number of nuclear reactors under construction: 1 (2025)
Nuclear energy / Net capacity of operational nuclear reactors: 1.64GW (2025 est.)
Nuclear energy / Percent of total electricity production: 6.3% (2023 est.)
Coal / production: 869,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / consumption: 2.534 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / exports: 300 metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / imports: 1.936 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / proven reserves: 799.999 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum / total petroleum production: 807,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Petroleum / refined petroleum consumption: 749,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Petroleum / crude oil estimated reserves: 2.483 billion barrels (2021 est.)
Natural gas / production: 43.69 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / consumption: 46.028 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / exports: 2.344 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / imports: 5.225 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / proven reserves: 396.464 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)
Energy consumption per capita / Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 78.496 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

## Communications
Telephones - fixed lines / total subscriptions: 6.42 million (2024 est.)
Telephones - fixed lines / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 14 (2024 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / total subscriptions: 64.1 million (2024 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 140 (2024 est.)
Broadcast media: one of South America's biggest media markets; dozens of TV networks, hundreds of radio stations, and more than 150 daily newspapers (2023)
Internet country code: .ar
Internet users / percent of population: 89% (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / total: 11.5 million (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 25 (2023 est.)

## Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: LV
Airports: 764 (2025)
Heliports: 148 (2025)
Railways / total: 17,866 km (2018)
Merchant marine / total: 201 (2023)
Merchant marine / by type: container ship 1, bulk carrier 1 general cargo 8, oil tanker 33, other 158
Ports / total ports: 37 (2024)
Ports / large: 1
Ports / medium: 2
Ports / small: 10
Ports / very small: 24
Ports / ports with oil terminals: 19
Ports / key ports: Buenos Aires, Campana, Concepcion del Uruguay, La Plata, Mar del Plata, Puerto Belgrano, Puerto Ingeniero White, Puerto Madryn, Rosario, San Sebastian Bay, Santa Fe, Ushuaia, Zarate

## Military and Security
Military and security forces: Armed Forces of the Argentine Republic (Fuerzas Armadas de la República Argentina): Argentine Army (Ejercito Argentino, EA), Navy of the Argentine Republic (Armada Republica, ARA; includes naval aviation and naval infantry), Argentine Air Force (Fuerza Aerea Argentina, FAA) Ministry of Security: Gendarmería Nacional Argentina (National Gendarmerie), Coast Guard (Prefectura Naval) (2025)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2024: 0.6% of GDP (2024 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2023: 0.5% 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: approximately 75,000 active-duty Armed Forces (45,000 Army; 15,000 Navy, including about 3,500 marines; 15,000 Air Force) (2025)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the inventory of Argentina's armed forces is a mix of domestically produced and imported weapons, largely from Europe and the US; in recent years, France and the US have been the leading suppliers of equipment; Argentina has an indigenous defense industry that produces air, land, and naval systems (2025)
Military service age and obligation: 18-24 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women; conscription suspended in 1995; citizens can still be drafted in times of crisis, national emergency, or war, or if the Defense Ministry is unable to fill all vacancies to keep the military functional (2025)
Military deployments: 230 Cyprus (UNFICYP) (2025)
Military - note: the Argentine military’s primary responsibilities are territorial defense and protecting the country’s sovereignty; duties also include border security, countering narcotics trafficking, and other internal missions, such as disaster response and infrastructure development; it conducts support operations and has bases in Antarctica to promote an active presence in areas of national territory that are sparsely populated; the military also participates in both bilateral and multinational training exercises and supports UN peacekeeping operations Argentina participates in the Tripartite Command, an interagency security mechanism created by Argentina, Brazil, and Paraguay to exchange information and combat transnational threats, such as crime and terrorism, in the Tri-Border Area; in addition, Argentina and Chile have a joint peacekeeping force known as the Combined Southern Cross Peacekeeping Force, designed to be made available to the UN; Argentina 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 Army and Navy were both created in 1810 during the Argentine War of Independence, while the Air Force was established in 1945; the military conducted coups d'état in 1930, 1943, 1955, 1962, 1966, and 1976; the 1976 coup, aka the "National Reorganization Process," marked the beginning of the so-called "Dirty War," a period of state-sponsored terrorism that saw the deaths or disappearances of thousands of Argentinians; the defeat in the 1982 Falklands War led to the downfall of the military junta (2025)

## Space
Space agency/agencies: Argentina National Space Activities Commission (Comision Nacional de Actividades Espaciales, CONAE; formed in 1991) (2025)
Space launch site(s): Manuel Belgrano Space Center (Buenos Aires province); Punta Indio Space Center (Buenos Aires province); Teofilo Tabanera Space Center (CETT; Cordoba Province; testing/mission control) (2025)
Space program overview: has a national space program and a history in the development of space-related capabilities, including rockets and satellites; develops, builds, and operates communications, remote sensing (RS), and scientific satellites, often in partnership with other countries; developing additional satellites with more advanced payloads; contracts with commercial and other government space agencies for launches, but has a domestic rocket program and is developing space launch vehicle (SLV) capabilities; cooperates with a broad range of space agencies and industries, including those of Brazil, China, the European Space Agency and its member states (particularly France, Italy), and the US; also has a commercial space industry (2025)
Key space-program milestones: 1961-1967 - launched first rocket (Alfa Centauro) and was first country in Latin America to send an animal into space 1997 - first domestically built communications satellite (Nahuel-1A) launched on European satellite launch vehicle (SLV) 2007 - launch of first sub-orbital test rocket for domestic SLV (Tronador) project 2018 - first domestically built, synthetic-aperture-radar remote sensing satellite (SAOCOM 1A) launched by US 2020-2021 - worked with Mexico to create the Latin American and Caribbean Space Agency (ALCE) 2023 - signed US-led Artemis Accords outlining best practices for space exploration 2025 - continued development of two-stage Tronador SLV

## Terrorism
Terrorist group(s): Hizballah

## Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons / refugees: 9,175 (2024 est.)
Refugees and internally displaced persons / IDPs: 74 (2024 est.)
Refugees and internally displaced persons / stateless persons: 34 (2024 est.)

=== Bolivia ===

## Introduction
Background: Bolivia, named after independence fighter Simón BOLÍVAR, broke away from Spanish rule in 1825. Much of its subsequent history has consisted of a series of coups and countercoups, with the last coup occurring in 1980. Democratic civilian rule was established in 1982, but leaders have faced problems of deep-seated poverty, social unrest, and illegal drug production. In 2005, Bolivians elected Movement Toward Socialism leader Evo MORALES as president -- by the widest margin of any leader since 1982 -- after he ran on a promise to change the country's traditional political class and empower the poor and indigenous majority. In 2009 and 2014, MORALES easily won reelection, and his party maintained control of the legislative branch. In 2016, MORALES narrowly lost a referendum to approve a constitutional amendment that would have allowed him to compete in the 2019 presidential election. A subsequent Supreme Court ruling stating that term limits violate human rights provided the justification for MORALES to run despite the referendum, but rising violence, pressure from the military, and widespread allegations of electoral fraud ultimately forced him to flee the country. An interim government, led by President Jeanine AÑEZ Chávez, held new elections in 2020, and Luis Alberto ARCE Catacora was elected president.

## Geography
Location: Central South America, southwest of Brazil
Geographic coordinates: 17 00 S, 65 00 W
Map references: South America
Area / total: 1,098,581 sq km
Area / land: 1,083,301 sq km
Area / water: 15,280 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly less than three times the size of Montana
Land boundaries / total: 7,252 km
Land boundaries / border countries: Argentina 942 km; Brazil 3,403 km; Chile 942 km; Paraguay 753 km; Peru 1,212 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
Climate: varies with altitude; humid and tropical to cold and semiarid
Terrain: rugged Andes Mountains with a highland plateau (Altiplano), hills, lowland plains of the Amazon Basin
Elevation / highest point: Nevado Sajama 6,542 m
Elevation / lowest point: Rio Paraguay 90 m
Elevation / mean elevation: 1,192 m
Natural resources: lithium, tin, natural gas, petroleum, zinc, tungsten, antimony, silver, iron, lead, gold, timber, hydropower
Land use / agricultural land: 35.8% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 5.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 0.2% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 30.5% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 50.6% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 13.5% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land: 2,972 sq km (2017)
Major lakes (area sq km) / fresh water lake(s): Lago Titicaca (shared with Peru) - 8,030 sq km
Major lakes (area sq km) / salt water lake(s): Lago Poopo - 1,340 sq km
Major watersheds (area sq km) / Atlantic Ocean drainage: Amazon (6,145,186 sq km), Paran&aacute; (2,582,704 sq km)
Major aquifers: Amazon Basin
Population distribution: a high-altitude plain in the west between two cordillera of the Andes, known as the Altiplano, is the focal area for most of the population; a dense settlement pattern is also found in and around the city of Santa Cruz, located on the eastern side of the Andes
Natural hazards: flooding in the northeast (March to April) volcanism: volcanic activity in Andes Mountains on the border with Chile; historically active volcanoes in this region are Irruputuncu (5,163 m), which last erupted in 1995, and the Olca-Paruma volcanic complex (5,762 m to 5,167 m)
Geography - note: landlocked; shares control of Lago Titicaca, world's highest navigable lake (elevation 3,805 m), with Peru

## People and Society
Population / total: 12,436,103 (2025 est.)
Population / male: 6,257,914
Population / female: 6,178,189
Nationality / noun: Bolivian(s)
Nationality / adjective: Bolivian
Ethnic groups: Mestizo (mixed White and Indigenous ancestry) 68%, Indigenous 20%, White 5%, Cholo/Chola 2%, African descent 1%, other 1%, unspecified 3%; 44% other Indigenous group, predominantly Quechua or Aymara (2009 est.)
Languages / Languages: Spanish (official) 68.1%, Quechua (official) 17.2%, Aymara (official) 10.5%, Guarani (official) 0.6%, other 1.5%, unspecified 2.1%; note - Spanish and all Indigenous languages are official (2012 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 65%, Protestant 19.6% (Evangelical (non-specific) 11.9%, Evangelical Baptist 2.1%, Evangelical Pentecostal 1.8%, Evangelical Methodist 0.7%, Adventist 2.8%, Protestant (non-specific) 0.3%), Believer (not belonging to the church) 0.9%, other 4.8%, atheist 1.7%, agnostic 0.6%, none 6.1%, unspecified 1.3% (2023 est.)
Age structure / 0-14 years: 28.5% (male 1,792,803/female 1,718,081)
Age structure / 15-64 years: 64.5% (male 4,002,587/female 3,937,953)
Age structure / 65 years and over: 7% (2024 est.) (male 397,384/female 463,166)
Dependency ratios / total dependency ratio: 54 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / youth dependency ratio: 42.9 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / elderly dependency ratio: 11 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / potential support ratio: 9.1 (2025 est.)
Median age / total: 27 years (2025 est.)
Median age / male: 26.2 years
Median age / female: 27 years
Population growth rate: 1.01% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 17.02 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 5.99 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: -0.95 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution: a high-altitude plain in the west between two cordillera of the Andes, known as the Altiplano, is the focal area for most of the population; a dense settlement pattern is also found in and around the city of Santa Cruz, located on the eastern side of the Andes
Urbanization / urban population: 71.2% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 1.87% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 1.936 million LA PAZ (capital), 1.820 million Santa Cruz, 1.400 million Cochabamba (2022); 278,000 Sucre (constitutional 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: 0.86 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth: 21.1 years (2008 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio: 146 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Infant mortality rate / total: 22.1 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Infant mortality rate / male: 24.5 deaths/1,000 live births
Infant mortality rate / female: 20 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth / total population: 72.5 years (2024 est.)
Life expectancy at birth / male: 71 years
Life expectancy at birth / female: 74 years
Total fertility rate: 2.13 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 1.04 (2025 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: urban: urban: 99.5% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: rural: rural: 81% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: total: total: 94.1% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: urban: urban: 0.5% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: rural: rural: 19% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: total: total: 5.9% of population (2022 est.)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 8.2% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 16.4% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density: 1.28 physicians/1,000 population (2021)
Hospital bed density: 1.4 beds/1,000 population (2021 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: urban: urban: 100% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: rural: rural: 51.4% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: total: total: 85.8% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: urban: urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: rural: rural: 48.6% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: total: total: 14.2% of population (2022 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 20.2% (2016)
Alcohol consumption per capita / total: 2.98 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / beer: 2.22 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / wine: 0.14 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: 0.08 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Tobacco use / total: 11% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / male: 18.9% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / female: 3.2% (2025 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 3.4% (2016 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49): 50.2% (2022 est.)
Child marriage / women married by age 15: 3.4% (2016)
Child marriage / women married by age 18: 19.7% (2016)
Child marriage / men married by age 18: 5.2% (2016)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% GDP): 8.3% of GDP (2023 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% national budget): 10.8% national budget (2024 est.)
Literacy / total population: 95.6% (2023 est.)
Literacy / male: 97.8% (2023 est.)
Literacy / female: 93.5% (2023 est.)

## Environment
Environmental issues: deforestation from agricultural clearing and international demand for timber; soil erosion from overgrazing and poor cultivation methods (including slash-and-burn agriculture); desertification; loss of biodiversity; industrial pollution of water supplies used for drinking and irrigation
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: Environmental Modification, Marine Life Conservation
Climate: varies with altitude; humid and tropical to cold and semiarid
Land use / agricultural land: 35.8% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 5.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 0.2% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 30.5% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 50.6% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 13.5% (2023 est.)
Urbanization / urban population: 71.2% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 1.87% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / total emissions: 21.552 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from coal and metallurgical coke: 24,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from petroleum and other liquids: 13.647 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from consumed natural gas: 7.881 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Particulate matter emissions: 24.6 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Methane emissions / energy: 122.8 kt (2022-2024 est.)
Methane emissions / agriculture: 673.4 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Methane emissions / waste: 73.1 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Methane emissions / other: 150.3 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Waste and recycling / municipal solid waste generated annually: 2.219 million tons (2024 est.)
Waste and recycling / percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 34.4% (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / municipal: 252.91 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / industrial: 32 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / agricultural: 1.92 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total renewable water resources: 574 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: Plurinational State of Bolivia
Country name / conventional short form: Bolivia
Country name / local long form: Estado Plurinacional de Bolivia
Country name / local short form: Bolivia
Country name / former: Upper Peru
Country name / etymology: the country is named in honor of Sim&oacute;n BOL&Iacute;VAR, a 19th-century leader in the South American wars for independence
Government type: presidential republic
Capital / name: La Paz (administrative capital); Sucre (constitutional [legislative and judicial] capital)
Capital / geographic coordinates: 16 30 S, 68 09 W
Capital / time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Capital / etymology: La Paz is a shortening of the original name of the city, Pueblo Nuevo de Nuestra Señora de La Paz (New Town of Our Lady of Peace); Sucre is named after Antonio José de SUCRE (1795-1830), the second president of Bolivia
Administrative divisions: 9 departments ( departamentos , singular - departamento ); Beni, Chuquisaca, Cochabamba, La Paz, Oruro, Pando, Potosi, Santa Cruz, Tarija
Legal system: civil law system with influences from Roman, Spanish, canon (religious), French, and ethnic groups' pre-colonial law
Constitution / history: many previous; latest drafted 6 August 2006 to 9 December 2008, approved by referendum 25 January 2009, effective 7 February 2009
Constitution / amendment process: proposed through public petition by at least 20% of voters or by the Plurinational Legislative Assembly; passage requires approval by at least two-thirds majority vote of the total membership of the Assembly and 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: 3 years
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Executive branch / chief of state: President Rodrigo PAZ Pereira (since 8 November 2025)
Executive branch / head of government: President Rodrigo PAZ Pereira (since 8 November 2025)
Executive branch / cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president
Executive branch / election/appointment process: president and vice president directly elected on the same ballot one of 3 ways: candidate wins at least 50% of the vote, or at least 40% of the vote and 10% more than the next highest candidate; otherwise, a second round is held and the winner determined by simple majority vote; president and vice president are elected by majority vote to serve a 5-year term; no term limits
Executive branch / most recent election date: 17 August 2025
Executive branch / election results: 2025: Rodrigo PAZ Pereira elected president in second round; percent vote in first round - Rodrigo PAZ Pereira (PDC) 32.1%, Jorge Fernando QUIROGA Ramírez (LIBRE) 26.7%, Samuel DORIA MEDINA Auza (UN) 19.7%, Andrónico RODRÌGUEZ Ledezma (AP) 8.5%, Manfred REYES Villa (APB Súmate) 6.8%, Eduardo DEL CASTILLO (MAS) 3.2%, other 3%; percent of vote in second round - Rodrigo PAZ Pereira 55%, Jorge Fernando QUIROGA Ramírez 45% 2020: Luis Alberto ARCE Catacora elected president; percent of vote - Luis Alberto ARCE Catacora (MAS) 55.1%; Carlos Diego MESA Gisbert (CC) 28.8%; Luis Fernando CAMACHO Vaca (Creemos) 14%; other 2.1% 2019: Juan Evo MORALES Ayma reelected president; percent of vote - Juan Evo MORALES Ayma (MAS) 61%; Samuel DORIA MEDINA Arana (UN) 24.5%; Jorge QUIROGA Ramirez (POC) 9.1%; other 5.4%
Executive branch / expected date of next election: 2030
Legislative branch / legislature name: Plurinational Legislative Assembly (Asamblea Legislativa Plurinacional)
Legislative branch / legislative structure: bicameral
Legislative branch - lower chamber / chamber name: Chamber of Deputies (Cámara de Diputados)
Legislative branch - lower chamber / number of seats: 130 (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: 8/17/2025
Legislative branch - lower chamber / parties elected and seats per party: Christian Democratic Party (PDC) (49); LIBRE (39); Unity (26); Popular Alliance (8); Other (8)
Legislative branch - lower chamber / percentage of women in chamber: 50.8%
Legislative branch - lower chamber / expected date of next election: August 2030
Legislative branch - upper chamber / chamber name: Chamber of Senators (Cámara de Senadores)
Legislative branch - upper chamber / number of seats: 36 (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: 5 years
Legislative branch - upper chamber / most recent election date: 8/17/2025
Legislative branch - upper chamber / parties elected and seats per party: Christian Democratic Party (PDC) (16); LIBRE (12); Unity (7); Other (1)
Legislative branch - upper chamber / percentage of women in chamber: 58.3%
Legislative branch - upper chamber / expected date of next election: August 2030
Judicial branch / highest court(s): Supreme Court or Tribunal Supremo de Justicia (consists of 12 judges organized into civil, penal, social, and administrative chambers); Plurinational Constitutional Tribunal (consists of 7 primary and 7 alternate magistrates); Plurinational Electoral Organ (consists of 7 members and 6 alternates); National Agro-Environment Court (consists of 5 primary and 5 alternate judges; Council of the Judiciary (consists of 3 primary and 3 alternate judges)
Judicial branch / judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court, Plurinational Constitutional Tribunal, National Agro-Environmental Court, and Council of the Judiciary candidates pre-selected by the Plurinational Legislative Assembly and elected by direct popular vote; judges elected for 6-year terms; Plurinational Electoral Organ judges appointed - 6 by the Legislative Assembly and 1 by the president of the republic; members serve single 6-year terms
Judicial branch / subordinate courts: National Electoral Court; District Courts (in each of the 9 administrative departments); agro-environmental lower courts
Political parties: Autonomy for Bolivia – Súmate or APB Súmate Christian Democratic Party or PDC Community Citizen Alliance or ACC Freedom and Democracy or LIBRE Front for Victory or FPV Movement Toward Socialism or MAS National Unity or UN Popular Alliance or AP Revolutionary Left Front or FRI Revolutionary Nationalist Movement or MNR Social Democrat Movement or MDS Third System Movement or MTS We Believe or Creemos
Diplomatic representation in the US / chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charg&eacute; d'Affaires Henry BALDELOMAR CH&Aacute;VEZ (since 11 October 2023)
Diplomatic representation in the US / chancery: 3014 Massachusetts Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation in the US / telephone: [1] (202) 483-4410
Diplomatic representation in the US / FAX: [1] (202) 328-3712
Diplomatic representation in the US / email address and website: embolivia.wdc@gmail.com https://www.boliviawdc.org/en-us/
Diplomatic representation in the US / consulate(s) general: Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York
Diplomatic representation from the US / chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d'Affaires Debra HEVIA (since September 2023)
Diplomatic representation from the US / embassy: Avenida Arce 2780, Casilla 425, La Paz
Diplomatic representation from the US / mailing address: 3220 La Paz Place, Washington DC 20512-3220
Diplomatic representation from the US / telephone: [591] (2) 216-8000
Diplomatic representation from the US / FAX: [591] (2) 216-8111
Diplomatic representation from the US / email address and website: ConsularLaPazACS@state.gov https://bo.usembassy.gov/
International organization participation: CAN, CD, CELAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, LAES, LAIA, Mercosur (associate), MIGA, MINUSTAH, MONUSCO, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, UN, UN Security Council (temporary), UNAMID, UNASUR, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNISFA, UNMIL, UNMISS, UNOCI, UNOOSA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Independence: 6 August 1825 (from Spain)
National holiday: Independence Day, 6 August (1825)
Flag: description: three equal horizontal bands of red (top), yellow, and green, with the coat of arms centered on the yellow band meaning: red stands for bravery and the blood of national heroes, yellow for the nation's mineral resources, and green for the land's fertility history: in 2009, a presidential decree made it mandatory for a wiphala - - a square, multi-colored flag representing the country's ethnic groups -- to be used alongside the national flag
National symbol(s): llama, Andean condor; two national flowers, the cantuta and the patuju
National color(s): red, yellow, green
National anthem(s) / title: "Cancion Patriotica" (Patriotic Song)
National anthem(s) / lyrics/music: Jose Ignacio de SANJINES/Leopoldo Benedetto VINCENTI
National anthem(s) / history: adopted 1852
National heritage / total World Heritage Sites: 7 (6 cultural, 1 natural)
National heritage / selected World Heritage Site locales: City of Potosi (c); El Fuerte de Samaipata (c); Historic Sucre (c); Jesuit Missions of Chiquitos (c); Noel Kempff Mercado National Park (n); Tiahuanacu (c); Qhapaq &Ntilde;an/Andean Road System (c)

## Economy
Economic overview: resource-rich economy benefits during commodity booms; has bestowed juridical rights to Mother Earth, impacting extraction industries; increasing Chinese lithium mining trade relations; hard hit by COVID-19; increased fiscal spending amid poverty increases; rampant banking and finance corruption
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $122.2 billion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $120.531 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $116.927 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: 3.1% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2022: 3.6% (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2024: $9,800 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2023: $9,800 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2022: $9,700 (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $49.668 billion (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024: 5.1% (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023: 2.6% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 1.7% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / agriculture: 13.5% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / industry: 24.2% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / services: 51.1% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / household consumption: 68.5% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / government consumption: 19.3% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in fixed capital: 17.5% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in inventories: 0.1% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / exports of goods and services: 25.5% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / imports of goods and services: -30.9% (2023 est.)
Agricultural products: sugarcane, soybeans, maize, potatoes, sorghum, rice, milk, chicken, plantains, beef (2023)
Industries: mining, smelting, electricity, petroleum, food and beverages, handicrafts, clothing, jewelry
Industrial production growth rate: 1.1% (2023 est.)
Labor force: 6.859 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: 3.6% (2022 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / total: 5.2% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / male: 4.8% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / female: 5.8% (2024 est.)
Population below poverty line: 37.7% (2022 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income / Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2023: 42.1 (2023 est.)
Average household expenditures / on food: 29.3% 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%: 1.8% (2023 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / highest 10%: 31.3% (2023 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2023: 3.2% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2022: 3.3% of GDP (2022 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2021: 3.5% of GDP (2021 est.)
Budget / revenues: $11.796 billion (2019 est.)
Budget / expenditures: $14.75 billion (2019 est.)
Public debt / Public debt 2017: 49% of GDP (2017 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2023: -$1.15 billion (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2022: $939.084 million (2022 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2021: $1.581 billion (2021 est.)
Exports / Exports 2023: $11.905 billion (2023 est.)
Exports / Exports 2022: $14.465 billion (2022 est.)
Exports / Exports 2021: $11.594 billion (2021 est.)
Exports - partners: Brazil 15%, India 13%, China 11%, Argentina 11%, UAE 8% (2023)
Exports - commodities: gold, natural gas, precious metal ore, zinc ore, soybean meal (2023)
Imports / Imports 2023: $12.988 billion (2023 est.)
Imports / Imports 2022: $13.462 billion (2022 est.)
Imports / Imports 2021: $10.187 billion (2021 est.)
Imports - partners: China 22%, Brazil 18%, Chile 13%, USA 7%, Peru 5% (2023)
Imports - commodities: refined petroleum, cars, pesticides, trucks, plastics (2023)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024: $1.977 billion (2024 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023: $1.8 billion (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $3.752 billion (2022 est.)
Debt - external / Debt - external 2023: $11.174 billion (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Currency: bolivianos (BOB) per US dollar -
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2024: 6.91 (2024 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2023: 6.91 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2022: 6.91 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2021: 6.91 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2020: 6.91 (2020 est.)

## Energy
Electricity access / electrification - total population: 99.9% (2022 est.)
Electricity access / electrification - urban areas: 100%
Electricity access / electrification - rural areas: 95.6%
Electricity / installed generating capacity: 4.375 million kW (2023 est.)
Electricity / consumption: 10.863 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / transmission/distribution losses: 1.079 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / fossil fuels: 65% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / solar: 2.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / wind: 3.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / hydroelectricity: 24.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / biomass and waste: 3.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Coal / consumption: 9,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / imports: 7,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / proven reserves: 1 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum / total petroleum production: 58,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Petroleum / refined petroleum consumption: 100,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Petroleum / crude oil estimated reserves: 240.9 million barrels (2021 est.)
Natural gas / production: 12.302 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / consumption: 4.025 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / exports: 7.816 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / proven reserves: 302.99 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)
Energy consumption per capita / Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 29.34 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

## Communications
Telephones - fixed lines / total subscriptions: 369,000 (2024 est.)
Telephones - fixed lines / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 3 (2024 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / total subscriptions: 12.2 million (2024 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 98 (2024 est.)
Broadcast media: large number of radio and TV stations broadcasting with private media outlets dominating; state-owned and private radio and TV stations generally operating freely, although both pro-government and anti-government groups have attacked media outlets in response to their reporting (2019)
Internet country code: .bo
Internet users / percent of population: 70% (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / total: 1.33 million (2022 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 11 (2022 est.)

## Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: CP
Airports: 201 (2025)
Heliports: 3 (2025)
Railways / total: 3,960 km (2019)
Railways / narrow gauge: 3,960 km (2014) 1.000-m gauge
Merchant marine / total: 50 (2023)
Merchant marine / by type: general cargo 30, oil tanker 2, other 18

## Military and Security
Military and security forces: Bolivian Armed Forces (Fuerzas Armadas de Bolivia or FAB): Bolivian Army (Ejercito de Boliviano), Bolivian Navy (Armada Boliviana), Bolivian Air Force (Fuerza Aerea Boliviana) Ministry of Government: National Police (Policía Nacional de Bolivia, PNB) (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: 1.4% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2020: 1.4% of GDP (2020 est.)
Military and security service personnel strengths: approximately 30-35,000 active-duty Armed Forces (2025)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the military is equipped with a mix of mostly older Brazilian, Chinese, European, and US armaments (2025)
Military service age and obligation: voluntary service for men and women 18-22 years of age; selective 12-month compulsory service for men, 18-22 (24 months of search and rescue service can be substituted for military service) (2025)
Military - note: the Bolivian Armed Forces (FAB) are responsible for territorial defense but also have some internal security duties, particularly counternarcotics and border security; the FAB shares responsibility for border enforcement with the National Police (PNB), and it may be called out to assist the PNB with maintaining public order in critical situations land-locked Bolivia has a naval force for patrolling some 5,000 miles of navigable rivers to combat narcotics trafficking and smuggling, provide disaster relief, and deliver supplies to remote rural areas, as well as for maintaining a presence on Lake Titicaca; the Navy also exists in part to cultivate a maritime tradition and as a reminder of Bolivia’s defeat at the hands of Chile in the War of the Pacific (1879-1883), and its desire to regain access to the Pacific Ocean; every year on 23 March, the Navy participates in parades and government ceremonies commemorating the Día Del Mar (Day of the Sea) holiday that remembers the loss (2025)

## Space
Space agency/agencies: Bolivian Space Agency (la Agencia Boliviana Espacial, ABE; established 2010 as a national public company under Ministry of Public Works, Services and Housing) (2025)
Space program overview: has a small space program focused on acquiring and operating satellites; operates a telecommunications satellite and ground stations; has cooperated with China and India and member states of the Latin American and Caribbean Space Agency (2025)
Key space-program milestones: 2013 - first communications satellite (Túpac Katari, TKSAT-1) built and launched by China 2016 - began independently operating the TKSAT-1 satellite 2021 - signed protocols for establishment of the Latin American and Caribbean Space Agency

## Terrorism
Terrorist group(s): Tren de Aragua (TdA)

## Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons / refugees: 1,163 (2024 est.)
Refugees and internally displaced persons / IDPs: 12,070 (2024 est.)
Trafficking in persons / tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List — Bolivia 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/bolivia/
Illicit drugs / USG identification: major illicit drug-producing and/or drug-transit country major precursor-chemical producer (2025)

=== Brazil ===

## Introduction
Background: After more than three centuries under Portuguese rule, Brazil gained its independence in 1822, maintaining a monarchical system of government until the abolition of slavery in 1888 and the subsequent proclamation of a republic by the military in 1889. Brazilian coffee exporters politically dominated the country until populist leader Getúlio VARGAS rose to power in 1930. VARGAS governed through various versions of democratic and authoritarian regimes from 1930 to 1945. Democratic rule returned in 1945 -- including a democratically elected VARGAS administration from 1951 to 1954 -- and lasted until 1964, when the military overthrew President João GOULART. The military regime censored journalists and repressed and tortured dissidents in the late 1960s and early 1970s. The dictatorship lasted until 1985, when the military regime peacefully ceded power to civilian rulers, and the Brazilian Congress passed its current constitution in 1988. By far the largest and most populous country in South America, Brazil continues to pursue industrial and agricultural growth and development of its interior. Having successfully weathered a period of global financial difficulty in the late 20th century, Brazil was soon seen as one of the world's strongest emerging markets and a contributor to global growth under President Luiz Inácio LULA da Silva (2003-2010). The awarding of the 2014 FIFA World Cup and 2016 Summer Olympic Games -- the first ever to be held in South America -- to Brazil was symbolic of the country's rise. However, from about 2013 to 2016, Brazil was plagued by a sagging economy, high unemployment, and high inflation, only emerging from recession in 2017. Congress removed then-President Dilma ROUSSEFF (2011-2016) from office in 2016 for having committed impeachable acts against Brazil's budgetary laws, and her vice president, Michel TEMER, served the remainder of her second term. A money-laundering investigation, Operation Lava Jato, uncovered a vast corruption scheme and prosecutors charged several high-profile Brazilian politicians with crimes. Former President LULA was convicted of accepting bribes and served jail time (2018-19), although his conviction was overturned in 2021. LULA's revival became complete in 2022 when he narrowly defeated incumbent Jair BOLSONARO (2019-2022) in the presidential election. Positioning Brazil as an independent global leader on climate change and promoting sustainable development, LULA took on the 2024 G20 presidency, balancing the fight against deforestation with sustainable energy and other projects designed to alleviate poverty and promote economic growth, such as expanding fossil fuel exploration.

## Geography
Location: Eastern South America, bordering the Atlantic Ocean
Geographic coordinates: 10 00 S, 55 00 W
Map references: South America
Area / total: 8,515,770 sq km
Area / land: 8,358,140 sq km
Area / water: 157,630 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly smaller than the US
Land boundaries / total: 16,145 km
Land boundaries / border countries: Argentina 1,263 km; Bolivia 3,403 km; Colombia 1,790 km; French Guiana 649 km; Guyana 1,308 km; Paraguay 1,371 km; Peru 2,659 km; Suriname 515 km; Uruguay 1,050 km; Venezuela 2,137 km
Coastline: 7,491 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 edge of the continental margin
Climate: mostly tropical, but temperate in south
Terrain: mostly flat to rolling lowlands in north; some plains, hills, mountains, and narrow coastal belt
Elevation / highest point: Pico da Neblina 2,994 m
Elevation / lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
Elevation / mean elevation: 320 m
Natural resources: alumina, bauxite, beryllium, gold, iron ore, manganese, nickel, niobium, phosphates, platinum, tantalum, tin, rare earth elements, uranium, petroleum, hydropower, timber
Land use / agricultural land: 28.3% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 6.7% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 0.9% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 20.7% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 58.9% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 12.7% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land: 91,833 sq km (2022)
Major lakes (area sq km) / fresh water lake(s): Lagoa dos Patos - 10,140 sq km
Major lakes (area sq km) / salt water lake(s): Lagoa Mirim (shared with Uruguay) - 2,970 sq km
Major rivers (by length in km): Amazon river mouth (shared with Peru [s]) - 6,400 km; Río de la Plata/Paraná river source (shared with Paraguay, Argentina, and Uruguay [m]) - 4,880 km; Tocantins - 3,650 km; São Francisco - 3,180 km; Paraguay river source (shared with Argentina and Paraguay [m]) - 2,549 km; Rio Negro river mouth (shared with Colombia [s] and Venezuela) - 2,250 km; Uruguay river source (shared with Argentina and Uruguay [m]) - 1,610 km note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Major watersheds (area sq km) / Atlantic Ocean drainage: Amazon (6,145,186 sq km), Orinoco (953,675 sq km), Paran&aacute; (2,582,704 sq km), S&atilde;o Francisco (617,814 sq km), Tocantins (764,213 sq km)
Major aquifers: Amazon Basin, Guarani Aquifer System, Maranhao Basin
Population distribution: the vast majority of people live along or near the Atlantic coast in the east; the population core is in the southeast, anchored by the cities of S&atilde;o Paolo, Bras&iacute;lia, and Rio de Janeiro
Natural hazards: recurring droughts in northeast; floods and occasional frost in south
Geography - note: note 1: largest country in South America and in the Southern Hemisphere; shares common boundaries with every South American country except Chile and Ecuador; most of the Pantanal, the world's largest tropical wetland, extends through the west central part of the country; shares Iguaçu Falls (Iguazú Falls), the world's largest waterfalls system, with Argentina note 2: Rocas Atoll, located off the northeast coast of Brazil, is the only atoll in the South Atlantic

## People and Society
Population / total: 221,359,387 (2025 est.)
Population / male: 108,753,532
Population / female: 112,605,855
Nationality / noun: Brazilian(s)
Nationality / adjective: Brazilian
Ethnic groups: mixed 45.3%, White 43.5%, Black 10.2%, Indigenous 0.6%, Asian 0.4% (2022 est.)
Languages / Languages: Portuguese (official and most widely spoken language); less common languages include Spanish (border areas and schools), German, Italian, Japanese, English, and many minor Amerindian languages
Languages / major-language sample(s): O Livro de Fatos Mundiais, a fonte indispensável para informação básica. (Brazilian Portuguese) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
Religions: Roman Catholic 56.8%, Evangelical 26.9%, none 9.3%, other 4%, Spirtism (Esp&iacute;rita) 1.8%, unspecified 1.4%, Umbanda and Candombl&eacute; 1.1%, Indigenous religions .06%, undeclared 0.2% (2022)
Age structure / 0-14 years: 19.6% (male 22,025,593/female 21,088,398)
Age structure / 15-64 years: 69.5% (male 75,889,089/female 77,118,722)
Age structure / 65 years and over: 10.9% (2024 est.) (male 10,251,809/female 13,677,901)
Dependency ratios / total dependency ratio: 44.3 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / youth dependency ratio: 28.1 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / elderly dependency ratio: 16.2 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / potential support ratio: 6.2 (2025 est.)
Median age / total: 35.4 years (2025 est.)
Median age / male: 34 years
Median age / female: 36.1 years
Population growth rate: 0.58% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 13.04 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 7.07 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: -0.19 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution: the vast majority of people live along or near the Atlantic coast in the east; the population core is in the southeast, anchored by the cities of S&atilde;o Paolo, Bras&iacute;lia, and Rio de Janeiro
Urbanization / urban population: 87.8% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 0.87% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 22.620 million S&atilde;o Paulo, 13.728 million Rio de Janeiro, 6.248 million Belo Horizonte, 4.873 million BRAS&Iacute;LIA (capital), 4.264 million Recife, 4.212 million Porto Alegre (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: 0.98 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 65 years and over: 0.75 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio: 67 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Infant mortality rate / total: 12.7 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Infant mortality rate / male: 14.6 deaths/1,000 live births
Infant mortality rate / female: 11.1 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth / total population: 76.3 years (2024 est.)
Life expectancy at birth / male: 72.6 years
Life expectancy at birth / female: 80.1 years
Total fertility rate: 1.73 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 0.84 (2025 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: urban: urban: 99.8% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: rural: rural: 98% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: total: total: 99.6% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: urban: urban: 0.2% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: rural: rural: 2% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: total: total: 0.4% of population (2022 est.)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 9.9% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 9% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density: 2.36 physicians/1,000 population (2023)
Hospital bed density: 2.5 beds/1,000 population (2021 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: urban: urban: 94.7% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: rural: rural: 65% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: total: total: 91% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: urban: urban: 5.3% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: rural: rural: 35% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: total: total: 9% of population (2022 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 22.1% (2016)
Alcohol consumption per capita / total: 6.12 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / beer: 3.84 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / wine: 0.24 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / spirits: 2 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / other alcohols: 0.04 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Tobacco use / total: 11.2% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / male: 14.4% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / female: 8.3% (2025 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 3.5% (2019 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49): 56.9% (2019 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% GDP): 5.6% of GDP (2022 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% national budget): 12.9% national budget (2022 est.)
Literacy / total population: 94.8% (2024 est.)
Literacy / male: 94.5% (2024 est.)
Literacy / female: 95.1% (2024 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: deforestation in Amazon Basin; illegal wildlife trade; illegal poaching; air and water pollution in Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo, and other large cities; land degradation and water pollution from mining; wetland degradation; oil spills
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, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling
International environmental agreements / signed, but not ratified: Marine Dumping-London Protocol
Climate: mostly tropical, but temperate in south
Land use / agricultural land: 28.3% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 6.7% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 0.9% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 20.7% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 58.9% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 12.7% (2023 est.)
Urbanization / urban population: 87.8% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 0.87% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / total emissions: 437.769 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from coal and metallurgical coke: 53.664 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from petroleum and other liquids: 331.079 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from consumed natural gas: 53.026 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Particulate matter emissions: 10.9 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Methane emissions / energy: 1,759.1 kt (2022-2024 est.)
Methane emissions / agriculture: 13,761.9 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Methane emissions / waste: 3,361.8 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Methane emissions / other: 382.6 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Waste and recycling / municipal solid waste generated annually: 79.07 million tons (2024 est.)
Waste and recycling / percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 2.8% (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / municipal: 16.397 billion cubic meters (2022)
Total water withdrawal / industrial: 10.2 billion cubic meters (2022)
Total water withdrawal / agricultural: 41.336 billion cubic meters (2022)
Total renewable water resources: 8.647 trillion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Geoparks / total global geoparks and regional networks: 6
Geoparks / global geoparks and regional networks: Araripe; Cacapava; Quarta Colonia; Serido; Southern Canyons Pathways; Uberaba (2024)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: Federative Republic of Brazil
Country name / conventional short form: Brazil
Country name / local long form: Rep&uacute;blica Federativa do Brasil
Country name / local short form: Brasil
Country name / etymology: the country name derives from the brazil tree that used to grow plentifully along the coast of Brazil and that was used to produce a deep red dye
Government type: federal presidential republic
Capital / name: Bras&iacute;lia
Capital / geographic coordinates: 15 47 S, 47 55 W
Capital / time difference: UTC-3 (2 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Capital / time zone note: Brazil has four time zones, including one for the Fernando de Noronha Islands
Capital / etymology: the name is the Latinized form of the country name, bestowed on the new capital of Brazil in 1960; previous Brazilian capitals were Salvador (1549-1763) and Rio de Janeiro (1763 to 1960)
Administrative divisions: 26 states ( estados , singular - estado ) and 1 federal district* (distrito federal); Acre, Alagoas, Amapa, Amazonas, Bahia, Ceara, Distrito Federal*, Espirito Santo, Goias, Maranhao, Mato Grosso, Mato Grosso do Sul, Minas Gerais, Para, Paraiba, Parana, Pernambuco, Piaui, Rio de Janeiro, Rio Grande do Norte, Rio Grande do Sul, Rondônia, Roraima, Santa Catarina, São Paulo, Sergipe, Tocantins
Legal system: civil law
Constitution / history: several previous; latest ratified 5 October 1988
Constitution / amendment process: proposed by at least one third of either house of the National Congress, by the president of the republic, or by simple majority vote by more than half of the state legislative assemblies; passage requires at least three-fifths majority vote by both houses in each of two readings; constitutional provisions affecting the federal form of government, separation of powers, suffrage, or individual rights and guarantees 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: 4 years
Suffrage: voluntary between 16 to 18 years of age, over 70, and if illiterate; compulsory between 18 to 70 years of age
Executive branch / chief of state: President Luiz In&aacute;cio LULA da Silva (since 1 January 2023)
Executive branch / head of government: President Luiz In&aacute;cio LULA da Silva (since 1 January 2023)
Executive branch / cabinet: Cabinet 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 (eligible for a single consecutive term and additional terms after at least one term has elapsed)
Executive branch / most recent election date: 2 October 2022, with runoff on 30 October 2022
Executive branch / election results: 2022: Luiz Inácio LULA da Silva elected president in second round; percent of vote in first round - Luiz Inácio LULA da Silva (PT) 48.4%, Jair BOLSONARO (PSL) 43.2%, Simone Nassar TEBET (MDB) 4.2%, Ciro GOMES (PDT) 3%, other 1.2%; percent of vote in second round - Luiz Inácio LULA da Silva (PT) 50.9%, Jair BOLSONARO (PSL) 49.1% 2018: Jair BOLSONARO elected president in second round; percent of vote in first round - Jair BOLSONARO (PSL) 46%, Fernando HADDAD (PT) 29.3%, Ciro GOMEZ (PDT) 12.5%, Geraldo ALCKMIN (PSDB) 4.8%, other 7.4%; percent of vote in second round - Jair BOLSONARO (PSL) 55.1%, Fernando HADDAD (PT) 44.9%
Executive branch / expected date of next election: 4 October 2026
Legislative branch / legislature name: National Congress (Congresso nacional)
Legislative branch / legislative structure: bicameral
Legislative branch - lower chamber / chamber name: Chamber of Deputies (Cámara dos Deputados)
Legislative branch - lower chamber / number of seats: 513 (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: 10/2/2022
Legislative branch - lower chamber / parties elected and seats per party: Liberal Party (PL) (99); Workers' Party (PT) (69); Brazil Union (União) (59); Progressive Party (PP) (47); Brazilian Democratic Movement (MDB) (42); Social Democratic Party (PSD) (42); Republicans (Republicanos) (40); Other (106)
Legislative branch - lower chamber / percentage of women in chamber: 18.1%
Legislative branch - lower chamber / expected date of next election: October 2026
Legislative branch - upper chamber / chamber name: Federal Senate (Senado Federal)
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: 8 years
Legislative branch - upper chamber / most recent election date: 10/2/2022
Legislative branch - upper chamber / parties elected and seats per party: Liberal Party (PL) (8); Brazil Union (União) (5); Workers' Party (PT) (4); Progressive Party (PP) (3); Social Democratic Party (PSD) (2); Republicans (Republicanos) (2); Other (3)
Legislative branch - upper chamber / percentage of women in chamber: 19.8%
Legislative branch - upper chamber / expected date of next election: October 2026
Judicial branch / highest court(s): Supreme Federal Court or Supremo Tribunal Federal (consists of 11 justices)
Judicial branch / judge selection and term of office: justices appointed by the president and approved by absolute majority by the Federal Senate; justices appointed to serve until mandatory retirement at age 75
Judicial branch / subordinate courts: Tribunal of the Union, Federal Appeals Court, Superior Court of Justice, Superior Electoral Court, regional federal courts; state court system
Political parties: Act (Agir) (formerly Christian Labor Party or PTC) Avante (formerly Labor Party of Brazil or PTdoB) Brazil Union (União Brasil); note - founded from a merger between the Democrats (DEM) and the Social Liberal Party (PSL) Brazilian Communist Party or PCB Brazilian Democratic Movement or MDB Brazilian Labor Party or PTB Brazilian Renewal Labor Party or PRTB Brazilian Labor Party or PTB Brazilian Social Democracy Party or PSDB Brazilian Socialist Party or PSB Christian Democracy or DC (formerly Christian Social Democratic Party) Cidadania (formerly Popular Socialist Party or PPS) Communist Party of Brazil or PCdoB Democratic Labor Party or PDT Democratic Party or PSDC Democrats or DEM (formerly Liberal Front Party or PFL); note - dissolved in February 2022 Green Party or PV Liberal Party or PL [Valdemar Costa Neto] (formerly Party of the Republic or PR) National Mobilization Party or PMN New Party or NOVO Patriota (formerly National Ecologic Party or PEN) Podemos (formerly National Labor Party or PTN) Progressive Party (Progressistas) or PP Republican Social Order Party or PROS Republicans (Republicanos) (formerly Brazilian Republican Party or PRB) Social Christian Party or PSC Social Democratic Party or PSD Social Liberal Party or PSL Socialism and Freedom Party or PSOL Solidarity or SD Sustainability Network or REDE United Socialist Workers' Party or PSTU Workers' Cause Party or PCO Workers' Party or PT
Diplomatic representation in the US / chief of mission: Ambassador Maria Luiza Ribeiro VIOTTI (since 30 June 2023)
Diplomatic representation in the US / chancery: 3006 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation in the US / telephone: [1] (202) 238-2700
Diplomatic representation in the US / FAX: [1] (202) 238-2827
Diplomatic representation in the US / email address and website: contact.washington@itamaraty.gov.br https://www.gov.br/mre/pt-br/embaixada-washington
Diplomatic representation in the US / consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Hartford (CT), Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Orlando, San Francisco
Diplomatic representation from the US / chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charg&eacute; d'Affaires Gabriel ESCOBAR (since 21 January 2025)
Diplomatic representation from the US / embassy: SES - Avenida das Na&ccedil;&otilde;es, Quadra 801, Lote 03, 70403-900 - Bras&iacute;lia, DF
Diplomatic representation from the US / mailing address: 7500 Brasilia Place, Washington DC 20521-7500
Diplomatic representation from the US / telephone: [55] (61) 3312-7000
Diplomatic representation from the US / FAX: [55] (61) 3225-9136
Diplomatic representation from the US / email address and website: BrasilliaACS@state.gov https://br.usembassy.gov/
Diplomatic representation from the US / consulate(s) general: Recife, Porto Alegre, Rio de Janeiro, S&atilde;o Paulo
Diplomatic representation from the US / branch office(s): Belo Horizonte
International organization participation: AfDB (nonregional member), BIS, BRICS, CAN (associate), CD, CELAC, CPLP, FAO, FATF, G-15, G-20, G-24, G-5, G-77, 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), LAES, LAIA, LAS (observer), Mercosur, MIGA, MINURSO, MINUSTAH, MONUSCO, NAM (observer), NSG, OAS, OECD (enhanced engagement), OPANAL, OPCW, Paris Club (associate), PCA, PROSUR, SICA (observer), UN, UNASUR, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNHRC, UNIDO, UNISFA, UNIFIL, Union Latina, UNISFA, UNITAR, UNMIL, UNMISS, UNOCI, UNOOSA, UNRWA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Independence: 7 September 1822 (from Portugal)
National holiday: Independence Day, 7 September (1822)
Flag: description: green with a large yellow diamond in the center, showing a blue celestial globe with 27 five-pointed white stars; the globe has a white equatorial band with the motto ORDEM E PROGRESSO (Order and Progress) meaning: green stands for the country's forests, and yellow for its mineral wealth, with the diamond representing the country's shape; the blue globe and stars depict the sky over Rio de Janeiro on the morning of 15 November 1889, the day the Republic of Brazil was declared; the number of stars has risen with the creation of new states, from 21 to 27 (one for each state and the Federal District) history: the flag was inspired by the former Empire of Brazil's flag (1822-1889)
National symbol(s): Southern Cross constellation
National color(s): green, yellow, blue
National anthem(s) / title: "Hino Nacional Brasileiro" (Brazilian National Anthem)
National anthem(s) / lyrics/music: Joaquim Osorio Duque ESTRADA/Francisco Manoel DA SILVA
National anthem(s) / history: music adopted 1890, lyrics adopted 1922; the anthem's music, composed in 1822, was used unofficially for many years
National heritage / total World Heritage Sites: 24 (15 cultural, 9 natural, 1 mixed)
National heritage / selected World Heritage Site locales: Brasilia (c); Historic Salvador de Bahia (c); Historic Ouro Preto (c); Historic Center of the Town of Olinda (c); Iguaçu National Park (n); Jesuit Missions of the Guaranis (c); Rio de Janeiro: Carioca Landscapes (c); Central Amazon Conservation Complex (n); Atlantic Forest South-East Reserves (n); Historic Center of Salvador de Bahia (c); Sanctuary of Bom Jesus do Congonhas (c ); Brasilia (c ); Serra da Capivara National Park (c ); Historic Center of Sao Luis( c); Discovery Coast Atlantic Forest Reserves (n); Historic Center of the Town of Diamantina (c ); Pantanal Conservation Area (n); Brazilian Atlantic Islands: Fernando de Noronha and Atol das Rocas Reserves (n); Cerrado Protected Areas: Chapada dos Veadeiros and Emas National Parks (n); Historic Centre of the Town of Goiás (c); São Francisco Square in the Town of São Cristóvão (c ); Rio de Janeiro: Carioca Landscapes between the Mountain and the Sea (c ); Pampulha Modern Ensemble (c ); Valongo Wharf Archaeological Site (c ); Paraty and Ilha Grande – Culture and Biodiversity (m); Sítio Roberto Burle Marx (c ); Lençóis Maranhenses National Park (n);Peruaçu River Canyon (n)

## Economy
Economic overview: upper-middle-income, largest Latin American economy; Mercosur, BRICS, G20 member and OECD accession candidate; growth driven by strong domestic consumption; monetary tightening helping curb inflation rate; high inequality in income and access to health and education
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $4.165 trillion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $4.029 trillion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $3.902 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: 3.2% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2022: 3% (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2024: $19,600 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2023: $19,100 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2022: $18,600 (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $2.179 trillion (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024: 4.4% (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023: 4.6% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 9.3% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / agriculture: 5.6% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / industry: 21.3% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / services: 59.3% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / household consumption: 63.8% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / government consumption: 18.8% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in fixed capital: 17% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in inventories: -0.1% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / exports of goods and services: 18% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / imports of goods and services: -17.5% (2024 est.)
Agricultural products: sugarcane, soybeans, maize, milk, cassava, oranges, chicken, beef, rice, wheat (2023)
Industries: textiles, shoes, chemicals, cement, lumber, iron ore, tin, steel, aircraft, motor vehicles and parts, other machinery and equipment
Industrial production growth rate: 3.3% (2024 est.)
Labor force: 106.79 million (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2024: 7.7% (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2023: 8% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2022: 9.3% (2022 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / total: 18% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / male: 15.7% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / female: 20.9% (2024 est.)
Population below poverty line: 4.2% (2016 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income / Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2023: 51.6 (2023 est.)
Average household expenditures / on food: 16.2% 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%: 1.3% (2023 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / highest 10%: 40.8% (2023 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: $556.303 billion (2023 est.)
Budget / expenditures: $706.816 billion (2023 est.)
Public debt / Public debt 2023: 83% of GDP (2023 est.)
Taxes and other revenues: 14% (of GDP) (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2024: -$61.194 billion (2024 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2023: -$27.933 billion (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2022: -$42.157 billion (2022 est.)
Exports / Exports 2024: $388.333 billion (2024 est.)
Exports / Exports 2023: $389.192 billion (2023 est.)
Exports / Exports 2022: $380.492 billion (2022 est.)
Exports - partners: China 30%, USA 10%, Argentina 5%, Netherlands 3%, Chile 2% (2023)
Exports - commodities: soybeans, crude petroleum, iron ore, raw sugar, corn (2023)
Imports / Imports 2024: $377.05 billion (2024 est.)
Imports / Imports 2023: $340.195 billion (2023 est.)
Imports / Imports 2022: $369.861 billion (2022 est.)
Imports - partners: China 23%, USA 16%, Germany 5%, Argentina 5%, Russia 4% (2023)
Imports - commodities: refined petroleum, fertilizers, crude petroleum, vehicle parts/accessories, gas turbines (2023)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024: $329.732 billion (2024 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023: $355.021 billion (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $324.673 billion (2022 est.)
Debt - external / Debt - external 2023: $198.582 billion (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Currency: reals (BRL) per US dollar -
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2024: 5.389 (2024 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2023: 4.994 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2022: 5.164 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2021: 5.394 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2020: 5.155 (2020 est.)

## Energy
Electricity access / electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)
Electricity access / electrification - urban areas: 100%
Electricity access / electrification - rural areas: 97.3%
Electricity / installed generating capacity: 240.251 million kW (2023 est.)
Electricity / consumption: 608.451 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / exports: 7.186 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / imports: 22.294 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / transmission/distribution losses: 106.916 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / fossil fuels: 8.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / nuclear: 2.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / solar: 6.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / wind: 13.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / hydroelectricity: 60.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / biomass and waste: 8.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Nuclear energy / Number of operational nuclear reactors: 2 (2025)
Nuclear energy / Number of nuclear reactors under construction: 1 (2025)
Nuclear energy / Net capacity of operational nuclear reactors: 1.88GW (2025 est.)
Nuclear energy / Percent of total electricity production: 2.2% (2023 est.)
Coal / production: 15.556 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / consumption: 32.223 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / exports: 5,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / imports: 18.257 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / proven reserves: 6.596 billion metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum / total petroleum production: 4.221 million bbl/day (2023 est.)
Petroleum / refined petroleum consumption: 3.163 million bbl/day (2023 est.)
Petroleum / crude oil estimated reserves: 12.715 billion barrels (2021 est.)
Natural gas / production: 22.702 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / consumption: 29.065 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / exports: 101.203 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / imports: 6.356 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / proven reserves: 363.985 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)
Energy consumption per capita / Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 48.889 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

## Communications
Telephones - fixed lines / total subscriptions: 22.5 million (2024 est.)
Telephones - fixed lines / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 11 (2024 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / total subscriptions: 216 million (2024 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 102 (2024 est.)
Broadcast media: state-run Radiobras operates a radio and a TV network; more than 1,000 radio stations and more than 100 TV channels operating, mostly privately owned; private media ownership highly concentrated (2022)
Internet country code: .br
Internet users / percent of population: 84% (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / total: 48.4 million (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 23 (2023 est.)

## Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: PP
Airports: 5,297 (2025)
Heliports: 1,871 (2025)
Railways / total: 29,849.9 km (2014)
Railways / standard gauge: 194 km (2014) 1.435-m gauge
Railways / narrow gauge: 23,341.6 km (2014) 1.000-m gauge (24 km electrified)
Railways / broad gauge: 5,822.3 km (2014) 1.600-m gauge (498.3 km electrified)
Railways / dual gauge: 492 km (2014) 1.600-1.000-m gauge
Merchant marine / total: 888 (2023)
Merchant marine / by type: bulk carrier 13, container ship 20, general cargo 38, oil tanker 27, other 790
Ports / total ports: 45 (2024)
Ports / large: 4
Ports / medium: 7
Ports / small: 19
Ports / very small: 15
Ports / ports with oil terminals: 31
Ports / key ports: Belem, DTSE/Gegua Oil Terminal, Itajai, Port de Salvador, Porto Alegre, Recife, Rio de Janeiro, Rio Grande, Santos, Tubarao, Vitoria

## Military and Security
Military and security forces: Brazilian Armed Forces (Forças Armadas Brasileiras): Brazilian Army (Exercito Brasileiro, EB), Brazilian Navy (Marinha do Brasil; includes Naval Aviation (Aviacao Naval Brasileira) and Marine Corps (Corpo de Fuzileiros Navais)), Brazilian Air Force (Forca Aerea Brasileira) (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 360,000 active Armed Forces (220,000 Army; 70,000 Navy; 70,000 Air Force) (2025)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the Brazilian military's inventory consists of a mix of domestically produced and imported weapons, largely from Europe and the US; Brazil's defense industry designs and manufactures equipment for all three military services and for export; it also jointly produces equipment with other countries (2025)
Military service age and obligation: 18-45 years of age for compulsory military service for men (only 5-10% of those inducted are required to serve); compulsory service obligation is generally 12 months; 17-45 (18 for women) years of age for voluntary service (2025)
Military - note: the Brazilian Armed Forces (BAF) are the second largest military in the Western Hemisphere behind the US; they are responsible for external security and protecting the country's sovereignty but also have an internal security role; the BAF’s missions include patrolling and protecting the country’s long borders and coastline and extensive territorial waters and river network, assisting with internal security, providing domestic disaster response and humanitarian assistance, and participating in multinational peacekeeping missions; it also cooperates with neighboring countries such as Argentina and Paraguay to combat cross-border smuggling and trafficking Brazil 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 origins of Brazil's military stretch back to the 1640s; Brazil provided a 25,000-man expeditionary force with air and ground units to fight with the Allies in the Mediterranean Theater during World War II; the Navy participated in the Battle of the Atlantic (2025)

## Space
Space agency/agencies: Brazilian Space Agency (Ag&ecirc;ncia Espacial Brasileira, AEB; established in 1994 when Brazil&rsquo;s space program was transferred from the military to civilian control); National Institute for Space Research (INPE, under the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovations); Department of Aerospace Science and Technology (DCTA, under the Aeronautics Command (COMAER) of the Ministry of Defense) (2025)
Space launch site(s): Alcantara Launch Center (Maranh&atilde;o state); Barreira do Inferno Launch Center (Rio Grande do Norte state) (2025)
Space program overview: develops, builds, operates, and tracks satellites, including communications, remote sensing (RS), multi-mission, navigational, and scientific/testing/research; satellites are launched by foreign partners, but Brazil has a long-standing sounding (research) rocket and satellite launch vehicle (SLV) program and rocket launch facilities; cooperates with a variety of foreign space agencies and commercial entities, including those of Argentina, Canada, the ESA, individual ESA member states (particularly France and Germany), India, Japan, Russia, South Africa, South Korea, Ukraine, and the US; has a state-controlled communications company that operates Brazil&rsquo;s communications satellites and a growing commercial space sector (2025)
Key space-program milestones: 1960s - established a national space program under the Air Force 1984 - began satellite launch vehicle (SLV) program (Veículo Lançador de Satélites or VLS-1) 1985 - first communications satellite jointly produced with Canada and launched on European SLV 1993 - first domestically built experimental communications satellite (Satélite de Coleta de Dados, SCD-1) launched by US 2004 - launched a sounding rocket into sub-orbital space, but the subsequent catastrophic failure of a VLS-1 during a test launch led to scaling back the program 2006 - first Brazilian astronaut to the International Space Station on a Russian rocket 2008 - began work on a 3-stage microsatellite launch vehicle (Veículo Lançador de Microssatélite or VLM-1) in partnership with Germany 2021 - first independently produced remote sensing (RS) satellite (Amazonia-1) launched by India; signed US-led Artemis Accords on space exploration cooperation and signed cooperation agreements with the space agencies of China, India, Russia, and South Africa for the joint development of an RS satellite constellation 2022 - successfully launched suborbital rocket more than 225 km (140 miles) in height

## Terrorism
Terrorist group(s): Hizballah; Tren de Aragua (TdA)

## Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons / refugees: 331,097 (2024 est.)
Refugees and internally displaced persons / IDPs: 19,043 (2024 est.)
Refugees and internally displaced persons / stateless persons: 27 (2024 est.)
Trafficking in persons / tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List — Brazil 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/brazil/
Illicit drugs / USG identification: major precursor-chemical producer (2025)

=== Chile ===

## Introduction
Background: Indigenous groups inhabited central and southern Chile for several thousand years, living in mixed pastoralist and settled communities. The Inca then ruled the north of the country for nearly a century prior to the arrival of the Spanish in the 16th century. In 1541, the Spanish established the Captaincy General of Chile, which lasted until Chile declared its independence in 1810. The subsequent struggle with the Spanish became tied to other South American independence conflicts, with a decisive victory not being achieved until 1818. In the War of the Pacific (1879-83), Chile defeated Peru and Bolivia to win its current northernmost regions. By the 1880s, the Chilean central government cemented its control over the central and southern regions inhabited by Mapuche Indigenous peoples. Between 1891 and 1973, a series of elected governments succeeded each other until the Marxist government of Salvador ALLENDE was overthrown in 1973 in a military coup led by General Augusto PINOCHET, who ruled until a democratically elected president was inaugurated in 1990. Economic reforms that were maintained consistently since the 1980s contributed to steady growth, reduced poverty rates by over half, and helped secure the country's commitment to democratic and representative government. Chile has increasingly assumed regional and international leadership roles befitting its status as a stable, democratic nation.

## Geography
Location: Southern South America, bordering the South Pacific Ocean, between Argentina and Peru
Geographic coordinates: 30 00 S, 71 00 W
Map references: South America
Area / total: 756,102 sq km
Area / land: 743,812 sq km
Area / water: 12,290 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly smaller than twice the size of Montana
Land boundaries / total: 7,801 km
Land boundaries / border countries: Argentina 6,691 km; Bolivia 942 km; Peru 168 km
Coastline: 6,435 km
Maritime claims / territorial sea: 12 nm
Maritime claims / contiguous zone: 24 nm
Maritime claims / exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Maritime claims / continental shelf: 200/350 nm
Climate: temperate; desert in north; Mediterranean in central region; cool and damp in south
Terrain: low coastal mountains, fertile central valley, rugged Andes in east
Elevation / highest point: Nevado Ojos del Salado 6,893 m (highest volcano in the world)
Elevation / lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
Elevation / mean elevation: 1,871 m
Natural resources: copper, timber, iron ore, nitrates, precious metals, molybdenum, hydropower
Land use / agricultural land: 14.4% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 1.9% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 0.7% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 11.8% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 24.5% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 61.1% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land: 9,094 sq km (2022)
Major lakes (area sq km) / fresh water lake(s): Lago General Carrera (shared with Argentina) - 2,240 sq km; Lago O'Higgins (shared with Argentina) - 1,010 sq km; Lago Llanquihue - 800 sq km; Lago Fagnano (shared with Argentina) - 590 sq km
Population distribution: 90% of the population is located in the middle third of the country around the capital of Santiago; the far north, including the Atacama Desert, and the extreme south are relatively underpopulated
Natural hazards: severe earthquakes; active volcanism; tsunamis volcanism: significant volcanic activity due to more than three-dozen active volcanoes along the Andes Mountains; Lascar (5,592 m), which last erupted in 2007, is the most active volcano in the northern Chilean Andes; Llaima (3,125 m) in central Chile, which last erupted in 2009, is another of the country's most active; Chaiten's 2008 eruption forced major evacuations; other notable historically active volcanoes include Cerro Hudson, Calbuco, Copahue, Guallatiri, Llullaillaco, Nevados de Chillan, Puyehue, San Pedro, and Villarrica; see note 2 under "Geography - note"
Geography - note: note 1: Chile is the longest country north-to-south in the world, extending across 39 degrees of latitude note 2: Chile 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 Atacama Desert in the north of Chile is the driest desert in the world; Ojos del Salado (6,893 m) in the Atacama Desert is the highest active volcano in the world, Chile's tallest mountain, and the second-highest in the Western Hemisphere and the Southern Hemisphere; the volcano's small crater lake is the world's highest lake at 6,390 m

## People and Society
Population / total: 19,091,343 (2025 est.)
Population / male: 9,379,883
Population / female: 9,711,460
Nationality / noun: Chilean(s)
Nationality / adjective: Chilean
Ethnic groups: White and non-Indigenous 88.9%, Mapuche 9.1%, Aymara 0.7%, other Indigenous groups 1% (includes Rapa Nui, Likan Antai, Quechua, Colla, Diaguita, Kawesqar, Yagan or Yamana), unspecified 0.3% (2012 est.)
Languages / Languages: Spanish 99.5% (official), English 10.2%, Indigenous 1% (includes Mapudungun, Aymara, Quechua, Rapa Nui), other 2.3%, unspecified 0.2% (2012 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: Catholic 57%, none 25.7%, Evangelical or Protestant 16.2%, other Christians and traditions related to Christ 1.3%; less than 1%: Buddhist, Catholic Orthodox, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Islam, Judaism, other religions, no religion (2024)
Age structure / 0-14 years: 19.2% (male 1,822,908/female 1,751,528)
Age structure / 15-64 years: 67.3% (male 6,274,620/female 6,278,467)
Age structure / 65 years and over: 13.6% (2024 est.) (male 1,072,208/female 1,464,921)
Dependency ratios / total dependency ratio: 45 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / youth dependency ratio: 24.1 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / elderly dependency ratio: 20.9 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / potential support ratio: 4.8 (2025 est.)
Median age / total: 38.9 years (2025 est.)
Median age / male: 35.8 years
Median age / female: 38.2 years
Population growth rate: 0.46% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 8.81 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 6.79 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: 2.58 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution: 90% of the population is located in the middle third of the country around the capital of Santiago; the far north, including the Atacama Desert, and the extreme south are relatively underpopulated
Urbanization / urban population: 88% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 0.78% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 6.903 million SANTIAGO (capital), 1.009 million Valparaiso, 912,000 Concepcion (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 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 65 years and over: 0.73 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio: 10 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Infant mortality rate / total: 4.5 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Infant mortality rate / male: 6.9 deaths/1,000 live births
Infant mortality rate / female: 5.7 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth / total population: 80.3 years (2024 est.)
Life expectancy at birth / male: 77.3 years
Life expectancy at birth / female: 83.3 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 (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% of GDP (2022)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 19% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density: 3.33 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: 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: 28% (2016)
Alcohol consumption per capita / total: 7.8 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / beer: 2.76 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / wine: 2.61 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / spirits: 2.43 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / other alcohols: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Tobacco use / total: 26.2% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / male: 28.4% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / female: 24.1% (2025 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49): 48.5% (2022 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% GDP): 4.9% of GDP (2022 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% national budget): 18.4% national budget (2022 est.)
Literacy / total population: 96.4% (2017 est.)
Literacy / male: 96.5% (2017 est.)
Literacy / female: 96.3% (2017 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 from industrial and vehicle emissions; water pollution from raw sewage; noise pollution; improper garbage disposal; soil degradation; widespread deforestation; pollution and ecosystem degradation from mining; wildlife conservation
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, Wetlands, Whaling
International environmental agreements / signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Climate: temperate; desert in north; Mediterranean in central region; cool and damp in south
Land use / agricultural land: 14.4% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 1.9% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 0.7% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 11.8% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 24.5% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 61.1% (2023 est.)
Urbanization / urban population: 88% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 0.78% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / total emissions: 83.058 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from coal and metallurgical coke: 14.773 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from petroleum and other liquids: 55.504 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from consumed natural gas: 12.781 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Particulate matter emissions: 18.8 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Waste and recycling / municipal solid waste generated annually: 6.517 million tons (2024 est.)
Waste and recycling / percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 1% (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / municipal: 1.29 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / industrial: 1.66 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / agricultural: 29.42 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total renewable water resources: 923.06 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Geoparks / total global geoparks and regional networks: 1
Geoparks / global geoparks and regional networks: Kutralkura (2023)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: Republic of Chile
Country name / conventional short form: Chile
Country name / local long form: Rep&uacute;blica de Chile
Country name / local short form: Chile
Country name / etymology: derivation of the name is unclear; it may come from a local word meaning either "land's end" or "cold," or a local word that was confused with the Mexican Spanish word chili , meaning a chili pepper, in reference to the area's shape
Government type: presidential republic
Capital / name: Santiago; note - Valparaiso is the seat of the national legislature
Capital / geographic coordinates: 33 27 S, 70 40 W
Capital / time difference: UTC-3 (2 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Capital / daylight saving time: +1hr, begins second Sunday in August; ends second Sunday in May; note - Punta Arenas observes DST throughout the year
Capital / time zone note: Chile has three time zones: the continental portion at UTC-3; the southern Aysén and Magallanes regions, which do not use daylight savings time and remain at UTC-3 year-round; and Easter Island at UTC-5
Capital / etymology: Santiago is named after Saint James, the patron saint of Spain (Santo Iago in Spanish); Valparaiso derives from the Spanish words valle (valley) and paraíso (paradise)
Administrative divisions: 16 regions ( regiones , singular - region ); Antofagasta, Araucanía, Arica y Parinacota, Atacama, Aysén, Biobío, Coquimbo, Libertador General Bernardo O'Higgins, Los Lagos, Los Ríos, Magallanes y de la Antártica Chilena (Magallanes and Chilean Antarctica), Maule, Ñuble, Región Metropolitana (Santiago), Tarapacá, Valparaíso
Legal system: civil law system influenced by several Western European civil legal systems; Constitutional Tribunal reviews legislative acts
Constitution / history: many previous; latest adopted 11 September 1980, effective 11 March 1981; in September 2022 and again in December 2023, referendums presented for a new constitution were both defeated, and the September 1980 constitution remains in force
Constitution / amendment process: proposed by members of either house of the National Congress or by the president of the republic; passage requires at least four-sevenths majority vote of the membership in both houses and approval by the president; passage of amendments to constitutional articles, such as the republican form of government, basic rights and freedoms, the Constitutional Tribunal, electoral justice, the Council of National Security, or the constitutional amendment process, requires at least four-sevenths majority vote by both houses of Congress and approval by the president; the president can opt to hold a referendum when Congress and the president disagree on an amendment
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: President Gabriel BORIC (since 11 March 2022)
Executive branch / head of government: President Gabriel BORIC (since 11 March 2022)
Executive branch / cabinet: Cabinet 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 4-year term
Executive branch / most recent election date: 16 November 2025, with a runoff held on 14 December 2025
Executive branch / election results: 2025: José Antonio KAST elected president in second round; percent of vote in first round - Jeannette Alejandra JARA Román (PCCh) 26.8%, José Antonio KAST (PLR) 23.9%, Franco Aldo PARISI Fernández (PDG) 19.7%, Johannes KAISER (PNL) 13.9%, Evelyn Rose MATTHEI Fornet (PL) 12.5%; other 3.2%; percent of vote in second round - José Antonio KAST 58.2%, Jeannette Alejandra JARA Román 41.8%; note - KAST will take office 11 March 2026 2021: Gabriel BORIC elected president in second round; percent of vote in first round - José Antonio KAST (FSC) 27.9%; Gabriel BORIC (AD) 25.8%; Franco PARISI (PDG) 12.8%; Sebastian SICHEL (ChP+) 12.8%; Yasna PROVOSTE (New Social Pact) 11.6%; other 9.1%; percent of vote in second round - Gabriel BORIC 55.9%; Jose Antonio KAST 44.1% 2017: Sebastian PINERA Echenique elected president in second round; percent of vote in first round - Sebastian PINERA Echenique (independent) 36.6%; Alejandro GUILLIER (independent) 22.7%; Beatriz SANCHEZ (independent) 20.3%; Jose Antonio KAST (independent) 7.9%; Carolina GOIC (PDC) 5.9%; Marco ENRIQUEZ-OMINAMI (PRO) 5.7%; other 0.9%; percent of vote in second round - Sebastian PINERA Echenique 54.6%, Alejandro GUILLIER 45.4%
Executive branch / expected date of next election: 18 November 2029 (a runoff, if needed, will take place in December 2029)
Legislative branch / legislature name: National Congress (Congreso Nacional)
Legislative branch / legislative structure: bicameral
Legislative branch - lower chamber / chamber name: Chamber of Deputies (Cámara de Diputados)
Legislative branch - lower chamber / number of seats: 155 (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: 11/21/2021
Legislative branch - lower chamber / parties elected and seats per party: Chile Podemos (Empowering Chile", CP +) (53); New Social Pact (NPS) (37); Approving Dignity (AD) (37); Christian Social Front (FSC) (15); Other (13)
Legislative branch - lower chamber / percentage of women in chamber: 33.5%
Legislative branch - lower chamber / expected date of next election: November 2025
Legislative branch - upper chamber / chamber name: Senate (Senado)
Legislative branch - upper chamber / number of seats: 50 (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: 8 years
Legislative branch - upper chamber / most recent election date: 11/21/2021
Legislative branch - upper chamber / parties elected and seats per party: Chile Podemos (Empowering Chile", CP +) (12); New Social Pact (NPS) (8); Approving Dignity (AD) (4); Independents (2); Other (1)
Legislative branch - upper chamber / percentage of women in chamber: 32%
Legislative branch - upper chamber / expected date of next election: November 2025
Judicial branch / highest court(s): Supreme Court or Corte Suprema (consists of a court president and 20 members); Constitutional Court (consists of 10 members and is independent of the rest of the judiciary); Elections Qualifying Court (consists of 5 members)
Judicial branch / judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court president and judges (ministers) appointed by the president of the republic and ratified by the Senate from lists of candidates provided by the court itself; judges appointed for life with mandatory retirement at age 70; Constitutional Court members appointed - 3 by the Supreme Court, 3 by the president of the republic, 2 by the Chamber of Deputies, and 2 by the Senate; members serve 9-year terms with partial membership replacement every 3 years (the court reviews constitutionality of legislation); Elections Qualifying Court members appointed by lottery - 1 by the former president or vice president of the Senate and 1 by the former president or vice president of the Chamber of Deputies, 2 by the Supreme Court, and 1 by the Appellate Court of Valparaiso; members appointed for 4-year terms
Judicial branch / subordinate courts: Courts of Appeal; oral criminal tribunals; military tribunals; local police courts; specialized tribunals and courts in matters such as family, labor, customs, taxes, and electoral affairs
Political parties: Approve Dignity (Apruebo Dignidad) coalition or AD (included PC, FA, and FREVS); note - dissolved 2023 Broad Front Coalition (Frente Amplio) or FA (includes RD, CS, and Comunes) Chile We Can Do More (Chile Podemos Más) or ChP+ (coalition includes EVOPOLI, PRI, RN, UDI) Christian Democratic Party or PDC Common Sense Party or SC Commons (Comunes) Communist Party of Chile or PCCh Democratic Revolution or RD Democrats or PD Equality Party or PI Green Ecological Party or PEV (dissolved 7 February 2022) Green Popular Alliance or AVP Humanist Action Party or PAH Humanist Party or PH Independent Democratic Union or UDI Liberal Party (Partido Liberal de Chile) or PL National Libertarian Party or PNL National Renewal or RN New Social Pact or NPS (includes PDC, PL, PPD, PRSD, PS) Party for Democracy or PPD Party of the People or PDG Political Evolution or EVOPOLI Popular Party or PP Progressive Homeland Party or PRO Radical Party or PR Republican Party or PLR Social Christian Party or PSC Social Convergence or CS Social Green Regionalist Federation or FREVS Socialist Party or PS Yellow Movement for Chile or AMAR
Diplomatic representation in the US / chief of mission: Ambassador Juan Gabriel VALDES Soublette (since 7 June 2022)
Diplomatic representation in the US / chancery: 1732 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036
Diplomatic representation in the US / telephone: [1] (202) 785-1746
Diplomatic representation in the US / FAX: [1] (202) 887-5579
Diplomatic representation in the US / email address and website: echile.eeuu@minrel.gob.cl https://chile.gob.cl/estados-unidos/en/
Diplomatic representation in the US / consulate(s) general: Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, San Francisco
Diplomatic representation from the US / chief of mission: Ambassador-designate Brandon JUDD (since November 2025)
Diplomatic representation from the US / embassy: Avenida Andres Bello 2800, Las Condes, Santiago
Diplomatic representation from the US / mailing address: 3460 Santiago Place, Washington DC 20521-3460
Diplomatic representation from the US / telephone: [56] (2) 2330-3000
Diplomatic representation from the US / FAX: [56] (2) 2330-3710
Diplomatic representation from the US / email address and website: SantiagoUSA@state.gov https://cl.usembassy.gov/
International organization participation: APEC, BIS, CAN (associate), CD, CELAC, FAO, G-15, G-77, 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), LAES, LAIA, Mercosur (associate), MIGA, MINUSTAH, NAM, OAS, OECD (enhanced engagement), OPANAL, OPCW, Pacific Alliance, PCA, PROSUR, SICA (observer), UN, UNASUR, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNMOGIP, UNOOSA, UNTSO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Independence: 18 September 1810 (from Spain)
National holiday: Independence Day, 18 September (1810)
Flag: description: two equal horizontal bands of white (top) and red; a blue square sits in the top left corner of the flag, the same height as the white band; the square has a five-pointed white star in the center meaning: the star represents a guide to progress and honor; blue stands for the sky, white for the Andes Mountains, and red for the blood spilled to achieve independence
National symbol(s): huemul (mountain deer), Andean condor
National color(s): red, white, blue
National anthem(s) / title: "Himno Nacional de Chile" (National Anthem of Chile)
National anthem(s) / lyrics/music: Eusebio LILLO Robles and Bernardo DE VERA y Pintado/Ramon CARNICER y Battle
National anthem(s) / history: music adopted 1828, original lyrics adopted 1818, adapted lyrics adopted 1847; under Augusto PINOCHET's military rule, a verse glorifying the army was added; some citizens refused to sing this verse as a protest, and it was removed when democracy was restored in 1990
National heritage / total World Heritage Sites: 7 (all cultural)
National heritage / selected World Heritage Site locales: Rapa Nui National Park; Churches of Chiloe; Historic Valparaiso; Humberstone and Santa Laura Saltpeter Works; Sewell Mining Town; Qhapaq Ñan/Andean Road System; Chinchorro archeological sites

## Economy
Economic overview: export-driven economy; leading copper producer; though hit by COVID-19, fairly quick rebound from increased liquidity and rapid vaccine rollouts; decreasing poverty but still lingering inequality; public debt rising but still manageable; recent political violence has had negative economic consequences
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $596.556 billion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $581.187 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $578.173 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: 0.5% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2022: 2.2% (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2024: $30,200 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2023: $29,600 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2022: $29,600 (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $330.267 billion (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024: 4.3% (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023: 7.6% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 11.6% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / agriculture: 3.9% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / industry: 30.1% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / services: 56.1% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / household consumption: 58.1% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / government consumption: 15.1% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in fixed capital: 23.5% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in inventories: -0.3% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / exports of goods and services: 33.7% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / imports of goods and services: -30.1% (2024 est.)
Agricultural products: grapes, milk, apples, wheat, tomatoes, potatoes, chicken, maize, sugar beets, pork (2023)
Industries: copper, lithium, other minerals, foodstuffs, fish processing, iron and steel, wood and wood products, transport equipment, cement, textiles
Industrial production growth rate: 3.5% (2024 est.)
Labor force: 10.088 million (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2024: 9.1% (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2023: 9.1% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2022: 8.3% (2022 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / total: 22.3% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / male: 20.3% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / female: 24.9% (2024 est.)
Population below poverty line: 6.5% (2022 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income / Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2022: 43 (2022 est.)
Average household expenditures / on food: 19.4% 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%: 2.3% (2022 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / highest 10%: 34.5% (2022 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: $77.003 billion (2023 est.)
Budget / expenditures: $85.024 billion (2023 est.)
Public debt / Public debt 2016: 21% of GDP (2016 est.)
Taxes and other revenues: 17.7% (of GDP) (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2024: -$4.853 billion (2024 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2023: -$10.497 billion (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2022: -$26.656 billion (2022 est.)
Exports / Exports 2024: $111.123 billion (2024 est.)
Exports / Exports 2023: $103.256 billion (2023 est.)
Exports / Exports 2022: $107.039 billion (2022 est.)
Exports - partners: China 39%, USA 16%, Japan 7%, S. Korea 6%, Brazil 4% (2023)
Exports - commodities: copper ore, refined copper, fish, carbonates, pitted fruits (2023)
Imports / Imports 2024: $99.239 billion (2024 est.)
Imports / Imports 2023: $100.082 billion (2023 est.)
Imports / Imports 2022: $118.928 billion (2022 est.)
Imports - partners: China 23%, USA 20%, Brazil 10%, Argentina 7%, Germany 5% (2023)
Imports - commodities: refined petroleum, crude petroleum, cars, garments, trucks (2023)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024: $44.403 billion (2024 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023: $46.377 billion (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $39.102 billion (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Currency: Chilean pesos (CLP) per US dollar -
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2024: 943.572 (2024 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2023: 840.067 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2022: 873.314 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2021: 758.955 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2020: 792.727 (2020 est.)

## Energy
Electricity access / electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)
Electricity / installed generating capacity: 39.238 million kW (2023 est.)
Electricity / consumption: 83.295 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / transmission/distribution losses: 4.384 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / fossil fuels: 35.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / solar: 20.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / wind: 10.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / hydroelectricity: 26.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / geothermal: 0.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / biomass and waste: 5.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Coal / production: 474,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / consumption: 8.087 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / exports: 63,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / imports: 7.589 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / proven reserves: 1.181 billion metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum / total petroleum production: 11,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Petroleum / refined petroleum consumption: 404,000 bbl/day (2024 est.)
Petroleum / crude oil estimated reserves: 150 million barrels (2021 est.)
Natural gas / production: 1.362 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / consumption: 6.5 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / exports: 39.009 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / imports: 5.196 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / proven reserves: 97.976 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)
Energy consumption per capita / Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 71.42 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

## Communications
Telephones - fixed lines / total subscriptions: 1.74 million (2024 est.)
Telephones - fixed lines / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 8 (2024 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / total subscriptions: 26.2 million (2024 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 133 (2024 est.)
Broadcast media: national and local terrestrial TV channels, coupled with extensive cable TV networks; the state-owned Television Nacional de Chile (TVN) network is self-financed through commercial advertising and is not under direct government control; large number of privately owned TV stations; about 250 radio stations
Internet country code: .cl
Internet users / percent of population: 95% (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / total: 4.52 million (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 23 (2023 est.)

## Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: CC
Airports: 379 (2025)
Heliports: 115 (2025)
Railways / total: 7,281.5 km (2014)
Railways / narrow gauge: 3,853.5 km (2014) 1.000-m gauge
Railways / broad gauge: 3,428 km (2014) 1.676-m gauge (1,691 km electrified)
Merchant marine / total: 249 (2023)
Merchant marine / by type: bulk carrier 3, container ship 5, general cargo 66, oil tanker 14, other 161
Ports / total ports: 39 (2024)
Ports / large: 0
Ports / medium: 2
Ports / small: 10
Ports / very small: 27
Ports / ports with oil terminals: 25
Ports / key ports: Antofagasta, Bahia de Valdivia, Bahia de Valparaiso, Coronel, Iquique, Mejillones, Puerto Montt, Puerto San Antonio, Rada de Arica, Rada Punta Arenas, Talcahuano, Tocopilla

## Military and Security
Military and security forces: Armed Forces of Chile (Fuerzas Armadas de Chile): Chilean Army (Ejército de Chile), Chilean Navy (Armada de Chile, includes Marine Corps and Maritime Territory and Merchant Marine Directorate or Directemar), Chilean Air Force (Fuerza Aerea de Chile, FACh) (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: 1.6% 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 70,000 active Armed Forces (40,000 Army; 20,000 Navy; 10,000 Air Force); approximately 50,000 Carabineros (2025)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the Chilean military's inventory is comprised of a mix of mostly older foreign supplied armaments and some domestically produced weapons systems; significant foreign suppliers have included Australia, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, Israel, the Netherlands, Spain, the UK, and the US; Chile's defense industry is active in the production of military aircraft, ships, and vehicles (2025)
Military service age and obligation: 18-24 for voluntary military service for men and women (17 for men with parental permission); selective compulsory service for men 18-24 (there are usually enough volunteers to make compulsory service unnecessary); service obligation is a maximum of 24 months (2025)
Military - note: the Chilean military's responsibilities are territorial defense, ensuring the country’s sovereignty, assisting with disaster and humanitarian relief, and providing some internal security duties such as border security or maintaining public order if required; a key focus in recent years has been assisting with securing the border area with Bolivia and Peru; it trains regularly and participates in bilateral and multinational training exercises, as well as international peacekeeping operations Chile and Argentina have a joint peacekeeping force known as the Combined Southern Cross Peacekeeping Force (FPC), designed to be made available to the UN; the FPC is made up of air, ground, and naval components, as well as a combined logistics support unit the Chilean Army was founded in 1810, but traces its origins back to the Army of the Kingdom of Chile, which was established by the Spanish Crown in the early 1600s; Chile's military aviation was inaugurated in 1913 with the creation of a military aviation school; the Navy traces its origins to 1817; it was first led by a British officer and the first ships were largely crewed by American, British, and Irish sailors; by the 1880s, the Chilean Navy was one of the most powerful in the Americas, and included the world’s first protected cruiser (a ship with an armored deck to protect vital machine spaces) (2025)

## Terrorism
Terrorist group(s): Tren de Aragua (TdA)

## Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons / refugees: 15,788 (2024 est.)
Refugees and internally displaced persons / IDPs: 8,323 (2024 est.)
Refugees and internally displaced persons / stateless persons: 1,688 (2024 est.)

=== Colombia ===

## Introduction
Background: Colombia was one of three countries that emerged after the dissolution of Gran Colombia in 1830 -- the others are Ecuador and Venezuela. A decades-long conflict among government forces, paramilitaries, and antigovernment insurgent groups heavily funded by the drug trade -- principally the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) -- escalated during the 1990s. In the wake of the paramilitary demobilization in the 2000s, new criminal groups arose that included some former paramilitaries. After four years of formal peace negotiations, the Colombian Government signed a final accord with the FARC in 2016 that called for its members to demobilize, disarm, and reincorporate into society and politics. The accord also committed the Colombian Government to create three new institutions to form a 'comprehensive system for truth, justice, reparation, and non-repetition,' including a truth commission, a special unit to coordinate the search for those who disappeared during the conflict, and a 'Special Jurisdiction for Peace' to administer justice for conflict-related crimes. Despite decades of internal conflict and drug-trade-related security challenges, Colombia maintains relatively strong and independent democratic institutions characterized by peaceful, transparent elections and the protection of civil liberties.

## Geography
Location: Northern South America, bordering the Caribbean Sea, between Panama and Venezuela, and bordering the North Pacific Ocean, between Ecuador and Panama
Geographic coordinates: 4 00 N, 72 00 W
Map references: South America
Area / total: 1,138,910 sq km
Area / land: 1,038,700 sq km
Area / water: 100,210 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly less than twice the size of Texas
Land boundaries / total: 6,672 km
Land boundaries / border countries: Brazil 1,790 km; Ecuador 708 km; Panama 339 km; Peru 1,494 km; Venezuela 2,341 km
Coastline: 3,208 km (Caribbean Sea 1,760 km, North Pacific Ocean 1,448 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 along coast and eastern plains; cooler in highlands
Terrain: flat coastal lowlands, central highlands, high Andes Mountains, eastern lowland plains (Llanos)
Elevation / highest point: Pico Cristobal Colon 5,730 m
Elevation / lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
Elevation / mean elevation: 593 m
Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas, coal, iron ore, nickel, gold, copper, emeralds, hydropower
Land use / agricultural land: 36.5% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 2.3% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 2.2% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 32% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 53.8% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 9.7% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land: 6,506 sq km (2013)
Major rivers (by length in km): Rio Negro river source (shared with Venezuela and Brazil [m]) - 2,250 km; Orinoco (shared with Venezuela [s]) - 2,101 km note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Major watersheds (area sq km) / Atlantic Ocean drainage: Amazon (6,145,186 sq km), Orinoco (953,675 sq km)
Major aquifers: Amazon Basin
Population distribution: the majority of people live in the north and west, where agricultural opportunities and natural resources are found; the vast grasslands of the llanos to the south and east, which make up approximately 60% of the country, are sparsely populated
Natural hazards: highlands subject to volcanic eruptions; occasional earthquakes; periodic droughts volcanism: Galeras (4,276 m) is one of Colombia's most active volcanoes; it 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; Nevado del Ruiz (5,321 m), 129 km (80 mi) west of Bogota, erupted in 1985, producing lahars (mudflows) that killed 23,000 people; the volcano last erupted in 1991; after 500 years of dormancy, Nevado del Huila reawakened in 2007 and has experienced frequent eruptions since then; other historically active volcanoes include Cumbal, Dona Juana, Nevado del Tolima, and Purace
Geography - note: only South American country with coastlines on both the North Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea

## People and Society
Population / total: 49,842,298 (2025 est.)
Population / male: 24,320,959
Population / female: 25,521,339
Nationality / noun: Colombian(s)
Nationality / adjective: Colombian
Ethnic groups: Mestizo and White 87.6%, Afro-Colombian (includes Mulatto, Raizal, and Palenquero) 6.8%, Indigenous 4.3%, unspecified 1.4% (2018 est.)
Languages / Languages: Spanish (official) 98.9%, indigenous 1%, Portuguese 0.1%; 65 indigenous languages exist (2023 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 63.6%, Protestant 17.2% (Evangelical 16.7%, Adventist 0.3%, other Protestant 0.2%), Jehovah's Witness 0.6%, Church of Jesus Christ 0.1%, other 0.3%, believer, 0.2%. agnostic 1%, atheist 1%, none 14.2%, unspecified 1.8% (2023 est.)
Age structure / 0-14 years: 22.3% (male 5,643,995/female 5,394,147)
Age structure / 15-64 years: 66.5% (male 16,127,377/female 16,859,161)
Age structure / 65 years and over: 11.2% (2024 est.) (male 2,434,999/female 3,128,678)
Dependency ratios / total dependency ratio: 50.7 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / youth dependency ratio: 33.2 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / elderly dependency ratio: 17.5 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / potential support ratio: 5.7 (2025 est.)
Median age / total: 33.1 years (2025 est.)
Median age / male: 31.5 years
Median age / female: 34 years
Population growth rate: 0.54% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 14.73 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 6.96 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: -2.38 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution: the majority of people live in the north and west, where agricultural opportunities and natural resources are found; the vast grasslands of the llanos to the south and east, which make up approximately 60% of the country, are sparsely populated
Urbanization / urban population: 82.4% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 1.01% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 11.508 million BOGOTA (capital), 4.102 million Medellin, 2.864 million Cali, 2.349 million Barranquilla, 1.381 million Bucaramanga, 1.088 million Cartagena (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: 0.78 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth: 21.7 years (2015 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio: 59 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Infant mortality rate / total: 11.6 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Infant mortality rate / male: 13.1 deaths/1,000 live births
Infant mortality rate / female: 10.2 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth / total population: 74.9 years (2024 est.)
Life expectancy at birth / male: 71.3 years
Life expectancy at birth / female: 78.7 years
Total fertility rate: 1.94 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 0.94 (2025 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: urban: urban: 99.9% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: rural: rural: 86.7% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: total: total: 97.5% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: urban: urban: 0.1% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: rural: rural: 13.3% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: total: total: 2.5% of population (2022 est.)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 9% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 15.7% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density: 2.54 physicians/1,000 population (2023)
Hospital bed density: 1.7 beds/1,000 population (2020 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: urban: urban: 98.9% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: rural: rural: 88.2% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: total: total: 97% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: urban: urban: 1.1% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: rural: rural: 11.8% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: total: total: 3% of population (2022 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 22.3% (2016)
Alcohol consumption per capita / total: 4.09 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / beer: 3.09 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / wine: 0.06 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / spirits: 0.92 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / other alcohols: 0.02 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Tobacco use / total: 7.6% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / male: 11.2% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / female: 4.1% (2025 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 3.7% (2016 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49): 50.9% (2018 est.)
Child marriage / women married by age 15: 4.9% (2015)
Child marriage / women married by age 18: 23.4% (2015)
Child marriage / men married by age 18: 6.7% (2015)
Education expenditure: 5.3% of GDP (2020 est.)
Literacy / total population: 95.3% (2024 est.)
Literacy / male: 95% (2024 est.)
Literacy / female: 95.7% (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: 15 years (2022 est.)

## Environment
Environmental issues: deforestation from timber exploitation in the Amazon and the Choc&oacute; region; soil erosion; soil and water pollution from overuse of pesticides; air pollution, especially in Bogota, from vehicle emissions
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, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling
International environmental agreements / signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea
Climate: tropical along coast and eastern plains; cooler in highlands
Land use / agricultural land: 36.5% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 2.3% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 2.2% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 32% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 53.8% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 9.7% (2023 est.)
Urbanization / urban population: 82.4% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 1.01% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / total emissions: 85.878 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from coal and metallurgical coke: 15.463 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from petroleum and other liquids: 49.727 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from consumed natural gas: 20.688 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Particulate matter emissions: 13.1 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Methane emissions / energy: 814.5 kt (2022-2024 est.)
Methane emissions / agriculture: 1,791.5 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Methane emissions / waste: 600.8 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Methane emissions / other: 18.9 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Waste and recycling / municipal solid waste generated annually: 12.15 million tons (2024 est.)
Waste and recycling / percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 28.5% (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / municipal: 3.405 billion cubic meters (2022)
Total water withdrawal / industrial: 1.033 billion cubic meters (2022)
Total water withdrawal / agricultural: 20.46 billion cubic meters (2022)
Total renewable water resources: 2.36 trillion cubic meters (2022 est.)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: Republic of Colombia
Country name / conventional short form: Colombia
Country name / local long form: Rep&uacute;blica de Colombia
Country name / local short form: Colombia
Country name / etymology: named after explorer Christopher COLUMBUS
Government type: presidential republic
Capital / name: Bogot&aacute;
Capital / geographic coordinates: 4 36 N, 74 05 W
Capital / time difference: UTC-5 (same time as Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Capital / etymology: originally named Santa Fe de Bacat&aacute; in 1538, after the Chibcha people's nearby settlement of Bacat&aacute;; the name was later corrupted to Bogot&aacute;
Administrative divisions: 32 departments ( departamentos , singular - departamento ) and 1 capital district* ( distrito capital ); Amazonas, Antioquia, Arauca, Atlántico, Bogota*, Bolivar, Boyacá, Caldas, Caquetá, Casanare, Cauca, Cesar, Choco, Cordoba, Cundinamarca, Guainía, Guaviare, Huila, La Guajira, Magdalena, Meta, Nariño, Norte de Santander, Putumayo, Quindío, Risaralda, Archipiélago de San Andres, Providencia y Santa Catalina (colloquially San Andres y Providencia), Santander, Sucre, Tolima, Valle del Cauca, Vaupes, Vichada
Legal system: civil law system influenced by the Spanish and French civil codes
Constitution / history: several previous; latest promulgated 4 July 1991
Constitution / amendment process: proposed by the government, by Congress, by a constituent assembly, or by public petition; passage requires a majority vote by Congress in each of two consecutive sessions; passage of amendments to constitutional articles on citizen rights, guarantees, and duties also require approval in a referendum by over one half of voters and participation of over one fourth of citizens registered to vote
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 or permanent resident of Colombia
Citizenship / dual citizenship recognized: yes
Citizenship / residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch / chief of state: President Gustavo Francisco PETRO Urrego (since 7 August 2022)
Executive branch / head of government: President Gustavo Francisco PETRO Urrego (since 7 August 2022)
Executive branch / cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president
Executive branch / election/appointment process: president directly elected by absolute majority vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a single 4-year term
Executive branch / most recent election date: 29 May 2022, with a runoff held on 19 June 2022
Executive branch / election results: 2022: Gustavo Francisco PETRO Urrego elected president in second round; percent of vote in first round - Gustavo Francisco PETRO Urrego (PHxC) 40.3%, Rodolfo HERNÁNDEZ Suárez (LIGA) 28.2%, Federico GUTIÉRREZ Zuluaga (Team for Colombia / CREEMOS) 23.9%, other 7.6%; percent of vote in second round - Gustavo Francisco PETRO Urrego 50.4%, Rodolfo HERNÁNDEZ Suarez 47.3%, blank 2.3% 2018: Iván DUQUE Márquez elected president in second round; percent of vote - Iván DUQUE Márquez (CD) 54%, Gustavo Francisco PETRO Urrego (Humane Colombia) 41.8%, other/blank/invalid 4.2%
Executive branch / expected date of next election: 31 May 2026
Legislative branch / legislature name: Congress (Congreso)
Legislative branch / legislative structure: bicameral
Legislative branch - lower chamber / chamber name: House of Representatives (Cámara de Representantes)
Legislative branch - lower chamber / number of seats: 187 (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: 3/13/2022
Legislative branch - lower chamber / parties elected and seats per party: Liberal Party (PL) (32); Historic Pact (27); Conservative Party (CP) (25); Democratic Centre (CD) (16); Radical Change (CR) (16); Union Party for the People “Partido de la U” (15); Green Alliance - Hope Centre coalition (11); Other (14)
Legislative branch - lower chamber / percentage of women in chamber: 29.4%
Legislative branch - lower chamber / expected date of next election: March 2026
Legislative branch - upper chamber / chamber name: Senate (Senado de la República)
Legislative branch - upper chamber / number of seats: 108 (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: 3/13/2022
Legislative branch - upper chamber / parties elected and seats per party: Historic Pact (20); Conservative Party (CP) (15); Liberal Party (PL) (14); Green Alliance - Hope Centre coalition (13); Democratic Centre (CD) (13); Radical Change (CR) (11); Union Party for the People “Partido de la U” (10); Other (4)
Legislative branch - upper chamber / percentage of women in chamber: 31.4%
Legislative branch - upper chamber / expected date of next election: March 2026
Judicial branch / highest court(s): Supreme Court of Justice or Corte Suprema de Justicia (consists of the Civil-Agrarian and Labor Chambers each with 7 judges, and the Penal Chamber with 9 judges); Constitutional Court (consists of 9 magistrates); Council of State (consists of 27 judges); Superior Judiciary Council (consists of 13 magistrates)
Judicial branch / judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court judges appointed by the Supreme Court members from candidates submitted by the Superior Judiciary Council; judges elected for individual 8-year terms; Constitutional Court magistrates - nominated by the president, by the Supreme Court, and elected by the Senate; judges elected for individual 8-year terms; Council of State members appointed by the State Council plenary from lists nominated by the Superior Judiciary Council
Judicial branch / subordinate courts: Superior Tribunals (appellate courts for each of the judicial districts); regional courts; civil municipal courts; Superior Military Tribunal; first instance administrative courts
Political parties: Alternative Democratic Pole or PDA Citizens Option (Opcion Ciudadana) or OC (formerly known as the National Integration Party or PIN) The Commons (formerly People's Alternative Revolutionary Force or FARC) Conservative Party or PC Democratic Center Party or CD Fair and Free Colombia (Colombia Justa Libres) Green Alliance Historic Pact for Colombia or PHxC (coalition composed of several left-leaning political parties and social movements) Humane Colombia Independent Movement of Absolute Renovation or MIRA League of Anti-Corruption Rulers or LIGA Liberal Party or PL People's Alternative Revolutionary Force or FARC Radical Change or CR Team for Colombia - also known as the Experience Coalition or Coalition of the Regions (coalition composed of center-right and right-wing parties) Union Party for the People or U Party We Believe Colombia or CREEMOS
Diplomatic representation in the US / chief of mission: Ambassador Daniel GARC&Iacute;A-PE&Ntilde;A JARAMILLO (since 18 September 2024)
Diplomatic representation in the US / chancery: 1724 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036
Diplomatic representation in the US / telephone: [1] (202) 387-8338
Diplomatic representation in the US / FAX: [1] (202) 232-8643
Diplomatic representation in the US / email address and website: eestadosunidos@cancilleria.gov.co https://www.colombiaemb.org/
Diplomatic representation in the US / consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Newark (NJ), Orlando, San Francisco, San Juan (Puerto Rico)
Diplomatic representation from the US / chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charg&eacute; d'Affaires John McNAMARA (since 1 February 2025)
Diplomatic representation from the US / embassy: Carrera 45, No. 24B-27, Bogota
Diplomatic representation from the US / mailing address: 3030 Bogota Place, Washington DC 20521-3030
Diplomatic representation from the US / telephone: [57] (601) 275-2000
Diplomatic representation from the US / FAX: [57] (601) 275-4600
Diplomatic representation from the US / email address and website: ACSBogota@state.gov https://co.usembassy.gov/
International organization participation: ACS, BCIE, BIS, CABEI, CAN, Caricom (observer), CD, CDB, CELAC, EITI (candidate country), FAO, G-3, G-24, G-77, 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), LAES, LAIA, Mercosur (associate), MIGA, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, Pacific Alliance, PCA, PROSUR, UN, UNASUR, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNOOSA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Independence: 20 July 1810 (from Spain)
National holiday: Independence Day, 20 July (1810)
Flag: description: three horizontal bands of yellow (top, double-width), blue, and red meaning: various interpretations of the colors exist; one has yellow for the gold in Colombia's land, blue for the sea, and red for the blood spilled in attaining freedom; another describes them as representing sovereignty and justice (yellow), loyalty and vigilance (blue), and valor and generosity (red); another has the colors standing for liberty, equality, and fraternity
National symbol(s): Andean condor
National color(s): yellow, blue, red
National anthem(s) / title: "Himno Nacional de la Republica de Colombia" (National Anthem of the Republic of Colombia)
National anthem(s) / lyrics/music: Rafael NUNEZ/Oreste SINDICI
National anthem(s) / history: adopted 1920; the anthem comes from an inspirational poem written by President Rafael NUNEZ; the anthem always starts with the chorus
National heritage / total World Heritage Sites: 9 (6 cultural, 2 natural, 1 mixed)
National heritage / selected World Heritage Site locales: Chiribiquete National Park (m); Coffee Cultural Landscape of Colombia (c); Historic Center of Santa Cruz de Mompox (c); Los Katíos National Park (n); Malpelo Fauna and Flora Sanctuary (n); Tierradentro National Archeological Park (c); San Agustín Archaeological Park (c); Colonial Cartagena (c); Qhapaq Ñan/Andean Road System (c)

## Economy
Economic overview: prior to COVID-19, one of the most consistent growth economies; declining poverty; large stimulus package has mitigated economic fallout, but delayed key infrastructure investments; successful inflation management; sound flexible exchange rate regime; domestic economy suffers from lack of trade integration and infrastructure
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $978.592 billion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $961.82 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $955.016 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: 0.7% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2022: 7.3% (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2024: $18,500 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2023: $18,400 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2022: $18,500 (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $418.542 billion (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024: 6.6% (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023: 11.7% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 10.2% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / agriculture: 9.3% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / industry: 23.1% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / services: 58.2% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / household consumption: 73.1% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / government consumption: 14.7% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in fixed capital: 16.5% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in inventories: 0.6% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / exports of goods and services: 16% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / imports of goods and services: -20.9% (2024 est.)
Agricultural products: sugarcane, oil palm fruit, milk, rice, plantains, potatoes, bananas, maize, chicken, avocados (2023)
Industries: textiles, food processing, oil, clothing and footwear, beverages, chemicals, cement; gold, coal, emeralds
Industrial production growth rate: -1.3% (2024 est.)
Labor force: 26.822 million (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2024: 9.7% (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2023: 9.6% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2022: 10.6% (2022 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / total: 19.8% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / male: 16.5% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / female: 24.3% (2024 est.)
Population below poverty line: 33% (2023 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income / Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2023: 53.9 (2023 est.)
Average household expenditures / on food: 20.6% 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%: 1.1% (2023 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / highest 10%: 42.7% (2023 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2024: 2.8% of GDP (2024 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2023: 2.8% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2022: 2.7% of GDP (2022 est.)
Budget / revenues: $116.49 billion (2023 est.)
Budget / expenditures: $123.966 billion (2023 est.)
Public debt / Public debt 2023: 71.3% of GDP (2023 est.)
Taxes and other revenues: 17.6% (of GDP) (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2024: -$7.412 billion (2024 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2023: -$8.285 billion (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2022: -$20.879 billion (2022 est.)
Exports / Exports 2024: $68.866 billion (2024 est.)
Exports / Exports 2023: $68.674 billion (2023 est.)
Exports / Exports 2022: $73.514 billion (2022 est.)
Exports - partners: USA 27%, Panama 9%, India 5%, China 5%, Netherlands 4% (2023)
Exports - commodities: crude petroleum, coal, gold, coffee, refined petroleum (2023)
Imports / Imports 2024: $78.633 billion (2024 est.)
Imports / Imports 2023: $76.449 billion (2023 est.)
Imports / Imports 2022: $89.608 billion (2022 est.)
Imports - partners: USA 26%, China 22%, Brazil 6%, Mexico 5%, Germany 4% (2023)
Imports - commodities: refined petroleum, cars, broadcasting equipment, aircraft, packaged medicine (2023)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024: $61.898 billion (2024 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023: $59.041 billion (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $56.704 billion (2022 est.)
Debt - external / Debt - external 2023: $108.027 billion (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Currency: Colombian pesos (COP) per US dollar -
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2024: 4,074.434 (2024 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2023: 4,325.955 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2022: 4,256.194 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2021: 3,744.244 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2020: 3,693.276 (2020 est.)

## Energy
Electricity access / electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)
Electricity / installed generating capacity: 21.053 million kW (2023 est.)
Electricity / consumption: 82.309 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / exports: 1.293 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / imports: 407.788 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / transmission/distribution losses: 7.232 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / fossil fuels: 34% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / solar: 1.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / wind: 0.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / hydroelectricity: 62.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / biomass and waste: 2.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Coal / production: 52.376 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / consumption: 9.72 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / exports: 46.425 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / imports: 1,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / proven reserves: 4.554 billion metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum / total petroleum production: 800,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Petroleum / refined petroleum consumption: 374,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Petroleum / crude oil estimated reserves: 2.036 billion barrels (2021 est.)
Natural gas / production: 10.927 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / consumption: 11.885 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / imports: 958.724 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / proven reserves: 87.782 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)
Energy consumption per capita / Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 29.305 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

## Communications
Telephones - fixed lines / total subscriptions: 6.32 million (2024 est.)
Telephones - fixed lines / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 12 (2024 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / total subscriptions: 92.1 million (2024 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 174 (2024 est.)
Broadcast media: combination of state-owned and privately owned broadcast media provide service; more than 500 radio stations and many national, regional, and local TV stations (2019)
Internet country code: .co
Internet users / percent of population: 77% (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / total: 8.91 million (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 17 (2023 est.)

## Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: HJ, HK
Airports: 661 (2025)
Heliports: 57 (2025)
Railways / total: 2,141 km (2019)
Railways / standard gauge: 150 km (2019) 1.435-m gauge
Railways / narrow gauge: 1,991 km (2019) 0.914-m gauge
Merchant marine / total: 153 (2023)
Merchant marine / by type: general cargo 28, oil tanker 13, other 112
Ports / total ports: 14 (2024)
Ports / large: 0
Ports / medium: 2
Ports / small: 8
Ports / very small: 3
Ports / size unknown: 1
Ports / ports with oil terminals: 10
Ports / key ports: Barranquilla, Buenaventura, Cartagena, Covenas, El Bosque, Mamonal, Pozos Colorados, Puerto Bolivar, Puerto Prodeco, Santa Marta

## Military and Security
Military and security forces: Military Forces of Colombia (Fuerzas Militares de Colombia ) : National Army (Ejercito Nacional), Colombian Aerospace Force (Fuerza Aeroespacial Colombiana, FAC), Colombian Navy (Armada de Colombia; includes Coast Guard); National Police of Colombia (Policia Nacional de Colombia, PNC) (2025)
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: 3% of GDP (2022 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2021: 3.2% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2020: 3.4% of GDP (2020 est.)
Military and security service personnel strengths: approximately 260,000 active Military Forces; approximately 150,000 National Police (2025)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the military's inventory includes a mix of domestically produced and imported armaments from a variety of suppliers, including Brazil, Canada, Germany, Israel, South Korea, and the US; Colombia's defense industry is active in producing air, land, and naval platforms (2025)
Military service age and obligation: 18-24 years of age for compulsory (men) and voluntary (men and women) military (and police) service; conscript service obligation is 18 months or 12 months for those with a college degree; conscripted soldiers reportedly include regular soldiers (conscripts without a high school degree), drafted high school graduates (bachilleres), and rural (campesino) soldiers who serve in their home regions (2025)
Military deployments: 275 Egypt (MFO) (2025)
Military - note: the Colombian military is responsible for defending and maintaining the country’s independence, national sovereignty, and territorial integrity but also has a considerable internal security role, which includes protecting the civilian population, as well as private and state-owned assets, and ensuring a secure environment; the military’s primary focus is the conduct of counterinsurgency and counter-narcotics operations against domestic illegal armed groups, including drug traffickers, several factions of the former Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) terrorist group, and the insurgent/terrorist group National Liberation Army (ELN) border security is also a focus, particularly with Venezuela where economic and political instability has brought refugees and attracted narcotics trafficking and other cross-border crime; both the ELN and FARC dissidents operate openly in the border region; ELN and FARC insurgents have also used neighboring Ecuador to rest, resupply, and shelter Colombia has close security ties with the US, including joint training, military assistance, and designation in 2022 as a Major Non-NATO Ally, which provides foreign partners with certain benefits in the areas of defense, trade, and security cooperation; it also has close security ties with regional neighbors, such as Argentina, Brazil, Chile, and Peru; Colombian military and security forces have training programs with their counterparts from a variety of countries, mostly those from Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean (2025)

## Space
Space agency/agencies: Colombian Space Commission (Comision Colombiana Del Espacio, CCE; established 2006) (2025)
Space program overview: has a small program focused on acquiring satellites, particularly remote sensing (RS) satellites; operates satellites and produces nanosatellites; researches other space technologies, including astronautics, satellite navigation, and telecommunications; works with a variety of foreign space agencies or commercial space industries, including those of Denmark, India, Russia, Sweden, the US, and some members of the Latin American and Caribbean Space Agency (2025)
Key space-program milestones: 2007 - first domestically produced technology-demonstration/remote-sensing (RS) nanosatellite (Libertad I) launched by Russia 2014 - second experimental RS nanosatellite (UAPSAT) launched by US 2018 - first RS satellite (FACSAT-1) for military use purchased from Denmark and launched by India 2022 - signed US-led Artemis Accords for space exploration 2023 - second RS satellite (FACSAT-2 or Chibiriquete) launched by US

## Terrorism
Terrorist group(s): National Liberation Army (ELN); Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia - People's Army (FARC-EP); Segunda Marquetalia (SM); Tren de Aragua (TdA)

## Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons / refugees: 30,611 (2024 est.)
Refugees and internally displaced persons / IDPs: 7,264,767 (2024 est.)
Refugees and internally displaced persons / stateless persons: 5 (2024 est.)
Illicit drugs / USG identification: major illicit drug-producing and/or drug-transit country major precursor-chemical producer (2025)

=== Ecuador ===

## Introduction
Background: What is now Ecuador formed part of the northern Inca Empire until the Spanish conquest in 1533. Quito -- the traditional name for the area -- became a seat of Spanish colonial government in 1563 and part of the Viceroyalty of New Granada in 1717. The territories of the Viceroyalty -- New Granada (Colombia), Venezuela, and Quito -- gained their independence between 1819 and 1822 and formed a federation known as Gran Colombia. When Quito withdrew to become an independent republic in 1830, the traditional name was changed to the "Republic of the Equator." Between 1904 and 1942, Ecuador lost territories in a series of conflicts with its neighbors. A border war with Peru that flared in 1995 was resolved in 1999. Although Ecuador has had nearly 50 years of civilian governance, the period has been marked by political instability.

## Geography
Location: Western South America, bordering the Pacific Ocean at the Equator, between Colombia and Peru
Geographic coordinates: 2 00 S, 77 30 W
Map references: South America
Area / total: 283,561 sq km
Area / land: 276,841 sq km
Area / water: 6,720 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly smaller than Nevada
Land boundaries / total: 2,237 km
Land boundaries / border countries: Colombia 708 km; Peru 1529 km
Coastline: 2,237 km
Maritime claims / territorial sea: 12 nm
Maritime claims / exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Maritime claims / continental shelf: 200 nm
Climate: tropical along coast, becoming cooler inland at higher elevations; tropical in Amazonian jungle lowlands
Terrain: coastal plain (costa), inter-Andean central highlands (sierra), and flat to rolling eastern jungle (oriente)
Elevation / highest point: Chimborazo 6,267
Elevation / lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
Elevation / mean elevation: 1,117 m
Natural resources: petroleum, fish, timber, hydropower
Land use / agricultural land: 21.5% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 4.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 5.6% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 11.8% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 49.8% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 28.6% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land: 12,520 sq km (2022)
Major watersheds (area sq km) / Atlantic Ocean drainage: Amazon (6,145,186 sq km)
Population distribution: nearly half of the population is concentrated in the interior, with large concentrations also found along the western coastal strip; the rainforests of the east remain sparsely populated
Natural hazards: frequent earthquakes; landslides; volcanic activity; floods; periodic droughts volcanism: volcanic activity concentrated along the Andes Mountains; Sangay (5,230 m) is mainland Ecuador's most active volcano; other historically active volcanoes in the Andes include Antisana, Cayambe, Chacana, Cotopaxi, Guagua Pichincha, Reventador, Sumaco, and Tungurahua; Fernandina (1,476 m), a shield volcano, is the most active of the many Galapagos volcanoes; other historically active Galapagos volcanoes include Wolf, Sierra Negra, Cerro Azul, Pinta, Marchena, and Santiago
Geography - note: Cotopaxi in the Andes is highest active volcano in world

## People and Society
Population / total: 18,479,841 (2025 est.)
Population / male: 9,097,614
Population / female: 9,382,227
Nationality / noun: Ecuadorian(s)
Nationality / adjective: Ecuadorian
Ethnic groups: Mestizo (mixed Indigenous and White) 77.5%, Montubio 7.7%, Indigenous 7.7%, White 2.2%, Afroecuadorian 2%, Mulatto 1.4%, Black 1.3%, other 0.1% (2022 est.)
Languages / Languages: Spanish (Castilian; official) 98.6%, indigenous 3.9% (Quechua 3.2%, other indigenous 0.7%), foreign 2.8%, other 0.6% (includes Ecuadorian sign language) (2022 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 68.2%, Protestant 19% (Evangelical 18.3%, Adventist 0.6%, other Protestant 0.2%), Jehovah's Witness 1.4%, other 2.3%, none 8.2% don't know/no response 1% (2023 est.)
Age structure / 0-14 years: 26.8% (male 2,505,729/female 2,395,198)
Age structure / 15-64 years: 64.1% (male 5,771,234/female 5,972,938)
Age structure / 65 years and over: 9.1% (2024 est.) (male 746,207/female 918,678)
Dependency ratios / total dependency ratio: 55.3 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / youth dependency ratio: 41 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / elderly dependency ratio: 14.3 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / potential support ratio: 7 (2025 est.)
Median age / total: 28.2 years (2025 est.)
Median age / male: 27 years
Median age / female: 28.9 years
Population growth rate: 0.91% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 17.42 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 7.12 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: -1.23 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution: nearly half of the population is concentrated in the interior, with large concentrations also found along the western coastal strip; the rainforests of the east remain sparsely populated
Urbanization / urban population: 64.8% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 1.62% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 3.142 million Guayaquil, 1.957 million QUITO (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: 0.97 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 65 years and over: 0.81 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio: 55 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Infant mortality rate / total: 11.2 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Infant mortality rate / male: 12.2 deaths/1,000 live births
Infant mortality rate / female: 10.2 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth / total population: 74.9 years (2024 est.)
Life expectancy at birth / male: 69.7 years
Life expectancy at birth / female: 80.4 years
Total fertility rate: 2.17 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 1.06 (2025 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: urban: urban: 100% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: rural: rural: 87.9% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: total: total: 95.7% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: urban: urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: rural: rural: 12.1% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: total: total: 4.3% of population (2022 est.)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 8.3% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 11.9% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density: 2.31 physicians/1,000 population (2020)
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: 98.2% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: total: total: 99.4% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: urban: urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: rural: rural: 1.8% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: total: total: 0.6% of population (2022 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 19.9% (2016)
Alcohol consumption per capita / total: 3.05 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / beer: 2.32 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / wine: 0.09 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / spirits: 0.61 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / other alcohols: 0.03 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Tobacco use / total: 9.7% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / male: 17.2% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / female: 2.4% (2025 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 4.9% (2024 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49): 45.3% (2022 est.)
Child marriage / women married by age 15: 3.8% (2018)
Child marriage / women married by age 18: 22.2% (2018)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% GDP): 3.9% of GDP (2023 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% national budget): 15.5% national budget (2025 est.)
Literacy / total population: 96.3% (2022 est.)
Literacy / male: 96.8% (2022 est.)
Literacy / female: 95.7% (2022 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / total: 15 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: deforestation; soil erosion; desertification; water pollution; pollution from oil production wastes in areas of the Amazon Basin and Galapagos Islands
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, 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, becoming cooler inland at higher elevations; tropical in Amazonian jungle lowlands
Land use / agricultural land: 21.5% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 4.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 5.6% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 11.8% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 49.8% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 28.6% (2023 est.)
Urbanization / urban population: 64.8% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 1.62% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / total emissions: 38.286 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from coal and metallurgical coke: 39,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from petroleum and other liquids: 37.711 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from consumed natural gas: 536,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Particulate matter emissions: 17.3 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Methane emissions / energy: 454.3 kt (2022-2024 est.)
Methane emissions / agriculture: 346.3 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Methane emissions / waste: 210.1 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Methane emissions / other: 2.6 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Waste and recycling / municipal solid waste generated annually: 5.297 million tons (2024 est.)
Waste and recycling / percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 28% (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / municipal: 1.293 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / industrial: 549 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / agricultural: 8.076 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total renewable water resources: 442.4 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Geoparks / total global geoparks and regional networks: 3 (2025)
Geoparks / global geoparks and regional networks: Imbabura: Napo Sumaco; Tungurahua (2025)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: Republic of Ecuador
Country name / conventional short form: Ecuador
Country name / local long form: Rep&uacute;blica del Ecuador
Country name / local short form: Ecuador
Country name / former: Quito
Country name / etymology: the name is the Spanish word for "equator," referring to its geographic position
Government type: presidential republic
Capital / name: Quito
Capital / geographic coordinates: 0 13 S, 78 30 W
Capital / time difference: UTC-5 (same time as Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Capital / time zone note: Ecuador has two time zones, including the Galapagos Islands (UTC-6)
Capital / etymology: named after the Quitu, a Pre-Columbian people who lived in the area; the meaning of their name is unknown
Administrative divisions: 24 provinces ( provincias , singular - provincia ); Azuay, Bolivar, Cañar, Carchi, Chimborazo, Cotopaxi, El Oro, Esmeraldas, Galapagos, Guayas, Imbabura, Loja, Los Rios, Manabí, Morona Santiago, Napo, Orellana, Pastaza, Pichincha, Santa Elena, Santo Domingo de los Tsachilas, Sucumbios, Tungurahua, Zamora Chinchipe
Legal system: civil law based on the Chilean civil code with modifications; traditional law in ethnic communities
Constitution / history: many previous; latest approved 20 October 2008
Constitution / amendment process: proposed by the president of the republic through a referendum, by public petition of at least 1% of registered voters, or by agreement of at least one-third membership of the National Assembly; passage requires two separate readings a year apart and approval by at least two-thirds majority vote of the Assembly, and approval by absolute majority in a referendum; amendments such as changes to the structure of the state, constraints on personal rights and guarantees, or constitutional amendment procedures are not allowed
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: no
Citizenship / residency requirement for naturalization: 3 years
Suffrage: 18-65 years of age; universal and compulsory; voluntary for 16-18, over 65, and other eligible voters
Executive branch / chief of state: President Daniel NOBOA Azin (since 23 November 2023)
Executive branch / head of government: President Daniel NOBOA Azin (since 23 November 2023)
Executive branch / cabinet: Cabinet 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 (eligible for a second term)
Executive branch / most recent election date: 9 February 2025, with a runoff on 13 April 2025
Executive branch / election results: 2025: Daniel NOBOA Azin reelected president; percent of vote in the first round - Daniel NOBOA Azin (ADN) 44.2%, Luisa GONZÁLEZ Alcivar (MRC) 44%, Leonidas IZA (MUPP) 5.3%, other 6.5%; percent of vote in the second round - Daniel NOBOA Azin 55.6%, Luisa GONZÁLEZ Alcivar 44.4% 2023: Daniel NOBOA Azin elected president; percent of vote in the first round - Luisa GONZÁLEZ Alcivar (MRC) 33.6%, Daniel NOBOA Azin (ADN) 23.5%, Christian Gustavo ZURITA Ron (Construye) 16.4%, Jan Tomislav TOPIĆ Feraud (Por Un País Sin Miedo) 14.7%, Otto Ramón SONNENHOLZNER Sper (Avanza) 7.1%, other 4.7%; percent of vote in the second round - Daniel NOBOA Azin 51.8%, Luisa GONZÁLEZ Alcivar 48.2% 2021: Guillermo LASSO Mendoza elected president; percent of vote in the first round - Andres ARAUZ (UNES) 32.7%, Guillermo LASSO Mendoza (CREO) 19.7%, Yaku PEREZ Guartambel (MUPP) 19.4%, Xavier HERVAS Mora (ID) 15.7%, other 12.5%; percent of vote in the second round - Guillermo LASSO Mendoza (CREO) 52.5%, Andres ARAUZ (UNES) 47.5%
Executive branch / expected date of next election: 28 February 2029
Legislative branch / legislature name: National Assembly (Asamblea Nacional)
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: 2/9/2025
Legislative branch / parties elected and seats per party: Citizen Revolution Movement (RC) - Renewal Movement (RETO) (67); National Democratic Action (ADN) (66); Pachakutik (9); Other (9)
Legislative branch / percentage of women in chamber: 45%
Legislative branch / expected date of next election: February 2029
Judicial branch / highest court(s): National Court of Justice or Corte Nacional de Justicia (consists of 21 judges, including the chief justice and organized into 5 specialized chambers); Constitutional Court or Corte Constitucional (consists of the court president and 8 judges)
Judicial branch / judge selection and term of office: candidates for the National Court of Justice evaluated and appointed justices by the Judicial Council, a 9-member independent body of law professionals; justices elected for 9-year, non-renewable terms, with one third of the membership renewed every 3 years; candidates for the Constitutional Court evaluated and appointed judges by a 6-member independent body of law professionals; judges appointed for 4-year renewable terms
Judicial branch / subordinate courts: provincial courts (one for each province except Galapagos); fiscal, criminal, and administrative tribunals; Election Dispute Settlement Courts; cantonal courts
Political parties: Actuemos Ecuador or Actuemos AMIGO movement, Independent Mobilizing Action Generating Opportunities (Movimiento AMIGO (Acción Movilizadora Independiente Generando Oportunidades)) or AM16O Avanza Party or AVANZA Central Democratic Movement or CD Citizen Revolution Movement or MRC or RC5 Creating Opportunities Movement or CREO Democratic Left or ID Democracy Yes Movement (Movimiento Democracia Si) For A Country Without Fear (Por Un País Sin Miedo) (an alliance including PSC, CD, and PSP) Green Movement (Movimiento Verde) Movimiento Construye or Construye National Democratic Action (Acción Democrática Nacional) or ADN Pachakutik Plurinational Unity Movement or MUPP Patriotic Society Party or PSP People, Equality, and Democracy Party (Partido Pueblo, Igualdad y Democracia) or PID Popular Unity Party (Partido Unidad Popular) or UP Revolutionary and Democratic Ethical Green Movement (Movimiento Verde Ético Revolucionario y Democrático) or MOVER Social Christian Party or PSC Socialist Party Society United for More Action or SUMA Total Renovation Movement (Movimiento Renovacion Total) or RETO
Diplomatic representation in the US / chief of mission: Ambassador Pablo Agust&iacute;n ZAMBRANO Albuja (since 24 July 2025)
Diplomatic representation in the US / chancery: 2535 15th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
Diplomatic representation in the US / telephone: [1] (202) 234-7200
Diplomatic representation in the US / FAX: [1] (202) 333-2893
Diplomatic representation in the US / email address and website: eecuusanotifications@mmrree.gob.ec Contact – Washington (cancilleria.gob.ec)
Diplomatic representation in the US / consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, Minneapolis (MN), New Haven (CT), New York, Newark (NJ), Phoenix, San Juan (PR)
Diplomatic representation from the US / chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charg&eacute; d&rsquo;Affaires Lawrence PETRONI (since 17 April 2025)
Diplomatic representation from the US / embassy: E12-170 Avenida Avigiras y Avenida Eloy Alfaro, Quito
Diplomatic representation from the US / mailing address: 3420 Quito Place, Washington DC 20521-3420
Diplomatic representation from the US / telephone: [593] (2) 398-5000
Diplomatic representation from the US / email address and website: ACSQuito@state.gov https://ec.usembassy.gov/
Diplomatic representation from the US / consulate(s) general: Guayaquil
International organization participation: CAN, CD, CELAC, FAO, G-11, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAES, LAIA, Mercosur (associate), MIGA, MINUSTAH, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, OPEC, Pacific Alliance (observer), PCA, PROSUR, SICA (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNISFA, UNMIL, UNMISS, UNOCI, UNOOSA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Independence: 24 May 1822 (from Spain)
National holiday: Independence Day (independence of Quito), 10 August (1809)
Flag: description: three horizontal bands of yellow (top, double-width), blue, and red, with the coat of arms at the center of the flag meaning: yellow stands for sunshine, grain, and mineral wealth; blue for the sky, sea, and rivers; red for patriots' blood spilled in the struggle for freedom and justice
National symbol(s): Andean condor
National color(s): yellow, blue, red
National anthem(s) / title: "Salve, O Patria!" (We Salute You, Our Homeland)
National anthem(s) / lyrics/music: Juan Leon MERA/Antonio NEUMANE
National anthem(s) / history: adopted 1948; MERA wrote the lyrics in 1865; only the chorus and second verse are sung
National heritage / total World Heritage Sites: 5 (3 cultural, 2 natural)
National heritage / selected World Heritage Site locales: Historic Quito (c); Galápagos Islands (n); Historic Cuenca (c); Qhapaq Ñan/Andean Road System (c); Sangay National Park (n)

## Economy
Economic overview: highly informal South American economy; USD currency user; major banana exporter; hard hit by COVID-19; macroeconomic fragility from oil dependency; successful debt restructuring; China funding budget deficits; social unrest hampering economic activity
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $252.728 billion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $257.889 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $252.861 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2024: -2% (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2023: 2% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2022: 5.9% (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2024: $13,900 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2023: $14,300 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2022: $14,200 (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $124.676 billion (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024: 1.5% (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023: 2.2% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 3.5% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / agriculture: 9.5% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / industry: 26.5% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / services: 57.2% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / household consumption: 64.9% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / government consumption: 13.3% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in fixed capital: 18.4% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in inventories: 0.1% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / exports of goods and services: 30.3% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / imports of goods and services: -26.9% (2024 est.)
Agricultural products: bananas, sugarcane, milk, oil palm fruit, maize, rice, plantains, chicken, pineapples, cocoa beans (2023)
Industries: petroleum, food processing, textiles, wood products, chemicals
Industrial production growth rate: -3.7% (2024 est.)
Labor force: 8.821 million (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2024: 4.8% (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: 10.1% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / male: 8.3% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / female: 13% (2024 est.)
Population below poverty line: 26% (2023 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income / Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2023: 44.6 (2023 est.)
Average household expenditures / on food: 25.9% 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%: 1.6% (2023 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / highest 10%: 33.2% (2023 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2024: 5.2% of GDP (2024 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2023: 4.5% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2022: 4.1% of GDP (2022 est.)
Budget / revenues: $35.962 billion (2022 est.)
Budget / expenditures: $35.969 billion (2022 est.)
Public debt / Public debt 2016: 43.2% of GDP (2016 est.)
Taxes and other revenues: 13.1% (of GDP) (2022 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2024: $7.082 billion (2024 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2023: $2.217 billion (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2022: $2.136 billion (2022 est.)
Exports / Exports 2024: $38.468 billion (2024 est.)
Exports / Exports 2023: $35.687 billion (2023 est.)
Exports / Exports 2022: $36.588 billion (2022 est.)
Exports - partners: USA 22%, China 21%, Panama 12%, Japan 3%, Peru 3% (2023)
Exports - commodities: crude petroleum, shellfish, bananas, fish, gold (2023)
Imports / Imports 2024: $33.97 billion (2024 est.)
Imports / Imports 2023: $35.421 billion (2023 est.)
Imports / Imports 2022: $36.644 billion (2022 est.)
Imports - partners: USA 27%, China 20%, Colombia 7%, Brazil 4%, Peru 4% (2023)
Imports - commodities: refined petroleum, coal tar oil, cars, packaged medicine, plastics (2023)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024: $6.908 billion (2024 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023: $4.442 billion (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $8.459 billion (2022 est.)
Debt - external / Debt - external 2023: $39.658 billion (2023 est.)
Exchange rates: the US dollar became Ecuador's currency in 2001

## Energy
Electricity access / electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)
Electricity / installed generating capacity: 8.438 million kW (2023 est.)
Electricity / consumption: 29.305 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / exports: 192 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / imports: 466 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / transmission/distribution losses: 5.119 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / fossil fuels: 23.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / solar: 0.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / wind: 0.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / hydroelectricity: 75.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / biomass and waste: 1.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Coal / consumption: 14,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / exports: 200 metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / imports: 14,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / proven reserves: 24 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum / total petroleum production: 480,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Petroleum / refined petroleum consumption: 272,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Petroleum / crude oil estimated reserves: 8.273 billion barrels (2021 est.)
Natural gas / production: 271.053 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / consumption: 271.053 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / proven reserves: 10.902 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)
Energy consumption per capita / Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 35.7 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

## Communications
Telephones - fixed lines / total subscriptions: 1.22 million (2024 est.)
Telephones - fixed lines / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 7 (2024 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / total subscriptions: 18.4 million (2024 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 102 (2024 est.)
Broadcast media: 956 media outlets, of which 89% are private, 5% are public, and 6% belong to small communities; government controls most of the 44 public media stations, including national media and multiple local radio stations; most media outlets are concentrated in Guayas and Pichincha (2022)
Internet country code: .ec
Internet users / percent of population: 77% (2024 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / total: 2.89 million (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 16 (2023 est.)

## Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: HC
Airports: 317 (2025)
Heliports: 28 (2025)
Railways / total: 965 km (2022)
Railways / narrow gauge: 965 km (2022) 1.067-m gauge
Merchant marine / total: 154 (2023)
Merchant marine / by type: container ship 1, general cargo 8, oil tanker 28, other 117
Ports / total ports: 6 (2024)
Ports / large: 0
Ports / medium: 0
Ports / small: 2
Ports / very small: 4
Ports / ports with oil terminals: 5
Ports / key ports: Esmeraldas, Guayaquil, La Libertad, Manta, Puerto Bolivar, Puerto Maritimo de Guayaquil

## Military and Security
Military and security forces: Ecuadorian Armed Forces (Fuerzas Armadas del Ecuador): Ground Force (Fuerza Terrestre), Naval Force (Fuerza Naval; includes naval infantry, naval aviation, coast guard), Ecuadorian Air Force (Fuerza Aérea Ecuatoriana) (2025)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2024: 2.2% of GDP (2024 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2023: 2.3% of GDP (2023 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2022: 2.2% of GDP (2022 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2021: 2.4% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2020: 2.3% of GDP (2020 est.)
Military and security service personnel strengths: approximately 40,000 active Ecuadorian Armed Forces (2025)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the military's inventory includes a mix of mostly older and limited quantities of more modern equipment from a variety of sources such as Brazil, Chile, China, France, Italy, Germany, Russia/Soviet-Union, Spain, Turkey, the UK, and the US (2025)
Military service age and obligation: 18-22 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women; 12-month service obligation; conscription abolished in 2008 (2025)
Military - note: the military is responsible for preserving Ecuador’s national sovereignty and defending the integrity of the state; it also has some domestic security responsibilities and may complement police operations in maintaining public order if required; the military shares responsibility for border enforcement with the National Police; it participates in bilateral and multinational training exercises and has sent troops on UN peacekeeping missions; the military has defense ties to regional countries, such as Chile, Colombia, and Peru border conflicts with Peru dominated the military’s focus until the late 1990s and border security remains a priority, but in more recent years, security challenges have included counterinsurgency and counternarcotics operations, particularly in the northern border area where violence and other criminal activity related to terrorism, insurgency, and narco-trafficking in Colombia, as well as refugees from Venezuela, have spilled over the border; the military has established a joint service task force for counterinsurgency and counternarcotics operations and boosted troop deployments along those borders; other missions include countering illegal mining, smuggling, and maritime piracy; since 2012, the Ecuadorian Government has expanded the military’s role in general public security and domestic crime operations, in part due to rising violence, police corruption, and police ineffectiveness; in 2024, Ecuador passed a constitutional amendment formally authorizing the military to participate in complementary security roles such as supporting law enforcement in high-risk areas, conducting joint operations against organized crime, and providing logistical assistance in maintaining public order the military ruled the country from 1963-1966 and 1972-1979, and supported a dictatorship in 1970-1972; during the 1980s, the military remained loyal to the civilian government, but civilian-military relations were at times tenuous, and the military had considerable autonomy from civilian oversight; it was involved in coup attempts in 2000 and 2010 (2025)

## Space
Space agency/agencies: Ecuadorian Civilian Space Agency (EXA; a civilian independent research and development institution in charge of the administration and execution of Ecuador&rsquo;s space program, established 2007) (2025)
Space program overview: has a small program focused on acquiring and manufacturing satellites; builds scientific satellites; conducts research and develops some space-related technologies; has relationships with China and Russia's space agencies and industries, as well as the Latin American and Caribbean Space Agency and its member states (2025)
Key space-program milestones: 2007 - an Ecuadorian completed a suborbital astronaut training program provided by Russia 2013 - first two domestically designed and built scientific/technology demonstrator satellites (NEE-01/Pegasus, NEE-02/Krysaor) launched by China and Russia 2021 - signed accords for the Latin American and Caribbean Space Agency 2023 - signed US-led Artemis Accords for space exploration

## Terrorism
Terrorist group(s): Los Choneros; Los Lobos

## Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons / refugees: 30,241 (2024 est.)
Refugees and internally displaced persons / IDPs: 57,402 (2024 est.)
Illicit drugs / USG identification: major illicit drug-producing and/or drug-transit country major precursor-chemical producer (2025)

=== Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) ===

## Introduction
Background: Although first sighted by an English navigator in 1592, the first landing (English) did not occur until almost a century later in 1690, and the first settlement (French) was not established until 1764. The colony was turned over to Spain two years later, and the islands have since been the subject of a territorial dispute, first between Britain and Spain, then between Britain and Argentina. The UK asserted its claim to the islands by establishing a naval garrison there in 1833. Argentina invaded the islands in 1982. The British responded with an expeditionary force and after fierce fighting forced an Argentine surrender on 14 June 1982. With hostilities ended and Argentine forces withdrawn, UK administration resumed. In response to renewed calls from Argentina for Britain to relinquish control of the islands, a referendum was held in 2013 that resulted in 99.8% of the population voting to remain a part of the UK.

## Geography
Location: Southern South America, islands in the South Atlantic Ocean, about 500 km east of southern Argentina
Geographic coordinates: 51 45 S, 59 00 W
Map references: South America
Area / total: 12,173 sq km
Area / land: 12,173 sq km
Area / water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly smaller than Connecticut
Land boundaries / total: 0 km
Coastline: 1,288 km
Maritime claims / territorial sea: 12 nm
Maritime claims / continental shelf: 200 nm
Maritime claims / exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
Climate: cold marine; strong westerly winds, cloudy, humid; rain occurs on more than half of days in year; average annual rainfall is 60 cm in Stanley; occasional snow all year, except in January and February, but typically does not accumulate
Terrain: rocky, hilly, mountainous with some boggy, undulating plains
Elevation / highest point: Mount Usborne 705 m
Elevation / lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
Natural resources: fish, squid, wildlife, calcified seaweed, sphagnum moss
Land use / agricultural land: 93.2% (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: 93.2% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 0% (2022 est.)
Land use / other: 6.8% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land: NA
Population distribution: a very small population, with most residents living in and around Stanley
Natural hazards: strong winds persist throughout the year
Geography - note: deeply indented coast provides good natural harbors; short growing season

## People and Society
Population / total: 3,142 (2021)
Population / male: 1,645
Population / female: 1,497
Nationality / noun: Falkland Islander(s)
Nationality / adjective: Falkland Island
Ethnic groups: Falkland Islander 48.3%, British 23.1%, St. Helenian 7.5%, Chilean 4.6%, mixed 6%, other 8.5%, unspecified 2% (2016 est.)
Languages: English 89%, Spanish 7.7%, other 3.3% (2006 est.)
Religions: Christian 57.1%, other 1.6%, none 35.4%, unspecified 6% (2016 est.)
Dependency ratios / total dependency ratio: 38.4 (2021)
Dependency ratios / youth dependency ratio: 21.8 (2021)
Dependency ratios / elderly dependency ratio: 16.6 (2021)
Dependency ratios / potential support ratio: 6 (2021)
Population growth rate: 0.01% (2014 est.)
Birth rate: 10.9 births/1,000 population (2012 est.)
Death rate: 4.9 deaths/1,000 population (2012 est.)
Population distribution: a very small population, with most residents living in and around Stanley
Urbanization / urban population: 79.7% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 0.53% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 2,000 STANLEY (capital) (2018)
Sex ratio / total population: 1.12 male(s)/female (2016 est.)
Life expectancy at birth / total population: (2017 est.) 77.9
Life expectancy at birth / male: 75.6
Life expectancy at birth / female: 79.6
Drinking water source / improved: urban: urban: 100% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: urban: urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: rural: rural: 21.8% of population
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.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49): 47.7% (2016 est.)

## Environment
Environmental issues: overfishing by unlicensed vessels; grazing threatens important habitats; soil erosion from fires
Climate: cold marine; strong westerly winds, cloudy, humid; rain occurs on more than half of days in year; average annual rainfall is 60 cm in Stanley; occasional snow all year, except in January and February, but typically does not accumulate
Land use / agricultural land: 93.2% (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: 93.2% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 0% (2022 est.)
Land use / other: 6.8% (2023 est.)
Urbanization / urban population: 79.7% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 0.53% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / total emissions: 36,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from petroleum and other liquids: 36,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: none
Country name / conventional short form: Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
Country name / etymology: the archipelago takes its name from the Falkland Sound, the strait separating the two main islands; the channel was named after the Fifth Viscount of FALKLAND, who sponsored an expedition to the islands in 1690; the Spanish name for the archipelago derives from the French "Iles Malouines," meaning Islands of Malo, the name French explorer Louis-Antoine de BOUGAINVILLE gave the islands in 1764 in honor of the French port of Saint-Malo
Government type: parliamentary democracy (Legislative Assembly); self-governing overseas territory of the UK
Dependency status: overseas territory of the UK; also claimed by Argentina
Capital / name: Stanley
Capital / geographic coordinates: 51 42 S, 57 51 W
Capital / time difference: UTC-3 (2 hour ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Capital / etymology: named in 1844 after Edward SMITH-STANLEY, the 14th Earl of Derby
Legal system: English common law and local statutes
Constitution / history: previous 1985; latest entered into force 1 January 2009 (The Falkland Islands Constitution Order 2008)
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 Colin MARTIN-REYNOLDS (since 29 July 2025)
Executive branch / head of government: Chief Executive Andrea Patricia CLAUSEN (since 1 April 2025)
Executive branch / cabinet: Executive Council elected by the Legislative Council
Executive branch / election/appointment process: the monarchy is hereditary; monarch appoints the governor, who appoints the chief executive
Legislative branch / legislature name: Legislative Assembly
Legislative branch / legislative structure: unicameral
Legislative branch / number of seats: 10 (8 directly elected, 2 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: 12/11/2025
Legislative branch / percentage of women in chamber: 25% note: does not include the speaker
Legislative branch / expected date of next election: November 2025
Judicial branch / highest court(s): Court of Appeal (consists of the court president, the chief justice as an ex officio non-resident member, and 2 justices of appeal); Supreme Court (consists of the chief justice)
Judicial branch / judge selection and term of office: chief justice, court of appeal president, and justices appointed by the governor; tenure specified in each justice's instrument of appointment
Judicial branch / subordinate courts: Magistrate's Court (senior magistrate presides over civil and criminal divisions); Court of Summary Jurisdiction
Political parties: none; all independents
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (administered by the UK; claimed by Argentina)
Diplomatic representation from the US / embassy: none (administered by the UK; claimed by Argentina)
International organization participation: UPU
Independence: none (overseas territory of the UK; also claimed by Argentina)
National holiday: Liberation Day, 14 June (1982)
Flag: description: blue with the UK flag in the upper-left quadrant and the Falkland Island coat of arms centered on the right half of the flag; the coat of arms has a white ram above the ship "Desire" (whose crew discovered the islands), with a scroll at the bottom bearing the motto DESIRE THE RIGHT
National symbol(s): ram
National color(s): red, white, blue
National coat of arms: the Falkland Islands adopted its coat of arms in 1948; the shield highlights the national symbol, the ram, which represents the country’s agricultural industry and stands on native tussock grass; English navigator John Davis’s sailing vessel, the Desire , is shown, referencing his sighting of the islands in 1592; below the shield is the national motto, “Desire the Right”
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: British South American territorial economy; longstanding fishing industry; surging tourism prior to COVID-19 and Brexit; recent offshore hydrocarbon discoveries threaten ecotourism industries; no central bank and must have British approval on currency shifts
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2015: $70,800 (2015 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2014: $63,000 (2014 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $206.4 million (2015 est.)
Agricultural products: fodder and vegetable crops; venison, sheep, dairy products; fish, squid
Industries: fish and wool processing; tourism
Exports - partners: Spain 68%, Morocco 10%, USA 8%, Namibia 3%, Germany 2% (2023)
Exports - commodities: shellfish, fish, wool, sheep and goat meat (2023)
Imports - partners: UK 68%, Greece 19%, Spain 11%, Netherlands 1%, NZ 0% (2023)
Imports - commodities: refined petroleum, aircraft parts, prefabricated buildings, plastic products, surveying equipment (2023)
Exchange rates / Currency: Falkland pounds (FKP) per US dollar -
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2024: 0.78 (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 / installed generating capacity: 10,000 kW (2023 est.)
Electricity / consumption: 18.257 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / transmission/distribution losses: 900,000 kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / fossil fuels: 73.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / wind: 26.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Petroleum / refined petroleum consumption: 200 bbl/day (2023 est.)

## Communications
Telephones - fixed lines / total subscriptions: 2,000 (2021 est.)
Telephones - fixed lines / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 53 (2021 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / total subscriptions: 6,420 (2022 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 184 (2022 est.)
Broadcast media: TV service provided by a multi-channel service provider; radio provided by public broadcaster Falkland Islands Radio Service and the British Forces Broadcasting Service (2007)
Internet country code: .fk
Internet users / percent of population: 99% (2021 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / total: 1,000 (2020 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 33 (2020 est.)

## Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: VP-F
Airports: 34 (2025)
Merchant marine / total: 2 (2023)
Merchant marine / by type: general cargo 1, other 1
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: Stanley

## Military and Security
Military and security forces: no regular military forces
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of the UK, which maintains a military presence on the islands

## Transnational Issues

=== Guyana ===

## Introduction
Background: Originally a Dutch colony in the 17th century, by 1815 Guyana had become a British possession. The abolition of slavery led to former slaves settling urban areas and indentured servants being imported from India to work the sugar plantations. The resulting ethnocultural divide has persisted and has led to turbulent politics. Guyana achieved independence from the UK in 1966, and since then primarily socialist-oriented governments have ruled the country. In 1992, Cheddi JAGAN was elected president in what is considered the country's first free and fair election since independence. After his death five years later, his wife, Janet JAGAN, became president but resigned in 1999 due to poor health. Her successor, Bharrat JAGDEO, was elected in 2001 and again in 2006. Donald RAMOTAR won in 2011, but early elections held in 2015 resulted in the first change in governing party, and David GRANGER took office. After a 2018 no-confidence vote against the GRANGER government, the administration ignored a constitutional requirement to hold elections and remained in place until the 2020 elections, when Irfaan ALI became president. The discovery of massive offshore oil reserves in 2015 has been Guyana's primary economic and political focus, with many hoping the reserves will transform one of the poorest countries in the region. Guyana is the only English-speaking country in South America and shares cultural and historical bonds with the Anglophone Caribbean.

## Geography
Location: Northern South America, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Suriname and Venezuela
Geographic coordinates: 5 00 N, 59 00 W
Map references: South America
Area / total: 214,969 sq km
Area / land: 196,849 sq km
Area / water: 18,120 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly smaller than Idaho; almost twice the size of Tennessee
Land boundaries / total: 2,933 km
Land boundaries / border countries: Brazil 1,308 km; Suriname 836 km; Venezuela 789 km
Coastline: 459 km
Maritime claims / territorial sea: 12 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; hot, humid, moderated by northeast trade winds; two rainy seasons (May to August, November to January)
Terrain: mostly rolling highlands; low coastal plain; savanna in south
Elevation / highest point: Laberintos del Norte on Mount Roraima 2,775 m
Elevation / lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
Elevation / mean elevation: 207 m
Natural resources: bauxite, gold, diamonds, hardwood timber, shrimp, fish
Land use / agricultural land: 3.4% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 0.5% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 0.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 2.8% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 87.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 9.5% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land: 1,430 sq km (2012)
Major watersheds (area sq km) / Atlantic Ocean drainage: Amazon (6,145,186 sq km), Orinoco (953,675 sq km)
Population distribution: population is heavily concentrated in the northeast in and around Georgetown, with notable concentrations along the Berbice River to the east; the remainder of the country is sparsely populated
Natural hazards: flash flood threat during rainy seasons
Geography - note: the third-smallest country in South America after Suriname and Uruguay; contains some of the largest unspoiled rainforests on the continent

## People and Society
Population / total: 794,099 (2024 est.)
Population / male: 405,244
Population / female: 388,855
Nationality / noun: Guyanese (singular and plural)
Nationality / adjective: Guyanese
Ethnic groups: East Indian 39.8%, African descent 29.3%, mixed 19.9%, Indigenous 10.5%, other 0.5% (includes Portuguese, Chinese, White) (2012 est.)
Languages: English (official), Guyanese Creole, Amerindian languages (including Caribbean and Arawak languages), Indian languages (including Caribbean Hindustani, a dialect of Hindi), Chinese (2014 est.)
Religions: Protestant 34.8% (Pentecostal 22.8%, Seventh Day Adventist 5.4%, Anglican 5.2%, Methodist 1.4%), Hindu 24.8%, other Christian 20.8%, Roman Catholic 7.1%, Muslim 6.8%, Jehovah's Witness 1.3%, Rastafarian 0.5%, other 0.9%, none 3.1% (2012 est.)
Age structure / 0-14 years: 23.5% (male 95,223/female 91,272)
Age structure / 15-64 years: 68.4% (male 281,669/female 261,261)
Age structure / 65 years and over: 8.1% (2024 est.) (male 28,352/female 36,322)
Dependency ratios / total dependency ratio: 46.3 (2024 est.)
Dependency ratios / youth dependency ratio: 34.3 (2024 est.)
Dependency ratios / elderly dependency ratio: 11.9 (2024 est.)
Dependency ratios / potential support ratio: 8.4 (2024 est.)
Median age / total: 28.7 years (2025 est.)
Median age / male: 28.2 years
Median age / female: 28.4 years
Population growth rate: 0.35% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 16.68 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 7.05 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: -6.14 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution: population is heavily concentrated in the northeast in and around Georgetown, with notable concentrations along the Berbice River to the east; the remainder of the country is sparsely populated
Urbanization / urban population: 27.2% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 1.01% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 110,000 GEORGETOWN (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: 1.08 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 65 years and over: 0.78 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / total population: 1.04 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth: 20.8 years (2009 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio: 75 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Infant mortality rate / total: 20.6 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Infant mortality rate / male: 23.9 deaths/1,000 live births
Infant mortality rate / female: 18.3 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth / total population: 72.4 years (2024 est.)
Life expectancy at birth / male: 70.6 years
Life expectancy at birth / female: 74.3 years
Total fertility rate: 2.04 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 1 (2025 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: urban: urban: 96% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: rural: rural: 95.8% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: total: total: 95.9% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: urban: urban: 4% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: rural: rural: 4.2% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: total: total: 4.1% of population (2022 est.)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 4.9% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 10.5% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density: 1.39 physicians/1,000 population (2020)
Hospital bed density: 2.6 beds/1,000 population (2021 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: urban: urban: 98.7% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: rural: rural: 99.5% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: total: total: 99.3% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: urban: urban: 1.3% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: rural: rural: 0.5% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: total: total: 0.7% of population (2022 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 20.2% (2016)
Alcohol consumption per capita / total: 5.11 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / beer: 2.75 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / wine: 0.04 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: 0.02 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Tobacco use / total: 9.2% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / male: 16.9% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / female: 1.9% (2025 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 9.4% (2019 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49): 59% (2020 est.)
Child marriage / women married by age 15: 6.3% (2020)
Child marriage / women married by age 18: 32.3% (2020)
Child marriage / men married by age 18: 11.9% (2020)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% GDP): 4.5% of GDP (2018 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% national budget): 7.2% national budget (2025 est.)
Literacy / total population: 85.6% (2020 est.)
Literacy / male: 84.2% (2020 est.)
Literacy / female: 86.9% (2020 est.)

## Environment
Environmental issues: water pollution from sewage and agricultural/industrial chemicals; 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 Protocol, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006
International environmental agreements / signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Climate: tropical; hot, humid, moderated by northeast trade winds; two rainy seasons (May to August, November to January)
Land use / agricultural land: 3.4% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 0.5% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 0.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 2.8% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 87.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 9.5% (2023 est.)
Urbanization / urban population: 27.2% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 1.01% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / total emissions: 2.639 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from petroleum and other liquids: 2.635 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: 11.2 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Methane emissions / energy: 103 kt (2022-2024 est.)
Methane emissions / agriculture: 51.9 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Methane emissions / waste: 7.7 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Methane emissions / other: 2.2 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Waste and recycling / municipal solid waste generated annually: 179,300 tons (2024 est.)
Waste and recycling / percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 23% (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / municipal: 61.3 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / industrial: 20.4 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / agricultural: 1.363 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total renewable water resources: 271 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: Cooperative Republic of Guyana
Country name / conventional short form: Guyana
Country name / former: British Guiana
Country name / etymology: the name is derived from Guiana, the original name for the region that included British Guiana, Dutch Guiana, and French Guiana; the name Guiana may be derived from a local term meaning "Land of Water" (referring to the area's multitude of rivers and streams)
Government type: parliamentary republic
Capital / name: Georgetown
Capital / geographic coordinates: 6 48 N, 58 09 W
Capital / time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Capital / etymology: the British founded the town in 1781 and named it in honor of King GEORGE III (1738-1820)
Administrative divisions: 10 regions; Barima-Waini, Cuyuni-Mazaruni, Demerara-Mahaica, East Berbice-Corentyne, Essequibo Islands-West Demerara, Mahaica-Berbice, Pomeroon-Supenaam, Potaro-Siparuni, Upper Demerara-Berbice, Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo
Legal system: common law system, based on the English model, with some Roman-Dutch civil law influence
Constitution / history: several previous; latest promulgated 6 October 1980
Constitution / amendment process: proposed by the National Assembly; passage of amendments affecting constitutional articles, such as national sovereignty, government structure and powers, and constitutional amendment procedures, requires approval by the Assembly membership, approval in a referendum, and assent of the president; other amendments only require Assembly approval
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: no
Citizenship / residency requirement for naturalization: na
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch / chief of state: President Mohammed Irfaan ALI (since 2 August 2020)
Executive branch / head of government: President Mohammed Irfaan ALI (since 2 August 2020)
Executive branch / cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the president, responsible to the National Assembly
Executive branch / election/appointment process: the predesignated candidate of the winning party in the last National Assembly election becomes president for a 5-year term (no term limits); prime minister appointed by the president
Executive branch / most recent election date: 1 September 2025
Executive branch / election results: 2025: Mohammed Irfaan ALI (PPP/C) reelected president by the majority party in the National Assembly 2020: Mohammed Irfaan ALI (PPP/C) designated president by the majority party in the National Assembly 2015: David GRANGER (APNU-AFC) designated president by the majority party in the National Assembly
Executive branch / expected date of next election: August 2030
Legislative branch / legislature name: Parliament of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana
Legislative branch / legislative structure: unicameral
Legislative branch / chamber name: National Assembly
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: 9/1/2025
Legislative branch / parties elected and seats per party: People's Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) (36); We Invest in Nationhood (W.I.N.) (16); A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) (12); Other (1)
Legislative branch / percentage of women in chamber: 36.1%
Legislative branch / expected date of next election: August 2030
Judicial branch / highest court(s): Supreme Court of Judicature (consists of the Court of Appeal with a chief justice and 3 justices, and the High Court with a chief justice and 10 justices organized into 3- or 5-judge panels); Caribbean Court of Justice is the final court of appeal in civil and criminal cases
Judicial branch / judge selection and term of office: Court of Appeal and High Court chief justices appointed by the president; other judges of both courts appointed by the Judicial Service Commission, a body appointed by the president; judges appointed for life with retirement at age 65
Judicial branch / subordinate courts: Land Court; magistrates' courts
Political parties: A New and United Guyana or ANUG A Partnership for National Unity or APNU Alliance for Change or AFC Justice for All Party Liberty and Justice Party or LJP National Independent Party or NIP People's Progressive Party/Civic or PPP/C The New Movement or TNM The United Force or TUF United Republican Party or URP
Diplomatic representation in the US / chief of mission: Ambassador Samuel Archibald HINDS (since 7 July 2021)
Diplomatic representation in the US / chancery: 2490 Tracy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation in the US / telephone: [1] (202) 265-6900
Diplomatic representation in the US / FAX: [1] (202) 232-1297
Diplomatic representation in the US / email address and website: guyanaembassydc@verizon.net http://www.guyanaembassydc.org/
Diplomatic representation in the US / consulate(s) general: New York
Diplomatic representation from the US / chief of mission: Ambassador Nicole THERIOT (since 14 October 2023)
Diplomatic representation from the US / embassy: 100 Young and Duke Streets, Kingston, Georgetown
Diplomatic representation from the US / mailing address: 3170 Georgetown Place, Washington DC 20521-3170
Diplomatic representation from the US / telephone: [592] 225-4900 through 4909
Diplomatic representation from the US / FAX: [592] 225-8497
Diplomatic representation from the US / email address and website: acsgeorge@state.gov https://gy.usembassy.gov/
International organization participation: ACP, ACS, AOSIS, C, Caricom, CD, CDB, CELAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITU, LAES, MIGA, NAM, OAS, OIC, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, Petrocaribe, PROSUR, UN, UNASUR, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Independence: 26 May 1966 (from the UK)
National holiday: Republic Day, 23 February (1970)
Flag: description: green with a red isosceles triangle (based on the left side) on top of a long yellow arrowhead shape that extends to the opposite side of the flag; a narrow black border sits between the red and yellow, and a narrow white border between the yellow and green meaning: green stands for forest and foliage, yellow for mineral resources and a bright future, white for the rivers, red for zeal and the people's sacrifice, and black for perseverance
National symbol(s): Canje pheasant (hoatzin), jaguar, Victoria Regia water lily
National color(s): red, yellow, green, black, white
National coat of arms: Guyana&rsquo;s coat of arms was adopted in 1966, the year of the country&rsquo;s independence from the United Kingdom; the jaguars signify strength and resilience, with one holding a pickaxe that stands for labor and the other holding stalks of rice and sugarcane for agriculture; two national symbols, the Canje pheasant and the Victorian lily, are on the shield, with the national motto underneath; three wavy blue lines stand for the Essequibo, Demerara, and Berbice rivers, the headdress for the country&rsquo;s ethnic groups, and the diamonds for the mining industry; the helmet is a symbol of past UK rule in Guyana
National anthem(s) / title: "Dear Land of Guyana, of Rivers and Plains"
National anthem(s) / lyrics/music: Archibald Leonard LUKERL/Robert Cyril Gladstone POTTER
National anthem(s) / history: adopted 1966

## Economy
Economic overview: small, hydrocarbon-driven South American export economy; major forest coverage being leveraged in carbon credit offsets to encourage preservation; strengthening financial sector; large bauxite and gold resources
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $58.423 billion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $40.749 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $30.457 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2024: 43.4% (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2023: 33.8% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2022: 63.3% (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2024: $70,300 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2023: $49,300 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2022: $37,100 (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $24.836 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: 2.8% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 6.1% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / agriculture: 8% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / industry: 74.3% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / services: 15.3% (2024 est.)
Agricultural products: rice, sugarcane, plantains, cassava, papayas, pumpkins/squash, chicken, milk, ginger, eggplants (2023)
Industries: bauxite, sugar, rice milling, timber, textiles, gold mining
Industrial production growth rate: 53.3% (2024 est.)
Labor force: 292,200 (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2024: 10.2% (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2023: 12.1% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2022: 12.1% (2022 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / total: 22.3% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / male: 17.4% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / female: 28.1% (2024 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2023: 3.2% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2022: 3.7% of GDP (2022 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2021: 6.9% of GDP (2021 est.)
Budget / revenues: $1.333 billion (2019 est.)
Budget / expenditures: $1.467 billion (2019 est.)
Public debt / Public debt 2016: 50.7% of GDP (2016 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2023: $2.352 billion (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2022: $4.242 billion (2022 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2021: -$1.36 billion (2021 est.)
Exports / Exports 2023: $13.739 billion (2023 est.)
Exports / Exports 2022: $11.517 billion (2022 est.)
Exports / Exports 2021: $4.594 billion (2021 est.)
Exports - partners: USA 20%, Trinidad & Tobago 11%, Netherlands 10%, Singapore 10%, Germany 7% (2023)
Exports - commodities: crude petroleum, railway cargo containers, gold, ships, rice (2023)
Imports / Imports 2023: $10.956 billion (2023 est.)
Imports / Imports 2022: $7.033 billion (2022 est.)
Imports / Imports 2021: $6.588 billion (2021 est.)
Imports - partners: USA 28%, China 13%, Trinidad & Tobago 11%, Brazil 5%, Bahamas, The 4% (2023)
Imports - commodities: refined petroleum, ships, construction vehicles, excavation machinery, cars (2023)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024: $1.01 billion (2024 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023: $895.275 million (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $917.877 million (2022 est.)
Debt - external / Debt - external 2023: $1.805 billion (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Currency: Guyanese dollars (GYD) per US dollar -
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2024: 208.5 (2024 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2023: 208.5 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2022: 208.5 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2021: 208.5 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2020: 208.5 (2020 est.)

## Energy
Electricity access / electrification - total population: 93% (2022 est.)
Electricity access / electrification - urban areas: 98%
Electricity access / electrification - rural areas: 91.6%
Electricity / installed generating capacity: 259,000 kW (2023 est.)
Electricity / consumption: 1.07 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / transmission/distribution losses: 268.803 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / fossil fuels: 92.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / solar: 1.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / hydroelectricity: 0.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / biomass and waste: 5.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Petroleum / total petroleum production: 391,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Petroleum / refined petroleum consumption: 18,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Natural gas / consumption: 1.991 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / imports: 1.991 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
Energy consumption per capita / Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 46.045 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

## Communications
Telephones - fixed lines / total subscriptions: 125,000 (2021 est.)
Telephones - fixed lines / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 15 (2022 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / total subscriptions: 856,000 (2021 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 106 (2021 est.)
Broadcast media: government-dominated broadcast media; the National Communications Network (NCN) TV is state-owned; a few private TV stations relay satellite services; the state owns and operates 2 radio stations broadcasting on multiple frequencies; government limits on licensing of new private radio stations has constrained competition
Internet country code: .gy
Internet users / percent of population: 82% (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / total: 106,000 (2022 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 13 (2022 est.)

## Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: 8R
Airports: 55 (2025)
Merchant marine / total: 80 (2023)
Merchant marine / by type: general cargo 45, oil tanker 10, other 25
Ports / total ports: 3 (2024)
Ports / large: 0
Ports / medium: 1
Ports / small: 0
Ports / very small: 2
Ports / ports with oil terminals: 3
Ports / key ports: Georgetown, Linden, New Amsterdam

## Military and Security
Military and security forces: the Guyana Defense Force (GDF) is a unified force with ground, air, and coast guard components, as well as the Guyana National Reserve (2026)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2024: 0.9% 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: 1% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2020: 1.2% of GDP (2020 est.)
Military and security service personnel strengths: approximately 3,500 active-duty Guyana Defense Forces (2025)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the military has a limited inventory comprised mostly of older or secondhand platforms imported from a variety of foreign suppliers, including Brazil, China, India, the former Soviet Union, the UK, and the US (2025)
Military service age and obligation: 18 years of age or older for voluntary military service; no conscription (2026)
Military - note: the Guyana Defense Force (GDF) was established in 1965; its primary missions are territorial defense, maritime security, search and rescue, medical evacuation, aviation and engineering support, disaster relief and humanitarian assistance, peace support operations, and community engagement; key areas of concern include illegal fishing, narcotics trafficking, piracy, porous borders, and threats from Venezuela over disputed territory; the GDF participates in both bilateral and multinational exercises and has relationships with Brazil, China, France, the UK, and the US Guyana joined the Caribbean Regional Security System (RSS) in 2022; RSS signatories (Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, 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: 79 (2024 est.)

=== Suriname ===

## Introduction
Background: The Spaniards first explored Suriname in the 16th century, and the English then settled it in the mid-17th century. Suriname became a Dutch colony in 1667. With the abolition of African slavery in 1863, workers were brought in from India and Java. The Netherlands granted the colony independence in 1975. Five years later, the civilian government was replaced by a military regime that soon declared Suriname a socialist republic. It continued to exert control through a succession of nominally civilian administrations until 1987, when international pressure finally forced a democratic election. In 1990, the military overthrew the civilian leadership, but a democratically elected government -- a four-party coalition -- returned to power in 1991. The coalition expanded to eight parties in 2005 and ruled until 2010, when voters returned former military leader Desire BOUTERSE and his opposition coalition to power. President BOUTERSE ran unopposed in 2015 and was reelected. Opposition parties campaigned hard against BOUTERSE in the run-up to the 2020 elections, and a multi-party coalition led by Chandrikapersad SANTOKHI&rsquo;s VHP and Ronnie Brunswijk&rsquo;s ABOP was installed.

## Geography
Location: Northern South America, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between French Guiana and Guyana
Geographic coordinates: 4 00 N, 56 00 W
Map references: South America
Area / total: 163,820 sq km
Area / land: 156,000 sq km
Area / water: 7,820 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly larger than Georgia
Land boundaries / total: 1,907 km
Land boundaries / border countries: Brazil 515 km; French Guiana 556 km; Guyana 836 km
Coastline: 386 km
Maritime claims / territorial sea: 12 nm
Maritime claims / exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate: tropical; moderated by trade winds
Terrain: mostly rolling hills; narrow coastal plain with swamps
Elevation / highest point: Juliana Top 1,230 m
Elevation / lowest point: unnamed location in the coastal plain -2 m
Elevation / mean elevation: 246 m
Natural resources: timber, hydropower, fish, kaolin, shrimp, bauxite, gold, and small amounts of nickel, copper, platinum, iron ore
Land use / agricultural land: 0.4% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 0.3% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 0% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 0.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 91.7% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 7.9% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land: 600 sq km (2020)
Major watersheds (area sq km) / Atlantic Ocean drainage: Amazon (6,145,186 sq km)
Population distribution: population is concentrated along the northern coastal strip; the remainder of the country is sparsely populated
Natural hazards: flooding
Geography - note: smallest independent country on the South American continent; mostly tropical rainforest; great diversity of flora and fauna; relatively small population, mostly along the coast

## People and Society
Population / total: 653,605 (2025 est.)
Population / male: 323,747
Population / female: 329,858
Nationality / noun: Surinamer(s)
Nationality / adjective: Surinamese
Ethnic groups: Hindustani (also known locally as "East Indians"; their ancestors emigrated from northern India in the latter part of the 19th century) 27.4%, Maroon (their African ancestors were brought to the country in the 17th and 18th centuries as slaves and escaped to the interior) 21.7%, Creole (mixed White and Black) 15.7%, Javanese 13.7%, mixed 13.4%, other 7.6%, unspecified 0.6% (2012 est.)
Languages / Languages: Dutch (official), English (widely spoken), Sranang Tongo (Surinamese, sometimes called Taki-Taki, is the native language of Creoles and much of the younger population), Caribbean Hindustani (a dialect of Hindi), Javanese
Languages / major-language sample(s): Het Wereld Feitenboek, een omnisbare bron van informatie. (Dutch) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information. (English)
Religions: Protestant 23.6% (includes Evangelical 11.2%, Moravian 11.2%, Reformed 0.7%, Lutheran 0.5%), Hindu 22.3%, Roman Catholic 21.6%, Muslim 13.8%, other Christian 3.2%, Winti 1.8%, Jehovah's Witness 1.2%, other 1.7%, none 7.5%, unspecified 3.2% (2012 est.)
Age structure / 0-14 years: 22.5% (male 73,864/female 71,573)
Age structure / 15-64 years: 70% (male 226,417/female 226,235)
Age structure / 65 years and over: 7.5% (2024 est.) (male 20,071/female 28,598)
Dependency ratios / total dependency ratio: 43 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / youth dependency ratio: 31.8 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / elderly dependency ratio: 11.2 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / potential support ratio: 8.9 (2025 est.)
Median age / total: 32.3 years (2025 est.)
Median age / male: 31 years
Median age / female: 32.9 years
Population growth rate: 1.04% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 14.63 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 6.74 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: 2.46 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution: population is concentrated along the northern coastal strip; the remainder of the country is sparsely populated
Urbanization / urban population: 66.4% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 0.88% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 239,000 PARAMARIBO (capital) (2018)
Sex ratio / at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 0-14 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio: 84 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Infant mortality rate / total: 29.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Infant mortality rate / male: 37.6 deaths/1,000 live births
Infant mortality rate / female: 21 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth / total population: 72.7 years (2024 est.)
Life expectancy at birth / male: 69 years
Life expectancy at birth / female: 76.7 years
Total fertility rate: 1.87 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 0.9 (2025 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: urban: urban: 98.7% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: rural: rural: 96.6% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: total: total: 98% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: urban: urban: 1.3% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: rural: rural: 3.4% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: total: total: 2% of population (2022 est.)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 5.7% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 13.1% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density: 1.36 physicians/1,000 population (2023)
Hospital bed density: 2.9 beds/1,000 population (2020 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: urban: urban: 98.5% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: rural: rural: 91.2% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: total: total: 96.1% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: urban: urban: 1.5% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: rural: rural: 8.8% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: total: total: 3.9% of population (2022 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 26.4% (2016)
Alcohol consumption per capita / total: 6.6 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / beer: 3.4 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / wine: 0.14 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / spirits: 2.87 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / other alcohols: 0.18 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 6.7% (2018 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49): 52.2% (2018 est.)
Child marriage / women married by age 15: 8.8% (2018)
Child marriage / women married by age 18: 36% (2018)
Child marriage / men married by age 18: 19.6% (2018)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% GDP): 2.9% of GDP (2023 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% national budget): 8.6% national budget (2024 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / total: 11 years (2021 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / male: 10 years (2021 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / female: 11 years (2021 est.)

## Environment
Environmental issues: deforestation; pollution of inland waterways from small-scale mining activities
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, Whaling
International environmental agreements / signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Climate: tropical; moderated by trade winds
Land use / agricultural land: 0.4% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 0.3% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 0% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 0.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 91.7% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 7.9% (2023 est.)
Urbanization / urban population: 66.4% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 0.88% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / total emissions: 2.521 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from petroleum and other liquids: 2.507 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from consumed natural gas: 14,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Particulate matter emissions: 12.2 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Waste and recycling / municipal solid waste generated annually: 78,600 tons (2024 est.)
Waste and recycling / percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 16.9% (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / municipal: 49.3 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / industrial: 135.5 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / agricultural: 431.1 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total renewable water resources: 99 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: Republic of Suriname
Country name / conventional short form: Suriname
Country name / local long form: Republiek Suriname
Country name / local short form: Suriname
Country name / former: Netherlands Guiana, Dutch Guiana
Country name / etymology: name may derive from the Surinen people who inhabited the area at the time of European contact
Government type: presidential republic
Capital / name: Paramaribo
Capital / geographic coordinates: 5 50 N, 55 10 W
Capital / time difference: UTC-3 (2 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Capital / etymology: the name comes from the Guaraní words para (water or river) and maribo (inhabitants)
Administrative divisions: 10 districts ( distrikten , singular - distrikt ); Brokopondo, Commewijne, Coronie, Marowijne, Nickerie, Para, Paramaribo, Saramacca, Sipaliwini, Wanica
Legal system: civil law system influenced by Dutch civil law
Constitution / history: previous 1975; latest ratified 30 September 1987, effective 30 October 1987
Constitution / amendment process: proposed by the National Assembly; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote of the total membership
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 Suriname
Citizenship / dual citizenship recognized: no
Citizenship / residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch / chief of state: President Jennifer GEERLINGS-SIMONS (since 16 July 2025)
Executive branch / head of government: President Jennifer GEERLINGS-SIMONS (since 16 July 2025)
Executive branch / cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the president
Executive branch / election/appointment process: president and vice president indirectly elected by the National Assembly; president and vice president serve a 5-year term (no term limits)
Executive branch / most recent election date: 6 July 2025
Executive branch / election results: 2025: Jennifer GEERLINGS-SIMONS elected president unopposed; National Assembly vote - NA 2020: Chandrikapersad "Chan" SANTOKHI elected president unopposed; National Assembly vote - NA 2015: Desire Delano BOUTERSE reelected president unopposed; National Assembly vote - NA
Executive branch / expected date of next election: 2030
Legislative branch / legislature name: National Assembly (Nationale Assemblee)
Legislative branch / legislative structure: unicameral
Legislative branch / number of seats: 51 (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: 5/25/2025
Legislative branch / parties elected and seats per party: National Democratic Party (NDP) (18); Progressive Reform Party (VHP) (17); National Party of Suriname (NPS) (6); General Liberation and Development Party (ABOP) (6); Other (4)
Legislative branch / percentage of women in chamber: 31.4%
Legislative branch / expected date of next election: May 2030
Judicial branch / highest court(s): High Court of Justice of Suriname (consists of the court president, vice president, and 4 judges)
Judicial branch / judge selection and term of office: court judges appointed by the national president in consultation with the National Assembly, the State Advisory Council, and the Order of Private Attorneys; judges serve for life
Judicial branch / subordinate courts: cantonal courts
Political parties: Brotherhood and Unity in Politics or BEP Democratic Alternative '91 or DA91 General Liberation and Development Party or ABOP National Democratic Party or NDP National Party of Suriname or NPS Party for Democracy and Development in Unity or DOE Party for National Unity and Solidarity or KTPI People's Alliance (Pertjajah Luhur) or PL Progressive Workers' and Farmers' Union or PALU Progressive Reform Party or VHP Reform and Renewal Movement or HVB Surinamese Labor Party or SPA
Diplomatic representation in the US / chief of mission: Ambassador Jan Marten Willem SCHALKWIJK (since 19 April 2022)
Diplomatic representation in the US / chancery: 4301 Connecticut Avenue NW, Suite 400, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation in the US / telephone: [1] (202) 629-4302
Diplomatic representation in the US / FAX: [1] (202) 629-4769
Diplomatic representation in the US / email address and website: amb.vs@gov.sr https://surinameembassy.org/index.html
Diplomatic representation in the US / consulate(s) general: Miami
Diplomatic representation from the US / chief of mission: Ambassador Robert J. FAUCHER (since 31 January 2023)
Diplomatic representation from the US / embassy: 165 Kristalstraat, Paramaribo
Diplomatic representation from the US / mailing address: 3390 Paramaribo Place, Washington DC 20521-3390
Diplomatic representation from the US / telephone: [597] 556-700
Diplomatic representation from the US / FAX: [597] 551-524
Diplomatic representation from the US / email address and website: caparamar@state.gov https://sr.usembassy.gov/
International organization participation: ACP, ACS, AOSIS, Caricom, CD, CDB, CELAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAES, MIGA, NAM, OAS, OIC, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, Petrocaribe, UN, UNASUR, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Independence: 25 November 1975 (from the Netherlands)
National holiday: Independence Day, 25 November (1975)
Flag: description: five horizontal bands of green (top, double-width), white, red (quadruple-width), white, and green (double-width); a five-pointed yellow star is centered on the red band meaning: red stands for progress and love, green for hope and fertility, and white for peace, justice, and freedom; the star represents the unity of ethnic groups
National symbol(s): royal palm, faya lobi (flower)
National color(s): green, white, red, yellow
National anthem(s) / title: "God zij met ons Suriname!" (God Be With Our Suriname)
National anthem(s) / lyrics/music: Cornelis Atses HOEKSTRA and Henry DE ZIEL/Johannes Corstianus DE PUY
National anthem(s) / history: adopted 1959; originally adapted from a Sunday-school song written in 1893; contains lyrics in both Dutch and Sranang Tongo
National heritage / total World Heritage Sites: 3 (2 cultural, 1 natural)
National heritage / selected World Heritage Site locales: Central Suriname Nature Reserve (n); Historic Inner City of Paramaribo (c); Jodensavanne Archaeological Site: Jodensavanne Settlement and Cassipora Creek Cemetery (c)

## Economy
Economic overview: upper middle-income South American economy; new floating currency regime; key aluminum goods, gold, and hydrocarbon exporter; new IMF plan for economic recovery and fiscal sustainability; controversial hardwood industry
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $12.316 billion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $11.976 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $11.68 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: 2.5% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2022: 2.4% (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2024: $19,400 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2023: $19,000 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2022: $18,700 (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $4.714 billion (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024: 16.2% (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023: 51.6% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 52.4% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / agriculture: 7.5% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / industry: 39.9% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / services: 48.3% (2023 est.)
Agricultural products: rice, sugarcane, oranges, vegetables, chicken, cassava, plantains, pineapples, eggs, citrus fruits (2023)
Industries: gold mining, oil, lumber, food processing, fishing
Industrial production growth rate: 2.1% (2023 est.)
Labor force: 255,500 (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2024: 7.4% (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2023: 7.7% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2022: 8.2% (2022 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / total: 24.2% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / male: 16.9% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / female: 35.9% (2024 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income / Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2022: 39.2 (2022 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / lowest 10%: 2.2% (2022 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / highest 10%: 30.1% (2022 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2024: 3.4% of GDP (2024 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2023: 4.3% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2022: 3.9% of GDP (2022 est.)
Budget / revenues: $863 million (2019 est.)
Budget / expenditures: $1.648 billion (2019 est.)
Public debt / Public debt 2016: 75.8% of GDP (2016 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2024: $9.306 million (2024 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2023: $148.118 million (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2022: $76.321 million (2022 est.)
Exports / Exports 2024: $2.793 billion (2024 est.)
Exports / Exports 2023: $2.533 billion (2023 est.)
Exports / Exports 2022: $2.6 billion (2022 est.)
Exports - partners: Switzerland 49%, UAE 28%, Guyana 5%, USA 4%, France 3% (2023)
Exports - commodities: gold, fish, refined petroleum, wood, tobacco (2023)
Imports / Imports 2024: $2.571 billion (2024 est.)
Imports / Imports 2023: $2.203 billion (2023 est.)
Imports / Imports 2022: $2.342 billion (2022 est.)
Imports - partners: USA 22%, China 12%, Netherlands 11%, Trinidad & Tobago 9%, Guyana 8% (2023)
Imports - commodities: refined petroleum, ships, excavation machinery, trucks, tobacco (2023)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024: $1.632 billion (2024 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023: $1.346 billion (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $1.195 billion (2022 est.)
Debt - external / Debt - external 2023: $2.645 billion (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Currency: Surinamese dollars (SRD) per US dollar -
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2024: 33.181 (2024 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2023: 36.776 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2022: 24.709 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2021: 18.239 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2020: 9.31 (2020 est.)

## Energy
Electricity access / electrification - total population: 99% (2022 est.)
Electricity access / electrification - urban areas: 100%
Electricity access / electrification - rural areas: 98%
Electricity / installed generating capacity: 537,000 kW (2023 est.)
Electricity / consumption: 1.896 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / transmission/distribution losses: 245.206 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / fossil fuels: 57.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / solar: 0.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / hydroelectricity: 42% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / biomass and waste: 0.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Coal / imports: 2 metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum / total petroleum production: 14,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Petroleum / refined petroleum consumption: 17,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Petroleum / crude oil estimated reserves: 89 million barrels (2021 est.)
Natural gas / production: 7.173 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / consumption: 6.967 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
Energy consumption per capita / Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 60.896 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

## Communications
Telephones - fixed lines / total subscriptions: 129,000 (2023 est.)
Telephones - fixed lines / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 20 (2023 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / total subscriptions: 902,000 (2024 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 142 (2024 est.)
Broadcast media: 2 state-owned TV stations; 1 state-owned radio station; multiple private radio and TV stations (2019)
Internet country code: .sr
Internet users / percent of population: 78% (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / total: 125,000 (2022 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 20 (2022 est.)

## Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: PZ
Airports: 55 (2025)
Heliports: 1 (2025)
Merchant marine / total: 13 (2023)
Merchant marine / by type: general cargo 5, oil tanker 3, other 5
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: Moengo, Nieuw Nickerie, Paramaribo, Paranam

## Military and Security
Military and security forces: Suriname National Army (Nationaal Leger or NL); Army (Landmacht), Navy (Marine); Air Force (Luchtmacht), Military Police (Korps Militaire Politie) Ministry of Justice and Police: Suriname Police Force (Korps Politie Suriname or KPS) (2026)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2019: 1.2% of GDP (2019 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2018: 1.1% of GDP (2018 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2017: 1.1% of GDP (2017 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2016: 1.2% of GDP (2016 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2015: 1.4% of GDP (2015 est.)
Military and security service personnel strengths: approximately 2,000 National Army (2025)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the Suriname Army has a limited inventory of older or secondhand armaments originating from such suppliers as Brazil, France, the Netherlands, and India (2025)
Military service age and obligation: 18-28 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women; no conscription (2025)
Military - note: the National Leger is responsible for defending the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Suriname against foreign aggression; other special tasks include border control and supporting domestic security as required; the military police, for example, have direct responsibility for immigration control at the country&rsquo;s ports of entry, and the military assists the police in combating crime, particularly narco-trafficking, including joint military and police patrols, as well as joint special security teams; in addition, the military provides aid and assistance during times of natural emergencies and participates in socio-economic development projects (2025)

## Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons / refugees: 3,241 (2024 est.)

=== Paraguay ===

## Introduction
Background: Several Indigenous groups, principally belonging to the Guarani language family, inhabited the area of modern Paraguay before the arrival of the Spanish in the early 16th century, when the territory was incorporated into the Viceroyalty of Peru. Paraguay achieved its independence from Spain in 1811 with the help of neighboring states. In the aftermath of independence, a series of military dictators ruled the country until 1870. During the disastrous War of the Triple Alliance (1864-70) -- fought against Argentina, Brazil, and Uruguay -- Paraguay lost two thirds of its adult males and much of its territory. The country stagnated economically for the next half-century and experienced a tumultuous series of political regimes. Following the Chaco War of 1932-35 with Bolivia, Paraguay gained a large part of the Chaco lowland region. The 35-year military dictatorship of Alfredo STROESSNER ended in 1989, and Paraguay has held relatively free and regular presidential elections since the country's return to democracy.

## Geography
Location: Central South America, northeast of Argentina, southwest of Brazil
Geographic coordinates: 23 00 S, 58 00 W
Map references: South America
Area / total: 406,752 sq km
Area / land: 397,302 sq km
Area / water: 9,450 sq km
Area - comparative: about three times the size of New York State; slightly smaller than California
Land boundaries / total: 4,655 km
Land boundaries / border countries: Argentina 2,531 km; Bolivia 753 km; Brazil 1,371 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
Climate: subtropical to temperate; substantial rainfall in the eastern portions, becoming semiarid in the far west
Terrain: grassy plains and wooded hills east of Rio Paraguay; Gran Chaco region west of Rio Paraguay mostly low, marshy plain near the river, and dry forest and thorny scrub elsewhere
Elevation / highest point: Cerro Pero 842 m
Elevation / lowest point: junction of R&iacute;o Paraguay and R&iacute;o Paran&aacute; 46 m
Elevation / mean elevation: 178 m
Natural resources: hydropower, timber, iron ore, manganese, limestone
Land use / agricultural land: 54.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 11.5% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 0.2% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 42.4% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 36.9% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 7% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land: 1,362 sq km (2012)
Major rivers (by length in km): Río de la Plata/Paraná (shared with Brazil [s], Argentina, and Uruguay [m]) - 4,880 km; Paraguay river mouth (shared with Brazil [s] and Argentina) - 2,549 km note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Major watersheds (area sq km) / Atlantic Ocean drainage: Paran&aacute; (2,582,704 sq km)
Major aquifers: Guarani Aquifer System
Population distribution: most of the population resides in the eastern half of the country; to the west lies the Gran Chaco (a semi-arid lowland plain), which accounts for 60% of the land territory, but only 2% of the overall population
Natural hazards: local flooding in southeast (early September to June); poorly drained plains may become boggy (early October to June)
Geography - note: landlocked; lies between Argentina, Bolivia, and Brazil; population concentrated in eastern and southern part of country

## People and Society
Population / total: 7,604,044 (2025 est.)
Population / male: 3,809,407
Population / female: 3,794,637
Nationality / noun: Paraguayan(s)
Nationality / adjective: Paraguayan
Ethnic groups: Mestizo (mixed Spanish and Indigenous ancestry) 95%, other 5%
Languages / Languages: Spanish (official) and Guarani (official) 46.3%, only Guarani 34%, only Spanish 15.2%, other (includes Portuguese, German, other Indigenous languages) 4.1%, no response 0.4% (2012 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 80.4%, Protestant 7% (Evangelical (non-specific) 6.7%, Evangelical Pentecostal <0.1%, Adventist <0.1%, Protestant (non-specific) <0.1%), Believer (not belonging to the church) 5.7%, other 0.6%, agnostic <0.1%, none 0.2%, unspecified 6.2% (2023 est.)
Age structure / 0-14 years: 22.2% (male 850,191/female 821,237)
Age structure / 15-64 years: 68.4% (male 2,582,021/female 2,561,962)
Age structure / 65 years and over: 9.4% (2024 est.) (male 337,164/female 369,974)
Dependency ratios / total dependency ratio: 46.7 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / youth dependency ratio: 32.4 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / elderly dependency ratio: 14.3 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / potential support ratio: 7 (2025 est.)
Median age / total: 32.3 years (2025 est.)
Median age / male: 31.6 years
Median age / female: 32 years
Population growth rate: 1.06% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 15.66 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 4.97 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: -0.07 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution: most of the population resides in the eastern half of the country; to the west lies the Gran Chaco (a semi-arid lowland plain), which accounts for 60% of the land territory, but only 2% of the overall population
Urbanization / urban population: 63.1% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 1.64% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 3.511 million ASUNCION (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: 1.01 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 65 years and over: 0.91 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / total population: 1 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth: 22.9 years (2008 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio: 58 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Infant mortality rate / total: 21.4 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Infant mortality rate / male: 26.1 deaths/1,000 live births
Infant mortality rate / female: 17.7 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth / total population: 78.8 years (2024 est.)
Life expectancy at birth / male: 76.2 years
Life expectancy at birth / female: 81.6 years
Total fertility rate: 1.88 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 0.92 (2025 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: urban: urban: 99.9% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: rural: rural: 99.1% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: total: total: 99.6% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: urban: urban: 0.1% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: rural: rural: 0.9% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: total: total: 0.4% of population (2022 est.)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 8% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 17.4% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density: 3.89 physicians/1,000 population (2022)
Hospital bed density: 1 beds/1,000 population (2020 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: urban: urban: 100% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: rural: rural: 94.9% 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: 5.1% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: total: total: 1.9% of population (2022 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 20.3% (2016)
Alcohol consumption per capita / total: 5.47 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / beer: 3.27 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / wine: 0.59 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / spirits: 1.59 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / other alcohols: 0.03 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Tobacco use / total: 9.3% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / male: 15.5% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / female: 3.3% (2025 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 1.3% (2016 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49): 54.8% (2022 est.)
Child marriage / women married by age 15: 3.6% (2016)
Child marriage / women married by age 18: 21.6% (2016)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% GDP): 3.4% of GDP (2023 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% national budget): 11.7% national budget (2025 est.)
Literacy / total population: 94.9% (2024 est.)
Literacy / male: 95.4% (2024 est.)
Literacy / female: 94.3% (2024 est.)

## Environment
Environmental issues: deforestation; water pollution; toxic dumping in rivers and streams; loss of wetlands; inadequate means for waste disposal 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, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
International environmental agreements / signed, but not ratified: Nuclear Test Ban, Tropical Timber 2006
Climate: subtropical to temperate; substantial rainfall in the eastern portions, becoming semiarid in the far west
Land use / agricultural land: 54.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 11.5% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 0.2% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 42.4% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 36.9% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 7% (2023 est.)
Urbanization / urban population: 63.1% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 1.64% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / total emissions: 7.509 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: 7.507 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Particulate matter emissions: 12.5 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Methane emissions / energy: 37.3 kt (2022-2024 est.)
Methane emissions / agriculture: 813 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Methane emissions / waste: 101.2 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Methane emissions / other: 10 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Waste and recycling / municipal solid waste generated annually: 1.819 million tons (2024 est.)
Waste and recycling / percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 18.1% (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / municipal: 362 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / industrial: 154 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / agricultural: 1.897 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total renewable water resources: 387.77 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: Republic of Paraguay
Country name / conventional short form: Paraguay
Country name / local long form: Rep&uacute;blica del Paraguay
Country name / local short form: Paraguay
Country name / etymology: derives from the river of the same name; the river's name may come from the Guarani words para (water or river) and guay (born)
Government type: presidential republic
Capital / name: Asunci&oacute;n
Capital / geographic coordinates: 25 16 S, 57 40 W
Capital / time difference: UTC-3 (2 hour ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Capital / etymology: the name means "assumption" in Spanish; the Spanish founded the city on August 15, 1537, the Catholic feast day for the Assumption of the Virgin Mary
Administrative divisions: 17 departments ( departamentos , singular - departamento ) and 1 capital city*; Alto Paraguay, Alto Parana, Amambay, Asuncion*, Boquerón, Caaguazú, Caazapá, Canindeyú, Central, Concepcion, Cordillera, Guairá, Itapúa, Misiones, Ñeembucú, Paraguarí, Presidente Hayes, San Pedro
Legal system: civil law system with influences from Argentine, Spanish, Roman, and French civil law models; Supreme Court of Justice reviews legislative acts
Constitution / history: several previous; latest approved and promulgated 20 June 1992
Constitution / amendment process: proposed at the initiative of at least one quarter of either chamber of the National Congress, by the president of the republic, or by petition of at least 30,000 voters; passage requires a two-thirds majority vote by both chambers and approval in a referendum
International law organization participation: accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Citizenship / citizenship by birth: yes
Citizenship / citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a native-born citizen of Paraguay
Citizenship / dual citizenship recognized: yes
Citizenship / residency requirement for naturalization: 3 years
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal and compulsory until the age of 75
Executive branch / chief of state: President Santiago PE&Ntilde;A Palacios (since 15 August 2023)
Executive branch / head of government: President Santiago PE&Ntilde;A Palacios (since 15 August 2023)
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 simple-majority popular vote for a single 5-year term
Executive branch / most recent election date: 30 April 2023
Executive branch / election results: 2023: Santiago PEÑA Palacios elected president; percent of vote - Santiago PEÑA Palacios (ANR) 43.9%, Efraín ALEGRE (PLRA) 28.3%, Paraguayo "Payo" CUBAS Colomés (PCN) 23.6%, other 4.2% 2018: Mario ABDO BENÍTEZ elected president; percent of vote - Mario ABDO BENÍTEZ (ANR) 49%, Efraín ALEGRE (PLRA) 45.1%, other 5.9%
Executive branch / expected date of next election: April 2028
Legislative branch / legislature name: Congress (Congreso)
Legislative branch / legislative structure: bicameral
Legislative branch - lower chamber / chamber name: Chamber of Deputies (Cámara de Diputados)
Legislative branch - lower chamber / number of seats: 80 (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: 4/30/2023
Legislative branch - lower chamber / parties elected and seats per party: National Republican Association/Colorado Party (ANR) (48); Authentic Radical Liberal Party (PLRA) - Alliances (23); National Crusade Party (CN) (4); Other (5)
Legislative branch - lower chamber / percentage of women in chamber: 23.8%
Legislative branch - lower chamber / expected date of next election: April 2028
Legislative branch - upper chamber / chamber name: Senate (Cámara de Senadores)
Legislative branch - upper chamber / number of seats: 45 (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: 5 years
Legislative branch - upper chamber / most recent election date: 4/30/2023
Legislative branch - upper chamber / parties elected and seats per party: National Republican Association/Colorado Party (ANR) (23); Authentic Radical Liberal Party (PLRA) - Alliances (12); National Crusade Party (CN) (5); Other (5)
Legislative branch - upper chamber / percentage of women in chamber: 22.2%
Legislative branch - upper chamber / expected date of next election: April 2028
Judicial branch / highest court(s): Supreme Court of Justice or Corte Suprema de Justicia (consists of 9 justices divided 3 each into the Constitutional Court, Civil and Commercial Chamber, and Criminal Division)
Judicial branch / judge selection and term of office: justices proposed by the Council of Magistrates or Consejo de la Magistratura, a 6-member independent body, and appointed by the Chamber of Senators with presidential concurrence; judges can serve until mandatory retirement at age 75
Judicial branch / subordinate courts: appellate courts; first instance courts; minor courts, including justices of the peace
Political parties: Asociacion Nacional Republicana (National Republican Association) - Colorado Party or ANR Avanza Pais coalition or AP Frente Guasu (Broad Front coalition) or FG GANAR Alliance (Great Renewed National Alliance) (alliance between PLRA and Guasú Front) Movimiento Hagamos or MH Movimiento Union Nacional de Ciudadanos Eticos (National Union of Ethical Citizens) or UNACE Partido Cruzada Nacional (National Crusade Party) or PCN; note - formerly Movimiento Cruzada Nacional Partido del Movimiento al Socialismo or P-MAS Partido Democratica Progresista (Progressive Democratic Party) or PDP Partido Encuentro Nacional or PEN Partido Liberal Radical Autentico (Authentic Radical Liberal Party) or PLRA Partido Pais Solidario or PPS Partido Popular Tekojoja or PPT Patria Querida (Beloved Fatherland Party) or PPQ
Diplomatic representation in the US / chief of mission: Ambassador Gustavo Alfredo LEITE Gusinky (since 5 September 2025)
Diplomatic representation in the US / chancery: 2209 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington DC 20008
Diplomatic representation in the US / telephone: [1] (202) 483-6960
Diplomatic representation in the US / FAX: [1] (202) 234-4508
Diplomatic representation in the US / email address and website: gabineteembaparusa@mre.gov.py Embajada de la República del Paraguay ante los Estados Unidos de América :: The Embassy (mre.gov.py)
Diplomatic representation in the US / consulate(s) general: Los Angeles, Miami, New York
Diplomatic representation from the US / chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charg&eacute; d&rsquo;Affaires Robert ALTER (since July 2025)
Diplomatic representation from the US / embassy: 1776 Mariscal Lopez Avenue, Asuncion
Diplomatic representation from the US / mailing address: 3020 Asuncion Place, Washington DC 20521-3020
Diplomatic representation from the US / telephone: [595] (21) 248-3000
Diplomatic representation from the US / FAX: [595] (21) 213-728
Diplomatic representation from the US / email address and website: ParaguayACS@state.gov https://py.usembassy.gov/
International organization participation: CAN (associate), CD, CELAC, FAO, G-11, G-77, IADB, 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), LAES, LAIA, Mercosur, MIGA, MINURSO, MINUSTAH, MONUSCO, NAM (observer), OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, Pacific Alliance (observer), PCA, PROSUR, UN, UNASUR, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHRC, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNISFA, UNMIL, UNMISS, UNOCI, UNOOSA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Independence: 14-15 May 1811 (from Spain)
National holiday: Independence Day, 14-15 May (1811) (observed 15 May); 14 May is celebrated as Flag Day
Flag: description: three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and blue, with an emblem centered on the white band; the emblem on one side of the flag is the national coat of arms, which has a five-pointed yellow star in a green wreath with the words REPUBLICA DEL PARAGUAY around it, all inside two circles; the other side of the flag has a circular treasury seal (a yellow lion below a red Cap of Liberty and the words PAZ Y JUSTICIA) meaning: red stands for bravery and patriotism, white for integrity and peace, and blue for liberty and generosity
National symbol(s): lion
National color(s): red, white, blue
National anthem(s) / title: "Paraguayos, Republica o muerte!" (Paraguayans, the Republic or Death!)
National anthem(s) / lyrics/music: Francisco Esteban ACUNA de Figueroa/Remberto GIMENEZ
National anthem(s) / history: adopted 1846 (lyrics) and 1934 (music)
National heritage / total World Heritage Sites: 1 (cultural)
National heritage / selected World Heritage Site locales: Jesuit Missions of La Sant&iacute;sima Trinidad de Paran&aacute; and Jes&uacute;s de Tavarangue

## Economy
Economic overview: upper middle-income South American economy; COVID-19 hit while still recovering from 2019 Argentina-driven recession; global hydroelectricity leader; major corruption and money-laundering locale; highly agrarian economy; significant income inequality
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $112.919 billion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $108.316 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $103.159 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: 5% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2022: 0.2% (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2024: $16,300 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2023: $15,800 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2022: $15,300 (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $44.458 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: 4.6% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 9.8% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / agriculture: 10.7% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / industry: 32.5% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / services: 48.7% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / household consumption: 67% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / government consumption: 12.6% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in fixed capital: 21% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in inventories: 1.8% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / exports of goods and services: 37.2% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / imports of goods and services: -39.6% (2024 est.)
Agricultural products: soybeans, sugarcane, maize, cassava, wheat, rice, milk, beef, oranges, bananas (2023)
Industries: sugar processing, cement, textiles, beverages, wood products, steel, base metals, electric power
Industrial production growth rate: 2.2% (2024 est.)
Labor force: 3.502 million (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2024: 6.1% (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2023: 5.8% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2022: 6.8% (2022 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / total: 14.1% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / male: 11% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / female: 18.8% (2024 est.)
Population below poverty line: 24.7% (2022 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income / Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2023: 44.4 (2023 est.)
Average household expenditures / on food: 29.3% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Average household expenditures / on alcohol and tobacco: 4.2% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / lowest 10%: 1.8% (2023 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / highest 10%: 34.4% (2023 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2024: 2% of GDP (2024 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2023: 1.7% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2022: 1.4% of GDP (2022 est.)
Budget / revenues: $7.751 billion (2023 est.)
Budget / expenditures: $9.397 billion (2023 est.)
Public debt / Public debt 2016: 18.9% of GDP (2016 est.)
Taxes and other revenues: 10.1% (of GDP) (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2024: -$1.666 billion (2024 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2023: -$176.597 million (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2022: -$2.948 billion (2022 est.)
Exports / Exports 2024: $17.395 billion (2024 est.)
Exports / Exports 2023: $18.581 billion (2023 est.)
Exports / Exports 2022: $14.971 billion (2022 est.)
Exports - partners: Argentina 33%, Brazil 25%, Chile 10%, USA 2%, Uruguay 2% (2023)
Exports - commodities: soybeans, beef, electricity, corn, soybean meal (2023)
Imports / Imports 2024: $18.377 billion (2024 est.)
Imports / Imports 2023: $17.848 billion (2023 est.)
Imports / Imports 2022: $17.088 billion (2022 est.)
Imports - partners: China 33%, Brazil 24%, USA 8%, Argentina 7%, Germany 2% (2023)
Imports - commodities: broadcasting equipment, refined petroleum, fertilizers, cars, pesticides (2023)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023: $9.886 billion (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $9.519 billion (2022 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2021: $9.661 billion (2021 est.)
Debt - external / Debt - external 2023: $13.783 billion (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Currency: guarani (PYG) per US dollar -
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2024: 7,560.248 (2024 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2023: 7,288.872 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2022: 6,982.752 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2021: 6,774.163 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2020: 6,771.097 (2020 est.)

## Energy
Electricity access / electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)
Electricity / installed generating capacity: 8.928 million kW (2023 est.)
Electricity / consumption: 14.835 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / exports: 24.202 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / transmission/distribution losses: 5.209 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / hydroelectricity: 99.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / biomass and waste: 0.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Coal / consumption: 700 metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / exports: 10 metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / imports: 100 metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum / total petroleum production: 2,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Petroleum / refined petroleum consumption: 52,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Energy consumption per capita / Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 25.733 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

## Communications
Telephones - fixed lines / total subscriptions: 206,000 (2023 est.)
Telephones - fixed lines / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 3 (2023 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / total subscriptions: 8.67 million (2023 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 127 (2023 est.)
Broadcast media: 6 privately owned TV stations; about 75 commercial and community radio stations; 1 state-owned radio network (2019)
Internet country code: .py
Internet users / percent of population: 78% (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / total: 878,000 (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 13 (2023 est.)

## Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: ZP
Airports: 83 (2025)
Heliports: 29 (2025)
Railways / total: 30 km (2014)
Railways / standard gauge: 30 km (2014) 1.435-m gauge
Merchant marine / total: 108 (2023)
Merchant marine / by type: container ship 2, general cargo 22, oil tanker 5, other 79
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: Puerto de Asuncion

## Military and Security
Military and security forces: Armed Forces of Paraguay (Fuerzas Armadas de Paraguay; aka Armed Forces of the Nation or Fuerzas Armadas de la Nación): Paraguayan Army (Ejército Paraguayo), Paraguayan Navy (Armada Paraguaya; includes marines), Paraguayan Air Force (Fuerza Aérea Paraguaya) Ministry of Internal Affairs: National Police of Paraguay (Policía Nacional del Paraguay, PNP) (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: 1% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2020: 1% of GDP (2020 est.)
Military and security service personnel strengths: approximately 15,000 active duty Armed Forces (2025)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the military's inventory is comprised of mostly older or obsolescent equipment from a variety of foreign suppliers, particularly Brazil and the US; in recent years, the military has received small quantities of more modern equipment, such as light attack aircraft from Brazil and secondhand helicopters from Taiwan (2025)
Military service age and obligation: 18-25 years of age for voluntary service for men and women; all men 18-25 are required to perform military service for at least 12 months (2025)
Military - note: the Paraguayan military is responsible for external defense and has a role in domestic security duties; it provides support for natural disasters and cooperates with the National Police and other internal security organizations in combating the Paraguayan People’s Army (Ejército del Pueblo Paraguayo or EPP) and transnational criminal organizations, largely narcotics traffickers; the EPP is a small, domestic criminal/guerrilla group operating in the rural northern part of the country along the border with Brazil; the activities of the EPP and its offshoots—Marsical López’s Army (EML) and the Armed Peasant Association (ACA)—have consisted largely of isolated attacks on remote police and army posts, or against ranchers and peasants accused of aiding Paraguayan security forces the Paraguayan military has deployed small numbers of troops on UN peacekeeping missions and cooperates with neighboring countries, such as Argentina and Brazil, on security issues, particularly organized crime and narco-trafficking in what is known as the Tri-Border Area; Paraguay has not fought a war against a neighboring country since the Chaco War with Bolivia in the 1930s (2025)

## Space
Space agency/agencies: Space Agency of Paraguay (Agencia Especial del Paraguay, AEP; established 2014) (2025)
Space program overview: has a small, recently established space program focused on the acquisition of satellites, satellite data, and the technologies and capabilities to manufacture satellites, as well as promoting domestic expertise and industry; a priority is acquiring remote sensing capabilities to support socio-economic development, including resource mapping, weather, and crop monitoring; has built a cube satellite with foreign assistance; operates satellites; cooperates with foreign space agencies and industries, including those of India, Japan, Taiwan, the US, and member states of the Latin American and Caribbean Space Agency (2025)
Key space-program milestones: 2017 - organized country’s first international conference on space issues 2021 - first research/technology-demonstrator cube satellite (Guaranisat-1) built jointly with Japan, launched by US, and deployed from International Space Station; signed protocols for the establishment of the Latin American and Caribbean Space Agency 2025 - developing Guarani-Sat-2, which will be Paraguay's second satellite and the first designed and built domestically

## Terrorism
Terrorist group(s): Hizballah

## Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons / refugees: 7,649 (2024 est.)
Refugees and internally displaced persons / IDPs: 141 (2024 est.)
Refugees and internally displaced persons / stateless persons: 5 (2024 est.)

=== Peru ===

## Introduction
Background: Ancient Peru was the seat of several prominent Andean civilizations, most notably that of the Incas whose empire was captured by Spanish conquistadors in 1533. Peru declared its independence in 1821, and remaining Spanish forces were defeated in 1824. After a dozen years of military rule, Peru returned to democratic leadership in 1980 but experienced economic problems and the growth of a violent insurgency. President Alberto FUJIMORI's election in 1990 ushered in a decade that saw a dramatic turnaround in the economy and significant progress in curtailing guerrilla activity. Nevertheless, an economic slump and the president's increasing reliance on authoritarian measures in the late 1990s generated mounting dissatisfaction with his regime, which led to his resignation in 2000. A caretaker government oversaw a new election in 2001 that installed Alejandro TOLEDO Manrique as the new head of government - Peru's first democratically elected president of indigenous ethnicity. The presidential election of 2006 saw the return of Alan GARCIA Perez who, after a disappointing presidential term from 1985 to 1990, presided over a robust economic rebound. Former army officer Ollanta HUMALA Tasso was elected president in 2011 and carried on the market-oriented economic policies of the three preceding administrations. Pedro Pablo KUCZYNSKI Godard won a very narrow runoff in the 2016 presidential election. Facing impeachment after evidence surfaced of his involvement in a vote-buying scandal, KUCZYNSKI offered his resignation in 2018, and First Vice President Martin Alberto VIZCARRA Cornejo was sworn in as president. In 2019, VIZCARRA invoked his constitutional authority to dissolve Peru's Congress after months of battling with the body over anticorruption reforms. New congressional elections in 2020 resulted in an opposition-led legislature. The Congress impeached VIZCARRA for a second time and removed him from office after accusations of corruption and mishandling of the COVID-19 pandemic. Because of vacancies in the vice-presidential positions, the President of the Peruvian Congress, Manuel MERINO, became the next president. His ascension to office was not well received, and large protests forced his resignation later in 2020. Francisco SAGASTI assumed the position of President of Peru after being appointed President of the Congress the previous day. Jose Pedro CASTILLO Terrones won presidential election in 2021 but was impeached and ousted the following year; his vice president, Dina BOLUARTE, assumed the presidency by constitutional succession in 2022.

## Geography
Location: Western South America, bordering the South Pacific Ocean, between Chile and Ecuador
Geographic coordinates: 10 00 S, 76 00 W
Map references: South America
Area / total: 1,285,216 sq km
Area / land: 1,279,996 sq km
Area / water: 5,220 sq km
Area - comparative: almost twice the size of Texas; slightly smaller than Alaska
Land boundaries / total: 7,062 km
Land boundaries / border countries: Bolivia 1,212 km; Brazil 2,659 km; Chile 168 km; Colombia 1,494 km; Ecuador 1,529 km
Coastline: 2,414 km
Maritime claims / territorial sea: 200 nm; note: the US does not recognize this claim
Maritime claims / exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Maritime claims / continental shelf: 200 nm
Climate: varies from tropical in east to dry desert in west; temperate to frigid in Andes
Terrain: western coastal plain (costa), high and rugged Andes in center (sierra), eastern lowland jungle of Amazon Basin (selva)
Elevation / highest point: Nevado Huascaran 6,746 m
Elevation / lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
Elevation / mean elevation: 1,555 m
Natural resources: copper, silver, gold, petroleum, timber, fish, iron ore, coal, phosphate, potash, hydropower, natural gas
Land use / agricultural land: 19.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 3.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 1.8% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 14.2% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 52.9% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 28% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land: 25,800 sq km (2012)
Major lakes (area sq km) / fresh water lake(s): Lago Titicaca (shared with Bolivia) - 8,030 sq km
Major rivers (by length in km): Amazon river source (shared with Brazil [m]) - 6,400 km note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Major watersheds (area sq km) / Atlantic Ocean drainage: Amazon (6,145,186 sq km)
Major aquifers: Amazon Basin
Population distribution: approximately one third of the population resides along the desert coastal belt in the west, with a strong focus on the capital city of Lima; the Andean highlands, or sierra, contain roughly half of the population; the eastern slopes of the Andes and adjoining rainforest are sparsely populated
Natural hazards: earthquakes, tsunamis, flooding, landslides, mild volcanic activity volcanism: volcanic activity in the Andes Mountains; Ubinas (5,672 m) is the country's most active volcano; other historically active volcanoes include El Misti, Huaynaputina, Sabancaya, and Yucamane; see note 2 under "Geography - note"
Geography - note: note 1: shares control of Lago Titicaca, world's highest navigable lake, with Bolivia; a remote slope of Nevado Mismi, a 5,316-m (17,441-ft) peak, is the ultimate source of the Amazon River note 2: Peru 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: on 19 February 1600, Mount Huaynaputina in the southern Peruvian Andes erupted in the largest volcanic explosion in South America in historical times; intermittent eruptions lasted until 5 March 1600 and pumped an estimated 16 to 32 million metric tons of particulates into the atmosphere, reducing the amount of sunlight reaching the earth's surface and affecting weather worldwide; over the next two-and-a-half years, millions died around the globe in famines from bitterly cold winters, cool summers, and the loss of crops and animals

## People and Society
Population / total: 32,768,614 (2025 est.)
Population / male: 16,016,448
Population / female: 16,752,166
Nationality / noun: Peruvian(s)
Nationality / adjective: Peruvian
Ethnic groups: Mestizo (mixed Indigenous and White) 60.2%, Indigenous 25.8%, White 5.9%, African descent 3.6%, other (includes Chinese and Japanese descent) 1.2%, unspecified 3.3% (2017 est.)
Languages / Languages: Spanish (official) 82.9%, Quechua (official) 13.6%, Aymara (official) 1.6%, Ashaninka 0.3%, other native languages (includes many minor Amazonian languages) 0.8%, other 0.2%, none 0.1%, unspecified 0.7% (2017 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: Catholic 76%, Evangelical Christian 15.7%, no religion 5.1%, other religions 3.2% (2017 est.)
Age structure / 0-14 years: 25.8% (male 4,293,229/female 4,119,269)
Age structure / 15-64 years: 66.2% (male 10,546,502/female 11,041,106)
Age structure / 65 years and over: 8% (2024 est.) (male 1,112,825/female 1,487,318)
Dependency ratios / total dependency ratio: 50.4 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / youth dependency ratio: 38.4 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / elderly dependency ratio: 12 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / potential support ratio: 8.3 (2025 est.)
Median age / total: 30.4 years (2025 est.)
Median age / male: 29.1 years
Median age / female: 31.3 years
Population growth rate: 0.55% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 16.43 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 9.79 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: -1.16 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution: approximately one third of the population resides along the desert coastal belt in the west, with a strong focus on the capital city of Lima; the Andean highlands, or sierra, contain roughly half of the population; the eastern slopes of the Andes and adjoining rainforest are sparsely populated
Urbanization / urban population: 78.9% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 1.33% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 11.204 million LIMA (capital), 959,000 Arequipa, 904,000 Trujillo (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: 0.96 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 65 years and over: 0.75 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth: 21.9 years (2013 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio: 51 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Infant mortality rate / total: 10.6 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Infant mortality rate / male: 11.9 deaths/1,000 live births
Infant mortality rate / female: 9.7 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth / total population: 68.9 years (2024 est.)
Life expectancy at birth / male: 65.4 years
Life expectancy at birth / female: 72.7 years
Total fertility rate: 2.12 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 1.04 (2025 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: urban: urban: 97.5% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: rural: rural: 84.9% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: total: total: 94.8% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: urban: urban: 2.5% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: rural: rural: 15.1% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: total: total: 5.2% of population (2022 est.)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 6.2% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 16.7% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density: 1.69 physicians/1,000 population (2023)
Hospital bed density: 1.6 beds/1,000 population (2021 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: urban: urban: 94.1% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: rural: rural: 65.9% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: total: total: 88.1% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: urban: urban: 5.9% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: rural: rural: 34.1% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: total: total: 11.9% of population (2022 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 19.7% (2016)
Alcohol consumption per capita / total: 5.74 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / beer: 3.01 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / wine: 0.46 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / spirits: 2.26 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / other alcohols: 0.01 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Tobacco use / total: 5.7% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / male: 9.5% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / female: 2.1% (2025 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 2.7% (2023 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49): 52.7% (2022 est.)
Child marriage / women married by age 15: 2% (2020)
Child marriage / women married by age 18: 14.1% (2020)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% GDP): 4.2% of GDP (2023 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% national budget): 19.2% national budget (2024 est.)
Literacy / total population: 93.7% (2024 est.)
Literacy / male: 97% (2024 est.)
Literacy / female: 90.7% (2024 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / total: 15 years (2017 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / male: 15 years (2017 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / female: 15 years (2017 est.)

## Environment
Environmental issues: deforestation (some the result of illegal logging); overgrazing leading to soil erosion; desertification; air pollution in Lima; pollution of rivers and coastal waters from municipal and mining wastes; overfishing
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, Hazardous Wastes, 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: varies from tropical in east to dry desert in west; temperate to frigid in Andes
Land use / agricultural land: 19.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 3.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 1.8% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 14.2% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 52.9% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 28% (2023 est.)
Urbanization / urban population: 78.9% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 1.33% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / total emissions: 58.903 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from coal and metallurgical coke: 2.177 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from petroleum and other liquids: 34.863 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from consumed natural gas: 21.863 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Particulate matter emissions: 31.7 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Methane emissions / energy: 233.6 kt (2022-2024 est.)
Methane emissions / agriculture: 623.5 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Methane emissions / waste: 317 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Methane emissions / other: 51.9 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Waste and recycling / municipal solid waste generated annually: 8.357 million tons (2024 est.)
Waste and recycling / percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 9.2% (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / municipal: 3.141 billion cubic meters (2022)
Total water withdrawal / industrial: 1.666 billion cubic meters (2022)
Total water withdrawal / agricultural: 21.112 billion cubic meters (2022)
Total renewable water resources: 1.88 trillion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Geoparks / total global geoparks and regional networks: 1
Geoparks / global geoparks and regional networks: Colca y Volcanes de Andagua (2023)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: Republic of Peru
Country name / conventional short form: Peru
Country name / local long form: Rep&uacute;blica del Per&uacute;
Country name / local short form: Per&uacute;
Country name / etymology: the name may derive from the Guarani word biru, meaning "river"
Government type: presidential republic
Capital / name: Lima
Capital / geographic coordinates: 12 03 S, 77 03 W
Capital / time difference: UTC-5 (same time as Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Capital / etymology: the name is an early Spanish mispronunciation of the Quechua name Rimak , referring to a god and deriving from the word rima (to speak); Quechua priests used to speak to worshippers from inside statues of their gods
Administrative divisions: 24 departments ( departamentos , singular - departamento ), 1 province* ( provincia ), and 1 constitutional province** ( provincia constitucional ); Amazonas, Ancash, Apurimac, Arequipa, Ayacucho, Cajamarca, Callao**, Cusco, Huancavelica, Huánuco, Ica, Junín, La Libertad, Lambayeque, Lima, Lima*, Loreto, Madre de Dios, Moquegua, Pasco, Piura, Puno, San Martin, Tacna, Tumbes, Ucayali
Legal system: civil law system
Constitution / history: several previous; latest promulgated 29 December 1993, enacted 31 December 1993
Constitution / amendment process: proposed by Congress, by the president of the republic with the approval of the Council of Ministers or by petition of at least 0.3% of voters; passage requires absolute majority approval by the Congress membership, followed by approval in a referendum; a referendum is not required if Congress approves the amendment by greater than two-thirds majority vote in each of two successive sessions
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: 2 years
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal and compulsory until the age of 70
Executive branch / chief of state: President Jos&eacute; Enrique JER&Iacute; Or&eacute; (since 10 October 2025)
Executive branch / head of government: President Jos&eacute; Enrique JER&Iacute; Or&eacute; (since 10 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 nonconsecutive terms)
Executive branch / most recent election date: 11 April 2021, with a runoff on 6 June 2021
Executive branch / election results: 2021: Jose Pedro CASTILLO Terrones elected president in second round; percent of vote in first round - Jose Pedro CASTILLO Terrones (PL) 18.9%, Keiko Sofia FUJIMORI Higuchi (FP) 13.4%, Rafael LOPEZ ALIAGA Cazorla (RP) 11.8%, Hernando DE SOTO Polar (Social Integration Party) 11.6%, Yonhy LESCANO Ancieta (AP) 9.1%, Veronika MENDOZA Frisch (JP) 7.9%, Cesar ACUNA Peralta (APP) 6%, George FORSYTH Sommer (VN) 5.7%, Daniel Belizario URRESTI Elera (PP) 5.6%, other 10%; percent of vote second round - Jose Pedro CASTILLO Terrones 50.1%, Keiko Sofia FUJIMORI Higuchi 49.9% 2016: Pedro Pablo KUCZYNSKI Godard elected president in second round; percent of vote in first round - Keiko FUJIMORI Higuchi (FP) 39.9%, Pedro Pablo KUCZYNSKI Godard (PPK) 21.1%, Veronika MENDOZA (FA) 18.7%, Alfredo BARNECHEA (AP) 7%, Alan GARCIA (APRA) 5.8%, other 7.5%; percent of vote in second round - Pedro Pablo KUCZYNSKI Godard 50.1%, Keiko FUJIMORI Higuchi 49.9%
Executive branch / expected date of next election: 12 April 2026
Legislative branch / legislature name: Congress of the Republic (Congreso de la República)
Legislative branch / legislative structure: unicameral
Legislative branch / number of seats: 130 (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: 4/11/2021
Legislative branch / parties elected and seats per party: Free Peru (PL) (37); Popular Force (FP) (24); Popular Action (AP) (16); Alliance for Progress (APP) (15); Go on Country - Social Integration Party (AvP) (10); Popular Renewal (RP) (9); We Are Peru" (SP) - Purple Party (PM) (9); Other (10)
Legislative branch / percentage of women in chamber: 41.5%
Legislative branch / expected date of next election: April 2026
Judicial branch / highest court(s): Supreme Court (consists of 16 judges and divided into civil, criminal, and constitutional-social sectors)
Judicial branch / judge selection and term of office: justices proposed by the National Board of Justice (a 7-member independent body), nominated by the president, and confirmed by the Congress; justices can serve until mandatory retirement at age 70
Judicial branch / subordinate courts: Court of Constitutional Guarantees; Superior Courts or Cortes Superiores; specialized civil, criminal, and mixed courts; 2 types of peace courts in which professional judges and selected members of the local communities preside
Political parties: Advance the Nation (Avanza País) or AvP Alliance for Progress (Alianza para el Progreso) or APP Broad Front (Frente Amplio) or FA Free Peru (Perú Libre) or PL Front for Hope (Frente Esperanza) Magisterial Block of National Concentration (Bloque Magisterial de Concertación Nacional) or BMCN National Victory (Victoria Nacional) or VN Peru Bicentennial (Perú Bicentenario) or PB Popular Action (Acción Popular) or AP Popular Force (Fuerza Popular) or FP Popular Renewal (Renovación Popular) or RP Purple Party (Partido Morado) Social Integration Party (Avanza País - Partido de Integración Social) Together For Perú (Juntos por el Peru) or JP We Are Peru (Somos Perú) of SP We Can Peru (Podemos Perú) or PP
Diplomatic representation in the US / chief of mission: Ambassador Alfredo Santiago Carlos FERRERO DIEZ CANSECO (since 27 February 2024)
Diplomatic representation in the US / chancery: 1700 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036
Diplomatic representation in the US / telephone: [1] (202) 833-9860
Diplomatic representation in the US / FAX: [1] (202) 659-8124
Diplomatic representation in the US / email address and website: Webadmin@embassyofperu.us Embassy of Peru in the United States - E-United States - Platform of the Peruvian State (www.gob.pe)
Diplomatic representation in the US / consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Hartford (CT), Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Paterson (NJ), San Francisco
Diplomatic representation from the US / chief of mission: Ambassador-designate Bernardo NAVARRO; Charg&eacute; d&rsquo;Affaires Joan PERKINS (since 18 April 2025)
Diplomatic representation from the US / embassy: Avenida La Encalada, Cuadra 17 s/n, Surco, Lima 33
Diplomatic representation from the US / mailing address: 3230 Lima Place, Washington DC 20521-3230
Diplomatic representation from the US / telephone: [51] (1) 618-2000
Diplomatic representation from the US / FAX: [51] (1) 618-2724
Diplomatic representation from the US / email address and website: lima_webmaster@state.gov https://pe.usembassy.gov/
International organization participation: AIIB, APEC, BIS, CAN, CD, 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, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAES, LAIA, Mercosur (associate), MIGA, MINUSTAH, MONUSCO, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, Pacific Alliance, PCA, PROSUR, SICA (observer), UN, UNAMID, UNASUR, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNISFA, UNMISS, UNOCI, UNOOSA, UN Security Council (temporary), UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Independence: 28 July 1821 (from Spain)
National holiday: Independence Day, 28-29 July (1821)
Flag: description: three equal vertical bands of red (left side), white, and red, with the coat of arms centered on the white band; the coat of arms has a shield with a vicuna, a cinchona tree, and a yellow cornucopia spilling out coins meaning: the vicuna represents fauna, the cinchona tree is the source of quinine, and the cornucopia symbolizes mineral wealth; red stands for blood shed for independence, and white for peace
National symbol(s): vicuna (a camelid related to the llama)
National color(s): red, white
National anthem(s) / title: "Himno Nacional del Peru" (National Anthem of Peru)
National anthem(s) / lyrics/music: Jose DE LA TORRE Ugarte/Jose Bernardo ALZEDO
National anthem(s) / history: adopted 1821
National heritage / total World Heritage Sites: 13 (9 cultural, 2 natural, 2 mixed)
National heritage / selected World Heritage Site locales: Cuzco (c); Machu Picchu (m); Chavin (c); Historic Lima (c); Huascarán National Park (n); Chan Chan (c); Manú National Park (n); Lines and Geoglyphs of Nazca (c); Rio Abiseo National Park (m); Historic Arequipa (c); Sacred City of Caral-Supe (c); Qhapaq Ñan/Andean Road System (c)

## Economy
Economic overview: upper-middle-income South American economy; strong post-COVID rebound tempered by political uncertainty and climate risks; exports driven by mineral extraction and agriculture; large informal sector and uneven access to public services; stable fiscal position and financial sector
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $535.911 billion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $518.771 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $520.872 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: -0.4% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2022: 2.8% (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2024: $15,700 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2023: $15,300 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2022: $15,600 (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $289.222 billion (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024: 2% (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023: 6.5% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 8.3% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / agriculture: 6.1% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / industry: 32.2% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / services: 52.7% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / household consumption: 61.6% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / government consumption: 13.4% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in fixed capital: 20.8% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in inventories: -1.4% (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: -22.9% (2024 est.)
Agricultural products: sugarcane, potatoes, rice, bananas, milk, maize, chicken, oil palm fruit, cassava, grapes (2023)
Industries: mining and refining of minerals; steel, metal fabrication; petroleum extraction and refining, natural gas and natural gas liquefaction; fishing and fish processing, cement, glass, textiles, clothing, food processing, beer, soft drinks, rubber, machinery, electrical machinery, chemicals, furniture
Industrial production growth rate: 3.1% (2024 est.)
Labor force: 18.918 million (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2024: 4.9% (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2023: 4.9% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2022: 3.9% (2022 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / total: 8.8% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / male: 7.9% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / female: 9.8% (2024 est.)
Population below poverty line: 27.5% (2022 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income / Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2023: 40.7 (2023 est.)
Average household expenditures / on food: 26.9% 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% (2023 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / highest 10%: 30.6% (2023 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2023: 1.7% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2022: 1.5% of GDP (2022 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2021: 1.6% of GDP (2021 est.)
Budget / revenues: $48.003 billion (2021 est.)
Budget / expenditures: $55.34 billion (2021 est.)
Public debt / Public debt 2021: 35.2% of GDP (2021 est.)
Taxes and other revenues: 15.9% (of GDP) (2021 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2024: $6.39 billion (2024 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2023: $881.934 million (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2022: -$9.972 billion (2022 est.)
Exports / Exports 2024: $83.325 billion (2024 est.)
Exports / Exports 2023: $72.97 billion (2023 est.)
Exports / Exports 2022: $71.39 billion (2022 est.)
Exports - partners: China 34%, USA 14%, Canada 5%, India 4%, Switzerland 4% (2023)
Exports - commodities: copper ore, gold, refined copper, refined petroleum, grapes (2023)
Imports / Imports 2024: $67.16 billion (2024 est.)
Imports / Imports 2023: $63.776 billion (2023 est.)
Imports / Imports 2022: $69.936 billion (2022 est.)
Imports - partners: China 26%, USA 21%, Brazil 7%, Argentina 5%, Mexico 3% (2023)
Imports - commodities: refined petroleum, crude petroleum, cars, trucks, broadcasting equipment (2023)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024: $79.246 billion (2024 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023: $71.394 billion (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $72.328 billion (2022 est.)
Debt - external / Debt - external 2023: $38.102 billion (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Currency: nuevo sol (PEN) per US dollar -
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2023: 3.744 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2022: 3.835 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2021: 3.881 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2020: 3.495 (2020 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2019: 3.337 (2019 est.)

## Energy
Electricity access / electrification - total population: 96.2% (2022 est.)
Electricity access / electrification - urban areas: 99%
Electricity access / electrification - rural areas: 85.1%
Electricity / installed generating capacity: 16.164 million kW (2023 est.)
Electricity / consumption: 53.3 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / imports: 47.696 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / transmission/distribution losses: 6.638 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / fossil fuels: 44.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / solar: 1.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / wind: 3.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / hydroelectricity: 49.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / biomass and waste: 1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Coal / production: 1.382 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / consumption: 973,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / exports: 1.261 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / imports: 446,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / proven reserves: 1.567 billion metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum / total petroleum production: 118,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Petroleum / refined petroleum consumption: 255,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Petroleum / crude oil estimated reserves: 858.89 million barrels (2021 est.)
Natural gas / production: 14.647 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / consumption: 9.675 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / exports: 4.883 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / proven reserves: 300.159 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)
Energy consumption per capita / Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 30.923 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

## Communications
Telephones - fixed lines / total subscriptions: 1.504 million (2023 est.)
Telephones - fixed lines / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 4 (2023 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / total subscriptions: 42.6 million (2024 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 125 (2024 est.)
Broadcast media: 10 major TV networks of which only one, Television Nacional de Peru, is state owned; multi-channel cable TV services are available; in excess of 5,000 radio stations including a substantial number of local-language stations (2021)
Internet country code: .pe
Internet users / percent of population: 80% (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / total: 3.53 million (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 10 (2023 est.)

## Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: OB
Airports: 174 (2025)
Heliports: 7 (2025)
Railways / total: 1,854.4 km (2017)
Railways / standard gauge: 1,730.4 km (2014) 1.435-m gauge (34 km electrified)
Railways / narrow gauge: 124 km (2014) 0.914-m gauge
Merchant marine / total: 111 (2023)
Merchant marine / by type: general cargo 1, oil tanker 9, other 101
Ports / total ports: 20 (2024)
Ports / large: 0
Ports / medium: 1
Ports / small: 3
Ports / very small: 16
Ports / ports with oil terminals: 16
Ports / key ports: Bahia de Matarani, Iquitos, Puerto del Callao, Talara

## Military and Security
Military and security forces: Armed Forces of Peru (Fuerzas Armadas del Perú or FAP): Peruvian Army (Ejercito del Peru), Peruvian Navy (Marina de Guerra del Peru, MGP, includes naval infantry and General Directorate of Captaincies and Coast Guards, DICAPI), Air Force of Peru (Fuerza Aerea del Peru, FAP) Ministry of the Interior: Peruvian National Police (Policía Nacional del Perú, PNP) (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: 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: information varies; approximately 85,000 active-duty Armed Forces (50,000 Army; 25,000 Navy; 10,000 Air Force); approximately 75,000 National Police (2025)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the military's inventory consists of mostly older or secondhand armaments originating from a range of countries, including Brazil, China, France, Germany, Italy, Russia/former Soviet Union, South Korea, Spain, and the US; Peru has a small defense industry, including a shipyard that builds and upgrades naval vessels; it also has defense industrial cooperation agreements with several countries, including Russia, South Korea, Spain, and the US (2025)
Military service age and obligation: 18-30 years of age for voluntary military service (12-24 months) (2025)
Military deployments: 225 Central African Republic (MINUSCA) (2025)
Military - note: the Peruvian Armed Forces (FAP) are responsible for external defense in addition to some domestic security responsibilities in designated emergency areas and in exceptional circumstances; key areas of focus include counterinsurgency, counternarcotics, cyber defense, disaster relief, and maritime security operations; the FAP supported the police during anti-government protests in early 2023; it has contributed to UN missions since 1958 and has ties to regional militaries, particularly Colombia, as well as those of numerous other countries such as China, Russia, Spain, and the US; the FAP’s last external conflict was a brief border war with Ecuador in 1995 the Special Command of the Valley of the Apurimac, Ene, and Mantaro rivers (CE-VRAEM) is responsible for combating the remnants of the Shining Path terrorist group (aka Sendero Luminoso) and includes several thousand air, ground, naval, police, and special forces personnel; the FAP also provides aircraft, vehicles, and logistical support to the command (2025)

## Space
Space agency/agencies: National Aerospace Research and Development Commission (Comisi&oacute;n Nacional de Investigaci&oacute;n y Desarrollo Aeroespacia, CONIDA; established 1974) (2025)
Space launch site(s): in 2024, Peru announced an initiative to develop a future spaceport in Talara (Piura department)
Space program overview: focuses on acquiring satellites, applying space applications such as data satellite imagery, and building small rockets; has built a small science/technology satellite; operates satellites and processes satellite imagery data; builds and launches sounding rockets with goal of developing a satellite/space launch vehicle (SLV); researching, developing, and acquiring technologies for manufacturing satellites and satellite payloads, including remote sensing (RS) capabilities; member of Latin American and Caribbean Space Agency (ALCE) since its formation in 2021; cooperates with a variety of foreign space agencies and industries, including those of Brazil, China, the ESA, individual ESA member states (particularly France and Germany), India, Russia, South Korea, Thailand, and the US, as well as other ALCE signatories (2025)
Key space-program milestones: 2006 - launched first sounding rocket/space probe (Paulet-1) 2013 - first domestically built scientific/research satellite (PUCP-SAT-1) launched by Russia; launched first domestically built rocket (Paulet 1-B) capable of reaching the stratosphere 2016 - first remote sensing satellite (PeruSat-1) acquired from France and launched on European rocket 2024 - signed US-led Artemis Accords on space and lunar exploration

## Terrorism
Terrorist group(s): Shining Path (Sendero Luminoso); Tren de Aragua (TdA)

## Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons / refugees: 546,699 (2024 est.)
Refugees and internally displaced persons / IDPs: 83,441 (2024 est.)
Refugees and internally displaced persons / stateless persons: 32 (2024 est.)
Illicit drugs / USG identification: major illicit drug-producing and/or drug-transit country major precursor-chemical producer (2025)

=== South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands ===

## Introduction
Background: South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands lie approximately 1,000 km east of the Falkland Islands and have been under British administration since 1908 -- except for a brief period in 1982 when Argentina occupied them. Grytviken, on South Georgia, was a 19th- and early 20th-century whaling station. Famed explorer Ernest SHACKLETON stopped there in 1914 en route to his ill-fated attempt to cross Antarctica on foot. He returned some 20 months later with a few companions in a small boat and arranged a successful rescue for the rest of his crew, which was stranded off the Antarctic Peninsula. He died in 1922 on a subsequent expedition and is buried in Grytviken. Today, the station houses scientists from the British Antarctic Survey. Recognizing the importance of preserving the marine stocks in adjacent waters, the UK extended the exclusive fishing zone in 1993, from 12 nm to 200 nm around each island.

## Geography
Location: Southern South America, islands in the South Atlantic Ocean, east of the tip of South America
Geographic coordinates: 54 30 S, 37 00 W
Map references: Antarctic Region
Area / total: 3,903 sq km
Area / land: 3,903 sq km
Area / water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly larger than Rhode Island
Land boundaries / total: 0 km
Coastline: NA
Maritime claims / territorial sea: 12 nm
Maritime claims / exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
Climate: variable, with mostly westerly winds throughout the year interspersed with periods of calm; nearly all precipitation falls as snow
Terrain: most of the islands are rugged and mountainous rising steeply from the sea; South Georgia is largely barren with steep, glacier-covered mountains; the South Sandwich Islands are of volcanic origin with some active volcanoes
Elevation / highest point: Mount Paget (South Georgia) 2,934 m
Elevation / lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
Natural resources: fish
Land use / other: 100% (2018 est.)
Irrigated land: 0 sq km (2022)
Natural hazards: the South Sandwich Islands have prevailing weather conditions that generally make them difficult to approach by ship; they are also subject to active volcanism
Geography - note: the north coast of South Georgia has several large bays, which provide good anchorage

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

## Environment
Environmental issues: damage to native wildlife from imported animals
Climate: variable, with mostly westerly winds throughout the year interspersed with periods of calm; nearly all precipitation falls as snow
Land use / other: 100% (2018 est.)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
Country name / conventional short form: South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands
Country name / abbreviation: SGSSI
Country name / etymology: Captain James COOK originally named it "the Isle of Georgia" in 1775 in honor of British King GEORGE III; the word "South" was later added to distinguish these islands from the other Sandwich Islands, now known as the Hawaiian Islands
Dependency status: overseas territory of the UK, also claimed by Argentina; administered from the Falkland Islands by a commissioner, who is concurrently governor of the Falkland Islands, representing the British monarch
Legal system: the laws of the UK apply
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (administered by the UK, claimed by Argentina)
Diplomatic representation from the US: none (administered by the UK, claimed by Argentina)
International organization participation: UPU
Flag: description: blue with the UK flag in the upper-left quadrant; the islands' coat of arms is centered on the right half of the flag and has a green shield with a golden lion holding a torch; a fur seal is to the left of the shield and a Macaroni penguin to the right; a reindeer appears above the crest, and below the shield on a scroll is the motto LEO TERRAM PROPRIAM PROTEGAT (Let the Lion Protect its Own Land) meaning: the lion represents the UK and discovery; the seal, penguin, and reindeer are native to the islands

## Economy

## Communications

## Transportation
Heliports: 1 (2025)
Ports / total ports: 3 (2024)
Ports / large: 0
Ports / medium: 0
Ports / small: 0
Ports / very small: 3
Ports / ports with oil terminals: 1
Ports / key ports: Grytviken, Prince Olav Harbor, Stromness Harbor

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

## Transnational Issues

=== Uruguay ===

## Introduction
Background: The Spanish founded the city of Montevideo in modern-day Uruguay in 1726 as a military stronghold, and it soon became an important commercial center due to its natural harbor. Argentina initially claimed Uruguay, but Brazil annexed the country in 1821. Uruguay declared its independence in 1825 and secured its freedom in 1828 after a three-year struggle. The administrations of President Jose BATLLE in the early 20th century launched widespread political, social, and economic reforms that established a statist tradition. A violent Marxist urban guerrilla movement named the Tupamaros (or Movimiento de Liberación Nacional-Tupamaros) launched in the late 1960s and pushed Uruguay's president to cede control of the government to the military in 1973. By year-end, the rebels had been crushed, but the military continued to expand its hold over the government. Civilian rule was restored in 1985. In 2004, the left-of-center Frente Amplio (FA) Coalition won national elections that effectively ended 170 years of political control by the Colorado and National (Blanco) parties. The left-of-center coalition retained the presidency and control of both chambers of congress until 2019. Uruguay's political and labor conditions are among the freest on the South American continent.

## Geography
Location: Southern South America, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, between Argentina and Brazil
Geographic coordinates: 33 00 S, 56 00 W
Map references: South America
Area / total: 176,215 sq km
Area / land: 175,015 sq km
Area / water: 1,200 sq km
Area - comparative: about the size of Virginia and West Virginia combined; slightly smaller than the state of Washington
Land boundaries / total: 1,591 km
Land boundaries / border countries: Argentina 541 km; Brazil 1,050 km
Coastline: 660 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 the edge of continental margin
Climate: warm temperate; freezing temperatures almost unknown
Terrain: mostly rolling plains and low hills; fertile coastal lowland
Elevation / highest point: Cerro Catedral 514 m
Elevation / lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
Elevation / mean elevation: 109 m
Natural resources: arable land, hydropower, minor minerals, fish
Land use / agricultural land: 81.4% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 12.6% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 0.2% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 68.6% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 11.4% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 7.3% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land: 2,230 sq km (2018)
Major lakes (area sq km) / salt water lake(s): Lagoa Mirim (shared with Brazil) - 2,970 sq km
Major rivers (by length in km): Rio de la Plata/Parana river mouth (shared with Brazil [s], Argentina, Paraguay) - 4,880 km; Uruguay river mouth (shared with Brazil [s] and Argentina) - 1,610 km note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Major aquifers: Guarani Aquifer System
Population distribution: most of the country's population resides in the southern half of the country; approximately 80% of the populace is urban; nearly half of the population lives in and around the capital of Montevideo
Natural hazards: seasonally high winds (the pampero is a chilly and occasional violent wind that blows north from the Argentine pampas), droughts, floods; because of the absence of mountains, which act as weather barriers, all locations are particularly vulnerable to rapid changes from weather fronts
Geography - note: second-smallest South American country (after Suriname); most of the low-lying landscape (three-quarters of the country) is grassland, ideal for cattle and sheep

## People and Society
Population / total: 3,449,444 (2025 est.)
Population / male: 1,678,419
Population / female: 1,771,025
Nationality / noun: Uruguayan(s)
Nationality / adjective: Uruguayan
Ethnic groups: White 87.7%, Black 4.6%, Indigenous 2.4%, other 0.3%, none or unspecified 5% (2011 est.)
Languages / Languages: Spanish (official, Rioplatense is the most widely spoken dialect)
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 36.5%, Protestant 5% (Evangelical (non-specific) 4.6%, Adventist 0.2%, Protestant (non-specific) 0.3%), African American Cults/Umbanda 2.8%, Jehovah's Witness 0.6%, Church of Jesus Christ 0.2%, other 1%, Believer (not belonging to the church) 1.8%, agnostic 0.3%, atheist 1.3%, none 47.3%, unspecified 3.4% Roman Catholic 42%, Protestant 15%, other 6%, agnostic 3%, atheist 10%, unspecified 24% (2023 est.)
Age structure / 0-14 years: 18.9% (male 329,268/female 317,925)
Age structure / 15-64 years: 65.4% (male 1,112,622/female 1,128,418)
Age structure / 65 years and over: 15.7% (2024 est.) (male 218,242/female 318,855)
Dependency ratios / total dependency ratio: 48.7 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / youth dependency ratio: 26.2 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / elderly dependency ratio: 22.5 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / potential support ratio: 4.4 (2025 est.)
Median age / total: 37.4 years (2025 est.)
Median age / male: 34.9 years
Median age / female: 38.2 years
Population growth rate: -0.06% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 9.05 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 9.88 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: 0.19 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution: most of the country's population resides in the southern half of the country; approximately 80% of the populace is urban; nearly half of the population lives in and around the capital of Montevideo
Urbanization / urban population: 95.8% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 0.4% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 1.774 million MONTEVIDEO (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: 0.99 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 65 years and over: 0.68 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio: 15 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Infant mortality rate / total: 6.9 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Infant mortality rate / male: 9.1 deaths/1,000 live births
Infant mortality rate / female: 6.8 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth / total population: 78.9 years (2024 est.)
Life expectancy at birth / male: 75.8 years
Life expectancy at birth / female: 82.1 years
Total fertility rate: 1.27 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 0.62 (2025 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: urban: urban: 99.7% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: rural: rural: 95.3% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: total: total: 99.5% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: urban: urban: 0.3% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: rural: rural: 4.7% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: total: total: 0.5% of population (2022 est.)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 9.4% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 20.9% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density: 4.67 physicians/1,000 population (2022)
Hospital bed density: 2.5 beds/1,000 population (2021 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: urban: urban: 99.3% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: rural: rural: 100% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: total: total: 99.3% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: urban: urban: 0.7% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: rural: rural: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: total: total: 0.7% of population (2022 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 27.9% (2016)
Alcohol consumption per capita / total: 5.42 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / beer: 1.86 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / wine: 2.86 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / spirits: 0.71 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / other alcohols: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Tobacco use / total: 18% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / male: 21.3% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / female: 14.9% (2025 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 1.8% (2018 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49): 55.4% (2023 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% GDP): 4.8% of GDP (2023 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% national budget): 15.6% national budget (2023 est.)
Literacy / total population: 98.9% (2024 est.)
Literacy / male: 98.6% (2024 est.)
Literacy / female: 99.2% (2024 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / total: 18 years (2022 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / male: 16 years (2022 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / female: 19 years (2022 est.)

## Environment
Environmental issues: water pollution from meat-packing, tannery industries; heavy metal pollution; inadequate solid and hazardous waste disposal; deforestation
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 Protocol, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
International environmental agreements / signed, but not ratified: Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Life Conservation
Climate: warm temperate; freezing temperatures almost unknown
Land use / agricultural land: 81.4% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 12.6% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 0.2% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 68.6% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 11.4% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 7.3% (2023 est.)
Urbanization / urban population: 95.8% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 0.4% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / total emissions: 6.896 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from coal and metallurgical coke: 39,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from petroleum and other liquids: 6.681 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from consumed natural gas: 177,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Particulate matter emissions: 8.5 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Methane emissions / energy: 18.1 kt (2022-2024 est.)
Methane emissions / agriculture: 730.6 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Methane emissions / waste: 115.4 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Methane emissions / other: 2.8 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Waste and recycling / municipal solid waste generated annually: 1.26 million tons (2024 est.)
Waste and recycling / percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 24.8% (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / municipal: 424.428 million cubic meters (2022)
Total water withdrawal / industrial: 603.701 million cubic meters (2022)
Total water withdrawal / agricultural: 3.479 billion cubic meters (2022)
Total renewable water resources: 172.2 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Geoparks / total global geoparks and regional networks: 1
Geoparks / global geoparks and regional networks: Grutas del Palacio (2023)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: Oriental Republic of Uruguay
Country name / conventional short form: Uruguay
Country name / local long form: Rep&uacute;blica Oriental del Uruguay
Country name / local short form: Uruguay
Country name / former: Banda Oriental, Cisplatine Province
Country name / etymology: name derives from the Uruguay River, which makes up the western border of the country; the river's name comes from the Guarani words uru (bird) and guay (tail)
Government type: presidential republic
Capital / name: Montevideo
Capital / geographic coordinates: 34 51 S, 56 10 W
Capital / time difference: UTC-3 (2 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Capital / etymology: the origin of the name is disputed but refers to a hill or mountain ( monte ); one theory combines the Spanish word monte (mountain) with the Latin video (I see)
Administrative divisions: 19 departments ( departamentos , singular - departamento ); Artigas, Canelones, Cerro Largo, Colonia, Durazno, Flores, Florida, Lavalleja, Maldonado, Montevideo, Paysandú, Rio Negro, Rivera, Rocha, Salto, San José, Soriano, Tacuarembó, Treinta y Tres
Legal system: civil law system based on the Spanish civil code
Constitution / history: several previous; latest approved by plebiscite 27 November 1966, effective 15 February 1967, reinstated in 1985 at the conclusion of military rule
Constitution / amendment process: initiated by public petition of at least 10% of qualified voters, proposed by agreement of at least two fifths of the General Assembly membership, or by existing "constitutional laws" sanctioned by at least two thirds of the membership in both houses of the Assembly; proposals can also be submitted by senators, representatives, or by the executive power and require the formation of and approval in a national constituent convention; final passage by either method requires approval by absolute majority of votes cast in a referendum
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: 3-5 years
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Executive branch / chief of state: President Yamand&uacute; ORSI Mart&iacute;nez (since 1 March 2025)
Executive branch / head of government: President Yamand&uacute; ORSI Mart&iacute;nez (since 1 March 2025)
Executive branch / cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president with approval of the General Assembly
Executive branch / election/appointment process: president and vice president directly elected on the same ballot by absolute-majority vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a 5-year term (eligible for nonconsecutive terms)
Executive branch / most recent election date: 27 October 2024, with a runoff on 24 November 2024
Executive branch / election results: 2024: Yamandú ORSI Martínez elected president in second round; percent of vote in first round - Yamandú ORSI Martínez (FA) 46.2%, Álvaro Luis DELGADO Ceretta (PN) 28.2%, Andrés OJEDA Ojeda Spitz (PC) 16.9%, other 8.7%; percent of vote in second round - Yamandú ORSI Martínez 52.1%, Álvaro Luis DELGADO Ceretta 47.9% 2019: Luis Alberto LACALLE POU elected president in second round; percent of vote in first round - Daniel MARTINEZ (FA) 40.7%, Luis Alberto LACALLE POU (PN) 29.7%, Ernesto TALVI (Colorado Party) 12.8%, Guido MANINI RIOS (Open Cabildo) 11.3%, other 5.5%; percent of vote in second round - Luis Alberto LACALLE POU 50.6%, Daniel MARTINEZ 49.4%
Executive branch / expected date of next election: 28 October 2029, with a runoff, if needed, on 25 November 2029
Legislative branch / legislature name: General Assembly (Asamblea General)
Legislative branch / legislative structure: bicameral
Legislative branch - lower chamber / chamber name: House of Representatives (Cámara de Representantes)
Legislative branch - lower chamber / number of seats: 99 (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: 10/27/2024
Legislative branch - lower chamber / parties elected and seats per party: Broad Front (FA) (48); National Party (PN) (29); Colorado Party (PC) (17); Other (5)
Legislative branch - lower chamber / percentage of women in chamber: 31.3%
Legislative branch - lower chamber / expected date of next election: October 2029
Legislative branch - upper chamber / chamber name: Senate (Cámara de Senadores)
Legislative branch - upper chamber / number of seats: 31 (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: 5 years
Legislative branch - upper chamber / most recent election date: 10/27/2024
Legislative branch - upper chamber / parties elected and seats per party: Broad Front (FA) (16); National Party (PN) (9); Colorado Party (PC) (5)
Legislative branch - upper chamber / percentage of women in chamber: 32.3%
Legislative branch - upper chamber / expected date of next election: October 2029
Judicial branch / highest court(s): Supreme Court of Justice (consists of 5 judges)
Judicial branch / judge selection and term of office: judges nominated by the president and appointed by two-thirds vote in joint conference of the General Assembly; judges serve 10-year terms, with reelection possible after a lapse of 5 years following the previous term
Judicial branch / subordinate courts: Courts of Appeal; District Courts (Juzgados Letrados); Peace Courts (Juzgados de Paz); Rural Courts (Juzgados Rurales)
Political parties: Broad Front or FA (Frente Amplio) - (a broad governing coalition that comprises 34 factions including Popular Participation Movement or MPP, Uruguay Assembly, Progressive Alliance, Broad Social Democratic Space, Socialist Party, Vertiente Artiguista, Christian Democratic Party, Big House, Communist Party, The Federal League, Fuerza Renovadora) Colorado Party or PC (including Batllistas and Ciudadanos) Intransigent Radical Ecologist Party (Partido Ecologista Radical Intransigente) or PERI Independent Party National Party or PN (including Todos (Everyone) and National Alliance) Open Cabildo Popular Unity
Diplomatic representation in the US / chief of mission: Ambassador Daniel CASTILLOS G&oacute;mez (since 5 September 2025)
Diplomatic representation in the US / chancery: 1913 I Street NW, Washington, DC 20006
Diplomatic representation in the US / telephone: [1] (202) 331-1313
Diplomatic representation in the US / FAX: [1] (202) 331-8142
Diplomatic representation in the US / email address and website: urueeuu@mrree.gub.uy https://embassyofuruguay.us/
Diplomatic representation in the US / consulate(s) general: Miami, New York, San Francisco
Diplomatic representation from the US / chief of mission: Ambassador Lou RINALDI (since 30 September 2025)
Diplomatic representation from the US / embassy: Lauro Muller 1776, Montevideo 11200
Diplomatic representation from the US / mailing address: 3360 Montevideo Place, Washington DC 20521-3360
Diplomatic representation from the US / telephone: (+598) 1770-2000
Diplomatic representation from the US / FAX: [+598] 1770-2128
Diplomatic representation from the US / email address and website: MontevideoACS@state.gov https://uy.usembassy.gov/
International organization participation: CAN (associate), 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, ITSO, ITU, LAES, LAIA, Mercosur, MIGA, MINUSTAH, MONUSCO, NAM (observer), OAS, OIF (observer), OPANAL, OPCW, Pacific Alliance (observer), PCA, SICA (observer), UN, UNASUR, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNISFA, UNMOGIP, UNOCI, UNOOSA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Independence: 25 August 1825 (from Brazil)
National holiday: Independence Day, 25 August (1825)
Flag: description: nine equal horizontal stripes of white (top and bottom) alternating with blue; a white square in the upper-left corner has a yellow sun with a human face (outlined in black) known as the Sun of May, with 16 rays that alternate between triangular and wavy meaning: the stripes represent the country's nine original departments; the sun refers to the legend of the sun breaking through the clouds on 25 May 1810 as independence was declared from Spain; the sun is said to be Inti, the Inca god of the sun
National symbol(s): Sun of May (a sun-with-face symbol)
National color(s): blue, white, yellow
National anthem(s) / title: "Himno Nacional" (National Anthem of Uruguay)
National anthem(s) / lyrics/music: Francisco Esteban ACUNA de Figueroa/Francisco Jose DEBALI
National anthem(s) / history: adopted 1848; the anthem is also known as "Orientales, la Patria o la tumba!" ("Uruguayans, the Fatherland or Death!"); it is the world's longest national anthem in terms of music (105 bars; almost five minutes); usually only the first verse and chorus are sung
National heritage / total World Heritage Sites: 3 (all cultural)
National heritage / selected World Heritage Site locales: Historic City of Colonia del Sacramento; Fray Bentos Industrial Landscape; The work of engineer Eladio Dieste: Church of Atl&aacute;ntida

## Economy
Economic overview: high-income, export-oriented South American economy; South America&rsquo;s largest middle class; low socioeconomic inequality; growing homicide rates; growing Chinese and EU relations; 2019 Argentine recession hurt; key milk, beef, rice, and wool exporter
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $108.502 billion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $105.231 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $104.456 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2024: 3.1% (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2023: 0.7% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2022: 4.5% (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2024: $32,000 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2023: $31,100 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2022: $30,800 (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $80.962 billion (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024: 4.8% (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023: 5.9% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 9.1% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / agriculture: 6.4% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / industry: 16.8% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / services: 65.3% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / household consumption: 66.8% (2015 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / government consumption: 13.8% (2015 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in fixed capital: 19.8% (2015 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in inventories: -0.1% (2015 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / exports of goods and services: 22.5% (2015 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / imports of goods and services: -22.9% (2015 est.)
Agricultural products: milk, rice, wheat, barley, soybeans, beef, rapeseed, sugarcane, maize, beef offal (2023)
Industries: food processing, electrical machinery, transportation equipment, petroleum products, textiles, chemicals, beverages
Industrial production growth rate: 4.4% (2024 est.)
Labor force: 1.768 million (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2024: 8.5% (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2023: 8.4% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2022: 7.9% (2022 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / total: 26.4% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / male: 23.5% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / female: 29.8% (2024 est.)
Population below poverty line: 10.1% (2023 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income / Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2023: 40.9 (2023 est.)
Average household expenditures / on food: 18.7% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Average household expenditures / on alcohol and tobacco: 1.2% 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%: 30.8% (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: $27.781 billion (2023 est.)
Budget / expenditures: $17.808 billion (2023 est.)
Public debt / Public debt 2023: 62.4% of GDP (2023 est.)
Taxes and other revenues: 18.7% (of GDP) (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2024: -$821.38 million (2024 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2023: -$2.64 billion (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2022: -$2.675 billion (2022 est.)
Exports / Exports 2024: $23.329 billion (2024 est.)
Exports / Exports 2023: $21.946 billion (2023 est.)
Exports / Exports 2022: $23.56 billion (2022 est.)
Exports - partners: China 21%, Brazil 17%, USA 8%, Argentina 5%, Netherlands 5% (2023)
Exports - commodities: wood pulp, beef, milk, rice, wood (2023)
Imports / Imports 2024: $19.117 billion (2024 est.)
Imports / Imports 2023: $19.259 billion (2023 est.)
Imports / Imports 2022: $19.639 billion (2022 est.)
Imports - partners: Brazil 22%, China 18%, Argentina 11%, USA 9%, Nigeria 4% (2023)
Imports - commodities: crude petroleum, refined petroleum, cars, trucks, fertilizers (2023)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024: $17.378 billion (2024 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023: $16.257 billion (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $15.127 billion (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Currency: Uruguayan pesos (UYU) per US dollar -
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2024: 40.213 (2024 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2023: 38.824 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2022: 41.171 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2021: 43.555 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2020: 42.013 (2020 est.)

## Energy
Electricity access / electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)
Electricity / installed generating capacity: 5.682 million kW (2023 est.)
Electricity / consumption: 9.826 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / exports: 2 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / imports: 84 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / transmission/distribution losses: 1.136 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / fossil fuels: 8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / solar: 3.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / wind: 37% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / hydroelectricity: 27.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / biomass and waste: 23.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Coal / consumption: 8,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / imports: 13,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum / total petroleum production: 400 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Petroleum / refined petroleum consumption: 50,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Natural gas / consumption: 90.018 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / imports: 90.871 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
Energy consumption per capita / Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 45.755 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

## Communications
Telephones - fixed lines / total subscriptions: 1.205 million (2023 est.)
Telephones - fixed lines / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 36 (2023 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / total subscriptions: 4.93 million (2024 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 146 (2024 est.)
Broadcast media: mix of privately owned and state-run broadcast media; over 100 commercial radio stations and about 20 TV channels; cable TV is available; many community radio and TV stations; adopted the hybrid Japanese/Brazilian HDTV standard (ISDB-T) in 2010 (2019)
Internet country code: .uy
Internet users / percent of population: 90% (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / total: 1.1 million (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 32 (2023 est.)

## Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: CX
Airports: 65 (2025)
Heliports: 4 (2025)
Railways / total: 1,673 km (2016) (operational; government claims overall length is 2,961 km)
Railways / standard gauge: 1,673 km (2016) 1.435-m gauge
Merchant marine / total: 58 (2023)
Merchant marine / by type: container ship 1, general cargo 4, oil tanker 3, other 50
Ports / total ports: 8 (2024)
Ports / large: 0
Ports / medium: 1
Ports / small: 1
Ports / very small: 6
Ports / ports with oil terminals: 2
Ports / key ports: Colonia, Fray Bentos, Jose Ignacio, La Paloma, Montevideo, Nueva Palmira, Paysandu, Puerto Sauce

## Military and Security
Military and security forces: Armed Forces of Uruguay (Fuerzas Armadas del Uruguay or FF.AA. del Uruguay): National Army, National Navy (includes Coast Guard (Prefectura Nacional Naval or PRENA)), Uruguayan Air Force Ministry of Interior: National Police (2025)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2024: 2.1% 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: 2.3% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2020: 2% of GDP (2020 est.)
Military and security service personnel strengths: approximately 23,000 active-duty Armed Forces (15,000 Army; 5,000 Navy; 3,000 Air Force) (2025)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the military's inventory includes a variety of mostly older or secondhand equipment originating from a range of suppliers, including Brazil, Germany, Russia/former Soviet Union, South Korea, and the US (2025)
Military service age and obligation: generally 18-30 years of age (up to 22 for the Navy and up to 40 for some specialist positions) for voluntary military service for men and women; initial 24-month service obligation (2025)
Military deployments: 630 Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO); 210 Golan Heights (UNDOF) (2025)
Military - note: the armed forces are responsible for defense of the country&rsquo;s independence, national sovereignty, and territorial integrity, as well as protecting strategic resources; it has some domestic responsibilities, including perimeter security for a number of prisons, border security, and providing humanitarian/disaster assistance; it also assists the Ministry of Interior in combating narcotics trafficking; the military participates in UN peacekeeping missions and multinational exercises with foreign partners; Uruguay traditionally has held security ties with Argentina, Brazil, Peru, and the US; since 2018, it has also signed defense cooperation agreements with China and Russia (2025)

## Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons / refugees: 32,149 (2024 est.)
Refugees and internally displaced persons / IDPs: 33 (2024 est.)
Refugees and internally displaced persons / stateless persons: 5 (2024 est.)

=== Venezuela ===

## Introduction
Background: Venezuela was one of three countries that emerged from the collapse of Gran Colombia in 1830, the others being Ecuador and New Granada (Colombia). For most of the first half of the 20th century, military strongmen ruled Venezuela and promoted the oil industry while allowing some social reforms. Democratically elected governments largely held sway until 1999, but Hugo CHAVEZ, who was president from 1999 to 2013, exercised authoritarian control over other branches of government. This trend continued in 2018 when Nicolas MADURO claimed the presidency for his second term in an election boycotted by most opposition parties and widely viewed as fraudulent. The legislative elections in 2020 were also seen as fraudulent, and most opposition parties and many international actors consider the resulting National Assembly illegitimate. In 2021, many opposition parties broke a three-year election boycott and participated in mayoral and gubernatorial elections, despite flawed conditions. As a result, the opposition more than doubled its representation at the mayoral level and retained four of 23 governorships. The 2021 regional elections marked the first time since 2006 that the EU was allowed to send an electoral observation mission to Venezuela. MADURO has placed strong restrictions on free speech and the press. Since CHAVEZ, the ruling party has expanded the state's role in the economy through expropriations of major enterprises, strict currency exchange and price controls, and over-dependence on the petroleum industry for revenues. Years of economic mismanagement left Venezuela ill-prepared to weather the global drop in oil prices in 2014, sparking an economic decline that has resulted in reduced government social spending, shortages of basic goods, and high inflation. Worsened living conditions have prompted nearly 8 million Venezuelans to emigrate, mainly settling in nearby countries. The US imposed financial sanctions on MADURO and his representatives in 2017 and on sectors of the Venezuelan economy in 2018. Limited sanctions relief followed when the MADURO administration began making democratic and electoral concessions. The government's mismanagement and lack of investment in infrastructure has also weakened the country's energy sector. Caracas has relaxed some controls to mitigate the impact of its sustained economic crisis, such as allowing increased import flexibility for the private sector and the informal use of US dollars and other international currencies. Ongoing concerns include human rights abuses, rampant violent crime, political manipulation of the judicial and electoral systems, and corruption.

## Geography
Location: Northern South America, bordering the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, between Colombia and Guyana
Geographic coordinates: 8 00 N, 66 00 W
Map references: South America
Area / total: 912,050 sq km
Area / land: 882,050 sq km
Area / water: 30,000 sq km
Area - comparative: almost six times the size of Georgia; slightly more than twice the size of California
Land boundaries / total: 5,267 km
Land boundaries / border countries: Brazil 2,137 km; Colombia 2,341 km; Guyana 789 km
Coastline: 2,800 km
Maritime claims / territorial sea: 12 nm
Maritime claims / contiguous zone: 15 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; more moderate in highlands
Terrain: Andes Mountains and Maracaibo Lowlands in northwest; central plains (llanos); Guiana Highlands in southeast
Elevation / highest point: Pico Bolivar 4,978 m
Elevation / lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
Elevation / mean elevation: 450 m
Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, gold, bauxite, other minerals, hydropower, diamonds
Land use / agricultural land: 24.4% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 2.9% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 0.8% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 20.6% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 53.5% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 22.1% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land: 10,550 sq km (2012)
Major lakes (area sq km) / salt water lake(s): Lago de Maracaibo - 13,010 sq km
Major rivers (by length in km): Rio Negro (shared with Colombia [s] and Brazil [m]) - 2,250 km; Orinoco river source and mouth (shared with Colombia) - 2,101 km note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Major watersheds (area sq km) / Atlantic Ocean drainage: Amazon (6,145,186 sq km), Orinoco (953,675 sq km)
Population distribution: most of the population is concentrated in the northern and western highlands along an eastern spur at the northern end of the Andes, an area that includes the capital of Caracas
Natural hazards: subject to floods, rockslides, mudslides; periodic droughts
Geography - note: note 1: the country lies on major sea and air routes linking North and South America note 2: Venezuela has some of the most unique geology in the world; tepuis are the massive table-top mountains of the western Guiana Highlands that tend to be isolated and thus support unique endemic plant and animal species; their sheer cliffsides help create some of the most spectacular waterfalls in the world, including Angel Falls, the world's highest (979 m; 3,212 ft) that drops from Auyan Tepui

## People and Society
Population / total: 31,755,435 (2025 est.)
Population / male: 15,808,263
Population / female: 15,947,172
Nationality / noun: Venezuelan(s)
Nationality / adjective: Venezuelan
Ethnic groups: unspecified Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Arab, German, African, Indigenous
Languages / Languages: Spanish (official) 98.2%, indigenous 1.3%, Portuguese 0.1%, other 0.4% (2023 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 48.1%, Protestant 31.6% (Evangelical 31.4%, Adventist 0.2%), Jehovah's Witness 1.4%, African American/umbanda 0.7%, other 0.1%, believer 3.5%, agnostic 0.1%, atheist, 0.4%, none 13.6%, unspecified 0.6% (2023 est.)
Age structure / 0-14 years: 25% (male 3,987,361/female 3,811,307)
Age structure / 15-64 years: 65.9% (male 10,264,353/female 10,330,376)
Age structure / 65 years and over: 9.1% (2024 est.) (male 1,303,737/female 1,553,172)
Dependency ratios / total dependency ratio: 51.8 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / youth dependency ratio: 37.5 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / elderly dependency ratio: 14.3 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / potential support ratio: 7 (2025 est.)
Median age / total: 31.3 years (2025 est.)
Median age / male: 30.3 years
Median age / female: 31.7 years
Population growth rate: 0.88% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 16.45 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 6.54 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: -1.15 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution: most of the population is concentrated in the northern and western highlands along an eastern spur at the northern end of the Andes, an area that includes the capital of Caracas
Urbanization / urban population: 88.4% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 1.16% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 2.972 million CARACAS (capital), 2.368 million Maracaibo, 1.983 million Valencia, 1.254 million Barquisimeto, 1.243 million Maracay, 964,000 Ciudad Guayana (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: 0.99 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 65 years and over: 0.84 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio: 227 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Infant mortality rate / total: 13.6 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Infant mortality rate / male: 15.4 deaths/1,000 live births
Infant mortality rate / female: 12.2 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth / total population: 74.5 years (2024 est.)
Life expectancy at birth / male: 71.5 years
Life expectancy at birth / female: 77.7 years
Total fertility rate: 2.16 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 1.05 (2025 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: total: total: 93.3% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: total: total: 6.7% of population (2022 est.)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 4% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 6% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density: 1.66 physicians/1,000 population (2017)
Hospital bed density: 1 beds/1,000 population (2020 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: total: total: 98.4% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: total: total: 1.6% of population (2022 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 25.6% (2016)
Alcohol consumption per capita / total: 2.51 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / beer: 1.54 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / wine: 0.01 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / spirits: 0.92 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / other alcohols: 0.03 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% GDP): 0% of GDP (2023 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% national budget): 10.3% national budget (2024 est.)
Literacy / total population: 97.2% (2017 est.)
Literacy / male: 97.2% (2017 est.)
Literacy / female: 97.3% (2017 est.)

## Environment
Environmental issues: sewage pollution of Lago de Valencia; oil and urban pollution of Lago de Maracaibo; deforestation; soil degradation; urban and industrial pollution, especially along the Caribbean coast; threat to the rainforest ecosystem from mining operations
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, 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; hot, humid; more moderate in highlands
Land use / agricultural land: 24.4% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 2.9% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 0.8% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 20.6% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 53.5% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 22.1% (2023 est.)
Urbanization / urban population: 88.4% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 1.16% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / total emissions: 76.73 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from coal and metallurgical coke: 179,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from petroleum and other liquids: 27.928 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from consumed natural gas: 48.623 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Particulate matter emissions: 16.1 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Methane emissions / energy: 3,595.7 kt (2022-2024 est.)
Methane emissions / agriculture: 1,007.8 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Methane emissions / waste: 328.3 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Methane emissions / other: 7 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Waste and recycling / municipal solid waste generated annually: 9.779 million tons (2024 est.)
Waste and recycling / percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 21.3% (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / municipal: 5.123 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / industrial: 793.3 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / agricultural: 16.71 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total renewable water resources: 1.325 trillion cubic meters (2022 est.)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela
Country name / conventional short form: Venezuela
Country name / local long form: Rep&uacute;blica Bolivariana de Venezuela
Country name / local short form: Venezuela
Country name / former: State of Venezuela, Republic of Venezuela, United States of Venezuela
Country name / etymology: in 1499, the stilt-houses built on Lake Maracaibo reminded explorers Alonso de OJEDA and Amerigo VESPUCCI of buildings in Venice, Italy, and they named the region "Venezuola," meaning "Little Venice"
Government type: federal presidential republic
Capital / name: Caracas
Capital / geographic coordinates: 10 29 N, 66 52 W
Capital / time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Capital / etymology: named for the Caracas tribe that originally settled in the area; the origin of their name is unknown
Administrative divisions: 23 states ( estados , singular - estado ), 1 capital district* ( distrito capital ), and 1 federal dependency** ( dependencia federal ); Amazonas, Anzoátegui, Apure, Aragua, Barinas, Bolivar, Carabobo, Cojedes, Delta Amacuro, Dependencias Federales (Federal Dependencies)**, Distrito Capital (Capital District)*, Falcon, Guárico, La Guairá, Lara, Merida, Miranda, Monagas, Nueva Esparta, Portuguesa, Sucre, Táchira, Trujillo, Yaracuy, Zulia
Legal system: civil law system based on the Spanish civil code
Constitution / history: many previous; latest adopted 15 December 1999, effective 30 December 1999
Constitution / amendment process: proposed through agreement by at least 39% of the National Assembly membership, by the president of the republic in session with the cabinet of ministers, or by petition of at least 15% of registered voters; passage requires simple majority vote by the Assembly and simple 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: 10 years; reduced to five years in the case of applicants from Spain, Portugal, Italy, or a Latin American or Caribbean country
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch / chief of state: Interim President Delcy Elo&iacute;na RODR&Iacute;GUEZ G&oacute;mez (since 5 January 2026)
Executive branch / head of government: Interim President Delcy Elo&iacute;na RODR&Iacute;GUEZ G&oacute;mez (since 5 January 2026)
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 6-year term (no term limits)
Executive branch / most recent election date: 28 July 2024
Executive branch / election results: 2024: official results disputed; Nicolas MADURO Moros was declared the winner by the MADURO-controlled National Electoral Council; percent of vote - Nicolas MADURO Moros (PSUV) 52%, Edmundo GONZÁLEZ Urrutia (Independent) 43.2%, Luis Eduardo MARTÍNEZ (AD) 1.2%, other 3.6% 2018: Nicolas MADURO Moros reelected president; percent of vote - Nicolas MADURO Moros (PSUV) 67.9%, Henri FALCON (AP) 20.9%, Javier BERTUCCI 10.8%
Executive branch / expected date of next election: unknown
Legislative branch / legislature name: National Assembly (Asamblea Nacional)
Legislative branch / legislative structure: unicameral
Legislative branch / number of seats: 277 (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: 12/6/2020
Legislative branch / percentage of women in chamber: 32.1%
Legislative branch / expected date of next election: May 2025
Judicial branch / highest court(s): Supreme Tribunal of Justice (consists of 32 judges organized into constitutional, political-administrative, electoral, civil appeals, criminal appeals, and social divisions)
Judicial branch / judge selection and term of office: judges proposed by the Committee of Judicial Postulation (an independent body of organizations dealing with legal issues and of the organs of citizen power) and appointed by the National Assembly; judges serve nonrenewable 12-year terms
Judicial branch / subordinate courts: Superior or Appeals Courts (Tribunales Superiores); District Tribunals (Tribunales de Distrito); Courts of First Instance (Tribunales de Primera Instancia); Parish Courts (Tribunales de Parroquia); Justices of the Peace (Justicia de Paz) Network
Political parties: A New Era (Un Nuevo Tiempo) or UNT Cambiemos Movimiento Ciudadano or CMC Christian Democrats or COPEI (also known as the Social Christian Party) Citizens Encounter or EC Clear Accounts or CC Coalition of parties loyal to Nicolas MADURO - Great Patriotic Pole or GPP Coalition of opposition parties - Democratic Alliance (Alianza Democratica) (includes AD, EL CAMBIO, COPEI, CMC, and AP) Come Venezuela (Vente Venezuela) or VV Communist Party of Venezuela or PCV Consenso en la Zona or Conenzo Convergencia Democratic Action or AD Fatherland for All (Patria para Todos) or PPT Fearless People's Alliance or ABP Fuerza Vecinal or FV Hope for Change (Esperanza por el Cambio) or EL CAMBIO Justice First (Primero Justicia) or PJ LAPIZ Movement to Socialism (Movimiento al Socialismo) or MAS Popular Will (Voluntad Popular) or VP Progressive Advance (Avanzada Progresista) or AP The Radical Cause or La Causa R United Socialist Party of Venezuela or PSUV Venezuela First (Primero Venezuela) or PV Venezuelan Progressive Movement or MPV Venezuela Project or PV
Diplomatic representation in the US: none note : the embassy, which had been run by the Venezuelan political opposition, announced on 5 January 2023, that it had ended all embassy functions
Diplomatic representation from the US / chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charg&eacute; d&rsquo;Affaires John McNAMARA (since 1 February 2025); note - serves as the chief of mission of the Venezuela Affairs Unit, located in the US Embassy, Bogota
Diplomatic representation from the US / embassy: Venezuela Affairs Unit, US Embassy, Carrera 45 N. 24B-27, Bogota, Colombia
Diplomatic representation from the US / mailing address: 3140 Caracas Place, Washington DC 20521-3140
Diplomatic representation from the US / telephone: 1-888-407-4747
Diplomatic representation from the US / email address and website: ACSBogota@state.gov https://ve.usembassy.gov/
International organization participation: ACS, Caricom (observer), CD, CDB, CELAC, FAO, G-15, G-24, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAES, LAIA, LAS (observer), MIGA, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, OPEC, PCA, Petrocaribe, UN, UNASUR, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNHRC, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNOOSA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Independence: 5 July 1811 (from Spain)
National holiday: Independence Day, 5 July (1811)
Flag: description: three equal horizontal bands of yellow (top), blue, and red, with the coat of arms on the left side of the yellow band and an arc of eight five-pointed white stars centered on the blue band meaning: yellow stands for the riches of the land, blue for the courage of its people, and red for the blood shed in attaining independence history: the flag retains the three equal horizontal bands and three main colors from the flag of Gran Colombia, the South American republic that broke up in 1830; in 2006, President Hugo CHAVEZ added the eighth star -- the original seven stars represented the country's provinces that united in the war of independence -- to match Simon Bolivar's flag from 1827 and to represent the historic province of Guayana
National symbol(s): troupial (bird)
National color(s): yellow, blue, red
National anthem(s) / title: "Gloria al bravo pueblo" (Glory to the Brave People)
National anthem(s) / lyrics/music: Vicente SALIAS/Juan Jose LANDAETA
National anthem(s) / history: adopted 1881; lyrics were written in 1810; both SALIAS and LANDAETA were executed in 1814 during Venezuela's fight for independence
National heritage / total World Heritage Sites: 3 (2 cultural, 1 natural)
National heritage / selected World Heritage Site locales: Coro and its Port (c); Canaima National Park (n); Ciudad Universitaria de Caracas (c)

## Economy
Economic overview: South American economy; ongoing hyperinflation since mid-2010s; chaotic economy due to political corruption, infrastructure cuts, and human rights abuses; in debt default; oil exporter; hydropower consumer; rising Chinese relations
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $110.943 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $106.672 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2021: $98.768 billion (2021 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2018: -19.67% (2018 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2017: -15.76% (2017 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2023: $4,900 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2022: $4,600 (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2021: $4,000 (2021 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $139.395 billion (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 200.9% (2022 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021: 1,588.5% (2021 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2020: 2,355.1% (2020 est.)
Agricultural products: milk, sugarcane, maize, rice, plantains, oil palm fruit, bananas, chicken, pineapples, potatoes (2023)
Industries: agricultural products, livestock, raw materials, machinery and equipment, transport equipment, construction materials, medical equipment, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, iron and steel products, crude oil and petroleum products
Labor force: 11.136 million (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2024: 5.5% (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2023: 5.5% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2022: 5.8% (2022 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / total: 10.6% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / male: 9.3% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / female: 13.2% (2024 est.)
Population below poverty line: 33.1% (2015 est.)
Average household expenditures / on food: 52% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Average household expenditures / on alcohol and tobacco: 2.8% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Budget / revenues: $30 million (2017 est.)
Budget / expenditures: $76 million (2017 est.)
Public debt / Public debt 2017: 38.9% of GDP (2017 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2016: -$3.87 billion (2016 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2015: -$16.051 billion (2015 est.)
Exports / Exports 2018: $83.401 billion (2018 est.)
Exports / Exports 2017: $93.485 billion (2017 est.)
Exports / Exports 2016: $28.684 billion (2016 est.)
Exports - partners: USA 50%, China 10%, Spain 9%, Brazil 6%, Turkey 5% (2023)
Exports - commodities: crude petroleum, petroleum coke, scrap iron, alcohols, fertilizers (2023)
Imports / Imports 2018: $18.432 billion (2018 est.)
Imports / Imports 2017: $18.376 billion (2017 est.)
Imports / Imports 2016: $25.81 billion (2016 est.)
Imports - partners: China 35%, USA 24%, Brazil 12%, Colombia 7%, Turkey 4% (2023)
Imports - commodities: refined petroleum, soybean meal, corn, plastic products, vehicle parts/accessories (2023)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2017: $9.794 billion (2017 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2016: $10.15 billion (2016 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2015: $15.625 billion (2015 est.)
Exchange rates / Currency: bolivars (VEB) per US dollar -
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2017: 9.975 (2017 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2016: 9.257 (2016 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2015: 6.284 (2015 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2014: 6.284 (2014 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2013: 6.048 (2013 est.)

## Energy
Electricity access / electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)
Electricity / installed generating capacity: 33.493 million kW (2023 est.)
Electricity / consumption: 56.493 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / exports: 600 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / transmission/distribution losses: 25.849 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / fossil fuels: 21.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / hydroelectricity: 78.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Coal / production: 149,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / consumption: 80,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / exports: 124,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / imports: 2,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / proven reserves: 730.999 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum / total petroleum production: 801,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Petroleum / refined petroleum consumption: 203,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Petroleum / crude oil estimated reserves: 303.806 billion barrels (2021 est.)
Natural gas / production: 23.873 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / consumption: 23.873 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / proven reserves: 5.674 trillion cubic meters (2021 est.)
Energy consumption per capita / Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 54.474 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

## Communications
Telephones - fixed lines / total subscriptions: 2.683 million (2022 est.)
Telephones - fixed lines / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 10 (2022 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / total subscriptions: 20.2 million (2024 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 71 (2024 est.)
Broadcast media: mix of state-run and private broadcast media subject to high levels of control; 13 public service networks, 61 privately owned TV networks, 1 privately owned news channel with limited national coverage, and a Maduro-backed Pan-American channel; 3 Maduro-aligned radio networks control about 65 news stations and another 30 stations targeted at specific audiences; Maduro-sponsored community broadcasters include 235 radio stations and 44 TV stations; the number of private broadcast radio stations declining, but many remain (2021)
Internet country code: .ve
Internet users / percent of population: 62% (2017 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / total: 2.7 million (2022 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 10 (2022 est.)

## Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: YV
Airports: 509 (2025)
Heliports: 88 (2025)
Railways / total: 447 km (2014)
Railways / standard gauge: 447 km (2014) 1.435-m gauge (41.4 km electrified)
Merchant marine / total: 272 (2023)
Merchant marine / by type: bulk carrier 3, container ship 1, general cargo 26, oil tanker 17, other 225
Ports / total ports: 31 (2024)
Ports / large: 1
Ports / medium: 2
Ports / small: 11
Ports / very small: 17
Ports / ports with oil terminals: 21
Ports / key ports: Amuay (Bahia de Amuay), Bahia de Pertigalete, Ciudad Bolivar, Guanta, La Guaira, La Salina, Las Piedras, Maracaibo, Puerto Cabello, Puerto de Hierro, Puerto la Cruz, Puerto Miranda, Puerto Ordaz, Punta Cardon

## Military and Security
Military and security forces: Bolivarian National Armed Forces (Fuerza Armada Nacional Bolivariana, FANB): Bolivarian Army (Ejercito Bolivariano, EB), Bolivarian Navy (Armada Bolivariana, AB; includes marines, Coast Guard), Bolivarian Military Aviation (Aviacion Militar Bolivariana, AMB), Bolivarian Militia (Milicia Bolivariana), Bolivarian National Guard (Guardia Nacional Bolivaria, GNB), Presidential Honor Guard Ministry of Interior, Justice, and Peace: Bolivarian National Police (Policía Nacional Bolivariana, PNB) (2025)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2024: 0.6% of GDP (2024 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2023: 0.5% 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: 1.6% of GDP (2020 est.)
Military and security service personnel strengths: information varies; approximately 125-150,000 active Armed Forces; estimated 200,000 Bolivarian Militia (2025)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the FANB inventory is a mix of mostly older and some more modern armaments from a variety of foreign suppliers, including China, France, Germany, Iran, Italy, Russia/former Soviet Union, Spain, the UK, and the US (2025)
Military service age and obligation: 18-30 (25 for women) for voluntary service; the minimum service obligation is 24-30 months; 17-39 for Militia service; all citizens of military service age (18-50) are obligated to register for military service and subject to military training (2025)
Military - note: the armed forces (FANB) are responsible for ensuring Venezuela’s independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity; they also have a domestic role, including assisting with maintaining internal security, conducting counter-narcotics missions, contributing to national socio-economic development, and providing disaster relief/humanitarian assistance; the military has been deployed against illegal armed groups operating in the Colombian border region and other areas to combat organized crime gangs involved in narcotics trafficking and illegal mining; it has ties with the militaries of China, Cuba, Iran, and Russia the FANB has a role in the country’s economy and political sectors; military officers hold key positions in state-owned companies, government ministries, and funding agencies; the FANB runs corporation involved in agriculture, banking, communications, energy, insurance, mining, and transportation (2025)

## Space
Space agency/agencies: Bolivarian Agency for Space Activities (Agencia Bolivariana para Actividades Espaciales, ABAE; formed 2007) (2025)
Space program overview: has a small national program primarily focused on acquiring satellites and expanding the country&rsquo;s science and technological capabilities; operates satellites and maintains two satellite ground control stations; participates in multinational space organizations such as the Latin American and Caribbean Space Agency; closest bilateral partners are China and Russia; also has bilateral framework agreements for space cooperation with Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, and Uruguay (2025)
Key space-program milestones: 2005 - signed space cooperation partnership with China 2008- first communications satellite (Venesat-1 or Bolivar) financed, built, and launched by China 2012 - first remote sensing (RS) satellite (VRSS-1 or Miranda) built and launched by China 2017 - second RS satellite (VRSS-2 or Sucre) built and launched by China 2021 - signed agreement to establish the Latin American and Caribbean Space Agency (formally established in 2022) 2023 - joined China-Russia project to construct a permanent base on the Moon by the 2030s 2025 - announced intent to participate in planned Mars sample-return mission (Tianwen-3) led by China

## Terrorism
Terrorist group(s): National Liberation Army (ELN); Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia-People's Army (FARC-EP); Segundo Marquetalia (SM); Tren de Aragua (TdA)

## Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons / refugees: 20,911 (2024 est.)
Refugees and internally displaced persons / IDPs: 2,338 (2024 est.)
Trafficking in persons / tier rating: Tier 3 — Venezuela does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and is not making any efforts to do so, therefore, Venezuela remained on Tier 3; for more details, go to: https://www.state.gov/reports/2025-trafficking-in-persons-report/venezuela/
Illicit drugs / USG identification: major illicit drug-producing and/or drug-transit country major precursor-chemical producer (2025)

=== Afghanistan ===

## Introduction
Background: Ahmad Shah DURRANI unified the Pashtun tribes and founded Afghanistan in 1747. The country served as a buffer between the British and Russian Empires until it won independence from notional British control in 1919. A brief experiment in increased democracy ended in a 1973 coup and a 1978 communist countercoup. The Soviet Union invaded in 1979 to support the tottering Afghan communist regime, touching off a long and destructive war. Internationally supported anti-communist mujahidin rebels forced the USSR to withdraw in 1989. A series of subsequent civil wars saw Kabul finally fall in 1996 to the Taliban, a hardline Pakistani-sponsored movement. Following the 11 September 2001 terrorist attacks, a US and Allied military action toppled the Taliban for sheltering Usama BIN LADIN. A UN-sponsored Bonn Conference in 2001 established a process for political reconstruction that included the adoption of a new constitution, a presidential election in 2004, and National Assembly elections in 2005. In 2004, Hamid KARZAI became the first democratically elected president of Afghanistan, and he was reelected in 2009. Ashraf Ghani AHMADZAI succeeded him as president in 2014 following a disputed election. The Taliban conducted an insurgency for two decades against the Afghan Government and forces from the United States and other countries. In February 2020, the US and the Taliban signed an agreement that led to the withdrawal of international forces in exchange for commitments on counterterrorism and other assurances. The Taliban took over Afghanistan on 15 August 2021. The Taliban established an all-male interim leadership structure dominated by Pashtun clerics under the leadership of Haivatrullah AKHUNDZADA. The Taliban issued numerous edicts that constrained women's mobility, ability to study and work, and access to education beyond primary school. To date, no country has recognized the Taliban as the government of Afghanistan.

## Geography
Location: Southern Asia, north and west of Pakistan, east of Iran
Geographic coordinates: 33 00 N, 65 00 E
Map references: Asia
Area / total: 652,230 sq km
Area / land: 652,230 sq km
Area / water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative: almost six times the size of Virginia; slightly smaller than Texas
Land boundaries / total: 5,987 km
Land boundaries / border countries: China 91 km; Iran 921 km; Pakistan 2,670 km; Tajikistan 1,357 km; Turkmenistan 804 km; Uzbekistan 144 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
Climate: arid to semiarid; cold winters and hot summers
Terrain: mostly rugged mountains; plains in north and southwest
Elevation / highest point: Noshak 7,492 m
Elevation / lowest point: Amu Darya 258 m
Elevation / mean elevation: 1,884 m
Natural resources: natural gas, petroleum, coal, copper, chromite, talc, barites, sulfur, lead, zinc, iron ore, salt, precious and semiprecious stones, arable land
Land use / agricultural land: 58.4% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 12% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 0.4% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 46% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 1.9% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 39.7% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land: 24,930 sq km (2022)
Major lakes (area sq km) / salt water lake(s): Ab-e Istadah-ye Muqur (endorheic basin) - 520 sq km
Major rivers (by length in km): Amu Darya (shared with Tajikistan [s], Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan [m]) - 2,620 km; Helmand river source (shared with Iran) - 1,130 km note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Major watersheds (area sq km) / Indian Ocean drainage: Indus (1,081,718 sq km)
Major watersheds (area sq km) / Internal (endorheic basin) drainage: Amu Darya (534,739 sq km); Tarim Basin (1,152,448 sq km)
Population distribution: populations tend to cluster in the foothills and periphery of the rugged Hindu Kush range; smaller groups are found in many of the country's interior valleys; in general, the east is more densely settled, while the south is sparsely populated
Natural hazards: damaging earthquakes occur in Hindu Kush mountains; flooding; droughts
Geography - note: landlocked; the Hindu Kush mountains that run northeast to southwest divide the northern provinces from the rest of the country; the highest peaks are in the northern Vakhan (Wakhan Corridor)

## People and Society
Population / total: 49,474,805 (2025 est.)
Population / male: 25,051,967
Population / female: 24,422,838
Nationality / noun: Afghan(s)
Nationality / adjective: Afghan
Ethnic groups: current, reliable statistical data on ethnicity in Afghanistan are not available; Afghanistan's 2004 Constitution cited Pashtun, Tajik, Hazara, Uzbek, Turkman, Baluch, Pashaie, Nuristani, Aymaq, Arab, Qirghiz, Qizilbash, Gujur, and Brahwui ethnicities; Afghanistan has dozens of other small ethnic groups
Languages / Languages: Afghan Persian or Dari (official, lingua franca) 77%, Pashto (official) 48%, Uzbeki 11%, English 6%, Turkmani 3%, Urdu 3%, Pashaie 1%, Nuristani 1%, Arabic 1%, Balochi 1%, other <1% (2020 est.)
Languages / major-language sample(s): کتاب حقایق جهان، مرجعی ضروری برای اطلاعات اولیە (Dari) د دنیا د حقائېقو کتاب، بنیادی معلوماتو لپاره ضروری سرچینه- (Pashto) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
Religions: Muslim 99.7% (Sunni 84.7 - 89.7%, Shia 10 - 15%), other <0.3% (2009 est.)
Age structure / 0-14 years: 39.6% (male 8,062,407/female 7,818,897)
Age structure / 15-64 years: 57.5% (male 11,702,734/female 11,372,249)
Age structure / 65 years and over: 2.9% (2024 est.) (male 535,925/female 629,340)
Dependency ratios / total dependency ratio: 82.2 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / youth dependency ratio: 77 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / elderly dependency ratio: 5.2 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / potential support ratio: 19 (2025 est.)
Median age / total: 18.4 years (2025 est.)
Median age / male: 20 years
Median age / female: 20.1 years
Population growth rate: 2.86% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 35.99 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 5.79 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: -1.62 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution: populations tend to cluster in the foothills and periphery of the rugged Hindu Kush range; smaller groups are found in many of the country's interior valleys; in general, the east is more densely settled, while the south is sparsely populated
Urbanization / urban population: 26.9% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 3.34% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 4.589 million KABUL (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: 1.03 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: 19.9 years (2015 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio: 521 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Infant mortality rate / total: 42 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Infant mortality rate / male: 109.7 deaths/1,000 live births
Infant mortality rate / female: 92.5 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth / total population: 54.4 years (2024 est.)
Life expectancy at birth / male: 52.8 years
Life expectancy at birth / female: 56.1 years
Total fertility rate: 4.89 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 2.39 (2025 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: urban: urban: 99% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: rural: rural: 76.1% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: total: total: 82.2% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: urban: urban: 1% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: rural: rural: 23.9% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: total: total: 17.8% of population (2022 est.)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 21.8% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 1.1% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density: 0.32 physicians/1,000 population (2023)
Hospital bed density: 0.4 beds/1,000 population (2021 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: urban: urban: 93% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: rural: rural: 58.9% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: total: total: 68% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: urban: urban: 7% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: rural: rural: 41.1% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: total: total: 32% of population (2022 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 5.5% (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 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 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Tobacco use / total: 20.8% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / male: 36.5% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / female: 5.2% (2025 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 18.4% (2022 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49): 65.9% (2023 est.)
Child marriage / women married by age 15: 9.6% (2023)
Child marriage / women married by age 18: 28.7% (2023)
Child marriage / men married by age 18: 7.3% (2015)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% GDP): 4.3% of GDP (2017 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% national budget): 15.7% national budget (2017 est.)
Literacy / total population: 37.3% (2021 est.)
Literacy / male: 52.1% (2021 est.)
Literacy / female: 26.6% (2022 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / total: 11 years (2018 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / male: 13 years (2018 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / female: 8 years (2018 est.)

## Environment
Environmental issues: limited natural freshwater resources; inadequate potable water; soil degradation; overgrazing; deforestation (cut down for fuel and building materials); desertification; air and water 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, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection
International environmental agreements / signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation
Climate: arid to semiarid; cold winters and hot summers
Land use / agricultural land: 58.4% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 12% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 0.4% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 46% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 1.9% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 39.7% (2023 est.)
Urbanization / urban population: 26.9% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 3.34% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / total emissions: 7.757 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from coal and metallurgical coke: 930,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from petroleum and other liquids: 6.827 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Particulate matter emissions: 84 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Waste and recycling / municipal solid waste generated annually: 5.629 million tons (2024 est.)
Waste and recycling / percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 11.1% (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / municipal: 203.4 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / industrial: 169.5 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / agricultural: 20 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total renewable water resources: 65.33 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: Islamic Republic of Afghanistan (prior to 15 August 2021); current country name disputed
Country name / conventional short form: Afghanistan
Country name / local long form: Jamhuri-ye Islami-ye Afghanistan (prior to 15 August 2021; current country name is disputed)
Country name / local short form: Afghanistan
Country name / etymology: the name "Afghan" originally referred to the Pashtun people, but today it is understood to include all the country's ethnic groups; the suffix "-stan" means "place of" or "country," so Afghanistan literally means the "Land of the Afghans"
Government type: theocratic; the United States does not recognize the Taliban Government
Capital / name: Kabul
Capital / geographic coordinates: 34 31 N, 69 11 E
Capital / time difference: UTC+4.5 (9.5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Capital / daylight saving time: does not observe daylight savings time
Capital / etymology: named for the Kabul River, but the river's name is of unknown origin
Administrative divisions: 34 provinces ( welayat , singular - welayat ); Badakhshan, Badghis, Baghlan, Balkh, Bamyan, Daykundi, Farah, Faryab, Ghazni, Ghor, Helmand, Herat, Jowzjan, Kabul, Kandahar, Kapisa, Khost, Kunar, Kunduz, Laghman, Logar, Nangarhar, Nimroz, Nuristan, Paktika, Paktiya, Panjshir, Parwan, Samangan, Sar-e Pul, Takhar, Uruzgan, Wardak, Zabul
Legal system: the Taliban is implementing its own interpretation of Islamic law, which is partially based on the Hanifi school of Islamic jurisprudence and have enforced strict punishments; before the Taliban takeover, Afghanistan had a mixed legal system of civil, customary, and Islamic law (2021)
Constitution / history: several previous; latest ratified in 2004, but not currently enforced by the Taliban
International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; formerly accepted ICCt jurisdiction
Citizenship / citizenship by birth: no
Citizenship / citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must have been born in - and continuously lived in - Afghanistan
Citizenship / dual citizenship recognized: no
Citizenship / residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch / chief of state: Taliban Leader HAYBATULLAH Akhundzada (since 15 August 2021)
Executive branch / head of government: overall Taliban Leader HAYBATULLAH Akhundzada is the [so-called] Amir-ul Momineen of the Taliban and is effectively the head of government
Executive branch / cabinet: the Taliban have announced a &ldquo;cabinet&rdquo; for the &ldquo;caretaker government,&rdquo; including the &ldquo;acting prime minister,&rdquo; &ldquo;acting deputy prime ministers,&rdquo; and &ldquo;ministers&rdquo; who claim to represent 26 ministries
Executive branch / election/appointment process: the 2004 Afghan constitution directed that the president should be elected by majority popular vote for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); the Taliban have given no indication that they intend to reinstate elections or any other mechanism of democratic governance
Executive branch / most recent election date: 28 September 2019
Legislative branch: note: Afghanistan’s bicameral National Assembly consisted of the House of Elders and House of the People but was dissolved after the Taliban took control of Afghanistan in August 2021
Judicial branch / highest court(s): the Taliban are purported to have appointed clerics, including a "Chief Justice," to Afghanistan's Supreme Court
Judicial branch / subordinate courts: provincial courts, religious courts, and specialty courts
Political parties: the Taliban Government enforces an authoritarian state and has banned other political parties the Taliban have banned other political parties but have allowed some party leaders, including the head of Hezb-e-Islami, Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, to continue to live and work in Afghanistan; Hekmatyar likely continues to enjoy some political support from loyalists; leaders of other parties, including Jamiat-e-Islami’s Salahuddin Rabbani and Jumbesh’s Rashid Dostum, operate from abroad but likely also command some following within Afghanistan
Diplomatic representation in the US: none note : the Afghan Embassy closed in March 2022
Diplomatic representation from the US / embassy: the United States does not maintain a presence in Afghanistan and its diplomatic mission to Afghanistan has relocated to Doha, Qatar
International organization participation: Afghanistan is a member of the following organizations but Taliban representatives do not participate: ADB, CICA, CP, ECO, EITI (candidate country), FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NAM, OIC, OPCW, OSCE (partner), SAARC, SACEP, SCO (dialogue member), UN, UNAMA, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Independence: 19 August 1919 (from UK control over Afghan foreign affairs)
National holiday: previous: Independence Day, 19 August (1919); under the Taliban Government, 15 August (2022) is declared a national holiday, marking the anniversary of the victory of the Afghan jihad
Flag: description: three equal vertical bands of black (left), red, and green, with the national emblem in white centered on the red band and slightly overlapping the other bands; the emblem shows a mosque with a pulpit and flags on either side; below the mosque are Eastern Arabic numerals for the solar year 1298 (1919 in the Gregorian calendar, the year of Afghan independence from the UK); a border of wheat sheaves circles the mosque; above the mosque is an Arabic inscription of the Shahada (Muslim creed), with rays of the rising sun over the Takbir (Arabic expression meaning "God is great"); under the mosque is a scroll with the name Afghanistan meaning: black stands for the past, and red for the blood shed for independence; green can represent hope for the future, agricultural prosperity, or Islam history: Afghanistan had more changes to its national flag in the 20th century -- 19 by one count -- than any other country; the colors black, red, and green appeared on most of them
National symbol(s): lion
National color(s): red, green, black
National anthem(s) / title: "Milli Surood" (National Anthem)
National anthem(s) / lyrics/music: Abdul Bari JAHANI/Babrak WASA
National anthem(s) / history: adopted 2006
National heritage / total World Heritage Sites: 2 (both cultural)
National heritage / selected World Heritage Site locales: Minaret of Jam; Buddhas of Bamyan

## Economy
Economic overview: low-income South Asian economy; economy stable after major contraction due to Taliban takeover, but recovery remains fragile; widespread poverty and obstacles to human development; import-reliant for food, fuel, and machinery; ongoing sanctions, suspended development aid, and frozen reserve assets
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $82.238 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $80.416 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2021: $85.768 billion (2021 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2023: 2.3% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2022: -6.2% (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2021: -20.7% (2021 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2023: $2,000 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2022: $2,000 (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2021: $2,100 (2021 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $17.152 billion (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024: -6.6% (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023: -4.6% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 13.7% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / agriculture: 34.7% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / industry: 13.4% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / services: 46.4% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / household consumption: 98.1% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / government consumption: 21.2% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in fixed capital: 15.2% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in inventories: 0.1% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / exports of goods and services: 16.9% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / imports of goods and services: -50.7% (2023 est.)
Agricultural products: wheat, milk, grapes, watermelons, potatoes, cantaloupes/melons, vegetables, rice, onions, maize (2023)
Industries: small-scale production of bricks, textiles, soap, furniture, shoes, fertilizer, apparel, food products, non-alcoholic beverages, mineral water, cement; handwoven carpets; natural gas, coal, copper
Industrial production growth rate: 1.8% (2023 est.)
Labor force: 9.133 million (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2024: 13.3% (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2023: 14% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2022: 14.1% (2022 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / total: 16.7% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / male: 15.8% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / female: 27% (2024 est.)
Population below poverty line: 54.5% (2016 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2023: 1.9% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2022: 2.2% of GDP (2022 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2021: 2.2% of GDP (2021 est.)
Budget / revenues: $9.093 billion (2017 est.)
Budget / expenditures: $7.411 billion (2017 est.)
Public debt / Public debt 2016: 7.8% of GDP (2016 est.)
Taxes and other revenues: 9.9% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2020: -$3.137 billion (2020 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2019: -$3.792 billion (2019 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2018: -$3.897 billion (2018 est.)
Exports / Exports 2020: $1.476 billion (2020 est.)
Exports / Exports 2019: $1.516 billion (2019 est.)
Exports / Exports 2018: $1.609 billion (2018 est.)
Exports - partners: Pakistan 42%, India 40%, China 4%, UAE 2%, Turkey 2% (2023)
Exports - commodities: coal, grapes, tropical fruits, gum resins, other nuts (2023)
Imports / Imports 2020: $6.983 billion (2020 est.)
Imports / Imports 2019: $7.371 billion (2019 est.)
Imports / Imports 2018: $7.988 billion (2018 est.)
Imports - partners: UAE 28%, Pakistan 15%, China 15%, Uzbekistan 12%, Kazakhstan 9% (2023)
Imports - commodities: wheat flours, tobacco, palm oil, broadcasting equipment, synthetic fabric (2023)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2020: $9.749 billion (2020 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2019: $8.498 billion (2019 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2018: $8.207 billion (2018 est.)
Debt - external / Debt - external 2023: $2.717 billion (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Currency: afghanis (AFA) per US dollar -
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2020: 76.814 (2020 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2019: 77.738 (2019 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2018: 72.083 (2018 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2017: 68.027 (2017 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2016: 67.866 (2016 est.)

## Energy
Electricity access / electrification - total population: 85.3% (2022 est.)
Electricity access / electrification - urban areas: 95.9%
Electricity access / electrification - rural areas: 81.7%
Electricity / installed generating capacity: 627,000 kW (2023 est.)
Electricity / consumption: 6.468 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / imports: 6.221 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / transmission/distribution losses: 725.652 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / fossil fuels: 13.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / solar: 9.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / hydroelectricity: 77% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Coal / production: 767,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / consumption: 503,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / exports: 265,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / imports: 2,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / proven reserves: 66 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum / refined petroleum consumption: 58,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Natural gas / production: 80.2 million cubic meters (2020 est.)
Natural gas / consumption: 80.2 million cubic meters (2020 est.)
Natural gas / proven reserves: 49.554 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)
Energy consumption per capita / Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 3.38 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

## Communications
Telephones - fixed lines / total subscriptions: 182,000 (2023 est.)
Telephones - fixed lines / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2023 est.) less than 1
Telephones - mobile cellular / total subscriptions: 25.6 million (2024 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 60 (2024 est.)
Broadcast media: under the Taliban, independent media outlets have decreased and are probably self-censoring; the Ministry of Information and Culture monitors all mass media; television and radio are key media platforms; only about a fifth of Afghans use the internet, mostly through smartphones (2023)
Internet country code: .af
Internet users / percent of population: 18% (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / total: 33,000 (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2023 est.) less than 1

## Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: YA
Airports: 68 (2025)
Heliports: 8 (2025)

## Military and Security
Military and security forces: the Taliban claims authority over a Ministry of Defense and a National Army (aka Army of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, Islamic Emirate Army, or Afghan Army); it has also formed police forces under a Ministry of Interior (2025)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2019: 3.3% of GDP (2019)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2018: 3.2% of GDP (2018)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2017: 3.3% of GDP (2017)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2016: 3.1% of GDP (2016)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2015: 2.9% of GDP (2015)
Military and security service personnel strengths: the Taliban claims to have 190,000 under the Ministry of Defense and 215,000 under the Ministry of Interior (2025)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the Taliban military and security forces are equipped with armaments captured in 2021 from the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces, which were largely equipped with Russian/Soviet-era and US material (2025)
Military service age and obligation: service is voluntary; there is no conscription (2023)
Military - note: the Taliban&rsquo;s key security priorities are border and internal security; specific issues have included tensions with Pakistan along their shared border, armed anti-Taliban resistance elements, and the Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham - Khorasan (ISIS-K) terrorist group (2025)

## Terrorism
Terrorist group(s): Haqqani Network; Harakat ul-Mujahidin; Harakat ul-Jihad-i-Islami; Islamic Jihad Union (IJU); Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU); Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham-Khorasan Province (ISIS-K); Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC)/Qods Force; Jaish-e-Mohammed; Jaysh al Adl (Jundallah); Lashkar i Jhangvi; Lashkar-e Tayyiba; al-Qa’ida; al-Qa'ida in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS); Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP)

## Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons / refugees: 21,236 (2024 est.)
Refugees and internally displaced persons / IDPs: 5,457,183 (2024 est.)
Trafficking in persons / tier rating: Tier 3 — Afghanistan does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and is not making significant efforts to do so, therefore, Afghanistan remained on Tier 3; for more details, go to: https://www.state.gov/reports/2025-trafficking-in-persons-report/afghanistan/
Illicit drugs / USG identification: major illicit drug-producing and/or drug-transit country major precursor-chemical producer (2025)

=== Bangladesh ===

## Introduction
Background: The huge delta region at the confluence of the Ganges and Brahmaputra River systems -- now referred to as Bangladesh -- was a loosely incorporated outpost of various empires for much of the first millennium A.D. Muslim conversions and settlement in the region began in the 10th century, primarily from Arab and Persian traders and preachers. Europeans established trading posts in the area in the 16th century. Eventually the area known as Bengal, which is primarily Hindu in the western section and mostly Muslim in the eastern half, became part of British India. After the partition of India in 1947, the Muslim-majority area became East Pakistan. Calls for greater autonomy and animosity between the eastern and western areas of Pakistan led to a Bengali independence movement. That movement, led by the Awami League (AL) and supported by India, won the independence war for Bangladesh in 1971. The military overthrew the post-independence AL government in 1975, the first of a series of military coups that resulted in a military-backed government and the subsequent creation of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) that took power in 1979. That government also ended in a coup in 1981, followed by military-backed rule until democratic elections were held in 1991. The BNP and AL alternated in power from 1991 to 2008, with the exception of a military-backed, emergency caretaker regime in 2007. The country returned to fully democratic rule in 2008 with the election of the AL and Prime Minister Sheikh HASINA. With the help of international development assistance, Bangladesh is on track to graduate from the UN’s Least Developed Countries (LDC) list in 2026. The economy has grown at an annual average of about 6.25% for the last two decades. Poverty declined from 11.8 percent in 2010 to 5.0 percent in 2022, based on the international poverty line of $2.15 a day (using 2017 Purchasing Power Parity exchange rate). The country made a rapid recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, but still faces economic challenges.

## Geography
Location: Southern Asia, bordering the Bay of Bengal, between Burma and India
Geographic coordinates: 24 00 N, 90 00 E
Map references: Asia
Area / total: 148,460 sq km
Area / land: 130,170 sq km
Area / water: 18,290 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly larger than Pennsylvania and New Jersey combined; slightly smaller than Iowa
Land boundaries / total: 4,413 km
Land boundaries / border countries: Burma 271 km; India 4,142 km
Coastline: 580 km
Maritime claims / territorial sea: 12 nm
Maritime claims / contiguous zone: 18 nm
Maritime claims / exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Maritime claims / continental shelf: to the outer limits of the continental margin
Climate: tropical; mild winter (October to March); hot, humid summer (March to June); humid, warm rainy monsoon (June to October)
Terrain: mostly flat alluvial plain; hilly in southeast
Elevation / highest point: Mowdok Taung 1,060 m
Elevation / lowest point: Bay of Bengal 0 m
Elevation / mean elevation: 85 m
Natural resources: natural gas, arable land, timber, coal
Land use / agricultural land: 72.3% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 60.6% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 7.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 4.6% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 14.4% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 13.3% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land: 83,690 sq km (2022)
Major rivers (by length in km): Brahmaputra river mouth (shared with China [s] and India) - 3,969 km; Ganges river mouth (shared with India [s]) - 2,704 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)
Major aquifers: Indus-Ganges-Brahmaputra Basin
Natural hazards: droughts; cyclones; much of the country routinely inundated during the summer monsoon season
Geography - note: most of the country is situated on deltas of large rivers flowing from the Himalayas: the Ganges unites with the Jamuna (main channel of the Brahmaputra) and later joins the Meghna to eventually empty into the Bay of Bengal

## People and Society
Population / total: 174,370,536 (2025 est.)
Population / male: 83,908,720
Population / female: 90,461,816
Nationality / noun: Bangladeshi(s)
Nationality / adjective: Bangladeshi
Ethnic groups: Bengali at least 99%, other indigenous ethnic groups 1% (2022 est.)
Languages / Languages: Bangla 98.8% (official, also known as Bengali), other 1.2% (2011 est.)
Languages / major-language sample(s): বিশ্ব ফ্যাক্টবুক, মৌলিক তথ্যের অপরিহার্য উৎস (Bangla) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
Religions: Muslim 91%, Hindu 8%, other 1% (2022 est.)
Age structure / 0-14 years: 25.1% (male 21,540,493/female 20,800,712)
Age structure / 15-64 years: 67.1% (male 55,071,592/female 58,180,322)
Age structure / 65 years and over: 7.8% (2024 est.) (male 6,096,167/female 7,007,898)
Dependency ratios / total dependency ratio: 54.6 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / youth dependency ratio: 43.5 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / elderly dependency ratio: 11.1 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / potential support ratio: 9 (2025 est.)
Median age / total: 27.8 years (2025 est.)
Median age / male: 28.7 years
Median age / female: 30.4 years
Population growth rate: 0.91% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 19.45 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 6.05 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: -4.28 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Urbanization / urban population: 40.5% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 2.88% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 23.210 million DHAKA (capital), 5.380 million Chittagong, 955,000 Khulna, 962,000 Rajshahi, 964,000 Sylhet, 906,000 Bogra (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: 0.95 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 65 years and over: 0.87 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth: 18.6 years (2017/18 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio: 115 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Infant mortality rate / total: 22 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Infant mortality rate / male: 31.3 deaths/1,000 live births
Infant mortality rate / female: 26.3 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth / total population: 75.2 years (2024 est.)
Life expectancy at birth / male: 73.1 years
Life expectancy at birth / female: 77.5 years
Total fertility rate: 2.25 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 1.1 (2025 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: urban: urban: 98.3% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: rural: rural: 98.5% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: total: total: 98.4% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: urban: urban: 1.7% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: rural: rural: 1.5% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: total: total: 1.6% of population (2022 est.)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 2.4% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 1.2% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density: 0.72 physicians/1,000 population (2023)
Hospital bed density: 0.9 beds/1,000 population (2019 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: urban: urban: 90.3% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: rural: rural: 81.4% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: total: total: 84.9% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: urban: urban: 9.7% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: rural: rural: 18.6% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: total: total: 15.1% of population (2022 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 3.6% (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: 29.7% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / male: 47.6% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / female: 12.5% (2025 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 21.7% (2022 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49): 80.6% (2022 est.)
Child marriage / women married by age 15: 15.5% (2019)
Child marriage / women married by age 18: 51.4% (2019)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% GDP): 2% of GDP (2024 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% national budget): 11.9% national budget (2025 est.)
Literacy / total population: 79% (2022 est.)
Literacy / male: 81.4% (2022 est.)
Literacy / female: 76.5% (2022 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: flooding; water pollution, especially of fishing areas, from the use of commercial pesticides; groundwater pollution from naturally occurring arsenic; falling water tables in the northern and central parts of the country; soil degradation and erosion; deforestation; destruction of wetlands; severe overpopulation with noise pollution
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
International environmental agreements / signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Climate: tropical; mild winter (October to March); hot, humid summer (March to June); humid, warm rainy monsoon (June to October)
Land use / agricultural land: 72.3% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 60.6% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 7.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 4.6% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 14.4% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 13.3% (2023 est.)
Urbanization / urban population: 40.5% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 2.88% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / total emissions: 125.956 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from coal and metallurgical coke: 26.967 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from petroleum and other liquids: 42.083 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from consumed natural gas: 56.906 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Particulate matter emissions: 42.5 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Methane emissions / energy: 544 kt (2022-2024 est.)
Methane emissions / agriculture: 2,391.4 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Methane emissions / waste: 693 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Methane emissions / other: 38.6 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Waste and recycling / municipal solid waste generated annually: 14.778 million tons (2024 est.)
Waste and recycling / percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 15.7% (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / municipal: 3.6 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / industrial: 770 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / agricultural: 31.5 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total renewable water resources: 1.227 trillion cubic meters (2022 est.)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: People's Republic of Bangladesh
Country name / conventional short form: Bangladesh
Country name / local long form: Gana Prajatantri Bangladesh
Country name / local short form: Bangladesh
Country name / former: East Bengal, East Pakistan
Country name / etymology: the name is a compound of the Bengali words Bangla (Bengali) and desh (country)
Government type: parliamentary republic
Capital / name: Dhaka
Capital / geographic coordinates: 23 43 N, 90 24 E
Capital / time difference: UTC+6 (11 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Capital / etymology: the origins of the name are unclear, but it may be derived from either the dhak tree or Dhakeshwari, a goddess with a shrine in the city
Administrative divisions: 8 divisions; Barishal, Chattogram, Dhaka, Khulna, Mymensingh, Rajshahi, Rangpur, Sylhet
Legal system: common law, incorporating elements of English common law; since independence, statutory law has been the primary form of legislation; Islamic law applies to Muslims in family and inheritance laws, with Hindu personal law applying to Hindus and Buddhists
Constitution / history: previous 1935, 1956, 1962 (pre-independence); latest enacted 4 November 1972, effective 16 December 1972, suspended March 1982, restored November 1986
Constitution / amendment process: proposed by the House of the Nation; approval requires at least two-thirds majority vote of the House membership and assent of 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 Bangladesh
Citizenship / dual citizenship recognized: yes, but limited to select countries
Citizenship / residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch / chief of state: President Mohammad SHAHABUDDIN Chuppi (since 24 April 2023)
Executive branch / head of government: Interim Prime Minister Muhammad YUNUS (since 8 August 2024)
Executive branch / cabinet: Cabinet selected by the prime minister, appointed by the president
Executive branch / election/appointment process: president indirectly elected by the National Parliament for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); the president appoints as prime minister the majority party leader in the National Parliament
Executive branch / most recent election date: 13 February 2023
Executive branch / election results: President Mohammad SHAHABUDDIN Chuppi (AL) elected unopposed by the National Parliament; Sheikh HASINA reappointed prime minister for a fifth term following the 7 January 2024 parliamentary election but fled the country on 5 August 2024 following mass protests against her government in July and August 2024; Mohammad YUNIS was appointed as interim Prime Minister on 8 August 2024
Executive branch / expected date of next election: 2028
Legislative branch / expected date of next election: February 2026
Judicial branch / highest court(s): Supreme Court of Bangladesh (organized into the Appellate Division with 7 justices and the High Court Division with 99 justices)
Judicial branch / judge selection and term of office: chief justice and justices appointed by the president; justices serve until retirement at age 67
Judicial branch / subordinate courts: civil courts include: Assistant Judge's Court; Joint District Judge's Court; Additional District Judge's Court; District Judge's Court; criminal courts include: Court of Sessions; Court of Metropolitan Sessions; Metropolitan Magistrate Courts; Magistrate Court; special courts/tribunals
Political parties: Awami League or AL Bangladesh Jamaat-i-Islami or JIB Bangladesh Nationalist Party or BNP Islami Andolan Bangladesh Jatiya Party or JP (Ershad faction) Jatiya Party or JP (Manju faction) National Socialist Party (Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal) or JSD Workers Party or WP
Diplomatic representation in the US / chief of mission: Ambassador Tareq Md Ariful ISLAM (since 5 September 2025)
Diplomatic representation in the US / chancery: 3510 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation in the US / telephone: [1] (202) 244-0183
Diplomatic representation in the US / FAX: [1] (202) 244-2771
Diplomatic representation in the US / email address and website: mission.washington@mofa.gov.bd Embassy of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh, Washington, DC (mofa.gov.bd)
Diplomatic representation in the US / consulate(s) general: Los Angeles, Miami, New York
Diplomatic representation from the US / chief of mission: Ambassador-designate Brent CHRISTENSEN (since 12 January 2026)
Diplomatic representation from the US / embassy: Madani Avenue, Baridhara, Dhaka - 1212
Diplomatic representation from the US / mailing address: 6120 Dhaka Place, Washington DC 20521-6120
Diplomatic representation from the US / telephone: [880] (2) 5566-2000
Diplomatic representation from the US / FAX: [880] (2) 5566-2907
Diplomatic representation from the US / email address and website: DhakaACS@state.gov https://bd.usembassy.gov/
International organization participation: ADB, ARF, BIMSTEC, C, CD, CICA (observer), CP, D-8, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MINURSO, MINUSCA, MONUSCO, NAM, OIC, OPCW, PCA, SAARC, SACEP, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNISFA, UNIFIL, UNMISS, UNOOSA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Independence: 16 December 1971 (from Pakistan)
National holiday: Independence Day, 26 March (1971); Victory Day, 16 December (1971)
Flag: description: green field with a large red disk shifted slightly to the left meaning: the red disk represents the rising sun and the sacrifice to achieve independence; the green field symbolizes the lush vegetation of Bangladesh
National symbol(s): Bengal tiger, water lily
National color(s): green, red
National coat of arms: the water lily is the national flower and symbolizes promise, aesthetics, and elegance; the water under the lily, the rice sheaves on the sides, and the jute leaves at the top represent the Bangladeshi landscape and economy; the four stars represent the aims and ambition of the nation
National anthem(s) / title: "Amar Shonar Bangla" (My Golden Bengal)
National anthem(s) / lyrics/music: Rabindranath TAGORE
National anthem(s) / history: adopted 1971; Rabindranath TAGORE, a Nobel laureate, also wrote India's national anthem
National heritage / total World Heritage Sites: 3 (2 cultural, 1 natural)
National heritage / selected World Heritage Site locales: Bagerhat Historic Mosque (c); Ruins of the Buddhist Vihara at Paharpur (c); Sundarbans (n)

## Economy
Economic overview: one of the fastest growing emerging market economies; strong economic rebound following COVID-19; significant poverty reduction; exports dominated by textile industry; weakened exports and remittances resulted in declining foreign exchange reserves and 2022 IMF loan request
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $1.473 trillion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $1.413 trillion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $1.336 trillion (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2024: 4.2% (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2023: 5.8% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2022: 7.1% (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2024: $8,500 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2023: $8,200 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2022: $7,900 (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $450.119 billion (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024: 10.5% (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023: 9.9% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 7.7% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / agriculture: 11.2% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / industry: 34.1% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / services: 51.4% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / household consumption: 70.1% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / government consumption: 5.9% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in fixed capital: 30.7% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in inventories: 0% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / exports of goods and services: 10.5% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / imports of goods and services: -16.3% (2024 est.)
Agricultural products: rice, milk, potatoes, maize, sugarcane, onions, jute, vegetables, mangoes/guavas, tropical fruits (2023)
Industries: cotton, textiles and clothing, jute, tea, paper, cement, fertilizer, sugar, light engineering
Industrial production growth rate: 3.5% (2024 est.)
Labor force: 77.355 million (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2024: 4.7% (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: 11.5% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / male: 13.7% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / female: 9.2% (2024 est.)
Population below poverty line: 18.7% (2022 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: 52.8% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Average household expenditures / on alcohol and tobacco: 2.1% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / lowest 10%: 3.5% (2022 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / highest 10%: 27.4% (2022 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2024: 6% of GDP (2024 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2023: 5.1% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2022: 4.7% of GDP (2022 est.)
Budget / revenues: $39.849 billion (2021 est.)
Budget / expenditures: $51.558 billion (2021 est.)
Public debt / Public debt 2016: 33.3% of GDP (2016 est.)
Taxes and other revenues: 7.6% (of GDP) (2021 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2024: $1.87 billion (2024 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2023: $4.388 billion (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2022: -$14.438 billion (2022 est.)
Exports / Exports 2024: $53.848 billion (2024 est.)
Exports / Exports 2023: $58.885 billion (2023 est.)
Exports / Exports 2022: $60.066 billion (2022 est.)
Exports - partners: USA 16%, Germany 15%, UK 8%, Spain 7%, Poland 6% (2023)
Exports - commodities: garments, footwear, fabric, textiles, trunks and cases (2023)
Imports / Imports 2024: $74.96 billion (2024 est.)
Imports / Imports 2023: $73.172 billion (2023 est.)
Imports / Imports 2022: $93.635 billion (2022 est.)
Imports - partners: China 34%, India 17%, Indonesia 5%, Singapore 5%, Malaysia 4% (2023)
Imports - commodities: refined petroleum, cotton fabric, natural gas, cotton, fabric (2023)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024: $21.395 billion (2024 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023: $21.86 billion (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $33.747 billion (2022 est.)
Debt - external / Debt - external 2023: $58.02 billion (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Currency: taka (BDT) per US dollar -
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2024: 115.604 (2024 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2023: 106.309 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2022: 91.745 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2021: 85.084 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2020: 84.871 (2020 est.)

## Energy
Electricity access / electrification - total population: 99.4% (2022 est.)
Electricity access / electrification - urban areas: 100%
Electricity access / electrification - rural areas: 99.3%
Electricity / installed generating capacity: 22.699 million kW (2023 est.)
Electricity / consumption: 107.285 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / imports: 9.407 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / transmission/distribution losses: 8.279 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / fossil fuels: 98.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / solar: 1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / hydroelectricity: 0.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Nuclear energy / Number of nuclear reactors under construction: 2 (2025)
Coal / production: 767,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / consumption: 14.05 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / imports: 13.305 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / proven reserves: 3.26 billion metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum / total petroleum production: 13,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Petroleum / refined petroleum consumption: 263,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Petroleum / crude oil estimated reserves: 28 million barrels (2021 est.)
Natural gas / production: 22.334 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / consumption: 29.119 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / imports: 6.785 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / proven reserves: 126.293 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)
Energy consumption per capita / Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 11.472 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

## Communications
Telephones - fixed lines / total subscriptions: 285,000 (2024 est.)
Telephones - fixed lines / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2024 est.) less than 1
Telephones - mobile cellular / total subscriptions: 188 million (2024 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 108 (2024 est.)
Broadcast media: state-owned Bangladesh Television (BTV) broadcasts nationally; some channels operate via satellite; the government also owns a medium-wave radio channel and some private FM radio news channels; of the 41 approved TV stations, 26 are currently being used to broadcast, and 23 operate under private management via cable distribution
Internet country code: .bd
Internet users / percent of population: 45% (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / total: 12.9 million (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 8 (2023 est.)

## Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: S2
Airports: 17 (2025)
Heliports: 36 (2025)
Railways / total: 2,460 km (2014)
Railways / narrow gauge: 1,801 km (2014) 1.000-m gauge
Railways / broad gauge: 659 km (2014) 1.676-m gauge
Merchant marine / total: 558 (2023)
Merchant marine / by type: bulk carrier 68, container ship 10, general cargo 170, oil tanker 162, other 148
Ports / total ports: 2 (2024)
Ports / large: 0
Ports / medium: 1
Ports / small: 1
Ports / very small: 0
Ports / ports with oil terminals: 0
Ports / key ports: Chittagong, Mongla

## Military and Security
Military and security forces: Armed Forces of Bangladesh (aka Bangladesh Defense Force): Bangladesh Army, Bangladesh Navy, Bangladesh Air Force Ministry of Home Affairs: Bangladesh Police, Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), Bangladesh Coast Guard, Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), Ansars, Village Defense Party (VDP) (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: 1.1% of GDP (2022 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2021: 1.2% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2020: 1.3% of GDP (2020 est.)
Military and security service personnel strengths: information varies; approximately 170,000 active Armed Forces (2025)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: much of the military's inventory is comprised of Chinese- and Russian-origin equipment, but in recent years suppliers have expanded to include Germany, Turkey, the UK, and the US (2025)
Military service age and obligation: varies by service, but generally 17-23 for voluntary military service; length of service also varies (2025)
Military deployments: approximately 1,400 Central African Republic (MINUSCA); 1,700 Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO; plus about 200 police); 120 Lebanon (UNIFIL); 1,600 South Sudan (UNMISS); 500 Sudan (UNISFA) (2024)
Military - note: the military’s primary responsibility is external defense but it also has a domestic security role; following widespread domestic protests in September 2024, the Army was given law enforcement powers, including making arrests, conducting searches, and dispersing unlawful assemblies; the military has traditionally been a significant player in the country's politics and has commercial business interests in such areas as banking, food, hotels, manufacturing, real estate, and shipbuilding, and manages government infrastructure and construction projects the military has a long history of participating in UN peacekeeping missions, which has provided operational experience and a source of funding; it runs an international institute for the training of peacekeepers; the military also conducts multinational and bilateral exercises with foreign partners, particularly India (2025)

## Space
Space agency/agencies: Bangladesh Space Research and Remote Sensing Organization (SPARRSO; established as a statutory body in 1991 and designated as the country's national focal point for space-related activities in 1995) (2025)
Space program overview: has a modest space program focused on designing, building, and operating satellites, particularly those with remote sensing (RS) capabilities; SPARSSO's mandate is to use space and RS technology in areas such as agriculture, education, environmental studies, fisheries, forestry, geology, land use, mapping, meteorology, and oceanography; has a government-owned company for acquiring and operating satellites (Bangladesh Satellite Company Limited, established in 2017); works with several foreign space agencies and commercial entities, including those of France, Japan, Russia, and the US; member of several international space organizations, such as the Asia-Pacific Space Cooperation Organization (2025)
Key space-program milestones: 2017 - first educational/scientific nanosatellite (BRAC-Onnesha) acquired from Japan and launched by US 2018 - first communications satellite (Bangabandhu-1) built by a French company and launched by US 2025 - signed US-led Artemis Accords for the safe and responsible exploration of space

## Terrorism
Terrorist group(s): Harakat ul-Jihad-i-Islami/Bangladesh (HUJI-B); Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS) in Bangladesh (ISB); al-Qa'ida; al-Qa'ida in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS)

## Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons / refugees: 1,005,637 (2024 est.)
Refugees and internally displaced persons / IDPs: 756,743 (2024 est.)
Refugees and internally displaced persons / stateless persons: 1,005,520 (2024 est.)

=== Bhutan ===

## Introduction
Background: After Britain’s victory in the 1865 Duar War, Britain and Bhutan signed the Treaty of Sinchulu, under which Bhutan would receive an annual subsidy in exchange for ceding land to British India. Ugyen WANGCHUCK -- who had served as the de facto ruler of an increasingly unified Bhutan and had improved relations with the British toward the end of the 19th century -- was named king in 1907. Three years later, a treaty was signed whereby the British agreed not to interfere in Bhutanese internal affairs, and Bhutan allowed Britain to direct its foreign affairs. Bhutan negotiated a similar arrangement with independent India in 1949. The Indo-Bhutanese Treaty of Friendship returned to Bhutan a small piece of the territory annexed by the British, formalized the annual subsidies the country received, and defined India's responsibilities in defense and foreign relations. Under a succession of modernizing monarchs beginning in the 1950s, Bhutan joined the UN in 1971 and slowly continued its engagement beyond its borders. In 2005, King Jigme Singye WANGCHUCK unveiled the draft of Bhutan's first constitution -- which introduced major democratic reforms -- and held a national referendum for its approval. The King abdicated the throne in 2006 in favor of his son, Jigme Khesar Namgyel WANGCHUCK. In 2007, India and Bhutan renegotiated their treaty, eliminating the clause that stated that Bhutan would be "guided by" India in conducting its foreign policy, although Thimphu continues to coordinate closely with New Delhi. In 2008, Bhutan held its first parliamentary election in accordance with the constitution. Bhutan experienced a peaceful turnover of power following a parliamentary election in 2013, which resulted in the defeat of the incumbent party. In 2018, the incumbent party again lost the parliamentary election. In 2024, of the more than 100,000 ethnic Nepali -- predominantly Lhotshampa -- refugees who fled or were forced out of Bhutan in the 1990s, about 6,500 remain displaced in Nepal.

## Geography
Location: Southern Asia, between China and India
Geographic coordinates: 27 30 N, 90 30 E
Map references: Asia
Area / total: 38,394 sq km
Area / land: 38,394 sq km
Area / water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly larger than Maryland; about one-half the size of Indiana
Land boundaries / total: 1,136 km
Land boundaries / border countries: China 477 km; India 659 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
Climate: varies; tropical in southern plains; cool winters and hot summers in central valleys; severe winters and cool summers in Himalayas
Terrain: mostly mountainous with some fertile valleys and savanna
Elevation / highest point: Gangkar Puensum 7,570 m
Elevation / lowest point: Drangeme Chhu 97 m
Elevation / mean elevation: 2,220 m
Natural resources: timber, hydropower, gypsum, calcium carbonate
Land use / agricultural land: 13.8% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 2.6% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 0.4% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 10.8% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 70.6% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 15.6% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land: 320 sq km (2012)
Natural hazards: violent storms from the Himalayas are the source of the country's Bhutanese name, which translates as Land of the Thunder Dragon; frequent landslides during the rainy season
Geography - note: landlocked; strategic location between China and India; controls several key Himalayan mountain passes

## People and Society
Population / total: 892,877 (2025 est.)
Population / male: 461,679
Population / female: 431,198
Nationality / noun: Bhutanese (singular and plural)
Nationality / adjective: Bhutanese
Ethnic groups: Ngalop (also known as Bhote) 50%, ethnic Nepali 35% (predominantly Lhotshampas), indigenous or migrant tribes 15%
Languages: Sharchopkha 28%, Dzongkha (official) 24%, Lhotshamkha 22%, other 26% (includes foreign languages) (2005 est.)
Religions: Lamaistic Buddhist 75.3%, Indian- and Nepali-influenced Hinduism 22.1%, other 2.6% (2005 est.)
Age structure / 0-14 years: 23.1% (male 104,771/female 99,981)
Age structure / 15-64 years: 70.2% (male 322,497/female 298,324)
Age structure / 65 years and over: 6.7% (2024 est.) (male 30,397/female 28,576)
Dependency ratios / total dependency ratio: 42.1 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / youth dependency ratio: 32.4 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / elderly dependency ratio: 9.7 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / potential support ratio: 10.3 (2025 est.)
Median age / total: 31.2 years (2025 est.)
Median age / male: 31.1 years
Median age / female: 30.3 years
Population growth rate: 0.93% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 15.05 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 5.75 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Urbanization / urban population: 44.4% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 2.52% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 203,000 THIMPHU (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: 1.08 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 65 years and over: 1.06 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / total population: 1.07 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio: 47 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Infant mortality rate / total: 23 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Infant mortality rate / male: 24.6 deaths/1,000 live births
Infant mortality rate / female: 23.9 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth / total population: 73.7 years (2024 est.)
Life expectancy at birth / male: 72.5 years
Life expectancy at birth / female: 75 years
Total fertility rate: 1.75 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 0.85 (2025 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: urban: urban: 99.5% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: rural: rural: 98.8% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: total: total: 99.1% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: urban: urban: 0.5% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: rural: rural: 1.2% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: total: total: 0.9% of population (2022 est.)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 3.8% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 6.7% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density: 0.55 physicians/1,000 population (2022)
Hospital bed density: 2.2 beds/1,000 population (2021 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: urban: urban: 91.1% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: rural: rural: 85.5% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: total: total: 87.9% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: urban: urban: 8.9% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: rural: rural: 14.5% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: total: total: 12.1% of population (2022 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 6.4% (2016)
Alcohol consumption per capita / total: 0.07 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / beer: 0.01 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / wine: 0.05 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: 18.5% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / male: 26.1% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / female: 9.8% (2025 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 8.7% (2023 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49): 62% (2022 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% GDP): 5.8% of GDP (2023 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% national budget): 22.2% national budget (2025 est.)
Literacy / total population: 64.9% (2022 est.)
Literacy / male: 73.4% (2022 est.)
Literacy / female: 57% (2022 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / total: 13 years (2022 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / male: 12 years (2022 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / female: 14 years (2022 est.)

## Environment
Environmental issues: soil erosion; limited access to potable water; wildlife conservation; industrial pollution; waste disposal
International environmental agreements / party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
International environmental agreements / signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea
Climate: varies; tropical in southern plains; cool winters and hot summers in central valleys; severe winters and cool summers in Himalayas
Land use / agricultural land: 13.8% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 2.6% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 0.4% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 10.8% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 70.6% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 15.6% (2023 est.)
Urbanization / urban population: 44.4% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 2.52% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / total emissions: 733,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from coal and metallurgical coke: 241,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from petroleum and other liquids: 492,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Particulate matter emissions: 26.4 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Waste and recycling / municipal solid waste generated annually: 111,300 tons (2024 est.)
Waste and recycling / percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 1.7% (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / municipal: 17 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / industrial: 3 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / agricultural: 318 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total renewable water resources: 78 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: Kingdom of Bhutan
Country name / conventional short form: Bhutan
Country name / local long form: Druk Gyalkhap
Country name / local short form: Druk Yul
Country name / etymology: name may derive from the Sanskrit words bhoṭa , the name for Tibet, and anta , meaning "end" -- a reference to Bhutan's location at the southernmost end of Tibet; the local Dzongkha name Druk Yul means "Land of the Dragon"
Government type: constitutional monarchy
Capital / name: Thimphu
Capital / geographic coordinates: 27 28 N, 89 38 E
Capital / time difference: UTC+6 (11 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Capital / etymology: the origins of the name are unclear; the traditional explanation, dating to the 14th century, is that thim means "dissolve" and phu means "rock," in reference to a local deity who dissolved before a traveler's eyes, becoming a part of the rock on which the present city stands
Administrative divisions: 20 districts ( dzongkhag , singular and plural); Bumthang, Chhukha, Dagana, Gasa, Haa, Lhuentse, Mongar, Paro, Pemagatshel, Punakha, Samdrup Jongkhar, Samtse, Sarpang, Thimphu, Trashigang, Trashi Yangtse, Trongsa, Tsirang, Wangdue Phodrang, Zhemgang
Legal system: civil law based on Buddhist religious law
Constitution / history: previous governing documents were various royal decrees; first constitution drafted November 2001 to March 2005, ratified 18 July 2008
Constitution / amendment process: proposed as a motion by simple majority vote in a joint session of Parliament; passage requires at least a three-fourths majority vote in a joint session of the next Parliament and assent 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: the father must be a citizen of Bhutan
Citizenship / dual citizenship recognized: no
Citizenship / residency requirement for naturalization: 10 years
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch / chief of state: King Jigme Khesar Namgyel WANGCHUCK (since 14 December 2006)
Executive branch / head of government: Prime Minister Tshering TOBGAY (since 28 January 2024)
Executive branch / cabinet: Council of Ministers or Lhengye Zhungtshog members nominated by the monarch in consultation with the prime minister and approved by the National Assembly; members serve 5-year terms
Executive branch / election/appointment process: the monarchy is hereditary but can be removed by a two-thirds vote of Parliament; leader of the majority party in Parliament is nominated as the prime minister, appointed by the monarch
Legislative branch / legislature name: Parliament (Chi Tshog)
Legislative branch / legislative structure: bicameral
Legislative branch - lower chamber / chamber name: National Assembly (Tshogdu)
Legislative branch - lower chamber / number of seats: 47 (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: 1/9/2024
Legislative branch - lower chamber / parties elected and seats per party: People's Democratic Party (PDP) (30); Bhutan Tendrel Party (BTP) (17)
Legislative branch - lower chamber / percentage of women in chamber: 4.3%
Legislative branch - lower chamber / expected date of next election: January 2029
Legislative branch - upper chamber / chamber name: National Council (Gyelyong Tshogde)
Legislative branch - upper chamber / number of seats: 25 (20 directly elected; 5 appointed)
Legislative branch - upper chamber / electoral system: plurality/majority
Legislative branch - upper chamber / scope of elections: full renewal
Legislative branch - upper chamber / term in office: 0 years
Legislative branch - upper chamber / most recent election date: 4/20/2023
Legislative branch - upper chamber / parties elected and seats per party: N/A; note - the National Council is not party-based
Legislative branch - upper chamber / percentage of women in chamber: 12%
Legislative branch - upper chamber / expected date of next election: April 2028
Judicial branch / highest court(s): Supreme Court (consists of the chief justice and 4 associate justices)
Judicial branch / judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court chief justice appointed by the monarch on the advice of the National Judicial Commission, a 4-member body to include the Legislative Committee of the National Assembly, the attorney general, the Chief Justice of Bhutan and the senior Associate Justice of the Supreme Court; other judges (drangpons) appointed by the monarch from among the High Court judges selected by the National Judicial Commission; chief justice serves a 5-year term or until reaching age 65 years, whichever is earlier; the 4 other judges serve 10-year terms or until age 65, whichever is earlier
Judicial branch / subordinate courts: High Court (first appellate court); District or Dzongkhag Courts; sub-district or Dungkhag Courts
Political parties: Bhutan Peace and Prosperity Party (Druk Phuensum Tshogpa) or DPT Bhutan Tendrel Party or BTP Druk Thuendrel Tshogpa or DTT People's Democratic Party or PDP United Party of Bhutan (Druk Nyamrup Tshogpa) or DNT
Diplomatic representation in the US / consulate(s) general: 343 East, 43rd Street, New York, NY 10017 telephone: [1] (212) 682-2371 FAX: [1] (212) 661-0551 email address and website: consulate.pmbny@mfa.gov.bt https://www.mfa.gov.bt/pmbny/
Diplomatic representation from the US: note: Although Bhutan and the United States have never established formal diplomatic relations, the two countries maintain informal relations via the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi, India, and Bhutan’s Mission to the United Nations in New York
International organization participation: ADB, BIMSTEC, CP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, MIGA, NAM, OPCW, SAARC, SACEP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNISFA, UNTSO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)
Independence: 17 December 1907 (became a unified kingdom under its first hereditary king); 8 August 1949 (Treaty of Friendship with India maintains Bhutanese independence)
National holiday: National Day (Ugyen WANGCHUCK became first hereditary king), 17 December (1907)
Flag: description: divided diagonally from the lower-left corner to the upper-right corner; the upper triangle is yellow, and the lower triangle is dark orange; centered along the dividing line is a large, stylized black-and-white dragon facing to the right; the dragon is called the Druk (Thunder Dragon) and is the national emblem meaning: white stands for purity, and the jewels in the dragon's claws symbolize wealth; the background colors represent the spiritual and secular powers in Bhutan, with orange standing for Buddhism and yellow for the ruling dynasty
National symbol(s): mythical thunder dragon ( druk )
National color(s): orange, yellow
National anthem(s) / title: "Druk tsendhen" (The Thunder Dragon Kingdom)
National anthem(s) / lyrics/music: Gyaldun Dasho Thinley DORJI/Aku TONGMI
National anthem(s) / history: adopted 1953

## Economy
Economic overview: hydropower investments spurring economic development; Gross National Happiness economy; sharp poverty declines; low inflation; strong monetary and fiscal policies; stable currency; fairly resilient response to COVID-19; key economic and strategic relations with India; climate vulnerabilities
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $11.517 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $10.981 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2021: $10.437 billion (2021 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2023: 4.9% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2022: 5.2% (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2021: 4.4% (2021 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2023: $14,600 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2022: $14,100 (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2021: $13,500 (2021 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $3.019 billion (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024: 2.8% (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023: 4.2% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 5.6% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / agriculture: 15% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / industry: 29.6% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / services: 52.7% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / household consumption: 59.4% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / government consumption: 20.3% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in fixed capital: 44.5% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in inventories: 0.7% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / exports of goods and services: 28.3% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / imports of goods and services: -53.2% (2023 est.)
Agricultural products: rice, milk, potatoes, root vegetables, maize, oranges, areca nuts, chillies/peppers, pumpkins/squash, carrots/turnips (2023)
Industries: cement, wood products, processed fruits, alcoholic beverages, calcium carbide, tourism
Industrial production growth rate: 0% (2023 est.)
Labor force: 406,500 (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2024: 2.9% (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2023: 3.2% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2022: 6% (2022 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / total: 13.8% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / male: 11.2% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / female: 16.5% (2024 est.)
Population below poverty line: 12.4% (2022 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income / Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2022: 28.5 (2022 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / lowest 10%: 3.6% (2022 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / highest 10%: 22.7% (2022 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2023: 3.6% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2022: 3.3% of GDP (2022 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2021: 2.6% of GDP (2021 est.)
Budget / revenues: $740.328 million (2020 est.)
Budget / expenditures: $802.177 million (2020 est.)
Public debt / Public debt 2020: 111% of GDP (2020 est.)
Taxes and other revenues: 12.3% (of GDP) (2020 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2024: -$669.766 million (2024 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2023: -$963.122 million (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2022: -$805.723 million (2022 est.)
Exports / Exports 2024: $944.391 million (2024 est.)
Exports / Exports 2023: $867.871 million (2023 est.)
Exports / Exports 2022: $791.342 million (2022 est.)
Exports - partners: India 92%, Italy 4%, Indonesia 1%, China 1%, Singapore 0% (2023)
Exports - commodities: iron alloys, aircraft, dolomite, semi-finished iron, cement (2023)
Imports / Imports 2024: $1.513 billion (2024 est.)
Imports / Imports 2023: $1.77 billion (2023 est.)
Imports / Imports 2022: $1.581 billion (2022 est.)
Imports - partners: India 82%, Singapore 8%, China 5%, Thailand 2%, Indonesia 1% (2023)
Imports - commodities: refined petroleum, gold, plastics, broadcasting equipment, iron reductions (2023)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024: $941.018 million (2024 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023: $654.481 million (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $825.755 million (2022 est.)
Debt - external / Debt - external 2023: $2.827 billion (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Currency: ngultrum (BTN) per US dollar -
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2024: 83.669 (2024 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2023: 82.599 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2022: 78.604 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2021: 73.918 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2020: 74.1 (2020 est.)

## Energy
Electricity access / electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)
Electricity / installed generating capacity: 2.344 million kW (2023 est.)
Electricity / consumption: 11.914 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / exports: 6 billion kWh (2020 est.)
Electricity / imports: 834.7 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / transmission/distribution losses: 86.681 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / hydroelectricity: 100% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Coal / production: 4,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / consumption: 105,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / exports: 54 metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / imports: 122,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum / refined petroleum consumption: 4,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Energy consumption per capita / Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 64.082 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

## Communications
Telephones - fixed lines / total subscriptions: 0 (2024 est.) no service
Telephones - fixed lines / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 0 (2024 est.) no service
Telephones - mobile cellular / total subscriptions: 790,000 (2024 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 100 (2024 est.)
Broadcast media: state-owned TV station established in 1999; cable TV service offers dozens of Indian and other international channels; first radio station, privately launched in 1973, is now state-owned; 5 private radio stations are currently broadcasting (2012)
Internet country code: .bt
Internet users / percent of population: 88% (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / total: 10,000 (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 1 (2023 est.)

## Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: A5
Airports: 4 (2025)
Heliports: 8 (2025)

## Military and Security
Military and security forces: Royal Bhutan Army (RBA; includes Royal Bodyguard of Bhutan, or RBG, and an air wing); National Militia Ministry of Home and Cultural Affairs: Royal Bhutan Police (2025)
Military and security service personnel strengths: estimated 7-8,000 active Royal Bhutan Army (2025)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the Royal Bhutan Army is lightly armed; it has a small amount of heavy equipment, such as armored cars and helicopters, originating from the former Soviet Union, India, and Thailand (2025)
Military service age and obligation: 18 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women; militia training is compulsory for men aged 20-25 over a 3-year period (2025)
Military deployments: 180 Central African Republic (MINUSCA) (2025)
Military - note: the Army is responsible for external threats but also has some internal security functions such as conducting counterinsurgency operations, guarding forests, and providing security for prominent persons; Bhutan's closest security partner is India; under the 2007 India-Bhutan Friendship Treaty, both countries agreed to cooperate closely on issues relating to their national interests (2025)

## Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons / IDPs: 138 (2024 est.)

=== Sri Lanka ===

## Introduction
Background: The first Sinhalese arrived in Sri Lanka late in the 6th century B.C., probably from northern India. Buddhism was introduced circa 250 B.C., and the first kingdoms developed at the cities of Anuradhapura (from about 200 B.C. to about A.D. 1000) and Polonnaruwa (from about A.D. 1070 to 1200). In the 14th century, a South Indian dynasty established a Tamil kingdom in northern Sri Lanka. The Portuguese controlled the coastal areas of the island in the 16th century, followed by the Dutch in the 17th century. The island was ceded to the British in 1796, became a crown colony in 1802, and was formally united under British rule by 1815. As Ceylon, it became independent in 1948; the name was changed to Sri Lanka in 1972. Prevailing tensions between the Sinhalese majority and Tamil separatists erupted into war in 1983. Fighting between the government and Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) continued for over a quarter-century. Although Norway brokered peace negotiations that led to a cease-fire in 2002, the fighting slowly resumed and was again in full force by 2006. The government defeated the LTTE in 2009. During the post-conflict years under then-President Mahinda RAJAPAKSA, the government initiated infrastructure development projects, many of which were financed by loans from China. His regime faced allegations of human rights violations and a shrinking democratic space for civil society. In 2015, a new coalition government headed by President Maithripala SIRISENA of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party and Prime Minister Ranil WICKREMESINGHE of the United National Party came to power with pledges to advance economic, political, and judicial reforms. However, implementation of these reforms was uneven. In 2019, Gotabaya RAJAPAKSA won the presidential election and appointed his brother Mahinda prime minister. Civil society raised concerns about the RAJAPAKSA administration’s commitment to pursuing justice, human rights, and accountability reforms, as well as the risks to foreign creditors that Sri Lanka faced given its ongoing economic crisis. A combination of factors including the COVID-19 pandemic; severe shortages of food, medicine, and fuel; and power outages triggered increasingly violent protests in Columbo beginning in 2022. In response, WICKREMESINGHE -- who had already served as prime minister five times -- was named to replace the prime minister, but he became president within a few months when Gotabaya RAJAPAKSA fled the country.

## Geography
Location: Southern Asia, island in the Indian Ocean, south of India
Geographic coordinates: 7 00 N, 81 00 E
Map references: Asia
Area / total: 65,610 sq km
Area / land: 64,630 sq km
Area / water: 980 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly larger than West Virginia
Land boundaries / total: 0 km
Coastline: 1,340 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; northeast monsoon (December to March); southwest monsoon (June to October)
Terrain: mostly low, flat to rolling plain; mountains in south-central interior
Elevation / highest point: Pidurutalagala 2,524 m
Elevation / lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
Elevation / mean elevation: 228 m
Natural resources: limestone, graphite, mineral sands, gems, phosphates, clay, hydropower, arable land
Land use / agricultural land: 48.6% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 22.2% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 19.3% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 7.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 34.4% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 16.7% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land: 5,700 sq km (2012)
Population distribution: the population is primarily concentrated within a broad wet zone in the southwest, urban centers along the eastern coast, and on the Jaffna Peninsula in the north
Natural hazards: occasional cyclones and tornadoes
Geography - note: strategic location near major Indian Ocean sea lanes; Adam's Bridge is a chain of limestone shoals between the southeastern coast of India and the northwestern coast of Sri Lanka; geological evidence suggests that this 50-km (31-mi) bridge once connected India and Sri Lanka; ancient records seem to indicate that a foot passage was possible between the two land masses until the 15th century, when the land bridge broke up in a cyclone

## People and Society
Population / total: 22,050,561 (2025 est.)
Population / male: 10,668,528
Population / female: 11,382,033
Nationality / noun: Sri Lankan(s)
Nationality / adjective: Sri Lankan
Ethnic groups: Sinhalese 74.9%, Sri Lankan Tamil 11.2%, Sri Lankan Moors 9.2%, Indian Tamil 4.2%, other 0.5% (2012 est.)
Languages: Sinhala (official) 87%, Tamil (official) 28.5%, English 23.8% (2012 est.)
Religions: Buddhist (official) 70.2%, Hindu 12.6%, Muslim 9.7%, Roman Catholic 6.1%, other Christian 1.3%, other 0.05% (2012 est.)
Age structure / 0-14 years: 22.6% (male 2,537,918/female 2,423,615)
Age structure / 15-64 years: 65% (male 6,954,869/female 7,336,897)
Age structure / 65 years and over: 12.4% (2024 est.) (male 1,149,256/female 1,580,053)
Dependency ratios / total dependency ratio: 53.9 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / youth dependency ratio: 34.2 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / elderly dependency ratio: 19.7 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / potential support ratio: 5.1 (2025 est.)
Median age / total: 34.2 years (2025 est.)
Median age / male: 32.2 years
Median age / female: 35.8 years
Population growth rate: 0.22% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 14.38 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 7.65 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: -4.5 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution: the population is primarily concentrated within a broad wet zone in the southwest, urban centers along the eastern coast, and on the Jaffna Peninsula in the north
Urbanization / urban population: 19.2% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 1.22% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 103,000 Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte (legislative capital) (2018), 633,000 COLOMBO (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: 0.95 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 65 years and over: 0.73 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth: 25.6 years (2016 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio: 18 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Infant mortality rate / total: 6.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Infant mortality rate / male: 7.5 deaths/1,000 live births
Infant mortality rate / female: 6.1 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth / total population: 76.8 years (2024 est.)
Life expectancy at birth / male: 73.7 years
Life expectancy at birth / female: 79.9 years
Total fertility rate: 2.12 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 1.03 (2025 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: urban: urban: 98.1% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: rural: rural: 87.2% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: total: total: 89.3% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: urban: urban: 1.9% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: rural: rural: 12.8% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: total: total: 10.7% of population (2022 est.)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 4.1% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 9.5% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density: 1.14 physicians/1,000 population (2023)
Hospital bed density: 4 beds/1,000 population (2020 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: urban: urban: 97.9% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: rural: rural: 99.2% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: total: total: 99% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: urban: urban: 2.1% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: rural: rural: 0.8% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: total: total: 1% of population (2022 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 5.2% (2016)
Alcohol consumption per capita / total: 2.58 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / beer: 0.22 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / wine: 0.01 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: 0.03 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Tobacco use / total: 18.2% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / male: 36.3% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / female: 2% (2025 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 17.1% (2024 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49): 66.3% (2016 est.)
Child marriage / women married by age 15: 0.9% (2016)
Child marriage / women married by age 18: 9.8% (2016)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% GDP): 1.8% of GDP (2023 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% national budget): 7.2% national budget (2024 est.)
Literacy / total population: 92.7% (2023 est.)
Literacy / male: 93.4% (2023 est.)
Literacy / female: 92% (2023 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: 14 years (2023 est.)

## Environment
Environmental issues: deforestation; soil erosion; poaching; effects of urbanization; coastal degradation from mining activities and pollution; coral reef destruction; freshwater resources polluted by industrial wastes and sewage runoff; waste disposal; air pollution in Colombo
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, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
International environmental agreements / signed, but not ratified: Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Marine Life Conservation
Climate: tropical monsoon; northeast monsoon (December to March); southwest monsoon (June to October)
Land use / agricultural land: 48.6% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 22.2% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 19.3% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 7.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 34.4% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 16.7% (2023 est.)
Urbanization / urban population: 19.2% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 1.22% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / total emissions: 19.153 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from coal and metallurgical coke: 5.15 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from petroleum and other liquids: 14.003 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Particulate matter emissions: 24.8 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Waste and recycling / municipal solid waste generated annually: 2.632 million tons (2024 est.)
Waste and recycling / percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 24.5% (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / municipal: 805 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / industrial: 831 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / agricultural: 11.31 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total renewable water resources: 52.8 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka
Country name / conventional short form: Sri Lanka
Country name / local long form: Shri Lanka Prajatantrika Samajavadi Janarajaya (Sinhala)/ Ilankai Jananayaka Choshalichak Kutiyarachu (Tamil)
Country name / local short form: Shri Lanka (Sinhala)/ Ilankai (Tamil)
Country name / former: Serendib, Ceylon
Country name / etymology: the name is composed of the Sanskrit words shri (happiness or holiness) and lanka (island); the former name Serendib was an Arabic derivation of the Sanskrit word simhaladvipa , or "island of the place of lions;" the former name Ceylon came from the Sanskrit simha , or "lion"
Government type: presidential republic
Capital / name: Colombo (commercial capital); Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte (legislative capital)
Capital / geographic coordinates: 6 55 N, 79 50 E
Capital / time difference: UTC+5.5 (10.5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Capital / etymology: the origin of Colombo's name is unclear; it may derive from the Sinhalese words kola (leaves) and amba (mango), referring to local mango trees, or from the name Kelantotta, referring to a ferry that crossed the Kelani River; the name was corrupted to Kolambu by Arab traders, and 16th-century Portuguese settlers then called it Colombo, possibly referring to explorer Christopher COLUMBUS; the legislative capital's name, Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte, is composed of the Sanskrit honorific sri, the name of Sri Lankan President J.R. JAYEWARDENE, and the Hindi word pura (town)
Administrative divisions: 9 provinces; Central, Eastern, North Central, Northern, North Western, Sabaragamuwa, Southern, Uva, Western
Legal system: mixed system of Roman-Dutch civil law, English common law, Jaffna Tamil customary law, and Muslim personal law
Constitution / history: several previous; latest adopted 16 August 1978, certified 31 August 1978
Constitution / amendment process: proposed by Parliament; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote of its total membership, certification by the president of the republic or the Parliament speaker, and in some cases approval in a referendum by absolute majority of valid votes
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 Sri Lanka
Citizenship / dual citizenship recognized: no, except in cases where the government rules it is to the benefit of Sri Lanka
Citizenship / residency requirement for naturalization: 7 years
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch / chief of state: President Anura Kumara DISSANAYAKE (since 23 September 2024)
Executive branch / head of government: President Anura Kumara DISSANAYAKE (since 23 September 2024)
Executive branch / cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president in consultation with the prime minister
Executive branch / election/appointment process: president directly elected by preferential 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: 21 September 2024
Executive branch / election results: 2024: Anura Kumara DISSANAYAKE elected president; percent of vote after reallocation - Anura Kumara DISSANAYAKE (JVP) 55.9%, Sajith PREMADASA (SJB) 44.1%
Executive branch / expected date of next election: 2029
Legislative branch / legislature name: Parliament
Legislative branch / legislative structure: unicameral
Legislative branch / number of seats: 225 (196 directly elected; 29 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: 11/14/2024
Legislative branch / parties elected and seats per party: National People's Power (Jathika Jana Balawegaya, NPP) (159); Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) (40); Other (26)
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 of the Republic (consists of the chief justice and 9 justices); has exclusive jurisdiction to review legislation
Judicial branch / judge selection and term of office: chief justice nominated by the Constitutional Council (CC), a 9-member high-level advisory body, and appointed by the president; other justices nominated by the CC and appointed by the president on the advice of the chief justice; all justices can serve until age 65
Judicial branch / subordinate courts: Court of Appeals; High Courts; Magistrates' Courts; municipal and primary courts
Political parties: Crusaders for Democracy or CFD Eelam People's Democratic Party or EPDP Eelam People's Revolutionary Liberation Front or EPRLF Illankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi or ITAK Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna or JVP Jathika Hela Urumaya or JHU National People's Power or NPP (also known as Jathika Jana Balawegaya or JJB) People's Liberation Organisation of Tamil Eelam or PLOTE Samagi Jana Balawegaya or SJB Sri Lanka Freedom Party or SLFP Sri Lanka Muslim Congress or SLMC Sri Lanka People's Freedom Alliance or SLPFA (includes SLPFP, SLPP, and several smaller parties) Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (Sri Lanka's People's Front) or SLPP Tamil Eelam Liberation Organization or TELO Tamil National Alliance or TNA (includes ITAK, PLOTE, TELO) Tamil National People's Front or TNPF Tamil People's National Alliance or TPNA United National Front for Good Governance or UNFGG (coalition includes JHU, UNP) United National Party or UNP
Diplomatic representation in the US / chief of mission: Ambassador Mahinda SAMARASINGHE (since 13 January 2022)
Diplomatic representation in the US / chancery: 3025 Whitehaven Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation in the US / telephone: [1] (202) 483-4025
Diplomatic representation in the US / FAX: [1] 202-232-2329
Diplomatic representation in the US / email address and website: slemb.washington@mfa.gov.lk https://slembassyusa.org/
Diplomatic representation in the US / consulate(s) general: Los Angeles
Diplomatic representation in the US / consulate(s): New York
Diplomatic representation from the US / chief of mission: Ambassador Julie J. CHUNG (since 17 February 2022)
Diplomatic representation from the US / embassy: 210 Galle Road, Colombo 03
Diplomatic representation from the US / mailing address: 6100 Colombo Place, Washington DC 20521-6100
Diplomatic representation from the US / telephone: [94] (11) 249-8500
Diplomatic representation from the US / FAX: [94] (11) 243-7345
Diplomatic representation from the US / email address and website: colomboacs@state.gov https://lk.usembassy.gov/
International organization participation: ABEDA, ADB, ARF, BIMSTEC, C, CD, CICA (observer), CP, FAO, G-11, G-15, G-24, 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, MINURSO, MINUSTAH, MONUSCO, NAM, OAS (observer), OPCW, PCA, SAARC, SACEP, SCO (dialogue member), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNISFA, UNMISS, UNOOSA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Independence: 4 February 1948 (from the UK)
National holiday: Independence Day (National Day), 4 February (1948)
Flag: description: yellow with two panels; the smaller panel on the left has two equal vertical bands of green (left side) and orange; the larger panel has a yellow lion holding a sword on a maroon field, with a yellow bo leaf in each corner meaning: the sword stands for national sovereignty; the lion for Sinhalese ethnicity, the strength of the nation, and bravery; the four bo leaves for Buddhism and the four virtues of kindness, friendliness, happiness, and equanimity; orange stands for Tamils, green for Moors, and maroon for the Sinhalese majority; yellow represents other ethnic groups
National symbol(s): lion, water lily
National color(s): maroon, yellow
National anthem(s) / title: "Sri Lanka Matha" (Mother Sri Lanka)
National anthem(s) / lyrics/music: Ananda SAMARKONE (Sinhala),M. NALLATHAMBY (Tamil)/Ananda SAMARKONE
National anthem(s) / history: adopted 1951
National heritage / total World Heritage Sites: 8 (6 cultural, 2 natural)
National heritage / selected World Heritage Site locales: Ancient City of Polonnaruwa (c); Ancient City of Sigiriya (c); Sacred City of Anuradhapura (c); Old Town of Galle and its Fortifications (c); Sacred City of Kandy (c); Sinharaja Forest Reserve (n); Rangiri Dambulla Cave Temple (c); Central Highlands of Sri Lanka (n)

## Economy
Economic overview: economic contraction in 2022-23 marked by increased poverty and significant inflation; IMF two-year debt relief program following 2022 sovereign default; structural challenges from non-diversified economy and rigid labor laws; heavy dependence on tourism receipts and remittances
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $301.407 billion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $287.031 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $293.878 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2024: 5% (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2023: -2.3% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2022: -7.3% (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2024: $13,800 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2023: $13,000 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2022: $13,200 (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $98.963 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: 16.5% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 49.7% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / agriculture: 8.3% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / industry: 25.5% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / services: 57.5% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / household consumption: 68.7% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / government consumption: 7% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in fixed capital: 18.8% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in inventories: 8.2% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / exports of goods and services: 19.9% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / imports of goods and services: -22.5% (2024 est.)
Agricultural products: rice, coconuts, tea, sugarcane, plantains, milk, fiber crops, cassava, chicken, pumpkins/squash (2023)
Industries: processing of rubber, tea, coconuts, tobacco and other agricultural commodities; tourism; clothing and textiles; mining
Industrial production growth rate: 11% (2024 est.)
Labor force: 8.499 million (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2024: 5% (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2023: 6% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2022: 4.6% (2022 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / total: 22.3% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / male: 18.4% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / female: 29.6% (2024 est.)
Population below poverty line: 14.3% (2019 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income / Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2019: 37.7 (2019 est.)
Average household expenditures / on food: 27.1% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Average household expenditures / on alcohol and tobacco: 3.4% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / lowest 10%: 3.1% (2019 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / highest 10%: 30.8% (2019 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2023: 7.2% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2022: 5.2% of GDP (2022 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2021: 6.2% of GDP (2021 est.)
Budget / revenues: $9.387 billion (2023 est.)
Budget / expenditures: $17.144 billion (2023 est.)
Public debt / Public debt 2017: 79.1% of GDP (2017 est.)
Taxes and other revenues: 9.9% (of GDP) (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2023: $1.559 billion (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2022: -$1.448 billion (2022 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2021: -$3.284 billion (2021 est.)
Exports / Exports 2023: $17.327 billion (2023 est.)
Exports / Exports 2022: $16.169 billion (2022 est.)
Exports / Exports 2021: $14.974 billion (2021 est.)
Exports - partners: USA 22%, India 7%, Germany 7%, UK 7%, Italy 5% (2023)
Exports - commodities: garments, tea, precious stones, used rubber tires, rubber products (2023)
Imports / Imports 2023: $18.823 billion (2023 est.)
Imports / Imports 2022: $19.244 billion (2022 est.)
Imports / Imports 2021: $21.526 billion (2021 est.)
Imports - partners: India 21%, China 19%, UAE 10%, Singapore 5%, Malaysia 4% (2023)
Imports - commodities: refined petroleum, fabric, crude petroleum, packaged medicine, cotton fabric (2023)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024: $6.094 billion (2024 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023: $4.405 billion (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $1.896 billion (2022 est.)
Debt - external / Debt - external 2023: $42.198 billion (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Currency: Sri Lankan rupees (LKR) per US dollar -
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2023: 327.507 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2022: 322.633 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2021: 198.764 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2020: 185.593 (2020 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2019: 178.745 (2019 est.)

## Energy
Electricity access / electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)
Electricity / installed generating capacity: 5.326 million kW (2023 est.)
Electricity / consumption: 15.763 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / transmission/distribution losses: 1.457 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / fossil fuels: 49.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / solar: 4.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / wind: 4.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / hydroelectricity: 40.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / biomass and waste: 0.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Coal / consumption: 2.323 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / imports: 2.238 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum / refined petroleum consumption: 100,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Energy consumption per capita / Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 12.372 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

## Communications
Telephones - fixed lines / total subscriptions: 1.707 million (2023 est.)
Telephones - fixed lines / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 7 (2023 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / total subscriptions: 30.6 million (2024 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 133 (2024 est.)
Broadcast media: government operates 5 TV channels and 19 radio channels; multi-channel satellite and cable TV subscription services available; 25 private TV stations and about 43 radio stations; 6 non-profit TV stations and 4 radio stations
Internet country code: .lk
Internet users / percent of population: 51% (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / total: 2.01 million (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 9 (2023 est.)

## Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: 4R
Airports: 18 (2025)
Heliports: 1 (2025)
Railways / total: 1,562 km (2016)
Railways / broad gauge: 1,562 km (2016) 1.676-m gauge
Merchant marine / total: 96 (2023)
Merchant marine / by type: bulk carrier 5, general cargo 15, oil tanker 11, other 65
Ports / total ports: 6 (2024)
Ports / large: 0
Ports / medium: 2
Ports / small: 1
Ports / very small: 1
Ports / size unknown: 2
Ports / ports with oil terminals: 2
Ports / key ports: Batticaloa Roads, Colombo, Galle Harbor, Hambantota, Kankesanturai, Trincomalee Harbor

## Military and Security
Military and security forces: Sri Lanka Armed Forces: Sri Lanka Army (includes National Guard and the Volunteer Force), Sri Lanka Navy (includes Marine Corps), Sri Lanka Air Force, Sri Lanka Coast Guard; Civil Security Department (Home Guard) Ministry of Public Security: Sri Lanka Police (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: 1.7% of GDP (2022 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2021: 1.9% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2020: 2% of GDP (2020 est.)
Military and security service personnel strengths: estimated 210,000 active Armed Forces (140,000 Army; 25,000 Air Force; 45,000 Navy) (2025)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the military's armaments are mostly of Chinese, Indian, Russian/Soviet, and US origin (2025)
Military service age and obligation: generally 18-24 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women, although upper age limits may vary by branch of service, roles, specialties, etc; no conscription (2026)
Military deployments: 120 Central African Republic (MINUSCA); 130 Lebanon (UNIFIL) (2025)
Military - note: the military of Sri Lanka is responsible for external defense, maritime security, and maintaining internal security; it has sent small numbers of personnel on UN peacekeeping missions; from 1983 to 2009, the military fought against the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), a conflict that involved both guerrilla and conventional warfare, as well as acts of terrorism and human rights abuses, and cost the military nearly 30,000 killed; since the end of the war, a large portion of the Army reportedly remains deployed in the majority Tamil-populated northern and eastern provinces; the military over the past decade also has increased its role in a range of commercial sectors including agriculture, hotels, leisure, and restaurants Sri Lanka traditionally has had close security ties to India; the Sri Lankan and Indian militaries conduct exercises together, and India trains approximately 1,000 Sri Lankan soldiers per year; in recent years, Sri Lanka has increased military ties with China, including acquiring military equipment, hosting naval port calls, and sending personnel to China for training (2025)

## Terrorism
Terrorist group(s): Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS); Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE)

## Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons / refugees: 500 (2024 est.)
Refugees and internally displaced persons / IDPs: 5,549 (2024 est.)
Refugees and internally displaced persons / stateless persons: 229 (2024 est.)

=== India ===

## Introduction
Background: The Indus Valley civilization, one of the world's oldest, flourished during the 3rd and 2nd millennia B.C. and extended into northwestern India. Aryan tribes from the northwest infiltrated the Indian subcontinent about 1500 B.C.; their merger with the earlier Dravidian inhabitants created the classical Indian culture. The Maurya Empire of the 4th and 3rd centuries B.C. -- which reached its zenith under ASHOKA -- united much of South Asia. The Gupta dynasty (4th to 6th centuries A.D.) ushered in The Golden Age, which saw a flowering of Indian science, art, and culture. Islam spread across the subcontinent over a period of 700 years. In the 10th and 11th centuries, Turks and Afghans invaded India and established the Delhi Sultanate. In the early 16th century, the Emperor BABUR established the Mughal Dynasty, which ruled large sections of India for more than three centuries. European explorers began establishing footholds in India during the 16th century. By the 19th century, Great Britain had become the dominant political power on the subcontinent, and India was seen as the "Jewel in the Crown" of the British Empire. The British Indian Army played a vital role in both World Wars. Years of nonviolent resistance to British rule, led by Mohandas GANDHI and Jawaharlal NEHRU, eventually resulted in Indian independence in 1947. Large-scale communal violence took place before and after the subcontinent partition into two separate states -- India and Pakistan. The neighboring countries have fought three wars since independence, the last of which was in 1971 and resulted in East Pakistan becoming the separate nation of Bangladesh. India's nuclear weapons tests in 1998 emboldened Pakistan to conduct its own tests that same year. In 2008, terrorists originating from Pakistan conducted a series of coordinated attacks in Mumbai, India's financial capital. India's economic growth after economic reforms in 1991, a massive youth population, and a strategic geographic location have contributed to the country's emergence as a regional and global power. However, India still faces pressing problems such as extensive poverty, widespread corruption, and environmental degradation, and its restrictive business climate challenges economic growth expectations.

## Geography
Location: Southern Asia, bordering the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal, between Burma and Pakistan
Geographic coordinates: 20 00 N, 77 00 E
Map references: Asia
Area / total: 3,287,263 sq km
Area / land: 2,973,193 sq km
Area / water: 314,070 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly more than one-third the size of the US
Land boundaries / total: 13,888 km
Land boundaries / border countries: Bangladesh 4,142 km; Bhutan 659 km; Burma 1,468 km; China 2,659 km; Nepal 1,770 km; Pakistan 3,190 km
Coastline: 7,000 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: varies from tropical monsoon in south to temperate in north
Terrain: upland plain (Deccan Plateau) in south, flat to rolling plain along the Ganges, deserts in west, Himalayas in north
Elevation / highest point: Kanchenjunga 8,586 m
Elevation / lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
Elevation / mean elevation: 160 m
Natural resources: coal (fourth-largest reserves in the world), antimony, iron ore, lead, manganese, mica, bauxite, rare earth elements, titanium ore, chromite, natural gas, diamonds, petroleum, limestone, arable land
Land use / agricultural land: 60.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 51.8% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 4.9% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 3.4% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 24.4% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 15.5% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land: 754,562 sq km (2022)
Major lakes (area sq km) / salt water lake(s): Chilika Lake - 1,170 sq km
Major rivers (by length in km): Brahmaputra (shared with China [s] and Bangladesh [m]) - 3,969 km; Indus (shared with China [s] and Pakistan [m]) - 3,610 km; Ganges river source (shared with Bangladesh [m]) - 2,704 km; Godavari - 1,465 km; Sutlej (shared with China [s] and Pakistan [m]) - 1,372 km; Yamuna - 1,370 km; Narmada - 1,289 km; Chenab river source (shared with Pakistan [m]) - 1,086 km ; Ghaghara river mouth (shared with China [s] and Nepal) - 1,080 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), Indus (1,081,718 sq km), Irrawaddy (413,710 sq km)
Major aquifers: Indus-Ganges-Brahmaputra Basin
Population distribution: a very high population density exists throughout most of the country, with the notable exception of the deserts in the northwest and the mountain fringe in the north; the core of the population is in the north along the banks of the Ganges, with other river valleys and southern coastal areas also having large population concentrations
Natural hazards: droughts; flash floods, as well as widespread and destructive flooding from monsoonal rains; severe thunderstorms; earthquakes volcanism: Barren Island (354 m) in the Andaman Sea has been active in recent years
Geography - note: dominates South Asian subcontinent; near important Indian Ocean trade routes; Kanchenjunga, third tallest mountain in the world, lies on the border with Nepal

## People and Society
Population / total: 1,419,316,933 (2025 est.)
Population / male: 730,902,574
Population / female: 688,414,359
Nationality / noun: Indian(s)
Nationality / adjective: Indian
Ethnic groups: Indo-Aryan 72%, Dravidian 25%, and other 3% (2000)
Languages / Languages: Hindi 43.6%, Bengali 8%, Marathi 6.9%, Telugu 6.7%, Tamil 5.7%, Gujarati 4.6%, Urdu 4.2%, Kannada 3.6%, Odia 3.1%, Malayalam 2.9%, Punjabi 2.7%, Assamese 1.3%, Maithili 1.1%, other 5.6%; English is the subsidiary official language but is the most important one for national, political, and commercial communication (2011 est.)
Languages / major-language sample(s): विश्व फ़ैक्टबुक, आधारभूत जानकारी का एक अनिवार्य स्रोत (Hindi) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
Religions: Hindu 79.8%, Muslim 14.2%, Christian 2.3%, Sikh 1.7%, other and unspecified 2% (2011 est.)
Age structure / 0-14 years: 24.5% (male 181,115,052/female 163,647,028)
Age structure / 15-64 years: 68.7% (male 500,568,593/female 467,593,781)
Age structure / 65 years and over: 6.8% (2024 est.) (male 44,101,180/female 52,102,662)
Dependency ratios / total dependency ratio: 45 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / youth dependency ratio: 35 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / elderly dependency ratio: 10 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / potential support ratio: 10 (2025 est.)
Median age / total: 30.1 years (2025 est.)
Median age / male: 29.1 years
Median age / female: 30.5 years
Population growth rate: 0.72% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 15.91 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 8.7 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: 0.03 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution: a very high population density exists throughout most of the country, with the notable exception of the deserts in the northwest and the mountain fringe in the north; the core of the population is in the north along the banks of the Ganges, with other river valleys and southern coastal areas also having large population concentrations
Urbanization / urban population: 36.4% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 2.33% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 32.941 million NEW DELHI (capital), 21.297 million Mumbai, 15.333 million Kolkata, 13.608 million Bangalore, 11.776 million Chennai, 10.801 million Hyderabad (2023)
Sex ratio / at birth: 1.1 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 0-14 years: 1.11 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 15-64 years: 1.07 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 65 years and over: 0.85 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / total population: 1.06 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth: 21.2 years (2019/21)
Maternal mortality ratio: 80 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Infant mortality rate / total: 30.5 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Infant mortality rate / male: 30 deaths/1,000 live births
Infant mortality rate / female: 30.8 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth / total population: 68.2 years (2024 est.)
Life expectancy at birth / male: 66.5 years
Life expectancy at birth / female: 70.1 years
Total fertility rate: 2 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 0.95 (2025 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: urban: urban: 95.8% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: rural: rural: 91.9% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: total: total: 93.3% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: urban: urban: 4.2% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: rural: rural: 8.1% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: total: total: 6.7% of population (2022 est.)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 3.3% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 4.5% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density: 0.72 physicians/1,000 population (2020)
Hospital bed density: 1.6 beds/1,000 population (2021 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: urban: urban: 99.4% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: rural: rural: 83% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: total: total: 88.9% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: urban: urban: 0.6% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: rural: rural: 17% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: total: total: 11.1% of population (2022 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 3.9% (2016)
Alcohol consumption per capita / total: 3.09 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 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / spirits: 2.85 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / other alcohols: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Tobacco use / total: 21.8% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / male: 34.1% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / female: 8.9% (2025 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 31.5% (2020 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49): 72.3% (2020 est.)
Child marriage / women married by age 15: 4.8% (2021)
Child marriage / women married by age 18: 23.3% (2021)
Child marriage / men married by age 18: 2.6% (2021)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% GDP): 4.1% of GDP (2022 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% national budget): 14.2% national budget (2022 est.)
Literacy / total population: 81.7% (2023 est.)
Literacy / male: 88.3% (2023 est.)
Literacy / female: 74.9% (2023 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: deforestation; soil erosion; overgrazing; desertification; air pollution from industrial effluents and vehicle emissions; water pollution from raw sewage and agricultural pesticides; tap water not potable; growing population overstraining natural resources; biodiversity loss
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, 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: varies from tropical monsoon in south to temperate in north
Land use / agricultural land: 60.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 51.8% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 4.9% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 3.4% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 24.4% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 15.5% (2023 est.)
Urbanization / urban population: 36.4% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 2.33% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / total emissions: 2.821 billion metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from coal and metallurgical coke: 2.054 billion metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from petroleum and other liquids: 642.909 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from consumed natural gas: 124.226 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Particulate matter emissions: 55.6 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Methane emissions / energy: 8,217.3 kt (2022-2024 est.)
Methane emissions / agriculture: 17,971 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Methane emissions / waste: 4,773.7 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Methane emissions / other: 644.6 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Waste and recycling / municipal solid waste generated annually: 189.75 million tons (2024 est.)
Waste and recycling / percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 17.8% (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / municipal: 56 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / industrial: 17 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / agricultural: 688 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total renewable water resources: 1.911 trillion cubic meters (2022 est.)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: Republic of India
Country name / conventional short form: India
Country name / local long form: Republic of India (English)/ Bharatiya Ganarajya (Hindi)
Country name / local short form: India (English)/ Bharat (Hindi)
Country name / etymology: the English name derives from the Indus River; the Indian name, Bharat, may derive from the Bharatas tribe mentioned in the Sanskrit Vedas (Hindu religious texts); the name is also associated with Emperor Bharata, the legendary conqueror of India
Government type: federal parliamentary republic
Capital / name: New Delhi
Capital / geographic coordinates: 28 36 N, 77 12 E
Capital / time difference: UTC+5.5 (10.5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Capital / etymology: the name is of unknown origin; one theory says it may come from the Hindi word dehli (threshold), because of the city's location between the Indus and the Ganges Rivers
Administrative divisions: 28 states and 8 union territories*; Andaman and Nicobar Islands*, Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Chandigarh*, Chhattisgarh, Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu*, Delhi*, Goa, Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir*, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Ladakh*, Lakshadweep*, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Odisha, Puducherry*, Punjab, Rajasthan, Sikkim, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Tripura, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, West Bengal
Legal system: common law system based on the English model; separate personal law codes apply to Muslims, Christians, and Hindus; judicial review of legislative acts
Constitution / history: previous 1935 (pre-independence); latest draft completed 4 November 1949, adopted 26 November 1949, effective 26 January 1950
Constitution / amendment process: proposed by either the Council of States or the House of the People; passage requires majority participation of the total membership in each house and at least two-thirds majority of voting members of each house, followed by assent of the president of India; proposed amendments to the constitutional amendment procedures also must be ratified by at least one half of the India state legislatures before presidential assent
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 India
Citizenship / dual citizenship recognized: no
Citizenship / residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch / chief of state: President Droupadi MURMU (since 25 July 2022)
Executive branch / head of government: Prime Minister Narendra MODI (since 26 May 2014)
Executive branch / cabinet: Union Council of Ministers recommended by the prime minister, appointed by the president
Executive branch / election/appointment process: president indirectly elected for a 5-year term (no term limits) by an electoral college consisting of elected members of both houses of Parliament
Executive branch / most recent election date: 18 July 2022
Executive branch / election results: 2022: Droupadi MURMU elected president; percent of electoral college vote - Droupadi MURMU (BJP) 64%, Yashwant SINHA (AITC) 35.9%; Jagdeep DHANKHAR elected vice president; percent of electoral college vote - Jagdeep DHANKHAR (BJP) 74.4%, Margaret ALVA (INC) 25.6%
Executive branch / expected date of next election: July 2027
Legislative branch / legislature name: Parliament (Sansad)
Legislative branch / legislative structure: bicameral
Legislative branch - lower chamber / chamber name: House of the People (Lok Sabha)
Legislative branch - lower chamber / number of seats: 545 (543 directly elected; 2 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: 4/19/2024 to 6/1/2024
Legislative branch - lower chamber / parties elected and seats per party: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) (240); Indian National Congress (INC) (99); Samajwadi Party (SP) (37); All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) (29); Other (138)
Legislative branch - lower chamber / percentage of women in chamber: 13.8%
Legislative branch - lower chamber / expected date of next election: April 2029
Legislative branch - upper chamber / chamber name: Council of States (Rajya Sabha)
Legislative branch - upper chamber / number of seats: 245 (233 indirectly elected; 12 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: 1/12/2024 to 6/30/2024
Legislative branch - upper chamber / percentage of women in chamber: 16.7%
Legislative branch - upper chamber / expected date of next election: January 2026
Judicial branch / highest court(s): Supreme Court (consists of 28 judges, including the chief justice)
Judicial branch / judge selection and term of office: justices appointed by the president to serve until age 65
Judicial branch / subordinate courts: High Courts; District Courts; Labour Court
Political parties: Aam Aadmi Party or AAP All India Trinamool Congress or AITC Bahujan Samaj Party or BSP Bharatiya Janata Party or BJP Biju Janata Dal or BJD Communist Party of India-Marxist or CPI(M) Dravida Munnetra Khazhagam Indian National Congress or INC Nationalist Congress Party or NCP Rashtriya Janata Dal or RJD Samajwadi Party or SP Shiromani Akali Dal or SAD Shiv Sena or SS Telegana Rashtra Samithi or TRS Telugu Desam Party or TDP YSR Congress or YSRCP or YCP
Diplomatic representation in the US / chief of mission: Ambassador Vinay Mohan KWATRA (since 18 September 2024)
Diplomatic representation in the US / chancery: 2107 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation in the US / telephone: [1] (202) 939-7000
Diplomatic representation in the US / FAX: [1] (202) 265-4351
Diplomatic representation in the US / email address and website: hoc.washington@mea.gov.in https://www.indianembassyusa.gov.in/
Diplomatic representation in the US / consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, New York, San Francisco, Seattle
Diplomatic representation from the US / chief of mission: Ambassador-designate Sergio GOR (since 11 October 2025)
Diplomatic representation from the US / embassy: Shantipath, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi - 110021
Diplomatic representation from the US / mailing address: 9000 New Delhi Place, Washington DC 20521-9000
Diplomatic representation from the US / telephone: [91] (11) 2419-8000
Diplomatic representation from the US / FAX: [91] (11) 2419-0017
Diplomatic representation from the US / email address and website: acsnd@state.gov https://in.usembassy.gov/
Diplomatic representation from the US / consulate(s) general: Chennai (Madras), Hyderabad, Kolkata (Calcutta), Mumbai (Bombay)
International organization participation: ADB, AfDB (nonregional member), Arctic Council (observer), ARF, ASEAN (dialogue partner), BIMSTEC, BIS, BRICS, C, CD, CERN (observer), CICA, CP, EAS, FAO, FATF, G-15, G-20, G-24, G-5, 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), LAS (observer), MIGA, MINURSO, MONUSCO, NAM, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, Pacific Alliance (observer), PCA, PIF (partner), Quad, SAARC, SACEP, SCO (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNDOF, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNHRC, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNISFA, UNITAR, UNMISS, UNOCI, UNOOSA, UNSOM, UNWTO, UPU, Wassenaar Arrangement, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Independence: 15 August 1947 (from the UK)
National holiday: Republic Day, 26 January (1950)
Flag: description: three equal horizontal bands of saffron (top), white, and green, with a blue chakra (24-spoked wheel) centered in the white band meaning: saffron stands for courage, sacrifice, and the spirit of renunciation; white for purity and truth; green for faith and fertility; the chakra symbolizes the wheel of life in movement and death in stagnation
National symbol(s): the Lion Capital of Ashoka, which depicts four Asiatic lions standing back-to-back and mounted on a circular abacus (official); Bengal tiger and lotus flower (traditional)
National color(s): saffron, white, green
National anthem(s) / title: "Jana-Gana-Mana" (Thou Art the Ruler of the Minds of All People)
National anthem(s) / lyrics/music: Rabindranath TAGORE
National anthem(s) / history: adopted 1950; Rabindranath TAGORE, a Nobel laureate, also wrote Bangladesh's national anthem
National heritage / total World Heritage Sites: 44 (36 cultural, 7 natural, 1 mixed)
National heritage / selected World Heritage Site locales: Taj Mahal (c); Agra Fort (c); Elphanta Caves (c); Hill Forts of Rajasthan (c); Sundarbans National Park (n); Rock Shelters of Bhimbetka (c); Champaner-Pavagadh Archaeological Park (c); Jaipur (c); Mahabodhi Temple Complex at Bodh Gaya (c); Manas Wildlife Sanctuary (n); Nanda Devi and Valley of Flowers National Parks (n); Khangchendzonga National Park (m); Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram (c); Sun Temple, Konârak (c); Kaziranga National Park (n); Churches and Convents of Goa (c); Great Living Chola Temples (c); Group of Monuments at Pattadakal (c); Buddhist Monuments at Sanchi (c); Humayun's Tomb, Delhi (c); Qutb Minar and its Monuments, Delhi (c); Great Himalayan National Park Conservation Area (n); Rani-ki-Vav (the Queen’s Stepwell) at Patan, Gujarat (c); Archaeological Site of Nalanda Mahavihara at Nalanda, Bihar (c); Historic City of Ahmadabad (c); Victorian Gothic and Art Deco Ensembles of Mumbai (c); Jaipur City, Rajasthan (c); Kakatiya Rudreshwara (Ramappa) Temple, Telangana (c); Moidams – the Mound-Burial System of the Ahom Dynasty (c); Maratha Military Landscapes of India (c)

## Economy
Economic overview: largest South Asian economy; strong, sustained GDP growth led by technology and service sectors, foreign investment, and improved regulatory framework; high poverty rate and income inequality; initiatives on infrastructure development, digitization, manufacturing, and financial access
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $14.244 trillion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $13.377 trillion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $12.251 trillion (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2024: 6.5% (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2023: 9.2% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2022: 7.6% (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2024: $9,800 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2023: $9,300 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2022: $8,600 (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $3.913 trillion (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024: 5% (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023: 5.6% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 6.7% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / agriculture: 16.4% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / industry: 24.5% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / services: 49.9% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / household consumption: 61.5% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / government consumption: 10.1% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in fixed capital: 29.6% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in inventories: 3% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / exports of goods and services: 21.2% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / imports of goods and services: -23.5% (2024 est.)
Agricultural products: sugarcane, rice, milk, wheat, bison milk, potatoes, vegetables, maize, bananas, onions (2023)
Industries: textiles, chemicals, food processing, steel, transportation equipment, cement, mining, petroleum, machinery, software, pharmaceuticals
Industrial production growth rate: 5.6% (2024 est.)
Labor force: 607.691 million (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2024: 4.3% (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2023: 4.2% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2022: 4.9% (2022 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / total: 16% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / male: 15.5% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / female: 17.6% (2024 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income / Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2022: 25.5 (2022 est.)
Average household expenditures / on food: 29.9% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Average household expenditures / on alcohol and tobacco: 2% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / lowest 10%: 4.5% (2022 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / highest 10%: 22.1% (2022 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2024: 3.5% of GDP (2024 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2023: 3.3% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2022: 3.3% of GDP (2022 est.)
Budget / revenues: $311.824 billion (2022 est.)
Budget / expenditures: $486.598 billion (2022 est.)
Public debt / Public debt 2018: 46.5% of GDP (2018 est.)
Taxes and other revenues: 6.7% (of GDP) (2022 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2024: -$32.428 billion (2024 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2023: -$31.962 billion (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2022: -$79.051 billion (2022 est.)
Exports / Exports 2024: $822.046 billion (2024 est.)
Exports / Exports 2023: $773.177 billion (2023 est.)
Exports / Exports 2022: $767.643 billion (2022 est.)
Exports - partners: USA 19%, UAE 7%, China 4%, Germany 3%, UK 3% (2023)
Exports - commodities: refined petroleum, packaged medicine, diamonds, broadcasting equipment, garments (2023)
Imports / Imports 2024: $923.081 billion (2024 est.)
Imports / Imports 2023: $859.507 billion (2023 est.)
Imports / Imports 2022: $902.304 billion (2022 est.)
Imports - partners: China 19%, Russia 10%, USA 6%, UAE 6%, Saudi Arabia 5% (2023)
Imports - commodities: crude petroleum, gold, coal, natural gas, integrated circuits (2023)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024: $643.043 billion (2024 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023: $627.793 billion (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $567.298 billion (2022 est.)
Debt - external / Debt - external 2023: $212.728 billion (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Currency: Indian rupees (INR) per US dollar -
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2024: 83.669 (2024 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2023: 82.599 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2022: 78.604 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2021: 73.918 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2020: 74.1 (2020 est.)

## Energy
Electricity access / electrification - total population: 99.2% (2022 est.)
Electricity access / electrification - urban areas: 100%
Electricity access / electrification - rural areas: 99.3%
Electricity / installed generating capacity: 499.136 million kW (2023 est.)
Electricity / consumption: 1.5 trillion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / exports: 9.529 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / imports: 7.843 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / transmission/distribution losses: 303.066 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / fossil fuels: 75.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / nuclear: 2.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / solar: 6.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / wind: 5.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / hydroelectricity: 8.2% 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: 20 (2025)
Nuclear energy / Number of nuclear reactors under construction: 7 (2025)
Nuclear energy / Net capacity of operational nuclear reactors: 6.92GW (2025 est.)
Nuclear energy / Percent of total electricity production: 3.1% (2023 est.)
Coal / production: 1.02 billion metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / consumption: 1.262 billion metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / exports: 1.632 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / imports: 243.488 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / proven reserves: 127.727 billion metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum / total petroleum production: 822,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Petroleum / refined petroleum consumption: 5.271 million bbl/day (2023 est.)
Petroleum / crude oil estimated reserves: 4.605 billion barrels (2021 est.)
Natural gas / production: 35.168 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / consumption: 62.196 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / exports: 91.921 million cubic meters (2019 est.)
Natural gas / imports: 29.337 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / proven reserves: 1.381 trillion cubic meters (2021 est.)
Energy consumption per capita / Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 25.179 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

## Communications
Telephones - fixed lines / total subscriptions: 27.455 million (2022 est.)
Telephones - fixed lines / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 2 (2023 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / total subscriptions: 1.15 billion (2024 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 79 (2024 est.)
Broadcast media: Doordarshan, India's public TV network, has a monopoly on terrestrial broadcasting and operates about 20 national, regional, and local services; a large number of privately owned TV stations are distributed by cable and satellite service providers; cable and satellite TV offer over 850 TV channels; government controls AM radio, with All India Radio operating domestic and external networks; news broadcasts via radio are limited to the All India Radio Network; since 2000, privately owned FM stations have been permitted and have increased rapidly (2020)
Internet country code: .in
Internet users / percent of population: 56% (2022 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / total: 39.3 million (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 2 (2022 est.)

## Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: VT
Airports: 315 (2025)
Heliports: 289 (2025)
Railways / total: 65,554 km (2014)
Railways / narrow gauge: 1,604 km (2014) 1.000-m gauge
Railways / broad gauge: 63,950 km (2014) (39, 329 km electrified)
Merchant marine / total: 1,859 (2023)
Merchant marine / by type: bulk carrier 66, container ship 22, general cargo 607, oil tanker 144, other 1020
Ports / total ports: 56 (2024)
Ports / large: 4
Ports / medium: 4
Ports / small: 13
Ports / very small: 30
Ports / size unknown: 5
Ports / ports with oil terminals: 18
Ports / key ports: Calcutta, Chennai (Madras), Jawaharlal Nehru Port (Nhava Shiva), Kattupalli Port, Kochi (Cochin), Mumbai (Bombay), New Mangalore, Vishakhapatnam

## Military and Security
Military and security forces: Indian Armed Forces (IAF): Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard Ministry of Home Affairs: Central Police Organization, Central Armed Police Forces (includes Assam Rifles, Border Security Force, Central Industrial Security Force, Central Reserve Police Force, Indo-Tibetan Border Police, National Security Guards, Sashastra Seema Bal) (2025)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2024: 2% of GDP (2024 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2023: 2.3% of GDP (2023 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2022: 2.1% of GDP (2022 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2021: 2.2% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2020: 2.5% of GDP (2020 est.)
Military and security service personnel strengths: information varies; approximately 1.5 million active Indian Armed Forces, including about 1.25 million in the Army (2025)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the military's inventory consists of Russian- and Soviet-origin equipment along with a smaller mix of Western and domestically produced arms; Russia continues to be the leading provider of arms to India, although in recent years India has increased acquisitions from other suppliers, including France, Israel, the UK, and the US; India's defense industry is capable of producing a range of air, land, missile, and naval weapons systems for both domestic use and export; it also produces weapons systems under license (2025)
Military service age and obligation: ages vary by branch of service and positions, but generally 17-27 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women; no conscription (2025)
Military deployments: 1,100 Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO); 200 Golan Heights (UNDOF); 900 Lebanon (UNIFIL); 2,400 South Sudan (UNMISS); 600 Sudan (UNISFA) (2025)
Military - note: the Indian military's primary mission is external/territorial defense while secondary missions include regional power projection, UN peacekeeping deployments, humanitarian operations, and support to internal security forces; it participates in multinational exercises and is one of the world's largest contributors to UN peacekeeping operations the military's chief external focuses are China and Pakistan; the short 1962 Sino-India War left in place one of the World’s longest disputed international borders--known as the Line of Actual Control (LAC)--resulting in occasional standoffs between Indian and Chinese security forces, including lethal clashes in 1975 and 2020; naval competition and influence in the Indian Ocean is also an area of interest India has fought four wars and several skirmishes with Pakistan; three of the wars have been over the disputed region of Jammu and Kashmir, the status of which has been unsettled since the UK's 1947 withdrawal and the partition and independence of India and Pakistan; a fragile cease-fire in Kashmir was reached in 2003, revised in 2018, and reaffirmed in 2021, although the militarized Line of Control which serves as the border remains contested, and India has accused Pakistan of backing armed separatists and terrorist organizations in Jammu and Kashmir where Indian military and security forces have conducted counterinsurgency operations since the 1980s; in the Spring of 2025, India held Pakistan responsible for a terrorist attack in India-controlled Kashmir and retaliated, sparking a brief cross-border conflict involving aircraft, artillery, drone, and missile strikes the Kashmir dispute also includes the Siachen Glacier, located in the Karakoram Mountain Range, which was seized by India in 1984 with Pakistan attempting to retake the area several times between 1985 and 1995; despite the 2003 cease-fire, both sides continue to maintain a permanent military presence there with outposts at altitudes above 20,000 feet (over 6,000 meters) where most casualties are due to extreme weather and the hazards of operating in the high mountain terrain of the world’s highest conflict, including avalanches, exposure, and altitude sickness (2025)

## Space
Space agency/agencies: Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO; originally established in 1962 as the Indian National Committee for Space Research (INCOSPAR); renamed ISRO in 1969); Defense Space Agency (DSA; established 2019) (2025)
Space launch site(s): Satish Dhawan Space Center (aka Sriharikota Range; located in Andhra Pradesh); Vikram Sarabhai Space Center (Kerala) (2025)
Space program overview: has one of the world&rsquo;s largest space programs; designs, builds, launches, operates, and tracks the full spectrum of satellites, including communications, navigation, remote sensing (RS), and scientific/technology; designs, builds, and launches rockets, space/satellite launch vehicles (SLVs), and lunar/interplanetary probes; launches satellites for foreign partners; researching and developing additional technologies and capabilities; developing astronaut program and human flight capabilities (with assistance from Russia and the US); has space-related agreements with the ESA and more than 50 countries, including China, France, Germany, Japan, Russia, and the US; participates in international projects such as the Square Kilometer Array radio telescope; the Department of Space administers two government-controlled space industry corporations; has a growing private space sector (2025)
Key space-program milestones: 1963 - first sounding (research) rocket launched 1975 - first domestically made scientific satellite (Aryabhata) launched by Soviet Union 1979 - first experimental remote sensing (RS) satellite (Bhaskara-I) launched by Soviet Union 1980 - first successful launch of satellite (Rohini) on Indian satellite launch vehicle (SLV) 1984 - first Indian in space on a Soviet rocket 1988 - first operational RS satellite (IRS-1A) launched by Soviet Union 1994 - first successful launch of Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV), India’s premier SLV 2008 - first lunar orbiter/probe (Chandrayaan-1) launched, reached lunar orbit, and sent a probe to the surface of the Moon 2014 - first interplanetary probe (Mangalyaan) reached orbit around Mars 2018 - Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (INRSS) became operational 2019 - launched lunar orbiter/probe (Chandrayaan-2) with lander and rover (lander lost when it crash-landed on Moon’s surface) 2023 - successfully landed uncrewed lander/rover mission (Chandrayaan-3) on Moon's surface 2024 - launched satellite (XPoSat) to study black holes and placed solar observatory spacecraft (Aditya-L1) in orbital position to study the Sun 2025 - first docking of two orbiting satellites and sent its first astronaut to the International Space Station

## Terrorism
Terrorist group(s): al-Qa’ida; al-Qa’ida in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS); Harakat ul-Mujahidin; Harakat ul-Jihad-i-Islami (HUJI); Hizbul Mujahideen; Indian Mujahedeen; Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS) – India (ISI); Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM); Lashkar-e Tayyiba (LeT); Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC)/Qods Force; The Resistance Front (TRF)

## Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons / refugees: 250,006 (2024 est.)
Refugees and internally displaced persons / IDPs: 642,610 (2024 est.)
Refugees and internally displaced persons / stateless persons: 23,262 (2024 est.)
Illicit drugs / USG identification: major illicit drug-producing and/or drug-transit country major precursor-chemical producer (2025)

=== none ===

## Introduction
Background: Formerly administered as part of the British Crown Colony of Mauritius, the British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT) was established as an overseas territory of the UK in 1965. A number of the islands in the territory were later transferred to the Seychelles when it gained independence in 1976. Subsequently, BIOT has consisted of the six main island groups that make up the Chagos Archipelago. Only Diego Garcia, the largest and most southerly of the islands, is inhabited. It contains a joint UK-US naval support facility and hosts one of four dedicated ground antennas that assist in the operation of the Global Positioning System (GPS) navigation system -- the others are on Kwajalein (Marshall Islands); at Cape Canaveral, Florida (US); and on Ascension Island (Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunha). The US Air Force also operates a telescope array on Diego Garcia as part of the Ground-Based Electro-Optical Deep Space Surveillance System (GEODSS) for tracking orbital debris, which can be a hazard to spacecraft and astronauts. Between 1967 and 1973, the former agricultural workers who lived on the islands were relocated, primarily to Mauritius but also to the Seychelles. Negotiations with the UK between 1971 and 1982 resulted in the establishment of a trust fund to compensate the displaced islanders, known as Chagossians. Beginning in 1998, the islanders pursued a series of lawsuits against the British Government, seeking further compensation and the right to return to the territory. British court rulings in 2006 and 2007 invalidated immigration policies that had excluded the islanders from the archipelago, but in 2008, the House of Lords -- the final court of appeal in the UK -- ruled in favor of the British Government by overturning the lower court rulings and finding no right of return for the Chagossians. In 2015, the Permanent Court of Arbitration unanimously held that the marine protected area that the UK declared around the Chagos Archipelago in 2010 violated the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. In 2019, the International Court of Justice ruled in an advisory opinion that Britain’s decolonization of Mauritius was not lawful because of continued Chagossian claims. A non-binding 2019 UN General Assembly vote demanded that Britain end its “colonial administration” of the Chagos Archipelago and that it be returned to Mauritius. On 22 May 2025, the United Kingdom and Mauritius signed an agreement that will lead to the transfer of sovereignty of the Chagos Archipelago to Mauritius. Under the agreement, the United Kingdom will lease Diego Garcia from Mauritius for 99 years and maintain full operational control of the joint UK-US military base.

## Geography
Location: archipelago in the Indian Ocean, south of India, about halfway between Africa and Indonesia
Geographic coordinates: 6 00 S, 71 30 E
Map references: Political Map of the World
Area / total: 60 sq km
Area / land: 60 sq km (44 Diego Garcia)
Area / water: 54,340 sq km
Area - comparative: land area is about one-third the size of Washington, D.C.
Land boundaries / total: 0 km
Coastline: 698 km
Maritime claims / territorial sea: 12 nm
Maritime claims / Environment (Protection and Preservation) Zone: 200 nm
Climate: tropical marine; hot, humid, moderated by trade winds
Terrain: flat and low coral atolls (most areas do not exceed 2 m, or 6.6 ft, in elevation); sits atop the submarine volcanic Chagos-Laccadive Ridge
Elevation / highest point: ocean-side dunes on Diego Garcia 9 m
Elevation / lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
Natural resources: coconuts, fish, sugarcane
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: none; located outside routes of Indian Ocean cyclones
Geography - note: note 1: archipelago of 55 islands; Diego Garcia, the largest and southernmost island, occupies a strategic location in the central Indian Ocean note 2: Diego Garcia is the only inhabited island of the BIOT

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

## Environment
Environmental issues: wastewater discharge into the lagoon on Diego Garcia
Climate: tropical marine; hot, humid, moderated by trade winds
Land use / agricultural land: 0% (2018 est.)
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: British Indian Ocean Territory
Country name / conventional short form: none
Country name / abbreviation: BIOT
Country name / etymology: self-descriptive name specifying the territory's affiliation and location
Dependency status: overseas territory of the UK; administered by a commissioner, resident in the Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office in London
Capital / name: administered from London; often regarded as being on Diego Garcia
Capital / geographic coordinates: 7 18S, 12 24E
Capital / time difference: UTC+6 (12 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Legal system: the laws of the UK apply
Constitution / history: British Indian Ocean Territory (Constitution) Order 2004
Executive branch / chief of state: King CHARLES III (since 8 September 2022)
Executive branch / head of government: Commissioner Nishi DHOLAKIA (since 16 December 2024); Administrator Bob FAIRWEATHER; both reside in the UK and are represented by Commander Andrew WILLIAMS, RN, the officer commanding British Forces on Diego Garcia (since January 2025)
Executive branch / cabinet: NA
Executive branch / election/appointment process: the monarchy is hereditary; commissioner and administrator appointed by the monarch
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
Flag: description: white with six wavy blue horizontal stripes; the UK flag is in the upper-left quadrant; the striped section has a palm tree and yellow crown (the territory's symbols) centered on the right half of the flag meaning: the wavy stripes represent the Indian Ocean; the six blue stripes may stand for the six main atolls of the archipelago
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 island territory economy; economic activity mainly on Diego Garcia with national military installations; recently settled disputes with Mauritius have increased oil exports; established marine reserve has limited commercial fishing
Exports - partners: Singapore 86%, Pakistan 8%, USA 1%, South Africa 1%, Czechia 1% (2023)
Exports - commodities: fish (2023)
Imports - partners: Greece 52%, Singapore 38%, USA 4%, Panama 2%, UAE 2% (2023)
Imports - commodities: refined petroleum, animal products, aluminum structures, insulated wire, prefabricated buildings (2023)
Exchange rates: the US dollar is used

## Communications
Broadcast media: Armed Forces Radio and Television Service (AFRTS) broadcasts over 3 frequencies for US and UK military personnel stationed on the islands
Internet country code: .io
Communications - note: Diego Garcia hosts one of four dedicated ground antennas that assist in the operation of the Global Positioning System (GPS) navigation system (the others are on Kwajalein (Marshall Islands), at Cape Canaveral, Florida (US), and on Ascension Island (Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunha))

## 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: Diego Garcia

## Military and Security
Military and security forces: no regular military forces
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of the UK; on 22 May 2025, the United Kingdom and Mauritius signed an agreement that will lead to the transfer of sovereignty of the Chagos Archipelago to Mauritius; under the agreement, the United Kingdom will lease Diego Garcia from Mauritius for 99 years and maintain full operational control of the joint UK-US military base

## Transnational Issues

=== Maldives ===

## Introduction
Background: A sultanate since the 12th century, the Maldives became a British protectorate in 1887 and a republic in 1968, three years after independence. President Maumoon Abdul GAYOOM dominated Maldives' political scene for 30 years, elected to six successive terms by single-party referendums. After political demonstrations in the capital Male in 2003, GAYOOM and his government pledged to embark upon a process of liberalization and democratic reforms, including a more representative political system and expanded political freedoms. Political parties were legalized in 2005. In 2008, a constituent assembly -- termed the "Special Majlis" -- finalized a new constitution ratified by GAYOOM. The first-ever presidential elections under a multi-candidate, multi-party system were held later that year. GAYOOM was defeated in a runoff by Mohamed NASHEED, a political activist whom the regime had jailed several years earlier. In 2012, after several weeks of street protests in response to a top judge's arrest, NASHEED resigned the presidency and handed over power to Vice President Mohammed WAHEED Hassan Maniku. A government-appointed Commission of National Inquiry concluded that there was no evidence of a coup, but NASHEED contended that police and military personnel forced him to resign. NASHEED, WAHEED, and Abdulla YAMEEN Abdul Gayoom ran in the 2013 elections with YAMEEN ultimately winning the presidency after three rounds of voting. In 2018, YAMEEN lost his reelection bid to parliamentarian Ibrahim Mohamed SOLIH. YAMEEN was arrested and jailed in 2022 on corruption charges. Maldives' fourth democratic election was held in September 2023. The winner, Male City Mayor Dr. Mohamed MUIZZU, campaigned on a platform of Maldivian sovereignty, vowing to remove Indian military personnel from the country. MUIZZU represents a joint Progressive Pary of Maldives and People's National Congress (PPM/PNC) coalition.

## Geography
Location: Southern Asia, group of atolls in the Indian Ocean, south-southwest of India
Geographic coordinates: 3 15 N, 73 00 E
Map references: Asia
Area / total: 298 sq km
Area / land: 298 sq km
Area / water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative: about 1.7 times the size of Washington, D.C.
Land boundaries / total: 0 km
Coastline: 644 km
Maritime claims / territorial sea: 12 nm
Maritime claims / contiguous zone: 24 nm
Maritime claims / exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate: tropical; hot, humid; dry, northeast monsoon (November to March); rainy, southwest monsoon (June to August)
Terrain: flat coral atolls, with white sandy beaches; sits atop the submarine volcanic Chagos-Laccadive Ridge
Elevation / highest point: 8th tee, golf course, Villingi Island 5 m
Elevation / lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
Elevation / mean elevation: 2 m
Natural resources: fish
Land use / agricultural land: 19.8% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 13.4% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 3% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 3.4% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 12.5% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 67.7% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land: 0 sq km (2012)
Population distribution: about a third of the population lives in the centrally located capital city of Male and almost a tenth in southern Addu City; the remainder of the populace is spread over the 200 or so populated islands of the archipelago
Natural hazards: tsunamis; low elevation of islands makes them sensitive to sea level rise
Geography - note: smallest Asian country; archipelago of 1,190 coral islands grouped into 26 atolls (200 inhabited islands, plus 80 islands with tourist resorts); strategic location along major sea lanes in Indian Ocean

## People and Society
Population / total: 388,858 (2024 est.)
Population / male: 197,739
Population / female: 191,119
Nationality / noun: Maldivian(s)
Nationality / adjective: Maldivian
Ethnic groups: homogeneous mixture of Sinhalese, Dravidian, Arab, Australasian, and African resulting from historical changes in regional hegemony over marine trade routes
Languages: Dhivehi (official, closely related to Sinhala, script derived from Arabic), English (spoken by most government officials)
Religions: Sunni Muslim (official)
Age structure / 0-14 years: 22.4% (male 44,321/female 42,626)
Age structure / 15-64 years: 71.5% (male 143,021/female 135,044)
Age structure / 65 years and over: 6.1% (2024 est.) (male 10,397/female 13,449)
Dependency ratios / total dependency ratio: 39.8 (2024 est.)
Dependency ratios / youth dependency ratio: 31.3 (2024 est.)
Dependency ratios / elderly dependency ratio: 8.6 (2024 est.)
Dependency ratios / potential support ratio: 11.7 (2024 est.)
Median age / total: 32.4 years (2025 est.)
Median age / male: 31.3 years
Median age / female: 32.4 years
Population growth rate: -0.24% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 14.77 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 4.3 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: -12.85 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution: about a third of the population lives in the centrally located capital city of Male and almost a tenth in southern Addu City; the remainder of the populace is spread over the 200 or so populated islands of the archipelago
Urbanization / urban population: 42% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 2.34% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 177,000 MALE (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: 1.06 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 65 years and over: 0.77 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / total population: 1.04 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth: 23.2 years (2016/17 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio: 32 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Infant mortality rate / total: 23.7 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Infant mortality rate / male: 27.3 deaths/1,000 live births
Infant mortality rate / female: 21.3 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth / total population: 77.4 years (2024 est.)
Life expectancy at birth / male: 75.1 years
Life expectancy at birth / female: 79.9 years
Total fertility rate: 1.7 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 0.83 (2025 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: urban: urban: 99.1% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: rural: rural: 99.9% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: total: total: 99.6% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: urban: urban: 0.9% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: rural: rural: 0.1% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: total: total: 0.4% of population (2022 est.)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 10% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 18.2% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density: 2.24 physicians/1,000 population (2019)
Hospital bed density: 5 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: 8.6% (2016)
Alcohol consumption per capita / total: 1.38 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / beer: 0.33 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / wine: 0.59 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.)
Tobacco use / total: 28% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / male: 41.5% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / female: 9.2% (2025 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 14.8% (2017 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49): 68.4% (2022 est.)
Child marriage / women married by age 15: 0% (2017)
Child marriage / women married by age 18: 2.2% (2017)
Child marriage / men married by age 18: 2.2% (2017)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% GDP): 5.2% of GDP (2023 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% national budget): 9.6% national budget (2025 est.)
Literacy / total population: 98.2% (2019 est.)
Literacy / male: 98.2% (2019 est.)
Literacy / female: 98.3% (2019 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / total: 13 years (2022 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / male: 11 years (2022 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / female: 15 years (2022 est.)

## Environment
Environmental issues: rising sea levels; depletion of freshwater aquifers; inadequate sewage treatment; coral reef bleaching
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; dry, northeast monsoon (November to March); rainy, southwest monsoon (June to August)
Land use / agricultural land: 19.8% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 13.4% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 3% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 3.4% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 12.5% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 67.7% (2023 est.)
Urbanization / urban population: 42% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 2.34% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / total emissions: 1.908 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from petroleum and other liquids: 1.908 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: 211,500 tons (2024 est.)
Waste and recycling / percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 20.9% (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / municipal: 5.6 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / industrial: 300,000 cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / agricultural: 268,194 cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total renewable water resources: 30 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: Republic of Maldives
Country name / conventional short form: Maldives
Country name / local long form: Dhivehi Raajjeyge Jumhooriyyaa
Country name / local short form: Dhivehi Raajje
Country name / etymology: the origin of the name is obscure but may derive from the Sanskrit word maladvipa , meaning "garland of islands;" the local name, Dhivehi Raajje, means "land of the Dhivehi people" in the local language
Government type: presidential republic
Capital / name: Mal&eacute;
Capital / geographic coordinates: 4 10 N, 73 30 E
Capital / time difference: UTC+5 (10 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Capital / etymology: the name may come from the Sanskrit word mala , or "garland"
Administrative divisions: 21 administrative atolls ( atholhuthah , singular - atholhu ); Addu (Addu City), Ariatholhu Dhekunuburi (South Ari Atoll), Ariatholhu Uthuruburi (North Ari Atoll), Faadhippolhu, Felidhuatholhu (Felidhu Atoll), Fuvammulah, Hahdhunmathi, Huvadhuatholhu Dhekunuburi (South Huvadhu Atoll), Huvadhuatholhu Uthuruburi (North Huvadhu Atoll), Kolhumadulu, Maale (Male), Maaleatholhu (Male Atoll), Maalhosmadulu Dhekunuburi (South Maalhosmadulu), Maalhosmadulu Uthuruburi (North Maalhosmadulu), Miladhunmadulu Dhekunuburi (South Miladhunmadulu), Miladhunmadulu Uthuruburi (North Miladhunmadulu), Mulakatholhu (Mulaku Atoll), Nilandheatholhu Dhekunuburi (South Nilandhe Atoll), Nilandheatholhu Uthuruburi (North Nilandhe Atoll), Thiladhunmathee Dhekunuburi (South Thiladhunmathi), Thiladhunmathee Uthuruburi (North Thiladhunmathi)
Legal system: Islamic (sharia) legal system with English common law influences, primarily in commercial matters
Constitution / history: many previous; latest ratified 7 August 2008
Constitution / amendment process: proposed by Parliament; passage requires at least three-quarters majority vote by its membership and the signature of the president of the republic; passage of amendments to constitutional articles on rights and freedoms and the terms of office of Parliament and of the president also requires a 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 Maldives
Citizenship / dual citizenship recognized: yes
Citizenship / residency requirement for naturalization: unknown
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch / chief of state: President Mohamed MUIZZU (since 17 November 2023)
Executive branch / head of government: President Mohamed MUIZZU (since 17 November 2023)
Executive branch / cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the president, approved by People's Majlis
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 September 2023, with runoff on 30 September 2023
Executive branch / election results: 2023: Mohamed MUIZZU elected president in the second round; percent of vote in first round - Mohamed MUIZZU (PNC) 46.1%, Ibrahim Mohamed SOLIH (MDP) 39.1%, Ilyas LABEEB (DEMS) 7.1%, other 7.7%; percent of vote in the second round - Mohamed MUIZZU 54%, Ibrahim Mohamed SOLIH 46%
Executive branch / expected date of next election: 2028
Legislative branch / legislature name: People's Majlis (Majlis)
Legislative branch / legislative structure: unicameral
Legislative branch / number of seats: 93 (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: 4/21/2024
Legislative branch / parties elected and seats per party: People's National Congress (PNC) (66); Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) (12); Independents (11); Other (4)
Legislative branch / percentage of women in chamber: 3.2%
Legislative branch / expected date of next election: April 2029
Judicial branch / highest court(s): Supreme Court (consists of the chief justice and 6 justices)
Judicial branch / judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court judges appointed by the president in consultation with the Judicial Service Commission -- a 10-member body of selected senior government officials and the public -- and on confirmation by voting members of the People's Majlis; judges serve until mandatory retirement at age 70
Judicial branch / subordinate courts: High Court; Criminal, Civil, Family, Juvenile, and Drug Courts; Magistrate Courts (on each of the inhabited islands)
Political parties: Adhaalath (Justice) Party or AP Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party or DRP Maldives Development Alliance or MDA Maldivian Democratic Party or MDP Maldives Third Way Democrats or MTD People's National Congress or PNC People's National Front Republican (Jumhooree) Party or JP
Diplomatic representation in the US / chief of mission: Ambassador Abdul GHAFOOR Mohamed (since 15 June 2023)
Diplomatic representation in the US / chancery: 1100 H Street NW, Suite 250, Washington, D.C. 20005
Diplomatic representation in the US / telephone: [1] (202) 516-5458
Diplomatic representation in the US / email address and website: WashingtonInfo@foreign.gov.mv The Embassy (mdvmission.gov.mv)
Diplomatic representation from the US / chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charg&eacute; d&rsquo;Affaires Chunnong SAEGER (since January 2026)
Diplomatic representation from the US / embassy: 210 Galle Road, Colombo 03, Sri Lanka; note - as of early November 2023, the US has no consular or diplomatic offices in Maldives; the US Mission to Maldives operates from US Embassy Colombo, Sri Lanka
Diplomatic representation from the US / telephone: [94] (11) 249-8500
Diplomatic representation from the US / FAX: [94] (11) 243-7345
Diplomatic representation from the US / email address and website: Homepage - U.S. Embassy in Maldives
International organization participation: ADB, AOSIS, C, CP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), ICCt, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ITU, MIGA, NAM, OIC, OPCW, SAARC, SACEP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Independence: 26 July 1965 (from the UK)
National holiday: Independence Day, 26 July (1965)
Flag: description: red with a large green rectangle in the center and a vertical white crescent moon centered on the rectangle meaning: red stands for those who have sacrificed their lives to defend the country, green for peace and prosperity, and the white crescent is a symbol of Islam
National symbol(s): coconut palm, yellowfin tuna
National color(s): red, green, white
National anthem(s) / title: "Gaumee Salaam" (National Salute)
National anthem(s) / lyrics/music: Mohamed Jameel DIDI/Wannakuwattawaduge DON AMARADEVA
National anthem(s) / history: lyrics adopted 1948, music adopted 1972; the anthem has seven verses, but only the first two are commonly used

## Economy
Economic overview: upper middle-income Indian Ocean island economy; major tourism, fishing, and shipping industries; high public debt; systemic corruption; crippled by COVID-19; ongoing deflation; poverty has tripled since pandemic began
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $12.325 billion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $11.723 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $11.194 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2024: 5.1% (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2023: 4.7% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2022: 13.8% (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2024: $23,400 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2023: $22,300 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2022: $21,400 (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $6.975 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: 2.9% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 2.3% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / agriculture: 3% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / industry: 9% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / services: 73.8% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / household consumption: 51.4% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / government consumption: 17.1% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in fixed capital: 35% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in inventories: -2% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / exports of goods and services: 74.4% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / imports of goods and services: -75.7% (2023 est.)
Agricultural products: fruits, vegetables, nuts, other meats, papayas, bananas, tomatoes, maize, pulses, chillies/peppers (2023)
Industries: tourism, fish processing, shipping, boat building, coconut processing, woven mats, rope, handicrafts, coral and sand mining
Industrial production growth rate: -2.7% (2024 est.)
Labor force: 270,300 (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2024: 4.7% (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2023: 4.3% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2022: 4.5% (2022 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / total: 16.1% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / male: 20% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / female: 9.5% (2024 est.)
Population below poverty line: 5.4% (2019 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income / Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2019: 29.3 (2019 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / lowest 10%: 3.8% (2019 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / highest 10%: 23.3% (2019 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: $1.407 billion (2021 est.)
Budget / expenditures: $1.939 billion (2021 est.)
Public debt / Public debt 2016: 61.7% of GDP (2016 est.)
Taxes and other revenues: 19.5% (of GDP) (2021 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2024: -$1.257 billion (2024 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2023: -$1.4 billion (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2022: -$1.042 billion (2022 est.)
Exports / Exports 2024: $5.413 billion (2024 est.)
Exports / Exports 2023: $4.88 billion (2023 est.)
Exports / Exports 2022: $5.096 billion (2022 est.)
Exports - partners: Thailand 32%, India 21%, Singapore 9%, UK 7%, Germany 5% (2023)
Exports - commodities: fish, aircraft, refined petroleum, scrap iron, natural gas (2023)
Imports / Imports 2024: $5.344 billion (2024 est.)
Imports / Imports 2023: $4.984 billion (2023 est.)
Imports / Imports 2022: $4.939 billion (2022 est.)
Imports - partners: India 15%, UAE 15%, Oman 14%, China 12%, Singapore 8% (2023)
Imports - commodities: refined petroleum, plastic products, aircraft, granite, ships (2023)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024: $673.886 million (2024 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023: $590.523 million (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $832.094 million (2022 est.)
Debt - external / Debt - external 2023: $3.113 billion (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Currency: rufiyaa (MVR) per US dollar -
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2024: 15.389 (2024 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2023: 15.387 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2022: 15.387 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2021: 15.373 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2020: 15.381 (2020 est.)

## Energy
Electricity access / electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)
Electricity / installed generating capacity: 432,000 kW (2023 est.)
Electricity / consumption: 821.397 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / transmission/distribution losses: 25.867 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / fossil fuels: 93.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / solar: 6.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / wind: 0.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Coal / imports: 8 metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum / refined petroleum consumption: 13,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Energy consumption per capita / Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 50.886 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

## Communications
Telephones - fixed lines / total subscriptions: 13,000 (2023 est.)
Telephones - fixed lines / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 2 (2023 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / total subscriptions: 745,000 (2023 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 137 (2022 est.)
Broadcast media: formerly a state-owned radio and TV monopoly; now 4 state-operated and 7 privately owned TV stations; 4 state-operated and 7 privately owned radio stations (2019)
Internet country code: .mv
Internet users / percent of population: 85% (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / total: 98,000 (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 19 (2023 est.)

## Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: 8Q
Airports: 20 (2025)
Merchant marine / total: 82 (2023)
Merchant marine / by type: general cargo 30, oil tanker 20, other 32
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: Male

## Military and Security
Military and security forces: Maldives National Defense Force (MNDF): Coast Guard, Marine Corps, Air Corps, Fire and Rescue Service Ministry of Homeland Security and Technology (MOHST): Maldives Police Service (2025)
Military expenditures: not available
Military and security service personnel strengths: approximately 3-4,000 active Defense Forces (2025)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the Defense Force has a limited inventory consisting of mostly secondhand or donated equipment from suppliers such as Germany, India, Japan, T&uuml;rkiye, and the UK (2025)
Military service age and obligation: 18-25 years of age for voluntary service; no conscription (2025)
Military - note: the Maldives National Defense Force (MNDF) is responsible for defending and safeguarding the Maldives' territorial integrity, economic exclusion zone, and people; it is also responsible for disaster relief, and if requested, assisting the Maldives Police Service in maintaining internal security and law and order; maritime security is its largest focus; the Indian Armed Forces have long been the MNDF's most important partner (2025)

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

## Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons / IDPs: 54 (2023 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 Maldives 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/maldives/

=== Nepal ===

## Introduction
Background: During the late 18th and early 19th centuries, the principality of Gorkha united many of the other principalities and states of the sub-Himalayan region into a Nepali Kingdom. Nepal retained its independence after the Anglo-Nepalese War of 1814-16, and the subsequent peace treaty laid the foundations for two centuries of amicable relations between Britain and Nepal. In 1951, the Nepali monarch ended the century-old system of hereditary rule and instituted a cabinet system that brought political parties into the government. That arrangement lasted until 1960, when political parties were again banned, but it was reinstated in 1990 with the establishment of a multiparty democracy within the framework of a constitutional monarchy. A Maoist-led insurgency broke out in 1996. During the ensuing 10-year civil war between Maoist and government forces, the monarchy dissolved the cabinet and parliament. In 2001, Crown Prince DIPENDRA first massacred the royal family and then shot himself. His uncle GYANENDRA became king, and the monarchy reassumed absolute power the next year. A peace accord in 2006 led to the promulgation of an interim constitution in 2007. After a nationwide Constituent Assembly (CA) election in 2008, the newly formed CA declared Nepal a federal democratic republic, abolished the monarchy, and elected the country's first president. When the CA failed to draft a Supreme Court-mandated constitution, then-Prime Minister Baburam BHATTARAI dissolved the CA. An interim government held elections in 2013, in which the Nepali Congress (NC) won the largest share of seats. In 2014, NC formed a coalition government with the second-place Communist Party of Nepal-Unified Marxist-Leninist (UML). Nepal's new constitution came into effect in 2015, at which point the CA became the Parliament and Khagda Prasad Sharma OLI the first post-constitution prime minister (2015-16). He resigned ahead of a no-confidence motion, and Parliament elected Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist (CPN-M) leader Pushpa Kamal DAHAL as prime minister. The parties headed by OLI and DAHAL ran in coalition and swept the parliamentary elections in 2017, and OLI was sworn in as prime minister in 2018. OLI's efforts to dissolve parliament and hold elections were declared unconstitutional in 2021, and the opposition-supported NC leader Sher Bahadur DEUBA was named prime minister. The NC won a majority of seats in the parliamentary elections in 2022, but DAHAL then broke with the ruling coalition and partnered with OLI and the CPN-UML to become prime minister. DAHAL's first cabinet lasted about two months, until OLI withdrew his support over disagreements about ministerial assignments. In early 2023, DAHAL survived a vote of confidence and formed a coalition with the NC to remain prime minister.

## Geography
Location: Southern Asia, between China and India
Geographic coordinates: 28 00 N, 84 00 E
Map references: Asia
Area / total: 147,181 sq km
Area / land: 143,351 sq km
Area / water: 3,830 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly larger than New York State
Land boundaries / total: 3,159 km
Land boundaries / border countries: China 1,389 km; India 1,770 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
Climate: varies from cool summers and severe winters in north to subtropical summers and mild winters in south
Terrain: Tarai or flat river plain of the Ganges in south; central hill region with rugged Himalayas in north
Elevation / highest point: Mount Everest (highest peak in Asia and highest point on earth above sea level) 8,849 m
Elevation / lowest point: Kanchan Kalan 70 m
Elevation / mean elevation: 2,565 m
Natural resources: quartz, water, timber, hydropower, scenic beauty, small deposits of lignite, copper, cobalt, iron ore
Land use / agricultural land: 26.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 12.6% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 1% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 12.5% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 43.5% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 27.7% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land: 12,090 sq km (2022)
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)
Major aquifers: Indus-Ganges-Brahmaputra Basin
Population distribution: most of the population is divided nearly equally between a concentration in the southern-most plains of the Tarai region and the central hilly region; overall density is low
Natural hazards: severe thunderstorms; flooding; landslides; drought and famine depending on the timing, intensity, and duration of the summer monsoons
Geography - note: landlocked; strategic location between China and India; contains eight of world's 10 highest peaks, including Mount Everest and Kanchenjunga -- the world's tallest and third-tallest mountains -- on the borders with China and India, respectively

## People and Society
Population / total: 31,334,402 (2025 est.)
Population / male: 15,352,706
Population / female: 15,981,696
Nationality / noun: Nepali (singular and plural)
Nationality / adjective: Nepali
Ethnic groups: Chhettri 16.5%, Brahman-Hill 11.3%, Magar 6.9%, Tharu 6.2%, Tamang 5.6%, Bishwokarma 5%, Musalman 4.9%, Newar 4.6%, Yadav 4.2%, Rai 2.2%, Pariyar 1.9%, Gurung 1.9%, Thakuri 1.7%, Mijar 1.6%, Teli 1.5%, Yakthung/Limbu 1.4%, Chamar/Harijan/Ram 1.4%, Koiri/Kushwaha 1.2%, other 20% (2021 est.)
Languages / Languages: Nepali (official) 44.9%, Maithali 11.1%, Bhojpuri 6.2%, Tharu 5.9%, Tamang 4.9%, Bajjika 3.9%, Avadhi 3%, Nepalbhasha (Newari) 3%, Magar Dhut 2.8%, Doteli 1.7%, Urdu 1.4%, Yakthung/Limbu 1.2%, Gurung 1.1%, other 8.9% (2021 est.)
Languages / major-language sample(s): विश्व तथ्य पुस्तक,आधारभूत जानकारीको लागि अपरिहार्य स्रोत (Nepali) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
Religions: Hindu 81.2%, Buddhist 8.2%, Muslim 5.1%, Kirat 3.2%, Christian 1.8%; less than 1%: Prakriti, Bon, Jains, Sikh (2021 est.)
Age structure / 0-14 years: 25.8% (male 4,125,244/female 3,909,135)
Age structure / 15-64 years: 67.8% (male 10,153,682/female 10,957,011)
Age structure / 65 years and over: 6.4% (2024 est.) (male 961,717/female 1,015,598)
Dependency ratios / total dependency ratio: 46.8 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / youth dependency ratio: 37.2 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / elderly dependency ratio: 9.6 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / potential support ratio: 10.4 (2025 est.)
Median age / total: 28.1 years (2025 est.)
Median age / male: 26.5 years
Median age / female: 28.6 years
Population growth rate: 0.66% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 16.66 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 5.62 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: -4.46 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution: most of the population is divided nearly equally between a concentration in the southern-most plains of the Tarai region and the central hilly region; overall density is low
Urbanization / urban population: 21.9% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 3.09% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 1.571 million KATHMANDU (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: 0.93 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 65 years and over: 0.95 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth: 20.4 years (2016 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio: 142 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Infant mortality rate / total: 23.4 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Infant mortality rate / male: 25.2 deaths/1,000 live births
Infant mortality rate / female: 22.7 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth / total population: 73 years (2024 est.)
Life expectancy at birth / male: 72.2 years
Life expectancy at birth / female: 73.7 years
Total fertility rate: 1.82 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 0.88 (2025 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: urban: urban: 90% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: rural: rural: 91.6% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: total: total: 91.2% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: urban: urban: 10% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: rural: rural: 8.4% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: total: total: 8.8% 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% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density: 1.01 physicians/1,000 population (2023)
Hospital bed density: 0.4 beds/1,000 population (2021 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: urban: urban: 96.1% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: rural: rural: 89.2% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: total: total: 90.7% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: urban: urban: 3.9% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: rural: rural: 10.8% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: total: total: 9.3% of population (2022 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 4.1% (2016)
Alcohol consumption per capita / total: 0.36 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / beer: 0.22 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / wine: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / spirits: 0.13 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / other alcohols: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Tobacco use / total: 22.9% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / male: 40.3% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / female: 7.6% (2025 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 18.3% (2022 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49): 75.1% (2022 est.)
Child marriage / women married by age 15: 5.8% (2022)
Child marriage / women married by age 18: 34.9% (2022)
Child marriage / men married by age 18: 7% (2022)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% GDP): 3.7% of GDP (2024 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% national budget): 10.8% national budget (2025 est.)
Literacy / total population: 68.7% (2019 est.)
Literacy / male: 79.8% (2019 est.)
Literacy / female: 59.4% (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: 14 years (2023 est.)

## Environment
Environmental issues: deforestation (overuse of wood for fuel and lack of alternatives); forest degradation; soil erosion; contaminated water from human and animal wastes, agricultural runoff, and industrial effluents; unmanaged solid waste; wildlife conservation; air pollution from vehicular emissions
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: Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Marine Life Conservation
Climate: varies from cool summers and severe winters in north to subtropical summers and mild winters in south
Land use / agricultural land: 26.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 12.6% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 1% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 12.5% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 43.5% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 27.7% (2023 est.)
Urbanization / urban population: 21.9% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 3.09% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / total emissions: 11.357 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from coal and metallurgical coke: 2.025 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from petroleum and other liquids: 9.332 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Particulate matter emissions: 36.9 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Waste and recycling / municipal solid waste generated annually: 1.769 million tons (2024 est.)
Waste and recycling / percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 4.6% (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / municipal: 147.6 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / industrial: 29.5 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / agricultural: 9.32 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total renewable water resources: 210.2 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: none
Country name / conventional short form: Nepal
Country name / local long form: none
Country name / local short form: Nepal
Country name / etymology: the name probably comes from the Sanskrit term nepala , from the words for "fly down" and "house," which would refer to the villages at the base of the mountains
Government type: federal parliamentary republic
Capital / name: Kathmandu
Capital / geographic coordinates: 27 43 N, 85 19 E
Capital / time difference: UTC+5.75 (10.75 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Capital / etymology: the name comes from the Nepalese words kath (wooden) and mandu (temple), referring to the local temples that are often still built from wood
Administrative divisions: 7 provinces ( pradesh , singular - pradesh ); Bagmati, Gandaki, Karnali, Koshi, Lumbini, Madhesh, Sudurpashchim
Legal system: English common law and Hindu legal concepts
Constitution / history: several previous; latest approved by the Second Constituent Assembly 16 September 2015, signed by the president and effective 20 September 2015
Constitution / amendment process: proposed as a bill by either house of the Federal Parliament; bills affecting a state border or powers delegated to a state must be submitted to the affected state assembly; passage of such bills requires a majority vote of that state assembly membership; bills not requiring state assembly consent require at least two-thirds majority vote by the membership of both houses of the Federal Parliament; parts of the constitution on the sovereignty, territorial integrity, independence, and sovereignty vested in 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: 15 years
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch / chief of state: President Ram Chandra POUDEL (since 13 March 2023)
Executive branch / head of government: Prime Minister Sushila KARKI (since 12 September 2025)
Executive branch / cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister; cabinet positions shared among Nepali Congress, Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist Centre, and various coalition partners
Executive branch / election/appointment process: president indirectly elected by an electoral college of the Federal Parliament and the state assemblies for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term)
Executive branch / most recent election date: 9 March 2023
Executive branch / election results: 2023: Ram Chandra POUDEL elected president; electoral college vote - Ram Chandra POUDEL (NC) 33,802, Subash Chandra NEMBANG (CPN-UML) 15,518
Executive branch / expected date of next election: 5 March 2026
Legislative branch / legislature name: Federal Parliament (Sanghiya Sansad)
Legislative branch / legislative structure: bicameral
Legislative branch - lower chamber / chamber name: House of Representatives (Pratinidhi Sabha)
Legislative branch - lower chamber / number of seats: 275 (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: 11/20/2022
Legislative branch - lower chamber / parties elected and seats per party: Nepali Congress (NC) (89); Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist-Leninist, UML) (78); Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist Centre (CPN-MC) (32); Rastriya Swatantra Party (20); Rastriya Prajatantra Party Nepal (RPP) (14); People's Socialist Party, Nepal (12); Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Socialist) (10); Janamat Party (6); Democratic Socialist Party, Nepal (4); People's Freedom Party (3); Nepal Workers Peasants Party (1); Rastriya Janamorcha (1); Independents (5)
Legislative branch - lower chamber / percentage of women in chamber: 0%
Legislative branch - lower chamber / expected date of next election: 5 March 2026
Legislative branch - upper chamber / chamber name: National Assembly (Rastriya Sabha)
Legislative branch - upper chamber / number of seats: 59 (56 indirectly elected; 3 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: 1/25/2024
Legislative branch - upper chamber / percentage of women in chamber: 37.3%
Legislative branch - upper chamber / expected date of next election: January 2026
Judicial branch / highest court(s): Supreme Court (consists of the chief justice and up to 20 judges)
Judicial branch / judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court chief justice appointed by the president on the recommendation of the Constitutional Council, a 5-member, high-level advisory body headed by the prime minister; other judges appointed by the president on the recommendation of the Judicial Council, a 5-member advisory body headed by the chief justice; the chief justice serves a 6-year term; judges serve until age 65
Judicial branch / subordinate courts: High Court; district courts
Political parties: Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist Centre) or CPN-MC Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist-Leninist) or CPN-UML Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Socialist) or CPN-US Janamat Party Janata Samajbaadi Party or JSP Loktantrik Samajwadi Party or LSP Naya Shakti Party, Nepal Nepali Congress or NC Nepal Mazdoor Kisan Party (Nepal Workers' and Peasants' Party) or NWPP Rastriya Janamorcha (National People's Front) Rastriya Prajatantra Party (National Democratic Party) or RPP Rastriya Swatantra Party or RSP
Diplomatic representation in the US / chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charg&eacute; d'Affaires Sharad Raj ARAN (since November 2025)
Diplomatic representation in the US / chancery: 2730 34th Place NW, Washington, DC 20007
Diplomatic representation in the US / telephone: [1] (202) 667-4550
Diplomatic representation in the US / FAX: [1] (202) 667-5534
Diplomatic representation in the US / email address and website: info@nepalembassyusa.org https://us.nepalembassy.gov.np/
Diplomatic representation in the US / consulate(s) general: New York
Diplomatic representation from the US / chief of mission: Ambassador Dean R. THOMPSON (since October 2022)
Diplomatic representation from the US / embassy: Maharajgunj, Kathmandu
Diplomatic representation from the US / mailing address: 6190 Kathmandu Place, Washington DC 20521-6190
Diplomatic representation from the US / telephone: [977] (1) 423-4000
Diplomatic representation from the US / FAX: [977] (1) 400-7272
Diplomatic representation from the US / email address and website: usembktm@state.gov https://np.usembassy.gov/
International organization participation: ADB, BIMSTEC, CD, CP, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MINURSO, MINUSTAH, MONUSCO, NAM, OPCW, SAARC, SACEP, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNDOF, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNISFA, UNMIL, UNMISS, UNOCI, UNSOM, UNTSO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Independence: 1768 (unified by Prithvi Narayan SHAH)
National holiday: Constitution Day, 20 September (2015)
Flag: description: crimson red with a blue border, in the shape of two overlapping right triangles; the smaller upper triangle has a stylized white moon, and the larger lower triangle has a 12-pointed white sun meaning: red stands for the rhododendron (the national flower) and victory and bravery, and the blue border for peace and harmony; the two triangles are a combination of two pennants that originally symbolized the Himalaya Mountains, but today they refer to Hinduism and Buddhism, the country's two main religions; the moon stands for the serenity of the people, as well as Himalayan shade and cool weather, and the sun for the heat and higher temperatures in the rest of the country
National symbol(s): rhododendron blossom
National color(s): red
National anthem(s) / title: "Sayaun Thunga Phool Ka" (Hundreds of Flowers)
National anthem(s) / lyrics/music: Pradeep Kumar RAI/Ambar GURUNG
National anthem(s) / history: adopted 2007
National heritage / total World Heritage Sites: 4 (2 cultural, 2 natural)
National heritage / selected World Heritage Site locales: Kathmandu Valley (c); Sagarmatha National Park (n); Chitwan National Park (n); Lumbini, Buddha Birthplace (c)

## Economy
Economic overview: low-income South Asian economy; post-conflict fiscal federalism increasing stability; COVID-19 hurt trade and tourism; widening current account deficits; environmentally fragile economy from earthquakes; growing Chinese relations and investments
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $149.643 billion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $144.352 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $141.546 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% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2022: 5.6% (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2024: $5,000 (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): $42.914 billion (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023: 7.1% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 7.7% (2022 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021: 4.1% (2021 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / agriculture: 21.9% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / industry: 11.4% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / services: 55.2% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / household consumption: 86.3% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / government consumption: 7.4% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in fixed capital: 24.3% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in inventories: 6.1% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / exports of goods and services: 7.6% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / imports of goods and services: -32.9% (2024 est.)
Agricultural products: rice, vegetables, potatoes, sugarcane, maize, wheat, bison milk, milk, mangoes/guavas, bananas (2023)
Industries: tourism, carpets, textiles, small rice, jute, sugar, oilseed mills, cigarettes, cement and brick production
Industrial production growth rate: 0.1% (2024 est.)
Labor force: 8.435 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: 10.9% (2022 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / total: 20.8% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / male: 19.3% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / female: 23.6% (2024 est.)
Population below poverty line: 20.3% (2022 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income / Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2022: 30 (2022 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / lowest 10%: 3.7% (2022 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / highest 10%: 24.2% (2022 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2024: 33.1% of GDP (2024 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2023: 25.3% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2022: 22% of GDP (2022 est.)
Budget / revenues: $7.625 billion (2021 est.)
Budget / expenditures: $9.1 billion (2021 est.)
Public debt / Public debt 2021: 39.9% of GDP (2021 est.)
Taxes and other revenues: 17.5% (of GDP) (2021 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2024: $1.954 billion (2024 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2023: $146.66 million (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2022: -$3.088 billion (2022 est.)
Exports / Exports 2024: $3.744 billion (2024 est.)
Exports / Exports 2023: $2.258 billion (2023 est.)
Exports / Exports 2022: $2.106 billion (2022 est.)
Exports - partners: India 67%, USA 12%, Germany 3%, China 2%, UK 2% (2023)
Exports - commodities: knotted carpets, garments, flat-rolled iron, synthetic fibers, palm oil (2023)
Imports / Imports 2024: $17.777 billion (2024 est.)
Imports / Imports 2023: $13.877 billion (2023 est.)
Imports / Imports 2022: $15.227 billion (2022 est.)
Imports - partners: India 71%, China 17%, UAE 3%, Singapore 2%, Germany 1% (2023)
Imports - commodities: refined petroleum, natural gas, garments, iron reductions, broadcasting equipment (2023)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023: $12.456 billion (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $9.319 billion (2022 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2021: $9.639 billion (2021 est.)
Debt - external / Debt - external 2023: $5.719 billion (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Currency: Nepalese rupees (NPR) per US dollar -
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2024: 133.727 (2024 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2023: 132.115 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2022: 125.199 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2021: 118.134 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2020: 118.345 (2020 est.)

## Energy
Electricity access / electrification - total population: 91.3% (2022 est.)
Electricity access / electrification - urban areas: 97.7%
Electricity access / electrification - rural areas: 93.7%
Electricity / installed generating capacity: 2.853 million kW (2023 est.)
Electricity / consumption: 9.806 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / exports: 1.1 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / imports: 1.846 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / transmission/distribution losses: 1.638 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / solar: 1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / wind: 0.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / hydroelectricity: 99% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Coal / production: 9,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / consumption: 1.091 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / exports: 100 metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / imports: 1.076 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / proven reserves: 8 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum / refined petroleum consumption: 71,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Energy consumption per capita / Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 6.604 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

## Communications
Telephones - fixed lines / total subscriptions: 726,000 (2021 est.)
Telephones - fixed lines / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 2 (2022 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / total subscriptions: 29.6 million (2024 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 100 (2024 est.)
Broadcast media: state operates 3 TV stations, as well as national and regional radio stations; 117 television channels are licensed, 71 of which are cable TV, 3 are distributed through Direct-To-Home (DTH) system, and 4 are digital terrestrial; 736 FM radio stations are licensed, and at least 314 of those are community stations (2019)
Internet country code: .np
Internet users / percent of population: 56% (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / total: 1.44 million (2022 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 5 (2022 est.)

## Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: 9N
Airports: 51 (2025)
Heliports: 14 (2025)
Railways / total: 59 km (2018)
Railways / narrow gauge: 59 km (2018) 0.762-m gauge

## Military and Security
Military and security forces: Nepalese Armed Forces (Ministry of Defense): Nepali Army (includes Air Wing) Ministry of Home Affairs: Nepal Police, Nepal Armed Police Force (APF) (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: 1.1% 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: approximately 95,000 active Armed Forces (2025)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the Army's inventory includes a mix of mostly older equipment largely of British, Chinese, Indian, Russian, and South African origin; in recent years, Nepal has received limited amounts of newer hardware from several countries, including China, Indonesia, Italy, and Russia (2025)
Military service age and obligation: 18 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women; upper age limit varies; no conscription (2025)
Military deployments: 1240 Central African Republic (MINUSCA); 1,150 Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO); 440 Golan Heights (UNDOF); 875 Lebanon (UNIFIL); 225 Liberia (UNSMIL); 100 South Sudan/Sudan (UNISFA); 1,750 (plus about 200 police) South Sudan (UNMISS) (2025)
Military - note: the Nepali Army is responsible for territorial defense, fulfilling Nepal's commitments to UN peacekeeping, and some domestic duties such as disaster relief/humanitarian assistance, social services, and nature conservation efforts; during the 10-year civil war that ended in 2006, it conducted counterinsurgency operations against Maoist guerrillas; the Army has a long history of supporting UN missions, having sent its first UN observers to Lebanon in 1958 and its first troop contingent to Egypt in 1974; as of 2025, 150,000 Nepali military personnel have deployed on over 40 UN missions; Nepal's key security partners are China, India, and the US the British began to recruit Nepalese citizens (Gurkhas) into the East India Company Army during the Anglo-Nepalese War (1814-1816); the Gurkhas subsequently were brought into the British Indian Army and by 1914, there were 10 Gurkha regiments, collectively known as the Gurkha Brigade; following the partition of India in 1947, an agreement between Nepal, India, and Great Britain allowed for the transfer of the 10 regiments from the British Indian Army to the separate British and Indian armies; four regiments were transferred to the British Army, where they have since served continuously as the Brigade of Gurkhas; six Gurkha (aka Gorkha in India) regiments went to the new Indian Army; a seventh regiment was later added; Gurkhas are also recruited into the Singaporean Police and a special guard in the Sultanate of Brunei known as the Gurkha Reserve Unit (2025)

## Terrorism
Terrorist group(s): Indian Mujahedeen

## Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons / refugees: 19,874 (2024 est.)
Refugees and internally displaced persons / IDPs: 18,671 (2024 est.)
Refugees and internally displaced persons / stateless persons: 467 (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 Nepal 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/nepal/

=== Pakistan ===

## Introduction
Background: The Indus Valley civilization, one of the oldest in the world and dating back at least 5,000 years, spread over much of modern-day Pakistan. During the second millennium B.C., remnants of this culture fused with the migrating Indo-Aryan peoples. The area underwent successive invasions in subsequent centuries from the Persians, Greeks, Scythians, Arabs (who brought Islam), Afghans, and Turks. The Mughal Empire flourished in the 16th and 17th centuries; the British came to dominate the region in the 18th century. The partition in 1947 of British India into the Muslim state of Pakistan (with West and East sections) and largely Hindu India created lasting tension between the two countries. They have fought two wars and a limited conflict -- in 1947-48, 1965, and 1999 respectively -- over the Kashmir territory, a dispute that continues to this day. A third war in 1971 -- in which India assisted an indigenous movement reacting to Bengali marginalization in Pakistani politics -- resulted in East Pakistan becoming the separate nation of Bangladesh. In response to Indian nuclear weapons testing, Pakistan conducted its own tests in 1998. Pakistan has been engaged in a decades-long armed conflict with militant groups, including the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and other militant networks that target government institutions and civilians.

## Geography
Location: Southern Asia, bordering the Arabian Sea, between India on the east and Iran and Afghanistan on the west and China in the north
Geographic coordinates: 30 00 N, 70 00 E
Map references: Asia
Area / total: 796,095 sq km
Area / land: 770,875 sq km
Area / water: 25,220 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly more than five times the size of Georgia; slightly less than twice the size of California
Land boundaries / total: 7,257 km
Land boundaries / border countries: Afghanistan 2,670 km; China 438 km; India 3,190 km; Iran 959 km
Coastline: 1,046 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: mostly hot, dry desert; temperate in northwest; arctic in north
Terrain: divided into three major geographic areas: the northern highlands, the Indus River plain in the center and east, and the Balochistan Plateau in the south and west
Elevation / highest point: K2 (Mt. Godwin-Austen) 8,611 m
Elevation / lowest point: Arabian Sea 0 m
Elevation / mean elevation: 900 m
Natural resources: arable land, extensive natural gas reserves, limited petroleum, poor quality coal, iron ore, copper, salt, limestone
Land use / agricultural land: 46.7% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 39.3% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 1% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 6.5% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 4.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 49.2% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land: 194,200 sq km (2022)
Major rivers (by length in km): Indus river mouth (shared with China [s] and India) - 3,610 km; Sutlej river mouth (shared with China [s] and India) - 1,372 km; Chenab river mouth (shared with India [s]) - 1,086 km note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Major watersheds (area sq km) / Indian Ocean drainage: Indus (1,081,718 sq km)
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)
Major aquifers: Indus Basin
Population distribution: the Indus River and its tributaries attract most of the settlement, with Punjab province the most densely populated
Natural hazards: frequent earthquakes, occasionally severe especially in north and west; flooding along the Indus after heavy rains (July and August)
Geography - note: controls Khyber Pass and Bolan Pass, traditional invasion routes between Central Asia and India

## People and Society
Population / total: 257,047,044 (2025 est.)
Population / male: 130,727,015
Population / female: 126,320,029
Nationality / noun: Pakistani(s)
Nationality / adjective: Pakistani
Ethnic groups: Punjabi 44.7%, Pashtun (Pathan) 15.4%, Sindhi 14.1%, Saraiki 8.4%, Muhajirs 7.6%, Baloch 3.6%, other 6.3%
Languages / Languages: Punjabi 38.8%, Pashto (alternate name, Pashtu) 18.2%, Sindhi 14.6%, Saraiki (a Punjabi variant) 12.2%, Urdu 7.1%, Balochi 3%, Hindko 2.4%, Brahui 1.2%, other 2.4%
Languages / major-language sample(s): دنیا کا قاموس، ایک لازمی زریہ بنیادی معلومات کا (Urdu) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
Religions: Muslim 96.4%, Hindu 1.6%, Christian 1.4%; less than 1%: scheduled castes, Qadiani/Ahmadi, other, Sikh. (2020 est.)
Age structure / 0-14 years: 34.4% (male 44,330,669/female 42,529,007)
Age structure / 15-64 years: 60.7% (male 78,321,834/female 74,833,003)
Age structure / 65 years and over: 4.9% (2024 est.) (male 5,735,294/female 6,613,764)
Dependency ratios / total dependency ratio: 64 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / youth dependency ratio: 55.8 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / elderly dependency ratio: 8.2 (2025 est.)
Dependency ratios / potential support ratio: 12.1 (2025 est.)
Median age / total: 23.2 years (2025 est.)
Median age / male: 22.8 years
Median age / female: 23 years
Population growth rate: 1.82% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 25.05 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 5.79 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: -1.1 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution: the Indus River and its tributaries attract most of the settlement, with Punjab province the most densely populated
Urbanization / urban population: 38% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 2.1% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 17.236 million Karachi, 13.979 million Lahore, 3.711 million Faisalabad, 2.415 million Gujranwala, 2.412 million Peshawar, 1.232 million ISLAMABAD (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: 1.05 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / 65 years and over: 0.87 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / total population: 1.04 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth: 22.8 years (2017/18 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio: 155 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Infant mortality rate / total: 50.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Infant mortality rate / male: 56 deaths/1,000 live births
Infant mortality rate / female: 46.8 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth / total population: 70.3 years (2024 est.)
Life expectancy at birth / male: 68.2 years
Life expectancy at birth / female: 72.5 years
Total fertility rate: 3.25 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 1.59 (2025 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: urban: urban: 92.9% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: rural: rural: 89.3% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: total: total: 90.6% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: urban: urban: 7.1% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: rural: rural: 10.7% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: total: total: 9.4% of population (2022 est.)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 2.9% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure / Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 5.6% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density: 1.16 physicians/1,000 population (2021)
Hospital bed density: 0.5 beds/1,000 population (2019 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: urban: urban: 90.5% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: rural: rural: 76.1% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: total: total: 81.5% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: urban: urban: 9.5% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: rural: rural: 23.9% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: total: total: 18.5% of population (2022 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 8.6% (2016)
Alcohol consumption per capita / total: 0.04 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: 0.04 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita / other alcohols: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Tobacco use / total: 15.5% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / male: 25.7% (2025 est.)
Tobacco use / female: 5.4% (2025 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 23.1% (2018 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49): 63.4% (2018 est.)
Child marriage / women married by age 15: 3.6% (2018)
Child marriage / women married by age 18: 18.3% (2018)
Child marriage / men married by age 18: 4.7% (2018)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% GDP): 1.9% of GDP (2023 est.)
Education expenditure / Education expenditure (% national budget): 9.8% national budget (2023 est.)
Literacy / total population: 58.9% (2021 est.)
Literacy / male: 69.1% (2021 est.)
Literacy / female: 48.5% (2021 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / total: 8 years (2022 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / male: 8 years (2022 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) / female: 7 years (2022 est.)

## Environment
Environmental issues: water pollution from raw sewage, industrial wastes, and agricultural runoff; limited natural freshwater resources; most of the population does not have access to potable water; deforestation; soil erosion; desertification; air pollution and noise pollution in urban areas
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, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
International environmental agreements / signed, but not ratified: Marine Life Conservation
Climate: mostly hot, dry desert; temperate in northwest; arctic in north
Land use / agricultural land: 46.7% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 39.3% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 1% (2023 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 6.5% (2023 est.)
Land use / forest: 4.1% (2023 est.)
Land use / other: 49.2% (2023 est.)
Urbanization / urban population: 38% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 2.1% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / total emissions: 212.655 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from coal and metallurgical coke: 59.937 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from petroleum and other liquids: 93.713 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from consumed natural gas: 59.006 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Particulate matter emissions: 50.1 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Methane emissions / energy: 1,625.2 kt (2022-2024 est.)
Methane emissions / agriculture: 5,381.3 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Methane emissions / waste: 700.4 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Methane emissions / other: 128.7 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Waste and recycling / municipal solid waste generated annually: 30.76 million tons (2024 est.)
Waste and recycling / percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 13.8% (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / municipal: 9.65 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / industrial: 1.4 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal / agricultural: 172.4 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total renewable water resources: 246.8 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

## Government
Country name / conventional long form: Islamic Republic of Pakistan
Country name / conventional short form: Pakistan
Country name / local long form: Jamhuryat Islami Pakistan
Country name / local short form: Pakistan
Country name / former: West Pakistan
Country name / etymology: the name is said to have been proposed in the early 1930s by Muslim students at Cambridge University, created from the initials of Punjab, Afghanistan, and Kashmir; the word pak also means "pure" in Persian or Pashto, and the Persian suffix - stan means "place of" or "country," so Pakistan literally means "Land of the Pure"
Government type: federal parliamentary republic
Capital / name: Islamabad
Capital / geographic coordinates: 33 41 N, 73 03 E
Capital / time difference: UTC+5 (10 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Capital / etymology: the name means "city of Islam" and derives from the Arabic islam , referring to the Islamic faith, and the Persian suffix -abad , meaning "inhabited place" or "city"
Administrative divisions: 4 provinces, 2 Pakistan-administered areas*, and 1 capital territory**; Azad Kashmir*, Balochistan, Gilgit-Baltistan*, Islamabad Capital Territory**, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab, Sindh
Legal system: common law system with Islamic law influence
Constitution / history: several previous; latest endorsed 12 April 1973, passed 19 April 1973, entered into force 14 August 1973 (suspended and restored several times)
Constitution / amendment process: proposed by the Senate or by the National Assembly; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote of both houses
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: at least one parent must be a citizen of Pakistan
Citizenship / dual citizenship recognized: yes, but limited to select countries
Citizenship / residency requirement for naturalization: 4 out of the previous 7 years and including the 12 months preceding application
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch / chief of state: President Asif Ali ZARDARI (since 10 March 2024)
Executive branch / head of government: Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz SHARIF (since 3 March 2024)
Executive branch / cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president on the advice of the prime minister
Executive branch / election/appointment process: president indirectly elected for a 5-year term (limited to 2 consecutive terms) by the Electoral College, which consists of members of the Senate, National Assembly, and provincial assemblies; prime minister elected for a 5-year term by the National Assembly
Executive branch / most recent election date: 9 March 2024
Executive branch / election results: 2024: Asif Ali ZARDARI elected president; National Assembly vote - Asif Ali ZARDARI (PPP) 411 votes, Mehmood Khan ACHAKZALI (PMAP) 181 votes; Shehbaz SHARIF elected prime minister; National Assembly vote - Shehbaz SHARIF (PML-N) 201, Omar AYUB (PTI) 92
Executive branch / expected date of next election: 2029
Legislative branch / legislature name: Parliament (Majlis-E-Shoora)
Legislative branch / legislative structure: bicameral
Legislative branch - lower chamber / chamber name: National Assembly
Legislative branch - lower chamber / number of seats: 336 (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: 2/8/2024
Legislative branch - lower chamber / parties elected and seats per party: Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) (75); Pakistan People's Party Parliamentarians (PPPP) (54); Muttahida Quami Movement Pakistan (MQMP) (17); Independents (101); Other (16)
Legislative branch - lower chamber / percentage of women in chamber: 17%
Legislative branch - lower chamber / expected date of next election: February 2029
Legislative branch - upper chamber / chamber name: Senate
Legislative branch - upper chamber / number of seats: 96 (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: 4/2/2024
Legislative branch - upper chamber / percentage of women in chamber: 18.8%
Legislative branch - upper chamber / expected date of next election: March 2027
Judicial branch / highest court(s): Supreme Court of Pakistan (consists of the chief justice and 16 judges)
Judicial branch / judge selection and term of office: justices nominated by an 8-member parliamentary committee on the recommendation of the Judicial Commission, a 9-member body of judges and other judicial professionals, and appointed by the president; justices can serve until age 65
Judicial branch / subordinate courts: High Courts; Federal Shariat Court; provincial and district civil and criminal courts; specialized courts for issues, such as taxation, banking, and customs
Political parties: Awami National Party or ANP Awami Muslim League or AML Balochistan Awami Party or BAP Balochistan National Party-Awami or BNP-A Balochistan National Party-Mengal or BNP-M Grand Democratic Alliance or GDA (alliance of several parties) Hazara Democratic Party or HDP Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party Jamaat-e-Islami or JI Jamhoori Wattan Party or JWP Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl or JUI-F Majlis Wahdat-e-Muslimeen Pakistan or MWM Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal or MMA (alliance of several parties) Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan or MQM-P National Party or NP Pakistan Muslim League or PML-Z Pakistan Muslim League-Functional or PML-F Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz or PML-N Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid-e-Azam or PML-Q Pakistan Peoples Party or PPP Pakistan Rah-e-Haq Party or PRHP Pakistan Tehrik-e Insaaf or PTI (Pakistan Movement for Justice) Pashtoonkhwa Milli Awami Party or PMAP or PKMAP Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan or TLP
Diplomatic representation in the US / chief of mission: Ambassador Rizwan Saeed SHEIKH (since 18 September 2024)
Diplomatic representation in the US / chancery: 3517 International Court NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation in the US / telephone: [1] (202) 243-6500
Diplomatic representation in the US / FAX: [1] (202) 686-1534
Diplomatic representation in the US / email address and website: consularsection@embassyofpakistanusa.org https://embassyofpakistanusa.org/
Diplomatic representation in the US / consulate(s) general: Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, New York
Diplomatic representation from the US / chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charg&eacute; d&rsquo;Affaires Natalie A. BAKER (since January 2025)
Diplomatic representation from the US / embassy: Diplomatic Enclave, Ramna 5, Islamabad
Diplomatic representation from the US / mailing address: 8100 Islamabad Place, Washington, DC 20521-8100
Diplomatic representation from the US / telephone: [92] 051-201-4000
Diplomatic representation from the US / FAX: [92] 51-2338071
Diplomatic representation from the US / email address and website: ACSIslamabad@state.gov https://pk.usembassy.gov/
Diplomatic representation from the US / consulate(s) general: Karachi, Lahore, Peshawar
International organization participation: ADB, AIIB, ARF, ASEAN (sectoral dialogue partner), C, CERN (associate member), CICA, CP, D-8, ECO, FAO, G-11, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MINURCAT, MINURSO, MINUSCA, MONUSCO, NAM, OAS (observer), OIC, OPCW, PCA, SAARC, SACEP, SCO, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNISFA, UNISFA, UNMISS, UNOOSA, UNSOS, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Independence: 14 August 1947 (from British India)
National holiday: Pakistan Day, 23 March, also referred to as Pakistan Resolution Day (1940) or Republic Day (1956)
Flag: description: green with a vertical white band on the left side; a large white crescent and star are centered in the green field meaning: the crescent, star, and color green are all traditional Islamic symbols; the white band symbolizes the role of religious minorities
National symbol(s): five-pointed star between the horns of a waxing crescent moon, jasmine
National color(s): green, white
National anthem(s) / title: "Qaumi Tarana" (National Anthem)
National anthem(s) / lyrics/music: Abu-Al-Asar Hafeez JULLANDHURI/Ahmed Ghulamali CHAGLA
National anthem(s) / history: adopted 1954; also known as "Pak sarzamin shad bad" (Blessed Be the Sacred Land)
National heritage / total World Heritage Sites: 6 (all cultural)
National heritage / selected World Heritage Site locales: Archaeological Ruins at Moenjodaro; Buddhist Ruins of Takht-i-Bahi; Taxila; Fort and Shalamar Gardens in Lahore; Historical Monuments at Makli, Thatta; Rohtas Fort

## Economy
Economic overview: lower middle-income South Asian economy; extremely high debt; endemic corruption; regional disputes with India and Afghanistan hinder investment; falling inflation, IMF relief programs, and strong agricultural output slowly contributing to economic recovery
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $1.39 trillion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $1.346 trillion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $1.347 trillion (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% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2022: 4.8% (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2024: $5,500 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2023: $5,400 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2022: $5,500 (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $373.072 billion (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024: 12.6% (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023: 30.8% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 19.9% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / agriculture: 23.5% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / industry: 20% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / services: 50.5% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / household consumption: 85.2% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / government consumption: 8.5% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in fixed capital: 11.2% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in inventories: 1.7% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / exports of goods and services: 10.4% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / imports of goods and services: -17.1% (2024 est.)
Agricultural products: sugarcane, bison milk, wheat, milk, rice, maize, potatoes, cotton, mangoes/guavas, chicken (2023)
Industries: textiles and apparel, food processing, pharmaceuticals, surgical instruments, construction materials, paper products, fertilizer, shrimp
Industrial production growth rate: -1.7% (2024 est.)
Labor force: 83.644 million (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2024: 5.5% (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2023: 5.5% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2022: 5.5% (2022 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / total: 9.9% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / male: 9.8% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / female: 10.1% (2024 est.)
Population below poverty line: 21.9% (2018 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income / Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2018: 29.6 (2018 est.)
Average household expenditures / on food: 37.8% 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%: 4.2% (2018 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share / highest 10%: 25.5% (2018 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2024: 9.4% of GDP (2024 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2023: 7.9% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2022: 8% of GDP (2022 est.)
Budget / revenues: $40.774 billion (2015 est.)
Budget / expenditures: $49.558 billion (2015 est.)
Public debt / Public debt 2016: 67.6% of GDP (2016 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2024: $699.22 million (2024 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2023: -$1.039 billion (2023 est.)
Current account balance / Current account balance 2022: -$12.216 billion (2022 est.)
Exports / Exports 2024: $40.219 billion (2024 est.)
Exports / Exports 2023: $36.215 billion (2023 est.)
Exports / Exports 2022: $38.967 billion (2022 est.)
Exports - partners: USA 14%, UAE 10%, China 9%, Germany 7%, UK 6% (2023)
Exports - commodities: garments, fabric, refined petroleum, rice, cotton fabric (2023)
Imports / Imports 2024: $66.844 billion (2024 est.)
Imports / Imports 2023: $58.069 billion (2023 est.)
Imports / Imports 2022: $76.594 billion (2022 est.)
Imports - partners: China 25%, Qatar 11%, UAE 9%, Saudi Arabia 8%, Indonesia 6% (2023)
Imports - commodities: natural gas, refined petroleum, crude petroleum, palm oil, plastics (2023)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024: $18.408 billion (2024 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023: $13.73 billion (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold / Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $9.927 billion (2022 est.)
Debt - external / Debt - external 2023: $89.148 billion (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Currency: Pakistani rupees (PKR) per US dollar -
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2024: 278.581 (2024 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2023: 280.356 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2022: 204.867 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2021: 162.906 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates / Exchange rates 2020: 161.838 (2020 est.)

## Energy
Electricity access / electrification - total population: 95% (2022 est.)
Electricity access / electrification - urban areas: 100%
Electricity access / electrification - rural areas: 93%
Electricity / installed generating capacity: 43.512 million kW (2023 est.)
Electricity / consumption: 145.357 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / imports: 481.25 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / transmission/distribution losses: 25.811 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / fossil fuels: 60.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / nuclear: 14.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / solar: 0.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / wind: 3.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / hydroelectricity: 19.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / biomass and waste: 1.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Nuclear energy / Number of operational nuclear reactors: 6 (2025)
Nuclear energy / Number of nuclear reactors under construction: 1 (2025)
Nuclear energy / Net capacity of operational nuclear reactors: 3.26GW (2025 est.)
Nuclear energy / Percent of total electricity production: 17.4% (2023 est.)
Nuclear energy / Number of nuclear reactors permanently shut down: 1 (2025)
Coal / production: 13.765 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / consumption: 30.191 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / exports: 900 metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / imports: 16.185 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / proven reserves: 2.857 billion metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum / total petroleum production: 91,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Petroleum / refined petroleum consumption: 645,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Petroleum / crude oil estimated reserves: 540 million barrels (2021 est.)
Natural gas / production: 27.476 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / consumption: 36.323 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / imports: 8.847 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / proven reserves: 592.219 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)
Energy consumption per capita / Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 14.076 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

## Communications
Telephones - fixed lines / total subscriptions: 2.573 million (2023 est.)
Telephones - fixed lines / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 1 (2023 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / total subscriptions: 193 million (2024 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 77 (2024 est.)
Broadcast media: 120 satellite TV stations; 42 media companies/channels; state-run Pakistan Television Corporation (PTV) is the largest TV network, serves over 85 percent of the population with 9 TV channels; over 100 private cable and satellite channels; state-owned Pakistan Broadcasting Corporation (PBC or Radio Pakistan) has the largest radio audience, particularly in rural areas, with AM/SW/FM stations covering most of the country (2022)
Internet country code: .pk
Internet users / percent of population: 27% (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / total: 3.36 million (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 1 (2023 est.)

## Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: AP
Airports: 117 (2025)
Heliports: 48 (2025)
Railways / total: 11,881 km (2021)
Railways / narrow gauge: 389 km (2021) 1.000-m gauge
Railways / broad gauge: 11,492 km (2021) 1.676-m gauge (286 km electrified)
Merchant marine / total: 60 (2023)
Merchant marine / by type: bulk carrier 5, oil tanker 9, other 46
Ports / total ports: 3 (2024)
Ports / large: 0
Ports / medium: 2
Ports / small: 1
Ports / very small: 0
Ports / ports with oil terminals: 2
Ports / key ports: Gwadar, Karachi, Muhamamad Bin Qasim

## Military and Security
Military and security forces: Pakistan Armed Forces: Pakistan Army (includes National Guard), Pakistan Navy (includes Pakistan Marines, Pakistan Maritime Security Agency), Pakistan Air Force Ministry of Interior: Frontier Constabulary, Frontier Corps, National Police, Pakistan Coast Guard, Punjab (Pakistan) Rangers, Sindh (Pakistan) Rangers (2025)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2024: 2.5% 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: 4% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2020: 4% of GDP (2020 est.)
Military and security service personnel strengths: approximately 650,000 active Armed Forces (2025)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the military's inventory is a mix of mostly imported and some domestically produced armaments; the majority of its imported weapons are from China; other suppliers include France, Russia, T&uuml;rkiye, Ukraine, the UK, and the US; Pakistan also has a domestic defense industry, which produces or co-produces such items as armored vehicles, aircraft, missiles, naval vessels (2025)
Military service age and obligation: 16-28 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women; lower and upper age limits vary by military branch, position, and role; personnel cannot be deployed for combat until age 18 (2025)
Military deployments: 1,400 Central African Republic (MINUSCA); 300 MONUSCO; 300 South Sudan (UNMISS); 575 Sudan (UNISFA) (2025)
Military - note: the Pakistan military is responsible for external defense but also has a domestic security role; its chief external focus is India; the military is the lead security agency in many areas of the former Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) and has for decades conducted operations against various internal militant groups; it is also one of the longest serving and largest contributors to UN peacekeeping missions; China is its closest security partner the military operates largely independently and without effective civilian oversight; it has ruled the country for more than 30 years since independence in 1947 and continues to play a significant role in Pakistan's political arena; it also has a large stake in the country’s economic sector and is involved in a diverse array of commercial activities, including banking, construction of public projects, employment services, energy and power generation, fertilizer, food, housing, real estate, and security services Pakistan has fought four wars and several skirmishes with India; three of the wars have been over the disputed region of Jammu and Kashmir, the status of which has been unsettled since the UK's 1947 withdrawal and the partition and independence of India and Pakistan; a fragile cease-fire was reached in 2003, revised in 2018, and reaffirmed in 2021, although the militarized Line of Control which serves as the border remains contested, and India has accused Pakistan of backing armed separatists and terrorist organizations in the territory New Delhi controls; in the Spring of 2025, Indian held Pakistan responsible for a terrorist attack in India-controlled Kashmir and retaliated, sparking a brief cross-border conflict involving aircraft, artillery, drone, and missile strikes the Kashmir dispute also includes the Siachen Glacier, located in the Karakoram Mountain Range, which was seized by India in 1984 with Pakistan attempting to retake the area several times between 1985 and 1995; despite the 2003 cease-fire, both sides continue to maintain a permanent military presence there with outposts at altitudes above 20,000 feet (over 6,000 meters) where most casualties are due to extreme weather and the hazards of operating in the high mountain terrain of the world’s highest conflict, including avalanches, exposure, and altitude sickness (2025)

## Space
Space agency/agencies: Pakistan Space & Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO; established 1961) (2025)
Space launch site(s): none; missile test sites at Somiani (Balochistan) and Tilla Jogian (Punjab) (2025)
Space program overview: space program dates back to the early 1960s, but funding shortfalls and shifts in priority toward ballistic missile development in the 1980s and 1990s hampered the program&rsquo;s development; now has a strengthened focus on acquiring satellites and reaching agreements with other space powers for additional capabilities; manufactures and operates satellites; researching and developing other space-related capabilities and technologies, such as satellite payloads; also conducts research in areas such as astronomy, astrophysics, environmental monitoring, and space sciences; works with China, Russia, and Turkey (cooperated with the UK and US prior to the 1990s) (2025)
Key space-program milestones: 1962-1972 - launched about 200 sounding rockets with some US assistance 1990 - first domestically built experimental satellite (Badr-1) launched by China 2001 - first remote sensing (RS) satellite (Badr-2) built jointly with the UK and launched by Russia 2011 - first digital communications satellite (PakSat-1R) launched by China 2017 - successfully test-launched ballistic missile system (Shaheed-III) 2023 - joined China’s International Lunar Research Station program 2024 - first lunar orbiter/satellite (iCube Qamar) launched by China and deployed from China's Chang'e-6 spacecraft 2025 - first fully domestic RS satellite (PRSC-EO1) launched by China; selected country's first astronauts to be trained by China for mission to China's space station

## Terrorism
Terrorist group(s): al-Qa’ida; al-Qa’ida in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS); Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA); Haqqani Network (HQN); Harakat ul-Jihad-i-Islami (HUJI); Harakat ul-Mujahidin; Hizbul Mujahideen; Indian Mujahedeen; Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham-Khorasan (ISIS-K); Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham – India (ISI); Islamic State of ash-Sham – Pakistan (ISP); Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU); Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM); Jaysh al Adl (Jundallah); Lashkar i Jhangvi (LJ); Lashkar-e Tayyiba (LeT); The Resistance Front (TRF); Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP)

## Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons / refugees: 1,759,332 (2024 est.)
Refugees and internally displaced persons / IDPs: 224,813 (2024 est.)
Refugees and internally displaced persons / stateless persons: 60 (2024 est.)
Illicit drugs / USG identification: major illicit drug-producing and/or drug-transit country major precursor-chemical producer (2025)

=== XX ===

## Introduction
Background: Globally, the 20th century was marked by: (a) two devastating World Wars; (b) the Great Depression of the 1930s; (c) the end of vast colonial empires; (d) rapid advances in science and technology; (e) the Cold War between the Western alliance and the Warsaw Pact nations; (f) a sharp rise in living standards in North America, Europe, and Japan; (g) increased concerns about environmental degradation including deforestation, energy and water shortages, declining biological diversity, and air pollution; and (h) the ultimate emergence of the US as the only world superpower. The planet's population continues to expand at a fast rate: from 1 billion in 1820 to 2 billion in 1930, 3 billion in 1960, 4 billion in 1974, 5 billion in 1987, 6 billion in 1999, 7 billion in 2012, and 8 billion in 2022. For the 21st century, the continued exponential growth in science and technology raises both hopes (e.g., advances in medicine and agriculture) and fears (e.g., development of even more lethal weapons of war).

## Geography
Geographic overview: The surface of the Earth is approximately 70.9% water and 29.1% land. The water portion is the World Ocean, the single largest feature of the planet and one that connects all places on the globe. The continental landmasses divide this ocean into five major ocean basins, which are (in decreasing order of size) the Pacific, Atlantic, Indian, Southern, and Arctic. The World Factbook describes these five as oceans. Because of the major ocean currents and the effects of the major air masses above them, the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans are generally divided at the equator into the North and South Pacific Oceans and the North and South Atlantic Oceans, creating seven major water bodies -- the so-called "Seven Seas." About 97.5% of the Earth's water is saltwater. Of the 2.5% that is fresh, about two thirds is frozen, mostly locked up in mountain glaciers and the Antarctic ice sheets. If all the surface ice on earth fully melted, the sea level would rise about 70 m (230 ft). Earth's land portion is divided into landmasses called continents. Different continental definitions are recognized in certain parts of the world, with some more heavily based on culture than physical geography. Depending on the convention used, the number of continents can vary from five to seven. The most common classification recognizes seven, which are (from largest to smallest) Asia, Africa, North America, South America, Antarctica, Europe, and Australia. Asia and Europe are sometimes lumped together into a Eurasian continent, and North and South America are sometimes grouped as the Americas, with either usage resulting in a continent total of six (or five, if both are used). North America is commonly understood to include Greenland and the Caribbean islands and to extend south to the Isthmus of Panama. The Ural Mountains and the Ural River are usually considered the easternmost part of Europe, the Caspian Sea is the limit to the southeast, and the Caucasus Mountains, the Black Sea, and the Mediterranean to the south. Asia usually incorporates all the islands of the Philippines, Malaysia, and Indonesia. The Pacific islands are often lumped with Australia and designated as Oceania or Australasia. Africa's northeast extremity is frequently delimited at the Isthmus of Suez, but for geopolitical purposes, the Egyptian Sinai Peninsula is often included as part of Africa. In total, the United States recognizes 197 countries. Using the seven-continent model and grouping islands with adjacent continents, Africa has the most countries with 54. Europe has 49 countries and Asia 48, with five countries shared: Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Russia, and Turkey. North America has 23, Oceania has 16, and South America has 12. countries by continent: Africa (54): Algeria, Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cabo Verde, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo, Cote d'Ivoire, Djibouti, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Gabon, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe Europe (49): Albania, Andorra, Austria, Azerbaijan*, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia*, Germany, Greece, Holy See (Vatican City), Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Kazakhstan*, Kosovo, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia*, San Marino, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey*, Ukraine, United Kingdom (* indicates part of the country is also in Asia) Asia (48): Afghanistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan*, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brunei, Burma, Cambodia, China, Cyprus, Georgia*, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan*, North Korea, South Korea, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Lebanon, Malaysia, Maldives, Mongolia, Nepal, Oman, Pakistan, Philippines, Qatar, Russia*, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Syria, Tajikistan, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Turkey*, Turkmenistan, United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, Yemen (* indicates part of the country is also in Europe) North America (23): Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Canada, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominica, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Grenada, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, United States Oceania (16): Australia, Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Nauru, New Zealand, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu South America (12): Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Uruguay, Venezuela Three of the states described above – France, Netherlands, and the United Kingdom – consist of smaller political entities that are referred to as countries. France considers French Polynesia an overseas country; the Kingdom of the Netherlands refers to all four of its constituent parts (the Netherlands and the islands of Aruba, Curacao, and Sint Maarten) as countries; and the United Kingdom is composed of the countries of England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland. the World from space: Earth is the only planet in the solar system to have water in its three states of matter: liquid (oceans, lakes, and rivers), solid (ice), and gas (water vapor in clouds). From a distance, Earth would be the brightest of the eight planets in the solar system because of the planet's water reflecting sunlight. Earth has a slight equatorial bulge -- a difference between its equatorial and polar diameters -- because of the centrifugal force from the planet rotating on its axis. The equatorial diameter is 12,756 km, but the polar diameter is 12,714 km; the circumference at the equator is 40,075 km, and the polar circumference is 40,008 km.
Area / total: 510.072 million sq km
Area / land: 148.94 million sq km
Area / water: 361,899,999 sq km
Area - comparative: land area about 16 times the size of the US
Area - rankings: top fifteen World Factbook entities ranked by size: Pacific Ocean 155,557,000 sq km; Atlantic Ocean 76,762,000 sq km; Indian Ocean 68,556,000 sq km; Southern Ocean 20,327,000 sq km; Russia 17,098,242 sq km; Antarctica 14,200,000 sq km; Arctic Ocean 14,056,000 sq km; Canada 9,984,670 sq km; United States 9,826,675 sq km; China 9,596,960 sq km; Brazil 8,515,770 sq km; Australia 7,741,220 sq km; European Union 4,324,782 sq km; India 3,287,263 sq km; Argentina 2,780,400 sq km top ten largest water bodies: Pacific Ocean 155,557,000 sq km; Atlantic Ocean 76,762,000 sq km; Indian Ocean 68,556,000 sq km; Southern Ocean 20,327,000 sq km; Arctic Ocean 14,056,000 sq km; Coral Sea 4,184,100 sq km; South China Sea 3,595,900 sq km; Caribbean Sea 2,834,000 sq km; Bering Sea 2,520,000 sq km; Mediterranean Sea 2,469,000 sq km top ten largest landmasses: Asia 44,568,500 sq km; Africa 30,065,000 sq km; North America 24,473,000 sq km; South America 17,819,000 sq km; Antarctica 14,200,000 sq km; Europe 9,948,000 sq km; Australia 7,741,220 sq km; Greenland 2,166,086 sq km; New Guinea 785,753 sq km; Borneo 751,929 sq km top ten largest islands: Greenland 2,166,086 sq km; New Guinea (Indonesia, Papua New Guinea) 785,753 sq km; Borneo (Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia) 751,929 sq km; Madagascar 587,713 sq km; Baffin Island (Canada) 507,451 sq km; Sumatra (Indonesia) 472,784 sq km; Honshu (Japan) 227,963 sq km; Victoria Island (Canada) 217,291 sq km; Great Britain (United Kingdom) 209,331 sq km; Ellesmere Island (Canada) 196,236 sq km top ten longest* mountain ranges (land-based): Andes (Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Chile, Argentina) 7,000 km; Rocky Mountains (Canada, US) 4,830 km; Great Dividing Range (Australia) 3,700 km; Transantarctic Mountains (Antarctica) 3,500 km; Kunlun Mountains (China) 3,000 km; Ural Mountains (Russia, Kazakhstan) 2,640 km; Atlas Mountains (Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia) 2,500 km; Appalachian Mountains (Canada, US) 2,400 km; Himalayas (Pakistan, Afghanistan, India, China, Nepal, Bhutan) 2,300 km; Altai Mountains (Kazakhstan, Russia, Mongolia) 2,000 km *lengths are approximate; if oceans are included, the Mid-Ocean Ridge is by far the longest mountain range at 40,389 km top ten largest forested countries (sq km and percent of land): Russia 8,149,310 (49.8%); Brazil 4,935,380 (58.9%); Canada 3,470,690 (38.2%); United States 3,103,700 (33.9%); China 2,098,640 (22.3%); Democratic Republic of the Congo 1,522,670 (67.2%); Australia 1,250,590 (16.3%); Indonesia 903,250 (49.9%); Peru 738,054 (57.7%); India 708,600 (23.8%) (2016 est.) top ten most densely forested countries (percent of land): Suriname (98.3%), Federated States of Micronesia (91.9%), Gabon (90%), Seychelles (88.4%), Palau (87.6%), Guyana (83.9%), Laos (82.1%), Solomon Islands (77.9%), Papua New Guinea (74.1%), Finland (73.1%) (2016 est.) top ten largest (non-polar*) deserts: Sahara (Algeria, Chad, Egypt, Libya, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Western Sahara, Sudan, Tunisia) 9,200,000 sq km; Arabian (Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Yemen) 2,330,000 sq km; Gobi (China, Mongolia) 1,295,000 sq km; Kalahari (Botswana, Namibia, South Africa) 900,000 sq km; Patagonian (Argentina) 673,000 sq km; Syrian (Syria, Iraq, Jordan, Saudi Arabia) 500,000 sq km; Chihuahuan (Mexico) 362,000 sq km; Kara-Kum (Turkmenistan) 350,000 sq km; Great Victoria (Australia) 348,750 sq km; Great Basin (United States) 343,169 sq km *if the two polar deserts were included, they would rank first and second: Antarctic Desert 14,200,000 sq km and Arctic Desert 13,900,000 sq km ten smallest independent countries: Holy See (Vatican City) 0.44 sq km; Monaco 2 sq km; Nauru 21 sq km; Tuvalu 26 sq km; San Marino 61 sq km; Liechtenstein 160 sq km; Marshall Islands 181 sq km; Cook Islands 236 sq km; Niue 260 sq km; Saint Kitts and Nevis 261 sq km
Land boundaries: the land boundaries in The World Factbook total 279,035.5 km (not counting shared boundaries twice), but the number is only an estimate because of the difficulty in precisely measuring natural features such as rivers note 1: 46 nations and other areas are landlocked, these include: Afghanistan, Andorra, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Central African Republic, Chad, Czechia, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Holy See (Vatican City), Hungary, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Lesotho, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, North Macedonia, Malawi, Mali, Moldova, Mongolia, Nepal, Niger, Paraguay, Rwanda, San Marino, Serbia, Slovakia, South Sudan, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Uzbekistan, West Bank, Zambia, Zimbabwe; two of these, Liechtenstein and Uzbekistan, are doubly landlocked note 2: worldwide, about one quarter of interior (non-coastal) borders are rivers; South America with 43% leads the continents, followed by North America with 32%, Africa with 30%, Europe with 23%, and Asia with 18%; Australia has no interior national river borders note 3: two nations, China and Russia, each border 14 other countries
Coastline: 356,000 km
Maritime claims: most countries make the following claims measured from the mean low-tide baseline as described in the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea: territorial sea - 12 nm, contiguous zone - 24 nm, and exclusive economic zone - 200 nm; additional zones provide for exploitation of continental shelf resources and an exclusive fishing zone; boundary situations with neighboring states prevent many countries from extending their fishing or economic zones to a full 200 nm
Climate / Climate: a wide equatorial band of hot and humid tropical climates is bordered north and south by subtropical temperate zones that separate two large areas of cold and dry polar climates
Climate / ten driest places on Earth (average annual precipitation): McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica 0 mm (0 in) Arica, Chile 0.76 mm (0.03 in) Al Kufrah, Libya 0.86 mm (0.03 in) Aswan, Egypt 0.86 mm (0.03 in) Luxor, Egypt 0.86 mm (0.03 in) Ica, Peru 2.29 mm (0.09 in) Wadi Halfa, Sudan 2.45 mm (0.1 in) Iquique, Chile 5.08 mm (0.2 in) Pelican Point, Namibia 8.13 mm (0.32 in) El Arab (Aoulef), Algeria 12.19 mm (0.48 in)
Climate / ten wettest places on Earth (average annual precipitation): Mawsynram, India 11,871 mm (467.4 in) Cherrapunji, India 11,777 mm (463.7 in) Tutunendo, Colombia 11,770 mm (463.4 in) Cropp River, New Zealand 11,516 mm (453.4 in) San Antonia de Ureca, Equatorial Guinea 10,450 mm (411.4 in) Debundsha, Cameroon 10,299 mm (405.5 in) Big Bog, US (Hawaii) 10,272 mm (404.4 in) Mt Waialeale, US (Hawaii) 9,763 mm (384.4 in) Kukui, US (Hawaii) 9,293 mm (365.9 in) Emeishan, China 8,169 mm (321.6 in)
Climate / ten coldest places on Earth (lowest average monthly temperature): Verkhoyansk, Russia (Siberia) -47°C (-53°F) January Oymyakon, Russia (Siberia) -46°C (-52°F) January Eureka, Canada -38.4°C (-37.1°F) February Isachsen, Canada -36°C (-32.8°F) February Alert, Canada -34°C (-28°F) February Kap Morris Jesup, Greenland -34°C (-29°F) March Cornwallis Island, Canada -33.5°C (-28.3°F) February Cambridge Bay, Canada -33.5°C (28.3°F) February Ilirnej, Russia -33°C (-28°F) January Resolute, Canada -33°C (-27.4°F) February
Climate / ten hottest places on Earth (highest average monthly temperature): Death Valley, US (California) 39°C (101°F) July Iranshahr, Iran 38.3°C (100.9°F) June Ouallene, Algeria 38°C (100.4°F) July Kuwait City, Kuwait 37.7°C (100°F) July Medina, Saudi Arabia 36°C (97°F) July Buckeye, US (Arizona) 34°C (93°F) July Jazan, Saudi Arabia 33°C (91°F) June Al Kufrah, Libya 31°C (87°F) July Alice Springs, Australia 29°C (84°F) January Tamanrasset, Algeria 29°C (84°F) June
Terrain / terrain: a compilation of terrain extremes can be found in the World elevation entry; the world's ocean floors also display wide variation, as explained in the bathymetry and major ocean currents entries under each of the five ocean entries (Arctic, Atlantic, Indian, Pacific, and Southern)
Terrain / top ten world caves: compiled from Geography - note(s) under country entries largest cave: Son Doong in Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park, Vietnam, is the world's largest cave (greatest cross sectional area) and is the largest known cave passage by volume; it currently measures a total of 38.5 million cu m (about 1.35 billion cu ft); it connects to Thung cave, but not yet officially -- when recognized, it will add an additional 1.6 million cu m in volume largest ice cave: the Eisriesenwelt (Ice Giants World) inside the Hochkogel mountain near Werfen, Austria, is the world's largest and longest ice cave system at 42 km (26 mi) longest cave: Mammoth Cave in west-central Kentucky is the world's longest known cave system with more than 650 km (405 mi) of surveyed passageways longest salt cave: the Malham Cave in Mount Sodom in Israel is the world's longest salt cave at 10 km (6 mi); its survey is not complete, so its recorded length will eventually increase longest underwater cave: the Sac Actun cave system in Mexico is the longest underwater cave in the world at 348 km (216 mi), and the second-longest cave worldwide longest lava tube cave: Kazumura Cave on the island of Hawaii is the world's longest and deepest lava tube cave; it has been surveyed at 66 km (41 mi) long and 1,102 m (3,614 ft) deep deepest cave: Veryovkina Cave in the country of Georgia is the world's deepest cave at 2,212 m (7,257 ft) deepest underwater cave: the Hranice Abyss in Czechia is the world's deepest surveyed underwater cave at 404 m (1,325 ft); its survey is not complete, and it could be 800-1,200 m deep largest cave chamber: the Miao Room in the Gebihe cave system in China's Ziyun Getu He Chuandong National Park has about 10.78 million cu m (380.7 million cu ft) of volume largest bat cave: Bracken Cave outside San Antonio, Texas, is the world's largest bat cave; an estimated 20 million Mexican free-tailed bats roost in the cave from March to October, making it the world's largest known concentration of mammals bonus "cave" - the world's largest sinkhole: the Xiaoxhai Tiankeng sinkhole in Chongqing Municipality, China is 660 m deep, with a volume of 130 million cu m
Elevation / highest point: Mount Everest 8,849 m
Elevation / lowest point: Denman Glacier (Antarctica) more than -3,500 m (in the oceanic realm, Challenger Deep in the Mariana Trench is the lowest point, lying -10,924 m below the surface of the Pacific Ocean)
Elevation / mean elevation: 840 m
Land use / agricultural land: 38% (2022 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 10.7% (2022 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 1.5% (2022 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 25.8% (2022 est.)
Land use / forest: 30.6% (2022 est.)
Land use / other: 31.4% (2022 est.)
Irrigated land: 3,242,917 sq km (2012 est.)
Major lakes (area sq km): top ten largest natural lakes: Caspian Sea (Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Russia, Turkmenistan) 374,000 sq km; Lake Superior (Canada, United States) 82,100 sq km; Lake Victoria (Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda) 62,940 sq km; Lake Huron (Canada, United States) 59,600 sq km; Lake Michigan (United States) 57,750 sq km; Lake Tanganyika (Burundi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Tanzania, Zambia) 32,000 sq km; Great Bear Lake (Canada) 31,328 sq km; Lake Baikal (Russia) 31,500 sq km; Lake Malawi (Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania) 22,490 sq km; Great Slave Lake (Canada) 28,568 sq km note 1: the areas of the lakes are subject to seasonal variation; only the Caspian Sea is saline, the rest are fresh water note 2: Lakes Huron and Michigan are technically a single lake because the flow of water between the Straits of Mackinac that connects the two lakes keeps their water levels at near-equilibrium; combined, Lake Huron-Michigan is the largest freshwater lake by surface area in the world note 3: if ranked by water volume, the Caspian Sea would still be first, but it would be followed Lakes Baikal, Tanganyika, Superior, and Malawi; Lake Superior contains more water than the other four North American Great Lakes (Erie, Huron, Michigan, Ontario) combined
Major rivers (by length in km): top ten longest rivers: Nile (Africa) 6,650 km; Amazon (South America) 6,436 km; Yangtze (Asia) 6,300 km; Mississippi-Missouri (North America) 6,275 km; Yenisey-Angara (Asia) 5,539 km; Huang He/Yellow (Asia) 5,464 km; Ob-Irtysh (Asia) 5,410 km; Congo (Africa) 4,700 km; Amur (Asia) 4,444 km; Lena (Asia) 4,400 km note: there are 21 countries without rivers: three in Africa (Comoros, Djibouti, Libya), one in the Americas (Bahamas), eight in Asia (Bahrain, Kuwait, Maldives, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Yemen), three in Europe (Malta, Monaco, Holy See), and six in Oceania (Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Niue, Tonga, Tuvalu); these countries also do not have natural lakes
Major watersheds (area sq km): a watershed is a drainage basin on an area of land where precipitation collects and drains off into a common outlet, such as into a river, bay, or other body of water; oceans ultimately take in the drainage from 83% of all land area; the remaining 17% of the land drains into internal (endorheic) basins The World Factbook lists 51 watersheds across 102 countries: Asia - 18 Europe - 9 Africa - 9 North and Central America - 8 South America - 5 Australia - 2 all watersheds with an area of at least 500,000 sq km have been included, along with a number of smaller, regionally significant watersheds; together, these represent the surface hydrology water flows that are the world's primary sources of fresh water for individual consumption, industry, and agriculture
Major aquifers: aquifers are underground layers of water-bearing permeable rock formations; groundwater from aquifers can be extracted using a water well The World Factbook lists 37 major aquifers across 52 countries: Africa - 13 Asia - 10 North America - 5 South America - 3 Europe - 4 Australia -2 these aquifers contain the bulk of the stored volume of groundwater; this represents more than 30% of the world's fresh water; in the US, groundwater is primarily used for irrigation; globally, 70% of the groundwater withdrawn is used for agriculture; groundwater also supplies almost half of all drinking water worldwide
Population distribution: six of the world's seven continents are widely and permanently inhabited; Asia is the most populous continent, with about 60% of the world's population (China and India together account for over 35%); Africa comes in second with over 15%, Europe has about 10%, North America 8%, South America almost 6%, and Oceania less than 1%; the harsh conditions on Antarctica prevent any permanent habitation
Natural hazards: large areas of the world are subject to severe weather and natural disasters (cyclones, earthquakes, landslides, tsunamis, volcanic eruptions, etc.) volcanism: this is a driver and consequence of plate tectonics, the physical process reshaping the Earth's lithosphere; the world is home to more than 1,500 potentially active volcanoes, with over 500 of these erupting in recorded history; an estimated 500 million people live near volcanoes; associated dangers include lava flows, mud flows, pyroclastic flows, ash clouds, ash fall, ballistic projectiles, gas emissions, landslides, earthquakes, and tsunamis; in the 1990s, the International Association of Volcanology and Chemistry of the Earth's Interior created a list of 16 "Decade Volcanoes" with great potential for destruction: Avachinsky-Koryaksky (Russia), Colima (Mexico), Etna (Italy), Galeras (Colombia), Mauna Loa (US), Merapi (Indonesia), Nyiragongo (Democratic Republic of the Congo), Rainier (US), Sakurajima (Japan), Santa Maria (Guatemala), Santorini (Greece), Taal (Philippines), Teide (Spain), Ulawun (Papua New Guinea), Unzen (Japan), Vesuvius (Italy) volcano statistics: countries with the most volcanoes: (Holocene Epoch, the past 12,000 years*): United States (162), Japan (122), Indonesia (120), Russia (117), Chile (91); *roughly 1,350 volcanoes have erupted over this time period; about 40-50 eruptions are ongoing at any one time; the frequency of volcanoes has not increased longest erupting volcano: Santa Maria volcano in Guatemala has been constantly erupting since 22 June 1922; the Yasur volcano on Tanna Island in Vanuatu has been in constant activity since Captain Cook observed it in 1774, but it is not cited due to lack of a clear start date; tephra stratigraphy and radiocarbon dating show that the Yasur activity may have begun ca. A.D. 1270 highest volcano (above sea level): Nevado Ojos del Salado (6,893 m; 22,615 ft) on the Chile-Argentina border is the world's highest volcano above sea level and the highest peak in Chile highest volcano (from base): Mauna Kea (US) is the world's tallest mountain, measured from base to summit; the peak lies on the island of Hawaii, but its base begins more than 70 km (43 mi) offshore and at a depth of about 6,000 m; total height estimates range from 9,966 m to 10,203 m earthquakes: the vast majority of earthquakes occur in three large zones; the Circum-Pacific Belt (known as the Ring of Fire) borders the Pacific and is the largest zone of volcanic and seismic activity, with about 90% of earthquakes (81% of the largest) and about 75% of active volcanoes; the belt extends northward from Chile along the South American coast, then through Central America, Mexico, the western US, southern Alaska, and the Aleutian Islands, to Japan, the Philippines, Papua New Guinea, the southwestern Pacific, and New Zealand; the Alpide Belt extends from Java to Sumatra, northward along the mountains of Burma, eastward through the Himalayas and the Mediterranean, and into the Atlantic Ocean, accounting for about 17% of the largest earthquakes; the third belt follows the long Mid-Atlantic Ridge
Wonders of the World / The Seven Wonders of the Ancient World: The conquests of Alexander the Great (r. 336-323 B.C.) in the fourth century B.C. fostered the spread of Greek culture to the lands around the eastern Mediterranean and much of the Middle East, ushering in what is today referred to as the Hellenistic Period (323-31 B.C.). Hellenistic sightseers compiled guidebooks with outstanding monuments in those parts of the world, including Persia, Egypt, and Babylon. Seven sites were usually emphasized since that number was considered magical, perfect, and complete. Not all wonders lists from ancient times agreed, but six sites consistently appeared (the Walls of Babylon sometimes substituted for the Lighthouse of Alexandria). The “classic” Seven Wonders most often cited are listed below. 1. The Great Pyramid of Egypt The oldest of the Seven Wonders, the Great Pyramid, is the only one that remains largely intact. Commissioned by the Pharaoh Khufu (r. ca. 2589-2566 B.C.), it is the largest of the three pyramids at Giza. It served as the ruler’s tomb and was built over a period of about 20 years, concluding around 2560 B.C. The pyramid is estimated to have been 146.5 m tall when completed and was the tallest man-made structure in the world for over 3,800 years (until the 14th century A.D.). Most of the original limestone casing stones that formed the outer smooth surface of the pyramid are gone. Today, the pyramid’s height is about 139 m. 2. The Hanging Gardens of Babylon This is the only one of the ancient Seven Wonders for which a definitive location has never been established. No surviving Babylonian texts mention the Gardens, nor have any archeological remains been discovered in today’s Iraq. According to tradition, the gardens were a remarkable feat of engineering, with an ascending series of mud-brick-tiered gardens containing a variety of trees, shrubs, and vines that, when viewed from below, resembled a leafy green mountain. The Gardens are frequently attributed to the Neo-Babylonian King Nebuchadnezzar II (r. 605-562 B.C.), who may have had them built for his Median wife, Queen Amytis, because she missed the green hills and valleys of her homeland. 3. The Temple of Artemis (Artemision) at Ephesus This Greek temple at Ephesus (3 km southwest of Selcuk in present-day western Turkey) was dedicated to the goddess Artemis and was completely rebuilt twice: once after a 7th century B.C. flood and then after a 356 B.C. act of arson. In its final form, it was judged to be one of the Seven Wonders and survived for 600 years. The building was composed entirely of marble, with massive dimensions reported to be 130 m by 69 m, and included 127 columns, each about 18 m tall. The temple was damaged in a Gothic raid in A.D. 268, and Christians finally closed it in the early-to-mid 5th century. The structure was dismantled in succeeding centuries, and today almost nothing of the temple remains. 4. The Mausoleum of Halicarnassus Constructed in about 350 B.C., the Mausoleum of Halicarnassus was located on the site of the present-day city of Bodrum in southwestern Turkey. It was the tomb of Mausolus, a Persian ruler, and his wife -- the term "mausoleum" is derived from his name. The structure stood about 45 m high and took about 20 years to complete. A series of earthquakes between the 12th and 15th centuries A.D. devastated the structure, which was the last of the original Seven Wonders to be destroyed. 5. The Colossus of Rhodes This statue of the Greek sun god Helios, constructed at the entrance to Rhodes' harbor to celebrate the city's successful repulse of a siege, was made of iron tie bars to which brass or bronze plates were attached to form a skin. Contemporary descriptions list its height at about 70 cubits, or 33 m – approximately the same height as the Statue of Liberty (34 m) – which would make it the tallest statue in the ancient world. Completed in about 280 B.C., the monument stood for only about 54 years until it toppled in an earthquake in 226 B.C. The remains lay on the ground for over 800 years before finally being sold for scrap. 6. The Lighthouse (Pharos) of Alexandria Completed around 275 B.C., the lighthouse stood on Pharos Island at the entrance to the Egyptian port city of Alexandria for about 1,600 years. Three earthquakes severely damaged it between A.D. 956 and 1323, when it was deactivated. The shape of the structure appeared on a number of ancient coins: a solid square base, which made up about half the height, supported an octagonal middle section and a cylindrical top. The height of the structure is thought to have been between 100 m (328 ft) and 140 m (459 ft). A mirror at its apex reflected sunlight during the day, and a fire burned at night. 7. The Statue of Zeus at Olympia in Greece The giant seated statue of the king of the Greek gods in the sanctuary of Olympia was completed by the Greek sculptor Phidias in about 435 B.C. Roughly 13 m (43 ft) tall, it was constructed of ivory plates and gold panels on a wooden framework, and the god’s throne was ornamented with ebony, ivory, gold, and precious stones. With the rise of Christianity, the sanctuary at Olympia fell into disuse; the details of the statue’s final destruction are unknown. note : The Lighthouse of Alexandria may have been the last of the wonders to be completed (ca. 275 B.C.), and the Colossus of Rhodes was the first to be destroyed in about 226 B.C., so the Seven Wonders existed at the same time for only about 50 years in the middle of the third century B.C.
Wonders of the World / The New Seven Wonders of the World: A private initiative to come up with a new list of seven of the world’s wonders sprang up early in the new millennium. Worldwide balloting -- via internet or telephone -- included a list of 200 existing monuments. Over 100 million votes were reportedly cast over a period of several years, and the final list below was announced on 7 July 2007 (7-7-2007). The seven are inscribed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites. 1. Chichen Itza, Yucatan, Mexico This archeological site includes the impressive remains of a large pre-Columbian Mayan city that flourished around A.D. 600-1100. Among the structures at the site are the massive Temple of the Warriors complex, an observatory (El Caracol), the Great Ball Court, and the Sacred Cenote (sinkhole) where offerings were made. The most famous building is the step-pyramid known as the Temple of Kukulcan that dominates the center of the site and serves as the symbol of Chichen Itza. The pyramidal structure is 24 m (79 ft) high; the crowning temple adds another 6 m (20 ft). Located in the dense jungles of Yucatan, it is one of the most visited tourist sites in Mexico. 2. The Colosseum, Rome, Italy The Roman Emperor Vespasian began construction on the Colosseum in A.D. 72, and his son Titus completed it in A.D. 80, with Domitian (A.D. 81-96) making further modifications. The three emperors make up the Flavian Dynasty, and the structure is also known as the Flavian Amphitheater. It is estimated to have seated about 65 thousand spectators and was most famously used for gladiatorial contests and public spectacles. Earthquakes and thieves destroyed much of the original structure, but it remains an iconic symbol of Rome. The Colosseum is one of the most popular tourist attractions in the world. 3. Christ the Redeemer Statue, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Built between 1922 and 1931, the 30-m (98-ft) sculpture is reputed to be the largest Art Deco statue in the world. Its pedestal provides another 8 m (26 ft) in height, and the arms stretch out to 28 m (92 ft). Built of reinforced concrete and soapstone, the statue has become a cultural icon of both Rio and Brazil. 4. Great Wall, China The name refers to a series of fortification systems that stretched across China's northern historical borders and served as protection against nomadic peoples. An archeological survey revealed that the wall and its associated branches measure 21,196 km (13,171 mi). The earliest of the walls date to the 7th century B.C.; stretches began to be linked in the 3rd century B.C., and successive dynasties added to or maintained sections of the walls. The best-known and best-preserved parts of the wall were built during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). The Great Wall is acknowledged as one of the most impressive architectural feats in history. 5. Machu Picchu, Cuzco Region, Peru The Inca citadel of Machu Picchu, situated on a 2,430 m (7,972 ft) Andean mountain ridge, is now thought to have been erected as an estate for the Inca Emperor Pachacuti (r. 1438-1471) and may have also served as a religious sanctuary. Built between about 1450 and 1460, it was abandoned a century later, at the time of the Spanish conquest. It was built in the classic Inca style, using polished, fitted, dry-stone walls, and was home to about 750 people, mostly support staff to the nobility. The religious monuments include the Intiwatana, a carved ritual stone that was a kind of sundial and is referred to as “The Hitching Post of the Sun,” the Torreon or Temple of the Sun, and the Intimachay, a sacred cave. 6. Petra, Ma’an, Jordan Petra is believed to have been established in the 4th century B.C. as the capital of the Nabataean Kingdom, an entity that grew wealthy as the nexus of trade routes in the southern Levant. The Roman Empire annexed it in A.D. 106. The city is famous for its carved-rock architecture and water conduit system, which allowed the Nabataeans to create an artificial oasis. The city may have had a population of 20,000 at its peak in the first century A.D. 7. Taj Mahal, Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India This ivory-white mausoleum was commissioned in 1632 by Shah Jahan (r. 1628-1658) as the final resting place for his favorite wife, Mumtaz Mahal. The building also houses the tomb of Shah Jahan himself. The Taj Mahal is the centerpiece of a 17-hectare (42-acre) complex that includes a guest house, a mosque, and formal gardens. The project was completed in 1653. note : The Great Pyramid of Egypt, the only surviving wonder of the ancient seven, received honorary status on the New Seven Wonders list.
Geography - note: note: the Earth is now thought to be about 4.55 billion years old, about one-third of the 13.8-billion-year age estimated for the universe; the earliest widely accepted date for life appearing on Earth is 3.48 billion years ago

## People and Society
Population / total: 8,057,236,243 (2024 est.)
Population / male: 4,046,854,454
Population / female: 4,010,381,789
Languages: most-spoken language: English 18.8%, Mandarin Chinese 13.8%, Hindi 7.5%, Spanish 6.9%, French 3.4%, Arabic 3.4%, Bengali 3.4%, Russian 3.2%, Portuguese 3.2%, Urdu 2.9% (2022 est.) most-spoken first language: Mandarin Chinese 12.3%, Spanish 6%, English 5.1%, Arabic 5.1%, Hindi 3.5%, Bengali 3.3%, Portuguese 3%, Russian 2.1%, Japanese 1.7%, Punjabi, Western 1.3%, Javanese 1.1% (2018 est.) note 1: the six UN languages -- Arabic, Chinese (Mandarin), English, French, Russian, and Spanish (Castilian) -- are the mother tongue or second language of about 49.6% of the world's population (2022), and are the official languages in more than half the states in the world; some 400 languages have more than a million first-language speakers (2018) note 2: all told, there are estimated to be 7,168 living languages spoken in the world (2023); approximately 80% of these languages are spoken by fewer than 100,000 people; about 150 languages are spoken by fewer than 10 people; communities that are isolated in mountainous regions often develop multiple languages -- Papua New Guinea, for example, boasts about 840 separate languages (2018) note 3: approximately 2,300 languages are spoken in Asia; 2,140, in Africa; 1,310 in the Pacific; 1,060 in the Americas; and 290 in Europe (2020)
Religions: Christian 31.1%, Muslim 24.9%, Hindu 15.2%, Buddhist 6.6%, folk religions 5.6%, Jewish <1%, other <1%, unaffiliated 15.6% (2020 est.)
Age structure / 0-14 years: 24.5% (male 1,018,005,046/female 958,406,907)
Age structure / 15-64 years: 65.2% (male 2,658,595,672/female 2,592,930,538)
Age structure / 65 years and over: 10.3% (2024 est.) (male 370,253,736/female 459,044,344)
Dependency ratios / total dependency ratio: 53.4 (2024 est.)
Dependency ratios / youth dependency ratio: 37.7 (2024 est.)
Dependency ratios / elderly dependency ratio: 15.7 (2024 est.)
Dependency ratios / potential support ratio: 6.4 (2024 est.)
Median age / total: 31 years (2020 est.)
Median age / male: 30.3 years
Median age / female: 31.8 years
Population growth rate: 1.03% (2021 est.)
Birth rate: 17 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)
Death rate: 7.9 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)
Population distribution: six of the world's seven continents are widely and permanently inhabited; Asia is the most populous continent, with about 60% of the world's population (China and India together account for over 35%); Africa comes in second with over 15%, Europe has about 10%, North America 8%, South America almost 6%, and Oceania less than 1%; the harsh conditions on Antarctica prevent any permanent habitation
Urbanization / urban population: 57.5% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 1.73% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: ten largest urban agglomerations: Tokyo (Japan) - 37,393,000; New Delhi (India) - 30,291,000; Shanghai (China) - 27,058,000; Sao Paulo (Brazil) - 22,043,000; Mexico City (Mexico) - 21,782,000; Dhaka (Bangladesh) - 21,006,000; Cairo (Egypt) - 20,901,000; Beijing (China) - 20,463,000; Mumbai (India) - 20,411,000; Osaka (Japan) - 19,165,000 (2020)
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: 0.81 male(s)/female
Sex ratio / total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio: 197 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Infant mortality rate / total: 28.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)
Life expectancy at birth / total population: 70.5 years (2020)
Life expectancy at birth / male: 68.4 years
Life expectancy at birth / female: 72.6 years
Total fertility rate: 2.42 children born/woman (2020 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: urban: urban: 97.9% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: rural: rural: 84% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / improved: total: total: 91.8% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: urban: urban: 2.1% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: rural: rural: 16% of population (2022 est.)
Drinking water source / unimproved: total: total: 8.2% of population (2022 est.)
Health expenditure: 10.4% of GDP (2021)
Sanitation facility access / improved: urban: urban: 88.9% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: rural: rural: 70.1% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / improved: total: total: 80.8% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: urban: urban: 11.1% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: rural: rural: 29.9% of population (2022 est.)
Sanitation facility access / unimproved: total: total: 19.2% of population (2022 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 12.3% (2022)
Currently married women (ages 15-49): 63.8% (2024 est.)
Child marriage / women married by age 15: 4.3% (2023)
Child marriage / women married by age 18: 18.7% (2023)
Child marriage / men married by age 18: 2.7% (2022)

## Environment
Environmental issues: large areas of the world are subject to overpopulation, industrial disasters, pollution (air, water, acid rain, toxic substances), loss of vegetation (overgrazing, deforestation, desertification), loss of biodiversity; soil degradation, soil depletion, erosion; ozone layer depletion; waste disposal; temperature change
World biomes / Types of biomes: A biome is a biogeographical designation describing a biological community of plants and animals that has formed in response to a physical environment and a shared regional climate. Biomes can extend over more than one continent. Different classification systems define different numbers of biomes. The World Factbook recognizes the following seven biomes used by NASA: tundra, coniferous forest, temperate deciduous forest, rainforest, grassland, shrubland, and desert.
World biomes / Tundra biome: The tundra is the coldest of the biomes. It also receives low amounts of precipitation, making the tundra similar to a desert. Tundra comes from the Finnish word tunturia , meaning "treeless plain." Tundra is found in the regions just below the ice caps of the Arctic, extending across North America to Europe and to Siberia in Asia. Temperatures usually range between -40°C (-40 °F) and 18°C (64°F). The temperatures are so cold that there is a layer of permanently frozen ground below the surface, called permafrost. This permafrost is a defining characteristic of the tundra biome. In the tundra summers, the top layer of soil thaws only a few inches down, providing a growing surface for the roots of vegetation. This biome sees 150 to 250 mm (6 to 10 in) of rain per year. Vegetation in the tundra has adapted to the cold and the short growing season and consists of lichens, mosses, grasses, sedges, and shrubs, but almost no trees.
World biomes / Coniferous forest biome: The coniferous forest is sandwiched between the tundra to the north and the deciduous forest to the south. Coniferous forest regions have long, cold, snowy winters; warm, humid summers; well-defined seasons; and at least four to six frost-free months. The average temperature in winter ranges from -40&deg;C (-40&deg;F) to 20&deg;C (68&deg;F). The average summer temperatures are usually around 10&deg;C (50&deg;F). 300 to 900 mm (12 to 35 in) of rain per year can be expected in this biome. Vegetation consists of trees that produce cones and needles, which are called coniferous-evergreen trees. Some needles remain on the trees all year long. Some of the more common conifers are spruces, pines, and firs.
World biomes / Temperate deciduous forest biome: Temperate deciduous forests are located in the mid-latitude areas, which means that they are found between the polar regions and the tropics. The deciduous forest regions are exposed to warm and cold air masses, which cause this area to have four seasons. Hot summers and cold winters are typical. The average daily temperatures range between -30&deg;C (-22&deg;F) and 30&deg;C (86&deg;F), with a yearly average of 10&deg;C (50&deg;F). On average, this biome receives 750 to 1,500 mm (30 to 59 in) of rain per year. Vegetation includes broadleaf trees (oaks, maples, beeches), shrubs, perennial herbs, and mosses.
World biomes / Rainforest biome: The rainforest biome remains warm all year and stay frost-free. The average daily temperatures range from 20&deg;C (68&deg;F) to 25&deg;C (77&deg;F). Rainforests receive the most yearly rainfall of all of the biomes, and a typical year sees 2,000 to 10,000 mm (79 to 394 in) of rain. Vegetation typically includes vines, palm trees, orchids, and ferns. There are two types of rainforests: tropical rainforests are found closer to the equator, and temperate rainforests are found farther north near coastal areas. The majority of common houseplants come from the rainforest.
World biomes / Grassland biome: Grasslands are open, continuous, and fairly flat areas of grass. Found on every continent except Antarctica, they are often located between temperate forests at high latitudes and deserts at subtropical latitudes. Depending on latitude, the annual temperature range can be -20&deg;C (-4&deg;F) to 30&deg;C (86&deg;F). Grasslands receive around 500 to 900 mm (20 to 35 in) of rain per year. Tropical grasslands have dry and wet seasons that remain warm all the time. Temperate grasslands have cold winters and warm summers with some rain. Vegetation is dominated by grasses but can include sedges and rushes, along with some legumes (clover) and herbs. A few trees may be found in this biome along the streams, but not many due to the lack of rainfall.
World biomes / Shrubland biome: Shrublands include chaparral, woodland, and savanna, and are composed of shrubs or short trees. Many shrubs thrive on steep, rocky slopes, but there is usually not enough rain to support tall trees. Shrublands are located in west coastal regions between 30&deg; and 40&deg; North and South latitude and are usually found on the borders of deserts and grasslands. The summers are hot and dry with temperatures up to 38&deg;C (100&deg;F). Winters are cool and moist, with temperatures around -1 &deg;C (30&deg;F). Annual rainfall in the shrublands varies greatly, but 200 to 1,000 mm (8 to 40 in) of rain per year can be expected. Vegetation includes aromatic herbs (sage, rosemary, thyme, oregano), shrubs, acacia, chamise, grasses. Plants have adapted to fire caused by frequent lightning strikes in the summer.
World biomes / Desert biome: The most important characteristic of a desert biome is that it receives very little rainfall, usually about 250 mm (10 in) of rain per year. During the day, desert temperatures rise to an average of 38&deg;C (100&deg;F). At night, desert temperatures fall to an average of -4&deg;C (about 25&deg;F). Vegetation is sparse, consisting of cacti, small bushes, and short grasses. Perennials survive for several years by becoming dormant and flourishing when water is available. Annuals are referred to as ephemerals because some can complete an entire life cycle in weeks. Since desert conditions are so severe, the plants that live there need to adapt to compensate. Some, such as cacti, store water in their stems and use it very slowly, while others, like bushes, conserve water by growing few leaves or by having large root systems to gather water.
Climate / Climate: a wide equatorial band of hot and humid tropical climates is bordered north and south by subtropical temperate zones that separate two large areas of cold and dry polar climates
Climate / ten driest places on Earth (average annual precipitation): McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica 0 mm (0 in) Arica, Chile 0.76 mm (0.03 in) Al Kufrah, Libya 0.86 mm (0.03 in) Aswan, Egypt 0.86 mm (0.03 in) Luxor, Egypt 0.86 mm (0.03 in) Ica, Peru 2.29 mm (0.09 in) Wadi Halfa, Sudan 2.45 mm (0.1 in) Iquique, Chile 5.08 mm (0.2 in) Pelican Point, Namibia 8.13 mm (0.32 in) El Arab (Aoulef), Algeria 12.19 mm (0.48 in)
Climate / ten wettest places on Earth (average annual precipitation): Mawsynram, India 11,871 mm (467.4 in) Cherrapunji, India 11,777 mm (463.7 in) Tutunendo, Colombia 11,770 mm (463.4 in) Cropp River, New Zealand 11,516 mm (453.4 in) San Antonia de Ureca, Equatorial Guinea 10,450 mm (411.4 in) Debundsha, Cameroon 10,299 mm (405.5 in) Big Bog, US (Hawaii) 10,272 mm (404.4 in) Mt Waialeale, US (Hawaii) 9,763 mm (384.4 in) Kukui, US (Hawaii) 9,293 mm (365.9 in) Emeishan, China 8,169 mm (321.6 in)
Climate / ten coldest places on Earth (lowest average monthly temperature): Verkhoyansk, Russia (Siberia) -47°C (-53°F) January Oymyakon, Russia (Siberia) -46°C (-52°F) January Eureka, Canada -38.4°C (-37.1°F) February Isachsen, Canada -36°C (-32.8°F) February Alert, Canada -34°C (-28°F) February Kap Morris Jesup, Greenland -34°C (-29°F) March Cornwallis Island, Canada -33.5°C (-28.3°F) February Cambridge Bay, Canada -33.5°C (28.3°F) February Ilirnej, Russia -33°C (-28°F) January Resolute, Canada -33°C (-27.4°F) February
Climate / ten hottest places on Earth (highest average monthly temperature): Death Valley, US (California) 39°C (101°F) July Iranshahr, Iran 38.3°C (100.9°F) June Ouallene, Algeria 38°C (100.4°F) July Kuwait City, Kuwait 37.7°C (100°F) July Medina, Saudi Arabia 36°C (97°F) July Buckeye, US (Arizona) 34°C (93°F) July Jazan, Saudi Arabia 33°C (91°F) June Al Kufrah, Libya 31°C (87°F) July Alice Springs, Australia 29°C (84°F) January Tamanrasset, Algeria 29°C (84°F) June
Land use / agricultural land: 38% (2022 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 10.7% (2022 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 1.5% (2022 est.)
Land use / agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 25.8% (2022 est.)
Land use / forest: 30.6% (2022 est.)
Land use / other: 31.4% (2022 est.)
Urbanization / urban population: 57.5% of total population (2023)
Urbanization / rate of urbanization: 1.73% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / total emissions: 37.079 billion metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from coal and metallurgical coke: 16.652 billion metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from petroleum and other liquids: 12.463 billion metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions / from consumed natural gas: 7.964 billion metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Total renewable water resources: 54 trillion cubic meters (2011 est.)

## Government
Capital / time difference: there are 21 world entities (20 countries and 1 dependency) with multiple time zones: Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ecuador, France, Greenland (part of the Danish Kingdom), Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Kiribati, Mexico, Micronesia, Mongolia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Portugal, Russia, Spain, United States note 1: in some instances, the time zones pertain to portions of a country that lie overseas note 2: in 1851, the British set their prime meridian (0° longitude) through the Royal Observatory at Greenwich, England; this meridian became the international standard in 1884 and thus the basis for the standard time zones of the world; today, GMT is officially known as Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) and is also referred to as "Zulu time"; UTC is the basis for all civil time, with the world divided into time zones expressed as positive or negative differences from UTC note 3: each time zone is based on 15° starting from the prime meridian; in theory, there are 24 time zones based on the solar day, but there are now upward of 40 because of fractional hour offsets that adjust for various political and physical geographic realities; see the Standard Time Zones of the World map included with the World and Regional Maps
Capital / daylight saving time: some 67 countries -- including most of the world's leading industrialized nations -- use daylight savings time (DST) in at least a portion of the country; China, Japan, India, and Russia are major industrialized countries that do not use DST; Asia and Africa generally do not observe DST, and it is generally not observed near the equator, where sunrise and sunset times do not vary enough to justify it; some countries observe DST only in certain regions; only a minority of the world's population -- about 20% -- uses DST
Administrative divisions: 197 countries, 69 dependent areas and other entities
Dependent areas: Australia dependencies: Ashmore and Cartier Islands, Christmas Island, Cocos (Keeling) Islands, Coral Sea Islands, Heard Island and McDonald Islands, Norfolk Island (6) France dependencies: Clipperton Island, French Polynesia, French Southern and Antarctic Lands, New Caledonia, Saint Barthelemy, Saint Martin, Saint Pierre and Miquelon, Wallis and Futuna (8) New Zealand dependency: Tokelau (1) Norway dependencies: Bouvet Island, Jan Mayen, Svalbard (3) United Kingdom dependencies: Anguilla; Bermuda; British Indian Ocean Territory; British Virgin Islands; Cayman Islands; Falkland Islands; Gibraltar; Montserrat; Pitcairn Islands; Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunha; South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands; Turks and Caicos Islands (12) United States dependencies: American Samoa, Baker Island, Guam, Howland Island, Jarvis Island, Johnston Atoll, Kingman Reef, Midway Islands, Navassa Island, Northern Mariana Islands, Palmyra Atoll, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, Wake Island (14)
Legal system: the legal systems of nearly all countries are modeled on elements of five main types: civil law (including French law, the Napoleonic Code, Roman law, Roman-Dutch law, and Spanish law), common law (including English and US law), customary law, mixed or pluralistic law, and religious law (including Islamic sharia law); an additional type of legal system -- international law -- governs the conduct of independent nations in their relationships with one another
International law organization participation: all UN members are parties to the statute that established the International Court of Justice (ICJ) or World Court; as of June 2025, 125 countries have also ratified or acceded to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICCt), the treaty that established the ICCt (see the reference guide on International Organizations and Groups for differences between the ICJ and ICCt mandates)
Executive branch / chief of state: there are 27 countries with royal families in the world: most are in Asia (13) and Europe (10), three are in Africa, and one in Oceania; monarchies by continent are as follows: Asia (Bahrain, Bhutan, Brunei, Cambodia, Japan, Jordan, Kuwait, Malaysia, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Thailand, United Arab Emirates); Europe (Belgium, Denmark, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom); Africa (Eswatini, Lesotho, Morocco); Oceania (Tonga)
Legislative branch: 230 political entities have legislative bodies; of these, 144 are unicameral (a single &ldquo;house&rdquo;) and 86 are bicameral (both upper and lower houses); 33 territories, possessions, or other special administrative units have their own governing bodies
Flag: a "World" flag does not exist, but the United Nations (UN) flag -- adopted on 7 December 1946 -- has sometimes been used to represent the entire planet; the flag displays the official UN emblem in white on a blue background; the emblem design shows a world map in an azimuthal equidistant projection centered on the North Pole, with the image flanked by two olive branches; blue was chosen to represent peace, in contrast to the red usually associated with war; the map projection includes all the continents except Antarctica
National anthem(s) / title: almost every country has a national anthem (and Denmark and New Zealand have two); most anthems have lyrics, which are usually in the official language or the most common language of the country; countries with more than one official language sometimes offer several versions
National heritage / total World Heritage Sites: 1,223 (952 cultural, 231 natural, 40 mixed) (2024)

## Economy
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $173.163 trillion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $167.633 trillion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) / Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $162.058 trillion (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2024: 2.9% (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2023: 2.9% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate / Real GDP growth rate 2022: 3.4% (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2024: $21,300 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2023: $20,800 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita / Real GDP per capita 2022: $20,300 (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $111.326 trillion (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) / Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024: 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: 7.9% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / agriculture: 4% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / industry: 26% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin / services: 66.2% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / household consumption: 56.4% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / government consumption: 16.6% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in fixed capital: 25.9% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / investment in inventories: 0.6% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / exports of goods and services: 29.1% (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use / imports of goods and services: -28.3% (2023 est.)
Agricultural products: the whole range of agricultural products top ten agricultural products by global production tonnage: sugarcane, maize, rice, wheat, milk, oil palm fruit, potatoes, soybeans, cassava, vegetables (2023)
Industries: dominated by the onrush of technology, especially in computers, robotics, telecommunications, and medicines and medical equipment; most of these advances take place in OECD nations; only a small portion of non-OECD countries have succeeded in rapidly adjusting to these technological forces; the accelerated development of new technologies is complicating already grim environmental problems
Industrial production growth rate: 2.9% (2024 est.)
Labor force: 3.696 billion (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2024: 4.9% (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2023: 5% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate / Unemployment rate 2022: 5.3% (2022 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / total: 13.6% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / male: 13.2% (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) / female: 15.3% (2024 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2024: 0.7% of GDP (2024 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2023: 0.8% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances / Remittances 2022: 0.8% of GDP (2022 est.)
Budget / revenues: $21.68 trillion (2017 est.)
Budget / expenditures: $23.81 trillion (2017 est.)
Public debt / Public debt 2016: 67.2% of GDP (2016 est.)
Taxes and other revenues: 13.8% (of GDP) (2023 est.)
Exports / Exports 2024: $32.379 trillion (2024 est.)
Exports / Exports 2023: $31.271 trillion (2023 est.)
Exports / Exports 2022: $31.782 trillion (2022 est.)
Exports - commodities: the whole range of industrial and agricultural goods and services top ten commodities by share of world trade: crude petroleum, cars, refined petroleum, integrated circuits, broadcasting equipment, gold, natural gas, garments, vehicle parts/accessories, packaged medicine (2022)
Imports / Imports 2024: $31.244 trillion (2024 est.)
Imports / Imports 2023: $30.334 trillion (2023 est.)
Imports / Imports 2022: $30.871 trillion (2022 est.)
Imports - commodities: the whole range of industrial and agricultural goods and services top ten - share of world trade: see listing for exports

## Energy
Electricity access / electrification - total population: 91.4% (2022 est.)
Electricity access / electrification - urban areas: 97.7%
Electricity access / electrification - rural areas: 84%
Electricity / installed generating capacity: 9.08 billion kW (2023 est.)
Electricity / consumption: 27.047 trillion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / exports: 810.999 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / imports: 804.542 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity / transmission/distribution losses: 2.053 trillion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / fossil fuels: 60.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / nuclear: 9.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / solar: 5.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / wind: 8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / hydroelectricity: 14.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / geothermal: 0.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources / biomass and waste: 2.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Nuclear energy / Number of operational nuclear reactors: 416 (2025)
Nuclear energy / Number of nuclear reactors under construction: 62 (2025)
Nuclear energy / Net capacity of operational nuclear reactors: 376.59GW (2025)
Nuclear energy / Number of nuclear reactors permanently shut down: 214 (2025)
Coal / production: 9.368 billion metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / consumption: 9.382 billion metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / exports: 1.494 billion metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / imports: 1.507 billion metric tons (2023 est.)
Coal / proven reserves: 1.166 trillion metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum / total petroleum production: 99.887 million bbl/day (2023 est.)
Petroleum / refined petroleum consumption: 101.86 million bbl/day (2023 est.)
Petroleum / crude oil estimated reserves: 1.697 trillion barrels (2021 est.)
Natural gas / production: 4.143 trillion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / consumption: 4.1 trillion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / exports: 1.219 trillion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / imports: 1.226 trillion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Natural gas / proven reserves: 206.683 trillion cubic meters (2021 est.)
Energy consumption per capita / Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 73.108 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

## Communications
Telephones - fixed lines / total subscriptions: 839.8 million (2024 est.)
Telephones - fixed lines / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 11 (2023 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / total subscriptions: 9.01 billion (2024 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 110 (2024 est.)
Internet users / percent of population: 74% (2025 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / total: 1,495,600,000 (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions / subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 18 (2022 est.)

## Transportation
Airports: 47,242 (2025)
Heliports: 21,741 (2025)
Railways / total: 1,148,186 km (2013)
Merchant marine / total: 103,577 (2023)
Merchant marine / by type: bulk carrier 13,141, container ship 5,815, general cargo 19,918, oil tanker 11,604, other 53,099

## Military and Security
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2024: 2.4% of GDP (2024 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2023: 2.3% of GDP (2023 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2022: 2.2% of GDP (2022 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2021: 2.2% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military expenditures / Military Expenditures 2020: 2.3% of GDP (2020 est.)
Military and security service personnel strengths: approximately 20-21 million active-duty military personnel worldwide (2025)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the US is the world's leading arms exporter (2024)
Military deployments: as of mid-2025, there were approximately 68,000 personnel deployed on UN peacekeeping missions worldwide (2025)

## Transnational Issues
Trafficking in persons / tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List: (25 countries) Algeria, Barbados, Bolivia, Brazil, Brunei, Burkina Faso, Cabo Verde, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of Congo, Djibouti, Fiji, Hong Kong, Kyrgyzstan, Liberia, Maldives, Nepal, Niger, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Vanuatu, Zimbabwe (2025) Tier 3: (20 countries) Afghanistan, Belarus, Burma, Cambodia, Chad, People's Republic of China, Cuba, Eritrea, Iran, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Laos, Macau, Nicaragua, Papua New Guinea, Russia, Sint Maarten, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Venezuela (2025)